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https://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings/player/_/year/2025/position/c/sort/cap_total

Basic question... Which good centers from that list will get traded this off-season?

Vucevic isn't good but I hope he gets traded so he stops losing the Bulls games.

If Gobert gets dealt, he would be the clear #1...

How do you rank the following other possibly available centers?

Nic Claxton
Nikola Vucevic
Isaiah Stewart
Daniel Gafford
Robert Williams III
Mitchell Robinson
Jonas Valanciunas
Goga Bitadze
Mark Williams

I don't think Stewart is available based on Detroit fans' opinions; he's a really good defender. Claxton is a perfect fit alongside Luka, in my opinion. Gafford obviously has good chemistry, but I'm guessing after all the hype, these teams have stopped doing business (I hope I'm wrong), but since his contract is expiring and I don't think the Mavs will extend him, he'll be part of a package deal for a "star."
I think it's hard to rank them, as it depends on team needs in some cases and availability in others.
Rob Williams/Mitchell Robinson are very good, but you can't count them out.
Vuc/Jonas are good scorers, but horrible on defense.

Claxton
M.Williams
Stewart
Gafford
Bitadze
Vuc
R.Williams/Valanciunas

Sabonis comes to mind.

Stein reporting Hornets are going to try again to trade Mark Williams. Though I think its going to be very hard to get much back with his known injury history and another failing his physical. Even if he passes your team's, there is always going to be some question about what did we maybe miss.

If Gafford has any real value, Dallas should try and realize it and find a cheaper backup center, because to maximize the roster, AD is going to have to play some center, like it or not. You can limit it by having a 18 mpg backup better than Dwight Powell but he doesn't need to be as good as Gafford.

But if Gafford on the last year of his deal can't return more than a couple 2nds, and I think that's a reasonable possibility for sure, then just keep him as overqualified insurance especially knowing Lively and AD aren't super dependable.

I also think they should hold extension talks with Gafford and if you can get him for 3-4 more years at under $20M per then I think you explore if Lively plus a likely late lotto pick this year can get you that perimeter shot creator until Kyrie/to play with him.

But Dallas should at least pursue moving one of Gafford/Lively if they are moving forward with AD.

For the Bulls Nikola Vucevic is moving, despite his consistent 18/10, the Bulls have a very different style of play than when they had Lavine, DeRozan and even Caruso.

Zach Collins really fits in that new style and is a big enough expiring contract could be resigned for less
Thanks for the lack of respect for Jalen Smith who is a keeper, people can stop trying to trade for him if he doesn't rate being on a list of 50 centers

with their 2 centers the Bulls still need one from that list

Holmes, Wagner, Robinson, Drummond, Eubanks, Richards could fill that spot

You can never rule out what could happen if the Nuggets have another early playoff exit. Especially now with the West getting stronger and the Nuggets steadily declining from what they were in 2023.

MoreyWins wrote:You can never rule out what could happen if the Nuggets have another early playoff exit. Especially now with the West getting stronger and the Nuggets steadily declining from what they were in 2023.

If you're insinuating that the Nuggets would consider trading Jokic, that's crazy talk.

MoreyWins wrote:You can never rule out what could happen if the Nuggets have another early playoff exit. Especially now with the West getting stronger and the Nuggets steadily declining from what they were in 2023.

Yeah, is Zeke Nnaji on this list?

gswhoops wrote:

MoreyWins wrote:You can never rule out what could happen if the Nuggets have another early playoff exit. Especially now with the West getting stronger and the Nuggets steadily declining from what they were in 2023.

If you're insinuating that the Nuggets would consider trading Jokic, that's crazy talk.

We can rule it out. And before someone says but Luka. Luka is just another reason we can rule it out lol.

Texas Chuck wrote:If Gafford has any real value, Dallas should try and realize it and find a cheaper backup center, because to maximize the roster, AD is going to have to play some center, like it or not. You can limit it by having a 18 mpg backup better than Dwight Powell but he doesn't need to be as good as Gafford.

But if Gafford on the last year of his deal can't return more than a couple 2nds, and I think that's a reasonable possibility for sure, then just keep him as overqualified insurance especially knowing Lively and AD aren't super dependable.

I also think they should hold extension talks with Gafford and if you can get him for 3-4 more years at under $20M per then I think you explore if Lively plus a likely late lotto pick this year can get you that perimeter shot creator until Kyrie/to play with him.

But Dallas should at least pursue moving one of Gafford/Lively if they are moving forward with AD.

In an ideal world you only need a 3rd string C - like Powell - if you have AD and Lively on your team. At this stage of his career AD is more a C than a forward, so he is locked for like 20 mins at C (when healthy) and Lively easily eats up the remaining time. Now if you want to have a serviceable C for insurance purpose idk. These guys are not durable, but also having someone better than Powell for someone who is not going to play when your main guys are healthy seems to be an overpay.

Is the Mark Williams deal for Claxton fair?

Texas Chuck wrote:If Gafford has any real value, Dallas should try and realize it and find a cheaper backup center, because to maximize the roster, AD is going to have to play some center, like it or not. You can limit it by having a 18 mpg backup better than Dwight Powell but he doesn't need to be as good as Gafford.

But if Gafford on the last year of his deal can't return more than a couple 2nds, and I think that's a reasonable possibility for sure, then just keep him as overqualified insurance especially knowing Lively and AD aren't super dependable.

I also think they should hold extension talks with Gafford and if you can get him for 3-4 more years at under $20M per then I think you explore if Lively plus a likely late lotto pick this year can get you that perimeter shot creator until Kyrie/to play with him.

But Dallas should at least pursue moving one of Gafford/Lively if they are moving forward with AD.

Want a shooter to learn from and eventually replace Klay, in Gradey Dick?

Lively, even with his injury issues, would be ideal as a backup C for the Raps who have too many SG next year that need to play...and need C depth.

Aa mentioned on the other thread Lively worth more. Zero interest in that. You want him as a backup and so want to pay for a backup.

But as a rookie he started for a finals team. Dallas unlikely to trade him for a backup price.

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If you guys want a center who’s a triple double threat , can consider making an offer for Jaylin Williams .

2 triple doubles this season.

NYG wrote:Is the Mark Williams deal for Claxton fair?

Dont see how it works. Williams making like 6m and claxton like 25m. Shojld probably use the package on lively if mavs want to move him

NYG wrote:Is the Mark Williams deal for Claxton fair?

It depends on the salary fillers used to make it work.

Not Turner but Pacers will trade someone they'd rather keep to re-sign Turner without going into taxland.