Does Lavine resign, or who will poach him?

[CobraCommander]

If he doesn't stay in Chicago I'd like to see him in San Antonio. He'd make a kick ass back court alongside Dejounte.

Both Seattle & New Balance guys who are good friends off the court too.

But he’s not nearly worth a Max contract, which is what Chicago will give him. He’s not going anywhere. They’ll never be contenders with him as one of their 2 best players though. Even when they’re fully healthy. And they’ll be stuck with that albatross of a contract.

They should hold out and wait to team up...IN Seattle then-

Spoiler:

chilling in right outside of belltown right now and a frequent in person at the Crawford games where zack and it and banchero and others ball out...this would be good for the 206

[Sothron]

He would look great in a Hawks jersey. People forget the Hawks only have one All Star on the roster. It would be great to add another star player next to Trae Young. Imagine the games Lavine could have feasting off Trae's passes and the Atlanta high octane offense.

I think you guys should ship Capela and Collins for AD. I know *some* Hawks fans think that you'll be getting Ayton from us, but that's not gonna happen.

Davis, provided he agrees to play there would be a perfect Trae partner. He could even play PF as you have OO to play the pivot.

I think there's a good chance in the offseason Ayton is getting swapped for Capela and filler. AD can't stay healthy. I agree with you that he would be a great fit with Trae but we need more than 40-50 games a season from the second best player on the team.

[SF_Warriors]

He would look great in a Hawks jersey. People forget the Hawks only have one All Star on the roster. It would be great to add another star player next to Trae Young. Imagine the games Lavine could have feasting off Trae's passes and the Atlanta high octane offense.

I think you guys should ship Capela and Collins for AD. I know *some* Hawks fans think that you'll be getting Ayton from us, but that's not gonna happen.

Davis, provided he agrees to play there would be a perfect Trae partner. He could even play PF as you have OO to play the pivot.

I think there's a good chance in the offseason Ayton is getting swapped for Capela and filler. AD can't stay healthy. I agree with you that he would be a great fit with Trae but we need more than 40-50 games a season from the second best player on the team.

And why would the suns do this? if they are really willing to let ayton go because they don't want to pay him the max, the fans need to revolt.

[Sothron]

I think you guys should ship Capela and Collins for AD. I know *some* Hawks fans think that you'll be getting Ayton from us, but that's not gonna happen.

Davis, provided he agrees to play there would be a perfect Trae partner. He could even play PF as you have OO to play the pivot.

I think there's a good chance in the offseason Ayton is getting swapped for Capela and filler. AD can't stay healthy. I agree with you that he would be a great fit with Trae but we need more than 40-50 games a season from the second best player on the team.

And why would the suns do this? if they are really willing to let ayton go because they don't want to pay him the max, the fans need to revolt.

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

[SF_Warriors]

I think there's a good chance in the offseason Ayton is getting swapped for Capela and filler. AD can't stay healthy. I agree with you that he would be a great fit with Trae but we need more than 40-50 games a season from the second best player on the team.

And why would the suns do this? if they are really willing to let ayton go because they don't want to pay him the max, the fans need to revolt.

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

Ayton has emerged as the suns third option and their only big man scorer. Capela is a tier below ayton as a player while being four years older. This sounds like a trade some hawks homer is fantasizing about. I guarantee you all suns fans say no to this trade.

[Sothron]

And why would the suns do this? if they are really willing to let ayton go because they don't want to pay him the max, the fans need to revolt.

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

Ayton has emerged as the suns third option and their only big man scorer. Capela is a tier below ayton as a player while being four years older. This sounds like a trade some hawks homer is fantasizing about. I guarantee you all suns fans say no to this trade.

Capela is a better defender and rebounder than Ayton. Capela is All Defense quality of center. Ayton is not. The Suns don't need Capela's offense. They could use his better defense and rebounding. I know how good Ayton is. He also wants to get seriously paid and Sarver is not going to pay it.

I hate to say this and no offense to Suns fans but Sarver is going to Sarver Ayton right out the door. Capela is by far the best trade candidate for Ayton and makes the most sense for Phoenix on both a basketball fit and a financial fit. I know that isn't fun to hear as a Suns fan but it is being honest.

[Hangtime84]

The Bulls would be fools to not pay him, he's got flaws but most players do. He's on Devin Booker's level. Who do you replace him with? Someone suggested Jalen Brunson and Bertans? That's a trash return.

Lavine is indeed a max player, he's playing injured right now but he's capable of averaging 30ppg on high efficiency, the Bulls need to create a better team around him and DDR, they have no shooters, no bigs, no 3D types. Bulls are the worst 3point team in the league in terms of attempts/makes.

Trade Vuc and assets for Ayton/Gobert or someone not afraid to be a big man.

Why would Bulls trade Lavine? He’s still only 27 years old and they have the foundation of a young offensive and defensive core with Lonzo, Pat Williams, Caruso and Ayo. I can definitely see Zach playing a Devin Booker type role on a balanced team of youths and vets. The Bulls are just lacking the Chris Paul type vet that will put them into that contender status. I think everyone recognizes as great as Derozan has played, he probably has only a couple more years left and Vucevic on the inside is a disaster defensively.

He is absolutely not in Booker's wheelhouse imo. Numbers wise they're similar but Book is a much better defender and significantly more sturdy and healthy.

I know he missed games too early on, but those were tanking teams and they wanted him to sit. If he is needed to play, he will play as proven last playoffs when he didn't lose a game after having his face broken.

Durability and playmaking is where their separation is.

Zach starts the season looking like all nba 2nd team player in terms of efficiency then falls off the cliff from these flaws

[Slim Charless]

I think there's a good chance in the offseason Ayton is getting swapped for Capela and filler. AD can't stay healthy. I agree with you that he would be a great fit with Trae but we need more than 40-50 games a season from the second best player on the team.

And why would the suns do this? if they are really willing to let ayton go because they don't want to pay him the max, the fans need to revolt.

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

Sarver won't even be the owner come Ayton's contract years. As for your deal. I don't see it. In what universe is Capela a better player? If so, I think you should have a better record. I mean Trae is better than Luka according to you as well.

That being said, AD is a reasonable possibility but come on, stay in your lane.

[Slim Charless]

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

Ayton has emerged as the suns third option and their only big man scorer. Capela is a tier below ayton as a player while being four years older. This sounds like a trade some hawks homer is fantasizing about. I guarantee you all suns fans say no to this trade.

Capela is a better defender and rebounder than Ayton. Capela is All Defense quality of center. Ayton is not. The Suns don't need Capela's offense. They could use his better defense and rebounding. I know how good Ayton is. He also wants to get seriously paid and Sarver is not going to pay it.

I hate to say this and no offense to Suns fans but Sarver is going to Sarver Ayton right out the door. Capela is by far the best trade candidate for Ayton and makes the most sense for Phoenix on both a basketball fit and a financial fit. I know that isn't fun to hear as a Suns fan but it is being honest.

It's being honest from the POV of the biggest Hawks superfan on the forum.

Go ahead and put this to a vote on the GB and see what the general thought of the rest of RealGM thinks......

I'll wait.

[SF_Warriors]

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

Ayton has emerged as the suns third option and their only big man scorer. Capela is a tier below ayton as a player while being four years older. This sounds like a trade some hawks homer is fantasizing about. I guarantee you all suns fans say no to this trade.

Capela is a better defender and rebounder than Ayton. Capela is All Defense quality of center. Ayton is not. The Suns don't need Capela's offense. They could use his better defense and rebounding. I know how good Ayton is. He also wants to get seriously paid and Sarver is not going to pay it.

I hate to say this and no offense to Suns fans but Sarver is going to Sarver Ayton right out the door. Capela is by far the best trade candidate for Ayton and makes the most sense for Phoenix on both a basketball fit and a financial fit. I know that isn't fun to hear as a Suns fan but it is being honest.

Suns are 3rd in the nba in DRTG this year. They absolutely need Ayton's offense. You really think Booker/Bridges/CP3 is good enough offensively without Ayton giving them 18+ ppg a night? They would go from one of the most balanced offensive attacks to being average at best regarding front court offense.

Capela is a solid player and generally underrated but he is a downgrade overall. Why do you want to give up capela for ayton to be on the hawks? Because you think ayton is a better player in the long run and you are willing to pay him more to be on the team. Dont act like there is an actual justification for this trade aside from the suns being cheap. Its disgenious to their fanbase to gaslight them like that.

Sarver could very well break up this team and it would be a sad day if he does before CP3 is ready to hang them up. As a warriors fan, this trade would make me extremely happy because I know it would hurt the suns and damage team morale.

[Scalabrine]

The Bulls are going to have to overpay for a player who's clearly not a max-level player.

So like Denver...

The biggest difference there is that the Nuggets are overpaying a player to pair with their perennial MVP and another All-Star level player. The Bulls need Lavine to be the MVP level player.

The MPJ Nuggets situation is more like Philly re-signing Tobias Harris to that crazy deal.

[SF_Warriors]

And why would the suns do this? if they are really willing to let ayton go because they don't want to pay him the max, the fans need to revolt.

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

Sarver won't even be the owner come Ayton's contract years. As for your deal. I don't see it. In what universe is Capela a better player? If so, I think you should have a better record. I mean Trae is better than Luka according to you as well.

That being said, AD is a reasonable possibility but come on, stay in your lane.

This guy wants to give up their "all nba defender" from their 26th rank defense so they can improve on their second ranked offense.. Can't make this stuff up

[Lunartic]

I’m not sure what the advance stats say but I don’t think Lavine is anywhere near Booker - imo

Do you think minus CP3 Lavine could have led the suns?

I don’t think it’s a basketball skills issue -

It’s the intangibles that are actually relevant and even tangible if people had time to analyze that I think Booker has over Zack… like shot selection… Zack take the wrong shot at the wrong time more often than book as I see it. Like in the game yesterday, you knew when Zack was taking the shot… he telegraphed that “this shot is going up no matter what” so often By dribbling out the shot clock or stepping into a 3 or what ever at times when those things were not needed.

Where did Booker lead the Suns prior to getting CP3? Replace Book with Lavine and they're just as good (zach is gimpy currently due to an injury)

Absolutely false.

Zach isn't even the most valuable player on his own team and I can make a great case that the team stunk after losing Lonzo. Which would make Zach 3rd place. Which is probably his best spot: 3rd option on a championship team that has good defenders to make up for him.

If you could replace RWB with him on a healthy LAL team, that'd be ideal.

He's nowhere near Booker, who's a better scorer as well but it's just isn't needed via the way Phoenix plays currently.

Again, tell me more about the great success Booker had until a CP3 joined. Many, many of us consider Paul to be the more important player on that team. Nearly everything you're saying about lavine applies to booker.

Lavine averaged more points and more efficiently last season than Booker. Compare their best offensive seasons and tell me how Booker is the better scorer.

[Slim Charless]

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

Sarver won't even be the owner come Ayton's contract years. As for your deal. I don't see it. In what universe is Capela a better player? If so, I think you should have a better record. I mean Trae is better than Luka according to you as well.

That being said, AD is a reasonable possibility but come on, stay in your lane.

This guy wants to give up their "all nba defender" from their 26th rank defense so they can improve on their second ranked offense.. Can't make this stuff up

While having the balls to say that any other team would jump at the chance to do it. High comedy.

[Sothron]

And why would the suns do this? if they are really willing to let ayton go because they don't want to pay him the max, the fans need to revolt.

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

Sarver won't even be the owner come Ayton's contract years. As for your deal. I don't see it. In what universe is Capela a better player? If so, I think you should have a better record. I mean Trae is better than Luka according to you as well.

That being said, AD is a reasonable possibility but come on, stay in your lane.

For the record, I never said Capela was a better player. I said specifically he is a better defender and rebounder. That's the truth. That's not homerism. Capela is All Defense level at center. Ayton is not. Ayton is a better offensive player and he's younger. I like the upside of Ayton long term more than what you have in Capela although it isn't a huge difference in talent.

I also never said the Hawks would trade them one to one. Atlanta would include something else to get Ayton.

I am not saying this just as a Hawks fan. I have a source within the Hawks and there are Hawks posters on our main website that also have NBA contacts. We have all heard that the Hawks and Suns front offices have been discussing this trade since Ayton didn't get the extension he wanted. So this isn't random speculation.

[Sothron]

Ayton has emerged as the suns third option and their only big man scorer. Capela is a tier below ayton as a player while being four years older. This sounds like a trade some hawks homer is fantasizing about. I guarantee you all suns fans say no to this trade.

Capela is a better defender and rebounder than Ayton. Capela is All Defense quality of center. Ayton is not. The Suns don't need Capela's offense. They could use his better defense and rebounding. I know how good Ayton is. He also wants to get seriously paid and Sarver is not going to pay it.

I hate to say this and no offense to Suns fans but Sarver is going to Sarver Ayton right out the door. Capela is by far the best trade candidate for Ayton and makes the most sense for Phoenix on both a basketball fit and a financial fit. I know that isn't fun to hear as a Suns fan but it is being honest.

Suns are 3rd in the nba in DRTG this year. They absolutely need Ayton's offense. You really think Booker/Bridges/CP3 is good enough offensively without Ayton giving them 18+ ppg a night? They would go from one of the most balanced offensive attacks to being average at best regarding front court offense.

Capela is a solid player and generally underrated but he is a downgrade overall. Why do you want to give up capela for ayton to be on the hawks? Because you think ayton is a better player in the long run and you are willing to pay him more to be on the team. Dont act like there is an actual justification for this trade aside from the suns being cheap. Its disgenious to their fanbase to gaslight them like that.

Sarver could very well break up this team and it would be a sad day if he does before CP3 is ready to hang them up. As a warriors fan, this trade would make me extremely happy because I know it would hurt the suns and damage team morale.

See my above post to explain much of your concerns with my posts. To answer specific questions you asked, yes, the Suns don't really need Ayton's offense. If anything he doesn't get featured enough and would get more shots and looks in Atlanta. Capela is All NBA level defender (look at his actual stats from last season and this season if you don't believe me btw) and he's a great rimrunner. So CP3 can feed him in a P&R all game long if he wanted to. Booker/Bridges/CP3 feeding Capela opportunity lobs is more harmonious to their offense and Capela is a better defender and rebounder than Ayton so their defense goes up while their offense would remain pretty much the same.

This is as close to a both sides win trade as you can get. Sarver isn't going to pay Ayton what he wants, the Hawks will. The Suns get back a very good center on an affordable deal for years to come. These talks have already been had and will continue in the offseason. I am not saying it is 100% going to happen but if you think this is just me posting apropos of nothing then you would be incorrect.

[meekrab]

5 year max this summer is going to look very affordable in the 2025 cap climate, no worries from this Bulls fan.

My concern is someone at Klutch sees that Zach is 2 years away from a 10 year 35% max and demands a 2+1 player option structure.

[Heej]

Not Hawks fans shilling to dump Capela on the Suns for Deandre Ayton

[Slim Charless]

Suns do it because Capela is a better defender and rebounder and has a very affordable deal with many years left on it. Capela is a good rimrunner as well. He doesn't have Ayton's total offensive game but the Suns have plenty of offense. Getting Capela for Ayton plus filler/picks etc. is a great way for them to remain a contender through CP3's last seasons while having more cost control.

FWIW any owner would lick their chops at that. Sarver? I think he's pulling up a chair and tucking in.

Sarver won't even be the owner come Ayton's contract years. As for your deal. I don't see it. In what universe is Capela a better player? If so, I think you should have a better record. I mean Trae is better than Luka according to you as well.

That being said, AD is a reasonable possibility but come on, stay in your lane.

For the record, I never said Capela was a better player. I said specifically he is a better defender and rebounder. That's the truth. That's not homerism. Capela is All Defense level at center. Ayton is not. Ayton is a better offensive player and he's younger. I like the upside of Ayton long term more than what you have in Capela although it isn't a huge difference in talent.

I also never said the Hawks would trade them one to one. Atlanta would include something else to get Ayton.

I am not saying this just as a Hawks fan. I have a source within the Hawks and there are Hawks posters on our main website that also have NBA contacts. We have all heard that the Hawks and Suns front offices have been discussing this trade since Ayton didn't get the extension he wanted. So this isn't random speculation.

Ahhh so your SoUrCe inside the Hawks has you guys getting Ayton for Capela and a 2nd round pick (or something similar no doubt)?

Cool, good to know that ahead of time. Don't suppose your sOuRcE told you why they didn't do this trade at the deadline?

I guess Hawks FO wanted to lock up that valuable Kevin Knox trade 1st..... you know, since he'd be much more valuable than Ayton would currently in this playoff run. Knox 1st, then Ayton.

Outta curiosity, I don't suppose your sOuRcE said whether or not we get to keep Cam Johnson. I've grown fond of him, but I'm worried that your side might need added incentives in order to part with Capela.

[MemphisX]

The Bulls are going to have to overpay for a player who's clearly not a max-level player.

So like Denver...

The biggest difference there is that the Nuggets are overpaying a player to pair with their perennial MVP and another All-Star level player. The Bulls need Lavine to be the MVP level player.

The MPJ Nuggets situation is more like Philly re-signing Tobias Harris to that crazy deal.

They paid Murray before anyone thought Jokic would be a future MVP.