RealGM

Boston Trades: Kristaps Porzingis, Pick #28
Boston Gets: Maxi Kleber

Why for Boston: Saves close to $20 million against the tax (and millions more in luxury tax penalties) and puts them within striking distance of getting under the first apron.

Brooklyn Trades: Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Gets: Dalton Knecht, Kristaps Porzingis, Gabe Vincent and LAL's 2031 1st Unprotected

Why for Brooklyn: Add a high upside pick and a prospect in Knecht without using too much of its cap space. The move creates an additional $19 million in cap space in the summer of 2026 in a better FA year class.

Los Angeles Trades: Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent and 2031 1st Unprotected
Los Angeles Gets: Nic Claxton, Pick #28

Why for Los Angeles: While Claxton isn't an all-star, he's a young, productive rim protector locked into a reasonable deal without dealing away anyone from the top 5 of its rotation. The fact that it gives them a touch more wiggle room the first apron is an added bonus.


As an FYI: this trade still works from a cap standpoint without Knecht being involved and pick 28 going to Brooklyn if LAL would rather keep the Knecht and the Nets prefer the pick/extra cap savings.

Probably need decent protections on that LA pick, like top 10

Apz wrote:Probably need decent protections on that LA pick, like top 10

Maybe top four protected would work for both teams.

Top ten protected might never convey.

Also with Luka on the roster at his age that pick might be way out of the lottery anyway.

If the pick is overly protected the Nets have no reason to help Boston.

drchaos wrote:

Apz wrote:Probably need decent protections on that LA pick, like top 10

Maybe top four protected would work for both teams.

Top ten protected might never convey.

Also with Luka on the roster at his age that pick might be way out of the lottery anyway.

If the pick is overly protected the Nets have no reason to help Boston.

This. I know the initial reaction to seeing unprotected for Claxton, but the variance of that pick has changed significantly with Luka now a Laker. Also, there's considering how limited the options are when your at/around the apron, protecting Rui and DFS is not insignificant here.

That's wildly rich for BRK imo. I do like LA in the mix with Boston if Boston has to make $ moves which they do.

deviljets7 wrote:

drchaos wrote:

Apz wrote:Probably need decent protections on that LA pick, like top 10

Maybe top four protected would work for both teams.

Top ten protected might never convey.

Also with Luka on the roster at his age that pick might be way out of the lottery anyway.

If the pick is overly protected the Nets have no reason to help Boston.

This. I know the initial reaction to seeing unprotected for Claxton, but the variance of that pick has changed significantly with Luka now a Laker. Also, there's considering how limited the options are when your at/around the apron, protecting Rui and DFS is not insignificant here.

We dont know if luka is a laker even after next season. Heck, i doubt anyone on realgm if they were in lukas shoes would extend this summer. Bad team and no assets, 31 is so far away that who knows what things are like

I like it!

LAL shouldn't use their 1st on players like Claxton or Gafford, they are really tight on assets and can't squander them on marginal improvements.

LAL shouldn’t waste a year of Luka/LBJ. But that doesn’t mean Claxton is worth a distant unprotected first..

I think LAL might ask Luka if he and KP actually made up.. they’d have to dump more salary, but I think they could find a tanking team or two to do Vincent, Vandy, 28th, Dalton for cap space? And then they get KP and don’t lose a first.

Or Brooklyn should lower their asking price..

I can get down with this for Brooklyn

yeah Brooklyn taking a ton of value. I like Claxton to LA, but my offer was expiring contract and Knecht. And I think Brooklyn should jump on that.

LA should never pay close to this price.

deviljets7 wrote:Boston Trades: Kristaps Porzingis, Pick #28
Boston Gets: Maxi Kleber

Why for Boston: Saves close to $20 million against the tax (and millions more in luxury tax penalties) and puts them within striking distance of getting under the first apron.

Brooklyn Trades: Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Gets: Dalton Knecht, Kristaps Porzingis, Gabe Vincent and LAL's 2031 1st Unprotected

Why for Brooklyn: Add a high upside pick and a prospect in Knecht without using too much of its cap space. The move creates an additional $19 million in cap space in the summer of 2026 in a better FA year class.

Los Angeles Trades: Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent and 2031 1st Unprotected
Los Angeles Gets: Nic Claxton, Pick #28

Why for Los Angeles: While Claxton isn't an all-star, he's a young, productive rim protector locked into a reasonable deal without dealing away anyone from the top 5 of its rotation. The fact that it gives them a touch more wiggle room the first apron is an added bonus.


As an FYI: this trade still works from a cap standpoint without Knecht being involved and pick 28 going to Brooklyn if LAL would rather keep the Knecht and the Nets prefer the pick/extra cap savings.

Good effort.
For a Boston POV, the bigger news is to reduce payroll in 2026/27 so they can reset the roster tax. This trade doesn’t accomplish that so I would have a hard time attaching a pick to dump Porzingis. He is an expiring so they can just keep him and hope he is better next season. I also agree with the other comments about LAL giving to much and Nets getting to much.

Texas Chuck wrote:yeah Brooklyn taking a ton of value. I like Claxton to LA, but my offer was expiring contract and Knecht. And I think Brooklyn should jump on that.

LA should never pay close to this price.

100%. Maybe something that includes 26 or 27 for a pick swap going back to Brooklyn. But I'm not sure that the Lakers want an additional guaranteed contract on their books.

brackdan70 wrote:

deviljets7 wrote:Boston Trades: Kristaps Porzingis, Pick #28
Boston Gets: Maxi Kleber

Why for Boston: Saves close to $20 million against the tax (and millions more in luxury tax penalties) and puts them within striking distance of getting under the first apron.

Brooklyn Trades: Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Gets: Dalton Knecht, Kristaps Porzingis, Gabe Vincent and LAL's 2031 1st Unprotected

Why for Brooklyn: Add a high upside pick and a prospect in Knecht without using too much of its cap space. The move creates an additional $19 million in cap space in the summer of 2026 in a better FA year class.

Los Angeles Trades: Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent and 2031 1st Unprotected
Los Angeles Gets: Nic Claxton, Pick #28

Why for Los Angeles: While Claxton isn't an all-star, he's a young, productive rim protector locked into a reasonable deal without dealing away anyone from the top 5 of its rotation. The fact that it gives them a touch more wiggle room the first apron is an added bonus.


As an FYI: this trade still works from a cap standpoint without Knecht being involved and pick 28 going to Brooklyn if LAL would rather keep the Knecht and the Nets prefer the pick/extra cap savings.

Good effort.
For a Boston POV, the bigger news is to reduce payroll in 2026/27 so they can reset the roster tax. This trade doesn’t accomplish that so I would have a hard time attaching a pick to dump Porzingis. He is an expiring so they can just keep him and hope he is better next season. I also agree with the other comments about LAL giving to much and Nets getting to much.

I get the sentiment from Boston, but they're pretty close to reaching the 2026-2027 goal and should be able to easily clear it without providing incentive. Ultimately can't imagine they walk away from the opportunity to save $60+ million salary and tax penalties.

deviljets7 wrote:

brackdan70 wrote:

deviljets7 wrote:Boston Trades: Kristaps Porzingis, Pick #28
Boston Gets: Maxi Kleber

Why for Boston: Saves close to $20 million against the tax (and millions more in luxury tax penalties) and puts them within striking distance of getting under the first apron.

Brooklyn Trades: Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Gets: Dalton Knecht, Kristaps Porzingis, Gabe Vincent and LAL's 2031 1st Unprotected

Why for Brooklyn: Add a high upside pick and a prospect in Knecht without using too much of its cap space. The move creates an additional $19 million in cap space in the summer of 2026 in a better FA year class.

Los Angeles Trades: Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent and 2031 1st Unprotected
Los Angeles Gets: Nic Claxton, Pick #28

Why for Los Angeles: While Claxton isn't an all-star, he's a young, productive rim protector locked into a reasonable deal without dealing away anyone from the top 5 of its rotation. The fact that it gives them a touch more wiggle room the first apron is an added bonus.


As an FYI: this trade still works from a cap standpoint without Knecht being involved and pick 28 going to Brooklyn if LAL would rather keep the Knecht and the Nets prefer the pick/extra cap savings.

Good effort.
For a Boston POV, the bigger news is to reduce payroll in 2026/27 so they can reset the roster tax. This trade doesn’t accomplish that so I would have a hard time attaching a pick to dump Porzingis. He is an expiring so they can just keep him and hope he is better next season. I also agree with the other comments about LAL giving to much and Nets getting to much.

I get the sentiment from Boston, but they're pretty close to reaching the 2026-2027 goal and should be able to easily clear it without providing incentive. Ultimately can't imagine they walk away from the opportunity to save $60+ million salary and tax penalties.

They need to shed about 12-14 million in 26/27 salary. That is goal number one. I wouldn’t be worrying about shedding Porzingis until that goal is achieved, and I wouldn’t attach a pick, because he will cost much less ( in taxes) once that goal is reached because it likely also sheds significant 25/26 salary.
If there is a Holiday trade trade that meets the salary savings goal, that’s where you attach assets if you need to.