2025 Regular Season Thread Vol. 8

[Beenie]

People wanting Trae over Tyler is funny because it’s just a lateral move. Trae is more ball-dominant and a worse defender. Yes, he’s a better playmaker, but that’s the only clear advantage. He’s not a top-5 guy just a floor-raiser who makes teams mid. Swapping one for the other doesn’t solve anything; it just shifts the same problems around, maybe even creating more. Playing both is a really bad idea.

The only real way forward is to bottom out. There’s no realistic trade that fixes this team’s issues. The best move is to trade Bam and then move Herro, maximizing their return while seeing what Ware, Jović can develop into. They’re young, cheap, and talented.
They also have to wait out a bunch of bad contracts now, Terry, Wiggins, Duncan specifically.

The urgency to trade Bam is high. For five years, we’ve seen that when asked to create offense, he’s inefficient. His defensive skill set is great, but it’s not translating to winning at the highest level. That’s just how the league works—elite offense beats elite defense. On top of that, he’s not an elite rim protector, which is why he needs Ware next to him. His upcoming $50M extension will make him harder to move and lower his trade value even more, while he just keeps the team mid and gets older, they are out of contention for at least 3 years.

As for Tyler, they should move him as soon as they find a good offer. Actively shopping him is the smart play. Extending him, especially if they overpay, would be a disaster. I have serious doubts about his role on a championship team. His defense isn’t at a high level, and his offense, while improved, hasn’t been tested in a true secondary role next to a great shot creator for an extended period, only in stretches this year with Jimmy. That's the only real role left for him where he can be efficient and contribute to winning, not as the lead guy. He is still quite young and can improve and this also equates into his value, I rather not gamble on it.

The path forward is clear: maximize value on Bam and Tyler while pivoting to a rebuild. Anything else is just delaying the inevitable.

1000%

[MettaWorldPanda]

You guys can talk about trading Bam all you want but this FO from top to bottom is in lock step and Bam has done everything that has been asked of him. They also take a lot of pride in guys like Bam representing the franchise. You can talk about it all you want but it’s not happening in the foreseeable future. I could see Tyler being moved if the right deal comes along. We have a lot of money coming off the books soon so the surrounding parts around Bam and Herro are set to change. It’s hard to overcome so much dead money in a salary cap league so hopefully this go around they spend the 60 plus million in current dead weight wisely.

[MettaWorldPanda]

The future roster construction of this team needs to revolve around Bam and Ware. If you look at the current construction of this team the pieces around them are just way too clunky right now. Jovic has been a massive missing piece cause his stretch capability and passing compliments them both greatly.

I view Jovic as a long term piece here as a backup stretch 4 to them but we also need another 3/4 complimentary piece that can easily step into the Jovic role in case of injury. We also need a lot versatility and shooting coming from the guard spots. Tyler is fine but the PG the backup PG and the backup SG all need to be able to shoot and create.

We have way too many one trick ponies right now in Duncan(shoot no defense), Mitchell(defense, some offense and playmaking, unreliable shooting), Highsmith(Feel good story try hard with defense but extremely limited offense and undersized, and JJJ(Sized as a 2/3 but always wants to slash and play in post, not going to work in current Ware/Bam build).

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Still think KD alone would move mountains for the team and then we can evaluate who the final piece of that build would be after seeing it in action but I won’t hold my breathe with this FO.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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MWPs new favorite player and top target for the Heat

[VaDe255]

You guys can talk about trading Bam all you want but this FO from top to bottom is in lock step and Bam has done everything that has been asked of him. They also take a lot of pride in guys like Bam representing the franchise. You can talk about it all you want but it’s not happening in the foreseeable future. I could see Tyler being moved if the right deal comes along. We have a lot of money coming off the books soon so the surrounding parts around Bam and Herro are set to change. It’s hard to overcome so much dead money in a salary cap league so hopefully this go around they spend the 60 plus million in current dead weight wisely.

Maybe they won't right away, but the results will force them to do smth.
What they just gonna fight for the 6th seed every year and not do anything? Doubt that very much.

There is one clear path to do this, the others all rely on unlikely things to happen.

Jimmy was a much bigger difference maker than people realize, he had MVP level seasons for most of his tenure in Miami and made everyone look better including Bam.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

You guys can talk about trading Bam all you want but this FO from top to bottom is in lock step and Bam has done everything that has been asked of him. They also take a lot of pride in guys like Bam representing the franchise. You can talk about it all you want but it’s not happening in the foreseeable future. I could see Tyler being moved if the right deal comes along. We have a lot of money coming off the books soon so the surrounding parts around Bam and Herro are set to change. It’s hard to overcome so much dead money in a salary cap league so hopefully this go around they spend the 60 plus million in current dead weight wisely.

Maybe they won't right away, but the results will force them to do smth.
What they just gonna fight for the 6th seed every year and not do anything? Doubt that very much.

There is one clear path to do this, the others all rely on unlikely things to happen.

Jimmy was a much bigger difference maker than people realize, he had MVP level seasons for most of his tenure in Miami and made everyone look better including Bam.

These last 20 games are whatever post Jimmy is arguably the best stretch of Edrice career, at least one of the better stretches.

But that’s besides the point, you all know how this FO operates. Unless Bam asks out earlier he’ll be here until he’s in the older stages of his career and is due a new contract, at that point we’ll run him out of town. Rinse and repeat.

[VaDe255]

Still think KD alone would move mountains for the team and then we can evaluate who the final piece of that build would be after seeing it in action but I won’t hold my breathe with this FO.

Except Jimmy > KD, yes maybe not talent or scoring wise, but when comes to impacting winning.
Trading for KD and giving up more assets is a really bad idea, a Bam/KD/Herro core isn't getting you past the ECF.

I rather not spend more assets to keep building teams that only have a punchers chance at best.

[DayofMourning]

We could rest KD for the first 36 minutes of every game. Let him play the 4th only. Wed never lose.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Still think KD alone would move mountains for the team and then we can evaluate who the final piece of that build would be after seeing it in action but I won’t hold my breathe with this FO.

Except Jimmy > KD, yes maybe not talent or scoring wise, but when comes to impacting winning.
Trading for KD and giving up more assets is a really bad idea, a Bam/KD/Herro core isn't getting you past the ECF.

I rather not spend more assets to keep building teams that only have a punchers chance at best.

Love Jimmy but I disagree and even if that were the case it’s marginal at best. Trust me, I wish the talks were about adding KD to a Jimmy/Bam core but unfortunately that’s not the case. You all know better than to think this FO is going to blow it up though, they’re going to want a big fish this summer and that urgency will become even higher when we miss the playoffs and give up those unprotected picks to OKC and Charlotte. KD is the first piece, then you need another. Just like how we needed another when we had Jimmy, that doesn’t change

[Beenie]

You guys can talk about trading Bam all you want but this FO from top to bottom is in lock step and Bam has done everything that has been asked of him. They also take a lot of pride in guys like Bam representing the franchise. You can talk about it all you want but it’s not happening in the foreseeable future. I could see Tyler being moved if the right deal comes along. We have a lot of money coming off the books soon so the surrounding parts around Bam and Herro are set to change. It’s hard to overcome so much dead money in a salary cap league so hopefully this go around they spend the 60 plus million in current dead weight wisely.

Building around roles players/ glue guys will never make sense to me.

The outside-in approach of finding/ developing solid role players first and later hoping to land your superstar is counterintuitive to me.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Edrice Adebayo, the first role player to lead Team USA in scoring multiple games on their way to winning the gold medal

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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Offensive and defensive liability threads on Boy Wonder are circulating, viewer discretion is advised.

[jbsays]

Still think KD alone would move mountains for the team and then we can evaluate who the final piece of that build would be after seeing it in action but I won’t hold my breathe with this FO.

If you could get him without having to give up Bam, Herro, Ware, and keep some depth then yeah I like it.

Like I've said before, I don't think Ware is going to be All NBA level. But, he's a good player and going to be on his rookie deal for 4 more years after this season. You're not getting better value for a legit NBA starter than a guy on his rookie deal.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Still think KD alone would move mountains for the team and then we can evaluate who the final piece of that build would be after seeing it in action but I won’t hold my breathe with this FO.

If you could get him without having to give up Bam, Herro, Ware, and keep some depth then yeah I like it.

Like I've said before, I don't think Ware is going to be All NBA level. But, he's a good player and going to be on his rookie deal for 4 more years after this season. You're not getting better value for a legit NBA starter than a guy on his rookie deal.

Yea I would prefer to keep him, if you move him it’s hopefully for someone like Ant along with Herro and/or Wiggins and picks

[DayofMourning]

Ware/Maluach
Bam/Keshad
Wiggins/KD/HS
Herro/Larsson
Davion/Fears

Gone are Rozier, Duncan, Jovic and Jaime. We keep our picks this year, but include two future 1sts for KD.

E. Z.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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If the season ended today we’d have a first round of the play-in matchup against our fathers from Chicago. Even if we win that we’ll have to beat the loser of the Magic/Hawks game on their home court. It’s looking more and more like we’re lottery bound, this team isn’t winning 2 must win games with our current schematics/hierarchy.

This leaves us with a nice amount of assets though:

1st round pick
1st round pick
1st round pick
1st round pick
Ware
Jovic
Jaime
Herro
Wiggins
Duncan’s expiring
Terrys expiring
Andersons expiring

I still feel like we’re underselling our assets, if the FO is locked in they have plenty to work with.

[jbsays]

Ware/Maluach
Bam/Keshad
Wiggins/KD/HS
Herro/Larsson
Davion/Fears

Gone are Rozier, Duncan, Jovic and Jaime. We keep our picks this year, but include two future 1sts for KD.

E. Z.

So you think Suns would trade KD for a package involving those 4? And then KD would be coming off the bench? Is this sarcasm?

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Ware/Maluach
Bam/Keshad
Wiggins/KD/HS
Herro/Larsson
Davion/Fears

Gone are Rozier, Duncan, Jovic and Jaime. We keep our picks this year, but include two future 1sts for KD.

E. Z.

So you think Suns would trade KD for a package involving those 4? And then KD would be coming off the bench? Is this sarcasm?

DOM views KD as our 4th quarter safety valve. When we’re up 20 to start the 4th every game just swap him in and we’ll hold the lead if Spo wants to use him correctly

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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Kevin Durant is a game changer. Edrice gotta stop chucking up those end of clock heaves