RealGM

Please nominate 10 players for highest trade value - therefore taking into account not just caliber of player but salary, age, health, etc. After nominations, we will then vote between them for the highest spot, and so on.

2022 list

Jokic
Luka
Wembenyama
SGA
Tatum
ANT
Giannis
Brunson
Mobely
Banchero

Jokic
Giannis
Shai
Wemby
Tatum
Edwards
Brunson
Luka
Banchero
Mobley

Mavrelous wrote:Jokic
Luka
Wembenyama
SGA
Tatum
ANT
Giannis
Brunson
Mobely
Banchero

This is a pretty good list…. but I’m not sure of the contract situations (length, mostly, not $$$) of the guys not on rookie deals or recent 2nd contract extensions, which is going to matter for trade value.

I think the sketchiest of the list might be Edwards. But then, he creates hype and sells tickets, so maybe not. Or Mobley, but not to me, I fully believe he’s the Cavs only untouchable.

Wemby is the blatantly obvious #1 in a vacuum, even if Denver or Milwaukee or OKC might pass.

Jokic has to be number 1. And I think SGA has to be number 2. First player I think you could start arguing Wemby over is Giannis.

But there is still so much unrealized and so much risk with Wemby. Joker is the best player in the world, super durable, and no reason to think he won't still be playing at this level another 5 years, maybe longer. SGA same thing, only just not as good. Giannis, same thing only a bit more injury/decline concerns.

But no way Wemby should be worth more than MVP's in their prime locked up with no reason to expect decline.

Texas Chuck wrote:Jokic has to be number 1. And I think SGA has to be number 2. First player I think you could start arguing Wemby over is Giannis.

But there is still so much unrealized and so much risk with Wemby. Joker is the best player in the world, super durable, and no reason to think he won't still be playing at this level another 5 years, maybe longer. SGA same thing, only just not as good. Giannis, same thing only a bit more injury/decline concerns.

But no way Wemby should be worth more than MVP's in their prime locked up with no reason to expect decline.

In trade value? I strongly, strongly disagree.

Again, I’m not claiming OKC, Denver, or Milwaukee would make the deal. But as I understand it, that’s not what this project is about. It’s just trade value, period. Would a contender with an in-prime core that’s ready for a title but is weak at center prefer Jokic? Yes, yes they would. Undoubtedly. Would a rebuilding team prefer Wemby? Yes, equally obviously, he clearly has GOAT potential and a perennial All-NBA floor.

But unless I’m misinterpreting the project, I read it as this:

You know nothing about your other players. Based on results, talent, age, contract, years of definite control and a desire to win as much as possible, who would you rather have? And then 29 others are working from these exact same stipulations, one pick at a time, with zero knowledge of previous or future picks, just what’s still available. I think Wemby goes first, and thus anyone else would trade their pick for Wemby.

Now if we’re bringing in actual state-of-the-NBA situations, it gets a ton murkier. Dunno how you judge “trade value” when everyone is going to value different things.

No you understand the project perfectly. But if I trade for Jokic even as a bad team, I know I'm at most one more move from a contender. I mean look at that Nuggets roster. Just not hard at all to put together a supporting cast as good or better than that even after trading for Jokic.

If I trade even more than that(your position) for Wemby, I still don't know when or if I will be a contender. I don't know when that body breaks.

I'd personally trade more for Jokic. I also understand this board fetishizes youth over veterans so you will probably be proven correct on how this board as a whole views it.

But the odds of Wemby ever approaching the Jokic we've seen the last 5 years is really small. And then Jokic easily could have another 5 years of this level. I can't imagine going with the mystery box that might be Jokic but probably won't be or just going with Jokic.

I don't have Brunson in the top 10. Both Franz and Chet are injured, but even Jalen Williams should return more.

Texas Chuck wrote:But the odds of Wemby ever approaching the Jokic we've seen the last 5 years is really small. And then Jokic easily could have another 5 years of this level. I can't imagine going with the mystery box that might be Jokic but probably won't be or just going with Jokic.

I do think injury risk is part of the equation even tho I didn’t mention it. It isn’t Wemby’s strongest area, for sure, but we have no data to suggest he’s fragile yet, just that the Spurs have (rightly) coddled him thus far. But yeah, that’s the reason I wouldn’t even consider Holmgren for top 10 or even top 20 in trade value, because I don’t believe in his body. And Zion, too, obviously.

Where we disagree, though. Is the “very small” odds of Wemby approaching current Jokic as player. I see it as “very likely”, even though he won’t be contributing in the same way. His offensive output in terms of team success will never approach Jokic, almost certainly, because Jokic is one of, if not THE, greatest offensive players ever. But you see where I’m going with this. Jokic isn’t a bad defender, despite the silly narratives. But Wemby’s defensive impact may end up at the same level of Jokic’s offensive impact, with better offense than Jokic’s defense. And I don’t see this as unlikely at all.

Victor Wembanyama
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokić
Luka Dončić
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jayson Tatum
Jalen Williams
Donovan Mitchell
Chet Holmgren
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Texas Chuck wrote:No you understand the project perfectly. But if I trade for Jokic even as a bad team, I know I'm at most one more move from a contender. I mean look at that Nuggets roster. Just not hard at all to put together a supporting cast as good or better than that even after trading for Jokic.

If I trade even more than that(your position) for Wemby, I still don't know when or if I will be a contender. I don't know when that body breaks.

I'd personally trade more for Jokic. I also understand this board fetishizes youth over veterans so you will probably be proven correct on how this board as a whole views it.

But the odds of Wemby ever approaching the Jokic we've seen the last 5 years is really small. And then Jokic easily could have another 5 years of this level. I can't imagine going with the mystery box that might be Jokic but probably won't be or just going with Jokic.

You also have to consider that a player like Jokic makes his team mates better because he's such a great passer.

Wemby
SGA
Jokic
Doncic
Giannis
Tatum

Those seem like locks, then I would say

Edwards
Banchero
Holmgren
Mobley

basketballwacko2 wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:No you understand the project perfectly. But if I trade for Jokic even as a bad team, I know I'm at most one more move from a contender. I mean look at that Nuggets roster. Just not hard at all to put together a supporting cast as good or better than that even after trading for Jokic.

If I trade even more than that(your position) for Wemby, I still don't know when or if I will be a contender. I don't know when that body breaks.

I'd personally trade more for Jokic. I also understand this board fetishizes youth over veterans so you will probably be proven correct on how this board as a whole views it.

But the odds of Wemby ever approaching the Jokic we've seen the last 5 years is really small. And then Jokic easily could have another 5 years of this level. I can't imagine going with the mystery box that might be Jokic but probably won't be or just going with Jokic.

You also have to consider that a player like Jokic makes his team mates better because he's such a great passer.

I mean, yeah, and you can say the same thing about Wemby’s defense, which is only going to get better.

Joker is the clear number one to me. If he’s available before the season starts, every team feels like they can trade for him and win a title that year.
SGA
Giannis
Wemby
Tatum
Luka
Ant
Paolo
Mobley
And I think I go Cade in the top 10?

They put some NBA players around him and he’s been healthy and they’re playing 500 ball. Probably recency bias.

Have Luka that low, as a Dallas fan, because of his player option. Winning a title is the most important thing, but after that it’s contract control/age to me.

Leaving Joel off completely feels really wrong to me but again recency bias. He belongs in the top 5 when he’s on the court and probably should be in place of Cade.

jayjaysee wrote:Joker is the clear number one to me. If he’s available before the season starts, every team feels like they can trade for him and win a title that year.
SGA
Giannis
Wemby
Tatum
Luka
Ant
Paolo
Mobley
And I think I go Cade in the top 10?

They put some NBA players around him and he’s been healthy and they’re playing 500 ball. Probably recency bias.

Maaaaan I did not want to mention Cade because I can’t trust my own bias. But I do think he’d be in the 11-20 range. He’s not going to be top 20 in value for this (or next) season, but the trajectory is nice, and a real talented culture setter with no BS issues that can run an offense and get his own is tempting.

tmorgan wrote:

jayjaysee wrote:Joker is the clear number one to me. If he’s available before the season starts, every team feels like they can trade for him and win a title that year.
SGA
Giannis
Wemby
Tatum
Luka
Ant
Paolo
Mobley
And I think I go Cade in the top 10?

They put some NBA players around him and he’s been healthy and they’re playing 500 ball. Probably recency bias.

Maaaaan I did not want to mention Cade because I can’t trust my own bias. But I do think he’d be in the 11-20 range. He’s not going to be top 20 in value for this (or next) season, but the trajectory is nice, and a real talented culture setter with no BS issues that can run an offense and get his own is tempting.

Yeah. It’s early I agree, but he’s really great and didn’t get a player option on the last year.

1) Jokic - a triple double machine who fits any system and can shoot the ball from 3 also hard to ignore his MVPs
2) Luka - what needs to be said that already hasn't
3) Victor Wembanyama - what can't he do? He's going to win multiple MVPs and DPOTY in his futurs
4) Giannis Antetokounmpo - yes he's older but 30+/10+/5+/1/2 is an insane stat line only drawback is the 3 point shot
5) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - great scorer and a guy who will give you everything he has to win. Never takes days off
6) Jason Tatum - big time scorer in the prime of his career
7) Steph Curry - let's be honest every team would take him, the best shooter ever and can carry a team
8) Anthony Edwards - he's a great 2-way player with unlimited offensive upside
9)Kevin Durant unfortunately age is what's keeping him from being higher still gives you everything you'd want
10) Paolo Banchero - really, really high on his potential can see the hype for him. Great size and he's got the potential to be top 5

I left Embiid off because he's always injured now and his attitude is worrisome. LeBron is off because he's 40 again a top 5 talent all time but if I am building a team I take any of those 10 guys over him

KD and Curry are legends but don’t even sniff top 10 in current trade value. If it was a real life fantasy draft for just one year (no keepers), maybe you could convince me, or if you’re looking to sell tickets and then sell your team, ok, but no one would even consider taking an elder statesman over Paolo, Mobley, etc etc.

As always, I nominate LeBron. His off court value creates more overall value to franchises than any player here.

Any team that acquired him doesn’t make NBA news - they make national news. He’s a player that extends outside the league

I suppose I should give mine after all these rants…. (in order)

Wemby
Jokic
SGA
Giannis
Tatum
Luka
Paolo
Mobley
Brunson
JDub

The top 8 I’m very comfortable with. Brunson took a discount, which helps his value. That Jalen Williams spot could easily be Ant, but I don’t entirely trust that guy for some reason. There’s also plenty of other young or young-ish candidates. I liked the mention of Jaren Jackson Jr. I’m wary of anyone that could implode, physically or mentally, which eliminated a lot of people.