RealGM

UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen, 5
PHI trades: Paul George, 3, 35, 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher)

I'm not sure this is quite the right value but I think I'd do it if we can't get a 2026 1st that looks like a potential lottery pick. Utah gets its preferred player after Flagg/Harper + an early 2nd + a future first that IMO has some very high variance. I'm imagining a follow-up with Phoenix that is something like 35 + 43 + future 2nd for 29.

Philadelphia moves down slightly, getting whoever is left 3-5, and swaps PG3 for a cheaper, younger player who is an excellent fit with Embiid (if healthy) and good enough to be a credible second option to Maxey if Embiid isn't healthy.

I think it's fair. Something I've been kicking around is rerouting Paul George to Phoenix for Bradley Beal (Utah would buy him out in-full, so he waives his No-Trade Clause). Add all of the miscellaneous horrible swaps that are three-to-four teams deep, and the 2027/2029 FRP's back to Utah.

Domejandro wrote:I think it's fair. Something I've been kicking around is rerouting Paul George to Phoenix for Bradley Beal (Utah would buy him out in-full, so he waives his No-Trade Clause). Add all of the miscellaneous horrible swaps that are three-to-four teams deep, and the 2027/2029 FRP's back to Utah.

UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen, 5, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)
in: Bradley Beal (bought out), 3, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)

PHI trades: Paul George, 3, 35, 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher)
in: Lauri Markkanen, 5

PHX trades: Bradley Beal, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)
in: Paul George, 35, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)

I think 3-5 are close in value, so adding an extra FRP and another SRP to turn PG13 into Lauri seems fair. 76ers should consider this.

I really like VJ, and Utah could use a player with star qualities. Makes sense to me-if the Jazz could re-route to the Suns and just do a buyout of Beal, even better

In theory I like this type of deal. It’s what I want Utah to do. But realize Utah is paying something like 110 million dollars for two late lotto picks, one unprotected pick, and to move up two spots in a draft that after 2 there is no consensus.

I know people will tell me I am wrong but Phoenix has to do better than that to take on Beals
contract. If he didn’t control his own fate and Utah could just have him on the roster that’s one thing. But he has a no trade clause and he is not accepting going to Utah unless it’s a buyout and paying $110,000,000 for a buyout is NOT the same as letting a bad salary stay on a bad team.

If Ryan Smith is crazy enough to do it….sure. But when faced with multiple options to take on bad salary, move up in the draft, etc. And one of the options is write a check for $110,000,000 dollars do you really think he is going to agree to that?

This is fun fantasy trading for guys who don’t have to write checks so they don’t think through the implications. This isn’t happening though.

Think there is a deal for Utah to move up with Philly. It just will not include a buyout of Beal.

Lauri, #21, maybe a young player Utah is willing to move on from, a couple seconds for Philly to have depth and Utah takes PG and the #3. And this would mean Utah has one of the projected guys way higher since there isn’t a consensus on #3. If I am Ainge I am not trading the #5 for #3 in this draft because there just isn’t a proven guy who is the clear player who should be taken at #3. But their draft research may yield a guy who they fall in love with. Who knows.

Daddy 801 wrote:In theory I like this type of deal. It’s what I want Utah to do. But realize Utah is paying something like 110 million dollars for two late lotto picks, one unprotected pick, and to move up two spots in a draft that after 2 there is no consensus.

I know people will tell me I am wrong but Phoenix has to do better than that to take on Beals
contract. If he didn’t control his own fate and Utah could just have him on the roster that’s one thing. But he has a no trade clause and he is not accepting going to Utah unless it’s a buyout and paying $110,000,000 for a buyout is NOT the same as letting a bad salary stay on a bad team.

If Ryan Smith is crazy enough to do it….sure. But when faced with multiple options to take on bad salary, move up in the draft, etc. And one of the options is write a check for $110,000,000 dollars do you really think he is going to agree to that?

This is fun fantasy trading for guys who don’t have to write checks so they don’t think through the implications. This isn’t happening though.

Think there is a deal for Utah to move up with Philly. It just will not include a buyout of Beal.

Lauri, #21, maybe a young player Utah is willing to move on from, a couple seconds for Philly to have depth and Utah takes PG and the #3. And this would mean Utah has one of the projected guys way higher since there isn’t a consensus on #3. If I am Ainge I am not trading the #5 for #3 in this draft because there just isn’t a proven guy who is the clear player who should be taken at #3. But their draft research may yield a guy who they fall in love with. Who knows.

Extending it maybe it could include Beal for Dame and we take back Lillard while he is out for the year and keep or trade him after the 2026 draft.

babyjax13 wrote:UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen, 5, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)
in: Bradley Beal (bought out), 3, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)

PHI trades: Paul George, 3, 35, 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher)
in: Lauri Markkanen, 5

PHX trades: Bradley Beal, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)
in: Paul George, 35, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)

Why on earth would the Suns add value to the George-Beal swap? It has to be the opposite.

hcsilla wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen, 5, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)
in: Bradley Beal (bought out), 3, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)

PHI trades: Paul George, 3, 35, 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher)
in: Lauri Markkanen, 5

PHX trades: Bradley Beal, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)
in: Paul George, 35, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)

Why on earth would the Suns add value to the George-Beal swap? It has to be the opposite.

George is a better player and he doesn't have a no trade clause. George played 41 games, Beal played 53. Beal has played 196 games in the last 4 seasons, George has played 198. George has better +/- stats (CPM, BPM, DRIP, DARKO), he plays a more valuable position, he is bigger, and he plays defense.

babyjax13 wrote:

hcsilla wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen, 5, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)
in: Bradley Beal (bought out), 3, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)

PHI trades: Paul George, 3, 35, 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher)
in: Lauri Markkanen, 5

PHX trades: Bradley Beal, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)
in: Paul George, 35, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)

Why on earth would the Suns add value to the George-Beal swap? It has to be the opposite.

George is a better player and he doesn't have a no trade clause. George played 41 games, Beal played 53. Beal has played 196 games in the last 4 seasons, George has played 198. George has better +/- stats (CPM, BPM, DRIP, DARKO), he plays a more valuable position, he is bigger, and he plays defense.

Podcast P has less value than Beal or at least equal value. He's also signed on longer.

I dont see the Suns adding stuff for the honor of paying Podcast for another year at 60M or whatever he's making that last yr.

If Giannis stays with the Bucks, could he be added here? Beal goes to the Bucks (along with a small asset, like a late-season FRP) and Lillard goes from the Bucks to the Jazz?
edit..I saw Babyjax suggested this before.. What do we think about it?

Seeing as the Jazz are getting the best of the 2028 FRP, maybe 3 is excessive? Would the Jazz settle for 6 + the best of 28, etc. Do the 76ers trade 3 for 6 to the Wizards and split the 18 value + what Washington is sending?

As a Sixers fan, I'd rather just keep PG and the picks. Lauri is younger, but I'm not sure he hasn't been better than PG and I'm not sure he'll be better than PG over the course of the next few years. His contract is a little less, but not by much. Don't see how its worth dropping down from 3 to 5 and adding a high second and possibly a future lottery pick

I don't think Morey would considers this either.

The Jazz trading up to 3, especially if it's to select Bailey, is my absolute worst case scenario for this draft. An epic unforced error, as I don't see anyone worth moving up for.

If it was 2029 best of LAC/PHI 1st... I could live with adding that to PG/3 for Lauri/5. Nothing else would be needed from Philly's end, however.

If PHX added 29 and Beal for George, then they probably could talk Durant into staying, as well.

And if Utah doesn't want to buy him out, find a place he wants to go (MIA?) and take back expirings to match.

MIA gets Beal
PHI gets Lauri and 5
PHX gets George
UTA gets Robinson, Rozier, 3, 29, and best of LAC/PHI 2029 1st

Last 2 times Danny had pick 3 he got Tatum and Brown

zimpy27 wrote:Last 2 times Danny had pick 3 he got Tatum and Brown

Are either of those two available in exchange for the #3 pick? Is there anyone in this draft outside of Cooper who has anything even remotely approaching the ceiling of those two? I think not.

babyjax13 wrote:

hcsilla wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen, 5, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)
in: Bradley Beal (bought out), 3, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)

PHI trades: Paul George, 3, 35, 2028 LAC/PHI 1st (higher)
in: Lauri Markkanen, 5

PHX trades: Bradley Beal, 29, 2027 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst), 2029 UTA/CLE/MIN 1st (worst conveyed)
in: Paul George, 35, 43, 2028 DET/CHA/LAC/MIA/NYK 2nd (super convoluted, it is one pick)

Why on earth would the Suns add value to the George-Beal swap? It has to be the opposite.

George is a better player and he doesn't have a no trade clause. George played 41 games, Beal played 53. Beal has played 196 games in the last 4 seasons, George has played 198. George has better +/- stats (CPM, BPM, DRIP, DARKO), he plays a more valuable position, he is bigger, and he plays defense.

Bradley Beal:

• age 31
• money owed $111 million over the next two years
• averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game with a True Shooting Percentage (TS%) of 59.3%.

Paul George:

• age 35
• Money owe: $162 million over the next three years
• averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in 2024-25 with a TS% of 58.1%.

So the Suns get an arguably worse, inarguably older player on a longer contract, and are swap three first round picks for three second round picks for the privilege?

George doesn't have a non trade clause, but he's pretty much immovable anyway unless it's for another terrible contract.

That extra year on George is 100% the difference maker. I'd rather just let Bradley Beal's contract expire in 2 years than have Paul George clog up 60 mil of capspace at 38 years old .

SkyHook wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Last 2 times Danny had pick 3 he got Tatum and Brown

Are either of those two available in exchange for the #3 pick? Is there anyone in this draft outside of Cooper who has anything even remotely approaching the ceiling of those two? I think not.

Ace
VJ

zimpy27 wrote:

SkyHook wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Last 2 times Danny had pick 3 he got Tatum and Brown

Are either of those two available in exchange for the #3 pick? Is there anyone in this draft outside of Cooper who has anything even remotely approaching the ceiling of those two? I think not.

Ace
VJ

Ace has — by far — the biggest bust potential in this draft. He's Josh Jackson 2.0.

I saw VJ compared to Iman Shumpert yesterday; doesn't exactly fill me with confidence.