RealGM

None of the fanbases involved might like this, but:

Grizzlies trade: #9, 2025 unprotected 1st, Jake LaRavia
Receive: Alperen Sengun

Rockets trade: Alperen Sengun, #3
Receive: #1 (Alex Sarr), Grizzlies 2025 unprotected 1st, Jake LaRavia

Hawks trade: #1
Receive: #3, #9

-Grizzlies obviously need a center. Sengun is more ready and quite possibly better than any center in the draft. And JJJ is exactly the guy you want to pair Sengun with, to make up for his defensive limitations and give him space on offense.

-Rockets just last year seemed not sold on Sengun, going after Lopez in FA. Might they be sold now? Probably. But I think Udoka ideally would like to play a more versatile big on D. And we've seen the Rockets have success going 5-out last year (although in a limited sample against bad competition). Alex Sarr, in theory could be a defensive anchor and possibly a better spacer than Sengun (which might help Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, etc.).

-Hawks have been linked to Donovan Clingan. With no clear-cut guy at the top, #3 plus #9 might just be better value than #1, especially if you want Clingan and can get him at #3.

(Not sure how highly the Grizzlies value LaRavia. He could be a worth a second look as a depth piece in Houston, but if him being in the deal is a deal breaker, switch him to Ziarie Williams or other salary fillers.)

Thoughts?

I think Alperen Şengün pretty clearly has more value than moving up two spots and getting an unprotected first from an expected Playoff team. The trade would be closer in value for Houston if #3 was taken out, from my perspective.

I think the Rockets would only be willing to trade for Sengun for the reasons why teams shouldn't value him this highly. He has yet to show he's a legit contending big. Unless the Grizzlies make more dramatic changes, they don't need another offense-first player. Maybe if they were also trading Bane in a deal which got them more value, it could make sense. JJJ and Sengun might fit okay together, and diversifying their attack points on offense might help them. Issue that I see is that their impressive glut of wings are more forwards than guards, so it's not like they could go Ja, wing, wing, JJJ, Sengun. It would be Ja, Smart, wing, JJJ, Sengun, which doesn't feel like the best use of their assets. So I don't really see it from them, and that's believing that Sengun could be worth the squeeze, and as I said at the top, I don't think that's a given.

ATL moving down is fine. I'm not sure if they're getting a bit too much value. I feel like maybe the Kings first should be going out. But if they legit want a guy they think will be around at 3 (who knows if that's a given if the Wizards go Clingan or trade down to a team that wants him), then it's not bad to move down, pick up a second pick and then go from there.

Is Sarr really the way to go for Houston? I do think they should entertain offers for Sengun, but I think they're not all that close to putting it together after this. Their path to competitiveness right now seems to be getting Green/Sengun to work. So if they trade Sengun for Sarr to get a center who could be on a contender, they still need to replace the "second star" part of their road map. Right now, I think it's FVV, Green, Brooks, Smith, Sarr wouldn't have a great path forward. While trading VanVleet for a star might help, I'm not sure if two star guards is really the path toward contention. Maybe you move Brooks and bring in Thompson who could be part of a great defensive trio with Smith and Sarr. It would be a major step back, though it could work out.

The Rockets are not trading Sengun.

This is not even close to Sengun's value. Getting a 21 yo top 40-ish player for 9 and 1 future first is not a real offer from Memphis

I don't mind dealing with Houston if they have interest in BI.

Houston trade - (#3, Whitmore, cap space/fillers) for (BI, #21)

Hawks trade - (#1 Sarr) for (#3 Clingan, NO/Lakers 25)

NO's trade - (BI, #21, NO/Lakers 25) for (#1 Sarr, Whitmore, cap space/fillers)

For NO's the Lakers 25 was a year swap & deferral. If it had landed #1, they wouldn't have deferred it to 25. For the Hawks the Lakers 25 has some decent lottery projection in a stronger draft.

While the 25 will have more value to the Hawks in combination with landing Clingan. I'm basically turning the Lakers 24/25 pick into an assured #1, even if it's weaker class.

BI to a younger cheaper Whitmore that can backup Murphy being extended & moved into the starting SF spot. To ultimately save money, gain potential & control.

This assuming Houston thinks BI is a proven player they would like.

Easy yes for Memphis

I wouldn’t trade Sengun for the #1 pick straight up

I would not trade Sengun for #1 and even tho next draft is supposed to be strong, I would not trade #3 for Memphis umprotected 1st, Memphis are very likely to be very good.

I think the Pistons are the 3rd team here, not the Grizzlies. Sengun for No. 5 (maybe Duran as well). No. 3 & 5 get traded for No. 1.

I think Cleveland should be the third team.

Rockets trade Landale and pick #44 for Mobley.
Then Cleveland trades #44 and 3 unprotected firsts to move up to # 43.

Grotesque. Rockets get bent over in this trade. In a re-draft of 2021, Sengun would go top 5, easy. He got largely wasted for two seasons under Silas, who was preferential to Green and KPJ, the former still hit-and-miss and the latter, well, hit-his-girlfriend-like-a-drum.

Hell no. Rockets won't trade Sengun.

I wasn’t a fan when he was drafted. The “short arms” will be an issue for his whole career. But, he has been improving like crazy. Added bulk and moving better. Hard worker so will keep getting better. Supposedly boxing this summer.
So, while not a perfect fit, he is better than most and rolling the dice on a replacement seems like a bad idea. If concerned then they just take clingan at 3 for when they need a “big” center.

jbk1234 wrote:I think the Pistons are the 3rd team here, not the Grizzlies. Sengun for No. 5 (maybe Duran as well). No. 3 & 5 get traded for No. 1.

Extremely confident Houston would not trade Sengun for #1 this year straight up. 21/9/5 on a .500 team at 21 years old. This is a bad offer.

Sengun is worth more but the Grizz are not the team that would trade for him.

psman2 wrote:Sengun is worth more but the Grizz are not the team that would trade for him.

I concur on both points. The future Memphis starting center should be able to defend and facilitate the offence, not necessarily score by himself.

jbk1234 wrote:I think the Pistons are the 3rd team here, not the Grizzlies. Sengun for No. 5 (maybe Duran as well). No. 3 & 5 get traded for No. 1.

3 + 5 for 1 seems like an overpay in this draft.

Of course 1 > 3 but I think a late lotto pick would still be an overpayment to move up two spots, never mind including the 5.

Kiss of Death wrote:I think Cleveland should be the third team.

Rockets trade Landale and pick #44 for Mobley.
Then Cleveland trades #44 and 3 unprotected firsts to move up to # 43.

Quite entertaining watching you guys troll each other over multiple threads…