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

[Klomp]

If you are the Phoenix Suns negotiating with the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the Durant trade talks, do you ask for Rob Dillingham or do you ask for TJ Shannon plus the draft rights to No. 17 if it is Jase Richardson? Which does Minnesota prefer?

[zimpy27]

Do the Celts have a way to get to where they can send JRue and Porzingis for Lilliard. I know they are over 2nd apron and can't aggregate but can they slip below it and do this? And if so, what would Milwaukee have to offer to make it work?

Alternatively, the Celtics deal Tatum for Giannis. What could they offer given in future value to keep trying to win now? And what would the Bucks have to give New Orleans to get their pick next year cleared to take advantage of this?

I'm looking a trade that would send Brown to the Bucks to team up with Giannis and Bos can shed some salary, i'm still working on it though lols.

Holiday and Porzingis are who they purportedly want to move and the salary lines up pretty well with Lillard (have to add Pat Connaughton); this way we align the two injured stars who appear out for the year and the team that gets them can do a developmental year for a draft choice while the other team goes for it with the older Jrue (and Porzingis).

This has been floated a couple times. The push back is that Celtics want to get under the 2nd apron and ideally put of the tax either this season or next. This trade prevents that.

Lillard would have to go to the Nets and Celtics would provide draft capital for it to work.

[gswhoops]

The overwhelming likelihood is that Dame will never be near the same level of player again. The ideal trade partners will be teams that don't need Lillard to be productive. Tankers. (See Jazz, Utah.) Then it all comes down to how much compensation that the Bucks are willing to attach. And it will take A LOT.

A scenario: To maximize the cost savings for Milwaukee, Utah could trade only Collins and Clarkson expiring deals for Dame, but only before 30 June (next year's figures don't quite work). In such a deal, the Jazz take on over $70MM in virtually dead money ($13MM+ in the salary differences this season and Dame's $58MM+ next season). How much is that worth? Is the cost beyond the Bucks pain threshold? Do they even have enough premium draft capital to make a deal attractive? (I'm not sure.)

I think the only way this works is that Milwaukee has to eat some longer term salary that Team A wants to get rid of in exchange for getting guys that can actually play now, and combine that with some incentive from their side to make it work.

Portland fans don't like Grant/Simons for Dame (and I don't blame them) but it's the example I keep coming back to. Paul George is another example. Maybe Chicago does Vuc + PWill + Carter for Dame plus some minor incentives?

There's definitely some logic to this.

I have an idea percolating around in my head that's something like Dame/#3 to Utah, PG to Milwaukee, Collins/Sexton/#5 to Philly, but I'm not sure how to dial it in. I think Philly probably owes some value to Utah here.

[brackdan70]

With Lillard's injury, age and contract, what types of teams do you think would trade for him if Milwaukee were to try to accomplish a soft reset around Giannis?

As I just quoted someone else I was thinking to the Celtics Brown goes to Bucks, Lillard and picks go to Boston, but also looking at a 3rd team in a trade as well, I'm working on it.

I don't think Milwaukee has the assets.
Would have to happen before June 30 as Dame makes more than Brown next year and the Cs can’t really get under the first apron. Definitely need a third team….but I still don’t see how it’s possible. Need assets going to Boston to take on Dame and assets going to Boston for Brown. If Giannis is staying then what are the assets?
Dames 63 million dollar player option in 27/28 would make it really hard if not impossible for them to get out of the repeater tax.
Boston gets worse on the court, doesn’t get financial relief. I just don’t think Milwaukee can muster up the assets to make it work.

[zimpy27]

OKC get Davis

Dallas get Chet, Dort, Topic, Dieng



How do we feel about this trade?
Makes OKC unbeatable and Dallas gets to rebuild.

Caruso, SGA, Jalen, Davis, Holmgren
Cason, Joe, Wiggins, Kenrich, Jalen

[Texas Chuck]

OKC shouldn't even consider that for one second.

[SkyHook]

I think the only way this works is that Milwaukee has to eat some longer term salary that Team A wants to get rid of in exchange for getting guys that can actually play now, and combine that with some incentive from their side to make it work.

Portland fans don't like Grant/Simons for Dame (and I don't blame them) but it's the example I keep coming back to. Paul George is another example. Maybe Chicago does Vuc + PWill + Carter for Dame plus some minor incentives?

There's definitely some logic to this.

I have an idea percolating around in my head that's something like Dame/#3 to Utah, PG to Milwaukee, Collins/Sexton/#5 to Philly, but I'm not sure how to dial it in. I think Philly probably owes some value to Utah here.

I'm not a fan of the value here, but I'm opposed to the Jazz moving up in this draft as: a) I fully expect the guy who I've got at #3 on my board (Johnson) to be available at #5, and b) even if I was motivated to move up, Dame's $54MM+ in virtually dead money for 26-27 isn't worth it. Not because I'm worried about Ryan Smith wasting his money, but just from an opportunity cost standpoint. The cap room next summer is more valuable to me.

[zimpy27]

OKC shouldn't even consider that for one second.

What about this?

OKC get Davis

Dallas get iHart, Cason, Dieng, Topic, picks

[Texas Chuck]

OKC shouldn't even consider that for one second.

What about this?

OKC get Davis

Dallas get iHart, Cason, Dieng, Topic, picks

I don't think OKC should do it at all. They are the best team in the league right now with internal growth expected from so many guys and AD wrecks their financial flexibility and isn't dependable health wise.

[zimpy27]

OKC shouldn't even consider that for one second.

What about this?

OKC get Davis

Dallas get iHart, Cason, Dieng, Topic, picks

I don't think OKC should do it at all. They are the best team in the league right now with internal growth expected from so many guys and AD wrecks their financial flexibility and isn't dependable health wise.

Well Chet is about to make a similar amount. That's why I had him in the original deal.

OKC are the best team sure but they aren't clearly better than they should be thinking of improving still.

[Texas Chuck]

Okay Indiana

[SkyHook]

Okay Indiana

Yes! I put this on the GB game thread...

Watching the game with my daughters and we've started calling McConnell "Roy Kent". Don’t know if that's a thing, but it should be. He's here, he's there, he's every...

[DirtyDez]

Prediction: The KD to Miami trade happens on draft day because they can trade more picks. Miami gets KD for non-win now players like Rozier & Robinson but trade three 1sts. Heat keep Wiggins and Ware.

[NYG]

This has been the best NBA Finals in a while... I haven't followed, but I'm sure the ratings unfortunately suggest otherwise.

[SlimShady83]

There's talk about Lakers possible getting Jake Laravia from free agency? I like it if true.

[gom]

Did you guys just jynx the Thunder? Jeez.

[zimpy27]

Prediction: The KD to Miami trade happens on draft day because they can trade more picks. Miami gets KD for non-win now players like Rozier & Robinson but trade three 1sts. Heat keep Wiggins and Ware.

Interesting.. 3rd team provides the starting C. Brooklyn would be the obvious one.


Nets get Rozier, Duncan, Miami FRPs
Suns get CamJ, Claxton, 27, 36
Miami get Durant

[giberish]

This has been the best NBA Finals in a while... I haven't followed, but I'm sure the ratings unfortunately suggest otherwise.

A 7 game series between small markets is better for the league than a sweep between marquee teams. Both because of the extra games to air but also because ratings generally rise as a series goes to games 6 and 7. It will also help create future stars - very needed as a lot of the current marquee names are old (at least NBA old).

[TheNetsFan]

Ace Bailey is trying to slide to Brooklyn, right?

He'd give up about $19mil sliding from 3 to 8. Sounds like he is trying to force a trade but it may cost him.

[Klomp]

This has been the best NBA Finals in a while... I haven't followed, but I'm sure the ratings unfortunately suggest otherwise.

A 7 game series between small markets is better for the league than a sweep between marquee teams. Both because of the extra games to air but also because ratings generally rise as a series goes to games 6 and 7. It will also help create future stars - very needed as a lot of the current marquee names are old (at least NBA old).

It's the first Finals to go all 7 since 2016, wild