2019 season speculation including trade ideas

[Funky Tut]

Y’all think Dallas would trade us Luka for Booker?

#notsureifserious

In my wildest dreams.

[Mjee]

Y’all think Dallas would trade us Luka for Booker?

Hellll no

[lilfishi22]

Here's a trade idea that I think could benefit us.

Suns get-
Julius Randle

Knicks get-
Tyler Johnson
2 2nd round picks

Not sure how to give more value to the Knicks since they just signed Randle to a small two year deal, though I doubt he's in their future plans. Randle can't be traded til the 14th, and we get Ayton back a few days after that. Randle isn't an ideal fit next to Ayton, but he was pretty effective next to AD last year with the Pelicans so I wouldn't be too worried. He's only 25 years old still. Solid rebounder, and I feel can probably be effective in a bench role too.

Not sure how Randle helps. He's not much of a defender, doesn't stretch the floor and likely operates in the same space as Ayton.

That's not even taking into account that Randle's on a 3yr $62m contract and that's just far too rich for someone that doesn't really solve our biggest issues. If we wanted a good rebounder off the bench, I'm sure we can find it for cheaper

[spanishninja]

Here's a trade idea that I think could benefit us.

Suns get-
Julius Randle

Knicks get-
Tyler Johnson
2 2nd round picks

Not sure how to give more value to the Knicks since they just signed Randle to a small two year deal, though I doubt he's in their future plans. Randle can't be traded til the 14th, and we get Ayton back a few days after that. Randle isn't an ideal fit next to Ayton, but he was pretty effective next to AD last year with the Pelicans so I wouldn't be too worried. He's only 25 years old still. Solid rebounder, and I feel can probably be effective in a bench role too.

Not sure how Randle helps. He's not much of a defender, doesn't stretch the floor and likely operates in the same space as Ayton.

That's not even taking into account that Randle's on a 3yr $62m contract and that's just far too rich for someone that doesn't really solve our biggest issues. If we wanted a good rebounder off the bench, I'm sure we can find it for cheaper

I would take 3 years of Griffin and 4 years of Love vs 3 years of Randle even at lower salary

[Dr Manute]

I sure hope Ayton is watching film, practicing hard, and not spending the majority of his suspension time playing Fortnite. Because what we need most is for him to play like the #1 pick.

[lilfishi22]

Here's a trade idea that I think could benefit us.

Suns get-
Julius Randle

Knicks get-
Tyler Johnson
2 2nd round picks

Not sure how to give more value to the Knicks since they just signed Randle to a small two year deal, though I doubt he's in their future plans. Randle can't be traded til the 14th, and we get Ayton back a few days after that. Randle isn't an ideal fit next to Ayton, but he was pretty effective next to AD last year with the Pelicans so I wouldn't be too worried. He's only 25 years old still. Solid rebounder, and I feel can probably be effective in a bench role too.

Not sure how Randle helps. He's not much of a defender, doesn't stretch the floor and likely operates in the same space as Ayton.

That's not even taking into account that Randle's on a 3yr $62m contract and that's just far too rich for someone that doesn't really solve our biggest issues. If we wanted a good rebounder off the bench, I'm sure we can find it for cheaper

I would take 3 years of Griffin and 4 years of Love vs 3 years of Randle even at lower salary

Unless Randle has a chance of becoming a Love level shooter, I don't really think he helps us with what we need.

[lilfishi22]

For me, the most disappointing aspect of this season has been watching all these other young players leapfrog Booker. If Booker's our best player, our potential as a team is capped at second tier. So we are in fact depending on Ayton to be that guy. Of course, even then, the cast of young players we've built around him, despite all our suffering, just isn't that great.

Not just Doncic, but Ingram, and then you have Morant looking like he'll be a better player, and Herro looking like he too might even be an upgrade in a couple years.

I'm not advocating that we trade Book. I'm just saying that it looks like our extremely painful rebuild did net us any goats, defecating or otherwise. We blew it.

Well, Ayton should be expected to be better, being a #1 pick in a great class, while Booker was a late lotto pick who played sparingly in college.

Obviously Booker has vastly exceeded expectations but I am not sure why you think people are leap frogging him. This is by far his best year to date, offensively with efficiency and definitely defensively overall.

Him taking over games and dominating the ball never led to many wins. It seems so many are pining for that type of play from him after the last few years, but it wasn't pretty other than every once in a while.

Now sure, sometimes he looks a little disinterested and I still wish he'd be a little more friendly with refs as I think it would benefit him greatly getting calls. This is the first time he is being talked about as a potential all star outside of this forum, and it is obviously in large part due to injuries to Curry and Klay, but nonetheless, even if they were healthy I think Booker would be getting more talk for that last spot over others (unless they had filled all the guard spots).

I'm not saying Booker hasn't taken a step forward. Love the progress he's made. But Doncic and Ingram in particular have taken huge leaps. Booker might get to 2nd Team All-NBA once at some point, but it's really hard to see him ever being a better player than the top guards of today.

It's not his lack of progress that's disappointed me as much as watching these other young guys look even better. So if Ayton's not the #1 guy, I don't see how we'll have the weapons to compete with the teams built around these top tier players, since we're done rebuilding and all. Suddenly it becomes a question of whether we can trade or sign a superstar, because we'll need one.

Neither Booker nor Ayton are finished products yet so there's still a chance one of them become all-NBA level players. The only disappointment really is that Doncic is absolutely balling out right now and it's probably unlikely either of our guys will reach those heights.

To make matters worse, Mavs know how to build a championship contender while we still haven't.

[bwgood77]

Y’all think Dallas would trade us Luka for Booker?

#notsureifserious

In my wildest dreams.

I don't think they'd do it for any combination of players on our team. You don't trade guys like that. You just hope to be in a position to draft one of them.

[bwgood77]

Not sure how Randle helps. He's not much of a defender, doesn't stretch the floor and likely operates in the same space as Ayton.

That's not even taking into account that Randle's on a 3yr $62m contract and that's just far too rich for someone that doesn't really solve our biggest issues. If we wanted a good rebounder off the bench, I'm sure we can find it for cheaper

I would take 3 years of Griffin and 4 years of Love vs 3 years of Randle even at lower salary

Unless Randle has a chance of becoming a Love level shooter, I don't really think he helps us with what we need.

We really need to wait to see how our PFs look when Ayton is back and (hopefully) Baynes is healthy. Ayton/Saric and Baynes/Kaminsky are both solid combos. Even just Kaminsky coming off the bench he was solid. He's not a starting level C obviously, so he's going to let people score at the rim like Ayton did against the University of Buffalo, but next to Baynes he's a fairly solid complement against bench units...or I imagine even next to Diallo.

[TheLogician]

I would take 3 years of Griffin and 4 years of Love vs 3 years of Randle even at lower salary

Unless Randle has a chance of becoming a Love level shooter, I don't really think he helps us with what we need.

We really need to wait to see how our PFs look when Ayton is back and (hopefully) Baynes is healthy. Ayton/Saric and Baynes/Kaminsky are both solid combos. Even just Kaminsky coming off the bench he was solid. He's not a starting level C obviously, so he's going to let people score at the rim like Ayton did against the University of Buffalo, but next to Baynes he's a fairly solid complement against bench units...or I imagine even next to Diallo.

Miller has his PFs hedge on the perimeter. Not conducive to defending at the rim. Let's see how Monty uses him.

[bwgood77]

Unless Randle has a chance of becoming a Love level shooter, I don't really think he helps us with what we need.

We really need to wait to see how our PFs look when Ayton is back and (hopefully) Baynes is healthy. Ayton/Saric and Baynes/Kaminsky are both solid combos. Even just Kaminsky coming off the bench he was solid. He's not a starting level C obviously, so he's going to let people score at the rim like Ayton did against the University of Buffalo, but next to Baynes he's a fairly solid complement against bench units...or I imagine even next to Diallo.

Miller has his PFs hedge on the perimeter. Not conducive to defending at the rim. Let's see how Monty uses him.

He's proved he has never been a good rim protector. Tired of excuses for him until this season. If he's improved, it's due to vast improvement, not that he's always been a great one just incorrectly used. His DFG% in his first year in the NBA was awful and he was the C.

[TheLogician]

We really need to wait to see how our PFs look when Ayton is back and (hopefully) Baynes is healthy. Ayton/Saric and Baynes/Kaminsky are both solid combos. Even just Kaminsky coming off the bench he was solid. He's not a starting level C obviously, so he's going to let people score at the rim like Ayton did against the University of Buffalo, but next to Baynes he's a fairly solid complement against bench units...or I imagine even next to Diallo.

Miller has his PFs hedge on the perimeter. Not conducive to defending at the rim. Let's see how Monty uses him.

He's proved he has never been a good rim protector. Tired of excuses for him until this season. If he's improved, it's due to vast improvement, not that he's always been a great one just incorrectly used. His DFG% in his first year in the NBA was awful and he was the C.

I'm just spitting facts. Koko also put him on the perimeter (where he was most experienced) and he did pretty well. Our team was a mess last year so I'll be putting more weight on this season.

[Jstock12]

Ayton's screens are missed. Even as a rookie he was #5 in the whole league in screen assists & screen assists points (9.5 PPG). Phoenix is definitely a better team WITH him. For comparison, Baynes, a pretty good screener himself, is #21 in those categories this season (same as last season).

[bwgood77]

Miller has his PFs hedge on the perimeter. Not conducive to defending at the rim. Let's see how Monty uses him.

He's proved he has never been a good rim protector. Tired of excuses for him until this season. If he's improved, it's due to vast improvement, not that he's always been a great one just incorrectly used. His DFG% in his first year in the NBA was awful and he was the C.

I'm just spitting facts. Koko also put him on the perimeter (where he was most experienced) and he did pretty well. Our team was a mess last year so I'll be putting more weight on this season.

I watched AZ and last year...in both places he was in position to help at the rim if night outright there but most of the time didn't. He looked different this year like he learned a lot over the offseason as he looked MUCH different in the first game like his defensive bbiq was much improved as he was doing things he hadn't done before, like helping off his guy at the rim.

So hopefully that continues along with him watching the way Baynes operates, communicates on defense, does screens on offense, etc,and being eager to play, he comes out strong.

[Mjee]

Ayton's screens are missed. Even as a rookie he was #5 in the whole league in screen assists & screen assists points (9.5 PPG). Phoenix is definitely a better team WITH him. For comparison, Baynes, a pretty good screener himself, is #21 in those categories this season (same as last season).

100% !!! Book gets so many open looks with both those guys setting screens !!!


Ty Johnson is as good as gone come deadline day ... I wonder what we will net in return !????

[RiRuHoops]

We really need to wait to see how our PFs look when Ayton is back and (hopefully) Baynes is healthy. Ayton/Saric and Baynes/Kaminsky are both solid combos. Even just Kaminsky coming off the bench he was solid. He's not a starting level C obviously, so he's going to let people score at the rim like Ayton did against the University of Buffalo, but next to Baynes he's a fairly solid complement against bench units...or I imagine even next to Diallo.

What? Ayton has the magic power to make them more athletic, grow longer arms and start finish their bunnies at the rim? get quick feet and start playing great defense.? What are you trying to see there? Both are flawed players and have no business being starters on a successful team. They belong on the bench logging maybe 15 mpg, but one of them needs to be traded as they are too similar.

[RiRuHoops]

Here's a comparison of the 2 players. Not sure why one is considered some building block and the other is treated like some stepchild

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=Frank+Kaminsky&player_id1_select=Frank+Kaminsky&y1=2020&player_id1=kaminfr01&idx=players&player_id2_hint=Dario+%C5%A0ari%C4%87&player_id2_select=Dario+%C5%A0ari%C4%87&y2=2020&player_id2=saricda01&idx=players

[Revived]

We need a rebounder badly. If Cleveland is tanking again, why not go after Tristian Thompson?

Tyler Johnson, and Dario Saric for Thompson works. Saric fits the Cavs timeline more and they get to try him out first and potentially get a guy to keep longterm. I’d add a 2nd rd pick to deal if needed.

Thompson’s contract expires after this season and this would actually allow us to start Baynes at PF with Ayton at C or vice versa.

He has familiarity with James Jones too since they played together for 3 or 4 years in Cleveland.

[Bogyo]

We need a rebounder badly. If Cleveland is tanking again, why not go after Tristian Thompson?

Tyler Johnson, and Dario Saric for Thompson works. Saric fits the Cavs timeline more and they get to try him out first and potentially get a guy to keep longterm. I’d add a 2nd rd pick to deal if needed.

Thompson’s contract expires after this season and this would actually allow us to start Baynes at PF with Ayton at C or vice versa.

He has familiarity with James Jones too since they played together for 3 or 4 years in Cleveland.

Probably this familiarity is what's holding us back. Seems to be a complete douche, who is now trying to steal money from his next (last) big contract by producing in a contract year. I hope he doesn't succed, and I'm sure whoever signs him this offseason will be sorry quicker than they could say "Kardashian".

[hollywood6964]

We really need to wait to see how our PFs look when Ayton is back and (hopefully) Baynes is healthy. Ayton/Saric and Baynes/Kaminsky are both solid combos. Even just Kaminsky coming off the bench he was solid. He's not a starting level C obviously, so he's going to let people score at the rim like Ayton did against the University of Buffalo, but next to Baynes he's a fairly solid complement against bench units...or I imagine even next to Diallo.

What? Ayton has the magic power to make them more athletic, grow longer arms and start finish their bunnies at the rim? get quick feet and start playing great defense.? What are you trying to see there? Both are flawed players and have no business being starters on a successful team. They belong on the bench logging maybe 15 mpg, but one of them needs to be traded as they are too similar.

precisely