Official ‘24-25 Off-season Thread

[Netaman]

Here's an interesting one, or at least so I think anyway.

Boston obviously needs to cut salary to get under apron, NO only has 1 pick in the draft so it's plausible they'd be a willing team to take on an expiring if incentivized with a FRP. To make salary work in checked they needed to send out Herb Jones, who seems like he'd fit well with Nets/Jordi and is obviously young enough to be appealing, so I added an extra FRP to give them both the late ones this year.

Basically Nets get Jrue/Herb and BOS26 unprotected for $50m of cap space + the 2 late firsts this year.



Jrue
CamT
Herb
CJ
Clax

plus whatever they do with #8/#19 and Clowney/Wilson/Watford/Keon/Whitehead is an interesting group that would be a real pain in the ass to play against if Jordi can get everyone competing as hard as last season. And they'd have 2 unprotected potential lotto picks in 2026 since Boston is going to be in a transition year.

[NYG]

Kyle Kuzma, Pat Connaughton and 2031 Unprotected Bucks First Round Pick for Cam Johnson?

[Netaman]

Kyle Kuzma, Pat Connaughton and 2031 Unprotected Bucks First Round Pick for Cam Johnson?

pass for me. that's a claxton level offer.

[Karate Diop]

Kyle Kuzma, Pat Connaughton and 2031 Unprotected Bucks First Round Pick for Cam Johnson?

pass for me. that's a claxton level offer.

Even Claxton is worth more than that. It should take at least 1 first to get off Kuzma. Terrible player with a terrible attitude.

[Decipher]

Bad enough watching the team lose without being forced to watch Kuzma

[Netaman]

thinking a bit more about Sean Marks and his whole history here, I'm finding myself more and more convinced that Cam Johnson has played his last game as a Net. Johnson's value is at an all time high, the contract looks like a value, he fits for almost any team. He's also 29 and injury prone, meaning there is some risk in not moving him. It all kind of reminds me of the Thad Young trade Marks' first year as Nets GM.

with picks 8 + 19 + 26 + 27 + camJ + cap space, it's not hard to think the nets could manipulate their way to getting 2 of the top 10 players on their board, who will likely be young and high upside even if not ready right away (like fears or maluach or demin or essenge), and maybe some 2026 draft assets as well since it will be hard to roster more than 2 or 3 rookies this year from their 5 picks.

I also suspect they will find a way to poach kuminga who is still just 22 on opening night and can step right into a big usage role and development opportunity here right away. Camt/kuminga/clax may not be long term pieces here when things get turned around, but for now all 3 have high upside to be worth developing even if it's just to trade them higher 1-2 years down the road like they did with Bridges and i suspect they will with CamJ.

one of the best ways to raise the upside next year both for lotto odds and franchise trajectory is to cash in whatever they can to get as much upside as they can be it cap room, draft picks, veterans, etc.

[Netaman]

Really hope im not getting over my skis, but it really seems like events are setting up perfectly for Sean Marks to cook over the next month or so.
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/280607/NBAs-Second-Apron-Creating-Sandwich-Effect-With-Offseason-Trade-Surge-Anticipated

Few things are certain, but based on his history of doing each of these things, I think we are going to see him:

1. Eat veteran salary for draft assets (someone like Jrue?)
2. Consolidate/optimize his draft assets (at minimum it seems like getting to #6 could only cost #26)
3. Opportunistically add some young players to develop in a bigger role (like Kuminga)

the maximum flexibility strategy seems to be coinciding with teams learning the hard way on the new CBA's quirks.

[vincecarter4pres]

Paul George and the 3 to the Nets, Clax/19/26/27 to Philly?

Maybe protections on the ‘27 PHI 1st reduced to top 2?

Or Clax/19/27/PHI 1st returned for 3/PG?

[ecuhus1981]

Paul George and the 3 to the Nets, Clax/19/26/27 to Philly?

Maybe protections on the ‘27 PHI 1st reduced to top 2?

Or Clax/19/27/PHI 1st returned for 3/PG?

I like this thought process, but I think the angle is for Johnson, not Claxton. Cam J would fit great in Philly, and I would love to trade up on that kind of deal. But, I wouldn't include more than the 19 to get PG and 3, George is just an onerous contract in this salary cap.

[Paradise]

Whoa!

The Grizzlies are sending Desmond Bane to Orlando for Cole Anthony, KCP, THREE unprotected 1sts!

Imagine what we can get with Cam Johnson and Claxton.

[tugs]

How is this possible beyond the trade deadline?

[Netaman]

Paul George and the 3 to the Nets, Clax/19/26/27 to Philly?

Maybe protections on the ‘27 PHI 1st reduced to top 2?

Or Clax/19/27/PHI 1st returned for 3/PG?

I could see a PG + 3 to Nets for CamJ + 8 but i'm not positive there's a guy at 3 they are desperate for. Do they do that deal for Bailey because he's so much better than Kon/Tre/Fears at 5?

So to take back PG I actually think Nets may drive a harder bargain and want to keep #8. PG + 3 for CamJ + #19.

More likely I think the nets get a 2nd lotto pick connecting the KD trade, so either #10 or #14, and then also move up from #8 to 5 or 6 for Fears or Kon. That would be my plan.

[Netaman]

How is this possible beyond the trade deadline?

there are no games they need to play in since those teams seasons are over, teams can agree to whatever they want and over time it has gotten more accepted to just announce. It used to be they didnt want any non-Finals news out distracting from the games, but it's a different world now so news always gets out.

[vincecarter4pres]

Paul George and the 3 to the Nets, Clax/19/26/27 to Philly?

Maybe protections on the ‘27 PHI 1st reduced to top 2?

Or Clax/19/27/PHI 1st returned for 3/PG?

I could see a PG + 3 to Nets for CamJ + 8 but i'm not positive there's a guy at 3 they are desperate for. Do they do that deal for Bailey because he's so much better than Kon/Tre/Fears at 5?

So to take back PG I actually think Nets may drive a harder bargain and want to keep #8. PG + 3 for CamJ + #19.

More likely I think the nets get a 2nd lotto pick connecting the KD trade, so either #10 or #14, and then also move up from #8 to 5 or 6 for Fears or Kon. That would be my plan.

CJ/8 for PG/3 is a massive overpay, especially after seeing the Bane return.

Mainly agree with your latter statement.

There is also definitely a world where they get the 3, keep the 8, move up from 8 to 4-7, acquire 9-14, move 3/4-7 and a future 1st for 2, use the late lotto pick for a swing at a wing.

Windup with Harper and one of Essengue, Tre, Will Riley, Carter Bryant, Coward, etc.

Would be a crazy successful draft.

[Netaman]

Whoa!

The Grizzlies are sending Desmond Bane to Orlando for Cole Anthony, KCP, THREE unprotected 1sts!

Imagine what we can get with Cam Johnson and Claxton.

the 2 very good picks in there are #16 this year and Phoenix unprotected 2026. Magic picks in 2028/2030 who knows. They will likely still be good. Bane is signed through 2029, Suggs through 2030, Banchero going to extend likely through 2031.

and they dumped money in Cole/KCP.

so basically 2 very good picks for Bane is the way I'd look at it. I expect that KD will similarly bring back the equivalent of 2 good young assets plus some other tbd young assets. Certainly 1 top 20 pick this year, then at least 1 young lotto asset, no bad salary, then probably 1-2 more picks/young players.

[Netaman]

Paul George and the 3 to the Nets, Clax/19/26/27 to Philly?

Maybe protections on the ‘27 PHI 1st reduced to top 2?

Or Clax/19/27/PHI 1st returned for 3/PG?

I could see a PG + 3 to Nets for CamJ + 8 but i'm not positive there's a guy at 3 they are desperate for. Do they do that deal for Bailey because he's so much better than Kon/Tre/Fears at 5?

So to take back PG I actually think Nets may drive a harder bargain and want to keep #8. PG + 3 for CamJ + #19.

More likely I think the nets get a 2nd lotto pick connecting the KD trade, so either #10 or #14, and then also move up from #8 to 5 or 6 for Fears or Kon. That would be my plan.

CJ/8 for PG/3 is a massive overpay, especially after seeing the Bane return.

Mainly agree with your latter statement.

There is also definitely a world where they get the 3, keep the 8, move up from 8 to 4-7, acquire 9-14, move 3/4-7 and a future 1st for 2, use the late lotto pick for a swing at a wing.

Windup with Harper and one of Essengue, Tre, Will Riley, Carter Bryant, Coward, etc.

Would be a crazy successful draft.

this is a totally "vibes" based assessment, but I think they come out of this draft with 4 players and target each broad "archetype", and again this is somewhat biased to what i would want from this draft:

1 high end scorer (kon or fears or bailey or tre)
1 upside on ball player (demin, jaku, or traore)
1 upside wing (im expecting a euro like noa or hugo or saraf)
1 big (berringer or wolf or huang or reynaud)

they currently have the 5 picks so this is anticipating some conversion currency to manipulate getting the guys they like a lot, plus the ability to trade clax/camj and eat salary.

i think they need to get to #5/6 for the high end scorer. my gut is they wont have all those guys equally rated and none will fall past #7.
I think anywhere #9-14 should get them 1 of the on ball guys.
they should be able to get 2 of the other guys from the euro/big groups at #19/#26/#27 from whoever falls.

could obviously see them also going for value with guys like Liam McNeely or Sorber or Coward or Bryant if they fell to #19.

Queen and Maluach are 2 other wild cards who could factor in as high as their first pick.

[TheNetsFan]

Paul George and the 3 to the Nets, Clax/19/26/27 to Philly?

Maybe protections on the ‘27 PHI 1st reduced to top 2?

Or Clax/19/27/PHI 1st returned for 3/PG?

I could see a PG + 3 to Nets for CamJ + 8 but i'm not positive there's a guy at 3 they are desperate for. Do they do that deal for Bailey because he's so much better than Kon/Tre/Fears at 5?

So to take back PG I actually think Nets may drive a harder bargain and want to keep #8. PG + 3 for CamJ + #19.

More likely I think the nets get a 2nd lotto pick connecting the KD trade, so either #10 or #14, and then also move up from #8 to 5 or 6 for Fears or Kon. That would be my plan.

CJ/8 for PG/3 is a massive overpay, especially after seeing the Bane return.

Mainly agree with your latter statement.

There is also definitely a world where they get the 3, keep the 8, move up from 8 to 4-7, acquire 9-14, move 3/4-7 and a future 1st for 2, use the late lotto pick for a swing at a wing.

Windup with Harper and one of Essengue, Tre, Will Riley, Carter Bryant, Coward, etc.

Would be a crazy successful draft.

No way am I giving up 8, Cam J and taking on PG for #3. That PG contract is a cap killer for years to come. I would consider CamJ+Claxton for PG+#3, but that's it.

[G R E Y]

Psst...

Read on Twitter

[Netaman]

Psst...

Read on Twitter

that guy legit or at all credible?

[Netaman]

i know maybe wishful thinking, but i really think SAS with KD, CamJ, Wemby, is like, the perfect extend the floor front court. Throw in Fox/Castle being able to get to the rim and it's like how would anyone defend that? And KD/CJ/Wemby would be the longest defensive front court too.

Read on Twitter

if Harper is pushing to stay local, or just be in a situation where he isn't coming off the bench or competing with reigning ROY/Fox, and SAS can turn him into more picks, KD, and CamJ, that's a lot to think about.