LAL/BOS/BKN (NOT CHI) - Center swap meet

[djFan71]

LAL in: Claxton
LAL out: Vanderbilt, Vincent
- Gets lob thread for Luka for expirings. Adds $2.8M

CHI in: KP
CHI out: Vucevic, Phillips
- Upgrade and try KP for a year and see what playing with a modern center is like. Add $7M in salary.

BKN in: Vuc, Vincent
BKN out: Claxton
-- Gets off Claxton future money for expirings, frees space for FA in 2026. Has useful vets for young guys to play with. Or flips them. Add $7M in salary.

BOS in: Vanderbilt, Julian Phillips, $17M in savings
BOS out: KP
-- Saves $17M

Change the fillers from LAL or CHI (Phillips) as needed.
Lakers probably owe here, but they got nothing to give. Maybe 55 to CHI or BOS for at least some token cost.


EDIT: Switched Vandy & Vincent after Chuck caught my brain fart. Ugh, that sounds gross.

[Texas Chuck]

Vandy isn't expiring. Would need Kleber. But I also think the Lakers would want to add even more salary and not get hardcapped at the first apron. Also Brooklyn would just deal direct with LA if they aren't getting incentive for taking on the additional salary you have them doing here.

And Knecht is the obvious value piece/salary to add to Brooklyn.

[djFan71]

Vandy isn't expiring. Would need Kleber. But I also think the Lakers would want to add even more salary and not get hardcapped at the first apron. Also Brooklyn would just deal direct with LA if they aren't getting incentive for taking on the additional salary you have them doing here.

And Knecht is the obvious value piece/salary to add to Brooklyn.

Dang it, last minute change, lol. I had Vandy to BOS instead, then tweaked. Yeah, give them Maxi instead, or switch it back to Vandy to BOS and Vincent to BKN.

Is Knecht too much? If not, great. I thought of LAL at the apron, but figured they could handle the last mile separately.

I thought about BKN direct, but figured Vuc would be a better stabilizing vet to have with Claxton going out than a Kleber/Vincent pairing.

[kds92]

I think this can just be two separate trades.

LAL expirings + Knecht for Claxton
KP for Vucevic

[ChettheJet]

The Bulls are 95% keeping Coby White, they're above that resigning Josh Giddey, they have Matas Buzelis hitting the weights and playing an even bigger role, they didn't extend Lonzo Ball for $10 just to move him, THINK, don't seem to be looking to trade Kevin Huerter, Patrick Williams, not a whole lot of value for Julian Phillips, they've got the #12 pick. They played very well to finish the season with Zach Collins and Jalen Smith at the 5.

How much of an upgrade are you really imagining in Porzingas over Vucevic who played 73 games, 18.5/10.1 and 40% from the arc? What makes you think they get from 39 to 45 wins based on KP 42 games, 19.5/6.8 and .412? What kind of wrong thinking is that?

[djFan71]

The Bulls are 95% keeping Coby White, they're above that resigning Josh Giddey, they have Matas Buzelis hitting the weights and playing an even bigger role, they didn't extend Lonzo Ball for $10 just to move him, THINK, don't seem to be looking to trade Kevin Huerter, Patrick Williams, not a whole lot of value for Julian Phillips, they've got the #12 pick. They played very well to finish the season with Zach Collins and Jalen Smith at the 5.

How much of an upgrade are you really imagining in Porzingas over Vucevic who played 73 games, 18.5/10.1 and 40% from the arc? What makes you think they get from 39 to 45 wins based on KP 42 games, 19.5/6.8 and .412? What kind of wrong thinking is that?

So..... that's a no from you? Cuz... money??? Feels like you left out the part where you tie all that together into an answer.

As far as KP improving the team, it's just a gamble on the higher ceiling.

[Karmaloop]

Is Knecht too much? If not, great. I thought of LAL at the apron, but figured they could handle the last mile separately.

I thought about BKN direct, but figured Vuc would be a better stabilizing vet to have with Claxton going out than a Kleber/Vincent pairing.

IF Brooklyn insists on expiring, then Knecht is too much. If they're willing to take bad money, sure. And no, Vanderbilt isn't bad money to the Lakers.

[djFan71]

Cutting CHI out since I THINK they are opposed, lol.

LAL in: Claxton
LAL out: Kleber, Vincent, Knecht
- Gets lob thread for Luka for expirings & Knecht. Save $1.1M.

BKN in: KP, Vincent, Knecht, pick*
BKN out: Claxton
-- Gets off Claxton future money for expirings, frees space for FA in 2026. Gets Knecht and useful vets for young guys to play with. But KP injury prone enough they can DNP him if they start to actually win. Or flip 'em. Adds $20.8M in salary, most of which is expiring except Knecht. Gets a possible BOS pick swap.

BOS in: Kleber
BOS out: KP, pick*
-- Saves $19.7M

pick*: Not sure here. I think BKN is getting good value with Knecht, and even KP expiring, but need a little more incentive to eat that space. But, probably not a full on 1st for it. And a 2nd feels a little lame to just throw on their pile. So, get creative...

Leaning 2027 BOS 1st lotto protected for better of 2027 2nds LAL or BKN post HOU swap. If BOS in lotto, then nothing. Basically a pick swap with 27 BOS 1st and the better BKN 2nd. Can you even do that? If not, do I get points for creativity at least?

[Netaman]

Cutting CHI out since I THINK they are opposed, lol.

LAL in: Claxton
LAL out: Kleber, Vincent, Knecht
- Gets lob thread for Luka for expirings & Knecht. Save $1.1M.

BKN in: KP, Vincent, Knecht, pick*
BKN out: Claxton
-- Gets off Claxton future money for expirings, frees space for FA in 2026. Gets Knecht and useful vets for young guys to play with. But KP injury prone enough they can DNP him if they start to actually win. Or flip 'em. Adds $20.8M in salary, most of which is expiring except Knecht. Gets a possible BOS pick swap.

BOS in: Kleber
BOS out: KP, pick*
-- Saves $19.7M

pick*: Not sure here. I think BKN is getting good value with Knecht, and even KP expiring, but need a little more incentive to eat that space. But, probably not a full on 1st for it. And a 2nd feels a little lame to just throw on their pile. So, get creative...

Leaning 2027 BOS 1st lotto protected for better of 2027 2nds LAL or BKN post HOU swap. If BOS in lotto, then nothing. Basically a pick swap with 27 BOS 1st and the better BKN 2nd. Can you even do that? If not, do I get points for creativity at least?

it's close-ish. I did a version of this with Knecht to Boston and a better pick (Boston 2027 lotto protected) to Nets. Knecht gives them a cost controlled recent FRP who can develop this year and ideally be a cheap role player in 2 seasons when Tatum is back.

Think Nets would also need some kind of protected pick or swap from LAL. Don't think they feel Claxton is negative salary at all. He's 25 coming off a down year but each year the price descends and cap space is a non-issue for Nets. They can afford to hold him and sell when he's cheaper, the cap is higher, and he's coming off a better season should they need to. I think Nets would be open to taking back a non-expiring if needed to get a future pick, if not they pass.

[nykballa2k4]

Not the biggest fan of Claxton's contract, but he is someone who other teams have interest in. Nets probably need more value coming in from LA

[djFan71]

Cutting CHI out since I THINK they are opposed, lol.

LAL in: Claxton
LAL out: Kleber, Vincent, Knecht
- Gets lob thread for Luka for expirings & Knecht. Save $1.1M.

BKN in: KP, Vincent, Knecht, pick*
BKN out: Claxton
-- Gets off Claxton future money for expirings, frees space for FA in 2026. Gets Knecht and useful vets for young guys to play with. But KP injury prone enough they can DNP him if they start to actually win. Or flip 'em. Adds $20.8M in salary, most of which is expiring except Knecht. Gets a possible BOS pick swap.

BOS in: Kleber
BOS out: KP, pick*
-- Saves $19.7M

pick*: Not sure here. I think BKN is getting good value with Knecht, and even KP expiring, but need a little more incentive to eat that space. But, probably not a full on 1st for it. And a 2nd feels a little lame to just throw on their pile. So, get creative...

Leaning 2027 BOS 1st lotto protected for better of 2027 2nds LAL or BKN post HOU swap. If BOS in lotto, then nothing. Basically a pick swap with 27 BOS 1st and the better BKN 2nd. Can you even do that? If not, do I get points for creativity at least?

it's close-ish. I did a version of this with Knecht to Boston and a better pick (Boston 2027 lotto protected) to Nets. Knecht gives them a cost controlled recent FRP who can develop this year and ideally be a cheap role player in 2 seasons when Tatum is back.

Think Nets would also need some kind of protected pick or swap from LAL. Don't think they feel Claxton is negative salary at all. He's 25 coming off a down year but each year the price descends and cap space is a non-issue for Nets. They can afford to hold him and sell when he's cheaper, the cap is higher, and he's coming off a better season should they need to. I think Nets would be open to taking back a non-expiring if needed to get a future pick, if not they pass.

Fair. I'll take close-ish, lol. like Claxton, myself. One of my best draft call years was Danny's worse - I wanted NAW, Clarke, Claxton which he could have done, but we traded and ended up with Langford, Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards.

It's kinda based on a Sam Vecenie idea, and I've seen him kinda dumped before and saw other people say Nets were targeting 2026, so figured give it a shot but still pay you something. Do you value the lotto protected 27 more than Knecht? I could go either way, tbh. Nice part about the pick is no salary yet for BOS, and I see Knecht/Scheierman as pretty similar position, so one would lose development wise. If we did get Knecht, he'd probably be headed right back out for a pick.

[Karmaloop]

Not the biggest fan of Claxton's contract, but he is someone who other teams have interest in. Nets probably need more value coming in from LA

Seriously doubt LA is adding value other than Knecht if Brooklyn is insisting on expiring contracts coming back. And the other problem is I don't think the Lakers really feel they have any bad contracts on the books. I'd venture a guess they're rather content letting Vanderbilt have a full offseason of health to work on his game.

[Karmaloop]

it's close-ish. I did a version of this with Knecht to Boston and a better pick (Boston 2027 lotto protected) to Nets. Knecht gives them a cost controlled recent FRP who can develop this year and ideally be a cheap role player in 2 seasons when Tatum is back.

Think Nets would also need some kind of protected pick or swap from LAL. Don't think they feel Claxton is negative salary at all. He's 25 coming off a down year but each year the price descends and cap space is a non-issue for Nets. They can afford to hold him and sell when he's cheaper, the cap is higher, and he's coming off a better season should they need to. I think Nets would be open to taking back a non-expiring if needed to get a future pick, if not they pass.

How in the world does Boston manage to shed almost $20M in salary AND get a former top 18 pick who was largely viewed as a top 10 prospect in last year's draft for a LOTTERY protected FRP on a C's team that likely return to their contender status? Boston needs to add more or take less.

[nykballa2k4]

Not the biggest fan of Claxton's contract, but he is someone who other teams have interest in. Nets probably need more value coming in from LA

Seriously doubt LA is adding value other than Knecht if Brooklyn is insisting on expiring contracts coming back. And the other problem is I don't think the Lakers really feel they have any bad contracts on the books. I'd venture a guess they're rather content letting Vanderbilt have a full offseason of health to work on his game.

I seriously doubt that the Nets are going to trade the Lakers what could basically be a "missing piece" starter that multiple other teams want for delayed cap space and Knecht. Nets job is not to do the Lakers a favor but to improve their own team which this does not do.
Nets are not shopping/dumping Claxton.

[Karmaloop]

I seriously doubt that the Nets are going to trade the Lakers what could basically be a "missing piece" starter that multiple other teams want for delayed cap space and Knecht. Nets job is not to do the Lakers a favor but to improve their own team which this does not do.
Nets are not shopping/dumping Claxton.

And that's fine. But you can't argue someone is worth X simply because you don't want to trade with a specific team. To be honest, if it's down to trading Knecht, '31 FRP, and expiring for Claxton or to sign someone like Capela and then use those expiring, '31 FRP, and Knecht to improve the bench, I'm taking the latter pretty easily. If Claxton was on a bargain deal, he'd probably be more valuable but he's probably a bit overpaid.

[nykballa2k4]

I seriously doubt that the Nets are going to trade the Lakers what could basically be a "missing piece" starter that multiple other teams want for delayed cap space and Knecht. Nets job is not to do the Lakers a favor but to improve their own team which this does not do.
Nets are not shopping/dumping Claxton.

And that's fine. But you can't argue someone is worth X simply because you don't want to trade with a specific team. To be honest, if it's down to trading Knecht, '31 FRP, and expiring for Claxton or to sign someone like Capela and then use those expiring, '31 FRP, and Knecht to improve the bench, I'm taking the latter pretty easily. If Claxton was on a bargain deal, he'd probably be more valuable but he's probably a bit overpaid.

I agree he is probably paid more than I would like to pay a pure rim runner, but right now he is a piece that PHX wants in a Durant deal. He is WANTED.

I think the best case for the Lakers is something like my earlier thread, but tweaked a bit like Timelord for Kleber+ asset, sign Capela and keep it all moving. BUT if you want a more durable rim running paint defending center, then you have to pony up a bit more.

[jbk1234]

Not the biggest fan of Claxton's contract, but he is someone who other teams have interest in. Nets probably need more value coming in from LA

Seriously doubt LA is adding value other than Knecht if Brooklyn is insisting on expiring contracts coming back. And the other problem is I don't think the Lakers really feel they have any bad contracts on the books. I'd venture a guess they're rather content letting Vanderbilt have a full offseason of health to work on his game.

I think trade partners would disagree with the the idea that Vincent or Vando are on good contracts.

[Netaman]

Fair. I'll take close-ish, lol. like Claxton, myself. One of my best draft call years was Danny's worse - I wanted NAW, Clarke, Claxton which he could have done, but we traded and ended up with Langford, Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards.

It's kinda based on a Sam Vecenie idea, and I've seen him kinda dumped before and saw other people say Nets were targeting 2026, so figured give it a shot but still pay you something. Do you value the lotto protected 27 more than Knecht? I could go either way, tbh. Nice part about the pick is no salary yet for BOS, and I see Knecht/Scheierman as pretty similar position, so one would lose development wise. If we did get Knecht, he'd probably be headed right back out for a pick.

for nets id value 2027 lotto protected 1st > knecht, but i think broadly thats probably a coin flip. nets happen to have some similar aged wings who have flashed, plus the 4x top 27 this year. but is knecht better to roster than bringing back trendon watford or zaire williams (plus having another future 1st)?

id just take another future first that can be trade currency down the road when they are hopefully closer to competing.

[TheNetsFan]

The Nets are not interested in shedding Claxton's salary. He's a good player, that is a ceiling raiser that depends on good PG play, something the Nets lacked in their quest to tank. The Nets will not move him without a real first round pick or a meaningful move up in the draft. Knecht has no value.

[brackdan70]

The Nets are not interested in shedding Claxton's salary. He's a good player, that is a ceiling raiser that depends on good PG play, something the Nets lacked in their quest to tank. The Nets will not move him without a real first round pick or a meaningful move up in the draft. Knecht has no value.

This makes perfect sense. It’s not a bad contract at all and he is a really good player with lots of good years left. Not the type of guy you “shed”