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

[Shakril]

it seems like were off of rj being that piece next to scottie which is good news

We need to get off building around Scottie instead of building with him first

Scottie is the new version of a #1 option.

Who'd you rather build around?

Scottie is our best player, but not a #1 option.

Knowing this, there are 2 ways we can go.

1.

Looking for a #1 option as long as it takes

2.

Build a balanced team from 1-10 and compete, like the 2004 Pistons or the Raptors were with Lowry and DeRozean.


The second approach is better, cause you increase the value of all your assets an still have the option to gain a #1. like with Kwahi.
The first option is simply luck related and stalls any kind of building as long as we dont have that #1. If its a drafted player, it takes even longer cause need to find out if it truely is a #1.

[Mr Swagtastic]

Some of these YouTubers are way off with their value

Zion Williamson, Antonio Reeves, Karlo Matkovic and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (waive)
For
Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk, Davion Mitchell and Chris Boucher

YouTubers and realgmers apparently

Yeah, I mean why does New Orleans say yes to this? They have a better Agbaji in Herb Jones a similar player to Mitchell in Alvarado and both Kelly Olynyk and Boucher aren't guys you trade Zion for. This is a Indy 2026 first plus a pick swap in 2026 and 2027 from being even entertained

[YogurtProducer]

Some of these YouTubers are way off with their value

Zion Williamson, Antonio Reeves, Karlo Matkovic and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (waive)
For
Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk, Davion Mitchell and Chris Boucher

YouTubers and realgmers apparently

Yeah, I mean why does New Orleans say yes to this? They have a better Agbaji in Herb Jones a similar player to Mitchell in Alvarado and both Kelly Olynyk and Boucher aren't guys you trade Zion for. This is a Indy 2026 first plus a pick swap in 2026 and 2027 from being even entertained

Yeah, a realistic offer is like:

Boucher / Brown + 2026 IND 1st + 2026 TOR 1st (top ___ protected) + like a 2028 Swap? And that STILL might be to light.

But man, the more I think on it the more I don't hate the idea of grabbing a guy who when healthy could be a top 10 guy. The healthy is such a ? but the only reason you could maybe even possibly get Zion so cheap is because of the healthy concerns. But if you think you can help him and get him healthy its a risk you gotta take.

Figure out the fit **** later.

[sidsid]

Rj is better younger and cheaper than Ingram.


No no nooooooo


We’re trading the best player and getting the third best player in the trade


No noooo noooooo


So many draft picks missing

Nooooooo

RJ isn’t netting multiple picks from anyone. Herb on his current contract probably has higher trade value league wide than RJ. Herb also fits what we will need long term better.

Given this team is likely to draft a guard in the 2-7 range, getting a POA defender in Herb, who is in a class of all defense players, would be huge.

RJ and Ingram are bigger names but will also command 30+ million annually whereas with just Herb we get to use that cap space else where. Neither of those 2 look like championship level guys either. Herb does

You'd have a better chance at getting anyone, including Murray from NO than Herb. A cheap team that absolutely can't hit the tax is not giving up their best value contract.

Which is why the available contracts to work with are CJ and some of their minimum guys, and maybe Yves.

NO's driving need right now is balancing their cap for this year and next. They just need that breathing room and then they can worry about 2027 financials.

[DangerZone13]

YouTubers and realgmers apparently

Yeah, I mean why does New Orleans say yes to this? They have a better Agbaji in Herb Jones a similar player to Mitchell in Alvarado and both Kelly Olynyk and Boucher aren't guys you trade Zion for. This is a Indy 2026 first plus a pick swap in 2026 and 2027 from being even entertained

Yeah, a realistic offer is like:

Boucher / Brown + 2026 IND 1st + 2026 TOR 1st (top ___ protected) + like a 2028 Swap? And that STILL might be to light.

But man, the more I think on it the more I don't hate the idea of grabbing a guy who when healthy could be a top 10 guy. The healthy is such a ? but the only reason you could maybe even possibly get Zion so cheap is because of the healthy concerns. But if you think you can help him and get him healthy its a risk you gotta take.

Figure out the fit **** later.

I'd think including at least Dick would be necessary. I think I'd be okay with it because I think Walter will soon surpass him, and am skeptical about Gradey's ability to guard 3s consistently. But surely NO would want wirher him or our pick this year.

[PushDaRock]

YouTubers and realgmers apparently

Yeah, I mean why does New Orleans say yes to this? They have a better Agbaji in Herb Jones a similar player to Mitchell in Alvarado and both Kelly Olynyk and Boucher aren't guys you trade Zion for. This is a Indy 2026 first plus a pick swap in 2026 and 2027 from being even entertained

Yeah, a realistic offer is like:

Boucher / Brown + 2026 IND 1st + 2026 TOR 1st (top ___ protected) + like a 2028 Swap? And that STILL might be to light.

But man, the more I think on it the more I don't hate the idea of grabbing a guy who when healthy could be a top 10 guy. The healthy is such a ? but the only reason you could maybe even possibly get Zion so cheap is because of the healthy concerns. But if you think you can help him and get him healthy its a risk you gotta take.

Figure out the fit **** later.

I just don't see any rush for the Pelicans to move off Zion when his value has tanked. That sort of package, I think someone would put together even if he was out for the year and they moved him in the off season. The non guarantees in his contract really protect the downside risk and it just makes more sense for the Pelicans to either rebuild his value or finally figure things out there.

I think the Pelicans would only be interested in moving him if they get back a high end prospect, so something like a top 5 pick or along those lines.

[agkagk]

Hear me out….

Dick quickly and draft capital for fox

Brown acbaji for wiggins

Rj fox wiggins Scottie Jakob
Davion Kelly Boucher bench mob


This is my attempt to make sense of some of the more out there reports.

[CazOnReal]

YouTubers and realgmers apparently

Yeah, I mean why does New Orleans say yes to this? They have a better Agbaji in Herb Jones a similar player to Mitchell in Alvarado and both Kelly Olynyk and Boucher aren't guys you trade Zion for. This is a Indy 2026 first plus a pick swap in 2026 and 2027 from being even entertained

Yeah, a realistic offer is like:

Boucher / Brown + 2026 IND 1st + 2026 TOR 1st (top ___ protected) + like a 2028 Swap? And that STILL might be to light.

But man, the more I think on it the more I don't hate the idea of grabbing a guy who when healthy could be a top 10 guy. The healthy is such a ? but the only reason you could maybe even possibly get Zion so cheap is because of the healthy concerns. But if you think you can help him and get him healthy its a risk you gotta take.

Figure out the fit **** later.

We literally got a report a few weeks ago that GMs would only give up 1 1st for Zion, what is this nonsense?

He can't play back-to-backs. He is not getting a haul (which is part of why he won't be traded but I digress).

[Tripod]

Yeah, I mean why does New Orleans say yes to this? They have a better Agbaji in Herb Jones a similar player to Mitchell in Alvarado and both Kelly Olynyk and Boucher aren't guys you trade Zion for. This is a Indy 2026 first plus a pick swap in 2026 and 2027 from being even entertained

Yeah, a realistic offer is like:

Boucher / Brown + 2026 IND 1st + 2026 TOR 1st (top ___ protected) + like a 2028 Swap? And that STILL might be to light.

But man, the more I think on it the more I don't hate the idea of grabbing a guy who when healthy could be a top 10 guy. The healthy is such a ? but the only reason you could maybe even possibly get Zion so cheap is because of the healthy concerns. But if you think you can help him and get him healthy its a risk you gotta take.

Figure out the fit **** later.

We literally got a report a few weeks ago that GMs would only give up 1 1st for Zion, what is this nonsense?

He can't play back-to-backs. He is not getting a haul (which is part of why he won't be traded but I digress).

He said yesterday he can play b2b"s but it's the Pels not letting him play them

[CazOnReal]

Yeah, a realistic offer is like:

Boucher / Brown + 2026 IND 1st + 2026 TOR 1st (top ___ protected) + like a 2028 Swap? And that STILL might be to light.

But man, the more I think on it the more I don't hate the idea of grabbing a guy who when healthy could be a top 10 guy. The healthy is such a ? but the only reason you could maybe even possibly get Zion so cheap is because of the healthy concerns. But if you think you can help him and get him healthy its a risk you gotta take.

Figure out the fit **** later.

We literally got a report a few weeks ago that GMs would only give up 1 1st for Zion, what is this nonsense?

He can't play back-to-backs. He is not getting a haul (which is part of why he won't be traded but I digress).

He said yesterday he can play b2b"s but it's the Pels not letting him play them

Correct

Because he is a massive injury risk who cannot stay on the floor consistently

[LoveMyRaps]

This trade makes a ton of sense for both sides.

Knicks get out of the 2nd apron and become a 1st apron team after this trade. Get M-Rob off the books and have to attach a second rounder. Get Boucher who can immediately have an impact and help with their title run.

Raptors get a decent second round pick and Mitchell Robinson, who can be a very good big for us once we get him healthy.

[BHF]

This trade makes a ton of sense for both sides.

Knicks get out of the 2nd apron and become a 1st apron team after this trade. Get M-Rob off the books and have to attach a second rounder. Get Boucher who can immediately have an impact and help with their title run.

Raptors get a decent second round pick and Mitchell Robinson, who can be a very good big for us once we get him healthy.

Or Mitchell Robinson doesn't get healthy and we have ourselves a new Landry Fields.

[PhilBlackson]

This trade makes a ton of sense for both sides.

Knicks get out of the 2nd apron and become a 1st apron team after this trade. Get M-Rob off the books and have to attach a second rounder. Get Boucher who can immediately have an impact and help with their title run.

Raptors get a decent second round pick and Mitchell Robinson, who can be a very good big for us once we get him healthy.

Or Mitchell Robinson doesn't get healthy and we have ourselves a new Landry Fields.

Apparently the Clippers liked Boucher too, I wonder if they would consider trading OKC's 1st (which is obv 2nd last of the 1st) since they're probably still trying to shed some salary here or there and be a bit more competitive this season while Kawhi has some glimmer of hope of being healthy for a Playoff run.

I'm not saying it's likely but that's probably the best asset I could see any of the 3 teams possibly offering.

[Durant Durant]

Sorry wrong board

[Spida888]

Read on Twitter

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Rj is better younger and cheaper than Ingram.


No no nooooooo


We’re trading the best player and getting the third best player in the trade


No noooo noooooo


So many draft picks missing

Nooooooo

RJ isn’t netting multiple picks from anyone. Herb on his current contract probably has higher trade value league wide than RJ. Herb also fits what we will need long term better.

Given this team is likely to draft a guard in the 2-7 range, getting a POA defender in Herb, who is in a class of all defense players, would be huge.

RJ and Ingram are bigger names but will also command 30+ million annually whereas with just Herb we get to use that cap space else where. Neither of those 2 look like championship level guys either. Herb does

You'd have a better chance at getting anyone, including Murray from NO than Herb. A cheap team that absolutely can't hit the tax is not giving up their best value contract.

Which is why the available contracts to work with are CJ and some of their minimum guys, and maybe Yves.

NO's driving need right now is balancing their cap for this year and next. They just need that breathing room and then they can worry about 2027 financials.

Thats why I'd even be open to including Ochai/Kelly and the worst of the 2026 IND/TOR FRPs. They get an upgrade on Ingram (RJ actually plays and his numbers outside of the FT% have been better than Ingram's) as well as an additional pick and a cheap bench piece that is shooting 40+% from 3 and can guard 1-3 (or Kelly that can stretch the floor next to Zion and is signed for an additional year).

I think RJ is probably the best player they can get for Ingram currently and he also makes ~12m less as well. I think its a tough pill to swallow but trades can't just be an easy yes for both sides. We're also losing a cost controlled RJ who wants to be here, the IND pick (assuming we're worse than them next year) and a cheap backup wing/big. BB's expiring also frees up some capspace for them as well

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Hear me out….

Dick quickly and draft capital for fox

Brown acbaji for wiggins

Rj fox wiggins Scottie Jakob
Davion Kelly Boucher bench mob


This is my attempt to make sense of some of the more out there reports.

If Scottie were playing on an all star level consistently I'd consider doing something like this. Currently it'd just be Fox trying to carry this team offensively and him probably leaving once he's a FA. Wiggins has been disappointing and is on a longterm deal. I would hate to carry that contract and not get some draft capital back. Are we sure he'd be that much better than Ochai is for us now? He wouldn't be in a ball dominant role and he isn't the greatest secondary playmaker or C&S guy either. We'd just be trading him for the name

[Mr Swagtastic]

This trade makes a ton of sense for both sides.

Knicks get out of the 2nd apron and become a 1st apron team after this trade. Get M-Rob off the books and have to attach a second rounder. Get Boucher who can immediately have an impact and help with their title run.

Raptors get a decent second round pick and Mitchell Robinson, who can be a very good big for us once we get him healthy.

Raptors say no Robinson hasn't been the healthiest of players and his contract is bad. It would take more than a second. I don't think we get Josh Hart like the Raptors republic writer threw out.

[Mr Swagtastic]

Why is this team linked to everyone? Just seen a video and write up that we would trade our first next yearv(2026) plus Indys pick, Bruce Brown, Poeltl, Boucher and Battle for Embiid, Lowry and Ricky Council or Bona.

I wouldn't touch Embiid he's missed more games in his career then he's played. Plus your on the hook for the next 4 years at $50+ million

[Psubs]

Dwight Powell and a 2nd pick for Davion Mitchell

Dallas looks like they want to make a run now and value defense.