Boston tear down builds up Sixers, Mavs, Bucks

[cl2117]

BOS in: #3, Damian Lillard ($54.1m/2 years), Daniel Gafford ($14.3m exp.), Adem Bona ($1.9/3 years), OMP ($3m/2 years), Tyler Smith ($1.9m/3 years)
BOS out: Jaylen Brown ($53.1m/3 years), Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7m exp.), Jrue Holiday ($32.4m/3 years)

C’s land #3 and reset the cap sheet ($40.8m savings). Take in some lottery tickets to roll out during next year’s tank season as well. Come back in '26/27 with a (hopefully) healthy Tatum and expiring Lillard with White, Pritchard, Hauser, Gafford (re-signed) and ideally at least 1-2 more legitimate rotation pieces from all the kids they've brought in.

PHI in: Jaylen Brown ($53.1m/3 years), Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7m exp.)
PHI out: #3, Paul George ($51.6m/3 years), Kelly Oubre ($8.3m exp.), Eric Gordon ($3.4m exp.), Adem Bona ($1.9/ 3 years), Justin Edwards ($1.9m exp.)

Philly attempts to catch lightning in a bottle like the C's did last year by adding Brown/KP to Joel/Maxey for #3. Both Embiid and KP are mercurial but if healthy Maxey/Brown/KP/Embiid could win the East and even with just three out of those four healthy they would still be a tough playoff team. They add $16m to the payroll but they will still be under the 1st apron.

MIL in: Paul George ($51.6m/3 years), Klay Thompson ($16.6m/2 years), Justin Edwards ($1.9m exp)
MIL out: Damian Lillard ($54.1m/2 years), Tyler Smith ($1.9m/ 3 years)

Bucks take on longer money but get guys who will be able to play next season next to Giannis. They add $14m to their cap hit but are still below the 1st apron.

DAL in: Jrue Holiday ($32.4m/3 years), Kelly Oubre ($8.3m exp.), Eric Gordon ($3.4m exp.)
DAL out: Daniel Gafford ($14.3m exp.), Klay Thompson ($16.6m/2 years), OMP ($3m/ 2 years)

Mavs get a guy who will be an excellent connector piece alongside all of the other talent on their roster in Holiday (and perrenial teammate of the year for their #1 pick entering an already pretty interesting locker room). They take Oubre and Gordon into their TPE as depth (add a little under $10m to overall cap).

[brackdan70]

A for effort.
I think it would come down to Philly thinking Brown is worth number 3?
I would be a bit concerned as a Celtics fan, but it’s probably fair for them.

[facothomas22]

Why are the 76ers trading out of the draft to become a more expensive team? Jaylen Brown and KP with Joel Emiid if he can't stay atleast somewhat healthy not going to make the 76ers a contender. It's just going to make the 76ers a mediocre team with a very low ceiling, while having less flexibility. No thanks.

[mlloyd10]

Bucks Hang up immediately

[ReggiesKnicks]

Bucks Hang up immediately

Why? It isn't that bad.

[Texas Chuck]

Bucks Hang up immediately

Please tell the OP why. Just showing up to say something sucks isn't adding anything to discussion.

Thanks!

[the_process]

If Bucks are keeping Giannis this is great for them. The George contract slander is vastly overblown on this board.

Celtics check their get out of apron hell card.

Can't do this for Philly. Can't help Boston out of their apron issues while giving them the 3rd overall pick again and taking on Jaylen Brown and hoping Jo will be healthy. Also being hard capped at the 1st apron is not great. No, no, no.

Let another team do this. New Orleans maybe, or Brooklyn.

[mlloyd10]

Bucks Hang up immediately

Why? It isn't that bad.

Paul George Contact is one of the worst out there plus he has a 15% trade kicker. Nobody will trade for him unless major value is attached.

Plus there is no way the Celtics get out of Holiday Contract ( and Brown to an extent) and land the #3 pick.

[eminence]

As a Utah fan I'd be happy to step into the Dallas portion if they weren't interested.

Some combo of Collins/Clarkson/Martin for money, lower end prospects/picks to fill out value.

Bring in Jrue to mentor some of the young guys. Inch back towards playing meaningful games.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Bucks Hang up immediately

Why? It isn't that bad.

Paul George Contact is one of the worst out there plus he has a 15% trade kicker. Nobody will trade for him unless major value is attached.

Plus there is no way the Celtics get out of Holiday Contract ( and Brown to an extent) and land the #3 pick.

I think George would happily trade his trade kicker to play with, as many Bucks fans state, the best player in the NBA.

Lillard is going to play 0 games this year. Paul George has a lot more variance in his outcome in 2025-2026 compared to Lillard. It's plausible Paul George bounces back to a 18/5/4 player.

The value for Milwaukee is to try to win one more year with Giannis, and this provides that opportunity through variance.

Once Milwaukee tries to rebuild, the extra year of George isn't going to prevent them from rebuilding.

[jayjaysee]

The second apron kills this for Dallas.

Philly would be setting up a first apron hard cap? Seems tough to fill a bench with what’s left when you have 4 guys making that much. But didn’t look.

[mlloyd10]

Why? It isn't that bad.

Paul George Contact is one of the worst out there plus he has a 15% trade kicker. Nobody will trade for him unless major value is attached.

Plus there is no way the Celtics get out of Holiday Contract ( and Brown to an extent) and land the #3 pick.

I think George would happily trade his trade kicker to play with, as many Bucks fans state, the best player in the NBA.

Lillard is going to play 0 games this year. Paul George has a lot more variance in his outcome in 2025-2026 compared to Lillard. It's plausible Paul George bounces back to a 18/5/4 player.

The value for Milwaukee is to try to win one more year with Giannis, and this provides that opportunity through variance.

Once Milwaukee tries to rebuild, the extra year of George isn't going to prevent them from rebuilding.

Paul has three more years on his deal ( zero chance he doesn't pick up his PO in 27/28 for $56mil)

[Texas Chuck]

Paul George Contact is one of the worst out there plus he has a 15% trade kicker. Nobody will trade for him unless major value is attached.

Plus there is no way the Celtics get out of Holiday Contract ( and Brown to an extent) and land the #3 pick.

I think George would happily trade his trade kicker to play with, as many Bucks fans state, the best player in the NBA.

Lillard is going to play 0 games this year. Paul George has a lot more variance in his outcome in 2025-2026 compared to Lillard. It's plausible Paul George bounces back to a 18/5/4 player.

The value for Milwaukee is to try to win one more year with Giannis, and this provides that opportunity through variance.

Once Milwaukee tries to rebuild, the extra year of George isn't going to prevent them from rebuilding.

Paul has three more years on his deal ( zero chance he doesn't pick up his PO in 27/28 for $56mil)

Yeah its a pretty simple calculus

25/26 --edge to PG since Dame is offering nothing
26/27 impossible to say, but Dame is coming off an injury that historically hasn't been great on basketball players, lets call it a push
27/28, Dame is off the books, PG almost certainly overpaid.

So if the Bucks are trying to win, PG is the better option because he helps more in years 1 and 3 and maybe in year 2.
If the Buck are trading Giannis, then they don't care about anything other than whose contract ends first, so don't make the trade.

Looks like you are pro-trading Giannis.

[eminence]

Overall, I like it for 3/4 teams (Boston/Milwaukee/Holiday receiving team). Not a big fan for Philadelphia, but if they believe they can get Embiid right for a title shot then I can see the reasoning (still feels a bit short for them).

[ReggiesKnicks]

Paul George Contact is one of the worst out there plus he has a 15% trade kicker. Nobody will trade for him unless major value is attached.

Plus there is no way the Celtics get out of Holiday Contract ( and Brown to an extent) and land the #3 pick.

I think George would happily trade his trade kicker to play with, as many Bucks fans state, the best player in the NBA.

Lillard is going to play 0 games this year. Paul George has a lot more variance in his outcome in 2025-2026 compared to Lillard. It's plausible Paul George bounces back to a 18/5/4 player.

The value for Milwaukee is to try to win one more year with Giannis, and this provides that opportunity through variance.

Once Milwaukee tries to rebuild, the extra year of George isn't going to prevent them from rebuilding.

Paul has three more years on his deal ( zero chance he doesn't pick up his PO in 27/28 for $56mil)

Right but this calculus isn't as relevant if the goal is to win in 2025-2026.

[mlloyd10]

I think George would happily trade his trade kicker to play with, as many Bucks fans state, the best player in the NBA.

Lillard is going to play 0 games this year. Paul George has a lot more variance in his outcome in 2025-2026 compared to Lillard. It's plausible Paul George bounces back to a 18/5/4 player.

The value for Milwaukee is to try to win one more year with Giannis, and this provides that opportunity through variance.

Once Milwaukee tries to rebuild, the extra year of George isn't going to prevent them from rebuilding.

Paul has three more years on his deal ( zero chance he doesn't pick up his PO in 27/28 for $56mil)

Right but this calculus isn't as relevant if the goal is to win in 2025-2026.

Paul George maybe adds 2-3 wins to this team. He is not a needle mover anymore. Grossly overpaid player

[ReggiesKnicks]

Paul has three more years on his deal ( zero chance he doesn't pick up his PO in 27/28 for $56mil)

Right but this calculus isn't as relevant if the goal is to win in 2025-2026.

Paul George maybe adds 2-3 wins to this team. He is not a needle mover anymore. Grossly overpaid player

More than Lillard. He also raises their ceiling.

[daoneandonly]

No interest in making Dallas continuously older and more expensive. Just doesnt make any sense. The Jrue of old is just that, old and gone