Trade & FA 2024-25:

[mvossman]

No PJ. I'd rather have him than KD at this point, period.

I agree with this mentality, but not sure our FO does.  It makes too much sense not to put him in the trade.  The Suns will need a starting forward to replace KD (they can't tank) and he will have lost his starting job to AD/KD.  As somebody mentioned, his agent will want him starting in a contract year.  I could easily see the starting lineup being Lively/AD/KD/Klay/Kyrie with the bench being ring chasers (they might be able to hold onto Max).  It would be a continuation of the Cleveland model.  Lots of length with two defensive studs in the frontcourt, and a lot of creation in the backcourt.  If there is any chance to make a two center offense work, a KD/Kyrie/Klay backcourt would do it.

Of course the big difference with Cleveland is they average mid 20s age, while most of this starting lineup would average mid 30s.  Its also probably the most injury prone starting lineup in the NBA.  And don't get me started on what a trade like that would do to the long term future of this franchise.  As I have mentioned before, with the combination of all of the injuries and the good chance that a KD trade happens, its hard to get invested into this roster right now.  If we make it through the offseason without trading half the team, it will be a lot easier to get more invested.