RealGM

Bucks trade Kuzma and Trent for CJ McCollum
Rationale: Kuz fit is kinda clunky. He is a true tweener forward, I guess he would start at the 3, but CJ gives them a starting lead guard capable of scoring 20 ppg and taking over meaningful play making giving Giannis a break. It's a meager yet meaningful upgrade that IMO puts players into better slots in the line up.

Lakers trade Reaves, Vando, Gabe, Kleber, Rui
Get Wiggins, Kuz, Kispert
Rationale: Wiggins is the piece the covet, slotting nicely into that defense playing wing who can also be a scoring weapon when needed. Kispert adds a consistent shooter on a reasonable contract, so not having to worry about the Reaves extension. Kuz actually is a pretty good fit with the Lakers team as he can be a bench scoring option to give them depth. He is more diverse on offense so he can offer a bit more creativity and creation rather than just spot up shooter, guy off a screen etc.

Wizards trade CJ, Kispert, Middleton
get Reaves, VAndo, Vincent, Kleber, Rozier.
Probably just cut Smart
Rationale: Vando is a useful back up 4, plays defense, can do a variety of things and if he were healthy he would be a bargain. Reaves would be able to be the player they were hoping Poole would be. Yes he is a shooter/scorer, but he is not selfish and is a relatively efficient player. Rozier was cleared in his probe, so he could easily be a rotation player and deadline trade piece for a would be tank team.

Heat trade Rozier, Wiggins
get Middleton, Rui, Trent

So I do have the Heat here trading a starter for 2 guys best off the bench and a situational role player BUT IMO this actually fits what Miami needs.
Middleton seems like a good Heat culture type, could play Butlers former role while Rui would be a high minutes off of the bench player. Trent and fonteccio would replace the Duncan Robinson/Struss dynamic. heat will also have opened up a good amount of cap an/or will have good amount of expiring contracts to trade at the deadline to upgrade the team.

This trade is flatout horrible for the Wizards and Heat. The Bucks and Lakers are stealing a ton of value here.

nykballa2k4 wrote:Heat trade Rozier, Wiggins
get Middleton, Rui, Trent

So I do have the Heat here trading a starter for 2 guys best off the bench and a situational role player BUT IMO this actually fits what Miami needs.
Middleton seems like a good Heat culture type, could play Butlers former role while Rui would be a high minutes off of the bench player. Trent and fonteccio would replace the Duncan Robinson/Struss dynamic. heat will also have opened up a good amount of cap an/or will have good amount of expiring contracts to trade at the deadline to upgrade the team.

I have issues, here.

We told the Lakers that we'd trade Wiggins for Rui, Knecht, and a first. This sees us replacing Knecht and the first with Trent and Middleton. We sacrifice that value to get off of Rozier... He's expiring... I mean, to me, I'd much prefer to get Knecht and the first and just buy out Rozier. Middleton is done and Trent, while move, isn't important enough to do this deal

Not into it...

The Wizards laugh you off the phone. They don't need or want a guy like Reaves when they are building around a Carrington/Tre Johnson backcourt. Reaves is 27 already. And the rest of the guys the Wizards are getting are way worse than the quality vets they are sending out.

Look like all teams hate it lol bucks make out nice

Reaves has significantly more value than Wiggins and Rui has the same amount of value as Wiggins.

The Lakers don't benefit at all for making this trade.

Lakers say no as well. Trading 2 solid rotational players (Rui, Reaves), 2 eh rotational player (Vincent, Vando) all on expirings for 1 solid rotational player (Wiggins) for 2 eh rotational players (Kuz, Kispert) and all the incoming players have owed money past the upcoming season.

If Pelinka was willing to have 2 year money he woulda just re-signed DFS. I think if lakers can keep one of Rui or Reaves, I’d be 100% willing to pull the trigger, but I doubt Pelinka will due to his “preserve 2026-27 cap space” plan.

Don't think McCollum is that significant of an upgrade over Trent who is way younger bigger and plays defense. CJ is not a player you can win with, he's 33 and doesn't play defense so that's a pass from me. McCollum I would only be interested in if/when he gets bought out.