LAL/DEN/MEM

[Mavrelous]

LAL Sends:
Cam Carr
Dalton Knecht
Hardy
3 2nds
Unprotrct 27 1st owed to MEM

LAL Receive:
Nnaji
Watson S&T 3+1 starts at 16.6 (Hardy + Carr + 7.5)

DEN trade:
Nnaji
Watson S&T 3+1 starts at 16.6 (Hardy + Carr + 7.5)

DEN Receive
Carr
Pippen Jr


Mem trade:
Scottie Pippen Jr
For
Hardy
Knecht
3 2nds
Unprotecting 27 1st

Lakers add local UCLA product athletic wing
Nuggets trade Watson and dump Nnaji for athletic wing prospect and PG depth which they need, they drop below 2nd Apron by stretxhing Val 2M dead money.

[Godaddycurse]

This is too much salary to lakers? Spotrac say they have 8M left in space under hard cap. OP has them taking on about 11M

[Mavrelous]

This is too much salary to lakers? Spotrac say they have 8M left in space under hard cap. OP has them taking on about 11M

Right, they'd need to send out Laravia too, not sure MEM takes him also for that package...

[psman2]

Pippen is already worth 2-3 2nds, don't think we taking on all that salary just to unlock 1-4 on a pick that is very likely in the 20's.

[Astaluego]

This is too much salary to lakers? Spotrac say they have 8M left in space under hard cap. OP has them taking on about 11M

Right, they'd need to send out Laravia too, not sure MEM takes him also for that package...

If I'm not mistaken, the Blazers could absorb $6 million and need wing depth... shouldn't they be interested in getting LaRavia for free?

[Mavrelous]

This is too much salary to lakers? Spotrac say they have 8M left in space under hard cap. OP has them taking on about 11M

Right, they'd need to send out Laravia too, not sure MEM takes him also for that package...

If I'm not mistaken, the Blazers could absorb $6 million and need wing depth... shouldn't they be interested in getting LaRavia for free?

They should, I'd even say he's worth a 2nd...

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Nuggets just sign Watson at that contract imo. Trade math wise. Call Carr a top 20 protected pick. Pippen worth few second ones. Nuggets also dumping bad money. Think they owe grizzlies here

[Mavrelous]

Nuggets just sign Watson at that contract imo. Trade math wise. Call Carr a top 20 protected pick. Pippen worth few second ones. Nuggets also dumping bad money. Think they owe grizzlies here

I'd rather duck 2nd Apron, and have Carr and SPJ than be in the 2nd Apron with Watson on 17/yr.
Watson was worth less than that contract for any stretch of his career outside of the 15 games Jokic missed, TBH, I think the Lakers are better off trading this package for PJ Washington, but they don't seem interested.

DJJ was 26 y/o on the summer of 24, coming off a finals run, and has shown much more than Watson (or Kuminga, but that's another topic), in Miami and Dallas, and he didn't get the full MLE, not in AAV and no in length.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Nuggets just sign Watson at that contract imo. Trade math wise. Call Carr a top 20 protected pick. Pippen worth few second ones. Nuggets also dumping bad money. Think they owe grizzlies here

I'd rather duck 2nd Apron, and have Carr and SPJ than be in the 2nd Apron with Watson on 17/yr.
Watson was worth less than that contract for any stretch of his career outside of the 15 games Jokic missed, TBH, I think the Lakers are better off trading this package for PJ Washington, but they don't seem interested.

DJJ was 26 y/o on the summer of 24, coming off a finals run, and has shown much more than Watson (or Kuminga, but that's another topic), in Miami and Dallas, and he didn't get the full MLE, not in AAV and no in length.

26 year old journey man finally putting it together is drastically different from a 23 year old imo who shown a higher ceiling offensive than DJJ.

Young guys get paid based off potential. DJJ bloomed too late imo to get paid.

[Mavrelous]

Nuggets just sign Watson at that contract imo. Trade math wise. Call Carr a top 20 protected pick. Pippen worth few second ones. Nuggets also dumping bad money. Think they owe grizzlies here

I'd rather duck 2nd Apron, and have Carr and SPJ than be in the 2nd Apron with Watson on 17/yr.
Watson was worth less than that contract for any stretch of his career outside of the 15 games Jokic missed, TBH, I think the Lakers are better off trading this package for PJ Washington, but they don't seem interested.

DJJ was 26 y/o on the summer of 24, coming off a finals run, and has shown much more than Watson (or Kuminga, but that's another topic), in Miami and Dallas, and he didn't get the full MLE, not in AAV and no in length.

26 year old journey man finally putting it together is drastically different from a 23 year old imo who shown a higher ceiling offensive than DJJ.

Young guys get paid based off potential. DJJ bloomed too late imo to get paid.

I don't disagree with that, but it's still potential based on a small sample, that was achieved with their franchise cornerstone out.
For a team that's going to pay every dollar of Watson's salary X8.75 and suffer 2nd Apron penalties, getting a high potential prospect and a backup on a postilion that's in dire need, while ducking the 2nd Apron, is much better ROI.

[JHFVF07]

LAL Sends:
Cam Carr
Dalton Knecht
Hardy
3 2nds
Unprotrct 27 1st owed to MEM

LAL Receive:
Nnaji
Watson S&T 3+1 starts at 16.6 (Hardy + Carr + 7.5)

DEN trade:
Nnaji
Watson S&T 3+1 starts at 16.6 (Hardy + Carr + 7.5)

DEN Receive
Carr
Pippen Jr


Mem trade:
Scottie Pippen Jr
For
Hardy
Knecht
3 2nds
Unprotecting 27 1st

Lakers add local UCLA product athletic wing
Nuggets trade Watson and dump Nnaji for athletic wing prospect and PG depth which they need, they drop below 2nd Apron by stretxhing Val 2M dead money.

I would do this trade, even add a 1 or 2 swaps of needed. Even if Watson return to normal, we really need a starter wing that can play defense.

Changing the topic, but considering you are a Mavs fans, do you think Luka can defend PFs? Or too much punishment for him? If this was 20 years back I would say no way, but PFs are way smaller these days.

[Mavrelous]

Changing the topic, but considering you are a Mavs fans, do you think Luka can defend PFs? Or too much punishment for him? If this was 20 years back I would say no way, but PFs are way smaller these days.

There isn't a specific position that he guards, he's usually hidden on the worst offensive player, but he can guard 4s and small 5s just fine, even weak ballhandelrs who are quick will struggle against him, he has some low lights because he has 2 main weaknesses, defending on an island against quick guys, and this has nothing with his assignment, as teams force the switch, this is much less of a problem when he has a rim protector behind him (it was a major problem when he had Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber as his centers), and he falls asleep on backdoor cuts all the time.

[JHFVF07]

Changing the topic, but considering you are a Mavs fans, do you think Luka can defend PFs? Or too much punishment for him? If this was 20 years back I would say no way, but PFs are way smaller these days.

There isn't a specific position that he guards, he's usually hidden on the worst offensive player, but he can guard 4s and small 5s just fine, even weak ballhandelrs who are quick will struggle against him, he has some low lights because he has 2 main weaknesses, defending on an island against quick guys, and this has nothing with his assignment, as teams force the switch, this is much less of a problem when he has a rim protector behind him (it was a major problem when he had Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber as his centers), and he falls asleep on backdoor cuts all the time.

Thought the same, we need good defenders and stagger Luka and Reaves minutes.

[Scoot McGroot]

Won’t speak to the apron concerns others have pointed out, but if feels almost like LA is overpaying a bit by having to also take on Nnaji? But also, if Watson is signing that cheap, feels like Denver would lock that up themselves and would love to have him on that number?


Also, the salary matching allowance grows annually at the rate of the cap rise. So, that $7.5m allowance is actually around $9.1m this year.

[Mavrelous]

Pippen is already worth 2-3 2nds, don't think we taking on all that salary just to unlock 1-4 on a pick that is very likely in the 20's.

Pippen for 2 2nds, and 1 2nd + pick unprotection for eating the salary...
It's likely in the 20s, but in case of injury and Lakers missing the PO, there's 1 in 3 possibility of top 4 pick, not exactly a far fetched scenario, I'm not sure how to value that, but if anything, I'm leaning towards it's being sold too cheap...

[Apz]

LAL Sends:
Cam Carr
Dalton Knecht
Hardy
3 2nds
Unprotrct 27 1st owed to MEM

LAL Receive:
Nnaji
Watson S&T 3+1 starts at 16.6 (Hardy + Carr + 7.5)

DEN trade:
Nnaji
Watson S&T 3+1 starts at 16.6 (Hardy + Carr + 7.5)

DEN Receive
Carr
Pippen Jr


Mem trade:
Scottie Pippen Jr
For
Hardy
Knecht
3 2nds
Unprotecting 27 1st

Lakers add local UCLA product athletic wing
Nuggets trade Watson and dump Nnaji for athletic wing prospect and PG depth which they need, they drop below 2nd Apron by stretxhing Val 2M dead money.

I would do this trade, even add a 1 or 2 swaps of needed. Even if Watson return to normal, we really need a starter wing that can play defense.

Changing the topic, but considering you are a Mavs fans, do you think Luka can defend PFs? Or too much punishment for him? If this was 20 years back I would say no way, but PFs are way smaller these days.

Luka always defended 4s, but as he said, its when its heavy switching so he become a perimeter defender that he struggles. Nothing weird really, most guys his size cant guard quick guards. When mavs went well it wasnt an issue, had like the best defensive rating since he has high bbiq and just funneled them into lively/gafford. Celtics were just too good at shooting, mavs didnt lose the finals by blowbys whatever the racists on espn says, and most games were pretty even, tho it always felt like mavs never really were near.

Usually its a rim protecting center and luka at the 4 in defense. His size and least running around. Imo lakers need a real poa defender tho. Like smart last year, or djj when mavs went good. I do t see anyone on the roster that can fill that role, and hearing lakers pods thinking grimes can do it after seeing him on mavs makes me question their bball knowledge. And thybulle I have no idea what they gonna do with. Reddick already showed he wont play players like vando that got no offensive game.

[jayjaysee]

I think if Watson is this cheap, it’s a 2+1PO deal. If not, you just play on QO imo.

For the value in OP, I think Denver should add their seconds as well. Getting two decent looking pieces and dumping Nnaji feels strong for a sign and trade. Though I understand Kessler has created some expectations.

[psman2]

Memphis is reported to be interested in Watson ourselves, so if he was open to signing here I think we would be willing to met his salary demands more than the OP. A descending 4/100 will be offered I think with no problems. Would offer Pippen/OMP/Wells for Naji and take Watson into our TPE and likely a few 2nds to Denver as well, Or take out Wells and we throw in a protected 1st.

[davidv2001]

Denver wouldn’t sign and trade Watson to a fellow Western Conference contender for this. They either sign him to that deal and trade Cam Johnson afterwards or work out a trade with a rebuilding team like Memphis or Milwaukee, instead.

[jayjaysee]

Memphis is reported to be interested in Watson ourselves, so if he was open to signing here I think we would be willing to met his salary demands more than the OP. A descending 4/100 will be offered I think with no problems. Would offer Pippen/OMP/Wells for Naji and take Watson into our TPE and likely a few 2nds to Denver as well, Or take out Wells and we throw in a protected 1st.

This has been my favorite version for a while. Love Watson between Boozer/CC.

And Denver gets two team options next offseason to try and leverage into keeping affordable top 7-8 rotation pieces with some more upside.

Just clean and boring imo.