The Official 2025 Offseason Thread #4 Free Agency Opens!

[Sunsdeuce]

It’s wild that one injury has completely altered the Pacers future trajectory.

Once Tyrese Haliburton went down, however, Indy became vulnerable. “It changed everything,” one league source said Tuesday. Until that moment, ownership was willing to pay luxury tax for the first time in 20 years. – via New York Times

[Sunsdeuce]

Lakers gonna have a hard time getting any talent to surround Luka. This story tells me that it’s even going to be hard for them to even get Richards if they are that strapped.

Walker Kessler's asking price too steep

Jovan Buha on Jazz: I’ve just heard nothing but they want two picks plus a young player for Walker Kessler. So the Lakers cannot do that trade. They can give one pick and one young player and a swap. You could throw in a couple swaps. I probably would try to hold off on the later swaps, but I would maybe throw in three swaps like just or and take away the protections on the top four pick in in 2027, but I just don’t know if that’s going to be enough for Utah.

[BobbieL]

It’s wild that one injury has completely altered the Pacers future trajectory.

Once Tyrese Haliburton went down, however, Indy became vulnerable. “It changed everything,” one league source said Tuesday. Until that moment, ownership was willing to pay luxury tax for the first time in 20 years. – via New York Times

Just turned 29
Ayton just turned 26 - if they sign him

I can see the Celtics offloading Porz and Jrue (injury concerns for one, age for the other) - but Hali will be back in the fall of 2026. Seems like a bit of a short-sighted move by the Pacers. As now, you have to figure out how to replace Turner -maybe its Ayton at at the MLE - would be cheaper - but he isn't better.

[matt131]

Read on Twitter

[SkyBill40]

Seeing there's been talk about Richards to the Lakers (ugh... GAG), what would we even get back in a prospective deal? We'd have to move a player and be looking for picks in return. Who, of their flotsam, could we even use? I don't see them parting with Knecht.

[BobbieL]

Seeing there's been talk about Richards to the Lakers (ugh... GAG), what would we even get back in a prospective deal? We'd have to move a player and be looking for picks in return. Who, of their flotsam, could we even use? I don't see them parting with Knecht.

Now this list can change - but its not the best list for teams with a TPE

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/transactions/trade-exceptions



Easy thing would to have not picked up the option - than you get straight salary cap space with nothing coming back.

edit: www.spotrac.com/nba/transactions/trade-exceptions

[Qwigglez]

Seeing there's been talk about Richards to the Lakers (ugh... GAG), what would we even get back in a prospective deal? We'd have to move a player and be looking for picks in return. Who, of their flotsam, could we even use? I don't see them parting with Knecht.

Clearly Suns would be getting James here. Bronny James.

Suns need a backup PG, right? Brother is going to a school in AZ.

[SkyBill40]

Seeing there's been talk about Richards to the Lakers (ugh... GAG), what would we even get back in a prospective deal? We'd have to move a player and be looking for picks in return. Who, of their flotsam, could we even use? I don't see them parting with Knecht.

Clearly Suns would be getting James here. Bronny James.

Suns need a backup PG, right? Brother is going to a school in AZ.

Did you see the flotsam part? Or did you skip over that just for extra bleh on Bronny boy? LOL

[dremill24]

Seeing there's been talk about Richards to the Lakers (ugh... GAG), what would we even get back in a prospective deal? We'd have to move a player and be looking for picks in return. Who, of their flotsam, could we even use? I don't see them parting with Knecht.

They should still have enough of their MLE to just take him (assuming they dont use it for something else), which would be ideal for the Suns books.

They could use Shake Milton if they want to net less salary (would be nice to dump him on someone else).

Thats probably about it tbh.

[Puff]

I would keep Richards and see what the new coach comes up with. I like our team as is. I think the need for a point guard is overrated. It is no longer a Steve Nash NBA. In my opinion SGA is really a scoring guard. I think that is what this new style of basketball has turned into. While I like Chris Paul I don't think that he would help us much as his last time here especially with Beal still on the roster. He fits better as an assistant coach. If we can move Beal, bring him into the mix. He could be I nice mentor for Gillespie as long as he stays in alignment with Ott.

I am anxious to see what Ott does with this group. I like our team as is. There are 96 minutes each night at PG & SG, maybe Ott can split that up between Green, Book and Beal with Gillespie getting minutes as well. The problem lies in O'Neale and Allen. I like the new guys we acquired along with Dunn at the 3 and 4. Our center rotation is loaded and that is fine. I liked what I saw from Richards last year. If the new coach can raise the temperature at every position, I think he will be even better.

We ended up with the two guys I wanted in this draft in Maluach, who I did not think we would get, along with Fleming. How we got both of these guys is amazing. Koby and the Guy from Europe seem like they could help as well. Can't wait to see these guys in summer league.

Play Ball.

[Saberestar]

Seeing there's been talk about Richards to the Lakers (ugh... GAG), what would we even get back in a prospective deal? We'd have to move a player and be looking for picks in return. Who, of their flotsam, could we even use? I don't see them parting with Knecht.

The Lakers has Shake Milton on a $3M contract
(team option). The trade works and we would save $2M.

The Lakers only have one 2nd available (2032 2nd). I would ask for that 2nd + 1 FRP swap.

[SkyBill40]

Seeing there's been talk about Richards to the Lakers (ugh... GAG), what would we even get back in a prospective deal? We'd have to move a player and be looking for picks in return. Who, of their flotsam, could we even use? I don't see them parting with Knecht.

The Lakers has Shake Milton on a $3M contract
(team option). The trade works and we would save $2M.

The Lakers only have one 2nd available (2032 2nd). I would ask for that 2nd + 1 FRP swap.

I don't know if I see the Lakers biting on that for Nick Richards. A FRP is still just that and while we need all the help we can get, we're usually on the losing end; however, seeing this is more them needing than us... you never can be too sure as to what Pelinka might bite on and offer up.

[Puff]

I am all in on signing Lillard for 2 years at the Minimum if he really wants to play with book. I think he ends up back in Portland.

[BobbieL]

Seeing there's been talk about Richards to the Lakers (ugh... GAG), what would we even get back in a prospective deal? We'd have to move a player and be looking for picks in return. Who, of their flotsam, could we even use? I don't see them parting with Knecht.

They should still have enough of their MLE to just take him (assuming they dont use it for something else), which would be ideal for the Suns books.

They could use Shake Milton if they want to net less salary (would be nice to dump him on someone else).

Thats probably about it tbh.

if the Lakers have part of the MLE - -can they just take him for nothing and maybe a future draft pick. Take the cap space and call it good

[SkyBill40]

I am all in on signing Lillard for 2 years at the Minimum if he really wants to play with book. I think he ends up back in Portland.

He might never be the same player after this. And I sincerely doubt, even with him still getting paid his remaining contract, he's willing to sign for the minimum here. If they somehow pull that off... wowza.

I hope we have an ambulance service on retainer.

[dremill24]

Seeing there's been talk about Richards to the Lakers (ugh... GAG), what would we even get back in a prospective deal? We'd have to move a player and be looking for picks in return. Who, of their flotsam, could we even use? I don't see them parting with Knecht.

They should still have enough of their MLE to just take him (assuming they dont use it for something else), which would be ideal for the Suns books.

They could use Shake Milton if they want to net less salary (would be nice to dump him on someone else).

Thats probably about it tbh.

if the Lakers have part of the MLE - -can they just take him for nothing and maybe a future draft pick. Take the cap space and call it good

That would be my preference

[darmani]

Read on Twitter

[BobbieL]

They should still have enough of their MLE to just take him (assuming they dont use it for something else), which would be ideal for the Suns books.

They could use Shake Milton if they want to net less salary (would be nice to dump him on someone else).

Thats probably about it tbh.

if the Lakers have part of the MLE - -can they just take him for nothing and maybe a future draft pick. Take the cap space and call it good

That would be my preference

I personally don't care how much lux tax Ishbia has to pay but it seems to me, the ability to make multi-player trades would be something the Suns would want to have the ability to do. That might be a great benefit to the team than a 2nd round draft pick. I personally would have waived Richards, pocketed the $5m (bird in the hand) and now figure out the next apron level.

[BringinDaRuckus]

I really hope Chris Paul chooses to come back to the Suns if only to demand Bradley Beal give up #3.

[dremill24]

if the Lakers have part of the MLE - -can they just take him for nothing and maybe a future draft pick. Take the cap space and call it good

That would be my preference

I personally don't care how much lux tax Ishbia has to pay but it seems to me, the ability to make multi-player trades would be something the Suns would want to have the ability to do. That might be a great benefit to the team than a 2nd round draft pick. I personally would have waived Richards, pocketed the $5m (bird in the hand) and now figure out the next apron level.

That and the draft pick penalty. There's no reason to have your draft pick moved to the end of the round just so you can pay for a 34-win team. They still have time before that's a thing but might as well get out now. Im sure (I think?) they will.