Rumors, Random Thoughts, and Non-threadworthy Posts 17.0 The Least Random

[SkyHook]

I'm sorry but a Thunder/Pacers final would just make me so happy. No offense to our Knicks/Wolves fans and I realize neither series is over, but Indiana has done the most ethical team building of any franchise in the league and its nice to see a team that is almost always good get to be great and have a shot at a title.

And Presti has just done a master's class of a pivot away from the multiple superstars leaving his franchise and he didn't even do the well I better get something for Kevin Durant that this board insists on. He tried to win with an MVP level player and when he lost him, he just slowly gobbled up asset after asset and took advantage of opportunity after opportunity.

I like to see both of these approaches get rewarded.

These are both good, but my first choice would still be to see Minny rewarded for its big swings towards contention. A Gobert—Mitchell finals is no longer an option, but seeing Rudy win a title would be a salve after these last few seasons of disappointment in Utah.

[mademan]

How much would/could the Knick add to change KAT to AD? KAT/Bridges for AD/Klay, add fillers? Knicks can handle AD with bubblewrap in the RS being in the east, and KAT's game to game consistency, age and probably better fit in the FC with Lively while Bridges can be part of the Flagg future in some way

Tough for Nico to sell it though, but Knicks seem like one of the best AD landing spots.

[ReggiesKnicks]

How much would/could the Knick add to change KAT to AD? KAT/Bridges for AD/Klay, add fillers?

Brunson

[YayBasketball]

#12, 2026 POR 1st (Lotto Protected through 2028), Coby White for #7

Chicago moves up, New Orleans cobbles up another future asset with Coby White for moving down

Yea White is a great target for Pels. Think there's something there for sure. Would think CJ would have to go out in this deal or another. Is the gap between CJM and White needing an extension worth a drop from 7 to 12? Vucevic/Olynyk swap could also be included. A nice stop gap shooting C with Missi as big minute backup.

New Orleans is also getting the POR 1st.

Yea that's a good balancer. Becomes 2nds if doesn't convey next year, right? What's your idea of outgoing salary for Pelicans? Or taking White into space with some exception?

My expanded take:
7, McCullom, Olynyk to Bulls
12, White, Vucevic to Pels (+ POR prot. 1st?)

Bulls move up for key target (Fears, Maluach, Kon), bypassing Whote's next contract extension. They get a similar guard scorer in McCollum who can fit as a veteran leader until the trade deadline, or be rerouted in this deal to a third team for neutral value.
They move off Vucevic, signaling a rebuilding direction.

Pels move down to get a core piece in White who fits the timeline of Murphy and Zion. They work his agent on a mutual framework range for his next contract. He can fill in as lead guard while Dejounte recovers, and can play alongside him when Murray returns as PG. He's also flexible enough to come off the bench if needed. Vucevic brings a steady floor spacing starter C to open the lane for Zion, with hopes that Herb-led defense and scheme can cover up his defensive deficiencies. This allows Missi to develop steadily as a backup energy big for now. They still get a nice prospect at 12 (Bryant, CMB, Jaku, Essengue, Queen, Jase).

[ReggiesKnicks]

Yea White is a great target for Pels. Think there's something there for sure. Would think CJ would have to go out in this deal or another. Is the gap between CJM and White needing an extension worth a drop from 7 to 12? Vucevic/Olynyk swap could also be included. A nice stop gap shooting C with Missi as big minute backup.

New Orleans is also getting the POR 1st.

Yea that's a good balancer. Becomes 2nds if doesn't convey next year, right? What's your idea of outgoing salary for Pelicans? Or taking White into space with some exception?

It becomes 2nds after 2028, which means it has 3 more seasons of availability.

[babyjax13]

Is there a multi team deal where Phoenix gets MPJ when they trade Durant?

SAS out: Vassell, Johnson, 14
In: Durant, 29

PHX out: Durant, 29, 2027 CLE/MIN 1st (lower)
In: MPJ, 14

BRK out: nada
In: keldon, 2027 MIN/CLE 1st (lower)

DEN out: MPJ
In: Vassell

[Mavrelous]

PHX should keep their 1sts and SAS pay for the money dump.
MPJ/14 for Durant is an underpay, but tolerable one.

[Astaluego]

If the Lakers wanted to enter the first round, how high could they go with a 55 pick or/and Knecht or/and Hachimura? (Ideally, keeping their 31-point average)
Niang 22 for a 55+ Hachimura? Hachimura+Knecht for P.Williams+12?

Any ideas?

[Astaluego]

If the Lakers wanted to enter the first round, how high could they go with a 55 pick or/and Knecht or/and Hachimura? (Ideally, keeping their 31-point average)
Niang 22 for a 55+ Hachimura? Hachimura+Knecht for P.Williams+12?

Any ideas?

[babyjax13]

If the Lakers wanted to enter the first round, how high could they go with a 55 pick or/and Knecht or/and Hachimura? (Ideally, keeping their 31-point average)
Niang 22 for a 55+ Hachimura? Hachimura+Knecht for P.Williams+12?

Any ideas?

30? I could see the Clippers liking Hachimura + Knecht. 25? Orlando might like Knecht over picking at #25?

[Astaluego]

Gobert/Knecht KNICKS
Reaves/M.Robinson WOLVES
Bridges LAKERS

Maxi/Tucker+SRP(Knicks)SRP(Wolves)SRP(Lakers)..4 Team

[daoneandonly]

Who are the players on YOUR favorite team that you'd like to see traded?

For the Mavs, I'd really want them to part with

Anthony Davis
Klay Thompson
Caleb Martin

Jaden Hardy and Dwight Powell are just too irrelevant either way to have an opinion on stay or go

Jazz:
Jordan Clarkson
Keyonte George

\\endlist

WOuld you be interested in a straight swap of Keyonte George for Jaden Hardy?

[SkyHook]

Who are the players on YOUR favorite team that you'd like to see traded?

For the Mavs, I'd really want them to part with

Anthony Davis
Klay Thompson
Caleb Martin

Jaden Hardy and Dwight Powell are just too irrelevant either way to have an opinion on stay or go

Jazz:
Jordan Clarkson
Keyonte George

\\endlist

WOuld you be interested in a straight swap of Keyonte George for Jaden Hardy?

Probably not. Do you see any potential upside to Hardy? I haven't seen any facet of the game that he excels at. Am I missing something?

[jayjaysee]

How bad is Jericho Sims? I know some fans used to really like him earlier in his career, but now?

Would some team take a second or two to give him a 3yr33 or add a couple mil even, with only the first year guaranteed? A third string center and 2 seconds for 12-13 mil? So Mil can match a 15-16 mil player with him and Connaughton? Their 3(non Green) vet mins would take that number over 20 mil.. Keep stacking as high as you want, Kuz, Portis, etc..

You could give Sims a lot more if you wanted..

It’s a lot easier to Bogans Brook Lopez due to “byc”, but if Mil is trying to keep Giannis happy.. you probably keep Lopez even in a reduced role?

No actual deal suggested just a random idea

[jayjaysee]

Probably not. Do you see any potential upside to Hardy? I haven't seen any facet of the game that he excels at. Am I missing something?

No. George is not good at all, but Hardy worse.

He signed that contract because he was as confused as we all were about it being offered. Thinking they saw something and were creating a value contract... Randomly. But 4yr55 was way too much for the other young guard Dallas had..

[daoneandonly]

Jazz:
Jordan Clarkson
Keyonte George

\\endlist

WOuld you be interested in a straight swap of Keyonte George for Jaden Hardy?

Probably not. Do you see any potential upside to Hardy? I haven't seen any facet of the game that he excels at. Am I missing something?

Not really, which is why as a Mavs fan I'd love to trade him

[SkyHook]

Probably not. Do you see any potential upside to Hardy? I haven't seen any facet of the game that he excels at. Am I missing something?

No. George is not good at all, but Hardy worse.

He signed that contract because he was as confused as we all were about it being offered. Thinking they saw something and were creating a value contract... Randomly. But 4yr55 was way too much for the other young guard Dallas had..

[NYG]

Yes.

Also, a team hard caps themselves at the 2nd apron if they acquire a player contract in exchange for an outgoing sign and trade, or if they use that TPE generated to later acquire a player contract.

And, a team using a TPE generated in a previous season (in this case, a season is from the day after the regular season ends until the last day of the next regular season) would hard cap themselves at the first apron.

So in a deal like say...

Kuminga, Salaun and Williams to the Kings
Valanciunas to the Warriors
DeRozan to the Hornets

Both the Warriors and the Kings are hard capped at the first apron?

Kings would hard cap at the 1st apron by receiving a player via sign and trade and GS would hard cap at the 2nd apron for receiving a player contract in return for sign and trading a player (Kuminga) away.

Also, depending on which Williams is involved, Charlotte may be hard capped at the 2nd apron for aggregating. They could avoid the hard cap by not aggregating if they end up under the salary cap and are able to execute this trade using cap space instead of salary matching/TPE’s.

What is each exception worth this offseason?

[daoneandonly]

Random thought

Dallas should fire Nico Harrison and hire Jeff Van Gundy as the team exec/GM. Let Van Gundy decide if Kidd is his coach and allow him to fire him and bring his own guy in.

[Scoot McGroot]

So in a deal like say...

Kuminga, Salaun and Williams to the Kings
Valanciunas to the Warriors
DeRozan to the Hornets

Both the Warriors and the Kings are hard capped at the first apron?

Kings would hard cap at the 1st apron by receiving a player via sign and trade and GS would hard cap at the 2nd apron for receiving a player contract in return for sign and trading a player (Kuminga) away.

Also, depending on which Williams is involved, Charlotte may be hard capped at the 2nd apron for aggregating. They could avoid the hard cap by not aggregating if they end up under the salary cap and are able to execute this trade using cap space instead of salary matching/TPE’s.

What is each exception worth this offseason?

We don’t know exactly yet, as most rise by the same rate as the rise of the salary cap. So, assume this years plus 10%, but would change if the rise in the cap come in lower (the rise is capped annually at 10%).