Half-Baked Idea: CHI - PHI - LAC

[drosestruts]

I've seen tweets or mentions on podcasts of Paul George potentially going to the 76ers this summer as some sort of "worst kept secret in the NBA"

I started thinking of scenarios where if this is going to happen, how can the Clippers recoup some of the loss of George and a 3-team idea with Chicago came to mind.

To Philly: Paul George and LAC 2031 1st (lottery protected)

To Clippers: DeMar DeRozan (sign and trade) and Nikola Vucevic

To Chicago: PHI 2024 1st (trade would have to be made after the player is selected)

Philly gets their guy in Paul George

Clippers add two vets in DeRozan and Vucevic to keep things going with Kawhi and Harden. DeRozan is also an LA native.

Bulls do right by two veteran players giving them an opportunity to play on a potential contender. They add a first round pick and tons of cap space for whatever is next for them. Gives Chicago picks 11 and 15 in this year's draft.

Wasn't sure if this would technically be possible due to various sign and trade rules that seem to always be changing.

[Colbinii]

No chance a 1st from this draft is included with not one but 2 S+T players.

The complications are far too numerous.

[psman2]

Have you done the math here? Clippers have to stay below the apron to receive a snt ddr, which is near impossible unless Harden comes back cheap. Vuc would need to be dropped here to start to make the money work. No reason to use a 2024 pick here and Philly is likely getting some small asset here to allow this to become a SNT when they don’t need it.

[ejftw]

Yeah, CBA prevents this from happen, and even if it didn't, why would the Clippers add a first? Taking back a huge TPE and the rights to the Philly pick would be much preferred

[youngcrev]

Yeah, CBA prevents this from happen, and even if it didn't, why would the Clippers add a first? Taking back a huge TPE and the rights to the Philly pick would be much preferred

Why would Philly give up a pick in a s&t for a guy they could sign outright?

[HartfordWhalers]

I have Philly losing value in this, with the '24 pick worth more than a lotto protected pick in '31.
So, Philly should just pick not to lose value to help a team that Philly also owns a pick of already, making that pick worse.

[giberish]

Yeah, there's no incentive for Philly to do this.

If PG wants to sign with Philly then he'll just sign with Philly. Maybe they get a future 2nd and send a fake 2nd back to make it a S&T (for the Clippers benefit). Though as Philly already has a Clippers pick they may not want to help them at all.

[drosestruts]

for all the - "if PG wants to sign with Philly he can just sign with Philly" comments - technically true, but for whatever reason it seems like these routinely get handled via sign and trades.

I think making it a three team deal is probably too complicated. But if PG goes to Philly via a S&T maybe they have a Trade Exception that can be used in a DeRozan deal?

I'm personally a big DeRozan fan and would welcome him back to Chicago with open arms. I also just know he's older and his priorities might be to play somewhere with a better shot at contending + an opportunity to play in his hometown could also be appealing.

[Texas Chuck]

I don't have Vuc moved into space worth a 1st and so Chicago is just stealing value.

Of course the real issue is the Clippers basically can't legally do this barring a loss of Harden which makes doing this a bad idea. And the whole tampering issue of including a 24 pick.

But Chicago is sucking out value. DD sign and trade doesn't allow you to dump Vuc and gain a first.

[youngcrev]

for all the - "if PG wants to sign with Philly he can just sign with Philly" comments - technically true, but for whatever reason it seems like these routinely get handled via sign and trades.

I think making it a three team deal is probably too complicated. But if PG goes to Philly via a S&T maybe they have a Trade Exception that can be used in a DeRozan deal?

I'm personally a big DeRozan fan and would welcome him back to Chicago with open arms. I also just know he's older and his priorities might be to play somewhere with a better shot at contending + an opportunity to play in his hometown could also be appealing.

Sure, but you've got compensation going the wrong way (unless you believe that lotto protected Clippers pick is worth more than this year's Sixers pick).

[drosestruts]

yeah - as probably a bigger DeRozan fan than most I was hoping to get something of value even if we sign and traded him as a good will gesture for him - but:
1. Getting off Vuc would be value enough
2. It's not even legal for the Clippers to take in both DeRozan and Vuc

[ejftw]

Yeah, CBA prevents this from happen, and even if it didn't, why would the Clippers add a first? Taking back a huge TPE and the rights to the Philly pick would be much preferred

Why would Philly give up a pick in a s&t for a guy they could sign outright?

Didn't mention whether Philly should or would, just as the OP has it, Clippers wouldn't involve Chicago.

As far as signing him outright, if Philly wants to gut down to
essentially Maxey/PG/Embiid with minimum guys, well, that should be interesting.

[ChettheJet]

even if the original trade isn't legal

Without the pick in the 15 range, the Bulls are just supposed to give up 2 starters for nothing in return? that's internet GM mastermind at work. At least make it look like the Bulls have a plan, even a weak kneed one

But what are the Clippers thinking? Two Chicago Bulls players who haven't gotten through a round of the playoffs in 3 1/2 seasons are supposed to be the key to the Clips getting to the Finals where future HoF Paul George couldn't?

[jayjaysee]

Think I agree with most that Philly just signs PG here.

I don’t think Philly minds helping LAC sign DDR or create a TPE, etc. Not that they would add value to do it, just wouldn’t refuse to do so.. Don’t think Philly cares how LAC retool around Leonard. They would probably be better off with LAC being stuck over the cap with Demar versus trying to be active in 2025 or 2026 free agency.

[psman2]

Think I agree with most that Philly just signs PG here.

I don’t think Philly minds helping LAC sign DDR or create a TPE, etc. Not that they would add value to do it, just wouldn’t refuse to do so.. Don’t think Philly cares how LAC retool around Leonard. They would probably be better off with LAC being stuck over the cap with Demar versus trying to be active in 2025 or 2026 free agency.

I think ideally Philly would be trying to rope in a SNT Harris and other salary(Reed) to make this some kind of 3/4 way deal allowing them to stay above the cap to bring back their desired FAs and have access to the MLE. That is a scenario where I could see Philly willing to pay assets to make this a SNT. Morey will get George to agree to sign there outright 1st and shop around to convince all teams evolved to make into a SNT. I would be mildly surprised if George lands in Philly as not part of a SNT, just not the OP version which does nothing for Philly.

[the_process]

Think I agree with most that Philly just signs PG here.

I don’t think Philly minds helping LAC sign DDR or create a TPE, etc. Not that they would add value to do it, just wouldn’t refuse to do so.. Don’t think Philly cares how LAC retool around Leonard. They would probably be better off with LAC being stuck over the cap with Demar versus trying to be active in 2025 or 2026 free agency.

I think ideally Philly would be trying to rope in a SNT Harris and other salary(Reed) to make this some kind of 3/4 way deal allowing them to stay above the cap to bring back their desired FAs and have access to the MLE. That is a scenario where I could see Philly willing to pay assets to make this a SNT. Morey will get George to agree to sign there outright 1st and shop around to convince all teams evolved to make into a SNT. I would be mildly surprised if George lands in Philly as not part of a SNT, just not the OP version which does nothing for Philly.

Yep. I could see Tobias S&T and Reed to DET, PG S&T to PHI, and a protected future 2nd from DET to LAC.

[jayjaysee]

Think I agree with most that Philly just signs PG here.

I don’t think Philly minds helping LAC sign DDR or create a TPE, etc. Not that they would add value to do it, just wouldn’t refuse to do so.. Don’t think Philly cares how LAC retool around Leonard. They would probably be better off with LAC being stuck over the cap with Demar versus trying to be active in 2025 or 2026 free agency.

I think ideally Philly would be trying to rope in a SNT Harris and other salary(Reed) to make this some kind of 3/4 way deal allowing them to stay above the cap to bring back their desired FAs and have access to the MLE. That is a scenario where I could see Philly willing to pay assets to make this a SNT. Morey will get George to agree to sign there outright 1st and shop around to convince all teams evolved to make into a SNT. I would be mildly surprised if George lands in Philly as not part of a SNT, just not the OP version which does nothing for Philly.

Yep. I could see Tobias S&T and Reed to DET, PG S&T to PHI, and a protected future 2nd from DET to LAC.

Yeah, I like that more for sure. With Joel/PG/Maxey, Philly would still be able to keep Melton and maybe even use tax MLE before filling bench with near vet mins and staying under the apron?

But I just think Philly would let LAC create a TPE very cheaply (or build a deal similar to the OP) if the Sixers were signing George.. they don’t own LAC’s 2025 first. They own the 2028 first. thats a long time in NBA years. They want LAC to push in with Leonard/Harden and not worry about 2028 until Leonard expires after the 2027 season..