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

[Spida888]

If we ever lucked into Flagg, I start him on the bench. There will be plenty of minutes in the game and with injuries. Him playing vs other bench guys to start would be great.

Then I also.move RJ to the bench in favor of Ochai for his 3+D

IQ, Och, BI, Barnes, Yak
Shead, RJ, Gradey, Walter, Battle, Flagg
Mogbo & Chomche-905 time to work on offense
Port pick in 905 too

That's a hell of a bench that shouldn't see a dip in production and it spreads the ball around more. Ideally Gradey or Walter get moves for a backup C with similar upside and we would be cooking.

The best thing is you can see that we finally have playable depth to withstand some injuries. And we also have lots of youth for internal growth although we all know, development isn't linear so there will be ups and downs.

Agree that even if we luck into Flagg, he will come off the bench presuming IQ/RJ/Ingram/Barnes/Jak are all still here.

That bench would be nice, but I don't see RJ being fine with coming off the bench even though he would flourish in that role.

Realistically our FO will try to duck the tax or at most pay it for one season. If we get Flagg, I can see RJ being traded at some point during next season. Similarly if we land Harper, IQ/RJ might be out the door.

[Rapsfan07]

If were were able to luck into Harper at the draft, how would we feel about this:

To ORL: Quickley
To TOR: Anthony, WCJ, +

As others have said, that Quickley contract is pretty big for a player who can't break his man down of the dribble and doesn't get to the rim a ton. Not that I'm in any rush to move him but we simply cannot afford to move forward with this amount of salary on our books for an unproved team. Time will tell if this core is worth keeping together but this deal allows us to get a backup big on a long term deal, a back up PG and presumably some additional compensation as well, though I'm not sure what exactly that compensation should be. For ORL, this deal allows them to consolidate some depth for a much needed starting PG that's locked up long term and can shoot the ball. This would potentially leave Toronto with a Harper/Barrett/Ingram/Barnes/Poeltl starting lineup.

I get that some might want to move Barrett instead but there really isn't a team in the league that has a need for him. That said, if we draft Edgecombe, we will have to find a new home for Barrett about a year or so later.

[NotMyKawhi]

IQ, Poeltl, Dick, jakobe 2026, 27 swap, 28, 29 swap, 30 for giannis.

[Tripod]

If we ever lucked into Flagg, I start him on the bench. There will be plenty of minutes in the game and with injuries. Him playing vs other bench guys to start would be great.

Then I also.move RJ to the bench in favor of Ochai for his 3+D

IQ, Och, BI, Barnes, Yak
Shead, RJ, Gradey, Walter, Battle, Flagg
Mogbo & Chomche-905 time to work on offense
Port pick in 905 too

That's a hell of a bench that shouldn't see a dip in production and it spreads the ball around more. Ideally Gradey or Walter get moves for a backup C with similar upside and we would be cooking.

The best thing is you can see that we finally have playable depth to withstand some injuries. And we also have lots of youth for internal growth although we all know, development isn't linear so there will be ups and downs.

Agree that even if we luck into Flagg, he will come off the bench presuming IQ/RJ/Ingram/Barnes/Jak are all still here.

That bench would be nice, but I don't see RJ being fine with coming off the bench even though he would flourish in that role.

Realistically our FO will try to duck the tax or at most pay it for one season. If we get Flagg, I can see RJ being traded at some point during next season. Similarly if we land Harper, IQ/RJ might be out the door.

I agree a nove could happen in season. But I am fine with them starting the season with them all and let's see who made jumps in the offseason. Or maybe who regressed.

And we will have injuries, every team does. Let's keep our depth as long as possible.

Of course if they could move RJ for a similar level C, maybe they pull the trigger.

[Tripod]

If were were able to luck into Harper at the draft, how would we feel about this:

To ORL: Quickley
To TOR: Anthony, WCJ, +

As others have said, that Quickley contract is pretty big for a player who can't break his man down of the dribble and doesn't get to the rim a ton. Not that I'm in any rush to move him but we simply cannot afford to move forward with this amount of salary on our books for an unproved team. Time will tell if this core is worth keeping together but this deal allows us to get a backup big on a long term deal, a back up PG and presumably some additional compensation as well, though I'm not sure what exactly that compensation should be. For ORL, this deal allows them to consolidate some depth for a much needed starting PG that's locked up long term and can shoot the ball. This would potentially leave Toronto with a Harper/Barrett/Ingram/Barnes/Poeltl starting lineup.

I get that some might want to move Barrett instead but there really isn't a team in the league that has a need for him. That said, if we draft Edgecombe, we will have to find a new home for Barrett about a year or so later.

PG'S typically take longer to be positive impacts on the court so not sure I do that deal.

WCJ has a nice contract fir next year atv10ish million...but then it jumps to 20 the following 3 years. So unless the plan is to also move Yak....well...that doesn't seem like it's in the plan.

[Ball4life32]

Teams will outbid you easily. Orlando and New Orleans come to mind. New Orleans probably offers one of CJ or Murray to a third team plus their pick this year the Pacers pick plus. Orlando could offer Black or Suggs plus

Honestly I would prefer Lamelo Ball he's younger and a better fit

I feel like Trae was on the table last summer and none of those offers came about. I don’t think he’ll get more than what SAS had to give for Fox given his rep. Pelicans already passed on him and opted for Murray, no way they move a top 4 pick in this draft for him when they have a chance at Harper or Kasp.

I honestly doubt Orlando moves Suggs for him.

I think he’ll be a sneaky buy low target unless he demands a specific team

Yuck. Trae is a total Do Not Want from my perspective. Like at all. Not even for a few SRP’s. He’s paid as if he’s really really good but seems like such a net negative player. Sure he can score, but so can any and everyone attacking him.

Maybe I’ll be wrong one day but I don’t imagine a Trae led team ever goes on a deep run. He screams LOSER. He’s certainly not of the quality to demand a certain team. lol. If he does, I pity that team.

He’s already made a deep run and got hurt in the conference finals.

[Spida888]

If were were able to luck into Harper at the draft, how would we feel about this:

To ORL: Quickley
To TOR: Anthony, WCJ, +

As others have said, that Quickley contract is pretty big for a player who can't break his man down of the dribble and doesn't get to the rim a ton. Not that I'm in any rush to move him but we simply cannot afford to move forward with this amount of salary on our books for an unproved team. Time will tell if this core is worth keeping together but this deal allows us to get a backup big on a long term deal, a back up PG and presumably some additional compensation as well, though I'm not sure what exactly that compensation should be. For ORL, this deal allows them to consolidate some depth for a much needed starting PG that's locked up long term and can shoot the ball. This would potentially leave Toronto with a Harper/Barrett/Ingram/Barnes/Poeltl starting lineup.

I get that some might want to move Barrett instead but there really isn't a team in the league that has a need for him. That said, if we draft Edgecombe, we will have to find a new home for Barrett about a year or so later.

Depending on what the sweetener is, I may just hold onto IQ. I like WCJ as a backup big, but not sure if he's more than that and his contracts becomes more expensive in couple of years.

Harper is a big PG, and can probably slide over to the SG spot. Since IQ is locked in for more years, we may trade Barrett first unless we extend him.

SAC also needs a starting PG after Fox left, but there's not much I want from them other than maybe Sabonis. Matching salary would be kind of tricky but the framework could be IQ + Jak + sweetener for Sabonis + filler.

[bobbyp3588]

I feel like Trae was on the table last summer and none of those offers came about. I don’t think he’ll get more than what SAS had to give for Fox given his rep. Pelicans already passed on him and opted for Murray, no way they move a top 4 pick in this draft for him when they have a chance at Harper or Kasp.

I honestly doubt Orlando moves Suggs for him.

I think he’ll be a sneaky buy low target unless he demands a specific team

Yuck. Trae is a total Do Not Want from my perspective. Like at all. Not even for a few SRP’s. He’s paid as if he’s really really good but seems like such a net negative player. Sure he can score, but so can any and everyone attacking him.

Maybe I’ll be wrong one day but I don’t imagine a Trae led team ever goes on a deep run. He screams LOSER. He’s certainly not of the quality to demand a certain team. lol. If he does, I pity that team.

He’s already made a deep run and got hurt in the conference finals.

Apologies.
Regardless, I think anyone with eyes can see he simply doesn’t have “it”. He’s a great offensive player. That’s it. He’s just not that good on the overall. He’s like the very worst star.

[sidsid]

I wonder which team will trade for Embiid. Timberwolves?

Looking where you'd move Rudy in that case, assuming the Sixers are tanking afterwards.

Could be a spot for the Pacers to consolidate some talent and move Turner and fix their D with Rudy. Although they'd be just as tempted with Embiid I'm sure.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Yuck. Trae is a total Do Not Want from my perspective. Like at all. Not even for a few SRP’s. He’s paid as if he’s really really good but seems like such a net negative player. Sure he can score, but so can any and everyone attacking him.

Maybe I’ll be wrong one day but I don’t imagine a Trae led team ever goes on a deep run. He screams LOSER. He’s certainly not of the quality to demand a certain team. lol. If he does, I pity that team.

He’s already made a deep run and got hurt in the conference finals.

Apologies.
Regardless, I think anyone with eyes can see he simply doesn’t have “it”. He’s a great offensive player. That’s it. He’s just not that good on the overall. He’s like the very worst star.

If we were to trade for Trae we'd easily have the best set of teammates he's ever played with. He hasn't played with a real all star unless you count Murray (who played the same position as him)

The core of Trae, Scottie, Ingram + top 5 pick might be a top 4-5 seed in the East depending on how well Ingram bounces back and how much Scottie improves. It wouldn't be Trae's team

[Psubs]

IQ, Poeltl, Dick, jakobe 2026, 27 swap, 28, 29 swap, 30 for giannis.

Would they be trading Lillard somewhere else too?

If the Raptors don't get #1 Flagg, I'm okay trading the pick 2-8.

Poeltl, Dick, Agbaji, 2025 1st pick, 2026 2nd pick, 2027 1st pick, 2028 swap, 2029 1st pick, 2030 swap

[bballsparkin]

IQ, Poeltl, Dick, jakobe 2026, 27 swap, 28, 29 swap, 30 for giannis.

I realize this is nitpicking, but, I wanna keep JKW. Like the idea though.

[hyper316]

I'm calling it, Shai will come as a FA in 2027

[tecumseh18]

I'm calling it, Shai will come as a FA in 2027

I expressed this the last year, that this might be a big reason Raps didn't want to sign Pascal for term. At the time, all the contracts were lining up to giving us cap space in 2027. But now with the signings of BI and IQ, I'm not sure. The cap would have to make another tremendous jump. With all the anguish over falling ratings, I don't see it.

I'm also not sure whether it matters if OKC do or don't win a championship between now and then. How can a player win a championship with a team, and then walk away from that team? It just doesn't make sense.

[Psubs]

I'm calling it, Shai will come as a FA in 2027

At best it's a Giannis situation. Had Milwaukee not won the championship, perhaps Giannis would've left.

[sidsid]

I'm calling it, Shai will come as a FA in 2027

I expressed this the last year, that this might be a big reason Raps didn't want to sign Pascal for term. At the time, all the contracts were lining up to giving us cap space in 2027. But now with the signings of BI and IQ, I'm not sure. The cap would have to make another tremendous jump. With all the anguish over falling ratings, I don't see it.

I'm also not sure whether it matters if OKC do or don't win a championship between now and then. How can a player win a championship with a team, and then walk away from that team? It just doesn't make sense.

The reason I'm down on this idea is that OKC's core is both younger than ours, and they still have way more draft capital to actually make the team better in the future when that time comes around.

That's the peril of retooling. We're simultaneously older where it matters without appreciably being better, more likely worse, and have a worse potential future with the comparative picks disadvantage.

There is no compelling argument for Shae to come here other than "I want to play at home". Which wasn't even enough for Kawhi. He wanted George in a trade (OKC could easily top any trade offer if it comes to it with better and more tradeable assets).

[YogurtProducer]

I'm calling it, Shai will come as a FA in 2027

I expressed this the last year, that this might be a big reason Raps didn't want to sign Pascal for term. At the time, all the contracts were lining up to giving us cap space in 2027. But now with the signings of BI and IQ, I'm not sure. The cap would have to make another tremendous jump. With all the anguish over falling ratings, I don't see it.

I'm also not sure whether it matters if OKC do or don't win a championship between now and then. How can a player win a championship with a team, and then walk away from that team? It just doesn't make sense.

The reason I'm down on this idea is that OKC's core is both younger than ours, and they still have way more draft capital to actually make the team better in the future when that time comes around.

That's the peril of retooling. We're simultaneously older where it matters without appreciably being better, more likely worse, and have a worse potential future with the comparative picks disadvantage.

There is no compelling argument for Shae to come here other than "I want to play at home". Which wasn't even enough for Kawhi. He wanted George in a trade (OKC could easily top any trade offer if it comes to it with better and more tradeable assets).

If SGA wants to come here we will gladly trade all our picks for whatever friend he wants to brin with him

[sidsid]

I expressed this the last year, that this might be a big reason Raps didn't want to sign Pascal for term. At the time, all the contracts were lining up to giving us cap space in 2027. But now with the signings of BI and IQ, I'm not sure. The cap would have to make another tremendous jump. With all the anguish over falling ratings, I don't see it.

I'm also not sure whether it matters if OKC do or don't win a championship between now and then. How can a player win a championship with a team, and then walk away from that team? It just doesn't make sense.

The reason I'm down on this idea is that OKC's core is both younger than ours, and they still have way more draft capital to actually make the team better in the future when that time comes around.

That's the peril of retooling. We're simultaneously older where it matters without appreciably being better, more likely worse, and have a worse potential future with the comparative picks disadvantage.

There is no compelling argument for Shae to come here other than "I want to play at home". Which wasn't even enough for Kawhi. He wanted George in a trade (OKC could easily top any trade offer if it comes to it with better and more tradeable assets).

If SGA wants to come here we will gladly trade all our picks for whatever friend he wants to brin with him

That's what I'm saying. If Shae just wants to come here, we're fine. If he does a Kawhi ask to both Toronto/OKC, the Thunder will simply outbid us and he'll stay there.

All the eggs in the "he wants to come home even if it's a worse team now and in the future".

On the other hand, it almost certainly requires that we trade 2 of RJ/Jak/BI/IQ to make the cap room available leading to cheap youth/picks. The byproduct is incentive enough to make this a good plan even if you strike out.

[YogurtProducer]

The reason I'm down on this idea is that OKC's core is both younger than ours, and they still have way more draft capital to actually make the team better in the future when that time comes around.

That's the peril of retooling. We're simultaneously older where it matters without appreciably being better, more likely worse, and have a worse potential future with the comparative picks disadvantage.

There is no compelling argument for Shae to come here other than "I want to play at home". Which wasn't even enough for Kawhi. He wanted George in a trade (OKC could easily top any trade offer if it comes to it with better and more tradeable assets).

If SGA wants to come here we will gladly trade all our picks for whatever friend he wants to brin with him

That's what I'm saying. If Shae just wants to come here, we're fine. If he does a Kawhi ask to both Toronto/OKC, the Thunder will simply outbid us and he'll stay there.

All the eggs in the "he wants to come home even if it's a worse team now and in the future".

On the other hand, it almost certainly requires that we trade 2 of RJ/Jak/BI/IQ to make the cap room available leading to cheap youth/picks. The byproduct is incentive enough to make this a good plan even if you strike out.

What eggs are in that basket, let alone all of them?

I do agree though we might as well maintain the flexibility to do it if the opportunity arises.

[Spida888]

For SGA to even think about coming here, OKC would have to not offer him the supermax and maybe not win a championship for this season and next.

That said, after seeing the baffling Luka trade, I suppose anything is possible. Dallas is a relatively large market, while OKC is a small market.