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

[Nature]

Raptors were reportedly in on everyone at one point or another
But kd contract situation didn't make sense for raptors to pursue further. Min and tor were the 2 teams talked about trading for him even without extension.

Most of the talk was around shopping RJ and 9, with IQ thrown in there as well. The final report on KD was that we were unwilling to include Jak. That obviously wouldn't be an issue for the AD trade, as he's your playoff C for sure.

And seeing the Pacers sitting in the basement right now with us having their top 4 protected pick, the BI trade is looking like the Jak trade all over again.

The AD trade would almost certainly include at least one unprotected pick on our end for a guy who has a hard time getting through half the season. That's in addition to the other guy we traded for who has the same issue.

I can't believe i forgot about this, made my day.

Wait how does that work? If the Pacers pick outside the top 4, it's ours?

[navyblue]

Most of the talk was around shopping RJ and 9, with IQ thrown in there as well. The final report on KD was that we were unwilling to include Jak. That obviously wouldn't be an issue for the AD trade, as he's your playoff C for sure.

And seeing the Pacers sitting in the basement right now with us having their top 4 protected pick, the BI trade is looking like the Jak trade all over again.

The AD trade would almost certainly include at least one unprotected pick on our end for a guy who has a hard time getting through half the season. That's in addition to the other guy we traded for who has the same issue.

I can't believe i forgot about this, made my day.

Wait how does that work? If the Pacers pick outside the top 4, it's ours?

When we/pelicans had the pick yes, but now that the pacers have it back it doesn't matter.

[Nature]

I can't believe i forgot about this, made my day.

Wait how does that work? If the Pacers pick outside the top 4, it's ours?

When we/pelicans had the pick yes, but now that the pacers have it back it doesn't matter.

Well ****.

[CazOnReal]

Wait how does that work? If the Pacers pick outside the top 4, it's ours?

When we/pelicans had the pick yes, but now that the pacers have it back it doesn't matter.

Well ****.

If it makes you feel better, the chances of having a Top 5-8 pick in this hypothetical are not super high with how bad Indy has been...though we did also just see every team with Top 4 odds in the 2025 lottery drop to 5 and below.

Frankly, the best we could have done for the Ingram trade, with how much uncertainty the team was under, was a "worst of 2026 1sts" and even then there would have been a potential scenario where we end up giving up a lottery pick while the Pacers keep their pick via the Top 4 selections. There's nothing preventing us from trading our 1st in this year's draft or a future first as is but we'll see what Bobby cooks up after we cross the 20 game threshold.

Not like anyone was expecting the Pacers to be a bottom 3 team when the trade went down or even in the offseason (Everyone expected them to be frisky/competitive and in the play-in range). So much had to go wrong for Indiana such as...
-Haliburton tearing in the Finals in GAME 7
-That tear ending his current & future season
-Said tear causing the Pacers to cheap out on retaining Myles Turner
-The Bucks shockingly cutting Dame to sign Turner, thereby depriving the Pacers of a starting-caliber center
-Literally everyone of note getting hurt early on and/or coming back from injury (Nembhard, Mathruin, Toppin, etc.)
-Guys like Jarace Walker failing to step up in those players' absence

Like you can't predict all this to happen even if you were thinking the Raptors would be a play-in/playoff team next year. Maybe they could have done a "Top 8 protected" 1st in 2026 deal but again, chances of getting a Top 5-8 pick with what's currently the 3rd best odds in the lottery are pretty low. And this is before factoring in the cap hit but I digress.

[ontnut]

Late night thoughts:

To PHX: Scottie, RJ, Agbaji
To TOR: Booker, Brooks

Salaries work. PHX asks for pick(s), but I'm not sure a boatload would be required here.

IQ/Booker/Brooks/Ingram/Poeltl + Shead/Dick/CMB/Mogbo/Mamu

TOR gets the #1 option they need, plus a vet wing D+3. POA defence is an issue, but 3p shooting and scoring improves. Ingram becomes that super #2 option.
PHX gets 2 younger guys that fit well timeline wise, and positionally, with Green (and Maluach).

Both rosters still flawed, but both teams get what they need with some directional clarity on both sides.

PHX is doing ok in the West, but I don't think anyone believes they have any sort of path to a chip. TOR is doing well in the East, but I think the sentiment is the same, even if there's a longer runway in TOR.

(I was just thinking about how the Raps can make a move to the top of the East. And going through all the teams, the only way to get over the top imo is to move Scottie for 1 of 2 guys - Giannis or Booker. I don't see any other top tier guy being moved or working with our team construction. FWIW 2-3 years ago I did say Doncic was the most gettable superstar in the league)

[JCP11]

Late night thoughts:

To PHX: Scottie, RJ, Agbaji
To TOR: Booker, Brooks

Salaries work. PHX asks for pick(s), but I'm not sure a boatload would be required here.

IQ/Booker/Brooks/Ingram/Poeltl + Shead/Dick/CMB/Mogbo/Mamu

TOR gets the #1 option they need, plus a vet wing D+3. POA defence is an issue, but 3p shooting and scoring improves. Ingram becomes that super #2 option.
PHX gets 2 younger guys that fit well timeline wise, and positionally, with Green (and Maluach).

Both rosters still flawed, but both teams get what they need with some directional clarity on both sides.

PHX is doing ok in the West, but I don't think anyone believes they have any sort of path to a chip. TOR is doing well in the East, but I think the sentiment is the same, even if there's a longer runway in TOR.

(I was just thinking about how the Raps can make a move to the top of the East. And going through all the teams, the only way to get over the top imo is to move Scottie for 1 of 2 guys - Giannis or Booker. I don't see any other top tier guy being moved or working with our team construction. FWIW 2-3 years ago I did say Doncic was the most gettable superstar in the league)

Don't like this trade at all. I would only do something like this if you get Kawhi in his prime in return. Booker is nice but he's not in that tier.

[Van_Trump]

I guess this post falls under the category of "the grass is always greener..."

https://dailyknicks.com/rj-barrett-finally-player-knicks-fans-dreamed

All those who want to trade Barrett should read this article.

[Psubs]

Late night thoughts:

To PHX: Scottie, RJ, Agbaji
To TOR: Booker, Brooks

Salaries work. PHX asks for pick(s), but I'm not sure a boatload would be required here.

IQ/Booker/Brooks/Ingram/Poeltl + Shead/Dick/CMB/Mogbo/Mamu

TOR gets the #1 option they need, plus a vet wing D+3. POA defence is an issue, but 3p shooting and scoring improves. Ingram becomes that super #2 option.
PHX gets 2 younger guys that fit well timeline wise, and positionally, with Green (and Maluach).

Both rosters still flawed, but both teams get what they need with some directional clarity on both sides.

PHX is doing ok in the West, but I don't think anyone believes they have any sort of path to a chip. TOR is doing well in the East, but I think the sentiment is the same, even if there's a longer runway in TOR.

(I was just thinking about how the Raps can make a move to the top of the East. And going through all the teams, the only way to get over the top imo is to move Scottie for 1 of 2 guys - Giannis or Booker. I don't see any other top tier guy being moved or working with our team construction. FWIW 2-3 years ago I did say Doncic was the most gettable superstar in the league)

Don't like this trade at all. I would only do something like this if you get Kawhi in his prime in return. Booker is nice but he's not in that tier.

We have Ingram, so definitely don't need Booker. Definitely not Scottie. IQ, RJ and a 1st pick should be the max

[bballsparkin]

Don't like this trade at all. I would only do something like this if you get Kawhi in his prime in return. Booker is nice but he's not in that tier.

We have Ingram, so definitely don't need Booker. Definitely not Scottie. IQ, RJ and a 1st pick should be the max

Lol, if that's all it took to get Booker he would already be a Rocket. I'm with JCP11, pass. I love Booker's game but he's 29 and owed a **** ton of money. And won't be cheap. If Scottie keeps improving his shot he's a definite keeper. Plus good point that we have BI now so Booker is not needed like before.

[ImaBeatDatAzz]

I would go crazy if we trade for Okongwu. Want him so bad

[Thaddy]

What about signing Dwight Howard to a vet minimum for our last roster spot? It seems like he's matured a lot. A HOF presence might be good for our young guys?

I would go crazy if we trade for Okongwu. Want him so bad

I would be a big fan of this. He wouldn't be cheap though a defensive big that has shooting chops can't be cheap

[Psubs]

What about signing Dwight Howard to a vet minimum for our last roster spot? It seems like he's matured a lot. A HOF presence might be good for our young guys?

I would go crazy if we trade for Okongwu. Want him so bad

I would be a big fan of this. He wouldn't be cheap though a defensive big that has shooting chops can't be cheap

Dwight Howard makes sense. Vet min that won't hurt the payroll. I think he'd like to join a team that looks like it could make a playoff run.

Why would Atlanta trade Okongwu? Any player(s) they would be trading for would unbalance their lineup or not improve it. If they trade anyone it would be Trae Young.

[Duffman100]

Wait how does that work? If the Pacers pick outside the top 4, it's ours?

When we/pelicans had the pick yes, but now that the pacers have it back it doesn't matter.

Well ****.

Keep in mind, if the Pacers didn't get their pick back, they likely re-up Turner and maybe bring in another piece and they aren't this bad.

[PushDaRock]

When we/pelicans had the pick yes, but now that the pacers have it back it doesn't matter.

Well ****.

If it makes you feel better, the chances of having a Top 5-8 pick in this hypothetical are not super high with how bad Indy has been...though we did also just see every team with Top 4 odds in the 2025 lottery drop to 5 and below.

Frankly, the best we could have done for the Ingram trade, with how much uncertainty the team was under, was a "worst of 2026 1sts" and even then there would have been a potential scenario where we end up giving up a lottery pick while the Pacers keep their pick via the Top 4 selections. There's nothing preventing us from trading our 1st in this year's draft or a future first as is but we'll see what Bobby cooks up after we cross the 20 game threshold.

Not like anyone was expecting the Pacers to be a bottom 3 team when the trade went down or even in the offseason (Everyone expected them to be frisky/competitive and in the play-in range). So much had to go wrong for Indiana such as...
-Haliburton tearing in the Finals in GAME 7
-That tear ending his current & future season
-Said tear causing the Pacers to cheap out on retaining Myles Turner
-The Bucks shockingly cutting Dame to sign Turner, thereby depriving the Pacers of a starting-caliber center
-Literally everyone of note getting hurt early on and/or coming back from injury (Nembhard, Mathruin, Toppin, etc.)
-Guys like Jarace Walker failing to step up in those players' absence

Like you can't predict all this to happen even if you were thinking the Raptors would be a play-in/playoff team next year. Maybe they could have done a "Top 8 protected" 1st in 2026 deal but again, chances of getting a Top 5-8 pick with what's currently the 3rd best odds in the lottery are pretty low. And this is before factoring in the cap hit but I digress.

Basically the perfect storm.

I'm sure we did at least start the negotiations offering the worst of the 2026 picks, no reason not to on our part.

[ontnut]

Don't like this trade at all. I would only do something like this if you get Kawhi in his prime in return. Booker is nice but he's not in that tier.

We have Ingram, so definitely don't need Booker. Definitely not Scottie. IQ, RJ and a 1st pick should be the max

Lol, if that's all it took to get Booker he would already be a Rocket. I'm with JCP11, pass. I love Booker's game but he's 29 and owed a **** ton of money. And won't be cheap. If Scottie keeps improving his shot he's a definite keeper. Plus good point that we have BI now so Booker is not needed like before.

Yeah there's no way Booker moves for anything less than Scottie. Prime Kawhi goes for Scottie, and 4 unprotected picks at the bare minimum. Raps fans would have a hard time accepting that deal.

I don't really love the trade either, I was just running through the list of teams/players to see if there was a #1 trade to make our team a potential contender...and realistically, there really doesn't seem to be a viable trade anywhere. Scottie is very nice, but he's also our best trade asset and hope to get an actual #1.

That said, even with Ingram, we're not there yet in the scoring/creation department, so I don't buy that "we have Ingram, don't need Booker" counter.

[bballsparkin]

^^For sure he would cost a lot. Mat Ishbia wouldn't move Booker to get his team's owns pick back. He would cost a Scottie level player for sure. And even then he might not do it. To be honest I would rather pair Booker with Scottie than Ingram. But that' not happening. I agree with your last part about "don't need Boooker". That's why I added "like before" As in needed less. English is hard.


And I'll just throw this thought in here. I've seen suggestions of trading BI to Utah for Markkanen. In theory not a bad idea. I think we need to consider optics around the league when considering trades. Trading BI to Utah would be very bad optics. No way BI would be happy with a trade like that after agreeing to sign with Toronto. He wants a chance to redeem his reputation. And there is no way for him to redeem his reputation more (other than just staying healthy) than by playing in the playoffs and helping his team fight for the chance to win a round or two.

So, I don't think BI is going anywhere at least this season. And especially not to Utah of all places. Some players do not want to get traded there when Utah is a good team. But especially not when tanking.

I think your proposal was a fair offer. Good job on that imho.

edit: a prime Kawhi never gets traded in the first place ; )

[MiamiSPX]

^^For sure he would cost a lot. Mat Ishbia wouldn't move Booker to get his team's owns pick back. He would cost a Scottie level player for sure. And even then he might not do it. To be honest I would rather pair Booker with Scottie than Ingram. But that' not happening. I agree with your last part about "don't need Boooker". That's why I added "like before" As in needed less. English is hard.

Ishbia loves Booker (both Michigan boys) and included him in the coaching search. Devin is also on record as saying he wants to stay in Phoenix forever. Smart guy....great weather and hitched his wagon to an uber wealthy owner that isn't shy about spending (recklessly).

And I'll just throw this thought in here. I've seen suggestions of trading BI to Utah for Markkanen. In theory not a bad idea. I think we need to consider optics around the league when considering trades. Trading BI to Utah would be very bad optics. No way BI would be happy with a trade like that after agreeing to sign with Toronto. He wants a chance to redeem his reputation. And there is no way for him to redeem his reputation more (other than just staying healthy) than by playing in the playoffs and helping his team fight for the chance to win a round or two.

So, I don't think BI is going anywhere at least this season. And especially not to Utah of all places. Some players do not want to get traded there when Utah is a good team. But especially not when tanking.

Yup, it would be terrible optics for a team that has a lot of trouble attracting good players. He actually wants to be in Toronto and helped facilitate his way there.

[Asif16]

Does Agbaji for Nick Richards make sense

[Psubs]

Does Agbaji for Nick Richards make sense

For us maybe, but I don't for them.

[TGM]

I think if the Raps are going to be real contenders. They need to add a perennial all-star type of piece. You basically have Davis and Giannis. Davis' injure history is a big concern.

Question is what are teams willing to give up for Giannis. Before the season started I probably would have been willing to put Barnes in a deal, but now, I feel to win you kind of need the Ingram, Barnes core with Giannis to win.

As much as I love RJ and Jak they might need to be the pieces that go. Also, a 3rd team might be required to re-route Jak to a competing team. I could see the Spurs being interested in Jak again.

Maybe something like

Jakob
Ochai
RJ
Walter
4 firsts unprotected.

Raps get

Giannis brothers
Biyombo

Spurs get
Ochai
Jakob

Spurs send

Devin Vassell
Biyombo
Future first lottery protected

Bucks get

RJ,
Walter
Vassell
Biyombo
5 first round picks.

Raps role with

IQ - Shead
Ingram - Dick - Temple
Barnes - Battle
Giannis - CMB
Mamu - Mogbo - Biyombo