Portland / New York

[BlazersBroncos]

Portland Trades
Robert Williams III

New York Trades
Mitchell Robinson
2025 BOS or MEM SRP (More Favorable)
2026 GSW SRP
2028 IND or PHX SRP (Less Favorable)

WHY FOR PORTLAND
They clear minutes for Clingan and snag some SRP in a move that swaps a (at the moment) healthy C for a guy that might optimistically be back in 2025. They likely simply redshirt Robinson this season and can use him as balast in the future or trade Ayton and run w/ Clingan + Robinson in 25/26.

WHY FOR NEW YORK
Going win-now they swap a injured big for a non-injured big (Again, non-injured at this time as I have no illusions on the history RWIII brings). Its a gamble, but if it pays off they have (IMO) a better player who fits much better defending PF if played next to KAT. This also shaves 2M per off their bill helping keep them under the apron.

NOTE - If NYK has interest in any guys like Reath, Walker JR, Kris the trade can be expanded.

[Godaddycurse]

RWIII is one of the few players in the NBA i would trust even less to stay healthy (vs Robinson). I'd look elsewhere if i was NYK

[jbk1234]

If you're the receiving team for either player, the smart move is to wait until the deadline. Let the Blazers and Knicks assume the risk of injury/dead money until then, and if either player is still healthy in February, maybe part with a couple of seconds for a playoff run.

The Pelicans might be the exception here as Timelord starting while Missi adjusts to the NBA makes some sense.

[BlazersBroncos]

Ya I was assuming this would take place 10-20 games into the season if RWIII shows out a bit.

I really do think you can play RWIII and KAT together though. Mitch is more position locked at C, RWIII has the lateral movement and speed to play up a spot and guard most PF IMO. Then again - who knows if he retains his athleticism after his 15,685'th injury.

[cgf]

Not seeing why we should trade the less injury prone center, who’s better when on the court, and add picks. Achiuwa/Sims can hold the fort next KAT until Mitch gets back if we can’t do something like Kessler for Dadiet + Sims/Kolek + WSH FRP.

[Skybox]

healthy Robinson is much bigger than RWIII...and probably better. Time Lord is an awesome player, imo, but only in spots and limited minutes (he's had ONE healthy year in his career-even then only 61 games played). A good team should take a shot at Time Lord as an X-factor off the bench...but not NYK and certainly not in exchange for Robinson, who's already in house, Thibs-approved, and plays the same position. Robinson off the bench behind (and sometimes alongside) Towns is a really strong situation overnight.

NYK could pick up a cheap 3rd string insurance guy like Bamba off the streets if they're really concerned about the C spot depth.

[BlazersBroncos]

Ya - in retrospect I understand NYK not wanting to trade their homegrown guys for a similar and even more injury plagued RWIII.

I do personally think RWIII is a better player, and a more scarce archetype. But to each their own.

I still think Reath for filler and 2 SRP would be a fine deal for both sides.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Healthy RWIII is a special defensive player while Robinson is kind of your average center. I get the criticism and hesitation about health long term but Williams is healthy now and Robinson is not so Portland is not doing that swap without some decent incentive.

But if New York thinks they can hold on with stop gaps until Robinson returns at some point in 2025 and isn't worried about the strain it puts on Towns than this might be a deal both sides are happy to walk away from.

[cgf]

Healthy RWIII is a special defensive player while Robinson is kind of your average center. I get the criticism and hesitation about health long term but Williams is healthy now and Robinson is not so Portland is not doing that swap without some decent incentive.

But if New York thinks they can hold on with stop gaps until Robinson returns at some point in 2025 and isn't worried about the strain it puts on Towns than this might be a deal both sides are happy to walk away from.

A healthy Robinson is a special defensive center…there were plays against Cleveland when he defended both Mobley & JAfro on his own. We had a top 10 defense when he went down last season, by the time we made the OG trade it was a bottom 10 unit…

Achiuwa is a stop gap, but he did well for us in a backup role last year, and Sims has starter potential that he has made gradual progress towards.

[JayTWill]

I may be open to this idea as a Knicks' fan if they can't find any better use for Mitch's salary although healthy RWIII is just an idea at this point. Part of the reason I may consider it is that it saves the Knicks a few million this year and I still have no idea how they plan to complete the KAT trade and still have enough room to reach the minimum of 14 players under the second apron.

[R-DAWG]

The only real motivation for the Knicks to do this trade is opening up $1.9MM in space below the 2nd apron, which allows them to add one more vet minimum player to the roster. That's worth a 2nd rd pick, not 3.

[Walton1one]

Williams would be a fantastic fit in NY, and he is healthy. Robinson is optimistically out until JAN\FEB? Expecting him to come back 100% is wishful thinking IMO. NY also gains another $1.9 in salary under the 2nd apron

NY is at 12 salaried players, they need to carry a minimum of 14, they are $3.6 approx under the 2nd apron currently, 10yr vet minimum is $3.3 and declines from there (5yr - $2.42, 2yr - $2.08). A minimum contract (or elevating a 2-way) is $1.15

They could elevate (2) of Toppin\Hukporti\McCullar and fit under the 2nd apron

or if they trade for Williams they have around $5.5 under the 2nd apron, they could re-sign one\maybe? both of Morris ($3.3 min) & Okeke ($2.23)

But if Williams is such a risk, they could do something like:

Thybulle\Reath for Robinson and a couple of 2nd's? That saves them $1.3 under 2nd apron ($4.9 approx total), allowing them to add one of Morris\Okeke

[cgf]

Williams would be a fantastic fit in NY, and he is healthy. Robinson is optimistically out until JAN\FEB? Expecting him to come back 100% is wishful thinking IMO. NY also gains another $1.9 in salary under the 2nd apron

NY is at 12 salaried players, they need to carry a minimum of 14, they are $3.6 approx under the 2nd apron currently, 10yr vet minimum is $3.3 and declines from there (5yr - $2.42, 2yr - $2.08). A minimum contract (or elevating a 2-way) is $1.15

They could elevate (2) of Toppin\Hukporti\McCullar and fit under the 2nd apron

or if they trade for Williams they have around $5.5 under the 2nd apron, they could re-sign one\maybe? both of Morris ($3.3 min) & Okeke ($2.23)

But if Williams is such a risk, they could do something like:

Thybulle\Reath for Robinson and a couple of 2nd's? That saves them $1.3 under 2nd apron ($4.9 approx total), allowing them to add one of Morris\Okeke

I thought the optimistic timeline was a December return, and they said they'd wait until he's 100% which could be until whenever...but I may be misremembering, a lot has happened in Knicks land since that news broke lol...though obviously he'll need to get into game shape even when he's back, so 100% healthy doesn't mean back to 100% Mitch.

Either way, if the priority is the playoffs, are we better off having RGIII on the court and risking another injury, or Mitch rehabbing for the time of year when we'll really need him?...only, kinda kidding about that I think there's a good case to be made that we're better off starting the season with what we've got and seeing how things shake out while Mitch rehabs.

The FO & coaching staff have been high on Sims in the past...and he does have interesting tools if he continues to progress. Achiuwa did well for us as a smallball 5 when RobinHart were injured last year and could provide the offensive rebounding + rim protection that KAT doesn't. And it lets them test KAT out at the 5 with OG, Mikal, & Hart/McBride flanking him & Brunson.

And who knows, if Jericho is a dud, maybe we'll get Ainge to bite on a Dadiet+Kolek/Sims+WSH FRP for Kessler trade if the Pels go a different direction

[Walton1one]

Yeah, all solid points. It is not just Robinson though, NY has (2) roster spots to fill, and while they can use their 2-way contracts to achieve that goal, that probably doesn't help the team on the floor.

Morris could help, Okeke could help? and there are other FA still out there: Fultz, Crowder, Gallinari who could help

Anyway, curious to see what they end up doing. It looks like they might be able to just squeeze Okeke & a 2-way under the 2nd apron.

[Rockazoids]

Williams would be a fantastic fit in NY, and he is healthy. Robinson is optimistically out until JAN\FEB? Expecting him to come back 100% is wishful thinking IMO. NY also gains another $1.9 in salary under the 2nd apron

NY is at 12 salaried players, they need to carry a minimum of 14, they are $3.6 approx under the 2nd apron currently, 10yr vet minimum is $3.3 and declines from there (5yr - $2.42, 2yr - $2.08). A minimum contract (or elevating a 2-way) is $1.15

They could elevate (2) of Toppin\Hukporti\McCullar and fit under the 2nd apron

or if they trade for Williams they have around $5.5 under the 2nd apron, they could re-sign one\maybe? both of Morris ($3.3 min) & Okeke ($2.23)

But if Williams is such a risk, they could do something like:

Thybulle\Reath for Robinson and a couple of 2nd's? That saves them $1.3 under 2nd apron ($4.9 approx total), allowing them to add one of Morris\Okeke

Robinson could be back DEC/JAN
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/277342/Mitchell-Robinson-Out-Until-At-Least-December-As-He-Continues-Recovery-From-Foot-Surgery
He is also better than Williams and Sims & Achiuwa do of what the Knicks need more than Reath. Hell next year he could be very
well out of the league if he is not cut this year.

[Rockazoids]

I may be open to this idea as a Knicks' fan if they can't find any better use for Mitch's salary although healthy RWIII is just an idea at this point. Part of the reason I may consider it is that it saves the Knicks a few million this year and I still have no idea how they plan to complete the KAT trade and still have enough room to reach the minimum of 14 players under the second apron.

Yep chasing a dream, AKA quick fix.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/blazers-robert-williams-iii-hamstring-shaedon-sharpe-shoulder-injured-in-training-camp/

[JayTWill]

I may be open to this idea as a Knicks' fan if they can't find any better use for Mitch's salary although healthy RWIII is just an idea at this point. Part of the reason I may consider it is that it saves the Knicks a few million this year and I still have no idea how they plan to complete the KAT trade and still have enough room to reach the minimum of 14 players under the second apron.

Yep chasing a dream, AKA quick fix.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/blazers-robert-williams-iii-hamstring-shaedon-sharpe-shoulder-injured-in-training-camp/

I wouldn't want to put my faith in either one of them staying healthy. At this point I just want the Knicks to move Mitch for a more reliable contributor or two and attach whatever assets they need to to get it done. I would love to break his contract up into a healthier defensive center and a bit of playable depth.

I don't want to continue to hope that Mitch will get healthy, stay healthy, be in shape and also be a positive contributor when it matters the most. RWIII definitely doesn't provide that but it was more of a suggestion before knowing Aller would find more loopholes to get the KAT deal done. I still want to move Mitch to improve the depth and hopefully the health of the team.