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*let's assume Utah's 2024 1st conveys to OKC.

UTA trades: Keyonte George, John Collins, 2 2025 1sts (2nd and 3rd best of UTA/CLE/MIN), 2 2027 1sts (best and worst of UTA/CLE/MIN/LAL), 2029 1st (best of UTA/CLE/MIN)
CHA trades: LaMelo Ball

Why UTA does it: LaMelo/Lauri feels like the start of something really interesting. Still have a ton of picks, Kessler, Hendricks and Ochai feel like natural fits in the starting five, have some super-subs in Clarkson/Sexton. We also still have the option after this deal to renegotiate and extend Lauri.

Why CHA does it: If Bridges leaves they are going to be challenged to make the playoffs over the next couple of years and will risk LaMelo walking at the end of his contract. So, instead, they trade him for a ton of value: a recent 1st + 5 1sts.

From the Hornets perspective, it has to be the best of all those picks just get the conversation going.

Price is too high for what LaMelo has been imo.

Would rather buy Dejounte now at half that price (maybe a third).

jbk1234 wrote:From the Hornets perspective, it has to be the best of all those picks just get the conversation going.

The only year it isn't is 2025, and frankly, no team is removing themselves from the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes for a non top-10 player.

not a chance. We have 5 more years of contractual control on Ball after this one. Even with the injury concerns, I don't think anything short of OKC or Utah's entire stack of picks is going to make Charlotte interested in a pick package.

babyjax13 wrote:*let's assume Utah's 2024 1st conveys to OKC.

UTA trades: Keyonte George, John Collins, 2 2025 1sts (2nd and 3rd best of UTA/CLE/MIN), 2 2027 1sts (best and worst of UTA/CLE/MIN/LAL), 2029 1st (best of UTA/CLE/MIN)

Any of those "best of" picks protected? That's an imporant detail. If no protections (or very light ones), Keyonte + 5 firsts feels like an overpay for Lamelo, who's good but more hype than substance at this point, and has an injury history.
Also, I don't think Lamelo is the kind of guy who'll be happy in SLC in the long run. Way too risky for the Jazz.

wemby wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:*let's assume Utah's 2024 1st conveys to OKC.

UTA trades: Keyonte George, John Collins, 2 2025 1sts (2nd and 3rd best of UTA/CLE/MIN), 2 2027 1sts (best and worst of UTA/CLE/MIN/LAL), 2029 1st (best of UTA/CLE/MIN)

Any of those "best of" picks protected? That's an imporant detail. If no protections (or very light ones), Keyonte + 5 firsts feels like an overpay for Lamelo, who's good but more hype than substance at this point, and has an injury history.
Also, I don't think Lamelo is the kind of guy who'll be happy in SLC in the long run. Way too risky for the Jazz.

Only the LAL pick is protected.

babyjax13 wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:From the Hornets perspective, it has to be the best of all those picks just get the conversation going.

The only year it isn't is 2025, and frankly, no team is removing themselves from the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes for a non top-10 player.

Cooper Flagg won't even be the #1 pick. He's going to disappoint a lot of people in college.

JustBuzzin wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:From the Hornets perspective, it has to be the best of all those picks just get the conversation going.

The only year it isn't is 2025, and frankly, no team is removing themselves from the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes for a non top-10 player.

Cooper Flagg won't even be the #1 pick. He's going to disappoint a lot of people in college.

Maybe, right now he looks pretty special, though.

babyjax13 wrote:

JustBuzzin wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:The only year it isn't is 2025, and frankly, no team is removing themselves from the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes for a non top-10 player.

Cooper Flagg won't even be the #1 pick. He's going to disappoint a lot of people in college.

Maybe, right now he looks pretty special, though.

I mean he's playing against kids. Dude is the biggest player on the floor most of the time. I think college will tell us if the hype is real or not.

I think he can be a Ak47 type player as his ceiling. I don't see superstar.

JustBuzzin wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:

JustBuzzin wrote:Cooper Flagg won't even be the #1 pick. He's going to disappoint a lot of people in college.

Maybe, right now he looks pretty special, though.

I mean he's playing against kids. Dude is the biggest player on the floor most of the time. I think college will tell us if the hype is real or not.

I think he can be a Ak47 type player as his ceiling. I don't see superstar.

Pre injury Kirilenko was a top 30 player in the NBA. So even if we call that a median outcome that's pretty nice. Idk, LaMelo os really awesome, but I'd want to preserve our chance at a top pick in 2025 even if trading for him. I understand if that makes it DOA.

babyjax13 wrote:

JustBuzzin wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:Maybe, right now he looks pretty special, though.

I mean he's playing against kids. Dude is the biggest player on the floor most of the time. I think college will tell us if the hype is real or not.

I think he can be a Ak47 type player as his ceiling. I don't see superstar.

Pre injury Kirilenko was a top 30 player in the NBA. So even if we call that a median outcome that's pretty nice. Idk, LaMelo os really awesome, but I'd want to preserve our chance at a top pick in 2025 even if trading for him. I understand if that makes it DOA.

Honestly I don't see us trading LaMelo unless he just ask to be traded.

Our franchise has been bad for years. I think they are willing to keep Melo just to sell merchandise as he is one of the more popular players in the league.

I like the concept overall. Feel like Charlotte would want Hendricks as well. George has been promising but up and down. Kind of missing that central piece with the uncertainty of the picks.

Don’t think Charlotte ultimately trades LaMelo though.

wemby wrote:Also, I don't think Lamelo is the kind of guy who'll be happy in SLC in the long run. Way too risky for the Jazz.

This is my view as well.

I think Utah plays the long game with those picks unless somebody like Luka becomes a possibility. The closer you get to those picks conveying, they could become much more valuable than they are now. If Minny and/or Cleveland fall apart at any time, a single pick can become pure gold.

JustBuzzin wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:

JustBuzzin wrote:Cooper Flagg won't even be the #1 pick. He's going to disappoint a lot of people in college.

Maybe, right now he looks pretty special, though.

I mean he's playing against kids. Dude is the biggest player on the floor most of the time. I think college will tell us if the hype is real or not.

I think he can be a Ak47 type player as his ceiling. I don't see superstar.

Man, if Kirilenko for a few years does not seems nice to have as an hornets fan, i don't even know what to say...His iq basket is pretty nice, his toughness as well (and so are his fundamentals).
Anyway there are more nice prospects to get in the lottery (not even in the high lottery) in this draft unlike the next one.

Otoh, i don't see any reason to move Ball. There is a guy named Stephen something that used to be plagued by injuries in some Californian team too. I heard things went better for him (obviously not comparing the too nor the franchises).

babyjax13 wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:From the Hornets perspective, it has to be the best of all those picks just get the conversation going.

The only year it isn't is 2025, and frankly, no team is removing themselves from the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes for a non top-10 player.

A lot of teams 'removed themselves' from the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes they will do the same for Cooper f'ing Flagg.

BK_2020 wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:From the Hornets perspective, it has to be the best of all those picks just get the conversation going.

The only year it isn't is 2025, and frankly, no team is removing themselves from the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes for a non top-10 player.

A lot of teams 'removed themselves' from the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes they will do the same for Cooper f'ing Flagg.

Are you saying teams traded their unprotected pick last year for a non top-10 player?

Please advise. Thanks.

BK_2020 wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:From the Hornets perspective, it has to be the best of all those picks just get the conversation going.

The only year it isn't is 2025, and frankly, no team is removing themselves from the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes for a non top-10 player.

A lot of teams 'removed themselves' from the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes they will do the same for Cooper f'ing Flagg.

Not completely bottoming out is very different from making a trade where you *specifically* give up your highest pick. Only ONE team traded a lottery pick pre-draft, and it was protected (Chicago). All of the other trades were draft-day trades. Everyone knew Wemby was coming, there was a reason we saw so many less lottery picks traded.