2025 Regular Season Thread Vol. 7 - It’s about to go down

[AirP.]

Cant wait to see how many firsts we get our greedy hands on!

Been crunching scenarios that get us max value with picks but unfortunately it involves Jovic heading to the Suns with Butler. This would then trigger Warriors and Suns giving us picks in order to complete the deal. Butler and Jovic is an exact match that even remotely makes this worth while for the Suns for Durant as it gives them there starting 4 in Jovic at 2.4 million and Butler at SF.

I expect 1 or 2 of those bad 3 picks from the Utah trade which will probably be the worst 1sts Phoenix will have available during this trade. Phoenix will want to recoup some draft assets for KD and probably make the Suns a better "team".

From the Phoenix side I'm looking at this...
They overpaid GREATLY for KD.
They underpaid to get Beal but have to keep him.

KD didn't work and now it's time to recoup some of the assets and try to compete while in the tax (they're in the tax pretty much no matter what for a few years).

Now... they're paying a ton of salary; a ton of tax and KD/Booker/Beal and isn't working nor should it with all 3 being volume scorers.

Plan A: Phoenix wanted to fix the 3 max paid volume scorers by bringing in a do two-way guy in Butler for relatively cheap asset wise for Beal and get KD to extend, that doesn't look like it's viable so now they're into Plan B.

Plan B: Change the 3 volume scorers to 2 volume scorers by moving KD or Booker (since Beal can block everything), get some draft assets back while getting Butler relatively cheap asset wise.

What I kind of expect if
Butler -> Phoenix
KD -> GS
Wiggins or Draymond + some other salaries going to a 4th and/or 5th team for more draft assets Phoenix
Expiring's + 1-2 1sts 1-3 2nds ->Miami

So overall...
Suns get Butler and draft assets
GS gets KD
Teams 4 & 5 get Wiggins or Draymond and some younger players they like
Miami gets rid of Butler, gets some expiring contracts before 2026 and 1-2 1st and possibly some 2nds.

I think this is what Miami fans wanted but seeing KD in the trade, they probably expect more even though it's Phoenix moving him in this type of scenario.

Then again... Phoenix could just not acquire Butler and do this type of deal without Miami and look to get some help for Booker and Beal along with the assets to make a different move this summer.

If something like this goes down, Phoenix and GS need to make more moves before the deadline is up which Phoenix is already looking into doing with Nurk and probably one of the 1sts it got from Utah.

[Rapaz]

If KD is on the move, its to Golden State

Yes, I can’t see the soft snek dealing well with Riley’s iron fist.

So sad for y’all.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Rozier and highsmith

Trade checker scenario I've been working on has Rozier and Highsmith heading to the Wizards. Brogden would be coming here and Valencuinas to the Warriors. Kuminga, Wiggins, and Brogden would be heading here with multiple 1st rd picks.

If Jovic and Ware are on the table, I'd rather send Durant to you guys. You'd still have J³, Herro and Bam.

Ware is not on the table and because of the way your books are structured you are only allowed to take on Butler and Jovic in order to make a trade legal. You guys are not even close to being able to aggregate players and the most you have is a 3.2 million trade exception that even makes it even remotely possible to be able to take in Jovic.

[greg4012]

Get a 2027 pick and maintain flexibility.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Cant wait to see how many firsts we get our greedy hands on!

Been crunching scenarios that get us max value with picks but unfortunately it involves Jovic heading to the Suns with Butler. This would then trigger Warriors and Suns giving us picks in order to complete the deal. Butler and Jovic is an exact match that even remotely makes this worth while for the Suns for Durant as it gives them there starting 4 in Jovic at 2.4 million and Butler at SF.

I expect 1 or 2 of those bad 3 picks from the Utah trade which will probably be the worst 1sts Phoenix will have available during this trade. Phoenix will want to recoup some draft assets for KD and probably make the Suns a better "team".

From the Phoenix side I'm looking at this...
They overpaid GREATLY for KD.
They underpaid to get Beal but have to keep him.

KD didn't work and now it's time to recoup some of the assets and try to compete while in the tax (they're in the tax pretty much no matter what for a few years).

Now... they're paying a ton of salary; a ton of tax and KD/Booker/Beal and isn't working nor should it with all 3 being volume scorers.

Plan A: Phoenix wanted to fix the 3 max paid volume scorers by bringing in a do two-way guy in Butler for relatively cheap asset wise for Beal and get KD to extend, that doesn't look like it's viable so now they're into Plan B.

Plan B: Change the 3 volume scorers to 2 volume scorers, get some draft assets back while getting Butler relatively cheap asset wise.

What I kinda expect if
Butler -> Phoenix and
KD -> GS
Wiggins or Draymond + some other salaries going to a 4th and/or 5th team for more draft assets Phoenix while moving some 1-2 year contracted players to Miami.

So overall...
Suns get Butler and draft assets
GS gets KD
Teams 4 & 5 get Wiggins or Draymond and some younger players they like
Miami gets rid of Butler, gets some expiring contracts before 2026 and 1-2 1st and possibly some 2nds.

I think this is what Miami fans wanted but seeing KD in the trade, they probably expect more even though it's Phoenix moving him in this type of scenario.

Then again... Phoenix could just not acquire Butler and do this type of deal without Miami and look to get some help for Booker and Beal along with the assets to make a different move this summer.

Run the numbers into the trade checker. There's a very tight window on getting any trade to be legal. We can throw out all these names but Suns being bogged down into the 2nd apron make thing's very complicated unless they are taking in much less in salary. If Suns are looking at getting Butler then that takes up the majority of the salary they are able to take in by sending out Durant. Jovic is the only possible player that makes it work for the Suns unless they go in a completely different direction from getting Butler but then that will leave us screwed.

[wadenation305]

Rozier and highsmith

Trade checker scenario I've been working on has Rozier and Highsmith heading to the Wizards. Brogden would be coming here and Valencuinas to the Warriors. Kuminga, Wiggins, and Brogden would be heading here with multiple 1st rd picks.

If Jovic and Ware are on the table, I'd rather send Durant to you guys. You'd still have J³, Herro and Bam.

No go on Ware, Jovic as much as it hurts.... we can talk. But we just got Ware after years of searching for him, we are not giving him up for 36 year old Durant

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Read on Twitter

As we know

[MettaWorldPanda]

The only way we can justify including Jovic in any deal is if we are getting a similar young player back in return and 1st rd picks. Does Kuminga and multiple 1st rd picks meet the criteria? There's many scenarios with that combination that seem to be very agreeable.

[Slim Charless]

Trade checker scenario I've been working on has Rozier and Highsmith heading to the Wizards. Brogden would be coming here and Valencuinas to the Warriors. Kuminga, Wiggins, and Brogden would be heading here with multiple 1st rd picks.

If Jovic and Ware are on the table, I'd rather send Durant to you guys. You'd still have J³, Herro and Bam.

Wouldve been nice to have Durant about 10 years ago.

I doubt Ware is on the table at this point. Too much team upside with him on the roster.

I still think it's a 3 way with us, you and the Dubs so you'd keep your youth in that scenario. I'm just saying that if we were to deal with you guys 1 on 1, that's a good deal.

As for the youth, you'll still have JJJ, plus with Durant here you'd be a lock for a top seed and might win a chip.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

If Jimmy was locked in and staying I’d unload any assets available if it meant we’d be left with Bam KD Jimmy and Herro after.

[wadenation305]

For all the Lurkers and other interested parties. We know you really like Ware, and so do we. He's not leaving the Heat. We searched for years for someone like him next to Bam, and now we have him on a very cost controlled contract. If you're not offering an SGA level player. Ware is staying right where he is.

[MettaWorldPanda]

If Jovic and Ware are on the table, I'd rather send Durant to you guys. You'd still have J³, Herro and Bam.

Wouldve been nice to have Durant about 10 years ago.

I doubt Ware is on the table at this point. Too much team upside with him on the roster.

I still think it's a 3 way with us, you and the Dubs so you'd keep your youth in that scenario. I'm just saying that if we were to deal with you guys 1 on 1, that's a good deal.

As for the youth, you'll still have JJJ, plus with Durant here you'd be a lock for a top seed and might win a chip.

No matter what the scenario we couldn’t make a legal 1 on 1 trade with it being nothing more then Butler and Jovic due to the rules

[Umbooki]

Yeah, you don't give up a rookie 7 footer putting up 15/10 statlines unless you're getting back someone that puts you over the top.

[BlueHeat]

Is today the day, fellas?

[Rapaz]

Is today the day, fellas?

Absolutely not.

[BBallFreak]

We're not in a position be trading Jovic. I just don't see any incentive for us to do that unless he's turning Rozier into a good player.

I think, for Miami, it's about Butler for Wiggins, Schroeder, filler, and a first if we can get it

[SerialChiller]

I'm just glad this (trade talk/possibilities) is ending one way or another for the season soon. If Butler's still here after which is starting to seem likely, it'll be unfortunate but at least we won't have to hear about Beal and such every day anymore.

[AirP.]

Been crunching scenarios that get us max value with picks but unfortunately it involves Jovic heading to the Suns with Butler. This would then trigger Warriors and Suns giving us picks in order to complete the deal. Butler and Jovic is an exact match that even remotely makes this worth while for the Suns for Durant as it gives them there starting 4 in Jovic at 2.4 million and Butler at SF.

Spoiler:

I expect 1 or 2 of those bad 3 picks from the Utah trade which will probably be the worst 1sts Phoenix will have available during this trade. Phoenix will want to recoup some draft assets for KD and probably make the Suns a better "team".

From the Phoenix side I'm looking at this...
They overpaid GREATLY for KD.
They underpaid to get Beal but have to keep him.

KD didn't work and now it's time to recoup some of the assets and try to compete while in the tax (they're in the tax pretty much no matter what for a few years).

Now... they're paying a ton of salary; a ton of tax and KD/Booker/Beal and isn't working nor should it with all 3 being volume scorers.

Plan A: Phoenix wanted to fix the 3 max paid volume scorers by bringing in a do two-way guy in Butler for relatively cheap asset wise for Beal and get KD to extend, that doesn't look like it's viable so now they're into Plan B.

Plan B: Change the 3 volume scorers to 2 volume scorers, get some draft assets back while getting Butler relatively cheap asset wise.

What I kinda expect if
Butler -> Phoenix and
KD -> GS
Wiggins or Draymond + some other salaries going to a 4th and/or 5th team for more draft assets Phoenix while moving some 1-2 year contracted players to Miami.

So overall...
Suns get Butler and draft assets
GS gets KD
Teams 4 & 5 get Wiggins or Draymond and some younger players they like
Miami gets rid of Butler, gets some expiring contracts before 2026 and 1-2 1st and possibly some 2nds.

I think this is what Miami fans wanted but seeing KD in the trade, they probably expect more even though it's Phoenix moving him in this type of scenario.

Then again... Phoenix could just not acquire Butler and do this type of deal without Miami and look to get some help for Booker and Beal along with the assets to make a different move this summer.

Run the numbers into the trade checker. There's a very tight window on getting any trade to be legal. We can throw out all these names but Suns being bogged down into the 2nd apron make thing's very complicated unless they are taking in much less in salary. If Suns are looking at getting Butler then that takes up the majority of the salary they are able to take in by sending out Durant. Jovic is the only possible player that makes it work for the Suns unless they go in a completely different direction from getting Butler but then that will leave us screwed.

There are ways and of course it's going to have limited options, but there's ways for Miami and Phoenix to also get some tax savings in there too which will be part of their incentives. I have one scenario where Miami could get back B.Brown, Olynyk and Schroeder while getting something in draft assets for Butler and possibly a small contract like Richardson or Burks which fixes some issues, Miami could give Brown a 1+team option to get another year of him and make him a trade asset as an expiring next year. Miami would probably send out another small contract to get even more tax savings.

I think shaving off some tax money this year will be a sizable (more than fans will want) incentive for Miami.

[MettaWorldPanda]

We're not in a position be trading Jovic. I just don't see any incentive for us to do that unless he's turning Rozier into a good player.

I think, for Miami, it's about Butler for Wiggins, Schroeder, filler, and a first if we can get it

The easiest path without including Jovic is definitely just dealing with Warriors and getting a third or 4th team to take in the excess. Was just trying to get to the bottom of the Durant to Heat or Warriors scenarios to make it realistic without all these names getting thrown out in trade without anyone doing the leg work to see if it’s even possible witch probably 9 out of these 10 wild ass guesses are not. It’s like Kendrick Perkins spitting out random chit and Bobby Marks and Shams laughing at him.

[Hoops3355]

Rozier and highsmith

Trade checker scenario I've been working on has Rozier and Highsmith heading to the Wizards. Brogden would be coming here and Valencuinas to the Warriors. Kuminga, Wiggins, and Brogden would be heading here with multiple 1st rd picks.

If Jovic and Ware are on the table, I'd rather send Durant to you guys. You'd still have J³, Herro and Bam.

Again they aren't.