2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part V

[Ghost of Kleine]

The Orlando Magic is the team that could be a good trade partner for us in the summer.

KCP is having a tough year and he is paid $21M.

Jonathan Isaac is someway buried on their bench and has long-term contract at $15M.

We can add Gari Harris TO contract ($7.5M) and we get to $43.5M. Enough money to trade for Bradley Beal.

Beal played for the Florida Gators. He loves the warm weather. The Magic is a competitive upcoming team without an starting SG.

That trade would be nice and we could get 2 rotation players. Isaac in particular can be nice as a defensive 3/4/5.

We would save around $11M in salaries so I would expect the Magic asking for a FRP in compensation for helping us to avoid the 2nd apron. I would give them that 2027 FRP (worse from Jazz, Suns and Cavs).

Thoughts?

This is a good line of thinking around a potential Beal trade because absent Miami getting desperate and accepting him there ( I still wouldn't attach any picks though) as we'll need those for cost controlled players and other trades too).

But these are some great suggestions man. And although I'd really want Bidatze coming back to strengthen our center rotation further too, If we we're willing to take back a cumulative of longer or equitably large contracts such as KCP and maybe Cole Anthony, etc they'd probably be amenable to taking Beal without attached assets involved.

I would love to get Isaac as he'd be perfect for us defensively, but the magic owner adores him for various reasons ( most prominently their shared political alignments) but the owner most likely wouldn't give him up! But I'd still try. But this would be a really solid trade with definite mutual interest and value for both in the exchange!

And if we could get Isaac and KCP, Bidatze, for that, I'd be willing to give up a CLE 29' 1st even. Because I think that'd legitimately raise our floor to a top 6 playoff team with better balance. And with a starting lineup of:

Booker/ KCP/ Isaac/ Durant/ Bidatze.
Morris/ Allen/ Dunn/ Bol Bol/ Richards.
Gillespie/ Trent Jr/ O'neale/ Draft / Ighodaro.

I'd think that's (** if healthy) a top 4-6 playoff team.

[Revived]

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Would be a good Bud replacement if/when Bud is fired imo.

[BobbieL]

Exactly…. Stretch Beal for trade freedom and usage of the MLE. We are a more competitive team by keeping KD. Seems we’ve plugged a few holes with Richards, Dunn, and Gillespie moving into the starting rotation. Oso and Martin are nice benchers. I’d keep ONeal and deal Allen + Micic. + pick for Marcus Smart (or something like that)

Be realistic. Unless you get a brinx haul for KD, his home will be here. That’s MadMat thinking. Way more sensible/safe to check the table bets and see what we have come December next yr. I can at least watch this current 5+. Just no more Beal.

I don't think stretching Beal so we could use the MLE is worth it, when he would be on our cap for years. I'd rather open up significant cap room in 2027. With over $50 million expiring, we could get a real impact player, or maybe 2 of them. But with $22 million on the books for that long, we'd still have limited movement. We are not going anywhere the next 2 years regardless, so get some draft picks, let the young guys play, and then have open up maybe max cap space in 2027.

This is what I am talking about. Its only two years and you free up a ton of cap space
All these moves to keep Durant and Booker, trade Beal (which will cost more draft picks) - does nothing about winning a title. You might get the 7th seed but not winning a title

Okay trade Durant, trade Allen, trade O'Neal - -not winning a title - just kind of treading water

Trade Booker
Trade Durant
Hang onto Beal for the giant expiring UNLESS you can get small contracts that are easier to move
So if you get enough draft picks from the first two, you have a FRP you can trade with Beal to get small contracts - I might think about it

The Suns need to blow it up. All this other stuff is just fluff so Flex and everybody can have "Devin Armani Booker" on the roster

[BobbieL]

The Orlando Magic is the team that could be a good trade partner for us in the summer.

KCP is having a tough year and he is paid $21M.

Jonathan Isaac is someway buried on their bench and has long-term contract at $15M.

We can add Gari Harris TO contract ($7.5M) and we get to $43.5M. Enough money to trade for Bradley Beal.

Beal played for the Florida Gators. He loves the warm weather. The Magic is a competitive upcoming team without an starting SG.

That trade would be nice and we could get 2 rotation players. Isaac in particular can be nice as a defensive 3/4/5.

We would save around $11M in salaries so I would expect the Magic asking for a FRP in compensation for helping us to avoid the 2nd apron. I would give them that 2027 FRP (worse from Jazz, Suns and Cavs).

Thoughts?

This is a good line of thinking around a potential Beal trade because absent Miami getting desperate and accepting him there ( I still wouldn't attach any picks though) as we'll need those for cost controlled players and other trades too).

But these are some great suggestions man. And although I'd really want Bidatze coming back to strengthen our center rotation further too, If we we're willing to take back a cumulative of longer or equitably large contracts such as KCP and maybe Cole Anthony, etc they'd probably be amenable to taking Beal without attached assets involved.

I would love to get Isaac as he'd be perfect for us defensively, but the magic owner adores him for various reasons ( most prominently their shared political alignments) but the owner most likely wouldn't give him up! But I'd still try. But this would be a really solid trade with definite mutual interest and value for both in the exchange!

And if we could get Isaac and KCP, Bidatze, for that, I'd be willing to give up a CLE 29' 1st even. Because I think that'd legitimately raise our floor to a top 6 playoff team with better balance. And with a starting lineup of:

Booker/ KCP/ Isaac/ Durant/ Bidatze.
Morris/ Allen/ Dunn/ Bol Bol/ Richards.
Gillespie/ Trent Jr/ O'neale/ Draft / Ighodaro.

I'd think that's (** if healthy) a top 4-6 playoff team.

I don't want to give up more draft picks just to move Beal. This is just an "activity" trade not an "accomplishment" trade

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Would be a good Bud replacement if/when Bud is fired imo.

I really hope we swap out Bud for Jenkins!!! We'd be grotesquely stupid to not very aggressively try to sign him this summer as Buds' replacement. He's the ekite defensive tactician, younger, innovative coach we've needed for the longest time now.

And he'd be a very strong step in the right direction.

[BobbieL]

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Would be a good Bud replacement if/when Bud is fired imo.

I really hope we swap out Bud for Jenkins!!! We'd be grotesquely stupid to not very aggressively try to sign him this summer as Buds' replacement. He's the ekite defensive tactician, younger, innovative coach we've needed for the longest time now.

And he'd be a very strong step in the right direction.

Would he want another rebuild?

[mkot]

That got to be the worst 12 seconds of LeBron's career. Gotta love it

Ball stolen and two 3s in his face to lose a won game in 12s. Crazy.

Obviously Josh Giddy made a crazy shot to win it but Luka was suppose to pick him up, not guarding the basket. 3.3 seconds is not enough time for a dibble drive layup, you know it's going to be a half court heave and it had happened to him before with the Max Struss three when he was in Dallas.

But other than that, all mistakes by LeBron From the gamble on steal which made the rotation late on Patrick Williams to the soft lazy inbound pass that led to Giddey stealing the ball and Coby White making the three. Just like that 6 points in 5 minutes and Lakers went from up 5 to down 1. I always thought his bbiq is overrated

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Would be a good Bud replacement if/when Bud is fired imo.

I really hope we swap out Bud for Jenkins!!! We'd be grotesquely stupid to not very aggressively try to sign him this summer as Buds' replacement. He's the ekite defensive tactician, younger, innovative coach we've needed for the longest time now.

And he'd be a very strong step in the right direction.

Would he want another rebuild?

With a big payday and a multiyear guarantee, why not! And Ishbias' probably going to deelusionally run things back next year anyway. Either way, we'll most likely need a new coach.

[Slim Charless]

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Would be a good Bud replacement if/when Bud is fired imo.

I really hope we swap out Bud for Jenkins!!! We'd be grotesquely stupid to not very aggressively try to sign him this summer as Buds' replacement. He's the ekite defensive tactician, younger, innovative coach we've needed for the longest time now.

And he'd be a very strong step in the right direction.

Would he want another rebuild?

Who's gonna trust Ishbia if he fires back 2 back coaches in 2 years. I wouldn't if I was a top flight coach like Jenkins. Can't believe they fired him BTW, nuts.

We need to stick with Bud.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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[mkot]

Firing a coach with 10 games left is wild.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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LOL! How ironic is it if our G League team can make the playoffs in their league, but we can't with the most expensive roster in NBA history and multiple All stars.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Well, this makes more sense now. Likely been planned for a bit now. Lisalo was another very good overseas coach I wanted us to consider alongside of Sergio Scariola (The winningest coach in FIBA history)!!!

[Slim Charless]

Knicks will fire Thibs and hire Jenkins. I'm looking forward to betting that ASAP

[mkot]

Lots of good coaches could potentially be available. Tom Thibodeau is one if the Knicks flamed out in the 1st round. Nick Nurse is another name to watch

[Ghost of Kleine]

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The trend currently is to go with younger, up-and-coming talents (innovative/ flexible developmental) coaches. Still, Jenkins would be a significant upgrade to what we currently have in Bud.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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So no surprise to anyone really! But likely no chance of a Bal to Miami trade happening now!

[Ghost of Kleine]

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This is a great video clip discussing why the blueprint for building a legitimate contender is in what OKC has done in building through the draft and acquiring draft picks galore and assets to maintain constant flexibility to upgrade or make alterations to your roster! And we're clearly at the complete other end of that spectrum, doing everything wrong!!! And far, far behind the curve with many in negligent denial to our future viability.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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Would love to somehow get Sabonis in a trade if possible.