bwgood77 wrote:sunskerr wrote:I think we look to trade BOTH Paul and Ayton. We need depth and Ayton is the most "movable" (and even then, the rest of the league may not have too much interest) piece we have that may be able to return two rotation level pieces. And if there is an option to deal Paul we will do it.
I don't think it makes sense to only move one, but I doubt Paul returns much value outside of like one role player. I think we look to get a guard, wing, and center by moving both of them.
The intricacies are along the lines of what combinations of positions are available or easier to obtain by trading Ayton vs Paul. For example is it easier to get a wing by trading Paul or get a PG by trading Ayton, or if you trade Ayton for a PG and C but what if you can't find a wing for Paul, etc..
I wonder what the Lakers do with Russell. They let him walk they lose the cap space. I only bring him up because I think the Lakers are about the only team that would have interest in Paul, unless a team simply had a player who's salary they wanted to dump and they knew with Paul's team option in 24-25 he is basically an expiring.
As for Ayton, I have no idea who would have interest. I really can't think of any teams. Most teams I thought before I don't know what we'd get.
The only possiblity that pops into my head is if Charlotte doesn't get Victor, a Rozier/Richards for Ayton/Shamet swap. Richards is solid defensively but can't shoot. He can finish but from 3-10 ft was 28% and outside of 10 ft only had 10 shots this year.
I don't see a better deal than that, or any sort of Capela/Collins swap that gets brought up all the time but some poster.
Cue GoK to take this deal and add a couple of picks and a young prospect to our side.
It's like you know me or something!....lol.
But really, I don't think it could be that far fetched or unreasonable IF:
1- Ayton balls out in the playoffs.
2- Certain teams in the lottery that might be thin or lacking experience at the 5 miss out on Wemby.
3- What the package return might be in terms of contract fillers/ picks, etc.
Overall, I've worked to make my more recent trades representative of Ayton's current perceived value. For example with Charlotte,
IF they don't land Wemby, then something along the lines of Ayton for Rozier/Williams/ Denver 23' 1st/ Utah 23' 2nd should be more than reasonable. They'd be keeping their high lotto pick and would really only be giving up the
27th pick (Denver) and the
39th pick (Utah) and could still look to bring back Bridges as well given their cap situation next season. A starting 5 of Ball/ Lotto wing/ Hayward/ Bridges/ Ayton is very solid and likely a solid playoff team too.
As for other teams that still might have interest in Ayton, again, I think it largely depends on the 3 factors I mentioned above. But I can reasonably see maybe a team like Houston (IF they miss out on Wemby), or maybe San Antonio (IF they miss out on Wemby), or maybe Dallas, or Detroit (with either really needing to make big moves)!! Maybe even the Flakers of course for the right deal??
Houston-
Ayton for Eason/ Martin Jr/ Washington (or Nix)/ 20th pick? Or something along those lines perhaps. Adding Udoke signals they're trying to compete more and advance competitively. So keeping their high lotto and only giving up other complimentary young pieces and a mid-late first for Ayton is solid value. They'll have to spend anyways to get to the salary floor. So taking Ayton's salary back isn't that daunting for them.
San Antonio-
Ayton for Mcdermott/ Collins/ Bassey/ SA 23' 2nd (#32)/ Charlotte 24' 1st. San Antonio is in a similar situation to Houston having tons of available cap space and will need to take on salary anyways to reach the salary floor. Getting Ayton (whom Pop and Duncan) could turn into a monster) for only two semi rotation players (Mcdermott/ Collins) and a second round bench big (Bassey) and a future first and a 2nd would still be a solid value win for them and us too. They'd keep their high lotto this year and could advance their core immensely from doing this.
Detroit-
Ayton (or Ayton/ Shamet) for Burks/ Wiseman/ Hayes (or Stewart)/ Det 23' 2nd (31)/ Detroit 25' 1st. Troy Weaver has already indicated that the pistons want to get better and compete for a playoff spot. This trade would help them advance their core and become more competitive towards that. They could field a team loaded with top picks while still maintaining cap flexibility by swapping salary with us. A starting 5 of Cunningham/ Ivey/ Bogdanovic/ Bagley ( or Stewart) / Ayton. Would be pretty strong and a solid playoff contender. We could choose to keep or decline any of the three salaried players as all are team options (depending upon our priorities)??
Dallas- (I'd hate to do this for many reasons) but..........................
The easiest trade would be of course Ayton for Irving. But IF that's not on the table, And he intends on resigning with Dallas, then you'd have to be looking at something like Ayton for Bullock/Kleber/ Hardy/ Dallas 23' 1st ( 10th pick). The 10th pick would be essential in the deal (for value) We would then buyout Shamet and look to pursue Poetl in free agency. Honestly though it's highly unlikely we'd do this trade because it's Dallas, and their a conference rival after all.
Flakers-
It would have to be something like Beasley/Bamba/ Vanderbilt/ 17th pick for Ayton or Beasley/ Bamba/ 17th pick/ 47th pick. I also don't see us doing this trade at all because again, conference rivals.
**IF either Toronto or Chicago gets reports that their centers might leave for another team, then would they become legitimate trade partners for us?
***** Wildcard team********
Portland-
Lillard expects them making a big move of some sort this summer or he might explore trade options! Now IF there aren't any star moves that look viable, Would they consider trying this:
Ayton for Nurkic/ Little/ Knox/ Portland 23' 1st ( TOP 5) for Ayton/ future protected 1st? Lillard is 32 yrs old and he won't want to wait on development. So maybe he might prefer a seasoned vet like Ayton that plays his best basketball in the postseason? IF the 5th pick is too heavy a price, Then alternatively, I'd ultimately accept Nurkic/ Knox/ Johnson/ NYK 23' first (23)/ ATL 23' 2nd (43rd pick). This would be a decent value trade in that a frontcourt of Grant/ Ayton is just better and more versatile defensively than Grant/ Nurkic. And for us, It'd reduce our overall cap around 15 million as we can just decline Knox and Johnson's team options. And we could use the 23rd pick on a premium SF or backup SG option or whatever and then use our two 2nds to fill out depth with cost controlled talent. But I'd still push for the top 5 pick (IF possible)?? Never hurts to try!
