Trades and Transactions 2025 IV

[Jalen Bluntson]

I never put it past Leon and Co to jump on an opportunity when it presents itself so you never know. KAT deal came a week before training camp.

I think the bench as constructed right now would be fine. Clarkson and Yabu adding a scoring punch it was lacking will be a big deal. We have to see which one of the 2nd year players will step up for a bigger role.

Hukporti needs to stay healthy and he will play. Watching him in his first start against PHI today, where he got hurt, he was really playing well. I think he's just a matter of staying healthy and we have depth there. Playable depth with upside.

Kolek showed that he can become a rotation guy but, still needs to prove it. He was ignored all season so we didn't get an in depth look honestly. Showed great passing skills though and can run an offense.

I kinda think they may be open to giving these guys real opportunities this season. The other kids have to show something or they will remain at the end of the bench.

Top 9 is established.

Brunson/Deuce
Mikal/Jordan
Hart/???
OG/Yabu
KAT/Mitch

You can shift the depth around but, that's the pecking order right now. The last vet mini is kind of important because it's all kids after that. Shamet could get the spot. Kolek and Huk have open opportunities that way. I like that they are waiting for now. I would not be mad at adding Shamet for his shooting though. He's a solid bench player for sure.

Wasn’t the whole lineup a failure becuz of hart and you have him starting again ???? He will be coming off the bench playing 20-25 mins

Did you miss that part? Check my last post in the starting 5 thread fam.

[ctorres]

Hoping we bring Shamet back for that last vet spot.

Where would he get minutes? Small forward spot off the bench?

If Mitch starts, then we have McBride, Clarkson, Hart, and Yabusele taking up all the minutes off the bench

[sol537]

Hoping we bring Shamet back for that last vet spot.

Where would he get minutes? Small forward spot off the bench?

If Mitch starts, then we have McBride, Clarkson, Hart, and Yabusele taking up all the minutes off the bench

He’s a vet min insurance guy. Squeeze 6-10 mins here and there or sometimes none at all.

[Polk377]

We cannot turn down Smart if he wants to come here for the minimum. He's too good of a player. It would be a bit congested but injuries happen and nothing wrong with having 10 really good players. OKC figured it out so can we!

He is a career 11 3 and 5 player with awful efficiency numbers over close to 30 mpg . He is too good at what?

[Jalen Bluntson]

Hoping we bring Shamet back for that last vet spot.

Where would he get minutes? Small forward spot off the bench?

If Mitch starts, then we have McBride, Clarkson, Hart, and Yabusele taking up all the minutes off the bench

He’s a vet min insurance guy. Squeeze 6-10 mins here and there or sometimes none at all.

Start Deuce

Brunson/Clarkson/Kolek
Deuce/Shamet/Pac
Mikal/Hart
OG/Yabu
KAT/Mitch/Huk

Diawara and 2way players fill out the roster,

Starters avg around 32 mpg. Bench avg around 16mpg. 10 deep with insurance everywhere. Flexibility/versatility. Tighten up the rotation as the playoffs near like sane people do. Everyone else ready off the bench.

[Jalen Bluntson]

We cannot turn down Smart if he wants to come here for the minimum. He's too good of a player. It would be a bit congested but injuries happen and nothing wrong with having 10 really good players. OKC figured it out so can we!

He is a career 11 3 and 5 player with awful efficiency numbers over close to 30 mpg . He is too good at what?

Defense and passing? Kind of a weakness at PG overall here. Do not want though. Wouldn't completely lose my mind if we did this but, like Clarkson, wouldn't be my choice.

[DaGawd]

the smart fellatio is reaching critical levels

[Polk377]

We cannot turn down Smart if he wants to come here for the minimum. He's too good of a player. It would be a bit congested but injuries happen and nothing wrong with having 10 really good players. OKC figured it out so can we!

He is a career 11 3 and 5 player with awful efficiency numbers over close to 30 mpg . He is too good at what?

Defense and passing? Kind of a weakness at PG overall here. Do not want though. Wouldn't completely lose my mind if we did this but, like Clarkson, wouldn't be my choice.

His health is also unreliable. His best days are behind him.

I was happy with Clarkson. We needed a volume shooter off the bench who could carry the scoring load so we dont have to over extend KAT and Bridges. Can also slide next to JB if we need to.

[mpharris36]

We cannot turn down Smart if he wants to come here for the minimum. He's too good of a player. It would be a bit congested but injuries happen and nothing wrong with having 10 really good players. OKC figured it out so can we!

He is a career 11 3 and 5 player with awful efficiency numbers over close to 30 mpg . He is too good at what?

even at his age he is still one of the more disruptive defense guards in the NBA.

Read on Twitter

[ctorres]

Hoping we bring Shamet back for that last vet spot.

Where would he get minutes? Small forward spot off the bench?

If Mitch starts, then we have McBride, Clarkson, Hart, and Yabusele taking up all the minutes off the bench

He’s a vet min insurance guy. Squeeze 6-10 mins here and there or sometimes none at all.

I think shamet will go elsewhere

If he takes that role, it could be career suicide for him

[Jalen Bluntson]

He is a career 11 3 and 5 player with awful efficiency numbers over close to 30 mpg . He is too good at what?

Defense and passing? Kind of a weakness at PG overall here. Do not want though. Wouldn't completely lose my mind if we did this but, like Clarkson, wouldn't be my choice.

His health is also unreliable. His best days are behind him.

I was happy with Clarkson. We needed a volume shooter off the bench who could carry the scoring load so we dont have to over extend KAT and Bridges. Can also slide next to JB if we need to.

Well... it would not be bad if we had a PT vet PG so Kolek could break into he rotation due to injury. Again, not my choice but, wouldn't flip out. I'm gonna give Clarkson a clean slate and let the positive vibes carry me for now. I did not like him at any stage of his career and his efficiency is bad. Chuck and duck.

[ctorres]

Where would he get minutes? Small forward spot off the bench?

If Mitch starts, then we have McBride, Clarkson, Hart, and Yabusele taking up all the minutes off the bench

He’s a vet min insurance guy. Squeeze 6-10 mins here and there or sometimes none at all.

Start Deuce

Brunson/Clarkson/Kolek
Deuce/Shamet/Pac
Mikal/Hart
OG/Yabu
KAT/Mitch/Huk

Diawara and 2way players fill out the roster,

Starters avg around 32 mpg. Bench avg around 16mpg. 10 deep with insurance everywhere. Flexibility/versatility. Tighten up the rotation as the playoffs near like sane people do. Everyone else ready off the bench.

Clarkson is not a 16 mpg player though. He has averaged less than 24 mpg for a season only once in his entire career.

He'll be in the running for 6MOTY with the Knicks.

[Jalen Bluntson]

He’s a vet min insurance guy. Squeeze 6-10 mins here and there or sometimes none at all.

Start Deuce

Brunson/Clarkson/Kolek
Deuce/Shamet/Pac
Mikal/Hart
OG/Yabu
KAT/Mitch/Huk

Diawara and 2way players fill out the roster,

Starters avg around 32 mpg. Bench avg around 16mpg. 10 deep with insurance everywhere. Flexibility/versatility. Tighten up the rotation as the playoffs near like sane people do. Everyone else ready off the bench.

Clarkson is not a 16 mpg player though. He has averaged less than 24 mpg for a season only once in his entire career.

He'll be in the running for 6MOTY with the Knicks.

No

[knicks1999]

I heard it best said today on the radio….Ben Simmons at 50 million a year is a complete overpay and waste of money….Ben Simmons at the vet minimum and a back up is a steal!

[Polk377]

Defense and passing? Kind of a weakness at PG overall here. Do not want though. Wouldn't completely lose my mind if we did this but, like Clarkson, wouldn't be my choice.

His health is also unreliable. His best days are behind him.

I was happy with Clarkson. We needed a volume shooter off the bench who could carry the scoring load so we dont have to over extend KAT and Bridges. Can also slide next to JB if we need to.

Well... it would not be bad if we had a PT vet PG so Kolek could break into he rotation due to injury. Again, not my choice but, wouldn't flip out. I'm gonna give Clarkson a clean slate and let the positive vibes carry me for now. I did not like him at any stage of his career and his efficiency is bad. Chuck and duck.

I definitely get that. It is nice to have someone off the bench to be that guy though. Meaning they know when he is in, he must be stopped. It will free up other guys for good looks. Especially Yabu and Deuce.

[Jalen Bluntson]

I heard it best said today on the radio….Ben Simmons at 50 million a year is a complete overpay and waste of money….Ben Simmons at the vet minimum and a back up is a steal!

I would not lose my mind but, he might. He's a positional security blanket for a minimum. Big enough to play and guard 1-5. Doesn't need a ton of minutes. Could always be dumped at some point if it's a disaster. Backup PG. Can actually play next to Brunson. The rotational versatility would be worth it for me.

Simmons/Deuce/Mikal/OG/Mitch would be a nightmare defensive lineup.

I would have taken a flyer on Ayton at the minimum too!
Westbrook
CP3

[Polk377]

We cannot turn down Smart if he wants to come here for the minimum. He's too good of a player. It would be a bit congested but injuries happen and nothing wrong with having 10 really good players. OKC figured it out so can we!

He is a career 11 3 and 5 player with awful efficiency numbers over close to 30 mpg . He is too good at what?

even at his age he is still one of the more disruptive defense guards in the NBA.

Read on Twitter

If you are saying we are trading Deuce then sure but where does he fit otherwise? You think he wants to be the 11th man in a 10 man rotation?

[mpharris36]

He is a career 11 3 and 5 player with awful efficiency numbers over close to 30 mpg . He is too good at what?

even at his age he is still one of the more disruptive defense guards in the NBA.

Read on Twitter

If you are saying we are trading Deuce then sure but where does he fit otherwise? You think he wants to be the 11th man in a 10 man rotation?

I would suggest Deuce starts. It the way to truly unlock KAT, which seems to be a priority.

[RHODEY]

I heard it best said today on the radio….Ben Simmons at 50 million a year is a complete overpay and waste of money….Ben Simmons at the vet minimum and a back up is a steal!

Despite his terrible earned reputation Simmons is intriguing to me because on the the surface he gives this squad something no other available FA does ....size, defense and play making bundled into one package. and yes I do realize this is the idea of Ben Simmons and not necessarily the current reality....but for the minimum its a rather high upside high risk move.

[knicks1999]

I heard it best said today on the radio….Ben Simmons at 50 million a year is a complete overpay and waste of money….Ben Simmons at the vet minimum and a back up is a steal!

Despite his terrible earned reputation Simmons is intriguing to me because on the the surface he gives this squad something no other available FA does ....size, defense and play making bundled into one package. and yes I do realize this is the idea of Ben Simmons and not necessarily the current reality....but for the minimum its a rather high upside high risk move.

I agree