Who wants KCP?

[drsd]

ORL sends: KCP, Cole Anthony
NOLA sends: CJ McCollum

The thing is, even if this is a "bad" trade, it is still a good trade financially. And it allows the Magic to package Howard and the two FRPs in trades for shooting depth up and down the roster.

This proposed trade might be brilliant.

The finances are a huge part of any trades we might make now...last summer, we could have just done whatever we felt, to a degree. Now, offloading certain guys -even guys that are talented and useful- has to be a factor. This one is basically no-risk, imo.

KCP is a good player, NOT a negative value...but I'd say he IS a negative value to ORL that would be nice to undo...even nicer if it brings back something that could help. Not too many players in the NBA are better fits than CJ, despite his age and perceived defensive limitations.

If we take your trade. Add Ayo Dosunmu (7.5M) for Howard and the Denver FRP. Release Harris and sign Kennard on 3 for 21 (7M a year). Re-up Joseph. Restructure M-Wagner to 3 years 24M (7,8,9). Draft Nique Clifford (slots at 4.4M).

Orlando's 2024/25 salary would be: 194,995,278. Way over the lux-tax line but just below the first apron.


McCollum/Black/Joseph
Suggs/Dosunmu/Clifford
F-Wagner/Kennard/da Silva
Banchero/Isaac
Carter/M-Wagner/Bitadze

It is a more balanced team than 2024/25. And the payroll slots to be capable of absorbing Banchero's max in 206/27 with room to sign new vets.
Something like this must be the off-season path in some form.

What is clear is the Orlando will struggle to stay below the 1st apron.

[MMFla]

I'd try and trade him to Dallas if they want defense, try and get Christie somehow and Klay and look to flip Klay to a 3rd team

[VFX]

I’d do:

Wendell Carter
KCP
2025 Denver pick

For

Gabe Vincent
Austin Reaves
Maxi Kleber expiring

I feel like that balances them out and gives them a rookie scale guy at the same time. Give Knecht some more minutes.

If Orlando can’t land Simons or Sexton for relatively cheap, then I think this improves the roster. Use the remaining picks to round out the roster. Draft a Center and a Wing. Try to move Cole and Isaac for something.

[Skybox]

I’d do:

Wendell Carter
KCP
2025 Denver pick

For

Gabe Vincent
Austin Reaves
Maxi Kleber expiring

I feel like that balances them out and gives them a rookie scale guy at the same time. Give Knecht some more minutes.

If Orlando can’t land Simons or Sexton for relatively cheap, then I think this improves the roster. Use the remaining picks to round out the roster. Draft a Center and a Wing. Try to move Cole and Isaac for something.

Love it and I think it's good for LAL too...unless they pull their usual magic and get Gafford for nothing. I think Reaves is better than those other usual guys we talk about...he's got that Ingles crafty mind that I'm really coming around to as being more important than 2 or 3 more % points shooting-wise. Reaves might be the best fit at "Kind of PG", playing with Paolo & Franz. I don't think he's a consolation prize at all.

Center next! (along with a general thinning of the herd)

[drsd]

I’d do:

Wendell Carter
KCP
2025 Denver pick

For

Gabe Vincent
Austin Reaves
Maxi Kleber expiring

I feel like that balances them out and gives them a rookie scale guy at the same time. Give Knecht some more minutes.

If Orlando can’t land Simons or Sexton for relatively cheap, then I think this improves the roster. Use the remaining picks to round out the roster. Draft a Center and a Wing. Try to move Cole and Isaac for something.

Love it and I think it's good for LAL too...unless they pull their usual magic and get Gafford for nothing. I think Reaves is better than those other usual guys we talk about...he's got that Ingles crafty mind that I'm really coming around to as being more important than 2 or 3 more % points shooting-wise. Reaves might be the best fit at "Kind of PG", playing with Paolo & Franz. I don't think he's a consolation prize at all.

Center next! (along with a general thinning of the herd)

This makes:

Suggs/Black/Vincent
Reaves/Anthony/Howard
F-Wagner/da Silva
Banchero/Isaac/Kleber
Bitadze/M-Wagner

Add the Rookie, and that's 14 men - i.e. a roster. Personally I like the idea of adding Reaves next to Suggs. The 2025/26 Magic would be an interesting team.

[basketballRob]

KCP would need to be included for Simons because they don't have enough roster spots to take 3 or 4 players. They still need to move Ayton.

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[sk8wrulz]

If we can unload KCP / WCJ and somehow get Simons or Reaves, that’ll be an grade A offseason for me.

[CarraT]

I’d do:

Wendell Carter
KCP
2025 Denver pick

For

Gabe Vincent
Austin Reaves
Maxi Kleber expiring

I feel like that balances them out and gives them a rookie scale guy at the same time. Give Knecht some more minutes.

If Orlando can’t land Simons or Sexton for relatively cheap, then I think this improves the roster. Use the remaining picks to round out the roster. Draft a Center and a Wing. Try to move Cole and Isaac for something.

Love it and I think it's good for LAL too...unless they pull their usual magic and get Gafford for nothing. I think Reaves is better than those other usual guys we talk about...he's got that Ingles crafty mind that I'm really coming around to as being more important than 2 or 3 more % points shooting-wise. Reaves might be the best fit at "Kind of PG", playing with Paolo & Franz. I don't think he's a consolation prize at all.

Center next! (along with a general thinning of the herd)

This makes:

Suggs/Black/Vincent
Reaves/Anthony/Howard
F-Wagner/da Silva
Banchero/Isaac/Kleber
Bitadze/M-Wagner

Add the Rookie, and that's 14 men - i.e. a roster. Personally I like the idea of adding Reaves next to Suggs. The 2025/26 Magic would be an interesting team.

Looks good, but also: Trade Cole, Jett, CoJo + 1st for Simons. Sign a vet Center (Lopez, Capela, Adams).


Suggs/Simons/Vincent
Reaves/Black/Harris
Wagner/TdS/Houstan
Banchero/Isaac/Kleber
Bitadze/Lopez/Wagner

[eyriq]

If we can unload KCP / WCJ and somehow get Simons or Reaves, that’ll be an grade A offseason for me.

I really like a trade framework that includes KCP and WCJ. It frees up a lot of long-term money and two starting jobs.

KCP, WCJ, Cole, and JI are the pieces to move.

[GelbeWand09]

I’d do:

Wendell Carter
KCP
2025 Denver pick

For

Gabe Vincent
Austin Reaves
Maxi Kleber expiring

I feel like that balances them out and gives them a rookie scale guy at the same time. Give Knecht some more minutes.

If Orlando can’t land Simons or Sexton for relatively cheap, then I think this improves the roster. Use the remaining picks to round out the roster. Draft a Center and a Wing. Try to move Cole and Isaac for something.

I'm definitely a bigger fan of Reaves than Simons & Sexton. I doubt our offense structure gets better with those two, we just have better offensive talent.

[CocoaFan]

I think the Lakers would love to have him...but not enough to give up Reaves. I'd still consider just getting off of his deal a win, but I DO expect he'll look great on another good team. Nobody is more "win-now" than LAL...but they really need a big man, so they may be reluctant to part with one unless another significant deal is in place, but (in a vacuum):

ORL sends: KCP
LAL sends: Hachimura (expiring), Knecht
*Hachimura is a nice, super-versatile rotation guy that does everything "well enough" and is still only 27 and has become a really good 3pt shooter. I'd much prefer having him backing up at the 4 than counting on Isaac. Hachimura compares with Portis, in terms of skillset and versatility. Knecht started hot and faded as a rookie - but that's what rookies do. I think Knecht has a long career in the NBA, with more than just 3pt shooting. We probably need to add something, maybe just srps or #25, but if LAL finds a big elsewhere, this could make sense for them.

I'd do that in a heartbeat, but it seems like a lot for KCP. Might need to add a pick

[SloNick Russia]

I think we could look at trading Reeves + salary fillers for Goga and KCP + Denver's pick.

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[Skybox]

I think we could look at trading Reeves + salary fillers for Goga and KCP + Denver's pick.

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Maybe, depending on how useless the filler is...I'm thinking it'll take a better pick than that...but I DO believe it's in the realm of possibility. Pelinka might be a strong enough guy to truly visualize how Goga could fit with Luka and LBJ and how miraculously good he might look in that environment.

Outside of that, I think the general consensus among fandom is that Reaves is MUCH MUCH more valuable...which might not truly be so. Sometimes, numbers don't tell the story, especially when fit comes into the equation...the fit could be amazing for both sides. KCP too.

They've got some useless filler in Kleber, etc...I wouldn't mind RUI, he's a really solid backup, at least.

[pepe1991]

Problem with all Reaves trade talks is that you will have to pay him real money after this year.

So you send KCP for Raeves and fillers, next year your salary cap is something like:

Banchero $47M
Franz $42M
Suggs $30M
Reaves $30M

you are capped out on 4 starters and still have useless Carter and Isaac hanging on long term deals.

[zaymon]

Problem with all Reaves trade talks is that you will have to pay him real money after this year.

So you send KCP for Raeves and fillers, next year your salary cap is something like:

Banchero $47M
Franz $42M
Suggs $30M
Reaves $30M

you are capped out on 4 starters and still have useless Carter and Isaac hanging on long term deals.

I agree Reaves is propably too expensive for us and is not good enough playmaker of defender for our needs.

[pepe1991]

Problem with all Reaves trade talks is that you will have to pay him real money after this year.

So you send KCP for Raeves and fillers, next year your salary cap is something like:

Banchero $47M
Franz $42M
Suggs $30M
Reaves $30M

you are capped out on 4 starters and still have useless Carter and Isaac hanging on long term deals.

I agree Reaves is propably too expensive for us and is not good enough playmaker of defender for our needs.

I think he is great fit, underrated playmaker and very good player. But guy averages 20-6. He will get his $35M from somebody eventually.

I don't give a f??? about guard defense, our offense is unwatchable parody of basketball, if we can't find OFFENSIVE play maker who will give them another scoring punch and much needed offensive order, we are going nowhere any time soon.

Jokić, Murray, Porter are former nba champions, neither can guard his position well. Knicks are up 1-0 vs Celtics with Towns and Brunson.
Pacers look solid with team filled with questionable defenders, both Warriors starting guards are below average defenders.

I would take Reaves in a heartbeat if i can get rid of Isaac at some point next year to make salary pocked to keep him.

[cedric76]

I can't see KCP being traded this summer

[Skybox]

Problem with all Reaves trade talks is that you will have to pay him real money after this year.

So you send KCP for Raeves and fillers, next year your salary cap is something like:

Banchero $47M
Franz $42M
Suggs $30M
Reaves $30M

you are capped out on 4 starters and still have useless Carter and Isaac hanging on long term deals.

I agree Reaves is propably too expensive for us and is not good enough playmaker of defender for our needs.

I think he is great fit, underrated playmaker and very good player. But guy averages 20-6. He will get his $35M from somebody eventually.

I don't give a f??? about guard defense, our offense is unwatchable parody of basketball, if we can't find OFFENSIVE play maker who will give them another scoring punch and much needed offensive order, we are going nowhere any time soon.

Jokić, Murray, Porter are former nba champions, neither can guard his position well. Knicks are up 1-0 vs Celtics with Towns and Brunson.
Pacers look solid with team filled with questionable defenders, both Warriors starting guards are below average defenders.

I would take Reaves in a heartbeat if i can get rid of Isaac at some point next year to make salary pocked to keep him.

I think Reaves would be a significant enough add that you get him and look at the rest of the roster to find places to skimp over the next couple of years. When Weltman turns the corner into serious contention, he has to know that you need stars up front, bargains on the bench...On ORL, with the defensive support, Reaves could become an All-Star offensive weapon...not in a 30ppg Paolo way, but more like a mini-Jokic....shooting, scoring, playmaking, drawing fouls - whatever needs to be done that night to win...I really trust his BBIQ.

[basketballRob]

The Lakers aren't trading Reaves. Boston isn't trading Pritchard. It's not worth speculating.

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[VFX]

Problem with all Reaves trade talks is that you will have to pay him real money after this year.

So you send KCP for Raeves and fillers, next year your salary cap is something like:

Banchero $47M
Franz $42M
Suggs $30M
Reaves $30M

you are capped out on 4 starters and still have useless Carter and Isaac hanging on long term deals.

I agree Reaves is propably too expensive for us and is not good enough playmaker of defender for our needs.

I think he is great fit, underrated playmaker and very good player. But guy averages 20-6. He will get his $35M from somebody eventually.

I don't give a f??? about guard defense, our offense is unwatchable parody of basketball, if we can't find OFFENSIVE play maker who will give them another scoring punch and much needed offensive order, we are going nowhere any time soon.

Jokić, Murray, Porter are former nba champions, neither can guard his position well. Knicks are up 1-0 vs Celtics with Towns and Brunson.
Pacers look solid with team filled with questionable defenders, both Warriors starting guards are below average defenders.

I would take Reaves in a heartbeat if i can get rid of Isaac at some point next year to make salary pocked to keep him.

Agree.

This is why Weltman has an uphill battle.

He has to shed a TON of undesirable contracts this season to acquire any of these guards looking at upcoming pricier extensions (Coby White and Reaves).

It’s just more than “move players XYZ for good player and hope the value makes sense”. I just think he will end up having to attach picks + possibly AB to move off all this stupid money he can’t access otherwise for 2+ seasons.

Like, you have to get rid of 4-5 overpriced scrubs this offseason if you want to be in conversations with these players the same offseason you sign Paolo to a max contract. They have to do this while getting bench players back that make sense.

You basically have to move KCP, Carter, Isaac, Cole, possibly Goga, decline and restructure Moe, and decline Gary if we are talking about adding more salary.