The Official 2025 Offseason Thread #4 Free Agency Opens!

[statsman]

That is a maybe. I think we need RIchards with WIlliams injury and Maluachs development.

I would do Oso, Royce, and a future late first for Kuminga. I like Kuminga.

We would need to send more salaries in the trade.

Kuminga is probably going to be in the 25m range
Royce and Richards are about $15, Oso would be $17.

Without them taking Allen - its a tough fit unless Kuminga takes closer to $20m in year 1.
Hard to see a trade unless Allen goes to another team and that team sends a player the Warriors like

There would probably need to be at least a 3rd team in a S&T for Kuminga. Having the Warriors take back more than 50% of any starting salary on a S%T (BYC issue) would hard cap them at the 1st apron. I don't believe they can stay below the 1st apron taking back even $10M on one player.

[TeamTragic]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/IJwmyTaqOJ

[Charania] BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old

NO TRADE CLAUSE

[BobbieL]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/IJwmyTaqOJ

[Charania] BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old

NO TRADE CLAUSE

Dame is getting 140m total between this year and next between the Bucks buyout and signing with the Blazers

Who said, you can't go home?

[Sunsdeuce]

[url][/url]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/IJwmyTaqOJ

[Charania] BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old

NO TRADE CLAUSE

Dame is getting 140m total between this year and next between the Bucks buyout and signing with the Blazers

Who said, you can't go home?

God bless the player capable of protecting themselves. Like you said, can’t fault the player for their contract. Dame importance to the city of Portland is equivalent to Larry Fitzgerald importance to the city of Phx. He’s on god level there so I don’t think Portland will ever consider trading him or even contemplating losing Dame again so the no trade clause is a moot point.

[sunsbum]

To retort that. Good players make coaches look good. So on the flip side, Booker hasn’t exactly made any his coaches look good. It’s a two way street. To me, Booker will always just be today’s version of Gilbert Arenas, all points, no substance. I know I’m not alone in this settlement.

"A player who makes a team great is better than a great player" - John Wooden

“Your best player has to set a tone of intolerance for anything that gets in the way of winning” – Jeff Van Gundy

“Admit to and make yourself accountable for mistakes. How can you improve if you’re never wrong?” – Pat Summitt

Gilbert arenas was an inefficient chucker that had 3 good years. His career arc couldn’t hold books jock strap. If you’re going to keep comparing book to someone try Paul Pierce or Alex English. Like are you stupid enough to not realize we know exactly the type of players you are trying to downplay Bookers career to? I’ve heard you say Zach Lavine, Arenas and a couple others I can’t remember. It’s boring bro. Pack your act up, take your street performance to another corner.

Bro said to compare Booker to Paul Pierce
Paul Piece: 10 time all star, not once an injury replacement selection, championship, primary position: SF

All I ask is that you research harder before you compare players that are totally unrelated by position, championships, all-star selections and skill sets.

(Not once have I compared Booker to Lavine. Find the quote.[hint: you can’t because it doesn’t exist].

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” -Benjamin Franklin

Paul pierce played ALOT of SG my guy. Google is free. Of course I didn’t need Google because I watched him his entire career. You’re calling me crazy when you’re comparing Gilbert arenas career to Bookers jusssss stop man. I wasn’t referring to accolades and of course you knew that so you have to deflect when you realize what a turd sandwich of a comparison you’ve made. Statwise Booker is closer to pierce than he is to arenas, play style is debatable since book is more of a PG/SG like arenas but he has more of pierces midrange game. Derozen is a good comp but booker is better (he’s a 6 time all star in the east)

[WeekapaugGroove]

Dame ventured outside of his little bubble to a world where people actually cared/noticed that he doesn't play D and was like f that get me home

[Sunsdeuce]

Dame ventured outside of his little bubble to a world where people actually cared/noticed that he doesn't play D and was like f that get me home

Hey, no place like home. Same thing could happen to a players name that rhythms with Looker.

[Qwigglez]

I figured Lillard would come back to Portland. He was always here during the offseason even when he was with the Bucks. I know he has family and stuff, but it just made too much sense to me. The PNW is great. Plus, I think the team looks solid now.

I think this is kind of why Booker doesn't want to leave the Suns. He could have said he wanted to be traded. But instead, (at least so far) he wants to play for the organization his entire career. The grass isn't always greener.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

[Sunsdeuce]

I figured Lillard would come back to Portland. He was always here during the offseason even when he was with the Bucks. I know he has family and stuff, but it just made too much sense to me. The PNW is great. Plus, I think the team looks solid now.

I think this is kind of why Booker doesn't want to leave the Suns. He could have said he wanted to be traded. But instead, (at least so far) he wants to play for the organization his entire career. The grass isn't always greener.

Wait, you are a Portlander? How are you not a Blazers fan? I know a lot of people move to AZ and there are hardly any real AZ natives because of all the transplants. Either way, that’s cool you’re not a Phx peep and don’t have to deal with our deadly heat. I’m jealous of all your rain.

(Side note: Booker rarely stays in Phx on the offseason, he usually Moss Point, Mississippi so we don’t see him much during the off season in AZ).

[Sunsdeuce]

Read on Twitter

Not possible. Gambo said…..oh never mind

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

Money grubber.

Good luck winning anything with 2025-2026 James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.

I wonder if the Bartelstein got the 1 for 2 MoBro deal where they split the commission among themselves

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

I mean, he could have stayed and got every penny he signed for. Im not a Beal apologist but he has no history or alliance with the Suns. He never asked for a buyout, he was approached with it AND pressured by the franchise and its fans to leave 14 million dollars (he absolutely did not have to give up), on the table because the Suns put themselves in a position where they couldn't even buy him out because of previous stretches! Of course he isn't going to take a penny less or leave while singing kumbaya to the fans and praising us, we don't deserve **** from him as a franchise or as fans. The **** is what it is, stop crying. Its over, both parties are happy of that.

If I'm Beal, I would've done the exact same thing. I'm not leaving a cent more on the table than I need to to part ways

[lilfishi22]

Harden recruiting Beal is hilarious because we know KD signed off on Beal.

How did that turn out?

It's different when you're recruiting a guy on $5m a year or whatever vs $50m+

[Sunsdeuce]

THIS is the best scenario. If I’m a Portland fan, I’m stocked. THIS example right here is why you HAVE to entertain the idea of trading Booker.

Portland traded Damian Lillard for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and assets in 2023 -- then Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and assets. Now, the Blazers have both Lillard and Holiday, plus Williams, Camara, a 2029 first-rounder and two Bucks swaps.

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

Just imagine for a moment that we get him...wow, I can imagine him fitting nicely on our current roster.

Depends on what he signs for. Like I'm not a big KumBucket fan. Yeah he's young, he's really athletic and plays good defense but not a great scorer, not a good shooter, not an elite rebounder at his position, and he fouls a lot.

[KdoubleDees23]

THIS is the best scenario. If I’m a Portland fan, I’m stocked. THIS example right here is why you HAVE to entertain the idea of trading Booker.

Portland traded Damian Lillard for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and assets in 2023 -- then Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and assets. Now, the Blazers have both Lillard and Holiday, plus Williams, Camara, a 2029 first-rounder and two Bucks swaps.

You mean the 1 times it’s worked in the history of the nba lol

[Sunsdeuce]

THIS is the best scenario. If I’m a Portland fan, I’m stocked. THIS example right here is why you HAVE to entertain the idea of trading Booker.

Portland traded Damian Lillard for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and assets in 2023 -- then Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and assets. Now, the Blazers have both Lillard and Holiday, plus Williams, Camara, a 2029 first-rounder and two Bucks swaps.

You mean the 1 times it’s worked in the history of the nba lol

Totally missing the point. So many examples where teams traded their star and ended up better long term. So no, this isn’t an isolated incident. This was more icing on the cake scenario. And there are so many examples of how the current Suns regime is operating and what the outcome was (Mikhail Prokhorov operated and traded away everything just like dip$hitbia and it took the nets a decade to recovery). But hey, you do you.

[lilfishi22]

My comp is DeMar DeRozan. I guess DeMar is more a SF but both excel at the midrange game, mid 30's from the 3 point line. Defense is average. Though Booker has a higher ppg for his career.

Mitch Richmond when its all said and done. He is not there, but the trajectory fits.

That's a great comparison.

Brandon Roy is a good one too IMO.

Roy's one of my favourite players of all time and I think at his peak, he was a more complete player than Book. Obviously a shorter peak and in a different, more grind it out era but Roy's abilities on defense is why I think he's better than Book at their comparative peak. Although Book is the better scorer still in my view.

[lilfishi22]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/IJwmyTaqOJ

[Charania] BREAKING: Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Deal is expected to include a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause. A storybook reunion home for the 35-year-old

NO TRADE CLAUSE

I know it's a lower salary but I can't believe they are still giving out NTC's. Blazers have made some odd decisions this offseason like giving Simons away with two 2nd round picks. Like why does the Blazers of all teams need to give Dame a NTC