Trae to LAL: 3 way with Toronto

[islandboy53]

I'm confused here. Toronto gets by far the best player. And gets the best pick. Zero reason Atlanta ever invites the Raptors in and not sure why you keep defending that idea? Just look at this part. You can't justify it at all.

Yeah, I think I would at least consider taking D Lo and the 17 for at least two 2nd round picks for the Magic. Could keep Dlo to see if he fits and if he doesn't use him as salary ballast for trades at the deadline. It would at least be an option.

Yeah so I don't see Atlanta considering that either, but that's absolutely a better option than the one in the OP. But Russell is a playable guard who in this scenario would be on a one year deal. Not something I'd give up 17 to get off.

Fair enough, but if LA wants Trae Young they need to send out more than $43 million in salary. So, if you keep Russell, then, in addition to Hachimura and Reaves, you have to include one of Vincent or Vanderbilt plus one more. It can't be a straight up trade with Atlanta, because the Hawks also need to send out more salary than they get back to avoid a potential 1st apron hard cap. So, a 3rd team will still be needed. So, for example, we could rework the original deal as follows:

Lakers: in - Young (Atl), cash (Tor)
out - Hachimura, Reaves, #17, 29 1st, 31 1st, 28 1st swap, 30 1st swap

Hawks: in - Hachimura, Reaves, #17, 29 1st, 31 1st, 28 1st swap, 30 1st swap (all from LA), Boucher (Tor)
out - Young, Fernando

Raptors: in - Fernando (Atl), Vincent (LA), Hood-Schifino (LA)
out - Boucher, cash

LA keeps Russell, sending Vincent and Hood-Schifino instead, Atlanta gets #17 instead of #31, while Toronto still gets some value for facilitating the deal.

[wegotthabeet]

Yeah, I think I would at least consider taking D Lo and the 17 for at least two 2nd round picks for the Magic. Could keep Dlo to see if he fits and if he doesn't use him as salary ballast for trades at the deadline. It would at least be an option.

Yeah so I don't see Atlanta considering that either, but that's absolutely a better option than the one in the OP. But Russell is a playable guard who in this scenario would be on a one year deal. Not something I'd give up 17 to get off.

Fair enough, but if LA wants Trae Young they need to send out more than $43 million in salary. So, if you keep Russell, then, in addition to Hachimura and Reaves, you have to include one of Vincent or Vanderbilt plus one more. It can't be a straight up trade with Atlanta, because the Hawks also need to send out more salary than they get back to avoid a potential 1st apron hard cap. So, a 3rd team will still be needed. So, for example, we could rework the original deal as follows:

Lakers: in - Young (Atl), cash (Tor)
out - Hachimura, Reaves, #17, 29 1st, 31 1st, 28 1st swap, 30 1st swap (all from LA)

Hawks: in - Hachimura, Reaves, #17, 29 1st, 31 1st, 28 1st swap, 30 1st swap (LA), Boucher (Tor)
out - Young, Fernando

Raptors: in - Fernando (Atl), Vincent (LA), Hood-Schifino (LA)
out - Boucher, cash

LA keeps Russell, sending Vincent and Hood-Schifino instead, Atlanta gets #17 instead of #31, while Toronto still gets some value for facilitating the deal.

The whole premise is flawed from Atlanta’s perspective.

You have them trading their best player for distant picks without controlling their next three firsts. If they trade Trae they either need to get a better player or their picks back.

[islandboy53]

So, for example, we could rework the original deal as follows:

Lakers: in - Young (Atl), cash (Tor)
out - Hachimura, Reaves, #17, 29 1st, 31 1st, 28 1st swap, 30 1st swap (all from LA)

Hawks: in - Hachimura, Reaves, #17, 29 1st, 31 1st, 28 1st swap, 30 1st swap (LA), Boucher (Tor)
out - Young, Fernando

Raptors: in - Fernando (Atl), Vincent (LA), Hood-Schifino (LA)
out - Boucher, cash

LA keeps Russell, sending Vincent and Hood-Schifino instead, Atlanta gets #17 instead of #31, while Toronto still gets some value for facilitating the deal.

The whole premise is flawed from Atlanta’s perspective.

You have them trading their best player for distant picks without controlling their next three firsts. If they trade Trae they either need to get a better player or their picks back.

They currently have 1sts every year except 2027, and pieces they can move to obtain more if that's necessary. This trade gives them 3 more. Maybe they can do better. We'll see. Regardless, the Hawks have major payroll issues to deal with that compete with the idea of maximizing the return for Trae.

Their current projection, including #1, puts them well over the tax line before resigning Bey. If he comes back, even on his QO, they'll be well into 1st apron territory. Indeed, to sign him at his $13 million cap hold would put them at the 2nd apron. So, while they're reshaping the roster and acquiring draft capital if possible, they also need to shed a lot of salary to stay under the tax. Smaller trades, like Capela for example, they may be able to shed some salary and get some kind of pick back. A Young trade could help them do that in a much bigger way. Maybe they find a cap space partner willing to take Hachimura for an incentive. Even this trade could create a large payroll saving, with some adjustments as follows.

Lakers: in - Young (Atl), cash (Tor)
out - Hachimura, Reaves, #17, 29 1st, 31 1st, 28 1st swap, 30 1st swap

Hawks: in - Vincent, Reaves, #17, 29 1st, 31 1st, 28 1st swap, 30 1st swap (LA), Boucher (Tor)
out - Young, Fernando

Raptors: in - Fernando (Atl), Hachimura (LA), Hood-Schifino (LA)
out - Boucher, cash

Switching Hachimura and Vincent's destinations saves the Hawks $11 million in payroll. That reduces to $7 miilion in savings once #17 is factored in, but that pick could be tradable later on draft weekend for a future 1st or multiple future 2nds. Still not enough to resign Bey and stay under the tax, but a big step in that direction, hopefully enough to compensate for the reduced return for Young