Skates wrote:Sexton - would be a lovely sixth man, but as a starter he is just toooo small, and I am a pretty big Sexton fan. In a Simmons trade elsewhere, maybe Sexton becomes your target in a second trade or three way? I don't see a fit otherwise.
Agreed. Which kind of stinks, because Sexton looks like the best 'gettable' player right now. But I don't want to see him and Maxey playing together, and we already have Maxey locked up for a long time and a lot cheaper, and on a trajectory to be as good as Sexton very soon. With enough draft capital from Cleveland, and with us taking Love off their hands, this could still happen, though. But seems unlikely.
Spurs collection of guys like Murray, White, Johnson and Vassal - they aren't giving them all, and while a lot of nice players, they don't seem to track with the Sixer's needs/desires. I do consider the Spurs the backup package if Morey ever gets to the point of simply needing to move Simmons for a highly serviceable return.
Toronto - Anunoboy would be a huge upgrade on Danny Green, might make Thybulle available, provides that large wing D and 3 at a high level with possibly more to give. The entire team had a rough night yesterday, seemed to be pressing. Anunoboy and Van Fleet fits a lot of needs, if they are ever made available together. Not a perfect fit as neither is a true creator, but would leave you a second trade away from something good. Aninuboy and Dragic just isn't enough.
I don't see a difference maker there at all. It would be worth waiting 2 years before taking one of those packages.
CJ McCollum plus a young wing and how many draft picks? That is the question, how much is his being significantly older and heading towards a possibly injury prone part of his career worth in draft picks. McCollum is not a superstar, but is an impact player, still there has to be an offset for age in additional compensation.
There might be enough draft capital to offset a CJ/Ben trade, but I don't think Portland would offer it. And CJ is a very short-term bet.
Kings are going small this year. It won't go well for long. Hield and Bagley are incredibly available, but can you get Tyrese Hallburton to center that package. Davion Mitchell is not nearly enough, and Fox is untouchable.
Fox is untouchable until he's not, and he seems like the difference-maker that is most likely to shake loose for us. I don't think Halliburton is there yet, but might get there. Of course all the fans will say he's untouchable as soon as he does reach that level. Many say he's already untouchable. As it stands now, I don't think Morey would consider Halliburton as a viable target in a Ben trade, so moot point.
Minnesota, just no. DLo had weak +/- last night as usual compared to his teammates and has never been one of those great chemistry guys either. Unless some third team really wants him, I just don't see anything there. They aren't trading Edwards. The Spurs deal would be better.
I still think Edwards is a possibility. Just let the Wolves lose enough that they want an upgrade. Or let Ben's friends complain loudly enough.
Surprise team? New Orleans, he seems a terrible fit there, but they are making lots of terrible moves, so who knows.
Brandon Ingram as the last option.
Based on Morey's latest interview and the fact that Beal and Dame are seemingly off the table, I think that's the list:
* Fox
* Anthony Edwards
* Brandon Ingram
* Halliburton but not right now. Morey says no, but Halliburton could play his way up to 'difference-maker' status.
* CJ (Portland says no to the required additional draft picks)
* Sexton (Cleveland says no to the required additional draft picks)
*** wildcard
Nothing's coming loose from Chicago/Lavine. The Spurs' packages, and the Sacramento/Minneapolis/Toronto non-star packages are all DOA with Morey.
Obviously something has to happen to shake things up before any trade happens. Another team losing a lot and needing to shake things up. Or Ben playing and confirming that he still can play. Or someone else getting as disgruntled as Ben. Something.
















