Moves if your team gets Flagg?

[VCfor3]

If Memphis gets him then that means the next few weeks for us went REALLY badly. We probably mostly run it back though with a new big four of Ja/Bane/Flagg/JJJ. I could see us trying to swap out some of our youth for a better vet to add to the mix but I don't know exactly what we'd look for. Maybe try for a third year to get Cam Johnson to slot between Flagg and JJJ when we aren't using Edey or Clarke as the second big? We probably have to use Clarke for salary in such a deal or use Santi in a S&T.

[lordjeff05]

Yeah its super straight forward for the Pels. You trade Zion for assets, consider trading CJ for stop gap point guard and you roll with Flagg, Missi, Murphy Herb and whoever plays the 1.

Eh, could just as easily say add Flagg to the Zion-Trey-Herb core and compete for a top playoff spot next year.

Sure, if say the Nets offer a top-10 pick and the full Bridges pick package- then flip Zion. But outside outside of that team/offer, it's doubtful they would get a return better than the option of keeping Z.

Yeah I completely get that, and agree that we would be unlikely of getting an adequate return for Z. Having said that, I think it would be good to start fresh, with a clearer strategy and path, both for Flagg and the team as a whole. Part of the thing that has hampered the progress of both Zion and the team has been a lack of clear path. Some of that has been due to injuries, but it has been other things too, like trying to get talented players who aren't clearly a fit to play together. Zion has had different roles and different expectations and it has affected the team.

Zion's upside is still so high that it doesn't make sense to give up on him unless continuing to play him has the potential to affect the upside of another equally great player. I think that's where we are. I don't know if Flagg has the same ceiling but he does have a VERY high ceiling and fewer injury concerns that could prevent him from hitting that ceiling. I don't want to mess that up trying to get him to fit with another superstar like Zion with a more limited fit. Keeping Zion creates all kind of fit concerns. Do you start Zion at the 1, do you bench Flagg or perhaps play either one of them out of position at the 5.., none of that is ideal. I think its best to start fresh even if the return is limited. That type of argument is crap if you aren't getting a prospect of Flagg's caliber but it makes sense in this situation.

Initially I thought we should trade Trey and Herb too in that scenario, but I don't so anymore. Pair Flagg with Missi who will have his back on defense, start Jose or Elf or get a stop gap point guard that doesn't cost real assets. Give Flagg playing time but also a clear role and see how fast he can figure it out. I love CJ but I'd rather a real point guard who can set up the offense and get the right looks rather than a score first guard. Also I'd keep Olynyk and Bruce Brown as good vets. Kelly can space the floor a bit for Flagg as he works to get his 3 point shot up to NBA standards.

[Daddy 801]

If the Jazz get Flagg they should continue to tank. If the Jazz don’t get Flagg they should continue to tank…ever harder.

[CallMeKahn]

If the Jazz got Flagg, I'm not really sure there's much they'd do beyond maybe moving a vet or two to help with minutes for Collier. Add Flagg to a core that includes Lauri, Kessler, Collier, Filipowski, Sexy, and Collins, and Utah is starting to look very nice. That's a bit of a scary front court to deal with.

[MoreyWins]

If Houston gets Flagg they'll probably run the team roster back another season with minimal changes.

[nate33]

If the Wizards get Flagg, I'd probably try and see if I could make a trade with NY to increase the protections on the 2026 pick owed to them. (It is currently just top 8 protected.) Maybe send them Champagnie (a good rotation player locked into a vet minimum contract, the kind of player NY needs) to push that protection from top 8 to top 20 or so. I think the Wizards will still be bad with Flagg next year, but if they turn the corner in the second half of the season and start to win games, I'd rather see them try and play hard rather than intentionally tank and develop a losers mentality.

Other than that, I wouldn't change too much. I'd obviously keep an eye out for any trades where we could trade our vets (Middleton, Smart, Poole, Kispert, Bey) for picks, but mostly I'd just roll with the young guys (Carrington, AJ Johnson, Bilal, Kyshawn, Flagg, Sarr) and see what happens. There's a lot of defensive potential there, but the offense should be bad enough to ensure at least one more lotto appearance.

[Xman]

[quote="nate33"]If the Wizards get Flagg, I'd probably try and see if I could make a trade with NY to increase the protections on the 2026 pick owed to them. (It is currently just top 8 protected.) Maybe send them Champagnie (a good rotation player locked into a vet minimum contract, the kind of player NY needs) to push that protection from top 8 to top 20 or so. I think the Wizards will still be bad with Flagg next year, but if they turn the corner in the second half of the season and start to win games, I'd rather see them try and play hard rather than intentionally tank and develop a losers mentality.

Other than that, I wouldn't change too much. I'd obviously keep an eye out for any trades where we could trade our vets (Middleton, Smart, Poole, Kispert, Bey) for picks, but mostly I'd just roll with the young guys (Carrington, AJ Johnson, Bilal, Kyshawn, Flagg, Sarr) and see what happens. There's a lot of defensive potential there, but the offense should be bad enough to ensure at least one more lotto appearance.[/quote]

I see the logic in getting the pick back. The Houston rebuild took forever and established bad habits in the young players before the right coach was brought in and the attitudes were adjusted (also helped bringing in Brooks/Vleet).
NY may have interest in Champ or Kispert but it might take a little overpay (low value first like GS 2030 first protected top 20 - or Memphis pick this year - or 2026 worst of Hou/LAC/OKC - or a few seconds).

[nate33]

I see the logic in getting the pick back. The Houston rebuild took forever and established bad habits in the young players before the right coach was brought in and the attitudes were adjusted (also helped bringing in Brooks/Vleet).
NY may have interest in Champ or Kispert but it might take a little overpay (low value first like GS 2030 first protected top 20 - or Memphis pick this year - or 2026 worst of Hou/LAC/OKC - or a few seconds).

My pitch to NY would be: "Look, If you don't make the trade, we're just going to shamelessly tank to make sure we keep our 2026 FRP. Either way, you're not getting the pick. But by making this trade, you basically get Kispert or Champagnie for nothing."

[Dthrill55]

Kings

Trade LaVine + FRP to ATL for Trae
Trade Derozan to LAL for Rui/Kleber
Let Trey Lyles walk

Trae/Carter
Keon Ellis/Monk
Flagg/Kleber
Murray/Rui
Sabonis/Val

[lpbman]

Houston stays the course either way.

With or without Flagg.

Just add him to what they already have.

Problem is Rox are already 8 deep plus Vleet and Brooks.
Reed had rookie of the year potential and can’t get on the court.
So, moves need to be made.

We let Jack McVeigh go in the offseason, and I'm done. Take all the minutes from Landale and Tate, skim 2 or three minutes from Brooks, Alpi, Tari, Jabari, and roll with it. At least, for one year and see how things go.

[jayu70]

Kings

Trade LaVine + FRP to ATL for Trae
Trade Derozan to LAL for Rui/Kleber
Let Trey Lyles walk

Trae/Carter
Keon Ellis/Monk
Flagg/Kleber
Murray/Rui
Sabonis/Val

Why would the Hawks even consider that?
Awful.

[PistolPeteJR]

Kings

Trade LaVine + FRP to ATL for Trae
Trade Derozan to LAL for Rui/Kleber
Let Trey Lyles walk

Trae/Carter
Keon Ellis/Monk
Flagg/Kleber
Murray/Rui
Sabonis/Val

Both the Hawks and Lakers aren’t interested.
Hawks for obvious reasons, and as for the Lakers, DDR to LAL is dead with Luka there and Reaves continuing to emerge.

[Tim Lehrbach]

If Charlotte gets Flagg then the world will probably end or is ending because we aren't allowed to get that type of player in the draft

I would honestly though offer LaMelo to whoever is picking #2 and take Harper and roll with Harper/Miller/Flagg/Bridges/Williams or Diabate until Flagg gets big enough to play the 4 and then eventually find a 2 and slide Miller to the 3

LaMelo and Flagg would be a great fit in theory, but LaMelo just can't stay healthy

LaMelo is good and Harper is not a can't-miss for most pundits (I do think he's a day-one impact player with legit star upside), but I don't think you're getting that second pick for LaMelo. In addition to the shine that comes with a spiffy new draftee, lots of salary is also going back to Charlotte to match LaMelo's, and that may be hard to cobble together without including something the other team would rather not surrender.

In other news, Blazers GM Cronin trades Ayton and the second pick in the 2025 NBA Draft for LaMelo Ball...

[Tim Lehrbach]

If the circumstances match up, I would love to see Giannis in San Antonio. Smaller market that he'd be used to with weather a little more comparable to Greece. I'd also be morbidly curious to see him and Wemby terrorize the NBA for 5-7 years. Giannis/Wemby/Fox/Vassell is a guaranteed ring at some point and potentially something dynastic.

Spurs
1) Find a long term coach. Pop should step down and take a more relaxed job in the FO
2) Get a young, high level wing who can really shoot. I realize this isn't an easy task, but there's plenty of assets for that: Vassell, Sochan and Keldon Johnson, multiple picks.
3) Get a backup C who's a real rim protector
If Spurs do this and Wemby comes back fully healthy as expected (knock on wood), it's an instant contender.

I don't have a clear read on what the Spurs should or would do if those lucky bastards win the lottery again. What's been the consensus, if it's been discussed at all?

If Wembanyama is healthy, you have to at least consider an offer for an elite player, especially Giannis, if such offers come in, and shoot for immediate domination.

But there are just enough question marks -- Wemby's health, an established star's age, the readiness of the Spurs' supporting cast -- that I expect most front offices, including San Antonio's, would prefer the safe bet. Yes, this seems impossible: I'm calling Flagg over Giannis the "safe" play. Flagg is a projected long-term cornerstone totally independent of Wembanyama, but he also represents a win-now piece for the Wemby core. While the best case "trade for a current superstar" scenario (insta-dynasty) may be more likely to occur than the best case Flagg scenario (extended dynasty), the Flagg possibilities come with almost unlimited upside along with a much bigger window. Any "likely" Flagg outcomes are at least better than the worst case of Father Time coming early for Giannis (which itself isn't especially likely, but it's a fear that enters your mind when contemplating giving up a treasure like Flagg).

As a RealGM with no skin in the game, it's easy for me to say I would take the big swing and (since it's my RealGM universe) cruise to the next five championships. For a real GM or owner, though, consider it this way: nobody can fault you for the trade they'll never know you didn't make. Getting the first pick and drafting Flagg is a no-brainer, autopilot perfect landing. Trading Flagg for anybody, even Giannis, is a gotta-think-really-hard-about-it, white-knuckle ride.

What say you? And, bonus question: how would the Spurs even match salaries in a Giannis trade?

(Also, don't hurt me, Milwaukee fans. If I was on the other side of this, I don't trade Giannis for anybody. I am specifically looking into the SAS POV here.)