2025-26 Season News & Discussion

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

Wow, what a **** show!! Feel bad for Cooper. Fire-sale incoming?!?! Somehow the Lakers are gonna greatly benefit form this I feel!!

I've said this awhile back. But their ownership only has interest in their casino plans being completed. Look for them to eventually push to sell the franchise and conveniently move it to Las Vegas in expansion IF they're not allowed to build their casinos ( as planned) in Texas.

Everything from the Luka trade to this engineered collapse was planned as " carrot and stick" leverage to get their Casino passed in texas under threat of moving the Mavs to Vegas. #Vegas Mavericks....lol.

[NapoleonII]

Wow, what a **** show!! Feel bad for Cooper. Fire-sale incoming?!?! Somehow the Lakers are gonna greatly benefit form this I feel!!

I hope Ishbia is not thinking about trading for a "superstar" in Street .. I mean Anthony Davis for Grayson, Royce, Maluach, Fleming + 2nd rounders(no 1sts left).

Delete this -

Mortgage Matty would see this and definitely do this.

[Fo-Real]

Wow, what a **** show!! Feel bad for Cooper. Fire-sale incoming?!?! Somehow the Lakers are gonna greatly benefit form this I feel!!

I hope Ishbia is not thinking about trading for a "superstar" in Street .. I mean Anthony Davis for Grayson, Royce, Maluach, Fleming + 2nd rounders(no 1sts left).

Delete this -

Mortgage Matty would see this and definitely do this.

Fortunately with their cap situation compared to ours, I don't think there are any trades that could be lined up between us and them!!

[King4Day]

I don't want to make any trades anytime soon. Ride this season out and assuming Allen and O'Neal finish the season strong, revisit trades in the summer.
Unless of course a team makes an offer you can't refuse. I expect teams would offer maybe 3-5 2nd rounders at this point for either/or.

[Calvin Klein]

Seeing both Luka and Ayton winning in LA is pretty much a worse case sceneario.

[sunsbum]

Now that we have a better idea of what this team looks like 11 games into the season it’s safe to say we still have a glaring hole at the PF position. With O’Neal and Grayson proving they’re more valuable to us than as trade chips we have to start looking down the bench for other options. While I’m trying to temper expectations I really think this team can hang with most playoff squads. What are some power forwards that would integrate well with our team and, with that.. are we willing to trade some of our rookies to acquire him? I don’t think oso and Richards will be enough unfortunately.

[Ghost of Kleine]

KD is not carrying a rebuilding team to relevance, even in the East. A KD/Book-led team last season, that won 49 games the previous season, was the 11th worst team in the West, which would've also been the 11th worst team in the East. Literally wherever KD has gone in his career, he's either brought elite talent with him to play with (Kyrie/Harden) or he's joining a team that's already competitive (GSW/Phoenix). And he was able to do that at 28, 31 and 34 years of age, he's not doing it in year 17 at 37 nor does he carry the weight as a franchise-changing centrepiece either. Houston is the perfect situation for him because he's joining a team that won 52 games (2nd in the conference) that has proven they can play together and under a coach most consider to be elite.

Again we're talking about a completely unproven coach, unproven front office, a franchise with no track record of attracting stars and his "co-stars" are a cooked CJ, Khris and some very young players? That's the team you seriously think KD would hitch his old wagon to for his final few seasons? If so, then you're just arguing just for argument sake, because that isn't a serious proposal

Simply put, KD being added to their team changes their plans, calculus and competitive trajectory man. Now of course your right that ye alone by himself wouldn't carry them to much better outcomes.

But basketball is a team sport and as a team it could be accomplished. The mechanisms for dramatic roster upgrades/ improvements I've already shared as part of the KD pursuit plan. Now obviously they wouldn't sell KD on playing their and just stand pat!

They'd likely make moves with his approval/ input to upgrade their roster around him. And unlike us, they'd have the assets and cap space to do it. Sure, you make great points around an unproven front office, coach, etc. But they obviously were clever enough to completely grift our front office on Beal and multiple picks for years!

Also we're talking about a much easier eastern conference that'd be wide open for most any competitive team to make the playoffs as opposed to the bloodbath that's the western conference.


Just an easier pathway, especially when considering the multiple factors around the majority of teams in the east, and the fact that you actually can have teams with losing records ( below .500) sneaking into the playoffs as the bulls and Hawks did last year in 24.

It's just a much easier proposition honestly man. And that's the primary selling point for them in a KD pursuit. The idea that it's not a serious proposal is subjective opinion when all factors are legitimately considered man.

Player's are unpredictable. And even absent players personal interests, you also have front offices that can make decisions that are considered surprising or unexpected. KD for all his greatness and notoriety may just not carry the same level of clout as he once had, and is under contract in this premise.

Under contract can obviously be moved without consent. Unless they're Bradley Beal of course.........lol. Did our very own front office not try to trade him without consent??

Yes adding a KD to any team would change the team. That's plainly obvious. It's not a matter of adding KD, it's a matter of how different that team could actually be and my contention is not very much for all the reasons I already provided.

If you really want to play out the scenario you're proposing instead of just throwing words out, then I challenge you to build a realistic Wizards team based on their roster and cap space last season. Show me the team you build that you think is going to be a problem in the East.

sure man,

Pre or post Avdija/ Gafford trade. And any other inclusionary factors for this challenge?

[NapoleonII]

Guys take this outside lol

Who gives a **** about the Wizards or KD?

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

1. Ja Morant < Collin Gillespie https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/WUxHR

2. Grayson's killing it. Wouldn't be shocked if a contender offers a couple firsts for him at the deadline, assuming he stays healthy. I wonder if we'd take it.

3. Khaman belongs on the bench - not because he's no good, but because he's still developing physically, and given our depth at C, we simply don't need him right now. Let him continue to improve and develop behind the scenes. He'll get his chance. Hopefully he'll be ready when the time comes.

4. Jordan Ott has been a revelation. I wonder if we'd be nearly as good with KD on the roster. Seems like addition by subtraction, since the pieces we got in return haven't contributed very much, and the only other change to the roster has been the addition of Mark Williams. By this time last year, I was already out on this squad. But this team has my attention. Credit the FO for changing the culture and giving us a team worth watching.

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

[lilfishi22]

Simply put, KD being added to their team changes their plans, calculus and competitive trajectory man. Now of course your right that ye alone by himself wouldn't carry them to much better outcomes.

But basketball is a team sport and as a team it could be accomplished. The mechanisms for dramatic roster upgrades/ improvements I've already shared as part of the KD pursuit plan. Now obviously they wouldn't sell KD on playing their and just stand pat!

They'd likely make moves with his approval/ input to upgrade their roster around him. And unlike us, they'd have the assets and cap space to do it. Sure, you make great points around an unproven front office, coach, etc. But they obviously were clever enough to completely grift our front office on Beal and multiple picks for years!

Also we're talking about a much easier eastern conference that'd be wide open for most any competitive team to make the playoffs as opposed to the bloodbath that's the western conference.


Just an easier pathway, especially when considering the multiple factors around the majority of teams in the east, and the fact that you actually can have teams with losing records ( below .500) sneaking into the playoffs as the bulls and Hawks did last year in 24.

It's just a much easier proposition honestly man. And that's the primary selling point for them in a KD pursuit. The idea that it's not a serious proposal is subjective opinion when all factors are legitimately considered man.

Player's are unpredictable. And even absent players personal interests, you also have front offices that can make decisions that are considered surprising or unexpected. KD for all his greatness and notoriety may just not carry the same level of clout as he once had, and is under contract in this premise.

Under contract can obviously be moved without consent. Unless they're Bradley Beal of course.........lol. Did our very own front office not try to trade him without consent??

Yes adding a KD to any team would change the team. That's plainly obvious. It's not a matter of adding KD, it's a matter of how different that team could actually be and my contention is not very much for all the reasons I already provided.

If you really want to play out the scenario you're proposing instead of just throwing words out, then I challenge you to build a realistic Wizards team based on their roster and cap space last season. Show me the team you build that you think is going to be a problem in the East.

sure man,

Pre or post Avdija/ Gafford trade. And any other inclusionary factors for this challenge?

Set this up just for you

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2481572

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

The Suns need to be finding time for this kid to play and develop with the team in Green's absence. Especially if he's going to lowkey be Booker's eventual heir apparent someday possibly?

Regardless of defensive concerns, we still need more offense. And he definitely possesses the skillset that addresses that production gap missing with Green out.

Brea took 25 shots to get 26 points. Was 5 for 17 from deep. Let's calm down for a second

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Koby-Brea/GameLogs/157545

I am totally calm man. The best pathway for development is actual in game experience in order to build confidence and chemistry with teammates.

It's not like I'm asking for him to be playing 30 minutes a game. But not even sniffing garbage time in games that are in our control is mismanagement. He's well known to be one of the very best shooters in college basketball at the time he was drafted.

But we aren't giving him any legitimate nba floor time to begin figuring things out? What do we really lose by giving our young players opportunities in games we've locked up?

At some point it becomes important to actually begin developing our future core since we're not legitimately competing. At least afford him some garbage time for on court experience.

I'm reacting to you calling Brea a low key Booker heir apparent

[lilfishi22]

Read on Twitter

This guy saved us from being the #1 laughing stock new story of the season. He died for for the sins of two NBA owners

[lilfishi22]

I don't want to make any trades anytime soon. Ride this season out and assuming Allen and O'Neal finish the season strong, revisit trades in the summer.
Unless of course a team makes an offer you can't refuse. I expect teams would offer maybe 3-5 2nd rounders at this point for either/or.

What matters is they continue to play well so at least if the opportunity is there by the trade deadline and it makes us better then it's good to have that option

[lilfishi22]

1. Ja Morant < Collin Gillespie https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/WUxHR

2. Grayson's killing it. Wouldn't be shocked if a contender offers a couple firsts for him at the deadline, assuming he stays healthy. I wonder if we'd take it.

3. Khaman belongs on the bench - not because he's no good, but because he's still developing physically, and given our depth at C, we simply don't need him right now. Let him continue to improve and develop behind the scenes. He'll get his chance. Hopefully he'll be ready when the time comes.

4. Jordan Ott has been a revelation. I wonder if we'd be nearly as good with KD on the roster. Seems like addition by subtraction, since the pieces we got in return haven't contributed very much, and the only other change to the roster has been the addition of Mark Williams. By this time last year, I was already out on this squad. But this team has my attention. Credit the FO for changing the culture and giving us a team worth watching.

I'd like to see KM and Fleming get more minutes but I also agree with point 4 so I'm open to Ott's approach with those 2 guys.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Brea took 25 shots to get 26 points. Was 5 for 17 from deep. Let's calm down for a second

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Koby-Brea/GameLogs/157545

I am totally calm man. The best pathway for development is actual in game experience in order to build confidence and chemistry with teammates.

It's not like I'm asking for him to be playing 30 minutes a game. But not even sniffing garbage time in games that are in our control is mismanagement. He's well known to be one of the very best shooters in college basketball at the time he was drafted.

But we aren't giving him any legitimate nba floor time to begin figuring things out? What do we really lose by giving our young players opportunities in games we've locked up?

At some point it becomes important to actually begin developing our future core since we're not legitimately competing. At least afford him some garbage time for on court experience.

I'm reacting to you calling Brea a low key Booker heir apparent

Sure! That makes sense as seemingly outrageous for a surface level comparison. Especially considering their vastly different draft situations and ages upon entering the league.

But that's why I used the term "low key" meaning restrained or subtle as to not put too much significance on it or make a big fuss about it and also why I said "possibly" meaning there's a chance or possibility absent clear certainty man.

But for comparison sake, what is Booker's skillset that made him a star for us? It's his shooting and efficiency right. I mean he wasn't known for his athleticism, ballhandling, passing abilities or defensive prowess now was he?

And what exactly is the selling point around Brea getting drafted again? Not his athleticism, ballhandling, passing, or defensive prowess. It's his shooting and efficiency out of college right?

So nearly identical skillset. Only Booker does it at a much higher level. And occasionally shows that killer instinct takeover scoring ability that clearly Brea hasn't. Hence the vast difference in draft ranking of Booker as a lottery pick and Brea as a 2nd round prospect.

Sure a surface comparison seems fairly absurd given those differences. The comparison I'm making is predicated upon their very similar skillsets, athleticism, stature and areas of development. The shooting ability is still present and a capable skillset for both.

Brea obviously needs development and confidence that'll come through actual experience. Everything in time. I'm again only suggesting opportunity.

[sunskerr]

I don't usually waste too much time thinking about late 1sts and 2nd rounders. If the wheels come off the team then we'll see them on court more later in the season and we'll see if they have "it". Generally speaking coaches usually have a better handle than us on which rookies are good simply because they seem them in practice.

FO/Stats/Scouting also help by informing if a guy is exceeding expectations, too. They then suggest to the coaching staff something like "if possible see if you can squeeze in some minutes for x" and if that works (sometimes it doesn't) and the player keeps playing well, you go from there. But this overwhelmingly the majority of the time requires a player to be in position to see at least a few minutes per game.

Another way to break through, or actually the easiest way for a guy to break through quickly is injury and that requires the beneficiary to be in position to benefit from a teammate's injury i.e. you have to be good enough to be getting minutes already. So I'd surmise Brea is a long ways off because he's not getting regular rotation minutes, let alone even on the end of the bench.

In other words it's highly likely right now he's what you'd expect from a second rounder. He's obviously got a very relevant skill but just take it as it goes. Because as a reminder most draft picks amount to nothing anyway.

[NapoleonII]

I am totally calm man. The best pathway for development is actual in game experience in order to build confidence and chemistry with teammates.

It's not like I'm asking for him to be playing 30 minutes a game. But not even sniffing garbage time in games that are in our control is mismanagement. He's well known to be one of the very best shooters in college basketball at the time he was drafted.

But we aren't giving him any legitimate nba floor time to begin figuring things out? What do we really lose by giving our young players opportunities in games we've locked up?

At some point it becomes important to actually begin developing our future core since we're not legitimately competing. At least afford him some garbage time for on court experience.

I'm reacting to you calling Brea a low key Booker heir apparent

Sure! That makes sense as seemingly outrageous for a surface level comparison. Especially considering their vastly different draft situations and ages upon entering the league.

But that's why I used the term "low key" meaning restrained or subtle as to not put too much significance on it or make a big fuss about it and also why I said "possibly" meaning there's a chance or possibility absent clear certainty man.

But for comparison sake, what is Booker's skillset that made him a star for us? It's his shooting and efficiency right. I mean he wasn't known for his athleticism, ballhandling, passing abilities or defensive prowess now was he?

And what exactly is the selling point around Brea getting drafted again? Not his athleticism, ballhandling, passing, or defensive prowess. It's his shooting and efficiency out of college right?

So nearly identical skillset. Only Booker does it at a much higher level. And occasionally shows that killer instinct takeover scoring ability that clearly Brea hasn't. Hence the vast difference in draft ranking of Booker as a lottery pick and Brea as a 2nd round prospect.

Sure a surface comparison seems fairly absurd given those differences. The comparison I'm making is predicated upon their very similar skillsets, athleticism, stature and areas of development. The shooting ability is still present and a capable skillset for both.

Brea obviously needs development and confidence that'll come through actual experience. Everything in time. I'm again only suggesting opportunity.

I generally appreciate your posts man, but I agree, calm down on Koby?

He hasn't shown anything to even conclude he'll be around in a year or two. Koby Brea.....in his one preseason game, scored 0 points on 0-2 shooting, including 0-2 from three-point range. That's what we got.

Also, nobody in real life says "prowess" but I like how often you use it, lol. Like 1 outta 3 posts, Ghost is gonna talk about somebody's prowess.

[lilfishi22]

I am totally calm man. The best pathway for development is actual in game experience in order to build confidence and chemistry with teammates.

It's not like I'm asking for him to be playing 30 minutes a game. But not even sniffing garbage time in games that are in our control is mismanagement. He's well known to be one of the very best shooters in college basketball at the time he was drafted.

But we aren't giving him any legitimate nba floor time to begin figuring things out? What do we really lose by giving our young players opportunities in games we've locked up?

At some point it becomes important to actually begin developing our future core since we're not legitimately competing. At least afford him some garbage time for on court experience.

I'm reacting to you calling Brea a low key Booker heir apparent

Sure! That makes sense as seemingly outrageous for a surface level comparison. Especially considering their vastly different draft situations and ages upon entering the league.

But that's why I used the term "low key" meaning restrained or subtle as to not put too much significance on it or make a big fuss about it and also why I said "possibly" meaning there's a chance or possibility absent clear certainty man.

But for comparison sake, what is Booker's skillset that made him a star for us? It's his shooting and efficiency right. I mean he wasn't known for his athleticism, ballhandling, passing abilities or defensive prowess now was he?

And what exactly is the selling point around Brea getting drafted again? Not his athleticism, ballhandling, passing, or defensive prowess. It's his shooting and efficiency out of college right?

So nearly identical skillset. Only Booker does it at a much higher level. And occasionally shows that killer instinct takeover scoring ability that clearly Brea hasn't. Hence the vast difference in draft ranking of Booker as a lottery pick and Brea as a 2nd round prospect.

Sure a surface comparison seems fairly absurd given those differences. The comparison I'm making is predicated upon their very similar skillsets, athleticism, stature and areas of development. The shooting ability is still present and a capable skillset for both.

Brea obviously needs development and confidence that'll come through actual experience. Everything in time. I'm again only suggesting opportunity.

And I'm only suggesting not to just casually label some guy on a two way contract Book's heir apparent, even "low key", based on one similar skill set.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Yes adding a KD to any team would change the team. That's plainly obvious. It's not a matter of adding KD, it's a matter of how different that team could actually be and my contention is not very much for all the reasons I already provided.

If you really want to play out the scenario you're proposing instead of just throwing words out, then I challenge you to build a realistic Wizards team based on their roster and cap space last season. Show me the team you build that you think is going to be a problem in the East.

sure man,

Pre or post Avdija/ Gafford trade. And any other inclusionary factors for this challenge?

Set this up just for you

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2481572

Thanks man! How very nice of you to do this for this hypothetical challenge

So obviously a lot of moves were predicated upon the Wizards interests in bottoming out for the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes and entering an engineered rebuild. So alot of their salary and talent had been exchanged for expiring, aging players to generate future cap flexibility and acquire picks.

Otherwise we'd be including Avdija, Kuzma, and even Valuncias as legitimate consideration pieces here (in interest of being more competitive with KD as an offensive fulcrum for them) But to humor these conditions equitably, here's my initial proposal:

Washington-
Kevin Durant.

Phoenix-
McCollum/ Tre Johnson/ Will Riley/ 2028 1st round pick (unprotected)/ 2030 1st (Top 4 protected)/ 2027 2nd round pick/ 2029 2nd round pick.

** McCollum represents the large salary filler/ vet equivalent to D Brooks. And on an expiring contract for cap flexibility for Phoenix. But is still a legitimate shot maker that can fill a role in the backcourt with Booker.

**Tre Johnson is a young lottery level talent (6th overall pick in 25' draft) for equitable value to what we got in the 10th pick from Houston.

** Will Riley is a young intruiging talented wing with solid size at 6'8 with shooting/ floor spacing ability that can develop nicely alongside of our core.

** The picks Phoenix gets gives them two firsts and two 2nds equitable to the value they got from Houston for KD.

Now for Washington, they have added KD and will run a lineup of:

Smart / Kispert/ Middleton/ Durant/ Sarr.

Carrington/ Whitmore/ Coulilaby/ Olynyk/ Holmes.

AJ Johnson/ C Jones/ Watkins/ Vucevic/ Len.
Champagnie and Gill traded for additional space, and for 2nds if possible.
_____________________________________________
The Wizards don't buy out Smart in this scenario, as they're looking to compete with KD in this scenario. They also choose to hold onto Kelly Olynyk for additional depth at backup power forward.

They're a bit bloated on salary for the first season with KD, but are really competing and should project as a top 4-6 team in the wide open eastern conference. Moreso if they add key depth pieces via exceptions.

They should finish with around 48- 50 wins reasonably with those lineups in a much weaker eastern conference. Of course that's dependent upon health being optimal and other external factors considered if everything breaks positive for them.

Basically, Smart, Coulilaby and Sarr should give the Wiz some very solid defensive versatility. And KD although not elite defensively anymore is still very solid.

And offensively, Carrington, Kispert, KD, Middleton should be really potent and strong offensively. Whitmore is an explosive scoring wing that can put up 20 points on any given night as well!! And could function optimally in a 6th man role. And Olynyk is a solid, dependable and versatile floorspacing big man option that can really help open up the paint for both KD and Sarr.