Rumors, Random Thoughts, and non-Threadworthy Posts 18.0 Dave Cowens drove a taxi

[ReggiesKnicks]

Man…Wasn’t too long ago when people said I was asking way too much for Giannis…After the Bane trade, I guess I wasn’t asking enough.

What are you guys (Multiple Bucks Fans) even talking about?

Every Bucks trade is demanding similar assets as Bane got + a blue-chip asset or young player (#2 in Draft, Amen/Sengun, etc).

[LarsV8]

As is, without significant leaps from Banchero or Franz, its hard for me to see them reach contender status. Looks like a perennial 2nd round team, maybe hit CF a few times, ala the Minny tier.

I consider Minnesota to be in the same tier as us and New York. I guess we aren't contenders either

Pacers are certainly a fascinating data point. I attribute this to the puzzling league abandonment of the five out, everyone shoots, switching defenses, which is probably the best overall archetype for a championship team IMHO. Pacers built it, and are now greater than the sum of their parts, which I love. Couple that with some good luck, timely play, and bam, you got something fun and exciting that no one expected.

But I generally have teams that make fringe finals appearances still not in my "contender tier", as weird as that may sound. Its more a statistical probability threshold, and not me continually re-evaluating after every demonstrated outlier. In my thinking, a contender is a team that is consistently a threat to make and win the finals. I had OKC, CLE and BOS as contender tier this year. This model allows for an inconsistent team sneak into the finals, and maybe even win. Hope that makes sense.

[ReggiesKnicks]

As is, without significant leaps from Banchero or Franz, its hard for me to see them reach contender status. Looks like a perennial 2nd round team, maybe hit CF a few times, ala the Minny tier.

I consider Minnesota to be in the same tier as us and New York. I guess we aren't contenders either

Pacers are certainly a fascinating data point. I attribute this to the puzzling league abandonment of the five out, everyone shoots, switching defenses, which is probably the best overall archetype for a championship team IMHO. Pacers built it, and are now greater than the sum of their parts, which I love. Couple that with some good luck, timely play, and bam, you got something fun and exciting that no one expected.

But I generally have teams that make fringe finals appearances still not in my "contender tier", as weird as that may sound. Its more a statistical probability threshold, and not me continually re-evaluating after every demonstrated outlier. In my thinking, a contender is a team that is consistently a threat to make and win the finals. I had OKC, CLE and BOS as contender tier this year. This model allows for an inconsistent team sneak into the finals, and maybe even win. Hope that makes sense.

Your definition is just much harsher and rigid.

Minnesota has been good for two years now.

Indiana has been good for two years now.

Both were contenders this year.

Minnesota and Indiana were closer to Cleveland/Boston than Cleveland/Boston was to Oklahoma City

What is your definition of a contender?

[jayjaysee]

Can Memphis aggregate these players before the deadline? Was thinking if Dallas struggles they are a fun AD team.

MEM trades: KCP, Cole Anthony, Brandon Clark, GG Jackson, 2026 MEM 1st (has complicated swap option), 2028 MEM/ORL 1st (higher), 2030 MEM 1st, 2030 ORL 1st
DAL trades: AD
Memphis flips the Bane package for a top-10 player. Dallas gets a boatload of picks.

Ja/Pippen
Wells/Kennard
Williams/Konchar
JJJ/Aldama
AD/Edey

Aldama probably needs to be traded for a good wing in this scenario, but I like the foundation of the team. Tough defensively, probably enough scoring (just need some shooters around their trio) and has the stylistic vibe Memphis traditionally has.

Memphis is technically a cap space team opening the offseason, right? Should be able to aggregate immediately?

[Astaluego]

Are the Grizzlies about to exploit him, with the entire Western Conference (except Jazz) trying to win, with a very strong 2026 Draft at the top? Are they in the market? Will they want to avoid the maximum on JJJ, will he be available? Or was the price simply too good to pass up?

[the_process]

Are the Grizzlies about to exploit him, with the entire Western Conference (except Jazz) trying to win, with a very strong 2026 Draft at the top? Are they in the market? Will they want to avoid the maximum on JJJ, will he be available? Or was the price simply too good to pass up?

Certainly would be interesting if the Grizz made Ja available.

[the_process]

If these are the new normal for trade market prices... then trades are the new last resort, for only the most desperate. Drafting, re-signing your own players to the appropriate amounts, and adding around the fringes in FA is the way to go.

[psman2]

Can Memphis aggregate these players before the deadline? Was thinking if Dallas struggles they are a fun AD team.

MEM trades: KCP, Cole Anthony, Brandon Clark, GG Jackson, 2026 MEM 1st (has complicated swap option), 2028 MEM/ORL 1st (higher), 2030 MEM 1st, 2030 ORL 1st
DAL trades: AD
Memphis flips the Bane package for a top-10 player. Dallas gets a boatload of picks.

Ja/Pippen
Wells/Kennard
Williams/Konchar
JJJ/Aldama
AD/Edey

Aldama probably needs to be traded for a good wing in this scenario, but I like the foundation of the team. Tough defensively, probably enough scoring (just need some shooters around their trio) and has the stylistic vibe Memphis traditionally has.

Memphis is technically a cap space team opening the offseason, right? Should be able to aggregate immediately?

I think we are in limbo depending on the JJJ redo. So while technically speaking we like 7 million under with Aldama/16 cap hold we could choose to be an over the cap team if JJJ doesn't come to the table. Then we have they full MLE/6.1 TPE/7.7 TPE and the ability to bring back kennard over a min contract. Versus 7 million in cap and the room exception. Not a huge difference in paths but could come into play in our decisions. If we wanted to do the AD trade soon it would be better to wait if we have to take on salary and still want to redo JJJ.

It would be nice to keep the trade open as long as possible but I think if this trade is using 2024/25 numbers as Godaddycurse alluded to then we likely have to completed it soon.

[jayjaysee]

Can Memphis aggregate these players before the deadline? Was thinking if Dallas struggles they are a fun AD team.

MEM trades: KCP, Cole Anthony, Brandon Clark, GG Jackson, 2026 MEM 1st (has complicated swap option), 2028 MEM/ORL 1st (higher), 2030 MEM 1st, 2030 ORL 1st
DAL trades: AD
Memphis flips the Bane package for a top-10 player. Dallas gets a boatload of picks.

Ja/Pippen
Wells/Kennard
Williams/Konchar
JJJ/Aldama
AD/Edey

Aldama probably needs to be traded for a good wing in this scenario, but I like the foundation of the team. Tough defensively, probably enough scoring (just need some shooters around their trio) and has the stylistic vibe Memphis traditionally has.

Memphis is technically a cap space team opening the offseason, right? Should be able to aggregate immediately?

I think we are in limbo depending on the JJJ redo. So while technically speaking we like 7 million under with Aldama/16 cap hold we could choose to be an over the cap team if JJJ doesn't come to the table. Then we have they full MLE/6.1 TPE/7.7 TPE and the ability to bring back kennard over a min contract. Versus 7 million in cap and the room exception. Not a huge difference in paths but could come into play in our decisions. If we wanted to do the AD trade soon it would be better to wait if we have to take on salary and still want to redo JJJ.

It would be nice to keep the trade open as long as possible but I think if this trade is using 2024/25 numbers as Godaddycurse alluded to then we likely have to completed it soon.

Technically legal with 16 counting as cap as well though, right? So waiting doesn’t change anything for Orlando.

[BigGargamel]

Not sure where to post this, but found it interesting.

The Pacers and Celtics are now the only 2 teams outside of the top 12 to still have their own draft pick in the 2025 first round. 16 of the final 18 picks belong to another team.

[zimpy27]

What exactly are the Hawk's plans? Is Trae avaialble? That team is stuck in mediocrity

They dont have their own pick for next 2 yrs

What a poorly run org. Thats insane.

Trae, Dyson, Risacher, JJ, Okongwu -- Bufkin

They are already built their young core. They can just continue to develop a couple more seasons. I even think they could go for Lauri and be top 4 in the East.

Not bad IMO

[HadAnEffectHere]

Sexton has basically no suitors now, this is not good.

[jayjaysee]

Sexton has basically no suitors now, this is not good.

Memphis is a suitor now? Dallas. Charlotte. Miami… probably some others..

[Godaddycurse]

I feel like every team thats a seller is going to point at bane deal and ask suitors to pay more/stall up the trade market now

[Asif16]

I dont even know who the sellers are anymore. I'm looking at the west, and the only teams that stuck out as true sellers were San Antonio and Utah in the past few years.

Well San Antonio is now a playoff/play-in lock for the most part, and Windhorst said the Jazz want to take a swing to get competitive lol

Who are the sellers out there?

[Texas Chuck]

I feel like every team thats a seller is going to point at bane deal and ask suitors to pay more/stall up the trade market now

I don't. I think NBA front offices are mostly run by rational people. You have a few governors who aren't but they are the the exception and the actual executives are professionals who understand this isn't a market reset and if they want to get value for a guy they can't play absurd games.

Now do I think this board is going to see a ton of it? Yes, people always look for justifications to get too much value for their team. But I mean look at some of this, Bane went for 4 firsts so I have Buddy Hield, I'm due a haul too right? Like no, he's still Buddy Hield.

I think we will continue to see plenty of movement and if anything its a reminder that not just bad teams sell. Nobody had Memphis as a seller and yet they said this is a good deal for us so lets take it even though they probably weren't looking to move Bane.

Now I say this and nothing much will happen besides me being irritate with asking prices on marginal players on this board....

[zimpy27]

I feel like every team thats a seller is going to point at bane deal and ask suitors to pay more/stall up the trade market now

That will most likely hurt them like often does when Sellers get stubborn and end up holding players too long watching their value drop.

Bane is an ideal fit on court and on the books for Magic, they paid to convince Grizzlies to give him over to them. Similar to the Gobert trade to Minny. Bane is also a strong impact stats guy that doesn't get the All star love they deserve.

[LarsV8]

I feel like every team thats a seller is going to point at bane deal and ask suitors to pay more/stall up the trade market now

They should if they are selling a great 26ish year old on a good contract.

This also needs to factor in the cost of dumping bad money in Anthony and KCP

This also needs to factor in a guy likely that "wasn't for sale"

Problem is, most teams aren't selling that.

[Mavrelous]

Sexton has basically no suitors now, this is not good.

Mavs...

[jbk1234]

Sexton has basically no suitors now, this is not good.

I think the Blazers are in a worse place with Simons tbh, but yeah in terms of trade partners that have a real and present need, it's the Mavs and they only need a rental.