2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part II

[mkot]

Part I here: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2401723

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Ghost of Kleine]

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An example of why I'd want J Green back in a Booker to Houston trade, So he can replace a fair amount of the production that we'd lose trading Booker. And has higher end elite athleticism, and is more aggressive/ fearless in big moments. He has the irrational confidence and killer mentality.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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[Slim Charless]

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An example of why I'd want J Green back in a Booker to Houston trade, So he can replace a fair amount of the production that we'd lose trading Booker. And has higher end elite athleticism, and is more aggressive/ fearless in big moments. He has the irrational confidence and killer mentality.

He's almost gonna have to be in the deal. His 33m is needed to bridge the gap in salary. Plus him and Book play the same position. For that reason alone, he's gone. I would assume to here.

That's fine. I'd rather have Amen or Sengun but they might be pretty hard to steal away. Green is young and can put up buckets. Between him and Whitmore, there's not much room for others lol.

[bwgood77]

It's funny you could ask who inherited a better team, Sarver 2004 Suns (hadn't done anything prior to that year but signed Nash, Q) traded draft pick. To think how mad I was we didn't just keep the pick, extend JJ and draft Iguodala and not sign Q..would have avoided a lot of stuff..having to offload Q for Kurt Thomas and then him for 2 firsts, etc...that was all really a result of signing Q to a huge contract to start with.

However, going into his 3rd year of ownership, was the year of Nash, the bloody nose, Donaghy, Horry hip check, that brutal series. How pissed we all were.

Good times....

Then Ishbia inherits a mostly young team that went to the finals, then won 64 games and had all their picks to make themselves even more relevant for a long time. Maybe they peaked a bit higher than they should have but still had a lot to look forward to....and then, one night at a bar, the day after a press conference saying he will not sacrifice the future for the present, we trade all our picks and 3 rotation players (two young very solid ones) for a 35 year old declining star who had just tried with a big 3 superteam that was a massive failure.

Amazing how things can go so bad so fast.

[bwgood77]

If we stay the course as we most likely will, and sacrifice more future for now? We could do worse than getting this guy for the minimum...(from espn article about biggest surprise and disappointing players).

Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls

Frankly, it's a surprise Ball is even on the court at all after missing the past 2½ years with knee problems. But what's more remarkable is that, now that he has returned, Ball has immediately begun making the kinds of contributions to winning that he did before injuries derailed his career.

While his numbers aren't eye-popping, this stat is: Chicago is a full 10 points per 100 possessions better with Ball on the court this season than when he's off, making him an intriguing possibility for teams as a free agent this summer.

"When he plays, he's very impactful," an executive said.

"Someone is going to get him next year and look smart," another exec said.

[Ghost of Kleine]

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An example of why I'd want J Green back in a Booker to Houston trade, So he can replace a fair amount of the production that we'd lose trading Booker. And has higher end elite athleticism, and is more aggressive/ fearless in big moments. He has the irrational confidence and killer mentality.

He's almost gonna have to be in the deal. His 33m is needed to bridge the gap in salary. Plus him and Book play the same position. For that reason alone, he's gone. I would assume to here.

That's fine. I'd rather have Amen or Sengun but they might be pretty hard to steal away. Green is young and can put up buckets. Between him and Whitmore, there's not much room for others lol.

I know.....right? I mean I see some people suggesting Van Vleet or Brooks and smaller pieces back in a deal like we'd want that back as a rebuilding team for giving up our ALL NBA franchise player/ top 3 SG in the entire league. Besides, They're going to want to keep their vets in Van Vleet and Brooks. Van Vleet to playmaker so Booker can play at his optimal and natural position. and Brooks to defend at the 3 interchangeably with Amen. Then they'll look to maybe use Van Vleets' ($44 million TO) in a trade for more pieces to contend with Booker under Udoka. Now they'd likely make Amen untouchable because they'll want to remain strong defensively with Booker being more of an offensive player by far. And they'll want to mitigate his inadequacies by surrounding him with defenders, especially knowing Udoka.

For my part, I believe that Whitmore has Jerry Stackhouse/ DeMar DeRozan-type fringe star potential that we can showcase for another trade, or to replace Beal in a microwave 6th man role if kept. And of course, Eason has Jerami Grant/Aaron Gordon-type potential. So he alongside of Dunn, h could give us an elite suffocating defensive wing duo. This along with getting our picks back would be a very solid recovery package in a Booker trade.

[mkot]

Amen unlocks alot of their potential in their lineup, he is their version of Iguodala or Aaron Gordon on a championship team, I doubt they give him up.

[TeamTragic]

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Book/Beal mentally soft in general.

[dremill24]

Master of Tweets indeed

[Calvin Klein]

It's funny you could ask who inherited a better team, Sarver 2004 Suns (hadn't done anything prior to that year but signed Nash, Q) traded draft pick. To think how mad I was we didn't just keep the pick, extend JJ and draft Iguodala and not sign Q..would have avoided a lot of stuff..having to offload Q for Kurt Thomas and then him for 2 firsts, etc...that was all really a result of signing Q to a huge contract to start with.

However, going into his 3rd year of ownership, was the year of Nash, the bloody nose, Donaghy, Horry hip check, that brutal series. How pissed we all were.

Good times....

Then Ishbia inherits a mostly young team that went to the finals, then won 64 games and had all their picks to make themselves even more relevant for a long time. Maybe they peaked a bit higher than they should have but still had a lot to look forward to....and then, one night at a bar, the day after a press conference saying he will not sacrifice the future for the present, we trade all our picks and 3 rotation players (two young very solid ones) for a 35 year old declining star who had just tried with a big 3 superteam that was a massive failure.

Amazing how things can go so bad so fast.

I don't know about you all but to me, the moment they reported Isiah having a role in the front office, then the backlash, and then the backtracking...it was a HUGE red flag.
Then the Durant trade right away. Ugh.... We didn't even have a moment to feel hopeful. It was instant disappointment after years and years of wishing Sarver would sell. Not even a full day of hope.

[TeamTragic]

It's funny you could ask who inherited a better team, Sarver 2004 Suns (hadn't done anything prior to that year but signed Nash, Q) traded draft pick. To think how mad I was we didn't just keep the pick, extend JJ and draft Iguodala and not sign Q..would have avoided a lot of stuff..having to offload Q for Kurt Thomas and then him for 2 firsts, etc...that was all really a result of signing Q to a huge contract to start with.

However, going into his 3rd year of ownership, was the year of Nash, the bloody nose, Donaghy, Horry hip check, that brutal series. How pissed we all were.

Good times....

Then Ishbia inherits a mostly young team that went to the finals, then won 64 games and had all their picks to make themselves even more relevant for a long time. Maybe they peaked a bit higher than they should have but still had a lot to look forward to....and then, one night at a bar, the day after a press conference saying he will not sacrifice the future for the present, we trade all our picks and 3 rotation players (two young very solid ones) for a 35 year old declining star who had just tried with a big 3 superteam that was a massive failure.

Amazing how things can go so bad so fast.

I don't know about you all but to me, the moment they reported Isiah having a role in the front office, then the backlash, and then the backtracking...it was a HUGE red flag.
Then the Durant trade right away. Ugh.... We didn't even have a moment to feel hopeful. It was instant disappointment after years and years of wishing Sarver would sell. Not even a full day of hope.

Well if you want Ishbia to sell the team then you hope IT makes all the decisions and this team misses the playoffs.

[sunskerr]

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An example of why I'd want J Green back in a Booker to Houston trade, So he can replace a fair amount of the production that we'd lose trading Booker. And has higher end elite athleticism, and is more aggressive/ fearless in big moments. He has the irrational confidence and killer mentality.

He's almost gonna have to be in the deal. His 33m is needed to bridge the gap in salary. Plus him and Book play the same position. For that reason alone, he's gone. I would assume to here.

That's fine. I'd rather have Amen or Sengun but they might be pretty hard to steal away. Green is young and can put up buckets. Between him and Whitmore, there's not much room for others lol.

I've enjoyed watching Greens highlights these last few weeks. But he's done this before and it always fades away.

That being said he's 100% the must have if they reject Amen as an ask. If we get green we can help further his development by just putting the ball in his hands the next two years when we tank hard. Hopefully he'd figure out some point guard skills then.

[mkot]

I've enjoyed watching Greens highlights these last few weeks. But he's done this before and it always fades away.

That being said he's 100% the must have if they reject Amen as an ask. If we get green we can help further his development by just putting the ball in his hands the next two years when we tank hard. Hopefully he'd figure out some point guard skills then.

Or we can do what the Spurs did to Murray, give him the ball and let him cook while tanking, then sign him to a big contract and flip him to a playoff team that got tricked into his inflated stats and believe he is worth 4 FRPs

[sunskerr]

I've enjoyed watching Greens highlights these last few weeks. But he's done this before and it always fades away.

That being said he's 100% the must have if they reject Amen as an ask. If we get green we can help further his development by just putting the ball in his hands the next two years when we tank hard. Hopefully he'd figure out some point guard skills then.

Or we can do what the Spurs did to Murray, give him the ball and let him cook while tanking, then sign him to a big contract and flip him to a playoff team that got tricked into his inflated stats and believe he is worth 4 FRPs

Also extremely valid. Keep all options open. Eventually we'll be the ones to get a swindle trade our way.

Spoiler:

maybe not with Jones as GM you just know he'd be the one attaching picks

[Mulhollanddrive]

Looking at Jalen Green's stats he hasnt improved at all in 4 years. This season is his 3rd ranked season in shooting percentages. He is a team worst -7.9 points on court vs off court.

Can he learn the game more so he can use his athleticism to be a good player, thats a maybe and why Houston think hes tradable and signed for 33m.

Id rather get picks and free agents, teams off loading their Josh Jacksons to us isnt very appealling.

[Slim Charless]

Looking at Jalen Green's stats he hasnt improved at all in 4 years. This season is his 3rd ranked season in shooting percentages.

Can he learn the game more so he can use his athleticism to be a good player, thats a maybe and why Houston think hes tradable and signed for 33m.

Id rather get picks and free agents, teams off loading their Josh Jacksons to us isnt very appealling.

He's better than Josh Jackson. By a lot. At worst case, he's a spark off the bench and perennial 6MOTY candidate. That's the least he can be.

I think he's a #3 or #4 option if we're looking ahead (way ahead) to a title team. Like he'd be a great balance to someone whose a big and needs a guy in the back court to balance out. Think Jamal Murray in their title year to Jokic. Obviously finding your Joker will be the challenge.

You get my point though. Also, and maybe our stat guys can help me out here but I think he and Jabari Smith played very well together when they shared the court. Which is key as I think he'd be an easy throw-in if we're doing this. Houston probably doesn't value him as much as and Eason fits a Booker/Sengun centric team anyways. We can sneak Jabari into the trade with little difficulty.

I'd like to get Reed Sheppard as well, but I think Houston has visions of him taking over for FVV in a year. So whatever, those 2 guys, our picks and another prospect.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Amen unlocks alot of their potential in their lineup, he is their version of Iguodala or Aaron Gordon on a championship team, I doubt they give him up.

Which is why I'm pivoting to Jalen Green, Eason, Whitmore, and our picks back. That's honestly a very reasonable offer for the Rockets to land a player of Bookers' caliber. And of course, I'm following this trade up with a KD trade to one of:

1-DENVER
KD for Michael Porter Jr/ Saric/ Westbrook/ Christian Braun/ Day'ron Holmes/ Hunter Tyson/ DEN 26' 1st/ DEN 2030 1st.

2- OKC
KD for Hartenstein/ Caruso/ Dieng/ Topic/ UTA 25' 1st ( protected 1-10). DAL 28' 1st.

3- Golden State
KD for D Green/ D Schroder/ I Moody/ Looney/ 28' 1st/ 2031 1st.

4- MINNESOTA
KD for Randle/ Reid/ Ingles/ Minott/ MINN 28' 1st/ MINN 30' 1st/ MINN 25' and 31' 2nds.

5- MEMPHIS
KD for Smart/ Clarke/ Kennard (sign 'n' trade- 18/2 years in free agency)/ Aldama/ La Ravia/ Jackson/ MEM 28' 1st/ MEM 30 1st via PHX or WAS/ 25' 2nd via HOU or OKC/ ATL 27' 2nd (no protections).

Then once we start our rebuild and Beal asks out/ waives his no-trade clause, I'll trade him to Orlando or Chicago:

- ORLANDO
Beal for Isaac/Wagner/ DeSilva/ Houston/ DEN 25' 1st (1-5 protected)/ ORL 27' 1st / ORL 25' 2nd.

- CHICAGO
Beal for Ball sign 'n' trade in free agency)/ Vucevic/ Torrey Craig (for James Jones )/ Carter/ CHI 26' 1st (Lottery protected)/ CHI 28' 2nd/ CHI 31' 2nd.