Random Rumors and Trade Board General Thoughts Thread

[youngcrev]

I look at several teams and keep thinking man what they really need is a player like Maxi Kleber: Golden State, Minnesota, Indiana, Brooklyn, Houston, Clippers, Pelicans, Bucks, Suns are all teams I've played around with constructing deals and I keep thinking Maxi Kleber fits perfectly into this. Then I think of my little Mavs and don't want to consider dealing him with my KP injury fears.

So am I just a raging Maxi homer?
If not and I'm on to something should Dallas cash out on his value?
Nobody cares but you Chuck?

No, you're not. He's got a coveted skill set. He's big, he's athletic for his size, and he can shoot the ball. And best of all, he's a role player that's actually paid like a role player and locked in long-term to that deal.

As for whether they should trade him... Depends on the return? I mean, KP is basically the star version of his skill set, so he feels at least somewhat expendable if the right deal comes along.

[jason bourne]

I thought the Knicks would want BOTH LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman as their future PG and C. Both the TWolves and Warriors want to trade down. What could the Knicks offer? I asked on the GB and didn't get any replies to see what the interest level was for such trades.

I doubt the Knicks would give up BOTH Mitchell Robinson and RJ Barrett, but would give up one.

They have some other pieces the teams may be interested in. What do you think? Will the Knicks go for both LaMelo and Wiseman? I think LaMelo would be the perfect young PG to pair with Wiseman.

[giannis and 1]

Or, it's just the rumor of keep an eye on Milwaukee in regards to Oladipo, and not a real report.

From the way Lowe said it on his pod it sure seemed like something he was hearing somewhere. Now whether that is just other teams speculating or not idk, but it feel like one of the more substantive nuggets on what was largely a wild pod.

I agree the path there isn't a simple one and almost certainly depends on a 3rd willing to take on Bledsoe and not sucking literally any value out of the deal to do so which seems really unlikely to me. Then it likely includes the Bucks being willing to include a lightly/unprotected distant future first because even though I think Dipo's value is relatively light I don't think Indy moves him if all they can get is DDV/24. If that's really the best offer you'd have to just keep him unless he causes problems and I don't see Dipo as a guy who would cause problems. He might leave in a year, but I think he'd be totally professional in the meantime plus he wants a big contract so he has incentive to play well, work hard, and be a team guy.

Don't see the Bucks offering DDV+24 anyways for a guy that came off a major injury and looks like a shell of his former self, and will be looking to cash in on a big contract.

[Dn4sty]

I really want OKC to add to this team. I think they could find another point guard to help load manage CP3, a solid SF and run it back. I know it won’t be what many think is the popular decision, but I think another year with CP3 would do wonders for SGA, Bazley, and Dort.

I also think it’s likely that the Rockets and/or the Clips provide enough draft capital to outsource the tank.

[NYG]

Jarrett Culver and 17 to Indiana

Victor Oladipo, Wendell Carter Jr. and 4 to Minnesota

James Johnson and 1 to Golden State

2 to Chicago

[shrink]

Jarrett Culver and 17 to Indiana

Victor Oladipo, Wendell Carter Jr. and 4 to Minnesota

James Johnson and 1 to Golden State

2 to Chicago

It’s a fair price for Oladipo, but he has less value to MIN. Yes, since they are not a free agent destination, they’d love a chance at top end talent, but he’s very likely to be a rental .. Culver and the pick have years of team control. Wendell Carter isn’t a great fit for MIN.

GSW shouldn’t get to move up from 2 to 1 simply for using their Iguodala TPE on James Johnson. I get that he’s not worth his deal, but turning the TPE into Johnson helps GSW even more, allowing them to salary match a really nice set of players, like Myles Turner, Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, etc.

There is the makings of a trade in there though. For MIN, Oladipo on a rental may be worth Johnson plus #17 OR Culver, but Oladipo is probably worth more to GSW since he is more likely to stay. Carter Jr may help GSW more than MIN. Johnson to GSW certainly makes sense, but maybe this works best with MIN out of it.

[Texas Chuck]

I disagree with shrink in that I think GSW never considers this. The amount of real money this commits them to is crazy, especially if the plan is to flip him for an even bigger salary.

I'm going down with the ship that Russell was signed to be traded--was right and that Wiggins was traded for to get an asset but also to be traded--time will tell, but its the only reasonable path to contention at any kind of reasonable labor cost and they are already going to be very expensive.

I just don't see where they add the salary of the #1 pick plus the salary of whoever they flip Johnson for. That tax bill just isn't tenable I don't care how rich those owners are--they aren't paying all that.

[NYG]

The top 3 things I think set up this off-season in order of impact on how the off-season plays out...

1. Giannis extending or not extending

2. Chris Paul trade

3. What the T'Wolves and Warriors do with the top picks

Once those dominos fall and are defined, I think teams will be better able to plan based on the resulting landscape versus the uncertainty of those three things at the present moment.

The Chris Paul trade is significant to me not only because he could be the best player traded this off-season, but I think it'll be a gauge of just how badly teams may be hurting financially if the return isn't that good solely based on his salary.

[NYG]

I disagree with shrink in that I think GSW never considers this. The amount of real money this commits them to is crazy, especially if the plan is to flip him for an even bigger salary.

I'm going down with the ship that Russell was signed to be traded--was right and that Wiggins was traded for to get an asset but also to be traded--time will tell, but its the only reasonable path to contention at any kind of reasonable labor cost and they are already going to be very expensive.

I just don't see where they add the salary of the #1 pick plus the salary of whoever they flip Johnson for. That tax bill just isn't tenable I don't care how rich those owners are--they aren't paying all that.

How do you feel about the Looney/'21 Wolves Pick for Derrick White/11th Overall idea in the Looney + Wolves Pick thread? I think people are sleeping on it. It seems like what's lost in 11/White fairly assesses the risk/reward that comes with that Wolves pick. They could end up with a top 5-10 pick in a great 2021 draft for Derrick White and the 11th Overall Pick, that's worth the risk of it possibly being a late lotto to mid-first instead IMO.

[giannis and 1]

The top 3 things I think set up this off-season in order of impact on how the off-season plays out...

1. Giannis extending or not extending

2. Chris Paul trade

3. What the T'Wolves and Warriors do with the top picks

Once those dominos fall and are defined, I think teams will be better able to plan based on the resulting landscape versus the uncertainty of those three things at the present moment.

The Chris Paul trade is significant to me not only because he could be the best player traded this off-season, but I think it'll be a gauge of just how badly teams may be hurting financially if the return isn't that good solely based on his salary.

What really is a "good return" for CP3 though? Getting out from under that contract has significant value in and of itself.

[NYG]

The top 3 things I think set up this off-season in order of impact on how the off-season plays out...

1. Giannis extending or not extending

2. Chris Paul trade

3. What the T'Wolves and Warriors do with the top picks

Once those dominos fall and are defined, I think teams will be better able to plan based on the resulting landscape versus the uncertainty of those three things at the present moment.

The Chris Paul trade is significant to me not only because he could be the best player traded this off-season, but I think it'll be a gauge of just how badly teams may be hurting financially if the return isn't that good solely based on his salary.

What really is a "good return" for CP3 though? Getting out from under that contract has significant value in and of itself.

I would put the bar at Oubre and Rubio?

[Scoot McGroot]

Jarrett Culver and 17 to Indiana

Victor Oladipo, Wendell Carter Jr. and 4 to Minnesota

James Johnson and 1 to Golden State

2 to Chicago

It’s a fair price for Oladipo, but he has less value to MIN. Yes, since they are not a free agent destination, they’d love a chance at top end talent, but he’s very likely to be a rental .. Culver and the pick have years of team control. Wendell Carter isn’t a great fit for MIN.

GSW shouldn’t get to move up from 2 to 1 simply for using their Iguodala TPE on James Johnson. I get that he’s not worth his deal, but turning the TPE into Johnson helps GSW even more, allowing them to salary match a really nice set of players, like Myles Turner, Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, etc.

There is the makings of a trade in there though. For MIN, Oladipo on a rental may be worth Johnson plus #17 OR Culver, but Oladipo is probably worth more to GSW since he is more likely to stay. Carter Jr may help GSW more than MIN. Johnson to GSW certainly makes sense, but maybe this works best with MIN out of it.

Am I worrying too much about Culver’s shooting woes in college and the pros? What’s the read on him developing long term? Genuinely curious.

[shrink]

Am I worrying too much about Culver’s shooting woes in college and the pros? What’s the read on him developing long term? Genuinely curious.

It’s definitely a concern, and he was truly awful at the beginning of the season, but there are signs for optimism.

He improved in the last month, and many attributed his glacially slow start to the yips. This is still a 19 year old kid that grew up in Lubbock and played his one year of college in Lubbock, and appeared to be overwhelmed by moving to Minneapolis. He played with more force in the last month of the season, including some mammoth dunks, so this may be a sign that he was turning a corner. Finally, Naz Reid put up a YouTube video of a culver draining shots last month with a surprisingly smooth stroke.

I am not unconcerned by the shooting, but the kid is an extremely hard worker and already has value as a long SG/SF defender, so I think it’s too early to write the kid off. I’m sure Rosas isn’t.

[NYG]

.

What's the latest talk on #1? Who are they taking if they keep the pick?

[Scoot McGroot]

Am I worrying too much about Culver’s shooting woes in college and the pros? What’s the read on him developing long term? Genuinely curious.

It’s definitely a concern, and he was truly awful at the beginning of the season, but there are signs for optimism.

He improved in the last month, and many attributed his glacially slow start to the yips. This is still a 19 year old kid that grew up in Lubbock and played his one year of college in Lubbock, and appeared to be overwhelmed by moving to Minneapolis. He played with more force in the last month of the season, including some mammoth dunks, so this may be a sign that he was turning a corner. Finally, Naz Reid put up a YouTube video of a culver draining shots last month with a surprisingly smooth stroke.

I am not unconcerned by the shooting, but the kid is an extremely hard worker and already has value as a long SG/SF defender, so I think it’s too early to write the kid off. I’m sure Rosas isn’t.

Fair enough. Mostly, the terrible free throw rate is what worries me most. Usually seems like that tells the overall shot story.

[giberish]

I thought the Knicks would want BOTH LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman as their future PG and C. Both the TWolves and Warriors want to trade down. What could the Knicks offer? I asked on the GB and didn't get any replies to see what the interest level was for such trades.

I doubt the Knicks would give up BOTH Mitchell Robinson and RJ Barrett, but would give up one.

They have some other pieces the teams may be interested in. What do you think? Will the Knicks go for both LaMelo and Wiseman? I think LaMelo would be the perfect young PG to pair with Wiseman.

There's no point in the Knicks keeping Robinson if they're also drafting Wiseman. Neither are credible PF options and presumably you'd want them both to be more then split-time centers going forward.

Trading up with the Warriors is easier if they're willing to eat salary. GS is also a relevant fit for Robinson. Minny really doesn't have a bad contract worth trading down from #1 to #8. Tough to see how NYK gets both #1 and #2 without including Barrett, especially if they're not willing to trade unprotected (or even very lightly protected) future 1sts.

[shrink]

What's the latest talk on #1? Who are they taking if they keep the pick?

There is still no word locally. Rosas is holding his cards very close to his chest. I believe him when he says he will choose the very best player regardless of fit, so Wiseman and Ball are very possible. There are rumors that several teams have asked about the #1 pick, mostly non-lotto teams, but there haven’t been any offers that have been particularly appealing. I don’t think he particularly wants to trade down, but he is open to offers. I suspect that Rosas wants to see pre-draft workouts.

I am going to look into this deeply over the next 36 hours, and if I find out anything, I’ll let you know.

[Texas Chuck]

Brad Townsend (local Mavs guy of eh quality) just put out a piece saying Donnie Nelson has made it clear around the league that everyone but Luka/KP is available, that Dallas wants to win right now, and is willing to eat money to get talent. Also said Dallas wants to move into the lottery--which seems odd in light of the other stuff.

No idea what stock to put into that, but just sharing it here. It definitely fits with how they used to operate when Dirk was in his prime, but...

[Godaddycurse]

Brad Townsend (local Mavs guy of eh quality) just put out a piece saying Donnie Nelson has made it clear around the league that everyone but Luka/KP is available, that Dallas wants to win right now, and is willing to eat money to get talent. Also said Dallas wants to move into the lottery--which seems odd in light of the other stuff.

No idea what stock to put into that, but just sharing it here. It definitely fits with how they used to operate when Dirk was in his prime, but...

Tobias Harris? get 21 from philly and package with 18 to move into late lotto?

[Texas Chuck]

Brad Townsend (local Mavs guy of eh quality) just put out a piece saying Donnie Nelson has made it clear around the league that everyone but Luka/KP is available, that Dallas wants to win right now, and is willing to eat money to get talent. Also said Dallas wants to move into the lottery--which seems odd in light of the other stuff.

No idea what stock to put into that, but just sharing it here. It definitely fits with how they used to operate when Dirk was in his prime, but...

Tobias Harris? get 21 from philly and package with 18 to move into late lotto?

he specifically mentioned Tobias by name, but I'm not crazy about that. Guessing it would be THJ/Wright as the matching?