Almost off-season discussion! Trades/Free Agency Ep. 9

[King4Day]

It's hard to say. While everything is clicking in the playoffs, I'd want to see a bigger body of work. When teams have had a chance to prepare for him. Not to mention, everyone seems to over perform in the Stevens system.

I think the 2021 is untouchable in a scenario like that.
Heat 16 and Bucks future 1st would probably be part of it.

It really depends on what Boston is going to do. If they let Smart walk, there's no way they trade Rozier. If they keep him though, unless they are trading Kyrie, it'll be hard to see them spend 10 figures on a backup PG. The better he plays, the closer to max he's going to get. Ainge is too smart to allow that to happen.

I'm not saying another team won't blow their load to get Rozier, but I think a deal surrounding the picks I mentioned isn't unfair. I understand why his value is through the roof right now though.

3 weeks ago, I wouldn't have considered a trade for him let alone 2 future firsts.

Bender, 16 this year (probably depending on who’s on the board) and the MIL pick? I probably do that, personally.

You can wait on the price to come down on Rozier, but it might stay where it is, or go up if he plays well in the fall. We have minutes for him. Bender’s value could drop if he doesn’t show some improvement soon - I believe in his upside but he’s been underwhelming so far, and I have a hard time convincing other Celtics posters it’d be a good gamble.

This whole discussion is absurd. None of these three things will be included in any proposed deal for Marcus Smart. See my reasoning above.

You couldn't have traded Terry Rozier for a ham sandwich after his rookie season, during which, Terry was 21 - older than Dragan is now. Maybe a couple ham sandwiches after his sophomore season. You ain't getting Dragan Bender for no ham sandwich.

Not sure where Smart's name came from. I'm talking about Rozier. And I wouldn't include Bender. Just salary fillers if needed.
He's still on his rookie deal and we'd gain control of him.
I don't think we can find a PG who can shoot, defend, on a rookie deal, and has what may amount to Finals experience.
Also, I don't think we'll get anyone in the draft that will be at his level.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Yeah, Boston’s not trading Rozier for a first-rounder - Rozier, Smart and Irving can all play the 2, our shooting guard can play the 3, and our 3s can play the 4 - minutes aren’t an issue. We’ll see where the market goes - it’s possible we keep him - but Bender is the only player who really moves the needle, IMO.

[thamadkant]

If Suns go Ayton

Sign George and Exum

Maybe trade Warren for Aminu for more defense


And run with it

[thamadkant]

Can Ayton defend slower wing players?

If he can at least stay in front of them and challenge their perimeter shots I would be ok with that... Suns just would need Capela to play Center next to him

[TeamTragic]

If Suns go Ayton

Sign George and Exum

Maybe trade Warren for Aminu for more defense

And run with it

I would pass on George. Exum could be an option.

[jcsunsfan]

Yeah, Boston’s not trading Rozier for a first-rounder - Rozier, Smart and Irving can all play the 2, our shooting guard can play the 3, and our 3s can play the 4 - minutes aren’t an issue. We’ll see where the market goes - it’s possible we keep him - but Bender is the only player who really moves the needle, IMO.

ok.

[lilfishi22]

I like Rozier quite a lot but his value is super inflated right now because of their team's run and Steven's system. Now would be a terrible time to trade for him

[jcsunsfan]

I like Rozier quite a lot but his value is super inflated right now because of their team's run and Steven's system. Now would be a terrible time to trade for him

Agree. Will wait or shop elsewhere.

I really would like to see what Igor could do with Elfrid.

[LukasBMW]

I like the idea of snagging Exum and letting Exum/Payton/Knight fight it out for the job.

But out PG situation also depends on who falls to 16. Will Shai be there? Will Sexton fall? Do we have any shot at trading up for Trae?

If any of that happens, I don't see us signing Exum unless we ditch Payton.

Thing is, Payton is really the type of player who could improve under the right coach AND he should be cheap.

[TheLogician]

I like the idea of snagging Exum and letting Exum/Payton/Knight fight it out for the job.

But out PG situation also depends on who falls to 16. Will Shai be there? Will Sexton fall? Do we have any shot at trading up for Trae?

If any of that happens, I don't see us signing Exum unless we ditch Payton.

Thing is, Payton is really the type of player who could improve under the right coach AND he should be cheap.

What kind of money/years do you have in mind? I agree he is young enough to improve with the right coaching.

[LukasBMW]

I like the idea of snagging Exum and letting Exum/Payton/Knight fight it out for the job.

But out PG situation also depends on who falls to 16. Will Shai be there? Will Sexton fall? Do we have any shot at trading up for Trae?

If any of that happens, I don't see us signing Exum unless we ditch Payton.

Thing is, Payton is really the type of player who could improve under the right coach AND he should be cheap.

What kind of money/years do you have in mind? I agree he is young enough to improve with the right coaching.

Would any team beat 3 years and 18 million? I'm not so sure. Maybe we add a team option for year 4.

[LukasBMW]

I don't see any "cheap" way for us to trade up from #16

Every team in the top 13 is rebuilding or needs an influx of young talent. Only Philly is ready to "win now" and they might need that pick in a package for someone else.

Trading up from #16 WILL be too expensive.

Either someone falls to #16 that we like OR we may as well package it for someone and start winning NOW.

[SkinnyOMiller]

I don't see any "cheap" way for us to trade up from #16

Every team in the top 13 is rebuilding or needs an influx of young talent. Only Philly is ready to "win now" and they might need that pick in a package for someone else.

Trading up from #16 WILL be too expensive.

Either someone falls to #16 that we like OR we may as well package it for someone and start winning NOW.

How far are we talking in terms of moving up?

[LukasBMW]

I don't see any "cheap" way for us to trade up from #16

Every team in the top 13 is rebuilding or needs an influx of young talent. Only Philly is ready to "win now" and they might need that pick in a package for someone else.

Trading up from #16 WILL be too expensive.

Either someone falls to #16 that we like OR we may as well package it for someone and start winning NOW.

How far are we talking in terms of moving up?

I think even the end of the lottery will be too expensive. I don't think Chriss or Bender have much value and I don't want to trade TJ Warren just to move up to #11.

[lilfishi22]

I don't see any "cheap" way for us to trade up from #16

Every team in the top 13 is rebuilding or needs an influx of young talent. Only Philly is ready to "win now" and they might need that pick in a package for someone else.

Trading up from #16 WILL be too expensive.

Either someone falls to #16 that we like OR we may as well package it for someone and start winning NOW.

How far are we talking in terms of moving up?

I think even the end of the lottery will be too expensive. I don't think Chriss or Bender have much value and I don't want to trade TJ Warren just to move up to #11.

Depends who's available. If a guy like Carter, Mikal Bridges or Porter somehow drops, I'd definitely look at trying to move up to that #11 spot with Warren.

I wouldn't move up just to move up, not knowing who's going to be there.

[Frank Lee]

Safe bet McD will be working the phones on draft day. If moving up 5-6 spots only cost Chriss,16, and may be 31 I think we could see something happen. Will be interesting to see who all we work out

[jcsunsfan]

The much more likely thing is to trade those picks for an established player, especially if a team needs to move salary.

[Sunzgunz]

Safe bet McD will be working the phones on draft day. If moving up 5-6 spots only cost Chriss,16, and may be 31 I think we could see something happen. Will be interesting to see who all we work out

If we a have shot to pair Ayton with a falling Doncic or Trae...id mortgage a slew of draft picks!

My targets:

Draft:
1st - Ayton or Doncic
2nd - Doncic/Trae/Shai/Sexton or Robinson or bpa
3rd - bpa - shake, diopp, clark or whoever falls

*I would love to trade up with the 2nd and 3rd pick package (plus more) to grab that number 7 or 8 pick; high value to add with our #1.

Free agents:
1st Nurkic - ties with new coach
2nd Evans - help fill the gap, mentor for a year or 2
3rd Exum - ties with new coach
Dinwiddie - ties with new coach, if no Exum
Favors - ties with new coach, if no Nurkic
*Gordon - but not id we give up and/or overpay.
**Cousins at the right cost
***Capella, but not at the cost were tossing around.

Trade Targets:
McConnell - with Simmons and Fultz, this could be a simple but impactful trade for us. Id also kick the tires on Fultz, just a quick heat check.

KP - for the right price or the #9 pick

New York Sports Jocjeys seem to think that if New York didnt win the lottery, theyd consider packaging the #9 with Noah....they contemplated it last season, but very confident Frank would be the steal of the draft. They probably wouldn't do it straight up; media/fanbase would crucify them. But what if they managed to get an asset in return. #9, #37 and Noah for the #16 (and contracts that make it work). Seems like a more than a decent return for the knicks who have contemplated straight up. The question is, would we do it? Could we find a way to target KP without giving up the entire farm?

Hypithetical assests to move up in the draft:

#9, #31, #37, (2) 2019 picks, 2020 pick, (2) 2021 picks, chriss/bender/TJ

Lastly, super early, but Sacramento is rumored to be enamored with a big man since thats their biggest hole and thats who they were targeting with their number 7 spot. Now most of us dont buy it and feel its a smokescreen, Doncic just makes too much sense there. But if its true, along with the rumor that Doncic has vowed not to play for Atlants....this could get interesting.

We will save you the embarrassment Atlanta and give you the baddest big man in the draft while and use your pick to grab Doncic since hes willing to play for us, but giving up the baddest big man in the draft is gonna cost you. You have John Collins, the #19, #30 and #34, we need some variation of those assets.

Or do we call Memphis and offer anybody and everybody inder the Sun not named Ayton, JJ or Booker, including a plethora of draft picks and well even eat a bad contract or two to get Doncic at the 4 spot? Seems nearly impossible, but a lot can happen before then and we all seen stranger things.

So many possibilities, this upcoming season could be the last one that ends with 82 games for the next decade. Pretty excited!!!

[sunsfever68]

How far are we talking in terms of moving up?

I think even the end of the lottery will be too expensive. I don't think Chriss or Bender have much value and I don't want to trade TJ Warren just to move up to #11.

Depends who's available. If a guy like Carter, Mikal Bridges or Porter somehow drops, I'd definitely look at trying to move up to that #11 spot with Warren.

I wouldn't move up just to move up, not knowing who's going to be there.

10000% if Mikal Bridges is there at 10 or 11 I would love to replace TJ Warren with Mikal as our backup 2 or 3 who gets 20-25 mins a game. I love Mikal's game.

Ayton and Bridges would be an amazing draft for us.

[jredsaz]

I like the idea of snagging Exum and letting Exum/Payton/Knight fight it out for the job.

But out PG situation also depends on who falls to 16. Will Shai be there? Will Sexton fall? Do we have any shot at trading up for Trae?

If any of that happens, I don't see us signing Exum unless we ditch Payton.

Thing is, Payton is really the type of player who could improve under the right coach AND he should be cheap.

That's a lot of non-shooting at the point guard spot. I like Exum but his shooting concerns me. Igor has been working with him on it for the past three season. Also, I don't know how easy it will be to sign him. If he is cut loose by the Jazz so that they can sign a FA that's one thing. But if they keep Favors and stay over the cap it doesn't make sense to let him go for nothing. Unless it's an absurd contract in which case I don't want him on the Suns.

Payton under Igor is intriguing. Igor coached him in Orlando. If we resign him I think it's clear Igor liked his potential.