2025 Off-Season Strategy - What will Cronin do?

[oldfishermen]

Sign FA Chris Paul as a player-coach.

[BlazersBroncos]

Sign FA Chris Paul as a player-coach.

Love the idea of CP3 behind Scoot as a mentor but a ton of contenders will be interested IMO and we wouldn’t make his list.

[PDXKnight]

Sign FA Chris Paul as a player-coach.

Love the idea of CP3 behind Scoot as a mentor but a ton of contenders will be interested IMO and we wouldn’t make his list.

Who knows he signed with sa last season, but we also passed up on him to draft Martell and jack..

[BlazersBroncos]

Sign FA Chris Paul as a player-coach.

Love the idea of CP3 behind Scoot as a mentor but a ton of contenders will be interested IMO and we wouldn’t make his list.

Who knows he signed with sa last season, but we also passed up on him to draft Martell and jack..

True. I assume playing under Pops + them offering 10M+ is what got him there. Anything can happen but I know if I was the GM of a contender I would be pushing hard for him. For example - if Boston moved Holiday in a cost saving trade they should go HARD after CP3 IMO.

[PDXKnight]

Love the idea of CP3 behind Scoot as a mentor but a ton of contenders will be interested IMO and we wouldn’t make his list.

Who knows he signed with sa last season, but we also passed up on him to draft Martell and jack..

True. I assume playing under Pops + them offering 10M+ is what got him there. Anything can happen but I know if I was the GM of a contender I would be pushing hard for him. For example - if Boston moved Holiday in a cost saving trade they should go HARD after CP3 IMO.

Oh yeah that'd be smart for Boston. I suspect the market for holidays deal may not be huge given the new cba, feels like maybe that is one opportunity for us to maybe facilitate for some 1sts

[Sinobas]

I'm thinking Portland's move this off season is Ayton to the Lakers

They need size and Ayton is an expiring contract and the Blazers could use the shooting that
Knecht would bring to Portland.

Ayton to LA for Knecht and fillers. I think it works for both teams. The Blazers want to get something out of Ayton, and the Lakers really need a big man and, and reports are that they did not like Williams and felt they over paid for him.

Knecht would give the Blazers much needed shooting. And he'd make Sharpe more expendable, so he could be included in a package to get another star.

[PDXKnight]

I'm thinking Portland's move this off season is Ayton to the Lakers

They need size and Ayton is an expiring contract and the Blazers could use the shooting that
Knecht would bring to Portland.

Ayton to LA for Knecht and fillers. I think it works for both teams. The Blazers want to get something out of Ayton, and the Lakers really need a big man and, and reports are that they did not like Williams and felt they over paid for him.

Knecht would give the Blazers much needed shooting. And he'd make Sharpe more expendable, so he could be included in a package to get another star.

I bet if we took vanderbilt as part of the deal they'd consider

[oldfishermen]

Sign FA Chris Paul as a player-coach.

Love the idea of CP3 behind Scoot as a mentor but a ton of contenders will be interested IMO and we wouldn’t make his list.

https://youtu.be/ncbEucjsNFU?si=W-edgJYZQIjRolPq

[Sinobas]

I'm thinking Portland's move this off season is Ayton to the Lakers

They need size and Ayton is an expiring contract and the Blazers could use the shooting that
Knecht would bring to Portland.

Ayton to LA for Knecht and fillers. I think it works for both teams. The Blazers want to get something out of Ayton, and the Lakers really need a big man and, and reports are that they did not like Williams and felt they over paid for him.

Knecht would give the Blazers much needed shooting. And he'd make Sharpe more expendable, so he could be included in a package to get another star.

I bet if we took vanderbilt as part of the deal they'd consider

It's like the Williams deal, only they keep their pick and swap. They'd be able to resign Ayton on a much cheaper deal than he's on now. But reportedly, Doncic gave them a list of center's he wants, and I don't know if Ayton was on there. He wants someone he can throw lobs do, and I think Ayton is decent for that.

[PDXKnight]

Ayton to LA for Knecht and fillers. I think it works for both teams. The Blazers want to get something out of Ayton, and the Lakers really need a big man and, and reports are that they did not like Williams and felt they over paid for him.

Knecht would give the Blazers much needed shooting. And he'd make Sharpe more expendable, so he could be included in a package to get another star.

I bet if we took vanderbilt as part of the deal they'd consider

It's like the Williams deal, only they keep their pick and swap. They'd be able to resign Ayton on a much cheaper deal than he's on now. But reportedly, Doncic gave them a list of center's he wants, and I don't know if Ayton was on there. He wants someone he can throw lobs do, and I think Ayton is decent for that.

Yeah he is. I have to think if doncic's preferred centers cost a decent amount more la would be more than willing to take a flyer on aytons expiring. Knect would be a nice piece moving ahead

[DaVoiceMaster]

Blazers / Magic / Lakers / Bulls

Magic trade KCP, Isaac,Howard, & #16.
Magic receive Simons, RW3, and Murray.
Magic add offense in Simons, defense in RW3 and Rupert, and save money the following year.

Bulls trade Williams, Huerter, & Portland pick.
Bulls receive Grant and #16.
Bulls save a bit of money overall and get a guaranteed 1st round pick.

Lakers trade Kleiber, Vincent, Vanderbilt, and Knecht.
Lakers receive Ayton, Rupert & Howard.
Lakers add a productive player with size.

Blazers trade Simons, Ayton, Grant, RW3, Murray, & Rupert.
Blazers receive KCP, Isaac, Williams, Huerter, Kleiber, Vincent, Vanderbilt, Knecht, and Portland's own pick is returned.
Blazers move the veterans, get their own pick back to make future trades possible, add Knecht, and possibly Isaac and/or Williams to the core.

Scoot / Vincent
Sharpe / KCP / Huerter
Camara / Thybulle / Williams
Avdija / Knecht / Vanderbilt
Clingan / Isaac / Reath

[BlazersBroncos]

Blazers / Magic / Lakers / Bulls

Magic trade KCP, Isaac,Howard, & #16.
Magic receive Simons, RW3, and Murray.
Magic add offense in Simons, defense in RW3 and Rupert, and save money the following year.

Bulls trade Williams, Huerter, & Portland pick.
Bulls receive Grant and #16.
Bulls save a bit of money overall and get a guaranteed 1st round pick.

Lakers trade Kleiber, Vincent, Vanderbilt, and Knecht.
Lakers receive Ayton, Rupert & Howard.
Lakers add a productive player with size.

Blazers trade Simons, Ayton, Grant, RW3, Murray, & Rupert.
Blazers receive KCP, Isaac, Williams, Huerter, Kleiber, Vincent, Vanderbilt, Knecht, and Portland's own pick is returned.
Blazers move the veterans, get their own pick back to make future trades possible, add Knecht, and possibly Isaac and/or Williams to the core.

Scoot / Vincent
Sharpe / KCP / Huerter
Camara / Thybulle / Williams
Avdija / Knecht / Vanderbilt
Clingan / Isaac / Reath

Think CHI would balk at taking on Grant here. Otherwise I think Simons to ORL and Ayton to LAL make a ton of sense.

Simons + Reath for KCP + Goga + 25

Ayton + Murray for Vincent + Maxi + Vandy + Dalton + 2030 Swap Option (Add the swap option here as we take on Vandy's long deal - opening up more cap space for LAL in 2026 which IMO is quite valuable to them - maybe protected swap option)

25 for PDX FRP Returned (Not sure CHI bites on this)

G - Scoot Henderson / Gabe Vincent / Kasparas Jakucionis (10)
G - Shadeon Sharpe / Kentavious Caldwell-Pope / Kasparas Jakucionis (10)
F - Toumani Camara / Matisse Thybulle / Dalton Knetch
F - Deni Avdija / Jerami Grant / Jarrett Vanderbilt
C - Donovan Clingan / Goga Bitazde / Maxi Kleber

IR RWIII
2-Way Rayan Rupert

[DaVoiceMaster]

My thinking on the Chicago deal (right or wrong) is that Grant saves them a little money overall and they actually get a 1st. As things go now, that 1st may never convey and they settle for a 2nd.

[dckingsfan]

More talk about Simons going to Orlando. Problem is there is no one that we want coming back (that works in a salary cap situation). So, it would need to be a multi-team deal... don't see it - and Chicago taking on Grant would be awesome - don't see that either.

Saddling ourselves with KCP & Isaac isn't such a great idea, IMO.

One other note: RW3 has no trade value (his only value is as an expiring).

[Walton1one]

CHI\Williams is a slightly interesting contract, 4 more years (4th is PO), all at $18mil\yr, so could get better as time progresses, that is, if Williams improves, he regressed LY

FG 39.7% (44.3% LY) - 3ptFG 35.3% (39.9% LY), his eFG\TS% took a dive (from 44/40% to 26/23%)

Took 140 more 3's than previous year and it reflected in his FG% - Pts per 2FG\3FG .89\1.05 (LY .95\1.2). Sound familiar?

Maybe POR kills 2 birds with 1 stone here? CHI owns POR pick thru 2028, maybe there is some buyer's remorse on Williams' contract (4 more years @ $18mil\year), he is young (23), under contract until 29/30.

POR could fulfill their obligation to CHI by trading a future 1st (29' least of?) and then net back a young player on a good salary back in return as well? Williams has stagnated\regressed in CHI since signing his new deal, does POR think a change of scenery would benefit him?

I don't think he would be worth the #10 pick, but maybe a pick swap (#12 for #10) if CHI really liked a player could be part of a deal. Wonder also if Vucevic\Ayton could be part of a deal? Allow POR to still get off some of Ayton's money ($21.5mil) next year

Something like Williams\Vucevic\#12 & POR (26) pick back
for
Ayton\Murray\#10 & 29' 1st (worst of)

There were some rumors earlier in the year of CHI interest in Ayton, CHI gives POR pick back and offloads Williams (who reports said they had some buyers' remorse on). Bumps up 2 spots in this draft and guarantees a future 1st.

POR swaps Ayton for Vucevic, still gets to clear $21.5mil\salary, gets a young PF who can shoot from 3 but regressed a little LY

[BlazersBroncos]

More talk about Simons going to Orlando. Problem is there is no one that we want coming back (that works in a salary cap situation). So, it would need to be a multi-team deal... don't see it - and Chicago taking on Grant would be awesome - don't see that either.

Saddling ourselves with KCP & Isaac isn't such a great idea, IMO.

One other note: RW3 has no trade value (his only value is as an expiring).

The trade would be more so for a pick with the players being ballast.

I also think Goga is a great long'ish term backup C (But he only makes sense w/ Ayton traded in another deal - which I really hope materializes).

KCP isnt a huge saddle - an extra year on Simons and a nice role player with tons of winning experience.

Ideally we could flip the ORL FRP to CHI to get control of our own FRPs back -

PDX OUT - Simons + Reath
PDX IN - KCP + Goga + PDX FRP + 1 SRP

ORL OUT - KCP + Goga + DEN FRP + 2 SRP
ORL IN - Simons + Reath

CHI OUT - PDX FRP
CHI IN - DEN FRP + 1 SRP

[dckingsfan]

More talk about Simons going to Orlando. Problem is there is no one that we want coming back (that works in a salary cap situation). So, it would need to be a multi-team deal... don't see it - and Chicago taking on Grant would be awesome - don't see that either.

Saddling ourselves with KCP & Isaac isn't such a great idea, IMO.

One other note: RW3 has no trade value (his only value is as an expiring).

The trade would be more so for a pick with the players being ballast.

I also think Goga is a great long'ish term backup C (But he only makes sense w/ Ayton traded in another deal - which I really hope materializes).

KCP isnt a huge saddle - an extra year on Simons and a nice role player with tons of winning experience.

Ideally we could flip the ORL FRP to CHI to get control of our own FRPs back -

PDX OUT - Simons + Reath
PDX IN - KCP + Goga + PDX FRP + 1 SRP

ORL OUT - KCP + Goga + DEN FRP + 2 SRP
ORL IN - Simons + Reath

CHI OUT - PDX FRP
CHI IN - DEN FRP + 1 SRP

This would make sense if you could move Ayton first (or at the same time). It does create kind of a logjam as SG with KCP, Sharpe & Thybulle. But that isn't horrible - maybe you can move one of those 3.

We still wouldn't have a starting caliber PG.

[Walton1one]

More talk about Simons going to Orlando. Problem is there is no one that we want coming back (that works in a salary cap situation). So, it would need to be a multi-team deal... don't see it.

Yeah I saw that on BE, I think the question to ask is what team would be interested in acquiring KCP for expiring?

The framework could be something like:

Simons for KCP\Harris & either #16 or #25 or a lottery protected 26' pick (thinking here if goal is to make playoffs in 26 , then POR 26 pick will go to CHI and this would net POR a pick back)

Harris has a team option ($7.5) that would have to be excercised but then he is a FA

KCP would be re-routed to another team, here are some ideas:

LAKERS:
KCP to LAL
Kleber\Vincent to POR (both are UFA after next year)

CHICAGO
KCP to CHI
Huerter to POR (UFA after next year)

CLIPPERS
KCP to LAC
for Bogdanovic (TO after next year) & change (Eubanks\Brown\Christie)

MIAMI
KCP to MIA
for Rozier (UFA next year) or Robinson (has PO this year @ $20mil then FA after next year)

MILWAUKEE
KCP to MIL
for Kyle Kuzma and some sort of draft capital or a young player (AJ Green? Tyler Smith?) to take on that extra year. They don't have much (25' 2nd via DET & their own 31' 2nd - They also have 31/32 1st's that POR could get swap rights for one of them? So (2) 2nd's + 31' (or 32') swap rights?

WASHINGTON
KCP & #10 to WAS
for Kispert (he is signed for 4 more years but as a reasonable deal $13mil per, LY is TO), Holmes (contract ($13.3mil, would have to be guaranteed but is UFA after next year) & #18

Another option is netting Marcus Smart back instead ($21.5mil\UFA after next year)

[BlazersBroncos]

More talk about Simons going to Orlando. Problem is there is no one that we want coming back (that works in a salary cap situation). So, it would need to be a multi-team deal... don't see it - and Chicago taking on Grant would be awesome - don't see that either.

Saddling ourselves with KCP & Isaac isn't such a great idea, IMO.

One other note: RW3 has no trade value (his only value is as an expiring).

The trade would be more so for a pick with the players being ballast.

I also think Goga is a great long'ish term backup C (But he only makes sense w/ Ayton traded in another deal - which I really hope materializes).

KCP isnt a huge saddle - an extra year on Simons and a nice role player with tons of winning experience.

Ideally we could flip the ORL FRP to CHI to get control of our own FRPs back -

PDX OUT - Simons + Reath
PDX IN - KCP + Goga + PDX FRP + 1 SRP

ORL OUT - KCP + Goga + DEN FRP + 2 SRP
ORL IN - Simons + Reath

CHI OUT - PDX FRP
CHI IN - DEN FRP + 1 SRP

This would make sense if you could move Ayton first (or at the same time). It does create kind of a logjam as SG with KCP, Sharpe & Thybulle. But that isn't horrible - maybe you can move one of those 3.

We still wouldn't have a starting caliber PG.

I think Thybulle can play down a slot to SF FWIW - but ya its a bit crowded (Especially b/c I would like to retain Thybulle beyond the next year if he cost a similar AV - good guy, tone setter for the kids, wont demand huge minutes, 3PT shot looked good in limited time last year, etc).

Scoot needs to be given the keys w/ a meh backup behind him IMO. Vincent from LAL in a Ayton deal would be nice if slightly worse than I would hope for. He is a good 3/D PG whos lack of true PG skill can be alleviated if we play him w/ Deni IMO.

[Walton1one]

ESPN offseason for 1st round teams eliminated (the other teams are in this thread somewhere).

HOUSTON
Draft picks in June: No. 9 (via PHX), No. 59 (via OKC)

Free agents: Fred VanVleet (T), Steven Adams, Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday (T), Jae'Sean Tate, Jack McVeigh (R) and N'Faly Dante (R)

The true test now comes with how the Rockets' front office and coaching staff evaluate the roster and then address their playoff shortcomings. That approach should be much different from the regular season, during which Houston rightfully took a conservative approach to tweaking its roster.

"We definitely want this group to be as good as it can be this year and then we'll evaluate things at the end of the year," GM Rafael Stone said in December. "But the hope is very much that this core group can lead us to where we want to go ... from a transactional perspective we're largely done."

The question now is if relying on continuity is good enough to compete for a championship?

VanVleet's $44.9 million team option will play a role in how much flexibility the Rockets have this offseason. The Rockets have a five-day window after their final postseason game to exercise the option. Factoring the first-round pick owed by Phoenix and exercising the VanVleet option, Houston would be $7.5 million over the luxury tax and right at the first apron. The Rockets could decline the option and then sign VanVleet to a long-term contract but for less money.

Houston does have some financial flexibility, with $12 million in nonguaranteed contracts (Aaron Holiday and Jock Landale) if VanVleet's option is exercised. Houston has until June 29 to guarantee Landale's $8 million contract and exercise Holiday's $4.9 million team option.

First, is there confidence that the current roster and addition of a top-10 pick can develop into more than just a good regular-season team? Their leading scorer in the regular season, Jalen Green, averaged six fewer points and shot 37.2% from the field and 31.2% on 3-pointers in the first round. (He had eight points and five turnovers in the Game 4 loss.)

Yeah, he was really rough, just really struggled out there. all the way around.

AVG 21 - 4- 3 during the year, shooting 42%/35% FG\3ptFG

Playoffs
13 - 5 - 3, shooting 37.2%/29.5%

He is only 22, not sure that HOU should just give up on him after one sub-par playoff series (his first time), but certainly concerning?

He is owed $33/$36/$36 over next 3 years, this is the type of contract you could expect Sharpe to get BTW. Makes me wonder what Sharpe would look like in the playoffs his first time, will be interesting to compare. I think Sharpe is a better player, bigger and as\more? athletic, but then again I am biased as a POR fan.

That leads into the second question: Do the Rockets need an All-NBA-caliber player, specifically the Suns' Kevin Durant or even the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, to take the next step? If they do go star chasing, the Rockets check three critical boxes:

Draft equity: They have five tradeable firsts in the next seven years, including the ninth pick in this year's draft and unprotected firsts in 2027 (Phoenix) and 2029 (Phoenix or Dallas). The Rockets can also trade first-round picks in 2028, 2030 and 2032.

Controllable contracts: The Rockets have five players (Smith Jr., Eason, Sheppard, Cam Whitmore and Thompson) on first-round rookie contracts.

Sizable contracts: Sengun and Green signed rookie extensions last October. The poison pill restriction in their contracts gets lifted on July 1, making them trade-eligible. Both players are set to earn $33 million next season. Brooks has two years left on his contract ($22.1 million and $20.9 million).

There should also be a priority to retain Adams. The Rockets were at their best in the Golden State series when Adams was paired with Sengun. Houston was a plus-30.7 points per 100 possessions when both players shared the court in the postseason. They were a plus-30 in the regular season.

Houston has two players eligible to sign rookie extensions up until Oct. 21. (Last year, it was Sengun and Green and this offseason it's Smith Jr. and Eason.)

HOU is at $133mil next year with Van Fleet, Brooks, Green & Sengun. Adams should get $15mil or so? They can clear $20mil by letting Landale\Green\Holiday walk, but it will be interesting to see if the sign Smith and\or Eason this offseason or let them go into RFA next year, but there could be a lot of teams with potential space after next season, similar situation for POR with Sharpe.

TEAM NEEDS:

A center, if Adams leaves in free agency

. I would add outside shooting, Barkleynoted that they really struggled in the half court with shooting, POR could be in a similar boat if they make it to the playoffs. Oh yeah and Amen Thompson looked great last night.

DRAFT ASSETS:

Houston has eight future first-round picks, five that are tradeable in the next seven years. The Rockets owe Oklahoma City a top-four protected first in 2026 but have their own first in 2027 (they also have swap rights with Brooklyn that year). The Suns will send Houston their 2027 unprotected first. The Rockets also have two of the more favorable firsts between their own, Dallas and Phoenix in 2029 and have seven second-round picks available.

LA CLIPPERS
Draft picks in June: No. 30 (via OKC) and No. 49 (via MIN)

Free agents: James Harden (P), Patty Mills, Ben Simmons, Nicolas Batum (P), Amir Coffey, Trentyn Flowers (R)

The Clippers ranked third in defensive efficiency, and their 50 wins were their second most since 2016-17. Twelve players, including their starting five, are under contract (they will also add two draft picks).

The Clippers have the flexibility to give Harden a salary increase, use most of their nontax midlevel exception and still remain below the luxury tax.The Clippers could create financial flexibility with the non-guaranteed contracts of Drew Eubanks ($4.8 million) and Jordan Miller ($2.1 million).

His $35 million salary proved to be terrific value. Harden logged the fifth-most minutes of any player this season and appeared in 79 games, his most in the regular season since 2016-17. As a result, he became the only player this season with 1,500 points, 500 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks. The regular-season positives are again overshadowed by inconsistency in the postseason. In the Game 4, Game 5 and Game 7 losses to Denver, Harden scored a total of 33 points.

Powell is entering the last year of his contract, and there is no question he has outplayed his current $19.2 million salary. Starting on the first day after the Finals, Powell is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $128.5 million deal. However, considering that Powell turns 32 this month and has dealt with durability issues -- he has played in more than 60 games just once over the past four seasons -- he could give the Clippers pause on committing for more than two seasons.

TEAM NEEDS:

Bench depth and development of former draft picks Cam Christie and Kobe Brown. The Clippers are left with only Bogdan Bogdanovic and Derrick Jones Jr. as reliable reserves if Batum does not return.

DRAFT ASSETS:

The Clippers don't control their first-round pick in the next four years. They will send an unprotected first to Oklahoma City in 2026. The Thunder have the right to swap first-rounders in 2027. The Clippers will send Philadelphia a 2028 unprotected first, and the 76ers have the right to swap first-rounders in 2029 (if 4-30). The Clippers are allowed to trade two firsts (2030 and 2032) and can swap their picks in 2030, 2031 or 2032. The Clippers have five second-round picks available to trade.