Trade & FA 2024-25:

[KillerLeft]

Thinking about the Lakers. (And I try very hard not to) But what is their path forward? They are pretty thin on assets with an aging LBJ and an injury-prone AD who is now on the wrong side of 30. Performance-wise, the team is either just out or just in the playoff/play-in ranks, which is mediocrity hell. Plus, given their swagger over the years, I suspect no other teams are really wishing to help them out.

So what? Ride LBJ ticket sales until he retires, then hope they can use his cap space to lure another star just because "It's LA, baby!"?

What they've been SAYING for over a year now is that they want to run their team "the right way," as in maximizing draft swings, developing young talent, etc, in an effort to be a more stable, sensible franchise. Whether they actually possess the expertise to carry that plan out successfully is another matter, entirely, but that messaging has been pretty consistent. The confusion on our end comes from the countless examples of counter-messaging coming from LeBron's camp.

[DallasMaverick]

Thinking about the Lakers. (And I try very hard not to) But what is their path forward? They are pretty thin on assets with an aging LBJ and an injury-prone AD who is now on the wrong side of 30. Performance-wise, the team is either just out or just in the playoff/play-in ranks, which is mediocrity hell. Plus, given their swagger over the years, I suspect no other teams are really wishing to help them out.

So what? Ride LBJ ticket sales until he retires, then hope they can use his cap space to lure another star just because "It's LA, baby!"?

That was pretty much the approach they took with Kobe.

[LukaMVP]

two first round picks sound the fair price for a player like grant but if you consider how stacked the 25 class will be and that the 25 pick will certainly be included, they're probably asking too much imho. also his salary is another obstacle.

[Chicagojk]

I think the Lakers are probably done as a contender. They are a good team though, if they can get another healthy Lebron and Davis seasons. Put them in the East, and they may be a top 4 seed. The West is just a bloodbath.

Although you can never count out them lucking into a prospect. I just can't see who that player is. Zach Lowe says if they offer their two remaining unprotected first round picks that is pretty valuable considering Lebron will be long gone by the time those picks happen. But who is that player? If the Clippers stink, is that Leonard? Would you really give up your future to gamble on Leonard? KD? Seems like PHX goes at least two more years before that owner makes any changes. If the player is too good, other teams will have better offers than the Lakers. For instance, they can't get Markennan.

I am not sure what the move is, but I think they find some move this offseason to find a better fitting rotation player. Maybe Vanderbilt going out and getting a shooting wing back.

[SleepingHero]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Free agent guard Seth Curry has agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN.

[RGP1981]

I think the Lakers are probably done as a contender.  They are a good team though, if they can get another healthy Lebron and Davis seasons.  Put them in the East, and they may be a top 4 seed.  The West is just a bloodbath.

I think the Lakers are done too, but also that they wouldn't be a Top 4 seed in the East, lol. The East is pretty strong too with the Celtics, Knicks, 76ers, Bucks, Pacers, Cavs and Magic.

[RGP1981]

And finally Memphis:
The Grizzlies are discussing deals to move 2021 lottery draft pick Ziaire Williams, league sources said.

I haven't been watching the Mavs SL games but I'm seeing people say in the game threads that O-Max and Ajinca haven't been showing much on offense. So I'm wondering if it makes sense for the Mavs to take a flyer on someone like Ziaire, by adding him to their G-League squad and grooming him to play a defined 3&D role. Could he then maybe become a suitable backup to Luka and/or PJW?

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Utah Jazz would want Brandin Podziemski, three first-round picks, three or four unprotected pick swaps, and three or four second-round picks in a potential deal for Lauri Markkanen, per @ShamsCharania

"I don't think [the Jazz] want to move Lauri Markkanen, but if the Golden State Warriors put in a Brandin Podziemski and from what I'm told, three first-round picks, three or four unprotected pick swaps, three or four second-round picks..."

(Via @SiriusXMNBA / h/t @NBCSWarriors )

[SleepingHero]

I haven't been watching the Mavs SL games but I'm seeing people say in the game threads that O-Max and Ajinca haven't been showing much on offense. So I'm wondering if it makes sense for the Mavs to take a flyer on someone like Ziaire, by adding him to their G-League squad and grooming him to play a defined 3&D role. Could he then maybe become a suitable backup to Luka and/or PJW?

He's making 6.1 mil for the next year. Which is a crazy amount of money for a project. 

Memphis fan forums basically say the guy is always injured or in the process of rehabbing an injury, which stops him from working on his game/building anything. Sounds familiar? KP 2.0. 

Even worse, when he was healthy he just constantly underperformed and went largely unnoticed while on the court.

I'd rather just wait for him to be waived and let him sign on the G-League team then rather than give up any sort of assets.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Utah Jazz would want Brandin Podziemski, three first-round picks, three or four unprotected pick swaps, and three or four second-round picks in a potential deal for Lauri Markkanen, per @ShamsCharania

"I don't think [the Jazz] want to move Lauri Markkanen, but if the Golden State Warriors put in a Brandin Podziemski and from what I'm told, three first-round picks, three or four unprotected pick swaps, three or four second-round picks..."

(Via @SiriusXMNBA / h/t @NBCSWarriors )

Ainge is on crack.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I've been wanting Nance Jr for years. He'd be a great Maxi 2-year replacement unit. Thoughts on what it'd take to get him?

[RGP1981]

Ainge is on crack.

Danny Ainge is amazing. If the Mavs had him as GM for the last decade, instead of Cuban, the Nelsons, vulgar Bob, Nico, etc.... oh boy, I can't even imagine how much better run and higher their profile would have been. He might even have built a genuine contender around Luka by Luka's year 2 or 3. The NBA media does not seem to like giving the top white POBOs, GMs and coaches their just due these days though, so as not to make their counterparts look as bad as they are in comparison (the only exception being Spoelstra). Optical games. There seems to be some very disturbed/perturbed people pulling the strings at BSPN. As a result, people are now belittling Danny Ainge for doing good GM things, instead of singing his praises. Anyway, I think Trader Danny is awesome.

[KillerLeft]

Danny Ainge is amazing. If the Mavs had him as GM for the last decade, instead of Cuban, the Nelson's, vulgar Bob, Nico, etc.... oh boy, I can't even imagine how much better run and higher their profile would have been. He might even have built a genuine contender around Luka by Luka's year 2 or 3. The NBA media does not seem to like giving the top white POBOs, GMs and coaches their just due these days though, so as not to make their counterparts look as bad as they are in comparison (the only exception being Spoelstra). Optical games. There seems to be some very disturbed/perturbed people pulling the strings at BSPN. As a result, people are now belittling Danny Ainge for doing good GM things, instead of singing his praises. Anyway, I think Trader Danny is awesome.

He is awesome. 

I suspect the asking price is a way of saying "Markkannen isn't actually available, but we'd let him go for a ridiculous haul if you want him that badly." And who knows, maybe a contender might even talk themselves into making an offer like that. It's a little similar to the Jerami Grant situation in Portland, only on a bigger scale with bigger stakes. We tend to think any player could be "gotten," but in reality, the guys actually being sold, as in their teams are motivated to move them, are the ones who end up changing teams. The Ainge strategy re Markkannen is a good one, as long as he doesn't wait too long like Chicago seems to have done with Zach LaVine, for example. 

Side note: this is why it's mind-numbingly boring to fixate on players not rumored to be available, trying to figure out how your team can trade for them. That's just not how the NBA business works. Sometimes a player is moved with little to no public warning, but even then there are almost always signs that can be easily spotted, at least in hindsight. 

For Markkannen, specifically, I think this was Ainge weighing his options, trying to decide how to move forward. 

The problem in Utah is that it's Utah. Almost nobody seems to want to play there, and a lot of ex-NBA types habitually mention that it's a toxic, racist part of the country (right or wrong, that's what they think). Markannenn is not good enough to be the centerpiece of a winning NBA team, and he's already 27. So, we're getting close to the time when he should be moved, and Ainge would do well to get himself some high-percentage swings at the Cooper Flagg types, because he'll never, ever, ever be able to jumpstart a contender through free agency. Complete one, maybe, but he won't be able to get one of the top two guys that way. It's highly unlikely they'll reach a status of contention with Markkannen on the roster. 

Still, I'm sure Ainge has a plan. He was great for Boston. This Markkanen situation will be fun to watch.

[SleepingHero]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Free agent G Gary Trent Jr. has agreed on a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, Rich Paul and Lucas Newton of @klutchsports tell ESPN. Trent reunites with Damian Lillard and joins a Bucks organization that recruited him hard to chase a title with them.

[KillerLeft]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Free agent G Gary Trent Jr. has agreed on a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, Rich Paul and Lucas Newton of @klutchsports tell ESPN. Trent reunites with Damian Lillard and joins a Bucks organization that recruited him hard to chase a title with them.

Another two weeks of smoke ends up being true. 

And, another player who badly misread his market value. This is basically putting himself in a DJJ situation. He'll be left without a team having his bird rights, and I doubt his outlook will improve much in a year. 

If I'm Tim Hardaway, Jr, I'm scared to death right now.

[SleepingHero]

I've been wanting Nance Jr for years.  He'd be a great Maxi 2-year replacement unit.  Thoughts on what it'd take to get him?

Apparently ATL has received a bunch of interest regarding Nance, and they haven't been particularly motivated on moving him. I think they're going to move Capela and have their center rotation be Okongwu+Nance.

But their insider on Hawksquawk (so take it with a grain of salt) said ATL's starting point was 2 FRP's for Nance. STARTING POINT! 

That's insane to me. At the minimum, they'd want a first, which is already too rich for my blood for Nance.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Apparently ATL has received a bunch of interest regarding Nance, and they haven't been particularly motivated on moving him. I think they're going to move Capela and have their center rotation be Okongwu+Nance.

But their insider on Hawksquawk (so take it with a grain of salt) said ATL's starting point was 2 FRP's for Nance. STARTING POINT! 

That's insane to me. At the minimum, they'd want a first, which is already too rich for my blood for Nance.

At this point in his career Nance is a (maybe) 2SRP type player.  I would love him in our F/C rotation, but 2 FRPs is insane.

Would you trade Hardy for Nance?

[SleepingHero]

At this point in his career Nance is a (maybe) 2SRP type player.  I would love him in our F/C rotation, but 2 FRPs is insane.

Would you trade Hardy for Nance?

At face value? Not really. Nance is a versatile defender and a solid backup big at this stage of his career. My hang up is what is Nance bringing that this team desperately needs AND is worth the hypothetical trade?

What role will he take? Glancing at the roster it'd have to be a Maxi replacement. Does Nance do anything better than Maxi? Not really. Maybe availability (which I'm not discounting) but Maxi is a better shooter and still a better defender. 

Other than that, he isn't going to take minutes from Lively/Gafford. He isn't going to play over PJ/Marshall. 

Then we get into the cost of actually acquiring the guy. Lets say the Hawks do come down from their ridiculous demands and accept 2 2nds as a starting point (or 1 2nd here cause the Mavs only have 1 2nd). 

Hardy's contract leaves us 9.2 mil short of a potential Nance trade. If we threw in Powell, we're still 5.2 mil short. Who else are we adding here? OMax? Or are we just going to do a Maxi+Hardy deal and hope Nance is better? 

I just don't really see it. At best, Nance is a tiny bit better than Maxi. At worst, we're doing a lateral move for a Maxi replacement and are giving up Hardy for the privilege. 

I think this team needs maybe 1 more POA defender in the DJJ mold if they are going to go and try to upgrade the rotation. This guy ideally can guard the opposing team's perimeter guard and maybe even initiate the offense/handle the ball. There aren't many guys in the league that can do both. 

Marcus Smart is a name that interests me but a deal for him would cost a lot.

[RGP1981]

Markannenn is not good enough to be the centerpiece of a winning NBA team, and he's already 27. So, we're getting close to the time when he should be moved, and Ainge would do well to get himself some high-percentage swings at the Cooper Flagg types, because he'll never, ever, ever be able to jumpstart a contender through free agency.

Yeah, I agree. I think Markkanen will be traded before the season starts. The Jazz can't afford to win games in the first half of this season, or in any part of the season. I'm also hoping that new homes will be found for Clarkson and Collins before the season starts. Maybe even Sexton.

The NBA owes the Jazz a #1 pick IMHO, for decades of excellent service towards the NBA product. Hopefully 2025. They've never had a #1 draft pick before. The last high draft pick the Jazz had was #5 (Dante Exum) in the crappy 2014 draft. Then way back in 2005, they had #3 (Deron Williams).... and then you have to go even further back to 1982, #3 again (Dominique Wilkins, who asked to be traded and so did not play for Utah).

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Chicago Bulls are not aiming to be the worst team in the league and would be content with a play-in or playoff appearance if their young players demonstrate sufficient growth, per @Will_Gottlieb

“Attaching assets to move off of LaVine is a non-starter for a Bulls team that projects to take a step back next season. That said, they aren’t trying to be the worst team in the league to keep their top-10 protected pick going to San Antonio. It’s a factor, but the primary focus is building a young group that can be the foundation for the next great Bulls team. If they make the Play-In or Playoffs with this group, it will have been because of some of their young players