Is it too early to look at the lottery?

[JMaster5K]

I really doubt Atlanta would be willing to trade that NOP 1st this year, for most anything. Especially not while NO is still so clearly in a state of major dysfunction.

ATL wouldn't trade that pick for Giannis? for Shai? for Jokic? for Edwards? If there was a player that could give them an 80%, 90% chance to get to the ECF, this year, before the draft & make you a contender for a couple of years,... you don't trade that pick? Even if that pick leads to a generational talent, they likely need a year or two to be ready & fit into your team? That doesn't put you into contention now,... or next year,... when the largest portion of your key rotation is in their prime, and you are already having a season that could put you in position to make that jump?

I think you are right,... that they highly value that pick & it would take something huge to get it on the table, but the goal for all the team is winning a championship. If there was something that made that very, very likely,... I think they would at least have to listen?

I specifically said “most anything”


Would they trade it for a first team all nba player/mvp player? Sure. Most likely. But Pascal Siakam absolutely isn’t in that class, right? Fair to say he’s Nowhere close?

But no. I don’t think they trade they pick for a chance at a second round playoff run. I think they don’t have enough of a solid long term base of keepers to do so. They’re not sure they’re extending Trae. Daniels is nice, but he’s showing a bit more limited offensively. Jalen Johnson is their only main guy, and he’s their new building block. He’s not being moved for Siakam, either.

But if they could add one of Peterson, Boozer, or Dybantsa to olay long term with Johnson? Well, then you feel better about keeping Trae, and you feel more comfortable long term with Okongwu/Daniels, etc.

Siakim has been if not the key, then 1of 2 key players for the team that made back-to-back ecf’s, & a trip to the finals. He impacts winning arguably more so than Giannis,… but not as much individually as Shai, or jokic,… but on a team where he fits, he has proven he can make that difference. He fits with ATL.

I’m not so sure they are building around JJ,… but trying to put together a team that plays good team ball? If this is true? Then there window isn’t defined by JJ, but by the combination of JJ, Trae, Kristaps, NAW, DD, etc. So, they have a couple of years to pull it off, but after that they will have to have some form of a rebuild.

Right now ATL is 7th in the east. Lol - dead in the middle. . It really depends on if they think they can win it all this year? If so, go for it. If they don’t think they can, then the long play (keeping & using the draft picks has to be the right call.).

[Scoot McGroot]

ATL wouldn't trade that pick for Giannis? for Shai? for Jokic? for Edwards? If there was a player that could give them an 80%, 90% chance to get to the ECF, this year, before the draft & make you a contender for a couple of years,... you don't trade that pick? Even if that pick leads to a generational talent, they likely need a year or two to be ready & fit into your team? That doesn't put you into contention now,... or next year,... when the largest portion of your key rotation is in their prime, and you are already having a season that could put you in position to make that jump?

I think you are right,... that they highly value that pick & it would take something huge to get it on the table, but the goal for all the team is winning a championship. If there was something that made that very, very likely,... I think they would at least have to listen?

I specifically said “most anything”


Would they trade it for a first team all nba player/mvp player? Sure. Most likely. But Pascal Siakam absolutely isn’t in that class, right? Fair to say he’s Nowhere close?

But no. I don’t think they trade they pick for a chance at a second round playoff run. I think they don’t have enough of a solid long term base of keepers to do so. They’re not sure they’re extending Trae. Daniels is nice, but he’s showing a bit more limited offensively. Jalen Johnson is their only main guy, and he’s their new building block. He’s not being moved for Siakam, either.

But if they could add one of Peterson, Boozer, or Dybantsa to olay long term with Johnson? Well, then you feel better about keeping Trae, and you feel more comfortable long term with Okongwu/Daniels, etc.

Siakim has been if not the key, then 1of 2 key players for the team that made back-to-back ecf’s, & a trip to the finals. He impacts winning arguably more so than Giannis,… but not as much individually as Shai, or jokic,… but on a team where he fits, he has proven he can make that difference. He fits with ATL.

I love Siakam. I think he's great. But Giannis has been top 4 in MVP voting for the last 7 years for a reason. He's an insanely talented player, and one who has led a team to a championship almost all by himself. He's in a tier way above Siakam, even though Siakam has been absolutely wonderful.

I’m not so sure they are building around JJ,… but trying to put together a team that plays good team ball? If this is true? Then there window isn’t defined by JJ, but by the combination of JJ, Trae, Kristaps, NAW, DD, etc. So, they have a couple of years to pull it off, but after that they will have to have some form of a rebuild.

JJ is their new guy. They're hoping that he and Trae can coexist as the team leads. I could see Siakam as their 3rd guy. But they're not trading away JJ to get Siakam to then try and retrade for another main guy like JJ. JJ is putting up HEAVY numbers with high volume, and still very plus defensive stats.

Right now ATL is 7th in the east. Lol - dead in the middle. . It really depends on if they think they can win it all this year? If so, go for it. If they don’t think they can, then the long play (keeping & using the draft picks has to be the right call.).

JJ's their long-term guy. I think it'd be absolutely unlikely to say that they would consider trading a pick with the highest draft lotto odds, in a REALLY good draft, for a guy that doesn't likely make them championship caliber? Takes them further, sure. But doesn't top them off, fair to say?


If NO had SOME sense of direction that they might win a few games and the pick might just be in the 8-12 range, instead of likely to end up (tied) with the top odds? In this draft? With a couple guys viewed as true franchise type prospects? It would be much more than most All-NBA type players have returned in trade. It would be a TON more than Siakam recently returned when he was just 29?


But no. Siakam isn't returning either of Jalen Johnson OR the NOP 1st. Those are only available for Giannis level players. If we could net EITHER of them, we'd make that trade so fast your head would spin.

[basketballwacko2]

I think the Hawks would trade Trae Young before they'd trade Johnson. And I don't think they would trade that #1 from the Pels unless they were getting a Luka, Jokic or Giannis level player in the deal, maybe the pick is not worth any of those guys 1 for 1 but as part of a deal.

The only knock on Giannis has been his foul shooting and lack of a 3 pt shot. He's hitting a better percentage this season but on only 1.4 shots per game.

It will be interesting to see if the Bucks come around this season and if they don't what will GA do? Stay in Milwaukee and collect his super max contract or ask to be moved?

[Wizop]

David Aldridge:

The top of the ‘26 NBA draft is gonna be bananas. To me, there are six, maybe seven players with franchise-level potential.
And if OKC winds up with one of them, which is quite possible…Jesus.

[basketballwacko2]

I saw a media report that said the Pacers might trade Mathurin to the GSW for Kuminga! Well the money doesn't work but more so he's on a 1+1 with a team option next year and will no doubt be a UFA this off season. So even if the Pacers were so inclined the money doesn't work. I played with it on the ESPN trade machine and don't see a way to make the money work with the GSW $17 million in the tax and the Pacers $6 million under it. I think the writer of the story doesn't understand the rules of trading and the restrictions that happen when your team is over the "Aprons."

I also saw a preposterous story about the GSW trading to get Anthony Davis!

[Wizop]

theAthletic has a mock draft out. He has us picking 4th and taking Caleb Wilson.

[basketballwacko2]

Are the Pacers gonna play their way out of a top pick again?

[Wizop]

Are the Pacers gonna play their way out of a top pick again?

if you only see only three tier one players, yes they are. if you're focused on centers, then no they are not as there are options in 5-10 range. but are we playing our way out of the ready to start big SFs? that could be.

[basketballwacko2]

Are the Pacers gonna play their way out of a top pick again?

if you only see only three tier one players, yes they are. if you're focused on centers, then no they are not as there are options in 5-10 range. but are we playing our way out of the ready to start big SFs? that could be.

WireTap has a story about the Pacers looking to trade for a starting center or center of the future. The article mention Walker Kessler at Utah but there was no speculation about what they would give to get him.

[Pacers Forever]

Are the Pacers gonna play their way out of a top pick again?

if you only see only three tier one players, yes they are. if you're focused on centers, then no they are not as there are options in 5-10 range. but are we playing our way out of the ready to start big SFs? that could be.

WireTap has a story about the Pacers looking to trade for a starting center or center of the future. The article mention Walker Kessler at Utah but there was no speculation about what they would give to get him.

You’re not getting Kessler from Danny Ainge unless you give up 3x his value. There’s been endless rumors about him and Markanian and Ainge won’t part with them until they’re broken down and out of their prime.

[Wizop]

I stopped watching BYU Clemson after Clemson had a huge first half run and AJ did nothing. BYU came all the way back and AJ had 28. He has to be on our list if we get a top 3 pick.

[basketballwacko2]

if you only see only three tier one players, yes they are. if you're focused on centers, then no they are not as there are options in 5-10 range. but are we playing our way out of the ready to start big SFs? that could be.

WireTap has a story about the Pacers looking to trade for a starting center or center of the future. The article mention Walker Kessler at Utah but there was no speculation about what they would give to get him.

You’re not getting Kessler from Danny Ainge unless you give up 3x his value. There’s been endless rumors about him and Markanian and Ainge won’t part with them until they’re broken down and out of their prime.

Yeah he's gonna over value him, the story said they might not sign him. But IDK if I'd be trading for him being out all season, we won't know what we're getting.

[Wizop]

WireTap says we're interested in Gafford. sounds like ownership isn't ready to tank.

[basketballwacko2]

We are past the first quarter of the season with 6 wins!! It's time to tank.

[Scoot McGroot]

WireTap says we're interested in Gafford. sounds like ownership isn't ready to tank.

Don’t know if it’s a willingness to tank or not. Next year, if they want to hit the ground running when Hali returns, they need a somewhat experienced center. You can’t just decide to find one in a single offseason, so you probably have to shop and listen to the market for awhile.

[Wizop]

WireTap says we're interested in Gafford. sounds like ownership isn't ready to tank.

Don’t know if it’s a willingness to tank or not. Next year, if they want to hit the ground running when Hali returns, they need a somewhat experienced center. You can’t just decide to find one in a single offseason, so you probably have to shop and listen to the market for awhile.

I agree that there is never a time to stop talking to other teams. Any deal should focus on next year.