Potential Zach Trade Partners? 24/25 Edition

[sco]

We gonna hand the Nuggets the championship if we trade Zach there. Denver should be all over it. I don't see anyone beating them with Jokic, Murray, Gordon, Westbrook and Lavine.

Take it easy there. You guys do realize that MPJ averages 18 PPG for them right , he’s no scrub and Zach isn’t some huge upgrade for them.

Look, you can bend stats many different ways and chemistry matters in the playoffs, but Zach is an elite scorer and is another guy who can get his own shot when needed (which is more often during the playoffs).

I'll turn it the other way, we will be a MUCH worse team subbing MPJ in the line-up for Zach.

[jnrjr79]

We gonna hand the Nuggets the championship if we trade Zach there. Denver should be all over it. I don't see anyone beating them with Jokic, Murray, Gordon, Westbrook and Lavine.

Take it easy there. You guys do realize that MPJ averages 18 PPG for them right , he’s no scrub and Zach isn’t some huge upgrade for them.

The Nuggets just had to bench MPJ in the 4th and OT while making a big comeback, because MPJ was unplayable defensively.

Porter is a talented shooter and I like his size, but he's definitely a downgrade from Zach.

[Muzbar]

If the Warriors come back to the table with interest in Zach (I'm still doubtful), I can see AK accepting a deal like this:

Bulls receive:
Tim Hardaway Jr (Det)
Jonathan Kuminga (GSW)
Gary Payton II (GSW)

Warriors receive:
Zach LaVine (Chi)

Pistons receive:
Andrew Wiggins (GSW)

Bulls get a young somewhat established player with plenty of potential left and expiring contracts. AK isn't into draft picks, he'll want young potentially 'win sooner than later' pieces.

I actually like Kuminga, but I'm not real keen on getting him back as he needs a big pay day, similar to Giddey.

This would be the framework but I just don’t think the Dubs have the contracts. Wiggins is playing well for them and they don’t have enough after the trade to really make a push for the chip.

The juice isn’t worth the squeeze for them. They can’t lose Wiggins and Kuminga. They need size.

I think Vuc goes to Dubs.

Huh!? That is the contracts, those add up to 43m, the same Zach makes.

I don't actually think the Warriors will come knocking for Zach and agree it's more likely they'll go after Vucevic but matching his salary isn't overly easy either as they're so close to the apron.

The trade can be expanded to include 1 more warrior and 2 more Bulls so they aren't losing so much depth but my point was more AK won't be looking for picks, just young already established players needing a 'fresh start'.

I still think Zach ends up in LA personally.

[Chi town]

If the Warriors come back to the table with interest in Zach (I'm still doubtful), I can see AK accepting a deal like this:

Bulls receive:
Tim Hardaway Jr (Det)
Jonathan Kuminga (GSW)
Gary Payton II (GSW)

Warriors receive:
Zach LaVine (Chi)

Pistons receive:
Andrew Wiggins (GSW)

Bulls get a young somewhat established player with plenty of potential left and expiring contracts. AK isn't into draft picks, he'll want young potentially 'win sooner than later' pieces.

I actually like Kuminga, but I'm not real keen on getting him back as he needs a big pay day, similar to Giddey.

This would be the framework but I just don’t think the Dubs have the contracts. Wiggins is playing well for them and they don’t have enough after the trade to really make a push for the chip.

The juice isn’t worth the squeeze for them. They can’t lose Wiggins and Kuminga. They need size.

I think Vuc goes to Dubs.

Huh!? That is the contracts, those add up to 43m, the same Zach makes.

I don't actually think the Warriors will come knocking for Zach and agree it's more likely they'll go after Vucevic but matching his salary isn't overly easy either as they're so close to the apron.

The trade can be expanded to include 1 more warrior and 2 more Bulls so they aren't losing so much depth but my point was more AK won't be looking for picks, just young already established players needing a 'fresh start'.

I still think Zach ends up in LA personally.

They won’t want to trade Wiggins for Zach. They need Wiggins to win. They want Wiggins playing with Zach not replacing him.

[jnrjr79]

This would be the framework but I just don’t think the Dubs have the contracts. Wiggins is playing well for them and they don’t have enough after the trade to really make a push for the chip.

The juice isn’t worth the squeeze for them. They can’t lose Wiggins and Kuminga. They need size.

I think Vuc goes to Dubs.

Huh!? That is the contracts, those add up to 43m, the same Zach makes.

I don't actually think the Warriors will come knocking for Zach and agree it's more likely they'll go after Vucevic but matching his salary isn't overly easy either as they're so close to the apron.

The trade can be expanded to include 1 more warrior and 2 more Bulls so they aren't losing so much depth but my point was more AK won't be looking for picks, just young already established players needing a 'fresh start'.

I still think Zach ends up in LA personally.

They won’t want to trade Wiggins for Zach. They need Wiggins to win. They want Wiggins playing with Zach not replacing him.

That’s all well and good, but it’s basically impossible for them to match salaries without Wiggins in the deal.

[Chi town]

Huh!? That is the contracts, those add up to 43m, the same Zach makes.

I don't actually think the Warriors will come knocking for Zach and agree it's more likely they'll go after Vucevic but matching his salary isn't overly easy either as they're so close to the apron.

The trade can be expanded to include 1 more warrior and 2 more Bulls so they aren't losing so much depth but my point was more AK won't be looking for picks, just young already established players needing a 'fresh start'.

I still think Zach ends up in LA personally.

They won’t want to trade Wiggins for Zach. They need Wiggins to win. They want Wiggins playing with Zach not replacing him.

That’s all well and good, but it’s basically impossible for them to match salaries without Wiggins in the deal.

Yep. Which is why I don’t think they will make a deal for someone with a max salary.

[Muzbar]

I think Vuc goes to Dubs.

Looking into that, I don't think they have large enough salaries to even match Vuc without giving up 3 players.

So they're probably out on Vuc, too.

[Sinistar6]

As a huge Zack fan, I take the MPJ deal -bad contracts. Would love to get their pick protected if they see more value in Zach. He does make them amazing on paper. Jokic feeding Zach is nuts.

[Chi town]

Zach needs to go to a contender with a clearly defined leader. That will bring the best out of him.

Really disappointing effort last two games after his superstar game against the Celtics in BOS. Seems checked out.

[Jcool0]

Just make the trade for MPJ and be done with it.

[sco]

Just make the trade for MPJ and be done with it.

According to MPJ quote from Wiretap, the DEN FO told him that there are no serious conversations going on right now. Maybe before? That said, I'm not a fan of a MPJ deal. Would rather keep Zach. MPJ's deal is worse given his relative production and durability concerns, IMO.

I'm currently rooting for a Kuminga-based deal with GS.

[TheSuzerain]

What does the MPJ trade even accomplish?

I'm all for trading Lavine, but it should either improve our cap situation or get us a pick.

[BullChit]

What does the MPJ trade even accomplish?

I'm all for trading Lavine, but it should either improve our cap situation or get us a pick.

Slightly less scoring and even worse defence...

[DuckIII]

What does the MPJ trade even accomplish?

I'm all for trading Lavine, but it should either improve our cap situation or get us a pick.

Nothing. It’s a horrible deal.

[HomoSapien]

What does the MPJ trade even accomplish?

I'm all for trading Lavine, but it should either improve our cap situation or get us a pick.

Nothing. It’s a horrible deal.

We're also trading the better player. MPJ is younger, but given his health what's the likelihood that he's even the better player in 5 years from now?

[Dez]

Why do people bring up health with MPJ? Zach isn't any better health-wise.

[Jstock12]

Why would Denver even want Zach? They're already a top5 offense. Their problems are defensively. Zach doesn't solve that.

[2weekswithpay]

Why would Denver even want Zach? They're already a top5 offense. Their problems are defensively. Zach doesn't solve that.

Jokic has the most ridiculous on/off splits I've ever seen even by his standards. Denver's offensive rating is 126 when Jokic is on the court, but it drops to around 99 when he's on the bench. Denver has never had a great bench but the dropoff when Jokic isn't in the game has never been this big.

Murray isn't good enough to be the second-best player on a championship team right now. He hasn't been good since last season's playoffs. The Nuggets need more shot creation and Zach is probably the best guy they can get for MPJ's contract.

[jnrjr79]

Why do people bring up health with MPJ? Zach isn't any better health-wise.

It’s because the health stuff that Zach has dealt with is not the type that recurs, while Porter’s is.

[Infinity2152]

Why do people bring up health with MPJ? Zach isn't any better health-wise.

That's exactly the point. One of the main knocks on Lavine is "injury prone". If MPJ is equally "injury prone", what do you gain trading for him? The age difference keeps being brought up an advantage, main advantage of being younger is less injuries/healthier. Take that away, why would anybody want MPJ over Zach?

MPJ had serious injury issues even before he entered the league. Isn't that why he dropped in the draft in the first place? He's had at least three back surgeries already, he looks healthy enough now, but long term? Almost every player with multiple back surgeries has retired early.