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

[Domejandro]

The trade that keeps coming back to me (sorry Washington fans) is Bradley Beal and draft compensation for Jordan Poole and Marcus Smart. Phoenix shaves off $23MM in 2026, builds out more defensive depth with Marcus Smart, and is no longer hindered by the No-Trade Clause, while Washington gets a bit of draft compensation and the best player in the trade who loves the city (and is comfortable playing a mentor role for youth). Bradley Beal signs off on it to go back to Washington where he is liked by the fanbase and ownership.

Jordan Poole /
Marcus Smart / Grayson Allen
Devin Booker / Ryan Dunn
Royce O'Neal / Oso Ighodaro
Nick Richard (?) /

+#29, #52, and whatever is returned in the Kevin Durant deal.

Bub Carrington /
Bradley Beal / Kyshawn George / Colby Jones/ Justin Champagnie
Bilal Coulibaly / Corey Kispert / Justin Champagnie
Khris Middleton / Saddiq Bey
Alex Sarr / Richaun Holmes (?)

+#6 and #18

I think the couple of low First-Round Picks that Phoenix has + convulting later pick swaps further could make it worthwhile for both.

[shrink]

I saw the report that the Wolves could trade for Durant now if they wanted, but are hesitant because he supposedly does not want to play there.

Correct me if I am wrong, but for the 24/25 league year they are well above the 2nd apron, so it is literally impossible for them to trade for Durant now (because they can't aggregate salaries, which they will have to do to acquire KD, and stay above the 2nd apron).

They'd have to wait for the 25/26 league year to pull off the deal. And to me it seems like it would be super problematic to announce that trade so far in advance of when it can become final.

You’re right. Scroll back three posts for specifics, if you’re interested.

They can agree to the deal at the draft and execute it after the new league year. Wolves draft for the Suns. It happens a lot.

Maybe, but don’t confuse these with the “wrong hats” picked at the lottery, which are completed the following day, in the same season. Deals that are consummated the following season do not happen a lot, because so many big things can happen between now and then.

In this case, MIN would need to consider where Julius Randle and Naz Reid will be opting in? Will they offer extensions to either? What about Nickiel? Of course, PHX can’t even legally talk with those three now about the future, because that would be tampering. Will new salary make deals difficult as Base Year Compensation? Will they still be under the first or second apron if they make these signings? Few third teams have payroll flexibility to take MIN under the second apron to be able to aggregate salary. And maybe most importantly, can they come to an agreement after the new season starts that fits them better with $60 more in tradable salary options, if they truly try to accommodate PHX desire to make a trade before the lottery?

I’m not saying this is impossible, but it’s certainly no easy thing to make a deal now, with so much uncertainty unresolved in the next two weeks.

[giberish]

Bleacher Report had this trade idea and trying to figure out if it’s actually good for ATL

Milwaukee Bucks Receive:
PG Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks Receive:
G Jordan Poole
G Marcus Smart
G Andre Jackson Jr.
F Tyler Smith
2031 first-round pick (unprotected via Bucks)
2026 first-round pick swap rights (via Bucks/Pelicans)
2030 first-round pick swap rights (via Bucks/Blazers)

Washington Wizards Receive:
PG Damian Lillard
2025 second-round pick (No. 47 overall via Bucks)
2031 second-round pick (via Bucks)

Feels like Trae should be worth (a good amount) more than one first and double layered swaps more than Poole and Washington should want more value than that to do Poole/Dame.. can’t see why Washington doesn’t cut out Milwaukee, even if it’s too early to give up on the rebuild in Washington.

But if Milwaukee can pull it off, they definitely should.

Yeah that's terrible for Atlanta. (and not good for Washington). Mil doesn't have nearly enough value to turn Lillard into Young. One distant 1st and extremely low value swaps just doesn't do anything.

Also Atlanta doesn't have their own 1sts. They won't be tanking. They'll be trying, even if they aren't in extreme all-in mode. They probably make the playoffs next season (they'll need to add some useful depth guys this offseason but they've got some salary flexibility to do so).

[shrink]

In all my Durant iterations, I keep coming back to Brooklyn getting compensated for Claxton.

It make sense for PHX to get Randle and Claxton to upgrade their frontcourt if they want to win, while MIN keeps Gobert to help KD and Naz.

Alternatively, if PHX demands Gobert, MIN needs to get Durant AND Claxton, even if it means spinning Randle elsewhere. Again, KD and Naz, without a center behind them, is not a contending team. Claxton and Durant have some familiarity from BRK years ago. Trading Gobert and having no center and three PF’s (KD, Randle, Naz) makes no sense.

[giberish]

In all my Durant iterations, I keep coming back to Brooklyn getting compensated for Claxton.

It make sense for PHX to get Randle and Claxton to upgrade their frontcourt if they want to win, while MIN keeps Gobert to help KD and Naz.

Alternatively, if PHX demands Gobert, MIN needs to get Durant AND Claxton, even if it means spinning Randle elsewhere. Again, KD and Naz, without a center behind them, is not a contending team. Claxton and Durant have some familiarity from BRK years ago. Trading Gobert and having no center and three PF’s (KD, Randle, Naz) makes no sense.

Between giving up a youngish guy I think they'd prefer to keep and having to act as a salary sponge in such a deal the Nets are going to be asking for a lot. I'm not sure where that value comes from. It could easily kill such a deal.

[RookieJazz]

Jazz and Sixers discussing #3 + Paul George for #5 + fillers (Lauri not involved) per @andyblarsen.

[jbk1234]

Bleacher Report had this trade idea and trying to figure out if it’s actually good for ATL

Milwaukee Bucks Receive:
PG Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks Receive:
G Jordan Poole
G Marcus Smart
G Andre Jackson Jr.
F Tyler Smith
2031 first-round pick (unprotected via Bucks)
2026 first-round pick swap rights (via Bucks/Pelicans)
2030 first-round pick swap rights (via Bucks/Blazers)

Washington Wizards Receive:
PG Damian Lillard
2025 second-round pick (No. 47 overall via Bucks)
2031 second-round pick (via Bucks)

That's pretty awful for Atlanta. Much cleaner of it's just Poole for Dame.

[SkyHook]

Jazz and Sixers discussing #3 + Paul George for #5 + fillers (Lauri not involved) per @andyblarsen.

Who do the Jazz want to take at #3, VJ? If they've decided that he's THE guy to build around (I'm not sure that I see that) and that he definitely won't be available at #5, then okay. Otherwise, I'm not sure what the point would be. Bailey + a Paul George reclamation project? Ugh.

[jredsaz]

One way to look at things…
[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=FUyyhjewGjn9PpKelv4Wgg[/x]

[Godaddycurse]

One way to look at things…
[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=FUyyhjewGjn9PpKelv4Wgg[/x]

Play In For Life

[Scoot McGroot]

One way to look at things…
[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=FUyyhjewGjn9PpKelv4Wgg[/x]

When the reporter just copy and pasted what the team asked them to post….

[gswhoops]

Read on Twitter

[Godaddycurse]

Read on Twitter

probably just Ace and his agent

[Texas Chuck]

Stein talking about DeRozan as a fall back for Durant suitors. Not sure if this is reporting or speculation. Fits the Spurs financial window and he's definitely an upgrade over Keldon Johnson as your offense only, non-shooting forward. Doesn't feel like an upgrade on Randle. I think he is an upgrade on Barrett but I know better than to suggest that here. Seems a clunky fit for Houston. Miami is the other team where he fits.

Now I know everyone thinks he sucks and no fans here will want any part of him, but I do think he makes some sense for teams who want to be playoff teams but who don't have serious championship expectations without serious upgrades elsewhere.

[Godaddycurse]

Stein talking about DeRozan as a fall back for Durant suitors. Not sure if this is reporting or speculation. Fits the Spurs financial window and he's definitely an upgrade over Keldon Johnson as your offense only, non-shooting forward. Doesn't feel like an upgrade on Randle. I think he is an upgrade on Barrett but I know better than to suggest that here. Seems a clunky fit for Houston. Miami is the other team where he fits.

Now I know everyone thinks he sucks and no fans here will want any part of him, but I do think he makes some sense for teams who want to be playoff teams but who don't have serious championship expectations without serious upgrades elsewhere.

i think he would be a better 6th man than barrett but he wouldnt agree to do that on the raptors. If we have to pigeon hole one of them into starting/closing lineup then i prefer barrett

[zimpy27]

Stein talking about DeRozan as a fall back for Durant suitors. Not sure if this is reporting or speculation. Fits the Spurs financial window and he's definitely an upgrade over Keldon Johnson as your offense only, non-shooting forward. Doesn't feel like an upgrade on Randle. I think he is an upgrade on Barrett but I know better than to suggest that here. Seems a clunky fit for Houston. Miami is the other team where he fits.

Now I know everyone thinks he sucks and no fans here will want any part of him, but I do think he makes some sense for teams who want to be playoff teams but who don't have serious championship expectations without serious upgrades elsewhere.

I wonder if he could be a fall back for the Wolves and Rockets. Both teams could do with more reliable scoring options.

[Godaddycurse]

Stein talking about DeRozan as a fall back for Durant suitors. Not sure if this is reporting or speculation. Fits the Spurs financial window and he's definitely an upgrade over Keldon Johnson as your offense only, non-shooting forward. Doesn't feel like an upgrade on Randle. I think he is an upgrade on Barrett but I know better than to suggest that here. Seems a clunky fit for Houston. Miami is the other team where he fits.

Now I know everyone thinks he sucks and no fans here will want any part of him, but I do think he makes some sense for teams who want to be playoff teams but who don't have serious championship expectations without serious upgrades elsewhere.

I wonder if he could be a fall back for the Wolves and Rockets. Both teams could do with more reliable scoring options.

Randle > Demar. One is a starting PF, one is a 6th man for the wolves

[giberish]

One way to look at things…
[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=FUyyhjewGjn9PpKelv4Wgg[/x]

When the reporter just copy and pasted what the team asked them to post….

As I've pointed out elsewhere, the Bulls FO isn't terrible, just below-average. For a low-ambition owner that can be good enough.

For fans a terrible FO might be better as even with low-ambition owners terrible gets fired, not extended.

[Texas Chuck]

Stein talking about DeRozan as a fall back for Durant suitors. Not sure if this is reporting or speculation. Fits the Spurs financial window and he's definitely an upgrade over Keldon Johnson as your offense only, non-shooting forward. Doesn't feel like an upgrade on Randle. I think he is an upgrade on Barrett but I know better than to suggest that here. Seems a clunky fit for Houston. Miami is the other team where he fits.

Now I know everyone thinks he sucks and no fans here will want any part of him, but I do think he makes some sense for teams who want to be playoff teams but who don't have serious championship expectations without serious upgrades elsewhere.

I wonder if he could be a fall back for the Wolves and Rockets. Both teams could do with more reliable scoring options.

Randle > Demar. One is a starting PF, one is a 6th man for the wolves

And unlikely Sacramento wants to pay anything to make that specific upgrade.

Miami and San Antonio of the Durant teams make some sense to me. The others less so.

I still have some interest as Dallas, but its hard for me to see a deal that really makes much sense there. Kings fans like Marshall, but enough to do DD for Marshall/Klay? Probably not. And then Dallas somehow has even less shooting. Guess it could be Gafford somewhere, Marshall to Sac with something from Gafford team, DeRozan to Dallas. Meh put it in the jayjaysee bad idea pile.

[babyjax13]

Jazz and Sixers discussing #3 + Paul George for #5 + fillers (Lauri not involved) per @andyblarsen.

That would be insanely bad for Philly, no? I would love it.