2024-25 Season: Draft, Trades, and FA Ideas Thread V1.0

[OhCanada]

He rebounds the ball, and he defends the rim. He has real skills that teams value, even if he isnt a 35 min guy. Dick is a shooting specialist who's not really special in his skill while not being able to defend....who wants that?

Your undervaluing Grady Dick. Maybe your expectations for him have not been met, but try not to look past his strengths. Shooting is the most valuable skill in the NBA and for a 21 year old 6'7 player that averaged 2 threes made per game and 15 points per game his defense is not so bad.

All i said was he's not a special shooter. And he's not good enough at anything else to be a not special shooter. Im not undervaluing him..youre overvaluing him based on his draft slot

Dick is in the midst of developing his game. Pascal Siakam wasn't an Allstar in his second year with the Raptors. The real thing with Dick is he is not an off the ball movement shooter. Toronto is trying to develop him into one in the mold of Klay Thompson when in reality Grady wants the ball in his hands, he wants to dribble into pull up jump shots, slash to the rim annd be a high volume strteaky rhythm scorer. But to truly compliment this roster he has to learn how to become an ultra effecient player that plays off of others.

If Dick was playing for Utah in a high usage role he woulld probably have averaged 18-21 ppg. He showed that early in the season.

[paulpuinhas]

I really like Will Riley, a Canadian kid with a big potential. We can buy him low if he falls in to the 2nd round

[Gold Dragon]

Trade 1: in the draft
IND gets pick #39 and LAL 2026 2nd and TOR 2028 2nd
TOR gets pick #23

IND will be in the tax next year if they keep their team together and may prefer a 1M non-guaranteed player rather than a 2.3M guaranteed player next season. They get 2 future 2nd rounders for their troubles.

Draft
Pick #9: Bryant or Coward
Pick #23: Sorber or Raynaud

Trade 2: before June 29
PHX gets : IQ, Jock Landale, Aaron Holiday, Colin Castleton, PHX 2027 1st, return swap rights for 2029 1st to PHX
HOU gets : O'Neale, Ochai, Dick, TOR 2026 1st
TOR gets : KD

PHX can waive Landale, Holiday, Castleton, Martin and Micic before June 29 to get to 165.5M in committed salaries with 7 contracts. They will have 22.3M to fill out the roster and stay under the tax, 30.4M to stay under the 1st apron. They will regain control of their 2027 and 2029 picks and have the option of tanking for the next 4 years as their 2026 pick is swappable with WAS. Only in 2028 will they likely have their 1st pick swapped.

HOU gets 3 pieces that can help their playoff run next season and move their 2027 PHX draft pick a year earlier to provide earlier help for their current run.

Spoiler:

Trade 3: 2 of RJ, JP, SB for Giannis. After July 1 if Scottie is involved
MIL gets : RJ, JP, TOR 2028 1st, TOR 2030 1st, TOR 2032 1st (will be available to trade after the 2025 draft)
TOR gets : Giannis

If Giannis can force MIL into a tough negotiating position, we may be able to get him without giving up Scottie.

Spoiler:

Sign ring chasers to minimum 1 year deals: Brook Lopez and some combination of Al Horford, Kyle Lowry, Chris Paul, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Ben Simmons

Lopez/Raynaud/Chomche(2W)
Giannis/Mogbo
KD/Bryant/Ingles
BI/Walter/Battle/Rhoden(2W)
SB/Shead/Lawson/KL

[Gold Dragon]

An alternative to the above that might be more attractive is:

Trade 2 would substitute RJ, Lawson and Battle for IQ

Spoiler:

HOU and PHX portions adjusted to keep teams below the tax after waiving players.
HOU would be 4M below the tax with 11 contracts after waiving Landale and Holiday
PHX would be 10M below the tax with 10 contracts after waiving Martin, Micic, Lawson and Castleton

The Raptors would have a roster prior to any potential Giannis trade of:
Poeltl/Raynaud/Chomche(2W)
SB/Mogbo
KD/Bryant
BI/Walter/Rhoden(2W)
IQ/Shead

This leaves a pretty complete 10 man rotation without going all in for Giannis, especially if he stays on the Bucks or goes somewhere else.

[Psubs]

An alternative to the above that might be more attractive is:

Trade 2 would substitute RJ, Lawson and Battle for IQ

Spoiler:

Giving a roster prior to any potential Giannis trade of:
Poeltl/Raynaud/Chomche(2W)
SB/Mogbo
KD/Bryant
BI/Walter/Rhoden(2W)
IQ/Shead

This leaves a pretty complete 10 man rotation without going all in for Giannis, especially if he stays on the Bucks or goes somewhere else.

Houston doesn't trade Holiday since they should probably decline FVV's team option. Just send Dick and Agbaji to Phoenix and not Battle. Castleton shouldn't be signed at all, just pass on the savings to Phoenix.

[Gold Dragon]

An alternative to the above that might be more attractive is:

Trade 2 would substitute RJ, Lawson and Battle for IQ

Spoiler:

Giving a roster prior to any potential Giannis trade of:
Poeltl/Raynaud/Chomche(2W)
SB/Mogbo
KD/Bryant
BI/Walter/Rhoden(2W)
IQ/Shead

This leaves a pretty complete 10 man rotation without going all in for Giannis, especially if he stays on the Bucks or goes somewhere else.

Houston doesn't trade Holiday since they should probably decline FVV's team option. Just send Dick and Agbaji to Phoenix and not Battle. Castleton shouldn't be signed at all, just pass on the savings to Phoenix.

I simplified and updated the trade since as I had it, HOU was going to be over the tax even after waiving players with my original proprosal which is unlikely. Of course, restructuring Fred's contract to a lower number would give them lots more room.

[sidsid]

An alternative to the above that might be more attractive is:

Trade 2 would substitute RJ, Lawson and Battle for IQ

Spoiler:

Giving a roster prior to any potential Giannis trade of:
Poeltl/Raynaud/Chomche(2W)
SB/Mogbo
KD/Bryant
BI/Walter/Rhoden(2W)
IQ/Shead

This leaves a pretty complete 10 man rotation without going all in for Giannis, especially if he stays on the Bucks or goes somewhere else.

Houston doesn't trade Holiday since they should probably decline FVV's team option. Just send Dick and Agbaji to Phoenix and not Battle. Castleton shouldn't be signed at all, just pass on the savings to Phoenix.

I simplified and updated the trade since as I had it, HOU was going to be over the tax even after waiving players with my original proprosal which is unlikely. Of course, restructuring Fred's contract to a lower number would give them lots more room.

The general problem with this trade on the Houston front is there is no incentive to do it. They have half their roster as young depth that probably needs more minutes.

The Suns picks were very deliberately acquired to go star hunting. They aren't letting those go so that they can play a 12 man rotation. They are in consolidation mode. Decisions on moving Green/Fred/Smith are going to be the main pivot points. And if they're not getting that star the picks are staying and the decisions will be on what they can get by trimming (i.e., Smith is on the block because no one is taking on Green for free, and Fred's option is declined to sign him to a contract where they stay under the tax).

[Pericles]

What will the Jazz want for Lauri? Not unusual for a star to have a down year on a tanking team. The fit is strong with Barnes. The Jazz may want to just get off his contract. At 27 the timeline fit is perfect too. If we could deal and retain the 9th pick, it could be attractive.

[LoveMyRaps]

If we're serious about making a playoff push next season, which we should be, we need to prioritize shooting.

Aside from IQ, there's no one else in that starting lineup that you can fully trust to knock down a three. Ingram is our second best 3pt shooter and he's a career 36% shooter.

[LoveMyRaps]

I think Masai will make a push for Lauri.

Does RJ + Poeltl + #9 + 2027 First Round Pick + 2029 Pick Swap get it done?

[djsunyc]

I think Masai will make a push for Lauri.

Does RJ + Poeltl + #9 + 2027 First Round Pick + 2029 Pick Swap get it done?

you think he's ready to take on $200 mil owed to lauri while giving up not only our center but 3 more picks? i thinks that's a pretty hefty overpay.

[Tripod]

I think Masai will make a push for Lauri.

Does RJ + Poeltl + #9 + 2027 First Round Pick + 2029 Pick Swap get it done?

Masai won't pay near that much.

[Gold Dragon]

The general problem with this trade on the Houston front is there is no incentive to do it. They have half their roster as young depth that probably needs more minutes.

The Suns picks were very deliberately acquired to go star hunting. They aren't letting those go so that they can play a 12 man rotation. They are in consolidation mode.

Priorities change with new information.
1. Houston finishing 2nd in the west and accelerating their window.
2. The NBA finals being played by two teams with strong youth and depth behind few “star” players
3. The NBA lottery and draft continuing to show what a crapshoot they are for being a guarantee of anything, even if the Suns tank. If they don’t get those picks back, they won’t be intentionally tanking.

Who knows what the league will look like in 2030 when those 2027 and 2029 picks will start becoming useful. The Rockets have a chance at building something now and should be maximizing that opportunity. With the Rockets young players looking to get paid soon, they need a more immediate options.

Also the Raptors 2026 1st is a few poorly timed injuries away from being a lottery pick on its own in another potential “generational” draft.

[LoveMyRaps]

Our starting SG for next season...

[LoveMyRaps]

Grizzlies desperately need a center and Walker Kessler fits like a glove.

Raptors desperately need shooting and Bane fits the bill.

Jazz desperately need another blonde white guy and Gradey fits the mold.

[Thaddy]

The furthest I'd go with Poeltl and RJ for Lauri. He's an all star and he'd look good with Ingram and Barnes. I'd probably throw in a future first or Dick to make the deal happen if it needed it.

At 9th I'd look for a great role player rather than another core piece. Fleming and Kalkbrenner would give us two good options for stretch bigs.

Fleming / Kalkbrenner (39th)
Lauri / Mogbo
Ingram / Agbaji
Barnes / Walter
Quickely / Shead

Bringing in size that can shoot would completely change the game for Ingram, Barnes, and IQ. It'll make finishing at the rim a lot easier and give them more space to create offense. Fleming as the help defense and Barnes at POA would be effective but I'd experiment with the POA being Walter and Agbaji too.

[CazOnReal]

Grizzlies desperately need a center and Walker Kessler fits like a glove.

Raptors desperately need shooting and Bane fits the bill.

Jazz desperately need another blonde white guy and Gradey fits the mold.

This is a lot for what is ultimately a marginal move.

Dick, RJ, 2 firsts (technically a swap) and 2 seconds for T-Rex. Hilariously bad return for that sort of package when you're subsidizing the Grizzlies getting Kessler instead of, you know, just getting Kessler.

Like if this is all it took to get Walker Kessler just get him and problem solved for the backup big man.

[Psubs]

Phoenix trades: KD and #29
SA trades: Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Blake Wesley (salary filler) and #14

Toronto trades: RJ Barrett and cash
SA trades: Harrison Barnes and #29

PG Fox - Harper
SG Barrett - Harper - Branham
SF KD - Castle - Champagnie
PF Wemby - KD
C FA Brook Lopez?, Horford? - Sochan

This would be #2 team behind OKC.

This trade frees up enough money to use the full MLE on Luke Kornet.

[Morris_Shatford]

RE: Markkanen

Its not that I dislike Lauri, but if you back out his last two seasons (prior to this one) his numbers for this season aren't really that far off his averages from the rest of his career. He got paid based on those two seasons and if ultimately he regresses to the player he largely was in Chicago he is still useful but now useful tied to a 200m contract till age 32 along with the fact that he has only played more than 60 games three times and never played more than 70 makes me incredibly uncomfortable with adding him

[LoveMyRaps]

Phoenix trades: KD and #29
SA trades: Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Blake Wesley (salary filler) and #14

Toronto trades: RJ Barrett and cash
SA trades: Harrison Barnes and #29

PG Fox - Harper
SG Barrett - Harper - Branham
SF KD - Castle - Champagnie
PF Wemby - KD
C FA Brook Lopez?, Horford? - Sochan

This would be #2 team behind OKC.

This trade frees up enough money to use the full MLE on Luke Kornet.

Closet spurs fan detected