2024-25 Season: Draft, Trades, and FA Ideas Thread V1.0

[Ell Curry]

Training camp hasn't started yet and we don't have visibility there. But it's clear he understands that he's on the hot seat.

Based on all that we have seen and know about Gradey, Ochai and Jakobe...I don't think any of them have a clear case to overtake RJ.

Gradey really tailed off after a hot start. His D might be worse than RJ.

Jakobe had a decent summer league but I don't think his development over the summer will have done enough to push him over RJ.

Ochai is what you see is what you get. He strictly an open 3 PT shooter and occasionally cuts. D is good and probably better than RJ.

They all need to show more.

Starting Ochai gives us a much more balanced starting lineup on offense and defense. We wouldn’t have 3 negative defensive players (based on DPM) in the starting lineup, he’s a better 3 point shooter than RJ so it improves spacing and he doesn’t need the ball in his hands which gives more opportunities for Ingram and Quickley to create.

RJ makes our bench better, he can play the back up 2/3 and guys like Dick, Walter, Shead can slot in around him. He can still get 30 minutes as a bench guy and keep the offense take advantage of the opposing team’s bench units.

Agbaji is adequate on D, very efficient in transition and projects as a good 3pt shooter. None of that is true for RJ. I don't really see how the team isn't better if RJ is the 6th man and primary offensive option off the bench and Agbaji starts.

Shead at the 1, Walter vs Dick compete at the 2, RJ at the 3, CMB and Sandro hopefully form a passable backup big pairing with Sandro shooting and CMB doing more of the dirty work. It's not a good bench unless 1 of the 3 young guards really pops and one of CMB or Sandro plays well, but it makes more sense than overtaxing guys like Shead and CMB on offence.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Another Ochai trade to duck the tax + improve the team

Ochai + pick (LAL SRP or heavily protected first) for Cason Wallace

OKC is a second apron team next season and Cason is up for extension after his team option next season. Between Chet and Jdub having their extensions kick in, its hard to justify paying Cason if Topic is also there and cheaper for longer and he will at best be a back up 1 for the team. Ochai can likely be retained for far less than Cason may think he can get on the open market. They also get a pick to make up the difference in how much you value the two. Can also sweeten the deal with Mogbo as well. OKC flips a pretty good asset into 3 cheap good ones as they enter second apron hell and start having to let guys go.

Toronto gets a combo guard that can play next to IQ or run point himself. I think he's been limited in OKC because of who he plays behind and I think just like with IQ, he can possibly flourish in a higher usage role. I like him running the bench with Shead as dog defenders at the guard positions and he's a pretty consistent shooter. He has almost the same measurements as Antony Edwards (about 6'4 in shoes with 6'8.25in wingspan) as well, just without the strength and athleticism.

Sorry to Dick and Jakobe, but if they can't outplay him he probably starts next to IQ if RJ gets moved (or maybe one gets shipped with RJ to sweeten the deal)

[Raptorfan2012]

Another Ochai trade to duck the tax + improve the team

Ochai + pick (LAL SRP or heavily protected first) for Cason Wallace

OKC is a second apron team next season and Cason is up for extension after his team option next season. Between Chet and Jdub having their extensions kick in, its hard to justify paying Cason if Topic is also there and cheaper for longer and he will at best be a back up 1 for the team. Ochai can likely be retained for far less than Cason may think he can get on the open market. They also get a pick to make up the difference in how much you value the two. Can also sweeten the deal with Mogbo as well. OKC flips a pretty good asset into 3 cheap good ones as they enter second apron hell and start having to let guys go.

Toronto gets a combo guard that can play next to IQ or run point himself. I think he's been limited in OKC because of who he plays behind and I think just like with IQ, he can possibly flourish in a higher usage role. I like him running the bench with Shead as dog defenders at the guard positions and he's a pretty consistent shooter. He has almost the same measurements as Antony Edwards (about 6'4 in shoes with 6'8.25in wingspan) as well, just without the strength and athleticism.

Sorry to Dick and Jakobe, but if they can't outplay him he probably starts next to IQ if RJ gets moved (or maybe one gets shipped with RJ to sweeten the deal)

I feel like we will need to give up more for Cason Wallace. We can probably get Topic for cheap though (guy is injured again; doubt OKC has time to develop).him).

[ForeverTFC]

Another Ochai trade to duck the tax + improve the team

Ochai + pick (LAL SRP or heavily protected first) for Cason Wallace

OKC is a second apron team next season and Cason is up for extension after his team option next season. Between Chet and Jdub having their extensions kick in, its hard to justify paying Cason if Topic is also there and cheaper for longer and he will at best be a back up 1 for the team. Ochai can likely be retained for far less than Cason may think he can get on the open market. They also get a pick to make up the difference in how much you value the two. Can also sweeten the deal with Mogbo as well. OKC flips a pretty good asset into 3 cheap good ones as they enter second apron hell and start having to let guys go.

Toronto gets a combo guard that can play next to IQ or run point himself. I think he's been limited in OKC because of who he plays behind and I think just like with IQ, he can possibly flourish in a higher usage role. I like him running the bench with Shead as dog defenders at the guard positions and he's a pretty consistent shooter. He has almost the same measurements as Antony Edwards (about 6'4 in shoes with 6'8.25in wingspan) as well, just without the strength and athleticism.

Sorry to Dick and Jakobe, but if they can't outplay him he probably starts next to IQ if RJ gets moved (or maybe one gets shipped with RJ to sweeten the deal)

OKC probably moves Dort before they move Wallace. If they were to move Wallace, I think they'd get more than Agbaji + 1st - though to your point Agbaji will be a nice cheap long term contract for them which could be hard to come by if they do want a player coming back. Even then though, that pick will be lightly protected at best.

I'd do this deal in a heartbeat btw.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Another Ochai trade to duck the tax + improve the team

Ochai + pick (LAL SRP or heavily protected first) for Cason Wallace

OKC is a second apron team next season and Cason is up for extension after his team option next season. Between Chet and Jdub having their extensions kick in, its hard to justify paying Cason if Topic is also there and cheaper for longer and he will at best be a back up 1 for the team. Ochai can likely be retained for far less than Cason may think he can get on the open market. They also get a pick to make up the difference in how much you value the two. Can also sweeten the deal with Mogbo as well. OKC flips a pretty good asset into 3 cheap good ones as they enter second apron hell and start having to let guys go.

Toronto gets a combo guard that can play next to IQ or run point himself. I think he's been limited in OKC because of who he plays behind and I think just like with IQ, he can possibly flourish in a higher usage role. I like him running the bench with Shead as dog defenders at the guard positions and he's a pretty consistent shooter. He has almost the same measurements as Antony Edwards (about 6'4 in shoes with 6'8.25in wingspan) as well, just without the strength and athleticism.

Sorry to Dick and Jakobe, but if they can't outplay him he probably starts next to IQ if RJ gets moved (or maybe one gets shipped with RJ to sweeten the deal)

OKC probably moves Dort before they move Wallace. If they were to move Wallace, I think they'd get more than Agbaji + 1st - though to your point Agbaji will be a nice cheap long term contract for them which could be hard to come by if they do want a player coming back. Even then though, that pick will be lightly protected at best.

I'd do this deal in a heartbeat btw.

I think they may get signals from Wallace he may want to leave for a more prominent position so he can line himself up for more money. He will only ever be the bench pg if he stays on the Thunder. Dort could probably be kept for a 60/4 years type of deal where he stays in his role on guaranteed money. I don't see a team giving him a Bruce Brown contract in this market as he's a ceiling raiser and not a floor raiser.

I would do Ocahi/Mogbo/LAL SRP and maybe another first thats protected. Lots of cheap young players that they can keep a full roster with. The other theoretical packages out there would need to offer young guys that are on cheap/minimum deals and there aren't too many situations like that. Houston can offer Tari but he's a UFA after this season and will be too expensive to retain. There are too many other such situations which may put us in a unique position