Fake Trade Thread #7

[Liver_Pooty]

Would people prefer Morant over Melo? Don't think I would.

Definitely not. We’re trying to change the culture not somehow even make it worse.

[JustBuzzin]

Would people prefer Morant over Melo? Don't think I would.

Because he's better lol

Morant was in the MVP conversation before his off the court issues.

I would actually support this swap Ja brings something we lack a rim attacker. You can argue he fits much better with Miller. Also like Zion he's from SC not to far from his hometown.

If we had a chance to swap Melo for Ja I would do it in a heartbeat.

[JustBuzzin]

Tbh this franchise needs a rough around the edges kind of player. I think I saw someone mention we need a Stephen Jackson.

Ja at least competes hard. Yeah the extra celebration stuff is unnecessary, but that's who he is. I see a kid who's passionate and wants to win. It would be nice to have someone not afraid to trash talk and bring 100% effort every game.

As I said earlier Ja fits much better with Miller because of his rim attacking ability. If we trading Melo this is the kind of deal that makes sense. Trading him for pennies on the dollar doesn't make sense imo. We get a real impact player back for Melo in this scenario.

[MasterIchiro]

I think what we need is simple and affordable in terms of draft capital.

Jrue Holiday.

You need leadership on the floor if you really want to optimize the development paths of all your young players and draft prospects.

We could add Jrue without surrendering longterm assets, and while older, his core value is in raising the play and growth. Keeping the team organized on both sides so that they learn to play winning basketball.

Jrue also knows what Lee is trying to implement on both ends.

Nothing fancy. We need a workman.

[yosemiteben]

I have a hard time committing to pay 37 year old Jrue Holiday $37M.

[HornetJail]

I have a hard time committing to pay 37 year old Jrue Holiday $37M.

to me, that's the cost of getting him for the next couple seasons. I doubt we'd need to give any asset beyond our future cap room. Ideal scenario is he helps Melo and Miller on the court for the next two seasons, and then is flipped as a large expiring salary filler with picks for whatever we need in the summer of 2027

[LofJ]

I have a hard time committing to pay 37 year old Jrue Holiday $37M.

Peterson would have to ask for extra compensation because of this. Nurkic and Okogie for Jrue and a protected BOS first is what I would want coming back.

[yosemiteben]

I have a hard time committing to pay 37 year old Jrue Holiday $37M.

to me, that's the cost of getting him for the next couple seasons. I doubt we'd need to give any asset beyond our future cap room. Ideal scenario is he helps Melo and Miller on the court for the next two seasons, and then is flipped as a large expiring salary filler with picks for whatever we need in the summer of 2027

I can see how it could work, but I can also see how having a $35-40M contract for his last two years would be something we all will wish we didn't have to deal with.

Not sure trading expirings and a year or two of mentoring is enough upside to make it worth it.

[HornetJail]

I have a hard time committing to pay 37 year old Jrue Holiday $37M.

to me, that's the cost of getting him for the next couple seasons. I doubt we'd need to give any asset beyond our future cap room. Ideal scenario is he helps Melo and Miller on the court for the next two seasons, and then is flipped as a large expiring salary filler with picks for whatever we need in the summer of 2027

I can see how it could work, but I can also see how having a $35-40M contract for his last two years would be something we all will wish we didn't have to deal with.

Not sure trading expirings and a year or two of mentoring is enough upside to make it worth it.

it really hinges on how much he's declined by opening night 2026. If he's turned into Philly Kyle Lowry then yeah it's a problem. But I don't see him devolving that fast.

It's worth it to me because if you had to design a vet role player to squeeze in between Melo and Miller, it would basically look like Jrue.

[MasterIchiro]

I have a hard time committing to pay 37 year old Jrue Holiday $37M.

to me, that's the cost of getting him for the next couple seasons. I doubt we'd need to give any asset beyond our future cap room. Ideal scenario is he helps Melo and Miller on the court for the next two seasons, and then is flipped as a large expiring salary filler with picks for whatever we need in the summer of 2027

Yes, we are not in position to make a major move but we do need to learn how to play winning basketball. If we can add a 2x championship floor general and tenacious defender, high IQ, shotmaker while preserving longterm assets given contract size and age, we should execute.

I'd rather pay Jrue his contract than surrender 2-3 firsts for a younger vet playing on a lower contract.

Pick your poison.

We need to pivot to winning basketball without sacrificing major draft assets.

Jrue is imperfect, but we need someone reliable who can ignite the transition to winning like Harris, THJ, and M. Beasely did for Detroit.

They didn't surrender draft position for any of those guys.

We need to know how our young core and prospects can play basketball with real leadership on the floor, and not pay too much for some number 1, 2 or 3 option.

[yosemiteben]

to me, that's the cost of getting him for the next couple seasons. I doubt we'd need to give any asset beyond our future cap room. Ideal scenario is he helps Melo and Miller on the court for the next two seasons, and then is flipped as a large expiring salary filler with picks for whatever we need in the summer of 2027

I can see how it could work, but I can also see how having a $35-40M contract for his last two years would be something we all will wish we didn't have to deal with.

Not sure trading expirings and a year or two of mentoring is enough upside to make it worth it.

it really hinges on how much he's declined by opening night 2026. If he's turned into Philly Kyle Lowry then yeah it's a problem. But I don't see him devolving that fast.

It's worth it to me because if you had to design a vet role player to squeeze in between Melo and Miller, it would basically look like Jrue.

I dunno, to me he looked like he really fell off this season.

I also just wouldn't spend $35-40M/year on vet training wheels, pretty much regardless of who they are. I need something more to view that as worth it.

I do get the perspective though.

[JustBuzzin]

Jrue is old and declining. He serves no purpose for us we aren't even close to being a playoff team. If we want leadership we can find it for much cheaper.

Jrue will be traded to another playoff team. Usually the good guys get traded to places that are good situations. Trading Jrue to Charlotte would feel like punishment lol

[fatlever]

i would need assurances that jrue would actually be ok to come here to play babysitter to melo.

[MasterIchiro]

Jrue is old and declining. He serves no purpose for us we aren't even close to being a playoff team. If we want leadership we can find it for much cheaper.

Jrue will be traded to another playoff team. Usually the good guys get traded to places that are good situations. Trading Jrue to Charlotte would feel like punishment lol

Don't sell us short.

The value of Jrue is the increased value of LaMelo, Miller, and pick 4 developing under sound leadership, and developing good winning habits they will carry with them for the team long after his contract is up.

Did Melo benefit from Rozier and Hayward? Definitely. We won 43 games with him starting with them.

The Pacers reached the Finals on just 7 additional wins.

Did Detroit give up before courting Tobias Harris? No, they paid him his money and entrusted him with a leadership position. They were not in a position to add a young impact guy. You'd have to surrender your own picks for that. They already lost their pick in this draft from a trade.

[LofJ]

i would need assurances that jrue would actually be ok to come here to play babysitter to melo.

Jrue's wife had her brain tumor removed at Duke. They spent months in the area while she was recovering. They are also part owners of the Carolina Courage in Cary (a pro women's soccer team). So they have NC connections, but obviously in the Triangle not Charlotte.

[MasterIchiro]

i would need assurances that jrue would actually be ok to come here to play babysitter to melo.

If Terry could lead Melo to 43 wins, Jrue should have no problem. Jrue has 2 rings. And he was a key player.

Lee is a familiar face for Jrue. No mystery about what he's getting with a reunion.

Jrue hates getting beat on defense.

He's going to play his game here, anywhere.

[fatlever]

having nc connections and lee connections helps sell it. but again, jrue still might want to chase more rings or just retire.

but, in a vacuum, he's always been perfect fit for melo. would love to have him.

[LofJ]

having nc connections and lee connections helps sell it. but again, jrue still might want to chase more rings or just retire.

but, in a vacuum, he's always been perfect fit for melo. would love to have him.

I think he would struggle to walk away from $70 million and he already has two championships rings (Lee was on both those teams strangely enough).

As for the fit you're right on the money. Jrue from what I've read is an even better person than he is a basketball player (and he's a damn good player). We would be lucky to have him associated with this organization.

[MasterIchiro]

having nc connections and lee connections helps sell it. but again, jrue still might want to chase more rings or just retire.

but, in a vacuum, he's always been perfect fit for melo. would love to have him.

I think he would struggle to walk away from $70 million and he already has two championships rings (Lee was on both those teams strangely enough).

As for the fit you're right on the money. Jrue from what I've read is an even better person than he is a basketball player (and he's a damn good player). We would be lucky to have him associated with this organization.

Yes, Jrue is a culture setter who fights and works his ass off on both ends, doesn't rub teammates the wrong way, demand the ball, bicker with refs, nor play with ego.

He is a model citizen on and off the court.

He gives us instant credibility and composure out there.

[MasterIchiro]

And just think if we could unload someone useless like Josh Green in a deal for Jrue. It's 3 years adding Jrue but subtract 2 years of Green. Addition by subtraction. I'd also rather see Moussa than Nurkic right now. So subtract 1 year of Nurkic and add one full season of Moussa developing instead.