RealGM

This is inspired by some comments in the other thread which proposed Poeltl to LA, and how Atlanta might be interested in him. Here's the rationale:

LA: Per WT, Anthony Davis and Lebron are openly pushing the Front Office for a Center. LA also needs better defense at the point. With Vando coming back and an incoming C, LA is set in the front court and can trade Rui.

Atlanta: They're a treadmill team with very good depth but lacking impact from some of their vets. In this trade, they will get an upgrade at C from Capela to Poeltl (2nd in the league at ORebs).

Toronto: They're looking to tank, and are willing to take on bad contracts if they come with picks.


Here's the trade:

LA in: Clint Capela, Davion Mitchell
LA out: Rui Hachimura, 2025 2nd (better of LAC/LAL), and filler salary (Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood)

Atlanta in: Jakob Poeltl
Atlanta out: Clint Capela, 2025 1st (worse of LAL/SAC)

Toronto in: Rui Hachimura, '25 1st (worse of LAL/SAC), '25 2nd (better of LAC/LAL), Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood.
Toronto out: Jakob Poeltl, Davion Mitchell


One of the hidden benefits for LA is that they drop ~$30M in guaranteed salary for next season if they choose not to bring back Davion/Capela. That can make them players in the FA market.

The Lakers need to avoid trading for anyone Reddick might be tempted to start at the 5 over Davis.

One_and_Done wrote:The Lakers need to avoid trading for anyone Reddick might be tempted to start at the 5 over Davis.

Why? From what I can see, the ideal course of action would be to start someone at the 5 and play them 24-26 mins, and play Davis between C and PF. Give yourself flexibility to play big when needed.

I just don't see Atlanta investing the resources into another center. They've promoted OO and they can find a cheaper backup center if they move off Capela rather than putting OO right back into a job share.

MessiahUjiri wrote:

One_and_Done wrote:The Lakers need to avoid trading for anyone Reddick might be tempted to start at the 5 over Davis.

Why? From what I can see, the ideal course of action would be to start someone at the 5 and play them 24-26 mins, and play Davis between C and PF. Give yourself flexibility to play big when needed.

No. Davis, like most players, has no idea what is in the best interests of the team. He is obsessed with going back to the 4. Al Horford used to say the same thing every year after the Hawks (correctly) moved him to the 5. He is wrong. In today's NBA Davis is a pure 5. He can't guard the perimeter the way a 4 needs to.

Davis also can't shoot 3s, so by bringing in a 5 like Capela you kill your spacing on offense too. Just a horrible idea.