Trade & FA 2024-25:

[DanSchwartzgan]

I’ve been doing a little lurking as we’ve gotten closer to trade season and thought I’d make an observation or two:

I think it is a fools errand to construct deals that send any of our top-8 out.  Our starters plus Grimes/Naji/Gafford is a really strong group.  This summer?  Sure, we can talk.  But, I don’t see it as likely right now.

I appreciate FG’s look ahead at the 2025 picks and the lack of roster space to add two picks.  Trading one now or later makes sense.  I will point out that Nico has gotten tremendous value for picks.  So, I suspect we won’t get some replacement level has-been with the 2025 first if we trade it.

FG has given us a nice salary range to shop from when he talked about Maxi, Powell and Exum (or Hardy possibly depending on timing) being the right trade match for DFS at $15mm.  The $18.1mm outgoing (with Exum included) provides space for filling in the holes created by a 3-for-1.

I would point out that we are in a great position to be a buyout destination if we clear some salary.  So, Maxi going out doesn’t have to necessarily bring back a backup PF if a backup PF can be found on the buyout market.  I’ll add that a 2-for-1 is needed in order to create room for a buyout and we’d need to do it in a way that creates space for a $2.1mm salary.

Quite a few names have already been mentioned here that happen to also fit in the budget that is logically derived when you look at what is likely to be the outgoing…Avdija, DFS, I. Stewart, J. Clarkson, Toppin, Kelly O, Portis, Coby White, Nance, Thybulle.  Like most, I’m drawn first to the PF’s on the list.  But one name here keeps coming back to me as worth further conversation…Coby White.

To me, he and Avdija are the most pick-worthy players on the list.  If the outgoing is Maxi/Exum/Pick, the exact amount needed for a $2.1mm minimum contract (buyout) is created.  He’s extension eligible this summer and young enough to still be here after Irving moves on.  We are always going to need another PG as long as Luka and Kyrie need time off.  White can absolutely run the bench unit alongside Grimes, Naji and Gafford and it bumps SD back to a place in the lineup that I’m more comfortable with (yes, I acknowledge he’s been regular season great so far).  

I get that PF is more likely.  The biggest negative here is that you have to count on some combo of Naji/Maxi/Powell/Luka to be your backup PF.  But, if they have intelligence that someone decent might get bought out, then Coby White intrigues me.  We are trying to build a dynasty here.  An incredible bench is something cash-strapped teams can’t afford and something we already have.