RealGM

Assumptions
OKC wants to win the title-Lauri is a PERFECT fit. They can renegotiate his salary I think with cap space and try to lock him up now
Chi loves Caruso, but we need to add bigs, and young prospects-plus save some $ to resign DDR (Play In here we come!)
Utah needs to trade Lauri and tank the '25 season from the start
Thibs would LOVE Caruso, and he can guard most 4's behind Randle


NY sends BojanB to Utah, and the #24/25 to Chi
NY gets Caruso

Chi sends Caruso to NYC
Chi gets #24/25

Utah sends Lauri to OKC
Utah gets Giddy, Dieng, #12, their pick back from OKC and one more pick from OKC (one of their good ones, I think the '26 Hou or Clip pick is best

OKC sends Giddy, Dieng to Utah, along with #12, the Utah pick back and the '26 Clip/Hou/OKC pick
OKC gets Lauri

OKC wins 60+ games and they are clear favorites next year

Chi saves some $ and adds 2 picks for Caruso

NY gets a PERFECT fit in their culture

Utah builds around George, Giddy, Dieng, Kessler, Hendricks, #10, #12 and starts over, for real. The West is SO deep that them fighting for a Playin spot seems very unrealistic

(this deal also works with SA in Utah's place)

The value of Utah's pick back is basically negligible if the Jazz trade Lauri. I think this really hampers their incentive to trade with the Thunder, and think this is well short for that reason, since any trade of Lauri to any other team is essentially returning that pick to the Jazz as well.

Ruckusmh wrote:The value of Utah's pick back is basically negligible if the Jazz trade Lauri. I think this really hampers their incentive to trade with the Thunder, and think this is well short for that reason, since any trade of Lauri to any other team is essentially returning that pick to the Jazz as well.

I agree, but I think the Giddy/#12/Dieng/Clip or Hou '26 pick has real value. The Utah pick back is not worth much. Plus, in this deal Utah gets BB back-I think they can cut him and save a bunch more cap space (I know Utah already has space but more has value).

This sets up Utah to truly tank, adds more assets and restart in 2025. Keep Lauri is fine, but if Utah wants to really become a 50+ win team again, they should trade him and hope for '25 lotto luck

I actually like Lauri to SA more than OKC

pipfan wrote:

Ruckusmh wrote:The value of Utah's pick back is basically negligible if the Jazz trade Lauri. I think this really hampers their incentive to trade with the Thunder, and think this is well short for that reason, since any trade of Lauri to any other team is essentially returning that pick to the Jazz as well.

I agree, but I think the Giddy/#12/Dieng/Clip or Hou '26 pick has real value. The Utah pick back is not worth much. Plus, in this deal Utah gets BB back-I think they can cut him and save a bunch more cap space (I know Utah already has space but more has value).

This sets up Utah to truly tank, adds more assets and restart in 2025. Keep Lauri is fine, but if Utah wants to really become a 50+ win team again, they should trade him and hope for '25 lotto luck

I actually like Lauri to SA more than OKC

Giddey has no value to Utah, same with Dieng. Bad for Utah.

I don't see the Bulls being willing to take #24 and #25 when they have #11. What they get at best is two guys who alternate between playing good minutes in the G League and never getting off the end of the bench in CHI. That's just hoping that #11 does get off the bench in CHI. That could pay off in 2 years if everybody reaches their peaks but that's three bets at once and not a smart move.

Depending on how many picks UT wants this year the Bulls could send them #11 and end up with Giddey. The Bulls can go with the 2 lesser picks learning while Giddey is in a similar position as Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, having shown NBA talent but needing to improve and be more consistent. That's a Bulls gamble but if it pays off they have a strong back court trio for 5-6 years

No one is paying 2 1st for a expiring 30 yr old Caruso. He's a nice player to have but, not that nice.

ChettheJet wrote:I don't see the Bulls being willing to take #24 and #25 when they have #11. What they get at best is two guys who alternate between playing good minutes in the G League and never getting off the end of the bench in CHI. That's just hoping that #11 does get off the bench in CHI. That could pay off in 2 years if everybody reaches their peaks but that's three bets at once and not a smart move.

Depending on how many picks UT wants this year the Bulls could send them #11 and end up with Giddey. The Bulls can go with the 2 lesser picks learning while Giddey is in a similar position as Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, having shown NBA talent but needing to improve and be more consistent. That's a Bulls gamble but if it pays off they have a strong back court trio for 5-6 years

You do realize that Brunson was the 33rd pick, Josh Hart was the 30th pick, Hartenstein was the 43th pick, Mitchell Robinson was
the 36th pick right? Them late picks can be gold.

Caruso is absolutely worth the 24th and 25th picks that’s like the 20th pick together. Come on now.

Guys like Caruso are nice for certain matchups but giving up firsts for him seems like bad strategy. Too many of those players around and cheap. Plus expiring.

Rockazoids wrote:No one is paying 2 1st for a expiring 30 yr old Caruso. He's a nice player to have but, not that nice.

*2 picks at the end of the first round

He's totally worth that. Caruso and OG on the perimeter with Mitch in the paint would just be dominant defensively.

Xman wrote:Guys like Caruso are nice for certain matchups but giving up firsts for him seems like bad strategy. Too many of those players around and cheap. Plus expiring.

Not many of the guys that share his archetype are anywhere near as good at it as Caruso. He may look like a giant baby, but he's one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. Being able to keep one of Caruso or Anunoby on the floor at all times...and having them close games together...would just be disgusting.

I get that for most teams he wouldn't be worth multiple FRPs...even very late ones...but we have all of our own picks + 4 picks from other teams. We can afford to spend one of each on a guy who would just be a magnificent fit.

Maybe it's #24 and one of their owed future picks?

This is fine for Utah on paper, but I really hate Giddey on a personal and player-archetype level so it would be very depressing.

cgf wrote:

Rockazoids wrote:No one is paying 2 1st for a expiring 30 yr old Caruso. He's a nice player to have but, not that nice.

*2 picks at the end of the first round

He's totally worth that. Caruso and OG on the perimeter with Mitch in the paint would just be dominant defensively.

How you going to pay him next year while having to resign Brunson & Randle or who ever in that spot?
The move would be just pony up for Bridges who has 2 yrs left, bigger and can be a 3rd option. I know you love some CHI
players but this is no more than pipfan moving on from those 10000 LaVine to NY trade. I'll keep the picks and try and find
the next Brunson, Josh Hart, Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickley to replenish the bench with cost control
players.

Easy pass for Utah.

I know Giddey is an attractive player for many a Markannen trade but I just don't see it from Utah's side (despite I'd like to see Lauri on OKC, yes).

Rockazoids wrote:No one is paying 2 1st for a expiring 30 yr old Caruso. He's a nice player to have but, not that nice.

what? you are not even getting him for those two lousy picks...

Rockazoids wrote:

cgf wrote:

Rockazoids wrote:No one is paying 2 1st for a expiring 30 yr old Caruso. He's a nice player to have but, not that nice.

*2 picks at the end of the first round

He's totally worth that. Caruso and OG on the perimeter with Mitch in the paint would just be dominant defensively.

How you going to pay him next year while having to resign Brunson & Randle or who ever in that spot?
The move would be just pony up for Bridges who has 2 yrs left, bigger and can be a 3rd option. I know you love some CHI
players but this is no more than pipfan moving on from those 10000 LaVine to NY trade. I'll keep the picks and try and find
the next Brunson, Josh Hart, Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickley to replenish the bench with cost control
players.

Bridges isn’t as good a defender as Caruso or Anunoby, and he’d cost way more assets. Mikal seems like the smart play, but when you dig into the details, Caruso is the real shrewd move.

2 picks for Caruso is great but the Bulls don't have minutes for three rookies this season unless they're also jettisoning the Mid 3 along with AC.

I would love to see Thibs & Caruso terrorize opposing offenses, though.

I don't attribute much value to Dieng, maybe he is an NBA player, maybe not - replace him with a pick, I'm sure OKC still values him. Giddey is fine, but would rather have a pick. Our pick is marginal value if trading Lauri, but still nice to have returned, but it needs another asset considering the minimal chance of conveying.

I'd say... 2 really good picks, 1 meh pick, and our pick returned? Maybe 12, highest of the picks OKC has in 2026, our pick returned, lowest of their picks in 2028?