Boston / Brooklyn / Milwaukee / LA Lakers / Portland - Too Big To Work?
Posted: Sun May 25, 2025 9:45 pm
NOTE: This is more of a framework of a trade. Picks(s) and prospect(s) would/should be included.
Boston Celtics Trade:
PG Jrue Holiday
Boston Celtics Receive:
PF Jarred Vanderbilt
Brooklyn Nets Trade:
C Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Nets Receive:
PG Gabe Vincent
PF Maxi Kleber
C Robert Williams
'31 FRP via MIL (Unprotected)
Milwaukee Bucks Trade:
PG Damian Dillard
'31 FRP (Unprotected)
Milwaukee Bucks Receive:
SG Shake Milton
PG Jrue Holiday
PF Rui Hachimura
LA Lakers Trade:
PG Gabe Vincent
SG Shake Milton
PF Maxi Kleber
PF Rui Hachimura
LA Lakers Receive:
PF Jerami Grant
C Nic Claxton
Portland Trailblazers Trade:
PF Jerami Grant
C Robert Williams
Portland Trailblazers Receive:
PG Damian Lillard
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR BOSTON?
They save almost $21M and drops them below the 2nd apron. If Boston is able to unload Kristaps Porzingis this offseason and take back less than $19M they'd get below the luxury tax and reset their repeater status. From a talent perspective, Boston clearly loses something but Jarred Vanderbilt is a good defender with a broken jumpshot signed to a reasonable deal. I think a healthy year out of him, and his value rebounds to where he might actually fetch something decent. Ultimately, Boston gets the financial savings that they need/want.
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR BROOKLYN?
The Nets ultimately rent out their cap space, and by so doing they "upgrade" their future by taking a bite at a post-Giannis Milwaukee Bucks' roster. Nic Claxton is ultimately replaceable, and they sacrifice him to get a high variance pick on a team that could teeter either way. They could probably stand for a more stable pick for their cap space, but they should gamble on high-upside picks.
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR MILWAUKEE?
The clock is ticking on Milwaukee with respect to Giannis, and they need to make a move now. The problem is they lack young prospects with high upside on the roster, Dame is likely going to miss the entire season, and they don't have a ton of FA flexibility either. They gamble here that Jrue is more likely going to help them in the next 1-2 years and add another depth piece in Hachimura who could be flipped at the deadline.
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR THE LA LAKERS?
The Lakers lose ALL their flexibility here, but they get a better fit on the roster with Luka (and LeBron). They get a stretch 4 albeit on a bad contract and a rim protector with some verticality. This deal keeps them below the 2nd apron would allow the nTMLE to be available to them as well.
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR PORTLAND?
Honestly, this is probably the part where Portland needs something included, but moving Jeramin Grant's 3 year deal for Dame's 2 year deal. And not to mention, Dame has a much bigger following in Portland so at the very least he puts people back in the seats in Y2.
Boston Celtics Trade:
PG Jrue Holiday
Boston Celtics Receive:
PF Jarred Vanderbilt
Brooklyn Nets Trade:
C Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Nets Receive:
PG Gabe Vincent
PF Maxi Kleber
C Robert Williams
'31 FRP via MIL (Unprotected)
Milwaukee Bucks Trade:
PG Damian Dillard
'31 FRP (Unprotected)
Milwaukee Bucks Receive:
SG Shake Milton
PG Jrue Holiday
PF Rui Hachimura
LA Lakers Trade:
PG Gabe Vincent
SG Shake Milton
PF Maxi Kleber
PF Rui Hachimura
LA Lakers Receive:
PF Jerami Grant
C Nic Claxton
Portland Trailblazers Trade:
PF Jerami Grant
C Robert Williams
Portland Trailblazers Receive:
PG Damian Lillard
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR BOSTON?
They save almost $21M and drops them below the 2nd apron. If Boston is able to unload Kristaps Porzingis this offseason and take back less than $19M they'd get below the luxury tax and reset their repeater status. From a talent perspective, Boston clearly loses something but Jarred Vanderbilt is a good defender with a broken jumpshot signed to a reasonable deal. I think a healthy year out of him, and his value rebounds to where he might actually fetch something decent. Ultimately, Boston gets the financial savings that they need/want.
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR BROOKLYN?
The Nets ultimately rent out their cap space, and by so doing they "upgrade" their future by taking a bite at a post-Giannis Milwaukee Bucks' roster. Nic Claxton is ultimately replaceable, and they sacrifice him to get a high variance pick on a team that could teeter either way. They could probably stand for a more stable pick for their cap space, but they should gamble on high-upside picks.
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR MILWAUKEE?
The clock is ticking on Milwaukee with respect to Giannis, and they need to make a move now. The problem is they lack young prospects with high upside on the roster, Dame is likely going to miss the entire season, and they don't have a ton of FA flexibility either. They gamble here that Jrue is more likely going to help them in the next 1-2 years and add another depth piece in Hachimura who could be flipped at the deadline.
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR THE LA LAKERS?
The Lakers lose ALL their flexibility here, but they get a better fit on the roster with Luka (and LeBron). They get a stretch 4 albeit on a bad contract and a rim protector with some verticality. This deal keeps them below the 2nd apron would allow the nTMLE to be available to them as well.
WHY IT COULD WORK FOR PORTLAND?
Honestly, this is probably the part where Portland needs something included, but moving Jeramin Grant's 3 year deal for Dame's 2 year deal. And not to mention, Dame has a much bigger following in Portland so at the very least he puts people back in the seats in Y2.