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

[Godaddycurse]

Did anyone do Giannis to TOR?

Barnes, Dick, Walter, buttload of picks/swaps for Giannis ?

IQ, Barrett, Ingram, Giannis, Poeltl

there's a whole thread for it

[Devilanche]

CP3 is pretty washed though. I enjoyed his time here especially at the beginning of the season because of how bad our PG rotation was and his vet leadership/influence on the young guys was definitely needed but I can't see him contributing to a playoff team anything beyond 15-20mpg max off the bench. He absolutely cannot get by anyone at all anymore, even slow bigs and he plays at a very slow pace. I wish him well but am glad we will have a Fox/Harper backcourt (most likely) going forward

He is afterall 40. If he can contribute even as a 10th -12th man … he’s worth it to a young squad , bubble playoffs team.

[NYG]

Just sharing this old thread as something to keep in mind for both teams when posting a trade...

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2282383&hilit=motivates

I think one of the most important things we need to be mindful of when proposing a trade is what motivates a trade? Why even bother making a trade versus standing pat? I decided to look over the trades made during the 2022-23 season and the 2022 off-season and analyze the "Why?" for each team.

After researching this, it seems that there's 7 motivations to making a trade in real life:

1. Move Up/Down in the NBA Draft: This is a trade where only picks are involved. The motivation for the team moving up is to get a specific player on their draft board versus waiting to see if he falls. The motivation for the team moving down is they are indifferent about the draft board there and prefer the value over the specific player they could draft there. This simply aligns when one team wants a specific player that they think won't be there when they pick and another team with an earlier pick doesn't care for the draft board.

2. Star requested a trade: This really seems to be the only time a really good player gets traded. You don't trade high level talent in the NBA for picks/young players unless it's requested or you are blatantly rebuilding. Looking over real life trades, it appears teams are either blatantly trying to contend or blatantly trying to rebuild. The only reason a team not planning to blatantly rebuild trades a really good player is if it's requested.

3. Contending team trying to get better: This is simple. You're a good team, but you want to get better so as a result of the trade you have become a more talented team even if you had to sacrifice an undeveloped young player with a high ceiling or draft picks to do so. Contending doesn't mean in regards to how you're expected to finish, but more-so if you are trying to contend. For example, I don't I have the Pistons or Magic as competitive, but I have them as joining this group and leave the following group this off-season.

4. Rebuilding team trying to add assets: This is also simple. You're a bad team so you trade your good players for picks and young players. The one thing that surprised me is looking over the trades, there's very clearly rebuilding teams and contending teams. There's no gray area or "hybrid" approach. The Raptors will keep OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam (unless they request a trade / see above) or trade both. There isn't really any team that hasn't clearly established which they are in terms of trade patterns.

5. Get value from a fill-in involved in a previous trade: This is basically where you made a trade that had cap filler attached to what you really wanted. Instead of waiving the filler, you get something for the filler from another team in a follow-up trade.

6. Save money: This can be one of two reasons most likely. Either you are close to or above the tax and want to reduce the payroll or you have a specific player you want in free agency and you need to create the cap space. It seems those are the only real motivations for saving money in a trade.

7. Fill a need: This is different than trying to get better. This is more trying to get neutral from a talent perspective, but you give up talent where you have more of it for talent where you have less of it to balance your depth. The only neutral trades seem motivated by using depth to fill a need with a team that can do the same.

Literally these are the only 7 motivations I have as being the driving force behind a team deciding to make a trade. There's no other reason a team makes a trade so be mindful of that moving forward.

[NYG]

1. Move Up/Down in the NBA Draft
-We'll ignore this one for now since these are most live on the clock

2. Star requested a trade
-Besides KD and Giannis, does anyone else fit this criteria?

3. Contending team trying to get better
-I have this as pretty much everyone besides Nets, potentially Bucks if they deal Giannis, maybe the Pelicans (management has a new leash to rebuild), Jazz and Wizards

4. Rebuilding team trying to add assets
-I think unless the Bucks trade Giannis, you're looking at Nets, Pelicans, Jazz and Wizards

5. Get value from a fill-in involved in a previous trade
-We can pretty much ignore this until a real life trade with this comes up

6. Save money
-I don't think anyone is shooting for cap space so you're looking at teams in need of tax/apron space: Celtics, Cavaliers, Pacers, T'Wolves, Magic, 76ers and Suns strike me as the teams that could be motivated enough to make a trade built around financial relief

7. Fill a need
-I think Godaddy's recent Hart for Monk proposal is a good example of this type of trade.

So if you're looking to get better using picks or young players, you're looking at 2 or 4 for you're guy

If you're looking to acquire talent and/or assets via cap space, TPE's or Non-Tax MLE's, you're looking at 6

Otherwise, you better have a player of equal value at a position you can afford to trade.

[NYG]

I don't want to start an entire thread about it... but I've been making efforts to keep Giannis in Milwaukee. I just came up with one that feels rough, but desperate times call for desperate measures... Does Kuzma, Connaughton and '31 Bucks 1st for Zion get it done at this point? I know there's a million counterpoints such as Pelicans being less than inspired to make the Bucks better with those pick swaps, Zion/Giannis not even being a great fit, etc., but... Zion/Giannis could be so good from a pure talent duo and the Pelicans may sell lower than ever right now just to pivot away from him.

[HadAnEffectHere]

The Jazz's local reporters are saying Ryan Smith has done a complete 180 and the Jazz will be trying to make the playoffs next year after this year was such a catastrophe.

"So is Ainge just saying what he has to say? No. According to multiple team sources, Ainge’s words should be taken seriously. The Jazz will not be tanking next year and if that means they lose a lottery pick to the Thunder, so be it."

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/06/02/utah-jazz-austin-ainge-tanking-2025-26-season/

This is, of course, a terrible move as the Jazz's roster sucks and has no hope, but does change A LOT of the offseason calculus. A John Collins for Jrue panic trade appears very much on the table.

[Godaddycurse]

The Jazz's local reporters are saying Ryan Smith has done a complete 180 and the Jazz will be trying to make the playoffs next year after this year was such a catastrophe.

"So is Ainge just saying what he has to say? No. According to multiple team sources, Ainge’s words should be taken seriously. The Jazz will not be tanking next year and if that means they lose a lottery pick to the Thunder, so be it."

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/06/02/utah-jazz-austin-ainge-tanking-2025-26-season/

This is, of course, a terrible move as the Jazz's roster sucks and has no hope, but does change A LOT of the offseason calculus. A John Collins for Jrue panic trade appears very much on the table.

i'll believe it when i see it

[Texas Chuck]

Look these comments from the Jazz appear to be just we blatantly tanked last year and the league chided us so we are going to publicly claim the opposite then the usual we hear a bunch of noise and Ainge says we were so close on this and on that and in the end they do very little.

Maybe they trade some low level assets for a solid veteran to put a good face on it, but I think you can feel pretty safe about the Jazz closer to the bottom of the table than even the playin next year.

[mademan]

I mean i too think theyre gonna tank, but historically, the Jazz have not been a tank team. Ainge era has turned that around, but i could easily see ownership breathing down his neck. Three years of tanking (2 of them failing to truly tank), never getting a top pick and not having 1 prospect to feel really good about...

I dont see a realistic path for them to be competitive, but at some point, someones gonna be on the hot seat. Hard to blame the coach that everyone loves, so eyes are gonna be on management

[Texas Chuck]

they don't hire your kid if you are on the hot seat....

[Diop]

Just sharing this old thread as something to keep in mind for both teams when posting a trade...

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2282383&hilit=motivates

I think one of the most important things we need to be mindful of when proposing a trade is what motivates a trade? Why even bother making a trade versus standing pat? I decided to look over the trades made during the 2022-23 season and the 2022 off-season and analyze the "Why?" for each team.

After researching this, it seems that there's 7 motivations to making a trade in real life:

1. Move Up/Down in the NBA Draft: This is a trade where only picks are involved. The motivation for the team moving up is to get a specific player on their draft board versus waiting to see if he falls. The motivation for the team moving down is they are indifferent about the draft board there and prefer the value over the specific player they could draft there. This simply aligns when one team wants a specific player that they think won't be there when they pick and another team with an earlier pick doesn't care for the draft board.

2. Star requested a trade: This really seems to be the only time a really good player gets traded. You don't trade high level talent in the NBA for picks/young players unless it's requested or you are blatantly rebuilding. Looking over real life trades, it appears teams are either blatantly trying to contend or blatantly trying to rebuild. The only reason a team not planning to blatantly rebuild trades a really good player is if it's requested.

3. Contending team trying to get better: This is simple. You're a good team, but you want to get better so as a result of the trade you have become a more talented team even if you had to sacrifice an undeveloped young player with a high ceiling or draft picks to do so. Contending doesn't mean in regards to how you're expected to finish, but more-so if you are trying to contend. For example, I don't I have the Pistons or Magic as competitive, but I have them as joining this group and leave the following group this off-season.

4. Rebuilding team trying to add assets: This is also simple. You're a bad team so you trade your good players for picks and young players. The one thing that surprised me is looking over the trades, there's very clearly rebuilding teams and contending teams. There's no gray area or "hybrid" approach. The Raptors will keep OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam (unless they request a trade / see above) or trade both. There isn't really any team that hasn't clearly established which they are in terms of trade patterns.

5. Get value from a fill-in involved in a previous trade: This is basically where you made a trade that had cap filler attached to what you really wanted. Instead of waiving the filler, you get something for the filler from another team in a follow-up trade.

6. Save money: This can be one of two reasons most likely. Either you are close to or above the tax and want to reduce the payroll or you have a specific player you want in free agency and you need to create the cap space. It seems those are the only real motivations for saving money in a trade.

7. Fill a need: This is different than trying to get better. This is more trying to get neutral from a talent perspective, but you give up talent where you have more of it for talent where you have less of it to balance your depth. The only neutral trades seem motivated by using depth to fill a need with a team that can do the same.

Literally these are the only 7 motivations I have as being the driving force behind a team deciding to make a trade. There's no other reason a team makes a trade so be mindful of that moving forward.

this sums up why I keep going WHY?? in the Porzingis to Charlotte trades. the front office have said they want to do 4. Zingis needs to go to someone who is betting on his health to help winning or fill a need

[mademan]

they don't hire your kid if you are on the hot seat....

I didnt say it would be Ainge himself. Management teams are large...someone will get the blame for continued shite seasons with no upside to look forward to. And if it continues, it'll land on Ainge at some point. They were supposed to start the rebuild 3 years ago and theyre probably in a worse spot than when they started

I dunno. I see the same in Toronto..highly regarded FO that's been underwhelming for years...sure Masai isnt on the hot seat (there were talks that other teams were even trying to poach him), but he's acting like he is.

[Diop]

if i was the Jazz owner I would be asking what the plan is. it feels like they have been sorta tanking for a couple of years but done nothing but sit in no mans land in the middle.

im an impatient prick, my dream is to be an NBA owner. You guys here would love me as I would probably do a trade whenever i got bored.
the fans would want to kill me though as I play NBA2K with their heros.

Starplayer is turning 32 and is starting his decline, so I'm going to trade him for maximum value now. i dont care that you bought his singlet

[Devilanche]

The Jazz's local reporters are saying Ryan Smith has done a complete 180 and the Jazz will be trying to make the playoffs next year after this year was such a catastrophe.

"So is Ainge just saying what he has to say? No. According to multiple team sources, Ainge’s words should be taken seriously. The Jazz will not be tanking next year and if that means they lose a lottery pick to the Thunder, so be it."

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/06/02/utah-jazz-austin-ainge-tanking-2025-26-season/

This is, of course, a terrible move as the Jazz's roster sucks and has no hope, but does change A LOT of the offseason calculus. A John Collins for Jrue panic trade appears very much on the table.

i'll believe it when i see it

I mean if they give a damn they could have a much better team trying to win. Could still not be in the play-ins but at least trying to win.

[djFan71]

How do people value Terrance Mann? I have him as neutral to slightly positive, but in BOS $-savings deal with ATL would like to re-home him. Possible new abodes straight up:

LAL: Vincent
DET: Fontecchio
CHA: Green
SAS: Keldon for Mann and Niang

Are any of those feasible? Other ideas?

[ReggiesKnicks]

RJ, Ingram, Filler, Pick for Jrue, KD
Jrue for KCP
KCP, Filler for RJ
KD for Ingram, Filler

Fill in the blanks. Does it even work financially? Can Toronto go in the tax for this and/or would they?

IQ/Jrue/KD/Barnes/Poeltl is a title contending starting 5 (not OKC level but IND/NYK/MIL, ect level).

[bkohler]

The Jazz's local reporters are saying Ryan Smith has done a complete 180 and the Jazz will be trying to make the playoffs next year after this year was such a catastrophe.

"So is Ainge just saying what he has to say? No. According to multiple team sources, Ainge’s words should be taken seriously. The Jazz will not be tanking next year and if that means they lose a lottery pick to the Thunder, so be it."

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/06/02/utah-jazz-austin-ainge-tanking-2025-26-season/

This is, of course, a terrible move as the Jazz's roster sucks and has no hope, but does change A LOT of the offseason calculus. A John Collins for Jrue panic trade appears very much on the table.

i'll believe it when i see it

I mean if they give a damn they could have a much better team trying to win. Could still not be in the play-ins but at least trying to win.

I think it’s going to be shocking to Jazz fans how awful they are once they’re trying to win. I think there’s a good chance they’re picking 4-7 again the next two years while trying to win games.

[bkohler]

The Jazz's local reporters are saying Ryan Smith has done a complete 180 and the Jazz will be trying to make the playoffs next year after this year was such a catastrophe.

"So is Ainge just saying what he has to say? No. According to multiple team sources, Ainge’s words should be taken seriously. The Jazz will not be tanking next year and if that means they lose a lottery pick to the Thunder, so be it."

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/06/02/utah-jazz-austin-ainge-tanking-2025-26-season/

This is, of course, a terrible move as the Jazz's roster sucks and has no hope, but does change A LOT of the offseason calculus. A John Collins for Jrue panic trade appears very much on the table.

After reading other articles and listening to the press conference the statement might be a bit out of context. He simply said they won’t purposely sit players to tank, not that they’re going for the playoffs. I fully expect them to trade all vets and go even harder into the tank.

[Mavrelous]

Stein reported on Mavs podcast that the 2 Cavs assistants are the frontrunners for Suns job, Quinn from the Heat and Sweeney from the Mavs no longer in the running.

[babyjax13]

The Jazz's local reporters are saying Ryan Smith has done a complete 180 and the Jazz will be trying to make the playoffs next year after this year was such a catastrophe.

"So is Ainge just saying what he has to say? No. According to multiple team sources, Ainge’s words should be taken seriously. The Jazz will not be tanking next year and if that means they lose a lottery pick to the Thunder, so be it."

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/06/02/utah-jazz-austin-ainge-tanking-2025-26-season/

This is, of course, a terrible move as the Jazz's roster sucks and has no hope, but does change A LOT of the offseason calculus. A John Collins for Jrue panic trade appears very much on the table.

I miss the Millers lol, just a clown show all around.