OKC has two lottery picks in the upcoming draft

[Iwasawitness]

I think ideally they'd like to move Giddey and those picks for Mitchell or Trae in the offseason. Trae seems doable, Mitchell would be better, but it's hard to see him agreeing to commit to Oklahoma City. Either way, those picks are going to be far more valuable as a trade asset than they are in the form of the players they would select. Their rotation is pretty solidified.

I think Mitchell would be thrilled to go to OKC when you consider how insane their future is. I just don't think Cleveland agrees to that trade.

I think he'd be more thrilled to go to Miami, LA, or NYC, unless he truly does value winning above all else, including location. Otherwise I feel like one of those 5 teams could make it work.

He was thrilled about going to Cleveland... granted, the city has really turned itself around over the past decade, but they still don't have the best reputation. So yeah, I think he's all about winning.

That's not to say living in those cities wouldn't be an added bonus, but still.

[NyKnicks1714]

I think Mitchell would be thrilled to go to OKC when you consider how insane their future is. I just don't think Cleveland agrees to that trade.

I think he'd be more thrilled to go to Miami, LA, or NYC, unless he truly does value winning above all else, including location. Otherwise I feel like one of those 5 teams could make it work.

He was thrilled about going to Cleveland... granted, the city has really turned itself around over the past decade, but they still don't have the best reputation. So yeah, I think he's all about winning.

That's not to say living in those cities wouldn't be an added bonus, but still.

Was he though? I'm sure he said and did all the right things, and not saying he isn't, but I don't think you can make that statement unless he made a choice to be there, which he did not. We'll see though. It's a good basketball situation and he has the opportunity to stay if he wants to.

[Dacost]

The number one goal for OKC was to finally make the playoffs which they did the next step is win atleast one series.

If they by some reason get swept or lose right away in my opinion it puts the pressure on to find legit Vets to help them out.

If they make a run they should stay still and give the team another year with some minor adjustments.

[Iwasawitness]

I think he'd be more thrilled to go to Miami, LA, or NYC, unless he truly does value winning above all else, including location. Otherwise I feel like one of those 5 teams could make it work.

He was thrilled about going to Cleveland... granted, the city has really turned itself around over the past decade, but they still don't have the best reputation. So yeah, I think he's all about winning.

That's not to say living in those cities wouldn't be an added bonus, but still.

Was he though? I'm sure he said and did all the right things, and not saying he isn't, but I don't think you can make that statement unless he made a choice to be there, which he did not. We'll see though. It's a good basketball situation and he has the opportunity to stay if he wants to.

I mean... the only thing I have to go off of are the reports of his reaction when he found out he was going there, which is this:

https://www.deseret.com/2022/9/2/23334491/how-donovan-mitchell-reacted-to-being-traded

When news broke Thursday that the Utah Jazz had traded Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mitchell reportedly started screaming — but not in a bad way.

He was so excited about the makeup of the deal that he “went screaming around the golf course” he had been playing on.

That’s according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who appeared on ESPN’s Cleveland radio station Friday morning to discuss the big trade.

“When (Mitchell) found out that (Evan) Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland were not in the trade and neither was Kevin Love, he went screaming around the golf course (because) he was so excited,” Windhorst said.

And then there's Mitchell's accounts of it himself:

https://kslsports.com/508556/i-was-hyped-donovan-mitchell-recounts-reaction-to-jazz-cavaliers-trade/

“That story of me running around the golf course, all that was true,” Mitchell said. “I was hyped.”

So uh... yeah, Mitchell was at the very least very happy about going to Cleveland. And it wasn't because of the city itself, but because of who was on the team.

[Bloodbather]

Right now, they only need two things: A big who can rebound and match up with bigger bodies and a 3&D wing. Giddey is redundant next to SGA and Chet needs a big man partner. I'd target Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency and use Giddey and picks to target Mikal Bridges. I think they should take advantage of the fact that they have Holmgren and Williams on their rookie contracts and move quickly.

[QMemphis]

The obvious trade will be Giddey, Rockets pick, Heat pick, 2024 Utah pick, or 2025 1st next year if the pick doesn't convey for Lauri Markkannen. They can give Lauri an extension this summer with their cap space on a descending deal that will allow them to extend Chet and JDub the following 2025 offseason.

[dolphinatik]

unless there is a glaring hole to fill they should try to pick swap with a desperate team to move the assets to another year. Insurance for Chet id ideal but also keeping assets in case a solid vet trade comes along to bolster their core.

[Saints14]

They traded Tre Mann and Poku will likely be off the team next year. If they do end up with 2 lotto picks I think it's reasonable to keep the bench stocked with developmental players who can potentially be cheap contributors in a few years when the team starts to get expensive. Or who knows maybe they end up drafting another Jalen Williams in the late lotto and have a good problem on their hands. But Presti can afford to be opportunistic - if a star becomes available that fits he can make a move, but I don't think he's desperate to

[Dan Z]

Utah's pick is top 10 protected and Utah is currently tanking to keep their pick.

Yup, no guarantee Utah stays in the top 10. Also with the flattened odds, they could just as likely end up with no lotto picks.

If that happens the Utah pick will then move to 2025 with a top 10 protection (and 1-8 protection in 2026).

That also means that OKC would have 4 first round picks in 2025 (Utah, OKC, Philly and Miami). They won't need 4 rookies.

[Black Jack]

The obvious trade will be Giddey, Rockets pick, Heat pick, 2024 Utah pick, or 2025 1st next year if the pick doesn't convey for Lauri Markkannen. They can give Lauri an extension this summer with their cap space on a descending deal that will allow them to extend Chet and JDub the following 2025 offseason.

It's hard to imagine a star trade between Ainge and Presti. I would pay to witness the negotiations. It's like when Manu and Harden bumped into each other and both flopped. Just two absolute legends at the top of their game going at it.

Also, if I were Utah I'd keep Lauri.

[Black Jack]

Utah's pick is top 10 protected and Utah is currently tanking to keep their pick.

Yup, no guarantee Utah stays in the top 10. Also with the flattened odds, they could just as likely end up with no lotto picks.

If that happens the Utah pick will then move to 2025 with a top 10 protection (and 1-8 protection in 2026).

That also means that OKC would have 4 first round picks in 2025 (Utah, OKC, Philly and Miami). They won't need 4 rookies.

Why doesn't OKC keep their assets and stay in the hunt for a disgruntled superstar, someone like Giannis?

[Dominator83]

Utah's pick is top 10 protected and Utah is currently tanking to keep their pick.

Utah isn't making alot of sense. They were among the top records in the west over a large sample size, but decided to tank for a 10th pick in a weak draft instead?

And seeing that's their plan, why didn't they trade Clarkson and Sexton at the deadline?

Clarkson is having a horrible season and had no value, they didn't get the deal they wanted for Sexton it seems.

The Jazz are trying to tank, but also sell high on all of their vets and it's really weird and not getting them very valuable assets.

Knowing Ainge, he probably wanted 3 1st rounders for Sexton

[durden_tyler]

Don't do an Ainge. Make sure you flip them over for actual contributing win-now assets. Especially the next 2-3 years when that title window is wide open...

[Up-And-Coming]

They should definitely consolidate and trade it imo. They already have their core and more than a handful of young prospects to try and feed minutes for development.

[HotelVitale]

The 2024 draft is going to to be the worst draft in over twenty years. Besides, the Rockets pick is top four protected.

That pick is worthless. They’re most likely drafting a role player with that pick.

This draft looks like it lacks superstars but it has a bunch of very good prospects. To act like a top 10 pick is worthless because you are most likely drafting a solid role player is just dumb. The thunder have their stars so what they need are really good role players so this draft is perfect for them.

True but the premise that they're probably getting a nice role player with a later lotto pick doesn't seem right. 'Pretty nice roleplaying prospect' simply does not mean 'will definitely became very solid roleplayer,' draft outcomes are much much more variable and less predictable than that. The most likely outcome for a later lotto pick--even a more roleplaying/specialist one--is 'no longer on your team in 4 years,' i.e. not yet fully busted out of the league but not a good rotation guy for a good team (at least not quickly enough to be useful to the drafting team). There are significantly more Jaxson Hayes and Frank Ntilikinas and Denzel Valentines who totally fail at their role than guys who end up being steady specialists (like e.g. Cason Wallace and D Lively seem to be so far).

On the flipside some picks in that zone who people are like 'he seems like he'll be a solid 5th starter or tough seventh man' end up becoming significantly better. Think recently of guys like Mikal, Booker, Herro, D Mitchell. We really just don't know how players will translate at all, let alone develop within 3-5 years, and it's really pretty rare that players end up playing (and playing well) the role that espn draft guys mention as their destiny on draft night by their 3rd-4th season.

[Snakebites]

Lottery picks are never "worthless". There's always teams that would love to add young, controllable talent, even if it's not quite the caliber that it is in a normal draft.

[QMemphis]

The obvious trade will be Giddey, Rockets pick, Heat pick, 2024 Utah pick, or 2025 1st next year if the pick doesn't convey for Lauri Markkannen. They can give Lauri an extension this summer with their cap space on a descending deal that will allow them to extend Chet and JDub the following 2025 offseason.

It's hard to imagine a star trade between Ainge and Presti. I would pay to witness the negotiations. It's like when Manu and Harden bumped into each other and both flopped. Just two absolute legends at the top of their game going at it.

Also, if I were Utah I'd keep Lauri.

I think Presti is better and hopefully learns from his mistake. The window can close quickly if the right moves aren’t made.

[HotelVitale]

They traded Tre Mann and Poku will likely be off the team next year. If they do end up with 2 lotto picks I think it's reasonable to keep the bench stocked with developmental players who can potentially be cheap contributors in a few years when the team starts to get expensive. Or who knows maybe they end up drafting another Jalen Williams in the late lotto and have a good problem on their hands. But Presti can afford to be opportunistic - if a star becomes available that fits he can make a move, but I don't think he's desperate to

Yeah I think that's the play, be aggressive on the phones but also know you don't have to make a trade and can still win big by making the picks. Like I just said your odds are more than 50% that each picked guy is pretty worthless to you within their rook deals, but if you win one of those and end up with a 21 year-old starting quality guy (or better) you've suddenly got either an excellent cost-controlled guy for your now-expensive roster or else a really strong trade chip. Guy with less job security might not love the odds (and might fear looking stupid if they lose the gamble) but Presti seems to get the game and be up for trying his hand at it.

[Black Jack]

The obvious trade will be Giddey, Rockets pick, Heat pick, 2024 Utah pick, or 2025 1st next year if the pick doesn't convey for Lauri Markkannen. They can give Lauri an extension this summer with their cap space on a descending deal that will allow them to extend Chet and JDub the following 2025 offseason.

It's hard to imagine a star trade between Ainge and Presti. I would pay to witness the negotiations. It's like when Manu and Harden bumped into each other and both flopped. Just two absolute legends at the top of their game going at it.

Also, if I were Utah I'd keep Lauri.

I think Presti is better and hopefully learns from his mistake. The window can close quickly if the right moves aren’t made.

Ainge's weakness is drafting. Presti it's hard to fully evaluate but letting Harden go still hurts, we lost what should have been a classic team. also post Harden, I never understood why they surrounded KD and Russ with so many non shooters, Morey definitely made some strange moves during that era.

the current OKC warchest / positioning is just incredible. I don't think I've seen a team with this level of 3 young stars / soon to be stars and other assets. they legit could do something like add KAT this offseason. it's all about capology.

[Papi_swav]

Trade Giddey and picks for a 4