In from Narnia: DAL/SA/UTA/LAL/OKC/DEN/BRK

[DNP-Old]

Mavs out: Thompson, Gafford and the 2025 #1 pick
Mavs in: Castle, Knecht, Vincent, 2025 #15 & #19, '27 ATL UNP 1st, '27 LAL UNP 1st, '28 OKC swap reversed (DAL gets the better pick), '30 SAS swap reversed (DAL gets the better pick), '31 DEN UNP 1st and '31 LAL UNP 1st.

The Mavs due the unthinkable again! (*DISCLAIMER* I am very bullish on Castle) If DAL can stay healthy, they should be competitive and depending on how Kyrie is when he comes back, potentially very good. They also jump start a youth movement and get an OKCish stash of future picks.

Spurs out: Castle, 2025 #2 & #14, '27 ATL UNP #1 and '30 DAL swap reversed.
Spurs in: K.Martin and '25 #1

Although I'm still bullish on Castle, SA jumps at the chance to take Flagg.

Jazz out: Kessler, Martin, '25 #5, '27 LAL 1st and '30 LAC 2nd
Jazz in: Thompson and '25 #2

Utah is good at tanking but unlucky in the lottery, so they buy their way up to get a prospect they were hoping to win.

LAL out: Rui, Knecht, Vincent, '25 #55, they remove the protections on their '27 1st and '31 UNP 1st
LAL in: Dort, Kessler, Nnaji and '25 #26

LAL fires all their remaining bullets to try to build a contender.

OKC out: Dort, '25 #15 & #24, '27 2nd, '28 DAL swap reversed.
OKC in: Gafford and '25 #5

OKC has serious 1st world problems, too much talent, too much youth and too many picks. They are what every team wants to be. They consolidate to move up, and move a very good wing to give time and money to the other very good wings waiting in line on their roster. They also get a good big they can use or flip.

Nugs out: Nnagi and '31 UNP 1st
Nugs in: '25 #24, '27 OKC 2nd and "30 LAC 2nd

Nugs dump Nnagi.

Nets out: '25 #19 & 26
Nets in: Rui and '25 #14

BRK consolidates to move up and takes on Rui to either flip or kick a little cap space down the road.

[SkyHook]

Wow! That's ambitious. And impressive. I'm just going to keep posting this though when I see proposals that have Utah trading for the 2nd pick...

Had the Jazz been slotted at the 2nd pick, I fully expected them to trade it. I just don't see Harper in Utah ending well. Better to have a player who truly wants to be there.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10145689-ron-harper-says-a-trade-would-happen-if-jazz-took-his-son-dylan-in-2025-nba-draft

Now I hear that Ron kind of halfheartedly walked that back, but I have no desire to drink from a poisoned well. I certainly don't want to mortgage other assets for the privilege.

[wemby]

I'm super high on Flagg and I'd be willing to part with #2 and Castle for him, but this feels like too much. If Wemby's health issue takes a turn for the worst (knock on wood), Spurs would have a tough time building around Flagg. I understand Mavs want a king's ransom for Flagg, but damn...

[Texas Chuck]

Too big, but obviously not dropping from Flagg for just Castle as countered.

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[Chinook]

Flagg is a top prospect, but the main appeal in trading up for him is to have him, Castle and Wemby for the future. Trading 2 AND Castle defeats that purpose. I don't think it's justifiable for the Spurs to come out of this summer with neither Castle nor Harper. They should come out with both, but if they end up moving one or the other, I could see that being okay.

[Texas Chuck]

Flagg is a top prospect, but the main appeal in trading up for him is to have him, Castle and Wemby for the future. Trading 2 AND Castle defeats that purpose. I don't think it's justifiable for the Spurs to come out of this summer with neither Castle nor Harper. They should come out with both, but if they end up moving one or the other, I could see that being okay.

Oh for sure. I think if Dallas was willing to move down, they wouldn't insist on Castle and the Spurs could replace that value another way. Then you could have Wemby/Fox/Flagg/Castle/other role players still. Dallas would take their value in future picks.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Flagg is a top prospect, but the main appeal in trading up for him is to have him, Castle and Wemby for the future. Trading 2 AND Castle defeats that purpose. I don't think it's justifiable for the Spurs to come out of this summer with neither Castle nor Harper. They should come out with both, but if they end up moving one or the other, I could see that being okay.

Castle isn't the caliber of prospect where he shouldn't be included in a #2 + Castle for #1 type deal. But, if the Spurs were truly that high on him, I doubt Dallas would care and would instead value some other picks the Spurs own.

[SlimShady83]

I'm just happy Lakers getting Kessler here lol

[One_and_Done]

I'm not even sure Flagg will be better than Harper. No way the Spurs are throwing all this in to move up one spot.

[SkyHook]

I'm just happy Lakers getting Kessler here lol

Don't hold your breath, my friend!

[wemby]

Too big, but obviously not dropping from Flagg for just Castle as countered.

I understand it and wouldn't move Flagg myself for this offer (I see him as probably the best prospect in the last 10 years behind Wemby, and no that doesn't mean he's going to be better than everyone drafted in that window, just that I have that much more confidence in his floor). That said, the offer isn't out of place historically. In 1997 Celtics offered the Spurs #3 and #6 to get #1 (Duncan) in a class where those picks weren't projected to be super high, and in 2018 the Mavs moved up from 5 (Trae Young) to 3 (Luka) in a very strong class for a protected future pick. This proposal is a strong #2 and the recent #4 ROY who I had even higher on my board since before he was drafted by the Spurs, so naturally I value him quite a bit. I would probably add one more pick or asset if it came to that, but beyond that it's probably better strategically to diversify risk and hope some of them hit beyond expectations, than putting all your eggs in one basket (at least short term, long term consolidating is usually the way to go especially given the aprons).

[Texas Chuck]

Too big, but obviously not dropping from Flagg for just Castle as countered.

I understand it and wouldn't move Flagg myself for this offer (I see him as probably the best prospect in the last 10 years behind Wemby, and no that doesn't mean he's going to be better than everyone drafted in that window, just that I have that much more confidence in his floor). That said, the offer isn't out of place historically. Celtics offered #3 and #6 in a class where those picks weren't projected to be super high, and Dallas moved up from 5 to 3 in a very strong class for a protected future pick. This proposal is a strong #2 and the recent #4 ROY who I had even higher on my board since before he was drafted by the Spurs, so naturally I value him quite a bit. I would probably add one more pick or asset if it came to that, but beyond that it's probably better strategically to diversify risk and hope some of them hit beyond expectations, than putting all your eggs in one basket (at least short term, long term consolidating is usually the way to go especially given the aprons).

I mean we have to evaluate each move up on the strength of the players involved. And yeah Atlanta made a terrible trade, but that doesn't mean Dallas should.

I'm less interested in the theory when we have specific players to look at. Is Dallas really better with Harper/Castle/future mystery player or with Flagg?

I'm less sold on Flagg than you, but I don't see how they are better with the latter based on what we currently know. Obviously Flagg could not develop and those other guys could. But those players aren't additive to each other, aren't additive to Kyrie, and are less likely to help now than Flagg for a team built around two older stars and a bunch of veteran role players.

So if you believe the long-term is better with Flagg, and I agree. And the short term is better with Flagg, not sure why Dallas considers this. And that's without the consideration of a team in your division being strengthened and oh yeah they are your biggest rival.

I think with the future pick, you aren't wrong about the value. It's "fair". I just wouldn't do it.

[oldncreaky]

Impressive, well thought out, and I love the title

But I don't think Flagg is moving. I keep thinking that Flagg is being undervalued a bit because of Wemby's shadow. There have been 4 players who have made NCAA College Player of the Year as a freshman (Durant, AD, Zion, and now Flagg) and I think that makes Flagg about as highly coveted as Durant/Davis/Zion were. If Zion hadn't gotten fat and Wemby hadn't happened, Flagg's comparisons would only be with Durant and AD -- pretty lofty company.

I think Dallas drafts him, goes to training camp, and then has to decide by the TDL whether they are (1) going for it in 2026 (2) rebuilding around Flagg or (3) trying to "dual-track"