The Official 2025 Offseason Thread #4 Free Agency Opens!

[Ryu]

The Rockets are loaded.
Three centers and Sengun,
Then KD and Finney-Smith.
Thomsn and Eason, Whitmore, VV, Holiday, Green...

I can feel someone would be unhappy with the minutes on the floor.

[Rebound Mound]

Williams played 22/29 games for Charlotte after his rejection by the Lakers.
Most of those 7 games he missed were back to backs and the typical games when a team with no options is playing to lose, not to win (to then do such a mess in the off season).

We have three centres and Oso and Richards should go. We do not have a true PF on the roster other than the rookie.

[Saberestar]

I'm going to say something that might be a bit divisive but I've kinda gone the other way on the Williams trade. At first I thought value was fine, 2 late FRP's isn't going to break the draft bank but as I laid out the moves we made and what we walked away with in the end, it's kinda poor value and to be completely frank, could we have made do with Nick Richards as the placeholder starting 5 but splitting time with Maluach?

1. Richards isn't as good as Williams and I know people weren't happy with him last season but he's great value and gives you the big man basics
2. Doesn't create a logjam at the 5 between Williams and our C of the future, Maluach
3. Richards is also the sensible/logical starting 5 in name only, holding down the position until Maluach has had a few months NBA games under his belt and you can then gradually rework the balance in minutes between Richards and Maluach.
4. If we didn't do the Williams trade, Fleming would still have been there because he was available at #29 and we get to keep the 2029 pick for something else
5. The Fleming move also cost a net of 4 future SRP. There were 2 future seconds that went to Brooklyn for the #36 which we then packaged with another 2 future SRPs to get the Wolves' #31. Is that really a good use of most of the SRP haul we got from the KD trade?

First...we got Mark Williams AND 2029 Suns 2nd for Micic + #29 + 2029 FRP (superlow because it will be the worst of 3-4 teams).

That trade is AMAZING. We got him literally for no one (Micic is gonna play in Europe next year) + #29.

In 2029 we just downgraded from #25+ to (probably) #40+.

Health issues..of course...but this guy is 23 years old and putting already 15/10/2.5 numbers and he keeps improving so it's high reward acquisition and the price was really low.

I am pretty happy with the trade and I was suggesting to get him in 26th April. Here is my post where I was giving up a bit more for him in a trade this offseason:

Another high risk high reward player would be Mark Williams from the Hornets.

I know that the Lakers canceled the trade but he kept playing after the trade deadline with some game DNP here and there and he was the same very good starting C anytime he played for his team.

Not sure about what is the biggest concern about his health, probably some foot issues, but he is an impactful young player. Can he play over 60 games per season in his prime?

Next year it will be his 4th season in the league and he would want a new contract. If we can get him we would have his rights to match any offer and we can see how injury prone he is o he isn't for real.

We can send Cody Martin back to Charlotte next to our two late FRPs available for a trade.

I think they would want more for him
Knetch and 1 unprotected FRP is much more than the offer that I said but probably his value is lower this summer. Just an idea to try a different thing.

Doesn't really address the value points

1. Cost us 2 FRPs for an injury prone (at 23) player and also introduced redundancy at the C position. Richards would've been a really good placeholder C until Maluach is ready. Even if Richards isn't a factor, you still have 2 guys at the 5 who I anticipate either of which could be the C of the future. Maybe the price tag was low for a reason but I'm not completely convinced that was a value move.
2. It essentially cost us 4 SRPs to buy a single SRP. Granted it's the #1 pick in the 2nd round but Fleming was also available at #29. Again, I like the player we took but there are certainly shades of an Ishbia move here, throwing all of these assets to get the guy he wants.
3. Even if you don't consider either the 4 SRPs or the 2 FRPs to be good on their own, there are opportunity costs because they may have been useful in other moves eg getting off Beal

Essentially, if we didn't do that one Mark Williams trade, we would still have Maluach, we would still have Fleming and we would still have 4 SRPs and 2029 FRP

1. "Cost us 2 FRPs". That sounds pretty far away from reality.

It was specifically the #29 in 2025 and the the least favorable of Cleveland, Utah and Minnesota in 2029. And we get our own 2nd in 2029 back in the trade.

We traded away superlow draft capital in this trade.

You saw Richards on the Suns. He isn't any good. Superlow basketball IQ, doesn't protect the rim, look at his +/- . Decent backup C AT BEST.

On the other hand Mark Williams is a good starting C on the rise. The difference between them is HUGE, you can't say that it's about the same.

And Maluach isn't even 19 years old. We need to bring him slowly and a backup role is perfect for his rookie season.

2) 2nds are for that, to facilitate trades to get actual players. Fleming was hands down the BPA.

3)We have NOW 3 2nds available to use in any trade.

[Fifii]

I didn’t know that KD is dislikable here. Yeah I know he had temper, but he is one of best player in this league. Some respect for him.

Anyway maybe we should try adding to our roster Cole Anthony. I read that he looking for new club. He isn’t best options for sure, but can we (except Chris) someone better than him?

If we stretching Beal that would be bad decision. Maybe he play couple good matches and we can trade him for whatever picks

[King4Day]

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[garrick]

Competition is one thing…. Respect is another.

Plus we have so little to offer and with each signing our opportunities diminish. If anything, we are trying to dump talent disguised as salary.

Sorry for the dark cloud, but yall need to look at the weather forecast

Truth is we probably aren't getting under the 2nd apron this season due to the 2nd apron rules that only let us send 1 outgoing player in a trade.

I think Grayson and Royce aren't hot commodities around the league given that they've already peaked as players so we would need to attach a player or picks to sweeten the deal but even then I don't see any scenario where we take back significantly less salary in any potential trades.

The Beal contract is the millstone around this franchise neck and after we've expended the draft capital from the KD trade I think this flurry of offseason activity this offseason won't be repeated for awhile as long as Beal is on this team.

[Waylay13]

Competition is one thing…. Respect is another.

Plus we have so little to offer and with each signing our opportunities diminish. If anything, we are trying to dump talent disguised as salary.

Sorry for the dark cloud, but yall need to look at the weather forecast

Frank are we going to be making the playoffs next year or even the playin not likely.

Have we had some bad luck and are going to be hamstrung because we trade most of our draft capital away for players who really didnt make us a better team? Yes

Honestly since the Durant trade to the Suns I havent cared about this team. I didnt watch a single full game this year, but I will say this I am much more likely to watch a game this upcoming year. Why? it appears that the Suns are trying to build a team with an identity. Run and gun Suns, Barkley Suns, 7 seconds or less Suns, what do all of these have in common? they had an identity. Talent isnt the only answer as we have just seen. Without having a vision of what you want to do we get the 24-25 Suns. So looking at the what the front office has done in the last month it is clear that they are really trying to build something that will have an identity.

[Fo-Real]

Hi again. I’m back after one season break. I don’t like that we trade KD. I’m a little disappointed fact that he join us to give us a ring. He leave without ring and one series winning. It wasn't supposed to be like this but which is more important we don’t get back even 50% value when we got for him.

I like that we have Dilon. This is kind of player you love if he is in your team and hate if opposite. Maybe he control our locker room and DB don’t be little pussy.

Our picks from draft was good but I describe a little more when they are playing in SL and couple matches in the NBA.

Chris Paul said he chose between LA and Phoenix. He is perfect fit for us, but I don’t know that he would like come for minimum. Maybe he look for any exception.

Maybe we should trade one of our center + Grayson for Austin? I know that Ayton is targeting, but it’s worth trying.

Our guy from Euroleague interesting move.

Who's burner account is this?!?! DEUCE!?!?!?

Who you are?

[starbosa10]

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That'd be fun, would like to see more people go east lol

[BobbieL]

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That'd be fun, would like to see more people go east lol

If they sign Ayton
I truly wonder if they would ask about Beal
Dame out would create a possible lost year for Giannis

[Fo-Real]

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That'd be fun, would like to see more people go east lol

If they sign Ayton
I truly wonder if they would ask about Beal
Dame out would create a possible lost year for Giannis

we absolutely should NOT ever think of trading Beal for Dame. It would be pointless!

[WeekapaugGroove]

having Dame on a big expiring WITHOUT a no trade clause is probably worth it to flip Beal for Dame if that was a possibility.

[BobbieL]

having Dame on a big expiring WITHOUT a no trade clause is probably worth it to flip Beal for Dame if that was a possibility.

Plus - -there wouldn't be a logjam this year at SG "trying to find" minutes and opportunities for Beal and like you said, would be a true expiring next year without a no-trade. And even if you don't trade him - he would PG next to Booker and Green.

If the Bucks truly get Ayton, and they have brought back Portis, Porter, Gary Trent - why wouldn't they want something in place of Dame to not waste ayear of Giannis.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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I really hope that the Bucks land Ayton girls two big reasons!

1- It further screws over the teams that wouldn't trade better assets for KD because they were holding out for a potential Giannis trade ( San Antonio, Miami, Brooklyn, New York, etc).

I hope that Giannis resigns there, and these teams completely miss out because I'm petty like that.......lol.

2- The Lakers become even more desperate in needing a center option and they also happen to desperately need a SG/ SF. So perhaps we could broker a trade for Richards and O'neale for Vincent or Kleber ($11 million expiring contracts) and Goodwins' expiring.

So we'd get off of O'neales' multi year money and the flakers get their center and Finney Smith replacement ??

Then we could look to buy out or trade Vincent or Klebers' $11 million expiring contract around the deadline and get under the 2nd apron and/ or glean an asset ( 2nds or whatever). And Vincent would give us a more legit backup guard option, or if Kleber, a more legit PF/ small center option??

[BobbieL]

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I really hope that the Bucks land Ayton girls two big reasons!

1- It further screws over the teams that wouldn't trade better assets for KD because they were holding out for a potential Giannis trade ( San Antonio, Miami, Brooklyn, New York, etc).

I hope that Giannis resigns there, and these teams completely miss out because I'm petty like that.......lol.

2- The Lakers become even more desperate in needing a center option and they also happen to desperately need a SG/ SF. So perhaps we could broker a trade for Richards and O'neale for Vincent or Kleber ($11 million expiring contracts) and Goodwins' expiring.

So we'd get off of O'neales' multi year money and the flakers get their center and Finney Smith replacement ??

Then we could look to buy out or trade Vincent or Klebers' $11 million expiring contract around the deadline and get under the 2nd apron and/ or glean an asset ( 2nds or whatever). And Vincent would give us a more legit backup guard option, or if Kleber, a more legit PF/ small center option??

Trading Allen and O'Neale will take some time but once the musical chairs end - I think both will be traded

Granted, trading for Williams and adding $7m to push them farther from getting under the apron levels is tricky business.

"Its a bold strategy for them Cotton, Lets see if they can pull it off.."

[matt131]

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So Ayton to the lakers probably

[BobbieL]

Bucks signed Turner - not Ayton

its time the Suns called the Bucks about Dame for Beal. The Bucks aren't tanking. The East this year is in play. Dame is out - how can they fill his spot. Beal will get them 18-20 ppg

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[TeamTragic]

Pacers lose Turner for nothing!

Damn that sucks.

[starbosa10]

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So Ayton to the lakers probably

Or the pacers....they offered him before

[TeamTragic]

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So Ayton to the lakers probably

Or the pacers....they offered him before

Apparently the Turner deal is a S&T.

Ayton to the Pacers?