RealGM

Brooklyn gets: Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker
Indiana get: Mikal Bridges

So this makes a lot of sense on paper from a directional standpoint (the Pacers are ready to win now, the Nets need good prospects), but I'm really uncertain about the trade values of all of these guys.

Bennedict Mathurin flashed a ton of potential in his rookie season as a top 10 pick, but has put up just horrible stats in his career so far.

Jarace Walker flashed a lot of interesting stuff in the G-League, but never made the actual NBA rotation in his rookie year as a top 10 pick.

Mikal Bridges used to be an elite third option guy who was great at defense, played tons of minutes, never got hurt, and could do a little bit of everything offense, but he was thrust into a star role in Brooklyn and did not do well there...

So I kind of like this trade, but I also feel really uncertain about it.

I don’t think this makes sense directionally unless the Nets are also moving the Suns 1sts to get their own picks back from Houston.

The value is fair but I actually think they get better offers than this if they do make him available.

I don't think Indy gives up two high upside, highly drafted players. They need F depth to, so I can't see Walker included. I do think Mathurin + Nembhard could have some legs though.

I don't get the obsession with getting our own picks back. The only one I even remotely care about is the '25 swap, and given the depth of the west, it's not a given that Houston's pick won't wind up protected from the OKC swap. The Nets can talk about patience, but they're not going on a multi-year tank. A one year tank maybe, but they're going to have cap space and look to lure FAs in 2025.

Bridges does not have this kind of value after last season.

Mathurin is 6 years younger than Bridges and not THAT far behind him.

Walker has loads of potential and has flashed well in opportunities, he isn't a throw in.

If the Nets get offered 4 1sts for Bridges and a up and coming player, what could the Pacers do to entice them to do it in regards to 2 high quality first rounders? Do they have access to any?

xxSnEaKyPxx wrote:Bridges does not have this kind of value after last season.

Mathurin is 6 years younger than Bridges and not THAT far behind him.

Walker has loads of potential and has flashed well in opportunities, he isn't a throw in.

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Mathurin has the potential to be better than Bridges, but Mathurin has been not been good in the NBA so far.

Below average efficiency, non-passer, non-defender, not even high volume... There's nothing really positive in terms of results so far. He's generated 3.52 wins less than a G League player would have going by BPM and minutes in his career.

He definitely COULD be better than Bridges, but his second season was not at all encouraging. A 97 TS+ as a distant option on an elite offense is especially disturbing.

xxSnEaKyPxx wrote:Bridges does not have this kind of value after last season.

Mathurin is 6 years younger than Bridges and not THAT far behind him.

Walker has loads of potential and has flashed well in opportunities, he isn't a throw in.

1) OP didnt value walker as a throw in
2) Mathurin is miles behind bridges defensively

JKiddy wrote:If the Nets get offered 4 1sts for Bridges and a up and coming player, what could the Pacers do to entice them to do it in regards to 2 high quality first rounders? Do they have access to any?

Lucky for pacers Nets arent getting that offer in 2024

I have this favoring Indiana. Two guys with some potential left but who haven't showed NBA talent yet v. one solid NBA player who is not a star. Of course I am notoriously higher on defensive players and lower on low efficiency scorers than most fans.