2023-24 NY Knicks trade ideas

[knicksNOTslick]

Who are y'all waiting for because the way I see it for this trade deadline, there isn't a whole lot. Due to the play-in, there's now more buyers than sellers. The top players are now on playoff teams and GMs will not let go so easily. This forum was waiting on Embiid and Giannis for next offseason... that's not happening folks.

Based on The Ringer's top 30, who is really available? https://nbarankings.theringer.com/rankings

1. Jokic - not available
2. Curry - not available
3. Embiid - might be available next season (highly doubt it)
4. Giannis - not available (signed extension)
5. Luka - not available
6. Tatum - not available
7. Booker - not available
8. SGA - not available
9. Durant - not available
10. Lebron - not available until Bronny finds an NBA home
11. Butler - not available
12. Haliburton - not available
13. AD - not available
14. Edwards - not available
15. Fox - not available
16. Lillard - not available
17. Leonard - not available
18. Bam - not available
19. Murray - not available
20. George - not available
21. Sabonis - not available
22. Zion - not available
23. Donovan - rumors heating up
24. Brunson - A MFing Knick
25. Jaylen Brown - not available
26. KAT - not available, they are winning
27. Maxey - not available
28. LaMelo - not available
29. Ingram - not available
30. Garland - not available

Some of the above and Mobley, Bridges, Siakam, OG, Sengun could be had at the right price or at some point I think. Possibly add Embiid and Doncic to that list in the summer.

For next offseason
Bam - really? As long as Butler is there, he is pretty much untradeable
KAT - I've always thought he could be had by next offseason due to the new CBA limiting teams to do much. Now that they are on top of the West, they don't need much other than to get role players around their big 3.
Garland - they are looking to build around him. I don't see why they would trade him.
Embiid/Doncic - Morey and Cuban would never trade them. Sixers is still a top 3 team after trading Harden. Dallas is doing better than expected.

Ingram - might be interesting if New Orleans gets bounced in the 1st round.

This deadline
Siakam and OG - why would Toronto even entertain a trade with us. Masai is named on the accusations from the Knicks
Sengun - they are winning for the first time since Harden left. He is a big part of their future.
Bridges - he would be nice but I don't see how the Nets will let him go when Marks said they are building around him.

I could see the Nets getting desperate for a superstar and give up Bridges and picks for Donovan Mitchell. Basically to outbid us.

That could be our way to get in on trading for Mikal Bridges. We'll need to give up a lot though, I would start with Grimes, multiple firsts.

[sol537]

Wow, so funny -- i was just talking about Bogdan Bogdanovic with a buddy of mine.

He was saying he wanted another bigger wing, preferably a star, and I threw out some names:

Brandon Ingram -- when you say "bigger wing" and "star," Ingram's one of the first guys to come to mind. I can't even imagine the cost though. And the Pels are currently 16-12 and very much a part of the playoff picture, albeit I know it's still early.

Lauri Markkanen -- not really a wing, this guy's a talented mobile big with big-time offensive ability and he's playing better defense now too. I'd be willing to give up a lot for him but now that's he's blown up in Utah the last season +. just like Ingram, I can't even imagine the cost esp. with Danny Ainge at the controls. If we could ever get this dude, I'd want him to play 5 most likely, where Lauri would start at 5 and we'd still have Hartenstein to back him up (so Mitch would go to Utah as part of whatever package). i get it, very doubtful here.

Trey Murphy -- not sure he's a star yet but he's big and he can play. IQ for this guy straight up works I believe. How much more would we need to sweeten the pot. Again, who even knows if the Pels would want to deal him.

Patrick Williams -- love the youth, great upside, defense and he's got some nice budding offensive skills. I think Chicago has soured on this kid a little. Perfect opportunity to strike?

OG Anunoby -- the Raptors would want a ton plus doubtful we would ever even want to talk trade with a team that we're suing, right?

Nets -- Mikal Bridges they'd want a ton for but how about Cam Johnson? Would he move the needle enough though?

Charlotte -- Call me nuts but I'd call them to check on Miles Bridges' availability.

Wizards -- Kuzma?

Detroit - Bojan Bogdanovic? He's older but if the cost isn't too ridiculous, would he help us? Yeah, i think he could.

Circling back to the Bulls -- DeMar DeRozan?

-----------------------------------------------------------

But back to Atlanta -- DeAndre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic are two names I put out there. Atlanta is currently 11-15 in the East, so not great. If they continue to slip, would the Hawks make this dude available?

What would it take to get Bogdan? I really like this dude. Would you guys do this:
Grimes, Fournier, 1st rounder, 2 second rounders?
--OR--
Grimes, Fournier, 2 1st rounders?

- He's got some miles on him at 31 years of age, but it's not like he's 35+.
- To me, I love the toughness, grittiness, he's a high IQ player, etc..
- I don't know why I thought he was taller, but he's listed at 6'5" 225. So only SG size basically but I think he can also play some 3, kind of like Josh Hart (Boggy actually looks a little bigger/longer than Hart to me).
- This year's stats: 17.5 ppg, 46.5% FG, 41% from 3 on high volume (8.3 3s a game). 39% career 3 pt shooter.. Not All-NBA numbers but for a guy that comes off the bench, those are great numbers. I know it's early, but if he keeps this up, he'll definitely be in the conversation for 6th man of the year honors. He might be the front runner right now with those numbers.
- I like the contract: $18.7mm this year, then $17.2mm, $16mm, then a team option for 2026/27.
- I like Grimes but to me, this dude's the superior player so to me, this trade makes us better.

-----------------------------------------------------------

I was telling my buddy -- when do we, maybe not abandon the idea totally, but move on from the 'we need trade for a star' idea? When do we say, ok, maybe we don't look to add Donovan Mitchell, but what if we found a way to fortify by trading for Bogdan Bogdanovic and then execute a trade using Quickley and a draft asset or two for Patrick Williams?

I guess my question is can we get to a level of that 2010/11 Dirk Nowitski Dallas team that won a chip, or the RIP Hamilton/Chauncey Billips/Larry Brown Piston team that won it all? Just really questioning if depleting all assets for a guy like Donovan Mitchell is the way to go..

Watch on YouTube

IQ + Fournier for Bogdan + filler
RJ + Sims + protected 1st for Williams + Caruso + Drummond

[nyk2017]

Dream trade scenarios:

1) RJ, Grimes, salary fillers, 1 of those protected FRPs and 1 unprotected FRPs for Bridges and Finney/O'Neal (we get a good 3-D SF and backup PF who can shoot and play some defense)

2) Randle + 1 protected FRP for Zion (fair trade give the rise in Randle's trade value and decline in Zion's trade value).

3) Fournier, Quick, Salary fillers, 2 unprotected FRP and 1 protected FRP for Spida.

Starters:
Mitch
Zion
Bridges
Spida
Brunson

Bench:
Hart
Hart
O'Neal/Finney
DiVincenzo

IMHO... Not a bad team. Good shooters. Enough defenders. Better balance.

Probably will never happen.

[HarthorneWingo]

Some of the above and Mobley, Bridges, Siakam, OG, Sengun could be had at the right price or at some point I think. Possibly add Embiid and Doncic to that list in the summer.

For next offseason
Bam - really? As long as Butler is there, he is pretty much untradeable
KAT - I've always thought he could be had by next offseason due to the new CBA limiting teams to do much. Now that they are on top of the West, they don't need much other than to get role players around their big 3.
Garland - they are looking to build around him. I don't see why they would trade him.
Embiid/Doncic - Morey and Cuban would never trade them. Sixers is still a top 3 team after trading Harden. Dallas is doing better than expected.

Ingram - might be interesting if New Orleans gets bounced in the 1st round.

This deadline
Siakam and OG - why would Toronto even entertain a trade with us. Masai is named on the accusations from the Knicks
Sengun - they are winning for the first time since Harden left. He is a big part of their future.
Bridges - he would be nice but I don't see how the Nets will let him go when Marks said they are building around him.

I could see the Nets getting desperate for a superstar and give up Bridges and picks for Donovan Mitchell. Basically to outbid us.

That could be our way to get in on trading for Mikal Bridges. We'll need to give up a lot though, I would start with Grimes, multiple firsts.

RJ, not Grimes. Bridges is a 3. Though Grimes could be involved too. Actually, I think the Nets would want IQ to be their PG.

[rajajackal]

Watch on YouTube

[KnixinSix]

Its kinda ironic since we would be dealing with Ainge again but Lauri Markenen is a PERFECT fit for this team.

1. More efficient shooter than RJ Barrett
2. Can play 3 positions and 2 that are a fairly big need. Stretch 5 and backup to Randle at PF. Can replace some of RJs Minutes at SF.
3. Allow Hart to play more 3 where he is a better fit than 4 or 5.
4. Plays defense, rebounds and can hit the 3.

RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, McBride and 3-4 picks. They want the picks and a potentially a guy or 2 they can flip for more picks.

Hartenstein (30), Markenen (10), Sims (8)
Randle (34), Markenen (14)
Hart(30), Markenen (10), Grimes (8)
Quickley (25), DDV (15), Grimes (8)
Brunson (34), DDV (10), Quickley (4)

[ozwizard8]

Marknanen would be a great fit to this team but I am not sure what would be the role of Randle in that case because it'd be evident that benching Randle would help the team in playoffs. As a man-child, can Randle take this? Or will he punch a fire extinguisher in the locker room?

[Richard4444]

Wow, so funny -- i was just talking about Bogdan Bogdanovic with a buddy of mine.

He was saying he wanted another bigger wing, preferably a star, and I threw out some names:

Brandon Ingram -- when you say "bigger wing" and "star," Ingram's one of the first guys to come to mind. I can't even imagine the cost though. And the Pels are currently 16-12 and very much a part of the playoff picture, albeit I know it's still early.

Lauri Markkanen -- not really a wing, this guy's a talented mobile big with big-time offensive ability and he's playing better defense now too. I'd be willing to give up a lot for him but now that's he's blown up in Utah the last season +. just like Ingram, I can't even imagine the cost esp. with Danny Ainge at the controls. If we could ever get this dude, I'd want him to play 5 most likely, where Lauri would start at 5 and we'd still have Hartenstein to back him up (so Mitch would go to Utah as part of whatever package). i get it, very doubtful here.

Trey Murphy -- not sure he's a star yet but he's big and he can play. IQ for this guy straight up works I believe. How much more would we need to sweeten the pot. Again, who even knows if the Pels would want to deal him.

Patrick Williams -- love the youth, great upside, defense and he's got some nice budding offensive skills. I think Chicago has soured on this kid a little. Perfect opportunity to strike?

OG Anunoby -- the Raptors would want a ton plus doubtful we would ever even want to talk trade with a team that we're suing, right?

Nets -- Mikal Bridges they'd want a ton for but how about Cam Johnson? Would he move the needle enough though?

Charlotte -- Call me nuts but I'd call them to check on Miles Bridges' availability.

Wizards -- Kuzma?

Detroit - Bojan Bogdanovic? He's older but if the cost isn't too ridiculous, would he help us? Yeah, i think he could.

Circling back to the Bulls -- DeMar DeRozan?

-----------------------------------------------------------

But back to Atlanta -- DeAndre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic are two names I put out there. Atlanta is currently 11-15 in the East, so not great. If they continue to slip, would the Hawks make this dude available?

What would it take to get Bogdan? I really like this dude. Would you guys do this:
Grimes, Fournier, 1st rounder, 2 second rounders?
--OR--
Grimes, Fournier, 2 1st rounders?

- He's got some miles on him at 31 years of age, but it's not like he's 35+.
- To me, I love the toughness, grittiness, he's a high IQ player, etc..
- I don't know why I thought he was taller, but he's listed at 6'5" 225. So only SG size basically but I think he can also play some 3, kind of like Josh Hart (Boggy actually looks a little bigger/longer than Hart to me).
- This year's stats: 17.5 ppg, 46.5% FG, 41% from 3 on high volume (8.3 3s a game). 39% career 3 pt shooter.. Not All-NBA numbers but for a guy that comes off the bench, those are great numbers. I know it's early, but if he keeps this up, he'll definitely be in the conversation for 6th man of the year honors. He might be the front runner right now with those numbers.
- I like the contract: $18.7mm this year, then $17.2mm, $16mm, then a team option for 2026/27.
- I like Grimes but to me, this dude's the superior player so to me, this trade makes us better.

-----------------------------------------------------------

I was telling my buddy -- when do we, maybe not abandon the idea totally, but move on from the 'we need trade for a star' idea? When do we say, ok, maybe we don't look to add Donovan Mitchell, but what if we found a way to fortify by trading for Bogdan Bogdanovic and then execute a trade using Quickley and a draft asset or two for Patrick Williams?

I guess my question is can we get to a level of that 2010/11 Dirk Nowitski Dallas team that won a chip, or the RIP Hamilton/Chauncey Billips/Larry Brown Piston team that won it all? Just really questioning if depleting all assets for a guy like Donovan Mitchell is the way to go..

Watch on YouTube

IQ + Fournier for Bogdan + filler
RJ + Sims + protected 1st for Williams + Caruso + Drummond

I prefer IQ than Bogdan because he is younger.

[Knicksfan1992]

Marknanen would be a great fit to this team but I am not sure what would be the role of Randle in that case because it'd be evident that benching Randle would help the team in playoffs. As a man-child, can Randle take this? Or will he punch a fire extinguisher in the locker room?

Randle has been at worst at the same level as Markkanen if you get passed the bias. Lauri is a more efficient scorer, but Randle is a much better playmaker, rebounder and they are probably the same level of defender.

[Richard4444]

Wow, so funny -- i was just talking about Bogdan Bogdanovic with a buddy of mine.

He was saying he wanted another bigger wing, preferably a star, and I threw out some names:

Brandon Ingram -- when you say "bigger wing" and "star," Ingram's one of the first guys to come to mind. I can't even imagine the cost though. And the Pels are currently 16-12 and very much a part of the playoff picture, albeit I know it's still early.

Lauri Markkanen -- not really a wing, this guy's a talented mobile big with big-time offensive ability and he's playing better defense now too. I'd be willing to give up a lot for him but now that's he's blown up in Utah the last season +. just like Ingram, I can't even imagine the cost esp. with Danny Ainge at the controls. If we could ever get this dude, I'd want him to play 5 most likely, where Lauri would start at 5 and we'd still have Hartenstein to back him up (so Mitch would go to Utah as part of whatever package). i get it, very doubtful here.

Trey Murphy -- not sure he's a star yet but he's big and he can play. IQ for this guy straight up works I believe. How much more would we need to sweeten the pot. Again, who even knows if the Pels would want to deal him.

Patrick Williams -- love the youth, great upside, defense and he's got some nice budding offensive skills. I think Chicago has soured on this kid a little. Perfect opportunity to strike?

OG Anunoby -- the Raptors would want a ton plus doubtful we would ever even want to talk trade with a team that we're suing, right?

Nets -- Mikal Bridges they'd want a ton for but how about Cam Johnson? Would he move the needle enough though?

Charlotte -- Call me nuts but I'd call them to check on Miles Bridges' availability.

Wizards -- Kuzma?

Detroit - Bojan Bogdanovic? He's older but if the cost isn't too ridiculous, would he help us? Yeah, i think he could.

Circling back to the Bulls -- DeMar DeRozan?

-----------------------------------------------------------

But back to Atlanta -- DeAndre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic are two names I put out there. Atlanta is currently 11-15 in the East, so not great. If they continue to slip, would the Hawks make this dude available?

What would it take to get Bogdan? I really like this dude. Would you guys do this:
Grimes, Fournier, 1st rounder, 2 second rounders?
--OR--
Grimes, Fournier, 2 1st rounders?

- He's got some miles on him at 31 years of age, but it's not like he's 35+.
- To me, I love the toughness, grittiness, he's a high IQ player, etc..
- I don't know why I thought he was taller, but he's listed at 6'5" 225. So only SG size basically but I think he can also play some 3, kind of like Josh Hart (Boggy actually looks a little bigger/longer than Hart to me).
- This year's stats: 17.5 ppg, 46.5% FG, 41% from 3 on high volume (8.3 3s a game). 39% career 3 pt shooter.. Not All-NBA numbers but for a guy that comes off the bench, those are great numbers. I know it's early, but if he keeps this up, he'll definitely be in the conversation for 6th man of the year honors. He might be the front runner right now with those numbers.
- I like the contract: $18.7mm this year, then $17.2mm, $16mm, then a team option for 2026/27.
- I like Grimes but to me, this dude's the superior player so to me, this trade makes us better.

-----------------------------------------------------------

I was telling my buddy -- when do we, maybe not abandon the idea totally, but move on from the 'we need trade for a star' idea? When do we say, ok, maybe we don't look to add Donovan Mitchell, but what if we found a way to fortify by trading for Bogdan Bogdanovic and then execute a trade using Quickley and a draft asset or two for Patrick Williams?

I guess my question is can we get to a level of that 2010/11 Dirk Nowitski Dallas team that won a chip, or the RIP Hamilton/Chauncey Billips/Larry Brown Piston team that won it all? Just really questioning if depleting all assets for a guy like Donovan Mitchell is the way to go..

Watch on YouTube

Ingram is a good name. Pelicans should look to deal him if he refuses to re-sign. The problem is that I do not trust him on D and we have too many players who are liabilities on D. Besides he is a little injured prone. Even so, I would try to land him but I would not go all-in to get him.

Lauri is another great name. But he is also not great at D. He can not play Center.

Murphy is a good name to watch. He is already a great 3 and D big wing. Maybe the Pelicans are forced to cut some salary to keep Zion/Ingram/CJ/JV core.

Patrick Williams is a bad name. Chicago still expects much from him (a former 4th pick and they are in an imminent rebuilding) and he will be traded only if we overpay. He is still a project (low-volume shooter) and we need more established players to contend.
-
Miles Bridges - Bad name - I think he loses his Bird Rights if he is traded on the QO and will be virtually impossible to be re-sign him next season.

Bojan could help but I see a great chance to be a bigger Fournier. Being slow and old, he can have a hard time getting the Thibs defensive schemes and getting out of the rotation in no time. Maybe if he comes cheap.

[KnixinSix]

Marknanen would be a great fit to this team but I am not sure what would be the role of Randle in that case because it'd be evident that benching Randle would help the team in playoffs. As a man-child, can Randle take this? Or will he punch a fire extinguisher in the locker room?

If you see the minutes I detailed above, Markenen would get plenty of minutes spread in the frontcourt between 3 for 4 and 5 which would not really impact Julius too much.

But come playoff time, if he is struggling Markenen could easily take more minutes at the 4 in crunch time if need be.

[KnixinSix]

Wow, so funny -- i was just talking about Bogdan Bogdanovic with a buddy of mine.

He was saying he wanted another bigger wing, preferably a star, and I threw out some names:

Brandon Ingram -- when you say "bigger wing" and "star," Ingram's one of the first guys to come to mind. I can't even imagine the cost though. And the Pels are currently 16-12 and very much a part of the playoff picture, albeit I know it's still early.

Lauri Markkanen -- not really a wing, this guy's a talented mobile big with big-time offensive ability and he's playing better defense now too. I'd be willing to give up a lot for him but now that's he's blown up in Utah the last season +. just like Ingram, I can't even imagine the cost esp. with Danny Ainge at the controls. If we could ever get this dude, I'd want him to play 5 most likely, where Lauri would start at 5 and we'd still have Hartenstein to back him up (so Mitch would go to Utah as part of whatever package). i get it, very doubtful here.

Trey Murphy -- not sure he's a star yet but he's big and he can play. IQ for this guy straight up works I believe. How much more would we need to sweeten the pot. Again, who even knows if the Pels would want to deal him.

Patrick Williams -- love the youth, great upside, defense and he's got some nice budding offensive skills. I think Chicago has soured on this kid a little. Perfect opportunity to strike?

OG Anunoby -- the Raptors would want a ton plus doubtful we would ever even want to talk trade with a team that we're suing, right?

Nets -- Mikal Bridges they'd want a ton for but how about Cam Johnson? Would he move the needle enough though?

Charlotte -- Call me nuts but I'd call them to check on Miles Bridges' availability.

Wizards -- Kuzma?

Detroit - Bojan Bogdanovic? He's older but if the cost isn't too ridiculous, would he help us? Yeah, i think he could.

Circling back to the Bulls -- DeMar DeRozan?

-----------------------------------------------------------

But back to Atlanta -- DeAndre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic are two names I put out there. Atlanta is currently 11-15 in the East, so not great. If they continue to slip, would the Hawks make this dude available?

What would it take to get Bogdan? I really like this dude. Would you guys do this:
Grimes, Fournier, 1st rounder, 2 second rounders?
--OR--
Grimes, Fournier, 2 1st rounders?

- He's got some miles on him at 31 years of age, but it's not like he's 35+.
- To me, I love the toughness, grittiness, he's a high IQ player, etc..
- I don't know why I thought he was taller, but he's listed at 6'5" 225. So only SG size basically but I think he can also play some 3, kind of like Josh Hart (Boggy actually looks a little bigger/longer than Hart to me).
- This year's stats: 17.5 ppg, 46.5% FG, 41% from 3 on high volume (8.3 3s a game). 39% career 3 pt shooter.. Not All-NBA numbers but for a guy that comes off the bench, those are great numbers. I know it's early, but if he keeps this up, he'll definitely be in the conversation for 6th man of the year honors. He might be the front runner right now with those numbers.
- I like the contract: $18.7mm this year, then $17.2mm, $16mm, then a team option for 2026/27.
- I like Grimes but to me, this dude's the superior player so to me, this trade makes us better.

-----------------------------------------------------------

I was telling my buddy -- when do we, maybe not abandon the idea totally, but move on from the 'we need trade for a star' idea? When do we say, ok, maybe we don't look to add Donovan Mitchell, but what if we found a way to fortify by trading for Bogdan Bogdanovic and then execute a trade using Quickley and a draft asset or two for Patrick Williams?

I guess my question is can we get to a level of that 2010/11 Dirk Nowitski Dallas team that won a chip, or the RIP Hamilton/Chauncey Billips/Larry Brown Piston team that won it all? Just really questioning if depleting all assets for a guy like Donovan Mitchell is the way to go..

Watch on YouTube

Ingram is a good name. Pelicans should look to deal him if he refuses to re-sign. The problem is that I do not trust him on D and we have too many players who are liabilities on D. Besides he is a little injured prone. Even so, I would try to land him but I would not go all-in to get him.

Lauri is another great name. But he is also not great at D. He can not play Center.

Murphy is a good name to watch. He is already a great 3 and D big wing. Maybe the Pelicans are forced to cut some salary to keep Zion/Ingram/CJ/JV core.

Patrick Williams is a bad name. Chicago still expects much from him (a former 4th pick and they are in an imminent rebuilding) and he will be traded only if we overpay. He is still a project (low-volume shooter) and we need more established players to contend.
-
Miles Bridges - Bad name - I think he loses his Bird Rights if he is traded on the QO and will be virtually impossible to be re-sign him next season.

Bojan could help but I see a great chance to be a bigger Fournier. Being slow and old, he can have a hard time getting the Thibs defensive schemes and getting out of the rotation in no time. Maybe if he comes cheap.

From what I understand Markenens defensive metrics have improved and in some areas he's actually above average now. I would say his D is better than Randle who does not give the effort he did before on that end.

[nykballa2k4]

Watch on YouTube

I was just thinking about him. It would be like having an older crazier Randle off the bench. (Both guys were at points called the next Zach Randolph)

[Chanel Bomber]

Lauri's a highly efficient scorer but he doesn't really pass the ball and he's not a playmaker at all.

Randle might be a better fit with Brunson because he helps compensate for Brunson's lack of playmaking and his tendencies as a scorer.

This offense without a secondary playmaker might just collapse. I don't know if Brunson can carry that burden on his own like a Chris Paul.

[spree2kawhi]

Marknanen would be a great fit to this team but I am not sure what would be the role of Randle in that case because it'd be evident that benching Randle would help the team in playoffs. As a man-child, can Randle take this? Or will he punch a fire extinguisher in the locker room?

Randle has been at worst at the same level as Markkanen if you get passed the bias. Lauri is a more efficient scorer, but Randle is a much better playmaker, rebounder and they are probably the same level of defender.

Playmaker? I don’t agree. While Lauri isn’t a playmaker, Randle is a bad one. Lauri is a fairly good rebounder too, much better shooter and, most importantly, a system player. Randle just isn’t. You can build a team with Lauri or a collection of chuckers with Randle.

Would Utah want Randle? No. Would we go after Lauri now? No. Is anything going to happen? Of course not. Anyway, I’d always prefer the smarter player.

[Knicksfan1992]

Marknanen would be a great fit to this team but I am not sure what would be the role of Randle in that case because it'd be evident that benching Randle would help the team in playoffs. As a man-child, can Randle take this? Or will he punch a fire extinguisher in the locker room?

Randle has been at worst at the same level as Markkanen if you get passed the bias. Lauri is a more efficient scorer, but Randle is a much better playmaker, rebounder and they are probably the same level of defender.

Playmaker? I don’t agree. While Lauri isn’t a playmaker, Randle is a bad one. Lauri is a fairly good rebounder too, much better shooter and, most importantly, a system player. Randle just isn’t. You can build a team with Lauri or a collection of chuckers with Randle.

Would Utah want Randle? No. Would we go after Lauri now? No. Is anything going to happen? Of course not. Anyway, I’d always prefer the smarter player.

There's literally nothing that proves the bolded assertion besides pure bias. You can believe that if you want, but it's simply not true neither statistically nor anecdotally for that matter. Also what exactly makes Lauri a smarter player ? He's had 1 and a quarter good years of all-star production. Before that he was a rotation offense-first player that nobody gave a second though to here.

It's also amazing the pass players who simply haven't played in the playoffs get. Randle has been bad in the playoffs, but at least he's gotten there to have a sample of information to go off of. We have no idea what Markkanen can do in the playoffs...

[DaGawd]

it doesn’t have to be one or the other guys, lauri played the 3 with success in cleveland and he and randle and play spot minutes at the 5

[Knicksfan1992]

it doesn’t have to be one or the other guys, lauri played the 3 with success in cleveland and he and randle and play spot minutes at the 5

Don't think a Lauri/Randle/Mitch or IHart front court realistically works long term. That's 3 lumbering guys on defense with Brunson who isn't exactly a strong defender on the perimeter either. And if you're plan is to trade Mitch for Lauri, then you're basically sacirificing any chance of having a top 15 defense by starting a Randle/Lauri frontcourt.

Teams like Boston, Cleveland or Miami would absolutely roast us on the perimeter with that trio in the playoffs.

It might not technically be one or the other to begin with, but at some point you would have to choose between the 2 if you want a real shot at title contention IMO.

I'm not even saying I'm choosing Randle either...but this notion that Lauri is far and away the better or smarter player is ridiculous .

It's basically the inverse of the Mitchell trade debate with Mitchell and Brunson but just for offensively inclined power forwards lol.

[dakomish23]

From the GB.

According to the contract, which was reviewed by The Athletic, the final three years of the deal are no longer guaranteed after Williamson was able to only play in 29 games last season. By missing more than 22 games last season, Williamson triggered a clause that turned the salary he is owed for the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons from guaranteed to non-guaranteed.

That means the Pelicans have the contractual power to waive Williamson after the 2024-25 season with no financial ramifications — though rival team executives believe that would only happen in extreme circumstances. And if Williamson misses significant time this season, it could cut into his guaranteed salary for 2024-25.

Four executives from other NBA teams, who spoke on condition of anonymity so they could discuss Williamson’s arrangement, said it was unlikely that the Pelicans would waive him unless the situation grew significantly worse. The contract terms give the team flexibility and a safety net, however, and could make it easier to trade Williamson because potential partners would have escape hatches that could lower the risk of adding his salary to their ledger.

Source: Mike Vorkunov @ The Athletic

https://theathletic.com/4913537/2023/12/21/zion-williamson-contract-pelicans-nba/

[jvsimonetti0514]

Marknanen would be a great fit to this team but I am not sure what would be the role of Randle in that case because it'd be evident that benching Randle would help the team in playoffs. As a man-child, can Randle take this? Or will he punch a fire extinguisher in the locker room?

Randle has been at worst at the same level as Markkanen if you get passed the bias. Lauri is a more efficient scorer, but Randle is a much better playmaker, rebounder and they are probably the same level of defender.

Markannen plays the 3 a lot. I think we’d be able to get away with lauri, Randle, Hartenstein front court.