Thoughts in General, Rumors, etc 5.0

[jbk1234]

What would the Thunder want for Lu Dort? He'll be a free agent after next season, so maybe the Thunder look to move him before they have to pay him.

Is it one unprotected 1st? Two? Pick and a rotation player?

Dort is so redundant with what the Raptors already have.

[shrink]

From Shams. Gross

The Minnesota Timberwolves have also remained in conversations with the 76ers, but are unwilling to meet Philadelphia’s high threshold for draft picks. Minnesota has indicated an openness to discussing a package that includes Simmons and Tobias Harris, sources said, but that offer would not come with draft capital from the Timberwolves and the 76ers do not view both players as part of a salary dump trade. The gulf in perspective is why there hasn’t been much traction so far.

[Troubadour]

What would the Thunder want for Lu Dort? He'll be a free agent after next season, so maybe the Thunder look to move him before they have to pay him.

Is it one unprotected 1st? Two? Pick and a rotation player?

Dort is so redundant with what the Raptors already have.

I disagree. You get another aggressive on-ball defender, a player who has shown flashes of attacking closeouts and hitting threes, and he fits what the Raptors are trying to do.

I think there's a risk of having too much of a similar type, but we're seeing the success of that with these all 6'9 lineups in Toronto. I'd rather double down on that and live with the consequences.

[shangrila]

From Shams. Gross

The Minnesota Timberwolves have also remained in conversations with the 76ers, but are unwilling to meet Philadelphia’s high threshold for draft picks. Minnesota has indicated an openness to discussing a package that includes Simmons and Tobias Harris, sources said, but that offer would not come with draft capital from the Timberwolves and the 76ers do not view both players as part of a salary dump trade. The gulf in perspective is why there hasn’t been much traction so far.

Well a deal like that involves Russell, so I doubt it happens.

I wouldn't be surprised if they explored what a deal would look like though.

[Domejandro]

As I mentioned on the Minnesota forum, the salary/roster framework from Minnesota's perspective would be...

D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverly, and Taurean Prince

for

Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, and (insert minimum salary player)


There are two obvious gulfs to cross.

1. Minnesota obviously needs to add substantial assets to bridge the cost (be it prospects or picks).

2. Philadelphia is clearly gunning for a top target like James Harden.

This means that Minnesota would have to add enough assets to sufficiently fill the gap that Brooklyn would want from Philadelphia (probably Tyrese Maxey + Pick) AND have it so that Brooklyn prefers receiving Minnesota's assets along with two of the Minnesota players over Ben Simmons.

To me, I just don't see a clean way to effectively clear those issues. Brooklyn is entirely win now, so I wouldn't understand why they would prefer that over just taking Ben Simmons. In a Damian Lillard trade context, you can see how the pieces could fall together and make sense (rebuilding package), but in this James Harden scenario, I just don't see it materializing.

[gom]

Weird. That first trade and the Harden/Simmons rumor has me so excited about the trade deadline. This is the perfect time for something big to go down.

(fingertapping)

[gom]

From Shams. Gross

The Minnesota Timberwolves have also remained in conversations with the 76ers, but are unwilling to meet Philadelphia’s high threshold for draft picks. Minnesota has indicated an openness to discussing a package that includes Simmons and Tobias Harris, sources said, but that offer would not come with draft capital from the Timberwolves and the 76ers do not view both players as part of a salary dump trade. The gulf in perspective is why there hasn’t been much traction so far.

Euphemism alert.

[shangrila]

As I mentioned on the Minnesota forum, the salary/roster framework from Minnesota's perspective would be...

D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverly, and Taurean Prince

for

Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, and (insert minimum salary player)


There are two obvious gulfs to cross.

1. Minnesota obviously needs to add substantial assets to bridge the cost (be it prospects or picks).

2. Philadelphia is clearly gunning for a top target like James Harden.

This means that Minnesota would have to add enough assets to sufficiently fill the gap that Brooklyn would want from Philadelphia (probably Tyrese Maxey + Pick) AND have it so that Brooklyn prefers receiving Minnesota's assets along with two of the Minnesota players over Ben Simmons.

To me, I just don't see a clean way to effectively clear those issues. Brooklyn is entirely win now, so I wouldn't understand why they would prefer that over just taking Ben Simmons. In a Damian Lillard trade context, you can see how the pieces could fall together and make sense (rebuilding package), but in this James Harden scenario, I just don't see it materializing.

Yeah, disagree there.

That Harris contract is one of the worst in the entire league. Taking that on for expirings or 2 year deals (depending on how you want to break it down) is more than enough to bridge the value gap between DLo and Simmons.

If it takes more then you walk, and I'm not even sure you do the deal as presented.

[Lovetron Joe]

Here is the thing, over the last month plus, Harris has been excellent. He has returned to his career averages which were enough for the Sixers to sign him in the first place. Yes he is overpaid, but he is far and away not one of the "worst contracts in the league". Russell (at $30,000,000 plus a year), and fillers such as Beasley, Beverly and Prince are not going to motivate Brooklyn or the Sixers to give up Harden or Simmons.

Minnesota, without Edwards, has no place in this transaction.

[Adrian Street]

Does a Randle, Sabonis, & Fox based 3-way make sense at some point?

Sabonis to SAC, Fox to NY, and Randle to Indy?

That depends on how many 1sts NY is giving Indiana. If it's less than 3 I'm not seeing it.

Yeah I have no clue what the gaps are; as I think Fox & Randle are both better than Sabonis when on form, but since both are struggling this season I probably lean towards Indy being the team that should get the sweeteners, as well...which is why I was wondering what you guys thought.

My general thinking was that each team would be trading from a position of strength for a guy who should be a better fit, if that player bounces back / brings their top form. So the question was how tolerable those sweeteners needed to be.

Would a pick from us (or kid like Quickley), and a pick from SAC feel reasonable? Or does Julius need to finish the season on an absolute tear to make that at all realistic?

I think Sabonis>Fox>Randle and I don't think the Pacers would be at all interested in Randle even without Sabonis.

[zimpy27]

Any chance of this happening?

OKC get Westbrook + Jordan + LAL27FRP

POR get Bazemore + LAL SRPs + 30.8mTPE

LAL get McCollum+Favors+Muscala


- I think if Portland were gunning for a TPE it would happen with CJ and it would be using OKC.
- If Portland does this then I assume they are trying to be buyers in the offseason for Beal or Harden or LaVine.
- That 30.8m TPE from CJ could be used on a number of players next season.

[Godaddycurse]

Any chance of this happening?

OKC get Westbrook + Jordan + LAL27FRP

POR get Bazemore + LAL SRPs + 30.8mTPE

LAL get McCollum+Favors+Muscala


- I think if Portland were gunning for a TPE it would happen with CJ and it would be using OKC.
- If Portland does this then I assume they are trying to be buyers in the offseason for Beal or Harden or LaVine.
- That 30.8m TPE from CJ could be used on a number of players next season.

it takes alot more than a far off 1st to dump westbrook

[Texas Chuck]

We are supposedly getting the Trey Burke showcase game so don't hesitate to get your offers in.

And yes its ludicrous for the Mavs to think they can create a market for Trey Burke.

[Devilanche]

Any chance of this happening?

OKC get Westbrook + Jordan + LAL27FRP

POR get Bazemore + LAL SRPs + 30.8mTPE

LAL get McCollum+Favors+Muscala


- I think if Portland were gunning for a TPE it would happen with CJ and it would be using OKC.
- If Portland does this then I assume they are trying to be buyers in the offseason for Beal or Harden or LaVine.
- That 30.8m TPE from CJ could be used on a number of players next season.

OKC is not not throwing in muscala and we definitely need more to absorb Westbrook salary.

Not a direction I prefer if we aren’t buying him out too. Don’t want his usage on the young team now .

[Devilanche]

What would the Thunder want for Lu Dort? He'll be a free agent after next season, so maybe the Thunder look to move him before they have to pay him.

Is it one unprotected 1st? Two? Pick and a rotation player?

Dort is so redundant with what the Raptors already have.

I disagree. You get another aggressive on-ball defender, a player who has shown flashes of attacking closeouts and hitting threes, and he fits what the Raptors are trying to do.

I think there's a risk of having too much of a similar type, but we're seeing the success of that with these all 6'9 lineups in Toronto. I'd rather double down on that and live with the consequences.

Is dort the missing piece you foresee to get you into the second round next season with a chance of getting to conference finals ?

Or are you targeting him cause he’s Canadian .

I don’t think first rounder are all that valuable but Masai is one of those that is consistently able to find rotational players so if dort is not the missing piece , Toronto is better off buying low on others or drafting a few players this upcoming draft and developing them in the interim.

Once you are closer you can always revisit trading for dort ( now need to match higher salary though) or move on to other target

[zimpy27]

Any chance of this happening?

OKC get Westbrook + Jordan + LAL27FRP

POR get Bazemore + LAL SRPs + 30.8mTPE

LAL get McCollum+Favors+Muscala


- I think if Portland were gunning for a TPE it would happen with CJ and it would be using OKC.
- If Portland does this then I assume they are trying to be buyers in the offseason for Beal or Harden or LaVine.
- That 30.8m TPE from CJ could be used on a number of players next season.

it takes alot more than a far off 1st to dump westbrook

Should the SRPs be going to OKC also?

It's hard for me to tell if Portland should be getting anything back other than the capspace and TPE.

[zimpy27]

Any chance of this happening?

OKC get Westbrook + Jordan + LAL27FRP

POR get Bazemore + LAL SRPs + 30.8mTPE

LAL get McCollum+Favors+Muscala


- I think if Portland were gunning for a TPE it would happen with CJ and it would be using OKC.
- If Portland does this then I assume they are trying to be buyers in the offseason for Beal or Harden or LaVine.
- That 30.8m TPE from CJ could be used on a number of players next season.

OKC is not not throwing in muscala and we definitely need more to absorb Westbrook salary.

Not a direction I prefer if we aren’t buying him out too. Don’t want his usage on the young team now .

I don't think Muscala is a throw in. He' work well with Lakers.
Would you want SRPs or Monk or Reaves?
My guess is a buyout like Kemba, probably with Knicks again.

[Devilanche]

Any chance of this happening?

OKC get Westbrook + Jordan + LAL27FRP

POR get Bazemore + LAL SRPs + 30.8mTPE

LAL get McCollum+Favors+Muscala


- I think if Portland were gunning for a TPE it would happen with CJ and it would be using OKC.
- If Portland does this then I assume they are trying to be buyers in the offseason for Beal or Harden or LaVine.
- That 30.8m TPE from CJ could be used on a number of players next season.

OKC is not not throwing in muscala and we definitely need more to absorb Westbrook salary.

Not a direction I prefer if we aren’t buying him out too. Don’t want his usage on the young team now .

I don't think Muscala is a throw in. He' work well with Lakers.
Would you want SRPs or Monk or Reaves?
My guess is a buyout like Kemba, probably with Knicks again.

If muscala want out , an SRP is enough , doubt you guys have enough asset to cover the Westbrook portion of the trade though.

If I’m being realistic it probably cost 2 first , if I’m being greedy it’s 2 first and a swap somewhere in future too ( with a non OKC pick)

[Dadouv47]

OKC is not not throwing in muscala and we definitely need more to absorb Westbrook salary.

Not a direction I prefer if we aren’t buying him out too. Don’t want his usage on the young team now .

I don't think Muscala is a throw in. He' work well with Lakers.
Would you want SRPs or Monk or Reaves?
My guess is a buyout like Kemba, probably with Knicks again.

If muscala want out , an SRP is enough , doubt you guys have enough asset to cover the Westbrook portion of the trade though.

If I’m being realistic it probably cost 2 first , if I’m being greedy it’s 2 first and a swap somewhere in future too ( with a non OKC pick)

I don't want Westbrook back to OKC right now and even less for a 2027 FRP but we saw from last years that it wasn't THAT expensive to get rid of a bad contract (Horford/Kemba/Wall etc.). No team would offer 2 FRPs to get rid of one and a half of contract of a terrible contract.

[Devilanche]

I don't think Muscala is a throw in. He' work well with Lakers.
Would you want SRPs or Monk or Reaves?
My guess is a buyout like Kemba, probably with Knicks again.

If muscala want out , an SRP is enough , doubt you guys have enough asset to cover the Westbrook portion of the trade though.

If I’m being realistic it probably cost 2 first , if I’m being greedy it’s 2 first and a swap somewhere in future too ( with a non OKC pick)

I don't want Westbrook back to OKC right now and even less for a 2027 FRP but we saw from last years that it wasn't THAT expensive to get rid of a bad contract (Horford/Kemba/Wall etc.). No team would offer 2 FRPs to get rid of one and a half of contract of a terrible contract.

Going by the outgoing and incoming salary I would absolutely want a second first though .

There’s a better chance that there’s another team rather than OKC willing to do this but there’s only so many gm out there secure enough to trade for a 2027 first as the reward for absorbing salary

We sent out Horford who have quite a bit of salary (with a high guarantee that force most team to be unlikely to waive his final season) for kemba . In return we got an immediate 16th pick

For this trade we are sending out favors much lower salary and absorbing Westbrook slightly higher salary (compared to kemba) . Once you consider the pick is quite a bit away … that’s how I get my second first demand.

Now if we absorb a bad contract(or two) of same length to favors around 20-25m and flip that for Westbrook I would be ok with one sole pick.

The talent back from that trade would probably means lakers prefer not doing that trade then though.

Edit : same point still remain though, don’t really want Westbrook usage rate back.