Fake Trade Thread #6

[KembaWalker]

yeah if we can flip a bunch of deadweight for Zion I guess it doesn't really matter if he plays or not lol. we definitely won't get a guy of Zions caliber in FA, and if he doesn't play then its we just continue drafting. win/win

[MPM]

I don't see why we would want to move Miles or Nick unless we are getting back a star or multiple picks. They both have favorable contracts and fill team needs.

My above trade was with Nick Smith, not Richards.

I view it as trading Miles + fillers for Zion.

Zion if he ever gets in shape would be the best player on the team. Obviously that's a big if (pun intended).

Tremendous nickname for Zion - the Big If.

[JustBuzzin]

Zion/Melo/Mark they all have something in common.

If you can guess the answer you win a +1 from yours truly.

[JayTWill]

Knicks' fan here. Many other Knicks' fans have interest in Richard since they are worried about the depth and defense from 5 spot. This board didn't seem to be too high on his defense last year. How would you rate him defensively because the metrics aren't too fond of him?

Could Richards be a part of the solution for some of the Knicks' defensive issues or should they look elsewhere? At this point I just want to add more playable bodies to the roster.

[Liver_Pooty]

Knicks' fan here. Many other Knicks' fans have interest in Richard since they are worried about the depth and defense from 5 spot. This board didn't seem to be too high on his defense last year. How would you rate him defensively because the metrics aren't too fond of him?

Could Richards be a part of the solution for some of the Knicks' defensive issues or should they look elsewhere? At this point I just want to add more playable bodies to the roster.

In my opinion unless you offer a first which I don’t think you have he’s off the table. He’s one of the better backup centers in the league. And to be honest I don’t think I’d trade him for a late first considering his contract and productivity.

[luciano-davidwesley]

There's no point in us trading him unless we get a late first or 2-4 good seconds and I don't see any teams offing those packages.

So we may as well hold onto him as he is a useful piece on a decent contract.

[JayTWill]

Knicks' fan here. Many other Knicks' fans have interest in Richard since they are worried about the depth and defense from 5 spot. This board didn't seem to be too high on his defense last year. How would you rate him defensively because the metrics aren't too fond of him?

Could Richards be a part of the solution for some of the Knicks' defensive issues or should they look elsewhere? At this point I just want to add more playable bodies to the roster.

In my opinion unless you offer a first which I don’t think you have he’s off the table. He’s one of the better backup centers in the league. And to be honest I don’t think I’d trade him for a late first considering his contract and productivity.

How is his defense?

[JustBuzzin]

This team isn't good, but we need to find a consistent 3rd scoring option. Miles was supposed to be that guy, but he hasn't stepped up this season.

I'm looking at Miles trades at the deadline.

[Diop]

This team isn't good, but we need to find a consistent 3rd scoring option. Miles was supposed to be that guy, but he hasn't stepped up this season.

I'm looking at Miles trades at the deadline.

Miles did exactly that today.

i still dont expect any dramatic trades by this front office, although Miles is a tough one to read.

[JustBuzzin]

This team isn't good, but we need to find a consistent 3rd scoring option. Miles was supposed to be that guy, but he hasn't stepped up this season.

I'm looking at Miles trades at the deadline.

Miles did exactly that today.

i still dont expect any dramatic trades by this front office, although Miles is a tough one to read.

Yet we loss. This roster clearly needs changes. This team has shown healthy or not they can't win consistently. Sticking with this roster is fine if we are tanking.

I think we have a solid foundation, but we need to look for different role players around them. Miles doesn't fit and he's our best trade piece.

Tidjane is raw and that pick has set us back in terms of adding another legit piece to this roster. We have to improve this roster with more winning players. These guys have low IQ and all we do is jack up 3's. Something needs to change via roster.

[JustBuzzin]

I think now is the time we go after Zion. His value is as low as it ever will be. We have nothing to lose, he's not a long-term investment. As someone mentioned his contract allows us to get out of it if need be.

Give them Bridges/Grant with the Miami or Dallas 1st.


If he plays we added a game changing talent for cheap. If not we still have our lottery pick this year we can get a nice young piece to add with Melo/Miller/Mark next season. Whatever Zion brings is gravy on top.

I say go all in on Zion why not?

[fatlever]

jeff peterson's "to-do: list
jan 15: trade miles

[amcoolio]

Lee forcing the Celtics offense has killed the trade value of players like Miles. We might as well retool with him and hope for the best.

Richards for sure needs to go, Micic and Mann probably too if they can get any sort of positive value.

I think we have a shot at ending up as the 2nd worst team behind the Wizards. We are that bad and going to be 9-29 by the end of January

[MasterIchiro]

If the Nets would be open to Cam Johnson for Miles + draft capital, I'd make the swap.

But I don't like deals where you sell low on one end while buying high on the other.

So, Miles for Ingram is more interesting to me as a sell low buy low. Again, Hornets would have to attach draft capital.

I just don't know if this roster, given the disruptions caused by injuries, justifies an upgrade. Ingram is not contracted beyond this season and wants big money. Cam Johnson is only contracted 2 more seasons after this one.

And would Cam's production over Miles even factor into team performance this season in terms of where we finish?

I think either way we miss the playoffs.

If anything, Cam Johnson would cost us a premium on both draft capital and on current draft position. We lose value on both and that impacts us beyond this lost season.

I'd pump the brakes on the idea of dumping Miles right now. I also don't want to downgrade. And Salaün is backing Miles. Salaün should be starting for the Swarm.

[amcoolio]

Just wait to make any win now trades until the offseason and see what pick we get.

If we somehow get Flagg or Harper, then you make those win now moves and build around Lamelo/2025 pick/Miller and pray for health and improvement out of Miller

[JMAC3]

Regarding Zion. Here is his contract moving forward.

2024-25/ $36,725,670 / $18,362,835 guaranteed (fully guaranteed 1/7/25)
2025-26/ $39,446,090/ $0 guaranteed
2026-27/ $42,166,510/ $0 guaranteed
2027-28/ $44,886,930/ $0 guaranteed

Guarantee triggers exist if certain criteria has been met:
20% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season
40% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if plays >= 41 games during 2024-25 season
additional 20% if plays >= 51 games
remaining 20% if plays >= 61 games
Salaries for 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons can be re-guaranteed if above metrics are hit the season prior

Further protections via:
Weight must be less than 295 lbs; body fat monitored
Injury sustained to right foot

Sooooooooo right now he has played 6/27 games for Pelicans this year and appears to be trending to not hit all his games played bonuses for next year which means New Orleans/Whoever trades for him can essentially waive him without much penalty. Because of this the risk of the acquiring team is so low that I think teams will still be willing to toss Pelicans some value outside of just expiring contracts, and will likely be very opposed to bringing on long-term money as a team that has never paid the Lux Tax before.

[JayTWill]

If Nick Richards somehow became available for trade this year could he help the Knicks' defense? How would you guys rate his defense?

[JMAC3]

If Nick Richards somehow became available for trade this year could he help the Knicks' defense? How would you guys rate his defense?

He is 32% via Def EPM this year, which is his career average, so that would indicate he is below average.
Charlotte has had a poor defense for years though so that probably doesn't help him in metrics like that.
He is a good shot blocker that can protect the rim and deters guys from layup lines or highlight dunks. 96th % in Block%
Teams shoot 45% against him this year, 54% at the rim which seems pretty solid.
He probably would look a lot better surrounded by OG, Bridges, Hart, McBride then our supporting defenders.
He does struggle to defend stretch bigs though and is not a very switchable big, so he is best in drop coverage.
Idk if that is a scheme fit for NY.

He is above average on offense though as a lob threat, putbacks, screener.
Good rebounder overall. 92% and 96% percentile on Off and Def rebounding.
Altogether he is much like any bench player in the NBA, he has his warts but is still a contributor.
EPM ranks him around the 35th-40th best center in the league.
So that would indicate he is one of the better overall backups.

[KembaWalker]

Nick is about the most standard drop coverage big you could imagine. Just picture him as a backup version/ poor mans Mitchell Robinson and decide if that’s what you’re looking for

[JMAC3]

If Nick Richards somehow became available for trade this year could he help the Knicks' defense? How would you guys rate his defense?

He is 32% via Def EPM this year, which is his career average, so that would indicate he is below average.
Charlotte has had a poor defense for years though so that probably doesn't help him in metrics like that.
He is a good shot blocker that can protect the rim and deters guys from layup lines or highlight dunks. 96th % in Block%
Teams shoot 45% against him this year, 54% at the rim which seems pretty solid.
He probably would look a lot better surrounded by OG, Bridges, Hart, McBride then our supporting defenders.
He does struggle to defend stretch bigs though and is not a very switchable big, so he is best in drop coverage.
Idk if that is a scheme fit for NY.

He is above average on offense though as a lob threat, putbacks, screener.
Good rebounder overall. 92% and 96% percentile on Off and Def rebounding.
Altogether he is much like any bench player in the NBA, he has his warts but is still a contributor.
EPM ranks him around the 35th-40th best center in the league.
So that would indicate he is one of the better overall backups.

He is tied for 9th in the league in contested 2s per game at 7 shots per game.
That is more than Hartenstein had last year, but again part of that might just be better team defense where the front of the rim is harder to get to.

2nd in the NBA in screen assist pts.

So again, he has his warts but at 5 million in salary for next year there really is no reason to give him away for a few 2nd round picks.