Trade & FA 2024-25:

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Memphis Grizzlies have been discussing Marcus Smart trade possibilities with a few teams, per @IanBegley


“Several teams have talked to the Grizzlies about deals involving veteran point guard Marcus Smart. Those talks will likely continue into Thursday. Smart, 30, is under contract through next season ($21.5 million); the Grizzlies have a few financial decisions to make this offseason, among them re-signing Santi Aldama.”

[Chicagojk]

@TheDunkCentral
The Memphis Grizzlies have been discussing Marcus Smart trade possibilities with a few teams, per @IanBegley


“Several teams have talked to the Grizzlies about deals involving veteran point guard Marcus Smart. Those talks will likely continue into Thursday. Smart, 30, is under contract through next season ($21.5 million); the Grizzlies have a few financial decisions to make this offseason, among them re-signing Santi Aldama.”

He was a guy who I thought could be an option here.   I have no idea if he can still play.  He looked pretty rough when I saw him and he has been injured a lot.

I was thinking if he was moved to another team in a trade, Dallas could offer salary and a first for Smart.  This was when we still had Luka though.

[Chicagojk]

So PHX is in a rough spot, huh? The lost last night by 30 the OKC. Now, KD didn't play but it still shines a bright light of what they are not (a contender). Beal has a NTC and he is perfectly happy not waiving it. They want to get off Nurkic who doesn't even talk to the coach now. With one more year left on his contract, they will need to pay some team to take him. They picked up three firsts for their 2031 firsts. The best explanation I heard about this was trading a dollar for two quarters and a dime. They do have some heavily swapped firsts as well, but these appear to be very late picks with all the swaps rights. To make matters worse, KD also knows the Suns were discussing him in trades. This typically does not end well. Especially with a star who tends to be thin skinned.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Golden State Warriors reportedly underestimated Kevin Durant’s “coldness” toward the organization. Even a conversation between Steph Curry and Durant left Curry feeling that a reunion was unlikely, per
@anthonyVslater


“At some point in the last several days, Stephen Curry had a conversation with Kevin Durant that convinced him a reunion was extremely unlikely, no matter how much the Golden State Warriors ownership group and front office collectively ‘underestimated’ Durant’s coldness toward a return, as one team source put it.”

[omahen]

So PHX is in a rough spot, huh?  The lost last night by 30 the OKC.  Now, KD didn't play but it still shines a bright light of what they are not (a contender).  Beal has a NTC and he is perfectly happy not waiving it.    They want to get off Nurkic who doesn't even talk to the coach now.  With one more year left on his contract, they will need to pay some team to take him.  They picked up three firsts for their 2031 firsts.  The best explanation I heard about this was trading a dollar for two quarters and a dime.    They do have some heavily swapped firsts as well, but these appear to be very late picks with all the swaps rights.  To make matters worse, KD also knows the Suns were discussing him in trades.  This typically does not end well.  Especially with a star who tends to be thin skinned.

Durant will be expiring next season, so it is imho very realistic he will be on the move again in the summer. Phoenix will likely get way less than they paid for him.

[Chicagojk]

Durant will be expiring next season, so it is imho very realistic he will be on the move again in the summer. Phoenix will likely get way less than they paid for him.

Yep, I really liked that PHX team earlier in the season.   I am kicking myself I didn't properly factor in health and depth.   I should have seen this coming.   Probably not this bad though.

Durant will have a say in where he goes to.    It will limit his market.   I mean a team wouldn't give a huge offer if KD didn't want to be there.   It will be interesting to see what happens there.   There will be a few surprise bidders though.

[Chicagojk]

The season for the Suns have been so depressing, that it may stop them for making another big move. I do wonder if they try though. The bigs are sort of dry now. Maybe Claxton. Although if you are the nets would you take Nurkic and three poor firsts? Vucevic is also available. While a good player, I don't think he moves the needle for PHX.

[SleepingHero]

@esidery
There’s a real possibility Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk are rerouted from the Pelicans today after being involved in the Brandon Ingram trade.

Multiple contending teams were interested in acquiring Brown and Olynyk before New Orleans made this deal.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Suns need to trade Durant and get some picks/assets for the future of Devin Booker. He's still a great one on one scorer but he does not want to fit into the team concept. They got Tyus Jones and Monte Morris in the offseason but instead of running any offense, they give the ball to Durant or Booker and just let them go to work. The PG just stands in the corner.

I really think he's a strong possibility for us in the summer. Maybe JKidd and Nico having a relationship with him can "fix" him like they did Kyrie.

[omahen]

Yep, I really liked that PHX team earlier in the season.   I am kicking myself I didn't properly factor in health and depth.   I should have seen this coming.   Probably not this bad though.

Durant will have a say in where he goes to.    It will limit his market.   I mean a team wouldn't give a huge offer if KD didn't want to be there.   It will be interesting to see what happens there.   There will be a few surprise bidders though.

I think several of up and coming teams like Houston, OKC, SA, Orlando (not best fit for KD, though) just to name a few will evaluate what they have through this years playoffs. Very realistically some of them will determine they need to be stronger and consider Durant as a missing piece. All of them can make a nice pitch for Durant ("you are the missing piece for the title") and all of them are able to easily construct nice offers without really hampering the team. On the other hand, there are also teams of his budding aging stars that will look for anything to try and stay competitive. Those teams have the contracts, but are low on assets.

[omahen]

Suns need to trade Durant and get some picks/assets for the future of Devin Booker.  He's still a great one on one scorer but he does not want to fit into the team concept.  They got Tyus Jones and Monte Morris in the offseason but instead of running any offense, they give the ball to Durant or Booker and just let them go to work. 

I really think he's a strong possibility for us in the summer.  Maybe JKidd and Nico having a relationship with him can "fix" him like they did Kyrie.

Certainly an option. But the cost (related to salaries of important players) will be big. It would take at least three main rotation players to get him. Dallas would become more or less Phoenix 2.0

[omahen]

The season for the Suns have been so depressing, that it may stop them for making another big move.  I do wonder if they try though.    The bigs are sort of dry now.  Maybe Claxton.  Although if you are the nets would you take Nurkic and three poor firsts?  Vucevic is also available.  While a good player, I don't think he moves the needle for PHX.

Phoenix is a second apron team, so they can't aggregate players and they can't trade Nurkic for someone that has a higher salary. This means they can't get Vucevic or Claxton. Also Capella. How about Zach Collins? Chicago got him from SA and they likely don't need him.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the frontrunners for De’Andre Hunter, per
@SIChrisMannix

[SleepingHero]

Certainly an option. But the cost (related to salaries of important players) will be big. It would take at least three main rotation players to get him. Dallas would become more or less Phoenix 2.0

Very true. But that’s what happens when you trade your global phenom that’s 25 years old to build around two 32 year olds.


At least KD, Kyrie, and AD are a way more balanced trio than whatever PHX was trying to do.

[Chicagojk]

@TheDunkCentral
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the frontrunners for De’Andre Hunter, per
@SIChrisMannix

Cleveland should probably try to be aggressive.   Hunter or Cam Johnson would seem to fit the bill.   I guess Johnson is not a good defender.  I thought he was above average so maybe I am wrong on Johnson.

The SF position for Clev is concerning.  They have several solid options and it has worked out well so far.  I just fear how it looks when they match up against a team like Boston in a playoff series.

[Chicagojk]

Phoenix is a second apron team, so they can't aggregate players and they can't trade Nurkic for someone that has a higher salary. This means they can't get Vucevic or Claxton. Also Capella. How about Zach Collins? Chicago got him from SA and they likely don't need him.

Thanks.    I am not tuned in with a lot of the cap work now.   

Per your earlier post, Yes Houston and SA are legit options for KD.   I wonder if SA would go hard for KD though.  It is intriguing though.    Houston too.  Although they seem more interested in Booker.  Although their fun season has opened all sort of options if they so desire.   I don't see OKC.   I also don't think KD would want to go to Orlando for his last hurrah.

[SleepingHero]

Cleveland should probably try to be aggressive.   Hunter or Cam Johnson would seem to fit the bill.   I guess Johnson is not a good defender.  I thought he was above average so maybe I am wrong on Johnson.

The SF position for Clev is concerning.  They have several solid options and it has worked out well so far.  I just fear how it looks when they match up against a team like Boston in a playoff series.

I think Cam is a great defender and the Cavs probably think that as well.

But the Nets want 2 FRPs for him, which is more than what Luka got. So I think that’s why they are focused on Hunter.

[omahen]

Cleveland should probably try to be aggressive.   Hunter or Cam Johnson would seem to fit the bill.   I guess Johnson is not a good defender.  I thought he was above average so maybe I am wrong on Johnson.

The SF position for Clev is concerning.  They have several solid options and it has worked out well so far.  I just fear how it looks when they match up against a team like Boston in a playoff series.

I think Cleveland only has 2031 FRP, no interesting young players. Sounds a bit light for a decent wing. It would probably take LeVert and one of Niang or Wade. But also combinations with Strus are possible. All players and contracts that could be interesting for contenders.

[michaeltex]

Looks like the big moves have been done, but there are still a lot of smaller things probably going to happen. I think these are the players that could be moved:
Atlanta: Bogi and Capella
Brooklyn: Cam Johnson, perhaps Claxton
Chicago: every remaining vet (Vucevic, White, flip of Collins, Huerter, Jones)
Charlotte: who knows. Okogie would be interesting for a lot of contenders, Micič perhaps
Indy: will they move any of their SG/SF?
Pels: is there Zion bomb waiting for us?, CJ (I doubt we will see much of these 20+ mil vets moved, contenders can't really get them, others don't need them), I think Javonte Green will be moved for a SRP or a younger player
Phoenix: Nurkic will be moved for whoever has a little cheaper salary than he does. They do have up to three picks to add
Portland: they have a bunch of interesting vets on a lottery team, but their asking prices seem to be unrealistic for 2 years now, as they never do anything
Toronto: Boucher?
Utah: Collins, Sexton, Clarkson, Schroeder are available
Washington: I doubt anyone will trade for Brogdon, Holmes or Bagley

Is there a decent point guard on the above list? 

Coby White?
Vasilije Micic? (the next DAL Euro player or did that die with Donnie's departure?)
Collin Sexton?
Dennis Schroeder? (TBH, i think this one is a bit of a headcase, but that's just my opinion)
Someone else?

Obviously none of these are Luka-level, but can one function as the initiator, not be a ball stopper and shoot well enough for defenses to play them honestly?

[michaeltex]

FWIW, if Nico guts the remaining team to trade for KD, he should be investigated for malfeasance by every agency that can find jurisdiction.