NBA Trade Thread #12

[sco]

I could see Huerter for Issac.

Magic need shooting really bad.

I like that trade for us. I like Huerter a lot, but Isaac would be a big difference maker for us and they are heavy at the 4/5 and we are heavy at the 2.

[WindyCityBorn]

I could see Huerter for Issac.

Magic need shooting really bad.

Isaac is an injury prone bust.

[Chi town]

I could see Huerter for Issac.

Magic need shooting really bad.

Isaac is an injury prone bust.

His contract is non guaranteed. Very flexible.

He’s elite on D when healthy. Still young but also still an injury risk. Similar to Zo.

[WesPeace]

Kinda rather keep Huerter who has been playing solid SF for us,than risk it on injury prone Isaac.

[Infinity2152]

So I'm the only one who thinks Sabonis could be great at PF with an athletic defensive center? He's shot 37%, 38%, and 41% from 3 the last three years, seems like great three point range to me. Especially if that center is not a strong rebounder. There are a few good defensive centers that are poor rebounders, like Jaren Jackson and Brook Lopez. Our team last year probably could have won 41 games. Don't see how the team wouldn't be way better with say Sabonis/Smith, Maluach, Ware, Reid, Turner, Gafford, etc at PF/Center vs Williams/Vucevic.

The Bulls need at least two players to contend. All these projections of where we'll be with one trade are not really fair. Does anybody here think we're one player away? Even if it was Giannis, after all we'd have to give up?

You must subscribe to the saying "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good." While you're right, Sabonis' defensive woes could be hidden at PF next to a good defensive C. The "But" is that despite decent 3pt %'s Sabonis' value is his acting as your offensive hub and his camping out in the paint for rebounds. If we are rolling with a Giddey led offense (and doubly-so, if we're keeping Coby), we really need EVERYBODY else in the starting line-up be a very good defender. Also, adding a non-defending player at PF, bumps Giddey down to the other guard spot and takes away our chance to add a POA defender.

I like that" Don't let perfect be the enemy of good." Like I said, we have basically two main players we can count on being here next summer. Giddy and Matas. Matas looks to be a plus defender. I thought Giddey was starting to change minds about his defense the second half of the season, but maybe not. He looks to me like he could be NBA average, depending on what position he's asked to guard. That's still one player. Sabonis was in DPOY running last season, where is this Sabonis is a bad defender coming from? Think people are conflating "not a great rim protector" with bad defender.

Four seasons at PF: Defensive rating 108, 106 (All Star), 110 (All Star), 113 (season he was traded to Kings)
Next three years at center: 114, 112, 114

Average defensive rating for power forwards last year: 114.6

I don't think he'll be a below average defender at PF, and I don't think Giddey plus Sabonis will sink the Bulls when projecting Matas as a probable plus defender, Smith probably a plus defender, Ball a plus defender, and Phillips possibly one. These are the only players under contract past this season. He's certainly above average in points, rebounds and assists for position.

And as much as I love Giddey, he's been here one year, not re-signed and we're not looking for him to be our best player. He's not guaranteed to be here long term, wouldn't pass up better players than Giddey because they don't fit with Giddey. Though I think Sabonis ability to space the floor is a good fit offensively for Giddey, and his ability to create scoring and his passing will be good when Giddey comes off the floor. Not looking for Giddey to be POA defender or Sabonis to be rim protector.

[Muzbar]

So I'm the only one who thinks Sabonis could be great at PF with an athletic defensive center? He's shot 37%, 38%, and 41% from 3 the last three years, seems like great three point range to me. Especially if that center is not a strong rebounder. There are a few good defensive centers that are poor rebounders, like Jaren Jackson and Brook Lopez. Our team last year probably could have won 41 games. Don't see how the team wouldn't be way better with say Sabonis/Smith, Maluach, Ware, Reid, Turner, Gafford, etc at PF/Center vs Williams/Vucevic.

The Bulls need at least two players to contend. All these projections of where we'll be with one trade are not really fair. Does anybody here think we're one player away? Even if it was Giannis, after all we'd have to give up?

Did the Pacers not already do this with Turner/Sabonis? They then broke it up as it wasn't really working and made the Haliburton trade.

[GuardianEnzo]

State of the Union address: It's time to pick a lane. Our main two pieces right now are Giddey and Matas. A great 3 starters with depth should be a great team. Our best trade pieces are Coby, Vuc, Collins, Huerter.

We can either trade up: Combine players, picks to add the best third player we can
Or trade down: Trade Coby and Vucevic and get picks and role players.

Trading Coby and Vucevic immediately takes us out of any potential superstar trade, imo. We have to think about that when we're talking about trading them for guys like Kuminga or Anthony Black or even Naz Reid. I've been talking up ome of these mid trades, but thinking I want Desmond Bane/Markannen level at least before I move Coby. I'd hold him till the deadline if I had to, opportunities could come up.

We need high end talent. I see people rejecting even the idea of Sabonis. He'd be considered a far more valuable player than almost any of the trade ideas I've seen. Just play him at PF, great rebounder, solid shooter, active player. He's 29, great. Vuc will be gone, if a 29 yr old vet is the oldest guy on the team, glad to have him. He's an elite NBA talent. He'll make $43 mill next yr. $46.7 mill in 2026. Think I just heard SGA will be eligible for an extension that summer with $76 mill AAV. He keeps getting compared to Vucevic, he's like 20 lbs lighter, he'd be much more effective at PF with a defensive center. And he's a good fit on paper with Matas as a forward pairing.

I agree that our best move right now is to trade Coby plus other assets for someone who is better than Coby. I think Bane is the best remotely feasible option out there that I've heard. I get your point, but I don't see us getting Lauri.

I think Bane is a guy who could take that Brunson step, be a true superstar on a team where he was the alpha. Not sure how realistic a target he is but even if he doesn’t level up to superstar, he’s already an elite player. And he could level up.

Besides, he was born in the darkness. Molded by it.

[Infinity2152]

So I'm the only one who thinks Sabonis could be great at PF with an athletic defensive center? He's shot 37%, 38%, and 41% from 3 the last three years, seems like great three point range to me. Especially if that center is not a strong rebounder. There are a few good defensive centers that are poor rebounders, like Jaren Jackson and Brook Lopez. Our team last year probably could have won 41 games. Don't see how the team wouldn't be way better with say Sabonis/Smith, Maluach, Ware, Reid, Turner, Gafford, etc at PF/Center vs Williams/Vucevic.

The Bulls need at least two players to contend. All these projections of where we'll be with one trade are not really fair. Does anybody here think we're one player away? Even if it was Giannis, after all we'd have to give up?

Did the Pacers not already do this with Turner/Sabonis? They then broke it up as it wasn't really working and made the Haliburton trade.

He was an All-Star with the Pacers. He and Turner worked well, rest of the team was weak. 2020 Pacers featured Oladipo, Brogdon, TJ Warren, Sabonis, Turner, Justin Holiday, Aaron Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, Doug McDermott. Turner played 47 games, and they sucked. He was traded the next season. Wouldn't say Sabonis not being good enough or not fitting is the reason he was traded. How great would he have to be to make that team a contender? They got a top 15 player for him, then replaced him with an All Star PF while retaining Turner, sure they're doing better now, lol.

[Muzbar]

So I'm the only one who thinks Sabonis could be great at PF with an athletic defensive center? He's shot 37%, 38%, and 41% from 3 the last three years, seems like great three point range to me. Especially if that center is not a strong rebounder. There are a few good defensive centers that are poor rebounders, like Jaren Jackson and Brook Lopez. Our team last year probably could have won 41 games. Don't see how the team wouldn't be way better with say Sabonis/Smith, Maluach, Ware, Reid, Turner, Gafford, etc at PF/Center vs Williams/Vucevic.

The Bulls need at least two players to contend. All these projections of where we'll be with one trade are not really fair. Does anybody here think we're one player away? Even if it was Giannis, after all we'd have to give up?

Did the Pacers not already do this with Turner/Sabonis? They then broke it up as it wasn't really working and made the Haliburton trade.

He was an All-Star with the Pacers. He and Turner worked well, rest of the team was weak. 2020 Pacers featured Oladipo, Brogdon, TJ Warren, Sabonis, Turner, Justin Holiday, Aaron Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, Doug McDermott. Turner played 47 games, and they sucked. He was traded the next season. Wouldn't say Sabonis not being good enough or not fitting is the reason he was traded. How great would he have to be to make that team a contender? They got a top 15 player for him, then replaced him with an All Star PF while retaining Turner, sure they're doing better now, lol.

They traded Sabonis because they were looking to trade either him or Turner because they didn't really work together, Sabonis was and is better at C, he'd get cooked defensively at PF seeing as most 'PFs' are actually SFs just playing the PF spot.

Playing next to someone like Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby would probably be better for Sabonis.

[nomorezorro]

recent basketball events have got me real thirsty for a stretch 5 with size....what would it take to get jay huff from the grizzlies

[Infinity2152]

Did the Pacers not already do this with Turner/Sabonis? They then broke it up as it wasn't really working and made the Haliburton trade.

He was an All-Star with the Pacers. He and Turner worked well, rest of the team was weak. 2020 Pacers featured Oladipo, Brogdon, TJ Warren, Sabonis, Turner, Justin Holiday, Aaron Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, Doug McDermott. Turner played 47 games, and they sucked. He was traded the next season. Wouldn't say Sabonis not being good enough or not fitting is the reason he was traded. How great would he have to be to make that team a contender? They got a top 15 player for him, then replaced him with an All Star PF while retaining Turner, sure they're doing better now, lol.

They traded Sabonis because they were looking to trade either him or Turner because they didn't really work together, Sabonis was and is better at C, he'd get cooked defensively at PF seeing as most 'PFs' are actually SFs just playing the PF spot.

Playing next to someone like Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby would probably be better for Sabonis.

How about this? He played for the Pacers 4 full years. Turner's played there 10 years. The two years Turner has been in DPOY running have both been next to Sabonis. Turner averages less than 7 rbs/gm. Sabonis's 12+ rebounds/gm certainly paired well with that. He's been a 2 times AllStar at PF, versus once at center. Don't know why anybody would think he's better at center when his main weakness is rim protection. And small forwards guarding him would get killed on the other end.

There are a lot of big PF's, that same logic applies to Porzingas, Jaren Jackson, Tobias Harris, Chet Holmgren, John Collins, Aaron Gordon, Zion is 260+, KAT, Julius Randle, Banchero and Siakam are both big. Evan Mobley. Durant is 7 ft. Lebron is 250 lbs. Most of the winning teams actually play big PF's, or guys who play both PF and center. What are you viewing Matas defensive prospects as? I'm hoping for a plus defense SF like Bridges. Also want a plus defender at SG for POA defense and defensive center for back end defense. OKC lost last year with a small lineup and signed Hartenstein so they could play a 7 foot player at PF. Working great for them, and their small ball lineup was killing it. Cooper Flagg is the number 1 draft pick.

For me right now, it's talent over fit. We have only have two players to worry about fit with, and Matas looks to fit most all types. Sabonis is an All Star talent without the headaches most of the others would come with like Zion or Ja, the trade packages mentioned don't gut the team, and at 29 is a great age to be a vet and still be very effective over the length of his contract. He's proven himself, and his contract isn't outlandish for what he brings. It's around Zach's contract. He's not a number 1, but would be a great number 2. We get Giddey at $25 mill, think we could build a damn good team around Giddey at $25 mill, Sabonis at $42 mill, Matas at $5.5, our 2025 rookie at about $4 mill, and a 2026 rookie.

[boozapalooza]

recent basketball events have got me real thirsty for a stretch 5 with size....what would it take to get jay huff from the grizzlies

We gotta be thinking bigger than Jay Huff my guy

This is a new level of thirst. Severe dehydration

[Infinity2152]

recent basketball events have got me real thirsty for a stretch 5 with size....what would it take to get jay huff from the grizzlies

We gotta be thinking bigger than Jay Huff my guy

This is a new level of thirst. Severe dehydration

Lmao! Comment of the day. Have to agree, we have like one roster spot, three centers and haven't even started free agency or hit the draft. Huff is some low hanging fruit.

[WesPeace]

I liked old man Sabonis, young one - he is very good player, but I dont think he will ever be a true no.1 or difference maker. So I dont want to spend more assets on players like that. That wont bring us over pothole. Lets try to get something big or just stay on the youth movement road until 2026 off season to see for free agency fishing.

Lets first get good draft pick who can defend and also score on decent level, has high BB IQ, plus trade Vucevic for more defensive help, maybe consider trading White for first rounders.. consider trading POR pick. We have options to improve..

[Ccwatercraft]

I will stop watching if we trade for Sabonis

You've made it this far and Sabonis is the deal breaker?

What's the problem, is he a republican or something?

[sco]

recent basketball events have got me real thirsty for a stretch 5 with size....what would it take to get jay huff from the grizzlies

We gotta be thinking bigger than Jay Huff my guy

This is a new level of thirst. Severe dehydration

Lmao! Comment of the day. Have to agree, we have like one roster spot, three centers and haven't even started free agency or hit the draft. Huff is some low hanging fruit.

Not sure what's serious on Huff, but I've always liked that dude.

[Chi town]

State of the Union address: It's time to pick a lane. Our main two pieces right now are Giddey and Matas. A great 3 starters with depth should be a great team. Our best trade pieces are Coby, Vuc, Collins, Huerter.

We can either trade up: Combine players, picks to add the best third player we can
Or trade down: Trade Coby and Vucevic and get picks and role players.

Trading Coby and Vucevic immediately takes us out of any potential superstar trade, imo. We have to think about that when we're talking about trading them for guys like Kuminga or Anthony Black or even Naz Reid. I've been talking up ome of these mid trades, but thinking I want Desmond Bane/Markannen level at least before I move Coby. I'd hold him till the deadline if I had to, opportunities could come up.

We need high end talent. I see people rejecting even the idea of Sabonis. He'd be considered a far more valuable player than almost any of the trade ideas I've seen. Just play him at PF, great rebounder, solid shooter, active player. He's 29, great. Vuc will be gone, if a 29 yr old vet is the oldest guy on the team, glad to have him. He's an elite NBA talent. He'll make $43 mill next yr. $46.7 mill in 2026. Think I just heard SGA will be eligible for an extension that summer with $76 mill AAV. He keeps getting compared to Vucevic, he's like 20 lbs lighter, he'd be much more effective at PF with a defensive center. And he's a good fit on paper with Matas as a forward pairing.

I agree that our best move right now is to trade Coby plus other assets for someone who is better than Coby. I think Bane is the best remotely feasible option out there that I've heard. I get your point, but I don't see us getting Lauri.

I think Bane is a guy who could take that Brunson step, be a true superstar on a team where he was the alpha. Not sure how realistic a target he is but even if he doesn’t level up to superstar, he’s already an elite player. And he could level up.

Besides, he was born in the darkness. Molded by it.

Don’t see it. He has no juice on ball. He’s a good movement shooter. That’s valuable but not first option material.

[Infinity2152]

We gotta be thinking bigger than Jay Huff my guy

This is a new level of thirst. Severe dehydration

Lmao! Comment of the day. Have to agree, we have like one roster spot, three centers and haven't even started free agency or hit the draft. Huff is some low hanging fruit.

Not sure what's serious on Huff, but I've always liked that dude.

Not knocking Huff, it's just at this point targeting him for one of our few remaining spots means we've basically given up, lol. We have like two valuable players on this team. Maybe 3 or 4. Sabonis would instantly be considered the best player on this team and we're not talking about giving up either of the top two.

Seems like every trade proposal for every player who's better than every player on the Bulls right now is a bad move, lmao! From Ja, to Zion, to Sabonis, to Brown, now even Bane and Markannen. Laughed at for targeting mid level guys like Derrick White. We're talking about fit when we have two main players (one right now) guaranteed to be here. There are a lot of ways to build championship teams, they don't all look alike. But we need the highest level overall talent we can get.

A superstar trade comes up, what's a better centerpiece for the trade, Sabonis plus extras, or Coby, Collins, Vucevic? Two months ago, half the people here hated Giddey, now we're eliminating every player because of possible fit with Giddey. Who's 22 and theoretically keeps improving. His defense at the end of the year looked better than at the start.

[burlydee]

He was an All-Star with the Pacers. He and Turner worked well, rest of the team was weak. 2020 Pacers featured Oladipo, Brogdon, TJ Warren, Sabonis, Turner, Justin Holiday, Aaron Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, Doug McDermott. Turner played 47 games, and they sucked. He was traded the next season. Wouldn't say Sabonis not being good enough or not fitting is the reason he was traded. How great would he have to be to make that team a contender? They got a top 15 player for him, then replaced him with an All Star PF while retaining Turner, sure they're doing better now, lol.

They traded Sabonis because they were looking to trade either him or Turner because they didn't really work together, Sabonis was and is better at C, he'd get cooked defensively at PF seeing as most 'PFs' are actually SFs just playing the PF spot.

Playing next to someone like Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby would probably be better for Sabonis.

How about this? He played for the Pacers 4 full years. Turner's played there 10 years. The two years Turner has been in DPOY running have both been next to Sabonis. Turner averages less than 7 rbs/gm. Sabonis's 12+ rebounds/gm certainly paired well with that. He's been a 2 times AllStar at PF, versus once at center. Don't know why anybody would think he's better at center when his main weakness is rim protection. And small forwards guarding him would get killed on the other end.

There are a lot of big PF's, that same logic applies to Porzingas, Jaren Jackson, Tobias Harris, Chet Holmgren, John Collins, Aaron Gordon, Zion is 260+, KAT, Julius Randle, Banchero and Siakam are both big. Evan Mobley. Durant is 7 ft. Lebron is 250 lbs. Most of the winning teams actually play big PF's, or guys who play both PF and center. What are you viewing Matas defensive prospects as? I'm hoping for a plus defense SF like Bridges. Also want a plus defender at SG for POA defense and defensive center for back end defense. OKC lost last year with a small lineup and signed Hartenstein so they could play a 7 foot player at PF. Working great for them, and their small ball lineup was killing it. Cooper Flagg is the number 1 draft pick.

For me right now, it's talent over fit. We have only have two players to worry about fit with, and Matas looks to fit most all types. Sabonis is an All Star talent without the headaches most of the others would come with like Zion or Ja, the trade packages mentioned don't gut the team, and at 29 is a great age to be a vet and still be very effective over the length of his contract. He's proven himself, and his contract isn't outlandish for what he brings. It's around Zach's contract. He's not a number 1, but would be a great number 2. We get Giddey at $25 mill, think we could build a damn good team around Giddey at $25 mill, Sabonis at $42 mill, Matas at $5.5, our 2025 rookie at about $4 mill, and a 2026 rookie.

You make the best case possible for Sabonis. Its criminal they haven't paired him with a 5. I still don't want him bc i think he makes too much but this is the best argument I've seen.

[Infinity2152]

They traded Sabonis because they were looking to trade either him or Turner because they didn't really work together, Sabonis was and is better at C, he'd get cooked defensively at PF seeing as most 'PFs' are actually SFs just playing the PF spot.

Playing next to someone like Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby would probably be better for Sabonis.

How about this? He played for the Pacers 4 full years. Turner's played there 10 years. The two years Turner has been in DPOY running have both been next to Sabonis. Turner averages less than 7 rbs/gm. Sabonis's 12+ rebounds/gm certainly paired well with that. He's been a 2 times AllStar at PF, versus once at center. Don't know why anybody would think he's better at center when his main weakness is rim protection. And small forwards guarding him would get killed on the other end.

There are a lot of big PF's, that same logic applies to Porzingas, Jaren Jackson, Tobias Harris, Chet Holmgren, John Collins, Aaron Gordon, Zion is 260+, KAT, Julius Randle, Banchero and Siakam are both big. Evan Mobley. Durant is 7 ft. Lebron is 250 lbs. Most of the winning teams actually play big PF's, or guys who play both PF and center. What are you viewing Matas defensive prospects as? I'm hoping for a plus defense SF like Bridges. Also want a plus defender at SG for POA defense and defensive center for back end defense. OKC lost last year with a small lineup and signed Hartenstein so they could play a 7 foot player at PF. Working great for them, and their small ball lineup was killing it. Cooper Flagg is the number 1 draft pick.

For me right now, it's talent over fit. We have only have two players to worry about fit with, and Matas looks to fit most all types. Sabonis is an All Star talent without the headaches most of the others would come with like Zion or Ja, the trade packages mentioned don't gut the team, and at 29 is a great age to be a vet and still be very effective over the length of his contract. He's proven himself, and his contract isn't outlandish for what he brings. It's around Zach's contract. He's not a number 1, but would be a great number 2. We get Giddey at $25 mill, think we could build a damn good team around Giddey at $25 mill, Sabonis at $42 mill, Matas at $5.5, our 2025 rookie at about $4 mill, and a 2026 rookie.

You make the best case possible for Sabonis. Its criminal they haven't paired him with a 5. I still don't want him bc i think he makes too much but this is the best argument I've seen.

He makes $44 mill next year. $46.7 in 2026. Sounds like a whole lot. SGA will be eligible for an extension paying him $76 mill AAV next summer. 2026, Steph makes $62.6 mill, Embid $59.5, Sabonis is the 24th highest paid player so far for 2026. That doesn't include any massive signings or extensions that could happen next summer with multiple teams having cap space. He could be around the 30th highest paid player in 2026. There are 38 players right now going to make $40+ mill in 2026.

Guy averaged 19 pts, 14 rbs, and 6 assists at 42% 3pt shooting last year. Did any player in the NBA match those numbers? He's averaged 14 rbs the last two seasons. Rebounding is criminally under rated, one of the most important component of defense. It prevents the other team from even attempting shots, 100% effective on defense, because they don't have the ball. Why the pairing with him and Turner led to Turner getting DPOY nods.

After the Pacers traded him, only big move has been to replace him with another, even more expensive All Star PF. Siakam makes $49 mill in 2026. And they had like three good young PF's at the time, recent high draft picks. That's how much they missed Sabonis.