Looking Ahead - Contending Team

[NuggetsWY]

If we decide to make a trade during this season, then who makes the most sense to trade?

Perhaps we should ask which players should not be traded? Of course we don't want to trade Jokic, Harris, Murray but who else? Porter? Vanderbilt? Others?

Perhaps we should ask what player(s) we should be looking to acquire?

Build the Nuggets contending team of the future - that's your challenge.

[Coeur]

I'd mortgage the future for these 3 guys who I think could all be gotten for not crazy value but all still have the ability to be high ceiling players. And the fits for each are perfect.

-fultz
-josh Jackson
-wcs

Jamal Murray and Jokic are the untouchables. I really like hernangomez, and Harris would take big value to let go.


Murray/fultz
Harris
Mpj/Jackson
Jauncho
Jokic/wcs

I think that's a contender in 2 years. Lasts for a long time.

[U hova]

WCS has some condition issue if i remember correctly and it was advised against drafting him when half our games are at altitude.

What would you even be giving up for those 3 guys? I'm comfortable with where the nuggets are now in-terms of a balance of competitiveness and future talent. The only thing that might raise an eyebrow is that Plumlee will be 30 by the time the gang is at full steam.

[skywalker33]

If I'm making trades with our young players, I'd at least like to get some 1st round picks back. Seems to me the only reason to trade these guys is to keep our salary cap inline, we can't afford everyone and most (if not all) of these guys are going to want to get paid. We can trade for some vets on decent salaries, not against that if they're producing, but the strength of this team has been in the draft, why not go with your strength if it seems to me working ??

[THE J0KER]

Nuggets assets (players):

Jokic - max contract worthy all-star talent
Murray - still under rookie contract, probably future all-star
Harris - TOP10 SG under a team friendly contract
MPJ - potentially a future star, but also, maybe injury prone bust
Millsap - former all-star, but expiring veteran
Thomas - former all-star recovering from injury, under one season deal
Lyles - close to starter level PF under rookie contract (but expiring)
Barton - starter level guard-forward
Juancho - close to starter level forward, under a rookie contract, not established NBA name
Morris - close to starter level PG under a rookie contract, not established NBA name
Beasley - close to starter level guard-forward under a rookie contract, not established NBA name
Plumlee - starter level center, but little bit overpaid for a centers
Craig - useful defensive specialist under cheap contract
Vanderbilt and Welsh - long-term rookie projects
Lydon - in some teams he probably can be used

Denver biggest *problem* is that Nuggets have *too many talents*.
Unlike most of the other NBA teams, the last thing Denver needs right now is young prospects and assets.
What Denver most needs are one another true all-star player in his prime years, forward or SG.

Jokic and Murray should be locked.
Trading Porter before he shows how really good is he would be dumb (Vanderbilt too).
Harris should be out of trade talks too, except if superstars involved (examples from the near past: Irving, Butler, George, Kawhi)
Millsap expiring and the team should try to re-arrange his deal, but to not repeat the mistake of SAS with P.Gasol or GSW with Iguodala which signed a long-term deal with once great veterans

All others can be traded, not because we don't need them, but because we have too many useful guys. And we should not wait for losing leverage of player trade value like we do in cases of Nurkic, Mudiay, and Faried.

My favorite trade targets during 2018 offseason were Suns TJ Warren and Sixers Covington, with theirs 40/4 team friendly deals, but unfortunately, Covington is already traded and Warren established himself over Ariza and Jackson as Suns #1 forward option. And both true stars available for trade this season, Leonard and Butler already find new teams. But according to some rumors, the whole Washington Wizards roster are on the trade block (interesting: Porter, Obrey, Beal), and maybe Knicks will gave-up from Porzingis. From one episode from the past, we know our FO is interested in Kevin Love.

[skywalker33]

Seems our biggest issue financially are going to come off the bench. Lyles is our initial decisions, he's one of our first bigs off the bench that's coming up in free agency. The following year is the big dilemma as Plumlee, Juancho and Beasley all will need to be resigned. Plumlee seems to be playing himself into a new contract, most say he's overpaid but he certainly looks like he could start for a lot of teams, he's the best backup center in the league right now.

So the question is will the players take a little less to stay on a championship caliber team (ala GSW), do we trade them and recoup some value (my personal choice if they don' stay) or let them walk and open a little cap space ??

[NuggetsWY]

Salary - that's going to be the issue - the following is in this year's dollars/cap levels, etc.

Jokic, Harris, Murray - in three years should total around $70-80m combined.
So the rest of the roster cannot exceed another $30-40m or so at most.

Adding a fourth star (maybe Porter), will eat at least half of that "rest of the roster".

So how do we add the rest of the roster for $20m or less? That's vet minimum or rookie contracts for everyone.

There's not a lot of room for $8m to $15m players.

Look at the Warriors structure this year and they have $37m, $30m, $18m, $17m, $16m, $8m $5m, $2m and less. That's a total of $145m.

Controlling the salary of everyone not all-star caliber is crucial. Over the last few years, the Nuggets have rewarded mid-level players that were loyal. Time to start considering all of that.

Our team is going to have to focus on a very few players and use vet minimum and young players.

[skywalker33]

Salary - that's going to be the issue - the following is in this year's dollars/cap levels, etc.

Jokic, Harris, Murray - in three years should total around $70-80m combined.
So the rest of the roster cannot exceed another $30-40m or so at most.

Adding a fourth star (maybe Porter), will eat at least half of that "rest of the roster".

So how do we add the rest of the roster for $20m or less? That's vet minimum or rookie contracts for everyone.

There's not a lot of room for $8m to $15m players.

Look at the Warriors structure this year and they have $37m, $30m, $18m, $17m, $16m, $8m $5m, $2m and less. That's a total of $145m.

Controlling the salary of everyone not all-star caliber is crucial. Over the last few years, the Nuggets have rewarded mid-level players that were loyal. Time to start considering all of that.

Our team is going to have to focus on a very few players and use vet minimum and young players.

You bringing up the GSW brought this thought to mind. They are clearly over the cap, but they can afford that. Reason being is they have so much PLAYOFF MONEY that isn't incorporated in revenue sharing, something you're not taking into consideration. IF we're as good as we hope, we should be able to get into the 2nd round of the playoff which should put another $30-60M into the next year budget (depending on how much of that goes towards bonuses and how greedy KSE will be). That figure could be low as I recall the Warriors reported that they made an extra $300M on the playoffs

[NuggetsWY]

Salary - that's going to be the issue - the following is in this year's dollars/cap levels, etc.

Jokic, Harris, Murray - in three years should total around $70-80m combined.
So the rest of the roster cannot exceed another $30-40m or so at most.

Adding a fourth star (maybe Porter), will eat at least half of that "rest of the roster".

So how do we add the rest of the roster for $20m or less? That's vet minimum or rookie contracts for everyone.

There's not a lot of room for $8m to $15m players.

Look at the Warriors structure this year and they have $37m, $30m, $18m, $17m, $16m, $8m $5m, $2m and less. That's a total of $145m.

Controlling the salary of everyone not all-star caliber is crucial. Over the last few years, the Nuggets have rewarded mid-level players that were loyal. Time to start considering all of that.

Our team is going to have to focus on a very few players and use vet minimum and young players.

You bringing up the GSW brought this thought to mind. They are clearly over the cap, but they can afford that. Reason being is they have so much PLAYOFF MONEY that isn't incorporated in revenue sharing, something you're not taking into consideration. IF we're as good as we hope, we should be able to get into the 2nd round of the playoff which should put another $30-60M into the next year budget (depending on how much of that goes towards bonuses and how greedy KSE will be). That figure could be low as I recall the Warriors reported that they made an extra $300M on the playoffs

True - but don't forget about luxury tax and repeater tax.

[skywalker33]

Salary - that's going to be the issue - the following is in this year's dollars/cap levels, etc.

Jokic, Harris, Murray - in three years should total around $70-80m combined.
So the rest of the roster cannot exceed another $30-40m or so at most.

Adding a fourth star (maybe Porter), will eat at least half of that "rest of the roster".

So how do we add the rest of the roster for $20m or less? That's vet minimum or rookie contracts for everyone.

There's not a lot of room for $8m to $15m players.

Look at the Warriors structure this year and they have $37m, $30m, $18m, $17m, $16m, $8m $5m, $2m and less. That's a total of $145m.

Controlling the salary of everyone not all-star caliber is crucial. Over the last few years, the Nuggets have rewarded mid-level players that were loyal. Time to start considering all of that.

Our team is going to have to focus on a very few players and use vet minimum and young players.

You bringing up the GSW brought this thought to mind. They are clearly over the cap, but they can afford that. Reason being is they have so much PLAYOFF MONEY that isn't incorporated in revenue sharing, something you're not taking into consideration. IF we're as good as we hope, we should be able to get into the 2nd round of the playoff which should put another $30-60M into the next year budget (depending on how much of that goes towards bonuses and how greedy KSE will be). That figure could be low as I recall the Warriors reported that they made an extra $300M on the playoffs

True - but don't forget about luxury tax and repeater tax.

Agreed, but ALL that revenue goes directly to the club, not to the league revue, not to players salaries. That sure make it easier to go over the tax apron with an extras $75M+ in your wallet. And with the youth/talent we have those extra dividends can solidify your team for quite a while.

[The Rebel]

Salary - that's going to be the issue - the following is in this year's dollars/cap levels, etc.

Jokic, Harris, Murray - in three years should total around $70-80m combined.
So the rest of the roster cannot exceed another $30-40m or so at most.

Adding a fourth star (maybe Porter), will eat at least half of that "rest of the roster".

So how do we add the rest of the roster for $20m or less? That's vet minimum or rookie contracts for everyone.

There's not a lot of room for $8m to $15m players.

Look at the Warriors structure this year and they have $37m, $30m, $18m, $17m, $16m, $8m $5m, $2m and less. That's a total of $145m.

Controlling the salary of everyone not all-star caliber is crucial. Over the last few years, the Nuggets have rewarded mid-level players that were loyal. Time to start considering all of that.

Our team is going to have to focus on a very few players and use vet minimum and young players.

You bringing up the GSW brought this thought to mind. They are clearly over the cap, but they can afford that. Reason being is they have so much PLAYOFF MONEY that isn't incorporated in revenue sharing, something you're not taking into consideration. IF we're as good as we hope, we should be able to get into the 2nd round of the playoff which should put another $30-60M into the next year budget (depending on how much of that goes towards bonuses and how greedy KSE will be). That figure could be low as I recall the Warriors reported that they made an extra $300M on the playoffs

I don't know where the $300 million came from with the Warriors, but I do know for a fact that teams make on average $2 million from each home game and $1.2 million from each away game in the 1st round of the playoffs. If the Nuggets make it past the 1st round than I would expect them to get $15 million or so in extra revenue, and does reportedly double for the conference finals and than double again for the finals, so if we are a contender and make it to the western conference finals than we are looking at $30 million or so in additional revenue.

[The Rebel]

If we decide to make a trade during this season, then who makes the most sense to trade?

Perhaps we should ask which players should not be traded? Of course we don't want to trade Jokic, Harris, Murray but who else? Porter? Vanderbilt? Others?

Perhaps we should ask what player(s) we should be looking to acquire?

Build the Nuggets contending team of the future - that's your challenge.

I think the players we should be looking to trade are Barton, Thomas, Lydon, and possibly Lyles. Craig can be used a filler if needed, but is a long term fit as the spot defensive player as he does well on the ball against quicker players like Westbrook.

I like the way our bench has looked, Morris, Beasley, Juancho/Craig, lyles, and Plumlee are currently a top 3 bench in the league, no need to screw that up. A bench with that much production and talent is a luxury and should be held onto as long as possible.

I am looking for a long term utility small forward or scoring SF, if one of Vanderbilt or MPJ work out then one forward slot is covered if both do we are already set. I like the way that Juancho has fit with the starters at SF but still think he is more likely going to be a suspersub type like a rich man’s Najera with a 3 point shot. I also question if MPJ will be able to play SF with his back issues possibly affecting his ability to cover quicker SFs.

I go back and forth between targeting guys like Jaylen Brown, MKG, Osman, Anunoby, Prince, Isaac, Brandon Ingram, or Josh Jackson it in a different way as a 3rd team in a multi team deal or going in on a guy like Beal or

Say help Boston get Beal by taking in Brown and Morris’s contract for Barton, we get a little more cap relief to re-sign Lyles and Millsap or replace Millsap with someone like Randle. The Wizards get a scorer that fits well off the bench and with additional draft assets and young players from Boston build for the future while not throwing away their team today.

Or do you do Gary Harris, Will Barton, Isiaih Thomas, Tyler Lydon, and a future 1st for Bradley Beal, Kelly Oubre JR, and Jason Smith? The deal gives the Wizards some depth, a scorer off the bench, cap relief, and a suitable replacement for Beal, while we get the go to scorer at SG and a free look at Oubre who could be a long term starter at SF. Smith can replace Lydon as our 5th big for the rest of the year.

Could a package of Harris, Barton, Lyles, and Thomas get you Anthony Davis? The Pelicans have 2 capable young bigs but really need a scorer at SG/Sf and some bench help, this gets them that and keeps them respectably while they rebuild.

Personally I am thinking that going all in may be the right move. If we could get Beal and Oubre for basically Harris and Barton than it may be a move that pushes us into contender status by this time next year, and may be worth making.

[NuggetsWY]

If we decide to make a trade during this season, then who makes the most sense to trade?

Perhaps we should ask which players should not be traded? Of course we don't want to trade Jokic, Harris, Murray but who else? Porter? Vanderbilt? Others?

Perhaps we should ask what player(s) we should be looking to acquire?

Build the Nuggets contending team of the future - that's your challenge.

I think the players we should be looking to trade are Barton, Thomas, Lydon, and possibly Lyles. Craig can be used a filler if needed, but is a long term fit as the spot defensive player as he does well on the ball against quicker players like Westbrook.

I like the way our bench has looked, Morris, Beasley, Juancho/Craig, lyles, and Plumlee are currently a top 3 bench in the league, no need to screw that up. A bench with that much production and talent is a luxury and should be held onto as long as possible.

I am looking for a long term utility small forward or scoring SF, if one of Vanderbilt or MPJ work out then one forward slot is covered if both do we are already set. I like the way that Juancho has fit with the starters at SF but still think he is more likely going to be a suspersub type like a rich man’s Najera with a 3 point shot. I also question if MPJ will be able to play SF with his back issues possibly affecting his ability to cover quicker SFs.

I go back and forth between targeting guys like Jaylen Brown, MKG, Osman, Anunoby, Prince, Isaac, Brandon Ingram, or Josh Jackson it in a different way as a 3rd team in a multi team deal or going in on a guy like Beal or

Say help Boston get Beal by taking in Brown and Morris’s contract for Barton, we get a little more cap relief to re-sign Lyles and Millsap or replace Millsap with someone like Randle. The Wizards get a scorer that fits well off the bench and with additional draft assets and young players from Boston build for the future while not throwing away their team today.

Or do you do Gary Harris, Will Barton, Isiaih Thomas, Tyler Lydon, and a future 1st for Bradley Beal, Kelly Oubre JR, and Jason Smith? The deal gives the Wizards some depth, a scorer off the bench, cap relief, and a suitable replacement for Beal, while we get the go to scorer at SG and a free look at Oubre who could be a long term starter at SF. Smith can replace Lydon as our 5th big for the rest of the year.

Could a package of Harris, Barton, Lyles, and Thomas get you Anthony Davis? The Pelicans have 2 capable young bigs but really need a scorer at SG/Sf and some bench help, this gets them that and keeps them respectably while they rebuild.

Personally I am thinking that going all in may be the right move. If we could get Beal and Oubre for basically Harris and Barton than it may be a move that pushes us into contender status by this time next year, and may be worth making.

Still hate trading Harris but getting Beal back along with Oubre would great. Anthony Davis? I'd HATE trading Harris but he'd be the greatest fit next to Jokic I can imagine. He can play inside and outside on both ends of the court.

[The Rebel]

Spoiler:

If we decide to make a trade during this season, then who makes the most sense to trade?

Perhaps we should ask which players should not be traded? Of course we don't want to trade Jokic, Harris, Murray but who else? Porter? Vanderbilt? Others?

Perhaps we should ask what player(s) we should be looking to acquire?

Build the Nuggets contending team of the future - that's your challenge.

I think the players we should be looking to trade are Barton, Thomas, Lydon, and possibly Lyles. Craig can be used a filler if needed, but is a long term fit as the spot defensive player as he does well on the ball against quicker players like Westbrook.

I like the way our bench has looked, Morris, Beasley, Juancho/Craig, lyles, and Plumlee are currently a top 3 bench in the league, no need to screw that up. A bench with that much production and talent is a luxury and should be held onto as long as possible.

I am looking for a long term utility small forward or scoring SF, if one of Vanderbilt or MPJ work out then one forward slot is covered if both do we are already set. I like the way that Juancho has fit with the starters at SF but still think he is more likely going to be a suspersub type like a rich man’s Najera with a 3 point shot. I also question if MPJ will be able to play SF with his back issues possibly affecting his ability to cover quicker SFs.

I go back and forth between targeting guys like Jaylen Brown, MKG, Osman, Anunoby, Prince, Isaac, Brandon Ingram, or Josh Jackson it in a different way as a 3rd team in a multi team deal or going in on a guy like Beal or

Say help Boston get Beal by taking in Brown and Morris’s contract for Barton, we get a little more cap relief to re-sign Lyles and Millsap or replace Millsap with someone like Randle. The Wizards get a scorer that fits well off the bench and with additional draft assets and young players from Boston build for the future while not throwing away their team today.

Or do you do Gary Harris, Will Barton, Isiaih Thomas, Tyler Lydon, and a future 1st for Bradley Beal, Kelly Oubre JR, and Jason Smith? The deal gives the Wizards some depth, a scorer off the bench, cap relief, and a suitable replacement for Beal, while we get the go to scorer at SG and a free look at Oubre who could be a long term starter at SF. Smith can replace Lydon as our 5th big for the rest of the year.

Could a package of Harris, Barton, Lyles, and Thomas get you Anthony Davis? The Pelicans have 2 capable young bigs but really need a scorer at SG/Sf and some bench help, this gets them that and keeps them respectably while they rebuild.

Personally I am thinking that going all in may be the right move. If we could get Beal and Oubre for basically Harris and Barton than it may be a move that pushes us into contender status by this time next year, and may be worth making.

Still hate trading Harris but getting Beal back along with Oubre would great. Anthony Davis? I'd HATE trading Harris but he'd be the greatest fit next to Jokic I can imagine. He can play inside and outside on both ends of the court.

It may take Murray to get AD, but I think that is a pretty fair offer for the Wizards, and Oubre and Juancho can compete over SF until MPJ is ready.

This team is good, like really good, until the 4th quarter that is. Harris is okay in crunch time as is Jokic, but Murray is still streaky, and we all know Barton and Millsap are not good enough at it. We need a closer, murray will grow into that guy, but he can be the 3rd star for now. I think this team as is can compete for homecourt, but with the right moves I think we can easily lock up homecourt and could compete for the conference finals this year. I also think the Warriors are on the verge of falling apart and Pual is going to struggle to stay healthy, this may be the perfect time to make a move and be ready to contend next season.

I mean we could have a lineup of
Murray/ Morris
Beal/ Beasley
Juancho/ Oubre/ MPJ
MIllsap/ Lyles/Vanderbilt
Jokic/ Plumlee/ Welsh

A year from now that is a contender if the Warriors implode.

[skywalker33]

I don't know where the $300 million came from with the Warriors

That came from Warriors owner Lacob on WireTap. Perhaps that was exaggerated or included jersey sales or merchandise sales, but that's what I saw.

[skywalker33]

I think the players we should be looking to trade are Barton, Thomas, Lydon, and possibly Lyles. Craig can be used a filler if needed, but is a long term fit as the spot defensive player as he does well on the ball against quicker players like Westbrook.

Lydon is nothing more than filler at this point, nobody but the Nuggets really have a good sense of his value. IT2 doesn't have any value until/unless he comes back and puts up but I agree he can add to the right package. Haven't heard Barton come up in trade talks but could be just the player to some value back. He could be part of a Beal trade as he does have WAS ties. I've defended resigning Lyles but for the right deal I can see his value as significant. I thought Craig s/b on that list but he is starting to remind me of TR Dunn, he's put a serious bite into our defense taking on the other teams best scorers.

I go back and forth between targeting guys like Jaylen Brown, MKG, Osman, Anunoby, Prince, Isaac, Brandon Ingram, or Josh Jackson it in a different way as a 3rd team in a multi team deal or going in on a guy like Beal or

Say help Boston get Beal by taking in Brown and Morris’s contract for Barton, we get a little more cap relief to re-sign Lyles and Millsap or replace Millsap with someone like Randle. The Wizards get a scorer that fits well off the bench and with additional draft assets and young players from Boston build for the future while not throwing away their team today.

I'm out on MKG, overdrafted, overpaid and we have Craig at a better rate. Osman and Jackson would probably look better in DEN than their current teams but I'd be in on bringing in on any of the other guys depending on the cost.

Or do you do Gary Harris, Will Barton, Isiaih Thomas, Tyler Lydon, and a future 1st for Bradley Beal, Kelly Oubre JR, and Jason Smith? The deal gives the Wizards some depth, a scorer off the bench, cap relief, and a suitable replacement for Beal, while we get the go to scorer at SG and a free look at Oubre who could be a long term starter at SF. Smith can replace Lydon as our 5th big for the rest of the year.

I personally wouldn't do this trade, not only do I think Beal isn't that much better than Harris, Oubre is a FA that will need to be paid and we couldn't pay both him and Lyles.

Could a package of Harris, Barton, Lyles, and Thomas get you Anthony Davis? The Pelicans have 2 capable young bigs but really need a scorer at SG/Sf and some bench help, this gets them that and keeps them respectably while they rebuild.

GREAT trade proposal here, while we're giving up a lot this would put the Nuggets on another level IMO. Does move Millsap to the bench along with a significant renegotiated salary. We'd also have to replenish the bench a bit as I guess Beasley would move into the starting SG position, but as stated by WY, AD and Juancho would be really impressive together

[THE J0KER]

We should be more realistic. Davis for Harris type of the deal will never happen.

Washington team "big reform" can be done by trading supermax Wall, or trading all other notable contracts, 2xMax Beal and Otto Porter, + albatross Mahinmi.

Harris+Millsap+Barton+Plumlee -for- Beal+O.Porter+Mahinnmi+Morris

On paper, it looks like an improvement for upcoming years, with a similar strength to the current, but we don't know how new team chemistry will look with two new starters and one important backup. For Wizards, the risk is not that big. They will give Barton and Plumlee full-time job until the end of the contract, and rebuild a team around Wall and Harris when $30M Millsap expires this summer.

[skywalker33]

We should be more realistic. Davis for Harris type of the deal will never happen.

Washington team "big reform" can be done by trading supermax Wall, or trading all other notable contracts, 2xMax Beal and Otto Porter, + albatross Mahinmi.

Harris+Millsap+Barton+Plumlee -for- Beal+O.Porter+Mahinnmi+Morris

On paper, it looks like an improvement for upcoming years, with a similar strength to the current, but we don't know how new team chemistry will look with two new starters and one important backup. For Wizards, the risk is not that big. They will give Barton and Plumlee full-time job until the end of the contract, and rebuild a team around Wall and Harris when $30M Millsap expires this summer.

Beal > Harris
Plumlee >>> Mahinnmi
Millsap >>>Morris
Barton > OPJr

Hell No !!! No guarantee we'll have anywhere near the same chemistry, which appears non-existent in WAS already...these trades seem like trades for trade sake.

[THE J0KER]

Beal > Harris
Plumlee >>> Mahinnmi
Millsap >>>Morris
Barton > OPJr

Hell No !!! No guarantee we'll have anywhere near the same chemistry, which appears non-existent in WAS already...these trades seem like trades for trade sake.

Ignore Otto Porter numbers of the current season. He is a 3rd most valuable player in this group, very close to Harris value. Potentially a perfect 3&D forward solution. Millsap is aging, and we can sign with him once again on the summer, but something like 35/2 deal.

[The Rebel]

I think the players we should be looking to trade are Barton, Thomas, Lydon, and possibly Lyles. Craig can be used a filler if needed, but is a long term fit as the spot defensive player as he does well on the ball against quicker players like Westbrook.

Lydon is nothing more than filler at this point, nobody but the Nuggets really have a good sense of his value. IT2 doesn't have any value until/unless he comes back and puts up but I agree he can add to the right package. Haven't heard Barton come up in trade talks but could be just the player to some value back. He could be part of a Beal trade as he does have WAS ties. I've defended resigning Lyles but for the right deal I can see his value as significant. I thought Craig s/b on that list but he is starting to remind me of TR Dunn, he's put a serious bite into our defense taking on the other teams best scorers.

I agree that Lydon is basically filler, although I view him as value adding filler, in that front offices saw him as a 1st round pick just 18 months ago, so he is a guy that a front office would view as better than a future 2nd and his expiring contract helps as cap filler.

I think Thomas has a little value on his minimum deal, just because he was still a productive player last year and so many teams need PGs. When guys like Elfrid Payton are being given starting jobs and 2 teams do not even have close to starting level PGs on their roster there will be some demand.

Barton to me is the best non-core trade chip we have, he is paid to be a good 6th man and that is what he is. A good bench scorer that can iso and take over for brief periods, but is too inconsistent on both ends to make a starter.

Criag is likely to be seen as filler around the league, but when used correctly will help us win games, I see no reason to add him in a filler unless we are getting something of value for him.

I go back and forth between targeting guys like Jaylen Brown, MKG, Osman, Anunoby, Prince, Isaac, Brandon Ingram, or Josh Jackson it in a different way as a 3rd team in a multi team deal or going in on a guy like Beal or

Say help Boston get Beal by taking in Brown and Morris’s contract for Barton, we get a little more cap relief to re-sign Lyles and Millsap or replace Millsap with someone like Randle. The Wizards get a scorer that fits well off the bench and with additional draft assets and young players from Boston build for the future while not throwing away their team today.

I'm out on MKG, overdrafted, overpaid and we have Craig at a better rate. Osman and Jackson would probably look better in DEN than their current teams but I'd be in on bringing in on any of the other guys depending on the cost.

Of course it is always about cost, the 2 things that MKG has over Craig is that MKG has a very good midrange game that works well with our offense, and he is more respected as a defender which means the refs allow him to get away with more. Plus MKG expires in 2020 when we need to extend Juancho, Murray, and Beasley.

I am all for trading for a young guy, but as I said I think the window may be opening next year and almost prefer we make our moves to go all in on a guy or two.

Or do you do Gary Harris, Will Barton, Isiaih Thomas, Tyler Lydon, and a future 1st for Bradley Beal, Kelly Oubre JR, and Jason Smith? The deal gives the Wizards some depth, a scorer off the bench, cap relief, and a suitable replacement for Beal, while we get the go to scorer at SG and a free look at Oubre who could be a long term starter at SF. Smith can replace Lydon as our 5th big for the rest of the year.

I personally wouldn't do this trade, not only do I think Beal isn't that much better than Harris, Oubre is a FA that will need to be paid and we couldn't pay both him and Lyles.

I agree that Beal is only slightly better than Harris at everything, but being slightly better at everything on both ends makes Beal an all star, while we will have to wait another year or two to see if Harris continues to improve.

Oubre to me is a placeholder, a couple of years ago I was high on him, but he has not really improved all that much and his next contract is likely to overpay him. I actually like Juancho more and think in the end I would sign and trade Oubre when he becomes a restricted free agent and pick up a 2nd round pick for him after he finishes the year competing with Juancho and craig for SF minutes.

While it may sound crazy to just give up Barton for the upgrade from Beal to Harris while giving up Oubre for a 2nd, long term this move frees up the money to re-sign Lyles. I still do not see anyway you can have 3 guys on your bench eating up $40 million in cap space if you want to contend, so this allows us to go with the young guys on the wings while giving us money for Lyles.

Could a package of Harris, Barton, Lyles, and Thomas get you Anthony Davis? The Pelicans have 2 capable young bigs but really need a scorer at SG/Sf and some bench help, this gets them that and keeps them respectably while they rebuild.

GREAT trade proposal here, while we're giving up a lot this would put the Nuggets on another level IMO. Does move Millsap to the bench along with a significant renegotiated salary. We'd also have to replenish the bench a bit as I guess Beasley would move into the starting SG position, but as stated by WY, AD and Juancho would be really impressive together

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The more I think about it the more I think that the deal would require Murray, but if we could keep Harris and Thomas than that would still be worthwhile. It would give us a starting lineup of Morris/ Harris/ Juancho/ Davis/ Jokic with Plumlee/ Millsap/ Thomas/ Beasley/Craig as our main bench while we are waiting on Vanderbilt and MPJ to recover and bring value.

Millsap would have to be open to coming off the bench, but he is smart enough to know what that team can be right now, and he wants to be on a contender.

I think Murray is the best prospect that they can get, realistically the Celtics and Lakers cannot come close to that even with volume as Lyles is pretty damn close to those team’s 2nd prospect. It will likely also cost us a pick or two, and we would need a new backup PG next year and another backup SG/SF even if MPJ and Vanderbilt and ready to go, but I think that team also gets ring chasers as veterans would love the idea of playing with 2 unselfish stars like Davis and Jokic.