Best Hypothetical Star Addition To This Team?

Post #1 » by **Snakebites** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 9:08 pm

I took this idea from a thread on the Trades Board- where someone asked who the "first" start to be traded this season would be. As such, this is a list of star players on teams that are playing poorly, teams that may decide to become sellers at some point this season.

I removed a few players from the options because they were ball dominant point guards who I felt were clear bad fits with Cade (Lamelo, Ja, Trae). If anyone loves those as possible options you're more than welcome to select "other".

Let us set aside for a moment the very valid question of whether or not a blockbuster trade is necessary or advisable for this team- I feel like we've already discussed that particular topic.

Here, factoring in the following factors:

Anticipated level of play
Fit with our roster on the court
Availability in games (injuries)
Likely cost to acquire in terms of picks and other assets (your judgement on this will vary of course)
Salary
Intangibles

Which of these guys do you think would be the BEST player to acquire?

AnnArborpiston · Post #2 » by **AnnArborpiston** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 9:15 pm

Trey Murphey.

I'd trade Ron Holland, Sasser + 1st round pick

My other preference, though we'd never get him, is Booker.

Ivey + 3 first round picks.

Post #3 » by **Snakebites** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 9:16 pm

Again- factor in what you THINK they will cost, too.

Some of these guys will be more asset-expensive to acquire than others.

Post #4 » by **Snakebites** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 9:17 pm

AnnArborpiston wrote:Trey Murphey.

I'd trade Ron Holland, Sasser + 1st round pick

My other preference, though we'd never get him, is Booker.

Ivey + 3 first round picks.

Yeah I left Booker off the list because I just don't think they will have sufficient incentive to move him.

The team is playing okay so far, and they have minimal control over their draft capital. They don't really have a better option than to rebuild around him.

I'm guessing that's why the thread this is sorta based on left him off too.

joedumars1 · Post #5 » by **joedumars1** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 9:22 pm

Not sure I want any of them to be honest, lol. Maybe Davis if he was cheap, but none really.

DetroitSho · Post #6 » by **DetroitSho** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 9:23 pm

I'm not moving off JJJ or Lauri. I've been on those trains going back to last season.

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Post #7 » by **Snakebites** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 9:24 pm

DetroitSho wrote:I'm not moving off JJJ or Lauri. I've been on those trains going back to last season.

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But if you had to pick one, which would it be?

MotownMadness · Post #8 » by **MotownMadness** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 9:56 pm

JJJ for me but not sure on the offer

DetroitSho · Post #9 » by **DetroitSho** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 10:06 pm

Snakebites wrote:
DetroitSho wrote:I'm not moving off JJJ or Lauri. I've been on those trains going back to last season.

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But if you had to pick one, which would it be?

JJJ

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tmorgan · Post #10 » by **tmorgan** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 10:16 pm

At the likely prices, I choose “none of the above”.

Once we (hopefully) get healthy, maybe we find we have true excesses to deal from. Then look around.

MotownMadness · Post #11 » by **MotownMadness** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 10:21 pm

None of them are really worth their contracts though. It would be hard to keep good depth after paying Duren and one of these guys.

bstein14 · Post #12 » by **bstein14** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 10:54 pm

If you trade for one of these guys, and then want to keep Duren and you've already got Cade on the more expensive max you are starting to need an owner willing to pay tax real soon for sure and then 1st apron.

26-27 Luxury tax is going to be $200 million and we could have $140+ million into just Cade, "Star Addition" and Duren... then you've got a lot of other pieces to consider.

26-27 Salary
Cade: $50
"Star": $50
Duren: $40 (if he's an all-star and gets a near max deal)
Duncan Robinson: $16 (mostly not guaranteed)
Stewart: $15
LeVert or Tobias resigned: $15 (assumes 2026 1st rounder + Ivey and one of LeVert or Tobias is traded for said star)
Ausar: $11
Holland: $9
Reed: $5.6
Sasser: $5.2 (His QO)
Chaz: $2.2

TOTAL 11 guys $219 million so we're $19 million deep into the luxury tax.
2nd Apron is $222 million
1st Apron is $209 million

Of course, we could always not pick up Sasser's QO and not pick up the option on Duncan Robinson but I'm not sure Duncan Robinson is a bad value at $16 million.

bstein14 · Post #13 » by **bstein14** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 10:57 pm

MotownMadness wrote:None of them are really worth their contracts though. It would be hard to keep good depth after paying Duren and one of these guys.

This is a big part of it....

I like JJJ. I'd trade players for JJJ even though he makes $50 million per year. No part of me really feels like he's worth our players and a bunch of first round draft picks though at that price. If he was make $30 million per year sure, sign me up for 3 firsts at how much he costs he's not worth sending out Ivey, Tobias and 3+ first rounders for.

You've got to factor in how much a player makes when considering what to offer in a trade.... and you have to understand that player's salary might prevent you from being able to go out and use MLE money on players each summer, etc.

Post #14 » by **Snakebites** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 11:12 pm

MotownMadness wrote:None of them are really worth their contracts though. It would be hard to keep good depth after paying Duren and one of these guys.

Stars worth their contracts only get traded when they demand it.

And that’s not to us.

GreekAlex · Post #15 » by **GreekAlex** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 11:16 pm

I think this is completely the WRONG direction.

What if Ivey, Ausar or Holland takes the leap that Duren did this season?

I’d use the Schröder TPE and a pick to make an upgrade based on whatever our biggest weakness is closer to the trade deadline.

GreekAlex · Post #16 » by **GreekAlex** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 11:55 pm

I don’t believe any of the listed “Trade Targets” will meet or exceed their contract value aside from possibly Siakam. All of their teams view the players as positive assets. This is where the problem lies.

If I’m Trajan, I’d rather invest trade assets in whatever is the next equivalent of “Donovan Mitchell” that becomes available.

I’d like a multi time all star on an upward trajectory at roughly 25 years old without an injury history.

If that’s not available, I’d rather upgrade around the margins and not spend assets on anything risky.

Post #17 » by **Cowology** » Wed Nov 19, 2025 12:28 am

Giannis

Post #18 » by **theBigLip** » Wed Nov 19, 2025 1:05 am

Siakam would be my target.

Tobias, filler and a couple of firsts.

Kalamazoo317 · Post #19 » by **Kalamazoo317** » Wed Nov 19, 2025 1:25 am

Snakebites wrote:
MotownMadness wrote:None of them are really worth their contracts though. It would be hard to keep good depth after paying Duren and one of these guys.

Stars worth their contracts only get traded when they demand it.

And that’s not to us.

Which is why the answer should be none of the above. This team is going to win with defense, depth, and internal improvement, not overpay trades that kill our future flexibility.

bstein14 · Post #20 » by **bstein14** » Wed Nov 19, 2025 3:29 am

Some Memphis fans feeling like JJJ's defense and effort level has fallen off this year after getting his max deal. It could be a situation where they move on from him for less than what people might think and do a full rebuild moving on from Ja and JJJ. Career low in steals, career low in blocks, and just 5.2 RPG.

He does fit well inbetween a very good rebounding Duren and Ausar Thompson, but he's only worth taking on that huge contract if he's balling out on defense. If you bringing him in for $50 million a year it could really derail what we built if he isn't going balls to the wall on D.

Which Player Would You Most Want to Trade For?