Rumors, Random Thoughts, and non-Threadworthy Posts 18.0 Dave Cowens drove a taxi

[Godaddycurse]

No wings. Maybe Reaves?

Does IQ still have that value?

Never did, but you're asking a GM to admit a mistake and cut losses, rarely happens this early.

Especially when last year was a clear tanking year+ his contract was flat and meant to overpay him first couple years. Per 36 he did 20/7/5 on 57% TS with good epm... Despite being injured/rusty a bunch of time. There are reasons to be optimistic and see how he does with hopefully better health and on a more competitive team. He is not available this offseason

[Village Idiot]

If the Spurs traded Castle and Harper to the Bucks for Giannis, what is a good third team to reroute Castle too?

Portland would be intrigued to offer MIL their picks back for Castle I'd think.

Maybe one of them. All three could end up as high lottery picks.

[jayjaysee]

Bad ideas..

Murray and Alvarado for Klay, Gafford, and salary (Martin or Hardy+Powell)?

Need a third team maybe? Maybe just not a good idea.

Dallas hopes Alvarado and Williams/Exum or some other vet min and Point Flagg (that’s not a thing) can survive until Kyrie/DJM get back. DJM isn’t coming back as a star, but some good enough playmaking, paired with a guard that worked with Luka, and hopefully defense that looks better with elite defense behind him?

NOP breaks DJM’s contract up into 2 or 3 decent roleplayers after drafting Fears?

[jayjaysee]

Bad ideas..

Murray and Alvarado for Klay, Gafford, and salary (Martin or Hardy+Powell)?

Need a third team maybe? Maybe just not a good idea.

Dallas hopes Alvarado and Williams/Exum or some other vet min and Point Flagg (that’s not a thing) can survive until Kyrie/DJM get back. DJM isn’t coming back as a star, but some good enough playmaking, paired with a guard that worked with Luka, and hopefully defense that looks better with elite defense behind him?

NOP breaks DJM’s contract up into 2 or 3 decent roleplayers after drafting Fears?

[the_process]

There will definitely be some good players that get moved for little to no assets in return to strictly cut costs.

[SkyHook]

Bad ideas..

Murray and Alvarado for Klay, Gafford, and salary (Martin or Hardy+Powell)?

Need a third team maybe? Maybe just not a good idea.

Dallas hopes Alvarado and Williams/Exum or some other vet min and Point Flagg (that’s not a thing) can survive until Kyrie/DJM get back. DJM isn’t coming back as a star, but some good enough playmaking, paired with a guard that worked with Luka, and hopefully defense that looks better with elite defense behind him?

NOP breaks DJM’s contract up into 2 or 3 decent roleplayers after drafting Fears?

Dejounte --> Jeremiah = (Achilles) Tears for Fears?

[daoneandonly]

I'll add a bad trade so Jay doesnt feel left out

To Memphis: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy
To Dallas: Desmond Bane, 2027 FRP returned (via CHA), 2025 #48 pick, 2028 FRP from Memphis, John Konchar
To Char: Zach Edey

Memphis puts their chips in, a JJJ/AD frontcourt with Ja could be quite lethal. Char gets their big man, and Dallas goes younger with better-fitting pieces and recoups some picks Nico was stupid enough to not insist on when trading Luka

[jayjaysee]

I'll add a bad trade so Jay doesnt feel left out

To Memphis: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy
To Dallas: Desmond Bane, 2027 FRP returned (via CHA), 2025 #48 pick, 2028 FRP from Memphis, John Konchar
To Char: Zach Edey

Memphis puts their chips in, a JJJ/AD frontcourt with Ja could be quite lethal. Char gets their big man, and Dallas goes younger with better-fitting pieces and recoups some picks Nico was stupid enough to not insist on when trading Luka

I don’t really understand getting Bane and getting the Dallas first back?

Giving up value for the 2027 first back would signal Dallas doing the smart thing and letting the team be awful until Flagg/kids make it not awful…

Trading AD for Bane is just getting worse but younger. I wouldn’t go that route. Bane is not young or good enough for me.. I really don’t like middle ground rebuilds.

But if you told me Houston would send Green, 10 and one of their good firsts for Bane? then I like that path a lot more. Even if Dallas doesn’t get their 2027 first back and you only have a one year tank but you have upside assets from other teams..

[K_chile22]

I'll add a bad trade so Jay doesnt feel left out

To Memphis: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy
To Dallas: Desmond Bane, 2027 FRP returned (via CHA), 2025 #48 pick, 2028 FRP from Memphis, John Konchar
To Char: Zach Edey

Memphis puts their chips in, a JJJ/AD frontcourt with Ja could be quite lethal. Char gets their big man, and Dallas goes younger with better-fitting pieces and recoups some picks Nico was stupid enough to not insist on when trading Luka

I don’t really understand getting Bane and getting the Dallas first back?

Giving up value for the 2027 first back would signal Dallas doing the smart thing and letting the team be awful until Flagg/kids make it not awful…

Trading AD for Bane is just getting worse but younger. I wouldn’t go that route. Bane is not young or good enough for me.. I really don’t like middle ground rebuilds.

But if you told me Houston would send Green, 10 and one of their good firsts for Bane? then I like that path a lot more. Even if Dallas doesn’t get their 2027 first back and you only have a one year tank but you have upside assets from other teams..

Would do that easily for Houston

[jbk1234]

If the Spurs traded Castle and Harper to the Bucks for Giannis, what is a good third team to reroute Castle too?

Portland would be intrigued to offer MIL their picks back for Castle I'd think.

Maybe one of them. All three could end up as high lottery picks.

I suspect the Pelicans would bite. Not every team is passing up a chance to immediately improve their roster for a chance to draft a kid on high-school three years from now. Given all the variables, the chances of getting a player better than Castle with those picks are... okay?

[jayjaysee]

I'll add a bad trade so Jay doesnt feel left out

To Memphis: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy
To Dallas: Desmond Bane, 2027 FRP returned (via CHA), 2025 #48 pick, 2028 FRP from Memphis, John Konchar
To Char: Zach Edey

Memphis puts their chips in, a JJJ/AD frontcourt with Ja could be quite lethal. Char gets their big man, and Dallas goes younger with better-fitting pieces and recoups some picks Nico was stupid enough to not insist on when trading Luka

I don’t really understand getting Bane and getting the Dallas first back?

Giving up value for the 2027 first back would signal Dallas doing the smart thing and letting the team be awful until Flagg/kids make it not awful…

Trading AD for Bane is just getting worse but younger. I wouldn’t go that route. Bane is not young or good enough for me.. I really don’t like middle ground rebuilds.

But if you told me Houston would send Green, 10 and one of their good firsts for Bane? then I like that path a lot more. Even if Dallas doesn’t get their 2027 first back and you only have a one year tank but you have upside assets from other teams..

Would do that easily for Houston

Really have no idea what Bane is worth but would go for something like that.

Even could simplify it down and put in Eddy for another asset if Houston wants the good cheap backup center for 3 years..

Dallas only gets a one year tank, but that’s probably all it will be anyways. Kyrie and PJ kept to raise the floor for the kids and hope Phoenix/Brooklyn keep being the gift they’ve been for Houston.

[daoneandonly]

I'll add a bad trade so Jay doesnt feel left out

To Memphis: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy
To Dallas: Desmond Bane, 2027 FRP returned (via CHA), 2025 #48 pick, 2028 FRP from Memphis, John Konchar
To Char: Zach Edey

Memphis puts their chips in, a JJJ/AD frontcourt with Ja could be quite lethal. Char gets their big man, and Dallas goes younger with better-fitting pieces and recoups some picks Nico was stupid enough to not insist on when trading Luka

I don’t really understand getting Bane and getting the Dallas first back?

Giving up value for the 2027 first back would signal Dallas doing the smart thing and letting the team be awful until Flagg/kids make it not awful…

Trading AD for Bane is just getting worse but younger. I wouldn’t go that route. Bane is not young or good enough for me.. I really don’t like middle ground rebuilds.

But if you told me Houston would send Green, 10 and one of their good firsts for Bane? then I like that path a lot more. Even if Dallas doesn’t get their 2027 first back and you only have a one year tank but you have upside assets from other teams..

From what I read Cooper lieks the idea of still being competitive so I thought this helps there. I'd much rather have our 27 pick back and Bane than #10 this year and Josh Green's barely slightly betetr brother Jalen. This team has a history of overpaid SG on contracts they dont deserve: Finley, Matthews, THJ, Josh, really dont want Jalen Green

[daoneandonly]

And I dont know if AD to Bane is that much worse with PJ getting more minutes and Bane very likely playing more games than AD and providing something Dallas is desperately missing

[jayjaysee]

I'll add a bad trade so Jay doesnt feel left out

To Memphis: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy
To Dallas: Desmond Bane, 2027 FRP returned (via CHA), 2025 #48 pick, 2028 FRP from Memphis, John Konchar
To Char: Zach Edey

Memphis puts their chips in, a JJJ/AD frontcourt with Ja could be quite lethal. Char gets their big man, and Dallas goes younger with better-fitting pieces and recoups some picks Nico was stupid enough to not insist on when trading Luka

I don’t really understand getting Bane and getting the Dallas first back?

Giving up value for the 2027 first back would signal Dallas doing the smart thing and letting the team be awful until Flagg/kids make it not awful…

Trading AD for Bane is just getting worse but younger. I wouldn’t go that route. Bane is not young or good enough for me.. I really don’t like middle ground rebuilds.

But if you told me Houston would send Green, 10 and one of their good firsts for Bane? then I like that path a lot more. Even if Dallas doesn’t get their 2027 first back and you only have a one year tank but you have upside assets from other teams..

From what I read Cooper lieks the idea of still being competitive so I thought this helps there. I'd much rather have our 27 pick back and Bane than #10 this year and Josh Green's barely slightly betetr brother Jalen. This team has a history of overpaid SG on contracts they dont deserve: Finley, Matthews, THJ, Josh, really dont want Jalen Green

Bane for Green, 10 and say the 2027 Phoenix/Brooklyn pick is the actual package though.. It doesn’t change anything with Eddy getting the Dallas pick back if the team wants to do that?

Which means you help odds for AJ or Boozer or Peterson or whoever else pops up next season.

Pay Kyrie and keep PJ. The team will be semi-competitive in 2026 if Flagg is as good as some hope. Especially if you do draft well in 2026.

If the goal is to be competitive, you would trade Eddy for win now help. Or keep him and trade Gafford for a guard. Trading Eddy for your own pick back, feels like extending the option to rebuild.

Which would make more sense if you had Green, 10 and the Brooklyn/Phoenix first..

Top 6 pick in 2026, then two probable top 10 picks in 2027.. that with Lively, Flagg, 10th (Kasparas or CMB?) …

That’s an actual good young core right? Something Dallas hasn’t had since 99..

Or Flagg is a star and the rebuild only lasts one year. Still good news.

[drosestruts]

Bulls spin machine already putting out stories about teams being interested in Vucevic.

I just don't see a trade market for him - ecspecially as I imagine the Bulls to be hesitant to take back any long-term salary.

Vuc being the centerpriece in a Kuminga sign & trade is a popular idea on the Bulls board, I think they're in for a rude awakening of what it will take to acquire Kuminga in a sign and trade with the Warriors.

Really, I see the Vucevic/Bulls relationship ending in a buyout, whether in the offseason or during the season. Vuc has stated he'd like to play for a team with a chance to content. I don't see any contending teams having a need for Vuc, particularly at his current salary where trading for him just doesn't create other holes.

If Vuc wants to be on a contender, he should accept a discount on a buyout and then go attempt to recoup those losses on a contract he signs this offseason.

Vuc for Clarke/Konchar/GG Jackson?

Another obstacle is that the Bulls are entering the offseason with 12 players under contract plus Giddey (RFA) and Tre Jones (UFA) entering free agency, but potential being players the Bulls will attempt to retain.

Making a 3 for 1 deal involving Vuc come with complications as well.

[psman2]

Bulls spin machine already putting out stories about teams being interested in Vucevic.

I just don't see a trade market for him - ecspecially as I imagine the Bulls to be hesitant to take back any long-term salary.

Vuc being the centerpriece in a Kuminga sign & trade is a popular idea on the Bulls board, I think they're in for a rude awakening of what it will take to acquire Kuminga in a sign and trade with the Warriors.

Really, I see the Vucevic/Bulls relationship ending in a buyout, whether in the offseason or during the season. Vuc has stated he'd like to play for a team with a chance to content. I don't see any contending teams having a need for Vuc, particularly at his current salary where trading for him just doesn't create other holes.

If Vuc wants to be on a contender, he should accept a discount on a buyout and then go attempt to recoup those losses on a contract he signs this offseason.

Vuc for Clarke/Konchar/GG Jackson?

Another obstacle is that the Bulls are entering the offseason with 12 players under contract plus Giddey (RFA) and Tre Jones (UFA) entering free agency, but potential being players the Bulls will attempt to retain.

Making a 3 for 1 deal involving Vuc come with complications as well.

Memphis would't make that offer regardless. All of our center minutes are taken care of between Edey/JJJ. Clarke would play more minutes here than Vuc. Besides that we are looking at cutting money not shifting it around so we can get enough cap space to extend JJJ.

Unless there was a 3rd team willing to take Vuc and send little/no money back to Memphis this would have no legs.

[Village Idiot]

Portland would be intrigued to offer MIL their picks back for Castle I'd think.

Maybe one of them. All three could end up as high lottery picks.

I suspect the Pelicans would bite. Not every team is passing up a chance to immediately improve their roster for a chance to draft a kid on high-school three years from now. Given all the variables, the chances of getting a player better than Castle with those picks are... okay?

Castle is good but has the same warts we already knew about a year ago. Not sure he is a better SG prospect than Sharpe or a PG prospect than Scoot. He definitely isn't better at this point than Avidja or Camara who also enter into the SG and SF equation for the Blazers. Who knows who the Blazers will draft at 11 but that player might also play the same position as Castle.

I think it is also a question of cap and roster management. Having a pipeline of potential high picks has a certain appeal, especially for a front-office like Portland's that likes to think it is good at drafting and developing talent. Whether that is true is another story. Any of those three future picks could be a Cooper Flagg level talent. I for one don't scout three years out but I am positive Mike Schmitz has his eye on some guys.

Lastly, OKC has a nice grasp on the West for the next couple of years IMHO. For other teams it might make sense to wait a couple of years to put their chips on the board.

[Scoot McGroot]

https://bsky.app/profile/fearthebrown.bsky.social/post/3lqfhy5rcus2x

Zion Williamson accused of rape

This was submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday: NBA superstar Zion Williamson accused of rape. Plaintiff says she was in a dating relationship with him at Duke—before it got abusive.

Images of filing documents...

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:i6w2uuipovifyhfu62viemv7/bafkreifoznyj7cmirpzxdg6ovrb2us3qx4f3nmhzrr3ks6432vf2pg3xym@jpeg

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:i6w2uuipovifyhfu62viemv7/bafkreibrmytj5b5vhdy2a7b36v5lf2kkhnbswtbqetercrsy7vny7uttmm@jpeg

[ReggiesKnicks]

https://bsky.app/profile/fearthebrown.bsky.social/post/3lqfhy5rcus2x

Zion Williamson accused of rape

This was submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday: NBA superstar Zion Williamson accused of rape. Plaintiff says she was in a dating relationship with him at Duke—before it got abusive.

Images of filing documents...

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:i6w2uuipovifyhfu62viemv7/bafkreifoznyj7cmirpzxdg6ovrb2us3qx4f3nmhzrr3ks6432vf2pg3xym@jpeg

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:i6w2uuipovifyhfu62viemv7/bafkreibrmytj5b5vhdy2a7b36v5lf2kkhnbswtbqetercrsy7vny7uttmm@jpeg

This is a very serious allegation.

I imagine Zion wouldn't be the type to let their partner have a bite of their food when eating at a restaurant.

[Godaddycurse]

https://bsky.app/profile/fearthebrown.bsky.social/post/3lqfhy5rcus2x

Zion Williamson accused of rape

This was submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday: NBA superstar Zion Williamson accused of rape. Plaintiff says she was in a dating relationship with him at Duke—before it got abusive.

Images of filing documents...

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:i6w2uuipovifyhfu62viemv7/bafkreifoznyj7cmirpzxdg6ovrb2us3qx4f3nmhzrr3ks6432vf2pg3xym@jpeg

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:i6w2uuipovifyhfu62viemv7/bafkreibrmytj5b5vhdy2a7b36v5lf2kkhnbswtbqetercrsy7vny7uttmm@jpeg

Such a cursed franchise