7th pick = Trade Down

[PushDaRock]

Trading Jak got us a chip so I’d say we got utility from the pick. Acquiring him again made sense because he was already comfortable here - so again, value.

Reacquiring made him no different than any other player we have acquired in any way, so I don't factor his second run with us as value from the pick. Nor does the title count, because he was an afterthought frontcourt player at that point in his career. We can agree to disagree on that, I'm just clarifying that I did consider these things in my remark.

He was our backup 5 playing 18 mpg on a 59 win team. Calling him an afterthought seems harsh.

[tsherkin]

He was our backup 5 playing 18 mpg on a 59 win team. Calling him an afterthought seems harsh.

18 mpg isn't really a lot. Their were 9 games playing more mpg for us that season. Again, I like Poeltl; his return to us was great, because he was able to flex his ability a lot more... within the bounds of his availability.

[PushDaRock]

He was our backup 5 playing 18 mpg on a 59 win team. Calling him an afterthought seems harsh.

18 mpg isn't really a lot. Their were 9 games playing more mpg for us that season. Again, I like Poeltl; his return to us was great, because he was able to flex his ability a lot more... within the bounds of his availability.

That's pretty misleading to say he had 9 guys play more mpg than him because that was a ridiculously deep team. Jonas was the starting 5 and he was 4th in mpg at 22.4 mpg per game while Jak was 10th in mpg at 18.6 mpg. You might as well call the entire bench mob afterthoughts if that's the criteria but that seems a bit ridiculous to say when the bench was the strength of that team.

[tsherkin]

That's pretty misleading to say he had 9 guys play more mpg than him because that was a ridiculously deep team. Jonas was the starting 5 and he was 4th in mpg at 22.4 mpg per game while Jak was 10th in mpg at 18.6 mpg. You might as well call the entire bench mob afterthoughts if that's the criteria but that seems a bit ridiculous to say when the bench was the strength of that team.

He was 10th on the team in MPG. He was our backup center. He was a roughly 7/5 player, which isn't something particularly special. He was useful, but he was still a pretty run-of-the-mill rotation big. He was picked what, 9th? We didn't extract a ton of value out of him in his first run here. He played 54 games his first season, and had a significantly limited run his second season with us. Then his value became being a component of the Kawhi/Green trade.

Anyway, we clearly have a fundamental disagreement over his utility, so I'll leave it there.

[PushDaRock]

That's pretty misleading to say he had 9 guys play more mpg than him because that was a ridiculously deep team. Jonas was the starting 5 and he was 4th in mpg at 22.4 mpg per game while Jak was 10th in mpg at 18.6 mpg. You might as well call the entire bench mob afterthoughts if that's the criteria but that seems a bit ridiculous to say when the bench was the strength of that team.

He was 10th on the team in MPG. He was our backup center. He was a roughly 7/5 player, which isn't something particularly special. He was useful, but he was still a pretty run-of-the-mill rotation big. He was picked what, 9th? We didn't extract a ton of value out of him in his first run here. He played 54 games his first season, and had a significantly limited run his second season with us. Then his value became being a component of the Kawhi/Green trade.

Anyway, we clearly have a fundamental disagreement over his utility, so I'll leave it there.

The gap between 5th and 10th in mpg that year was 2 mpg.

The bench mob was the strength of that team and Jak was a big part of that, playing every single game that year. The numbers didn't pop off the page certainly but I disagree on the afterthought label.

[tsherkin]

The gap between 5th and 10th in mpg that year was 2 mpg.

The bench mob was the strength of that team and Jak was a big part of that, playing every single game that year. The numbers didn't pop off the page certainly but I disagree on the afterthought label.

Yes, we have identified that we disagree about this.

[bballsparkin]

Has Masai ever traded down? Every year it seems Rap fans say trade down to extract my goodies, it's easy. and it never happens.

[bballsparkin]

I'm not a big fan of trading down unless you have follow-on moves mapped out or don't have minutes to give you a rook. Rather just take the guy you want instead of getting a meh pick.

With that said, I think we should explore trading the pick. For example, if Lamelo was made available, I'd think really hard about packaging a top 10 pick + Barrett/IQ + assets to bring him.

In 5 seasons LaMelo has averaged 46.2 games per season. His team is 16-31 this season when he plays according to statmuse. Big time pass.

[bballsparkin]

Trading down never happens. I can't remember the last time any NBA team traded down except when it's for future picks.

Tatum / Fultz.
Young / Doncic.

So you're expecting to win the lottery? They rarely happen and it's unlikely to happen. MOving on.

[tsherkin]

With that said, I think we should explore trading the pick. For example, if Lamelo was made available, I'd think really hard about packaging a top 10 pick + Barrett/IQ + assets to bring him.

Eeew, no.

He hasn't played 50+ games since 2022, he's an inefficient volume scorer, and his actual offensive impact isn't all that stunning. If he could play 70+ games and shoot a little less (say, on a better team, which is reasonable), his playmaking would be valuable. But he isn't going to play 70+ games, and he likes to shoot, which isn't awesome with his particular skill set. He isn't a desirable player for us. Definitely not worthwhile.

We're better off seeing what Scottie can do with reduced scoring responsibilities and then seeing what that top-10 pick can do for us, what development we can get from the youngins and what Ingram looks like.

[Merit]

Trading down never happens. I can't remember the last time any NBA team traded down except when it's for future picks.

Tatum / Fultz.
Young / Doncic.

Jamison/Carter

[God Squad]

Noa Essengue and Rasheer Fleming.

[mihaic]

after the top 5 it looks murky

masai will look to trade down

young back up + pick in the 10-15 range

Perhaps they will trade up.

[wegotthabeet]

Trading down never happens. I can't remember the last time any NBA team traded down except when it's for future picks.

Tatum / Fultz.
Young / Doncic.

So you're expecting to win the lottery? They rarely happen and it's unlikely to happen. MOving on.

There are dozens of examples. Tractor Tailor (6th) for Dirk (9th), Deron Williams (3rd) for Martell Webster (6th) + 27th.

In 2004 the Suns traded out of the draft completely when picking 7th. The 7th pick for a 2005 unprotected pick from Chicago (picking 3rd). So that’s another option, but it turned into the 21st pick the following year.

Would you trade the 7th for Charlotte’s unprotected 2026 pick?

[Duffman100]

Noa Essengue and Rasheer Fleming.

If we did that Dick for Lively swap and then got Fleming with the 13th. Man that would sweet.

Poeltl / Lively
Barnes / Fleming / Mobgo
Ingram / Ochai / Fleming / Battle
Barrett / Walter / Ochai
Quickley / Shead / #40?

[wegotthabeet]

I’m taking Fears at 7 if he’s on the board still.

It’s more likely we fall to 8th. I would consider trading down from 3 or 4 to the 7-8 range if we move up. Let’s say 4th for 8 + 15 from San Antonio.

If we stay at 7-8 I’d trade the pick for Miami’s two picks (11 & 19) if they were targeting someone specific. Orlando’s two picks (16th and 23rd) is probably not enough, but I’d consider it if I felt I could land two prospects in that range that I really like.

[earth007]

may be wait till the lottery before making these thread?

[Duffman100]

may be wait till the lottery before making these thread?

Meh ... and talk about the remaining 3 games ?

[OakleyDokely]

7th is a good spot. I'm fairly certain we will be able to get a player as good or better than Ace and VJ who imo are being overrated and shouldn't be top 5 locks based on their freshman years.

I think the draft is pretty strong all the way down to about 11-12 so moving down slightly, depending on the offer, might be a decent option.

Guys like Queen, Fears, Jack, Kon, Tre etc could easily end up being top players from this draft and they're all likely to go in the back half of the top 10.

[Duffman100]

7th is a good spot. I'm fairly certain we will be able to get a player better than Ace and VJ who imo are being overrated and shouldn't be top 5 locks based on their freshman years.

I think the draft is pretty strong all the way down to about 11-12 so moving down slightly, depending on the offer, might be a decent option.

Guys like Queen, Fears, Jack, Kon, Tre etc could easily end up being top players from this draft and they're all likely to go in the back half of the top 10.

I'm worried Queen and Fears will jump up to 5 and 6. I could easily see that.