RealGM

Since the KAT trades are flowing today, here's another one. This will probably get flamed though - doesn't seem great.

As a disclaimer, I think the Wolves should keep KAT and run it back. Also, if KAT were traded, I think Brogdon + Grant would be good fits in Minny, but couldn't fit their salaries in a KAT trade due to cap limitations.

MIN In: Grant, Nembhard, #14, 2028 IND 1st
MIN Out: KAT
Nembhard/Ant/Jaden/Grant/Gobert...plus...(Conley, NAW, Naz, re-signed Kyle off the bench)

IND In: Mikal
IND Out: Nembhard, Jarace Walker, 2028 1st
Hali/Mikal/NeSmith/Siakam/Turner

BKN In: KAT, Brogdon
BKN Out: Mikal, Ben Simmons
Brogdon/Cam Thomas/DFS/KAT/Claxton

POR In: Jarace Walker, Ben Simmons
POR Out: Grant, Brodgon, #14

Rationale

Wolves get a young potential PG of the future that won't take the ball out of Ant's hands too much. They also get Grant who can fit in nicely and with whom Connelly seems to know pretty well. They would also save $18 million allowing them to re-sign Kyle Anderson and definitely be below the second apron (maybe even the first apron). They would also now have two firsts in this draft (#14 and their own #27) to add depth and get a future first from the Pacers.

Pacers get Mikal who makes the team look like a title contender (on paper) if Hali continues to grow. Not sure if they're paying too much (or too little) or would even want to trade Nembhard.

Nets get KAT who grew up nearby and re-sign Claxton without giving up any picks. Don't think fans will like this though, but I view KAT as an upgrade over Mikal in terms of carrying a franchise forward. They hope that Brogdon can help get the most out of Cam Johnson and DFS to increase their trade value. They then enter the 2025 offseason with cap space for one max player and the ability to trade for another star using picks.

Blazers get a prospect who would fit in nicely and also get some long-term cap relief off Grant's deal. Maybe lock Simmons out of all team facilities so he has no influence on the young guys. Not sure if the Blazers are overpaying or underpaying here though.

kds92 wrote:Since the KAT trades are flowing today, here's another one. This will probably get flamed though - doesn't seem great.

Careful. Shrink polices the volume and frequency of KAT trades around these parts.

Yuck. Wolves should have no interest whatsoever in Jerami Grant or his contract.

I probably underrate Mikal bridges and especially his defense, but I'd prefer the Pacers hang onto some youth to develop in the pipeline while they're paying Siakam big bucks.

I can't imagine this works monetarily anyway. We're sending out 8 million and taking back 21 million. I think all our room this offseason is tied up in a cap hold on Pascal. We'd have to have some other contract we wouldn't mind parting with and that definitely would make it less desirable.

granger05 wrote:I probably underrate Mikal bridges and especially his defense, but I'd prefer the Pacers hang onto some youth to develop in the pipeline while they're paying Siakam big bucks.

I can't imagine this works monetarily anyway. We're sending out 8 million and taking back 21 million. I think all our room this offseason is tied up in a cap hold on Pascal. We'd have to have some other contract we wouldn't mind parting with and that definitely would make it less desirable.

You're right, this doesn't work financially, at all, for Indiana.

Wolveswin wrote:

kds92 wrote:Since the KAT trades are flowing today, here's another one. This will probably get flamed though - doesn't seem great.

Careful. Shrink polices the volume and frequency of KAT trades around these parts.

Dear lord, he doesn't, its just very clear you 2 have different ideas of what a KAT deal would/should look like.

As for the actual deal, it kinda intrigues me but I think I'd land on a no. I hate to lose KAT right after the WCF run. He was a pretty big part of getting there and had a few rough shooting games at the wrong time. But also cant ignore the money aspect even if it isn't mine to pay. If I was to move him, I'd want to add rotation level/start-able depth at multiple spots. Nembhard fits that. Grant the player fits that but the contract scared me. They'd start Naz and bring Grant off the bench, just given his size and chemistry already. Would Grant be OK with that bench role? Maybe I'm still a little nervous about that from 4 years ago when he left Denver for Detroit to get his bigger role (didn't reports after say Denver offered him the same money?). I wouldn't want to bring in someone who might mess with that chemistry by being upset in their role. And then contract and the idea of paying 30M+ to a guy I don't think would start for them is a really tough pill to swallow. Plus you'd need to have money available in the future to resign Naz and eventually Nembhard too.

I also think Conley would still start at least next year, but in name only and that Nembhard would likely play more minutes between the 1 and 2. Not entirely sure Anderson would want to come back if he thinks he could get paid more or get a bigger role elsewhere, but I'd gladly welcome him back and freeing up money to help with that is a bonus. The picks are fine but I think I'd even be OK to kick 14 (or 27) out to a future year just because I dont know they'd find a lot of minutes for 1 rookie let alone 2 given the rotation you laid out. Or I guess they could take a real project? I'd probably just as soon get another future 1st Connley could use in future trades, as needed (assuming he's back).

I also realize we generally can't get everything we want in life and that threading the needle of what I would/would not want back that also saves money in a KAT trade is incredibly hard. Overall I like the player fits but I think Grant's contract for me would probably kill it. But certainly something to think about.

Even in an unhyped draft, I don’t think Jarace goes #14 after the season he just had. Even if we call that a wash, that makes this Grant/Brogdon for Simmons, which I just don’t do without draft compensation.

Myth wrote:Even in an unhyped draft, I don’t think Jarace goes #14 after the season he just had. Even if we call that a wash, that makes this Grant/Brogdon for Simmons, which I just don’t do without draft compensation.

In all fairness Carlisle determined "the season he just had" by not giving him minutes because Jarace actually stuffed the stat sheet on the rare occasion he got playing time.

It'd be interesting if Portland simply offered 14 for Jarace.

Norm2953 wrote:It'd be interesting if Portland simply offered 14 for Jarace.

It wouldn’t be a consideration for Indy, I’m sure. The man sat a ton and played a ton of GLeague to break down his shot and completely rebuild it, while learning to play the 3. And it seemed to have worked. I think Indy would likely consider that everything is going according to plan.

Myth wrote:Even in an unhyped draft, I don’t think Jarace goes #14 after the season he just had. Even if we call that a wash, that makes this Grant/Brogdon for Simmons, which I just don’t do without draft compensation.

Mind you, I'm a bit biased on this, so take it for what its worth, but I very very strongly disagree with this. I think he'd very likely go top 3 in this draft. He was what #8 in a significantly stronger draft?

He was always a raw prospect and Carlisle is notorious for making rookies have somewhat of a red-shirt year with a few exceptions of course. Walker was absolutely destroying the G-League, which I understand means nothing, but he was doing everything you'd want to see from a prospect playing there. Even in his NBA minutes, as few and far between as they were, he flashed all the tools you'd hope to see.

He has some work to do in bringing everything together, but him struggling to get minutes isn't a knock on him, the Pacers just had a very deep team and he was a raw rookie playing for a coach who loves vets.



Fully understand highlight packages can make anyone look good, but a lot of times you'll see a player doing one or two things well and thats it, but he's shown that he can do a little bit of everything: break down a defense and hit a mid range shot or finish in traffic, shoot the three, his passing for his size is incredible, and this is only showing the offensive highlights for a guy drafted as a defensive specialist. Again, he only played minutes here and there, which makes it hard to be consistent, so he needs to work on some things, but all the tools are there.

I see no way he'd lose draft slots in a significantly weaker draft....but again, I'm biased so *shrug*.

Ugh no. Grant is a non starter for MN.

xxSnEaKyPxx wrote:

Myth wrote:Even in an unhyped draft, I don’t think Jarace goes #14 after the season he just had. Even if we call that a wash, that makes this Grant/Brogdon for Simmons, which I just don’t do without draft compensation.

Mind you, I'm a bit biased on this, so take it for what its worth, but I very very strongly disagree with this. I think he'd very likely go top 3 in this draft. He was what #8 in a significantly stronger draft?

He was always a raw prospect and Carlisle is notorious for making rookies have somewhat of a red-shirt year with a few exceptions of course. Walker was absolutely destroying the G-League, which I understand means nothing, but he was doing everything you'd want to see from a prospect playing there. Even in his NBA minutes, as few and far between as they were, he flashed all the tools you'd hope to see.

He has some work to do in bringing everything together, but him struggling to get minutes isn't a knock on him, the Pacers just had a very deep team and he was a raw rookie playing for a coach who loves vets.

Watch on YouTube

Fully understand highlight packages can make anyone look good, but a lot of times you'll see a player doing one or two things well and thats it, but he's shown that he can do a little bit of everything: break down a defense and hit a mid range shot or finish in traffic, shoot the three, his passing for his size is incredible, and this is only showing the offensive highlights for a guy drafted as a defensive specialist. Again, he only played minutes here and there, which makes it hard to be consistent, so he needs to work on some things, but all the tools are there.

I see no way he'd lose draft slots in a significantly weaker draft....but again, I'm biased so *shrug*.

I’ll take your word for it. I did like him as a prospect in the last draft and wanted him pre-lottery when I assumed a pick around 7. I hope he does have a good career and have always found it easy to root for Indy.

Walker not getting much love. Which is fine. I'd not give him up anyway.
But Nembhard is a luxury for us that we'll have a hard time keeping for our bench. To that I'd like to add Nesmith. He deserves more minutes than he should get behind Bridges. That package we can spare and it would net you way more wins than Walker next year anyway. Picks...idk. You guys play with those.