BOS/MIL/UTA: Simons, Kuzma, 2nds

[babyjax13]

BOS trades: Anfernee Simons, 2026 DET/MIL/ORL 2nd (best)
in: Jusuf Nurkic
Boston cuts salary and gets a center who might be able to absorb some minutes.

MIL trades: Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Smith, 2026 UTA 2nd, cash
in: Anfernee Simons
Milwaukee swaps Kuzma for a guard. More importantly, they get Kuzma off their team.

UTA trades: Jusuf Nurkic
in: Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Smith, 2026 DET/MIL/ORL 2nd (best), 2026 UTA 2nd, cash
I am not worried about Kuzma's first year as it is mostly offset by Nurkic. The question is, what is that second year worth? If it is worth a first (say, most likely 20 or later), is an early 2nd + another 2nd + a prospect that doesn't look horrible equivalent to that? Especially in a really deep draft? I think it probably is and I would be okay taking on that second year to have the early 2nd in 2026.

[Godaddycurse]

the 2026 utah 2nd is top 55 protected... it belongs to the spurs otherwise i believe. bucks have no tradable seconds

[redslastlaugh]

It's such a bummer as a Celtics fan, having to pay assets to clear the pieces left over from Jrue and KP, especially Jrue. But I'd do this all around, I guess

Do you think this (or something like this) is the reason Utah cut KJ Martin just now? They could have cut KJ down the road a little bit, but also maybe no reason to bring an unhappy camper into the preseason when he knows hes just a dead man walking, so just cut him now and get the inevitable over and done with

I just wonder if there is followup move coming given the timing on Martin

BOS trades: Anfernee Simons, 2026 DET/MIL/ORL 2nd (best)
in: Jusuf Nurkic
Boston cuts salary and gets a center who might be able to absorb some minutes.

MIL trades: Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Smith, 2026 UTA 2nd, cash
in: Anfernee Simons
Milwaukee swaps Kuzma for a guard. More importantly, they get Kuzma off their team.

UTA trades: Jusuf Nurkic
in: Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Smith, 2026 DET/MIL/ORL 2nd (best), 2026 UTA 2nd, cash
I am not worried about Kuzma's first year as it is mostly offset by Nurkic. The question is, what is that second year worth? If it is worth a first (say, most likely 20 or later), is an early 2nd + another 2nd + a prospect that doesn't look horrible equivalent to that? Especially in a really deep draft? I think it probably is and I would be okay taking on that second year to have the early 2nd in 2026.

[SkyHook]

BOS trades: Anfernee Simons, 2026 DET/MIL/ORL 2nd (best)
in: Jusuf Nurkic
Boston cuts salary and gets a center who might be able to absorb some minutes.

MIL trades: Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Smith, 2026 UTA 2nd, cash
in: Anfernee Simons
Milwaukee swaps Kuzma for a guard. More importantly, they get Kuzma off their team.

UTA trades: Jusuf Nurkic
in: Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Smith, 2026 DET/MIL/ORL 2nd (best), 2026 UTA 2nd, cash
I am not worried about Kuzma's first year as it is mostly offset by Nurkic. The question is, what is that second year worth? If it is worth a first (say, most likely 20 or later), is an early 2nd + another 2nd + a prospect that doesn't look horrible equivalent to that? Especially in a really deep draft? I think it probably is and I would be okay taking on that second year to have the early 2nd in 2026.

I've done multiple versions of this. I think I'd still rather just cut the Bucks out of it due to Kuzma's future money. There wasn't anything that stood out to me from last year's draft re: Smith that provides sufficient incentive and returning Utah's top-55 protected SRP has virtually no value. That said, Boston owes more value here.

*Edit: Utah received two SRPs for taking on Niang's $8.2MM expiring deal (each are the best of two picks). Trading Nurkic for Simons adds another $8.3MM to the Jazz payroll. I expect that the Ainges will extract a similar return if they make this move. (But who knows?)

[babyjax13]

It's such a bummer as a Celtics fan, having to pay assets to clear the pieces left over from Jrue and KP, especially Jrue. But I'd do this all around, I guess

Do you think this (or something like this) is the reason Utah cut KJ Martin just now? They could have cut KJ down the road a little bit, but also maybe no reason to bring an unhappy camper into the preseason when he knows hes just a dead man walking, so just cut him now and get the inevitable over and done with

I just wonder if there is followup move coming given the timing on Martin

BOS trades: Anfernee Simons, 2026 DET/MIL/ORL 2nd (best)
in: Jusuf Nurkic
Boston cuts salary and gets a center who might be able to absorb some minutes.

MIL trades: Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Smith, 2026 UTA 2nd, cash
in: Anfernee Simons
Milwaukee swaps Kuzma for a guard. More importantly, they get Kuzma off their team.

UTA trades: Jusuf Nurkic
in: Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Smith, 2026 DET/MIL/ORL 2nd (best), 2026 UTA 2nd, cash
I am not worried about Kuzma's first year as it is mostly offset by Nurkic. The question is, what is that second year worth? If it is worth a first (say, most likely 20 or later), is an early 2nd + another 2nd + a prospect that doesn't look horrible equivalent to that? Especially in a really deep draft? I think it probably is and I would be okay taking on that second year to have the early 2nd in 2026.

I *think* there are one of two reasons to cut Martin:
1. they need the roster space for a trade (we have a TPE that means we don't need the cap space, as Skyhook helpfully pointed out to me yesterday)
2. they plan to resign him for less b/c he just isn't worth $8 million
I am not sure which is the answer here, if it is the flexibility, or if they just didn't want to pay that much. I guess it could also be that another team he wants to play for wants to sign him.

[babyjax13]

the 2026 utah 2nd is top 55 protected... it belongs to the spurs otherwise i believe. bucks have no tradable seconds

Ah, you are correct, that probably makes the Milwaukee part DOA. Only other thing could be some kind of swap on the 2031 pick since we have ours and Phoenix's already. Something like Utah gets the best and worst and Milwaukee gets the 2nd best.

[redslastlaugh]

I get the idea of dumping Martin, using that $8 million to turn Nurk into Simons and net another Niang type 2nd round pick bounty

What I don't get, is I'm sure Austin Ainge has been talking with Boston regularly this summer. Why did Utah dump Colin Sexton, who is a few hundred k cheaper than Nurk and Utah paid a second to do it if they want to acquire picks for taking on a Simons salary dump. I'm pretty sure Boston would rather have Sexton than Nurkic

Doesnt make sense, so I doubt this is the deal forthcoming

*Edit: Utah received two SRPs for taking on Niang's $8.2MM expiring deal (each are the best of two picks). Trading Nurkic for Simons adds another $8.3MM to the Jazz payroll. I expect that the Ainges will extract a similar return if they make this move. (But who knows?)

[SkyHook]

I get the idea of dumping Martin, using that $8 million to turn Nurk into Simons and net another Niang type 2nd round pick bounty

What I don't get, is I'm sure Austin Ainge has been talking with Boston regularly this summer. Why did Utah dump Colin Sexton, who is a few hundred k cheaper than Nurk and Utah paid a second to do it if they want to acquire picks for taking on a Simons salary dump. I'm pretty sure Boston would rather have Sexton than Nurkic

Doesnt make sense, so I doubt this is the deal forthcoming

*Edit: Utah received two SRPs for taking on Niang's $8.2MM expiring deal (each are the best of two picks). Trading Nurkic for Simons adds another $8.3MM to the Jazz payroll. I expect that the Ainges will extract a similar return if they make this move. (But who knows?)

Sexton for Simons + SRPs would have been perfect. The list of things from the Utah offseason that didn't make sense is long but distinguished.

[brackdan70]

Seems ok I guess, I’d personally pass from Bostons perspective though. I don’t think the salary savings is worth a good second her and Simons has more long term interest to me than Nurkic.

[hugepatsfan]

Simons is a better enough player that even making $7M less he should be worth more than Nurkic. But don’t see Utah wanting to make a deal with that evaluation.

If Boston doesn’t have any alternatives to duck the tax to this deal and they want to, then push comes to shove and they’d do it I bet. But I’d be surprised if they can’t find a better valuation than this.

[babyjax13]

Simons is a better enough player that even making $7M less he should be worth more than Nurkic. But don’t see Utah wanting to make a deal with that evaluation.

If Boston doesn’t have any alternatives to duck the tax to this deal and they want to, then push comes to shove and they’d do it I bet. But I’d be surprised if they can’t find a better valuation than this.

Utah traded an arguably better and cheaper player and a second for Nurkic, so I dont think there is much of a market for Simons.

[BK_2020]

Milwaukee has like 4 playable guys over 6'8 they can't be casually dealing away one of them for an Anfernee Simons.

[babyjax13]

Milwaukee has like 4 playable guys over 6'8 they can't be casually dealing away one of them for an Anfernee Simons.

Tyler Smith could be replaced with Chris Livingston.