Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[jnrjr79]

Interesting nugget I saw on BlueSky from a Pellies writer there: he's heard that if Dumars is hired to be the new GM, his directive from ownership will be to keep the coach and try to trade Zion.

The question on Zion, and moreso for the Pels, is what direction are they looking to go, and if the return on Zion can work towards that.

Like, if I were Phoenix, I would be interested in Durant for Zion + Murray - gets the team younger plus Murray is more a PG. Adding Allen makes it work on trade checker, but maybe you do something like see if Orlando will bite on Bradley Beal for KCP plus some other salary to both NoLa and Phoenix to make it work. I’m not sure Phx is going to get anywhere near what they want for Durant - Zion has immense upside and Phoenix likely the best possible environment (especially if couple with getting out from under Beal’s deal / poor fit).

I get why Phoenix would do it, but I don't see why New Orleans would want Durant (and I'd certainly imagine Durant would not be thrilled to go there). The Pellies seem like they've hit a point where all roads lead to rebuilding.

[Jcool0]

Interesting nugget I saw on BlueSky from a Pellies writer there: he's heard that if Dumars is hired to be the new GM, his directive from ownership will be to keep the coach and try to trade Zion.

The question on Zion, and moreso for the Pels, is what direction are they looking to go, and if the return on Zion can work towards that.

Like, if I were Phoenix, I would be interested in Durant for Zion + Murray - gets the team younger plus Murray is more a PG. Adding Allen makes it work on trade checker, but maybe you do something like see if Orlando will bite on Bradley Beal for KCP plus some other salary to both NoLa and Phoenix to make it work. I’m not sure Phx is going to get anywhere near what they want for Durant - Zion has immense upside and Phoenix likely the best possible environment (especially if couple with getting out from under Beal’s deal / poor fit).

I get why Phoenix would do it, but I don't see why New Orleans would want Durant (and I'd certainly imagine Durant would not be thrilled to go there). The Pellies seem like they've hit a point where all roads lead to rebuilding.

Get a 3rd team involved? Houston throws in Reed Sheppard to NO + picks. Zion to Phoenix and KD to Houston.

[jnrjr79]

The question on Zion, and moreso for the Pels, is what direction are they looking to go, and if the return on Zion can work towards that.

Like, if I were Phoenix, I would be interested in Durant for Zion + Murray - gets the team younger plus Murray is more a PG. Adding Allen makes it work on trade checker, but maybe you do something like see if Orlando will bite on Bradley Beal for KCP plus some other salary to both NoLa and Phoenix to make it work. I’m not sure Phx is going to get anywhere near what they want for Durant - Zion has immense upside and Phoenix likely the best possible environment (especially if couple with getting out from under Beal’s deal / poor fit).

I get why Phoenix would do it, but I don't see why New Orleans would want Durant (and I'd certainly imagine Durant would not be thrilled to go there). The Pellies seem like they've hit a point where all roads lead to rebuilding.

Get a 3rd team involved? Houston throws in Reed Sheppard to NO + picks. Zion to Phoenix and KD to Houston.

Yeah, that would make some sense. Houston has made the leap and I could see them just throw caution to the wind and try to go for it for the last couple of seasons of KD’s career.

Another wild option would be an OKC homecoming. But I’m not sure you’d mess with the chemistry of that team given how far they’ve already come. At some point, though, you figure they’d do something with all that draft capital.

[Jcool0]

I get why Phoenix would do it, but I don't see why New Orleans would want Durant (and I'd certainly imagine Durant would not be thrilled to go there). The Pellies seem like they've hit a point where all roads lead to rebuilding.

Get a 3rd team involved? Houston throws in Reed Sheppard to NO + picks. Zion to Phoenix and KD to Houston.

Yeah, that would make some sense. Houston has made the leap and I could see them just throw caution to the wind and try to go for it for the last couple of seasons of KD’s career.

Another wild option would be an OKC homecoming. But I’m not sure you’d mess with the chemistry of that team given how far they’ve already come. At some point, though, you figure they’d do something with all that draft capital.

I dont think OKC has any interest in KD. That is an historic tream. Maybe Denver makes a move with MPJ.

[MGB8]

Pelicans would do it if they want to compete now, and think that the group of McCullom, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Missi around Durant + Grayson Allen (WTH Murray heading out as well) would work. But, obviously, if they want to go into a rebuild, then that doesn’t make sense.

The most obvious landing spot for Durant would be the Warriors in a sign and trade for Kuminga + others, but I don’t know if those teams are even allowed to do sign and trades with those salaries.

Back to Zion, if I’m Brooklyn I offer Cam Johnson plus mild draft capital for Zion. Zion is still 24 and if you can rehab him, combined with Cam Thomas, you at least have something to sell to fans.

[Chi town]

Pelicans would do it if they want to compete now, and think that the group of McCullom, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Missi around Durant + Grayson Allen (WTH Murray heading out as well) would work. But, obviously, if they want to go into a rebuild, then that doesn’t make sense.

The most obvious landing spot for Durant would be the Warriors in a sign and trade for Kuminga + others, but I don’t know if those teams are even allowed to do sign and trades with those salaries.

Back to Zion, if I’m Brooklyn I offer Cam Johnson plus mild draft capital for Zion. Zion is still 24 and if you can rehab him, combined with Cam Thomas, you at least have something to sell to fans.

Zion wants to be in NY or LA for endorsement money.

[sco]

Pelicans would do it if they want to compete now, and think that the group of McCullom, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Missi around Durant + Grayson Allen (WTH Murray heading out as well) would work. But, obviously, if they want to go into a rebuild, then that doesn’t make sense.

The most obvious landing spot for Durant would be the Warriors in a sign and trade for Kuminga + others, but I don’t know if those teams are even allowed to do sign and trades with those salaries.

Back to Zion, if I’m Brooklyn I offer Cam Johnson plus mild draft capital for Zion. Zion is still 24 and if you can rehab him, combined with Cam Thomas, you at least have something to sell to fans.

Zion wants to be in NY or LA for endorsement money.

BKN is in NY, but good point. LAL for Reeves plus filler? NYK for Bridges plus filler?

Back to NO/PHO I'd love to come away from a deal like that with Allen for Ball or Ayo.

[kodo]

ORL killing ATL with old fashioned bully ball. 3P not a factor for either team. Hope we get some size & strength for next season.

[DASMACKDOWN]

ORL killing ATL with old fashioned bully ball. 3P not a factor for either team. Hope we get some size & strength for next season.

But also Orlando showing why they go on long scoring droughts.

[ShouldaPaidBG]

I like Matas wayyyyyyyyyyyy more than Franz

[Jcool0]

Ugly third quarter. No one looked good.

[NecessaryEvil]

Read on Twitter

Yuck. I’d much rather pay Coby and Josh than to give 75 million to Devin Booker alone. Reading that almost made me sick lol.

[ScrantonBulls]

I've seen JJ mentioned as a good fit. We don't have the cap space to sign him though. Regardless, he just had 2 rebounds in the 1st half. The guy is so bad at rebounding for being 6'10.

[DuckIII]

Read on Twitter

Yuck. I’d much rather pay Coby and Josh than to give 75 million to Devin Booker alone. Reading that almost made me sick lol.

Hard pass. Devin Booker is Lavine with better luck.

[MrSparkle]

Edey really has great hands and reaction speed for his size. I see an all-star path for him, once he starts getting more calls in his favor, gets a little more bold launching 3Ps, and gets more experience defending switches… The size and speed are incredible.

[Dan Z]

Read on Twitter

Yuck. I’d much rather pay Coby and Josh than to give 75 million to Devin Booker alone. Reading that almost made me sick lol.

Hard pass. Devin Booker is Lavine with better luck.

75 million is crazy and will make it harder to trade him (if they ever decide to do that).

Are they still talking about trading Durant this off season?

[MrSparkle]

Read on Twitter

Yuck. I’d much rather pay Coby and Josh than to give 75 million to Devin Booker alone. Reading that almost made me sick lol.

Hard pass. Devin Booker is Lavine with better luck.

75 million is crazy and will make it harder to trade him (if they ever decide to do that).

Are they still talking about trading Durant this off season?

Who knows what they do. They don’t own their own unswapped pick until 2032. Decided Billy King must be outdone.

If they have a brain, they’ll try to get a king’s ransom for Booker, and a respectable return for Durant.

[Dan Z]

Since Markkanen was recently discussed here's a new interview/article about him.

He talks about tanking:

“It’s a very wrong concept. Losing somehow is rewarded. There is no intentional loss of sport or especially in professional sport. Everyone should be after the wins. I think we’ve probably gone in the wrong direction."

The translation might not be great, but I'm using what the website gave me.

https://yle.fi/a/74-20156263

[Muzbar]

Read on Twitter

Yuck. I’d much rather pay Coby and Josh than to give 75 million to Devin Booker alone. Reading that almost made me sick lol.

Hard pass. Devin Booker is Lavine with better luck.

75 million is crazy and will make it harder to trade him (if they ever decide to do that).

Are they still talking about trading Durant this off season?

The contracts in professional sports is out of control.

$75m is ridiculous.

[Dan Z]

Hard pass. Devin Booker is Lavine with better luck.

75 million is crazy and will make it harder to trade him (if they ever decide to do that).

Are they still talking about trading Durant this off season?

The contracts in professional sports is out of control.

$75m is ridiculous.

At a certain point doesn't it become a situation where if a player makes that much money then you can't really build a team around him...?