RastaBull wrote:1) What will it take to get Caris LeVert?
2) What would you be willing to part with for LeVert?
3) What do you think about my interest in LeVert with Zach and Coby? (see below)
Watching Coby's hot stretch, this kid COULD become a real bonafide scorer. Zach is already a bonafide scorer. (for remainder, if I use "could" or other hypothetical, I'm referring to Coby's reasonable potentials, whereas more direct/present tenses are obviously referring to what we already know is certifiable with Zach). Zach is a special shooter (still developing a more prestine shot selection). Coby has great mechanics on his shot imo, really high potential to be special as he's just turned 20. Zach is an insane athlete on the perimeter. For all the debate in the other thread, Coby is at very least a decent athlete that excels in a number of athletic spaces while maybe baseline in others ... point being with ball in their hands they will both command attention from a defense.
Although they attract attention, they have the athleticism, neither have the IT factor for vision and PG skills. They aren't the type of "heady" players where the game slows down in front of them and they are just picking other guys out or getting our offense flowing several steps ahead of the opponents defense.
Zach is athletic enough to be a capable defender. But you don't want him as your top 2 perimeter defensive options. Coby is good defender in my book. He stays in front of his guy, doesn't give up space, and most importnatly he ALWAYS looks focused. He could be a very good defender. But neither are your defensive stopper, and don't think could handle a bigger perimeter kind of scorer.
I want both Zach and Coby (presuming Coby continues developing this scorer's mentality and penchant) on the floor together at end of games. (Maybe Coby still holds that 6th man role, but still want them both out there in the 4th). So we need a third perimeter guy, obviously in that SF/bigger slot that can balance those missing traits: vision/PGskills/defense
I think the perfect guy is Jimmy Butler. A bonafide defensive stopper. Loves to lead the offense and pick guys out for creative plays. Strong shooter and driver so doesn't effect spacing in negative way. You could also look at a younger Iggy as the archetype. No way Miami is trading Jimmy and Iggy obviously way past prime.
Off top of my head I thought of Justise Winslow. Looked into it: Only 23 still, possibly available in offseason trade (at Memphis now, picked up in Iggy trade). Good contract, 13 mil next season with 13 mil team option 2021. He's played inconsistent in 4 years (or consistently subpar). Last year was a bright trend upwards, 37% 3P on 4 attempts, 51%TS (pretty horrendous TS% every other year). His Drating always 105-108 range, pretty good for peremiter efender. Has a strong body. His AST% was at 21% last year, for comparison Iggy's prime was 20-24%, Jimmy around 18-21% (and hten this year blasting off at 28%).
Coby/LaVine/Winslow?
Winslow feels too much a liability on offense. There's possibility it could click well with Coby+LaVine, but I'm not optimistic. We need someone with a better offensive all-around game, otherwise they'll just fall to wayside behind those guys. We need a guy that can impose some offensive leadership running the "point"
LeVert could be that guy imo. He's developed every single year in the NBA. He's 25 now. Makes 16, 17.5 and 18.8 mil next three seasons. That means next two season we'd have LaVine and LeVert combined making a single max contract. I think that's pretty solid value. (we know LaVine is playing above his contract, LeVert is at least market value, but if he takes any sort of jump then I think he'll shoot above his contract value).
(disclaimer: first half of this season is tough to evaluate with injuries ... so back half w/out Irving will be a really big opportunity).
His AST% has been 26%, 23%, 22% last three years. That Point-Forward level work. And where I haven't seen Winslow as much for eye test, I live in Brooklyn and follow Nets, LeVert makes great decisions and prides himself in that type of game, keeping eyes all over the court. He brings the facilitator role to a Coby-LaVine lineup. Additionally, his a solid shooter from all parts of court; not exceptional from any place. Other teams will defend his 3P; he's a good cutter when off the ball, has really nice length and 60%+ at the basket.
I'm not really sure about his one-on-one defense, in terms of strength and bodying someone (like Iggy and Butler do). It doesn't stick out from previous games that I can recall. What does stick out are his steals in the passing lane or getting on someone's dribble. He's exceptional at this element.
Coby-LaVine-LeVert is a sweet perimeter in my opinion that will bring some balance. LeVert can run an offense and let Zach excel off-ball for some stretches (he's good off-ball, just doesn't do it enough). LeVert can run an offense that catches Coby off screen where he's been great.
I might even be willing to trade Lauri for LeVert straight up (is that crazy??). Yeah, even typing it scares me because it could be crazy. Lauri could be very very good, and maybe just this one year with Boylen has tarnished a lot of hte progress he'd built in NBA those first two years. The only benefit is getting out of the whole "extend or let him become RFA" quagmire.
Nets are looking tobag a 3rd star, and LeVert/Dinwiddie/Allen are their big assets, so they aren't letting LeVert go for nothing. Best chance I can see would be getting third team involved and trading out picks+Porter to someone rebuilding and trade out star?
(sorry for long post, just interested in kicking off a deep dive)
I’m not sure they nets would take Markkanen for levert outright. Markkanen is too big a question mark. I also don’t think he’d fit on the Nets very well, their style of play isn’t suited to him. I’m struggling to envision a trade for Markkanen that makes sense for both parties. He belongs on a team like Houston, golden state, Indiana, Milwaukee etc.
Levert is good, and he & Lavine are actually really close friends, but what if the Bulls land a top pick & wind up with someone like Anthony Edwards? You’d still trade the rights to a player with Edwards’s upside for levert?
