05-30-2025, 04:04 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-30-2025, 04:11 PM by DanSchwartzgan.)
Hardwood Knocks put out their Mav's look-ahead today. They didn't fully vet exact salary matches for every one of these ideas, but if you know them, you know they are fairly sophisticated. They understand the rules and that deals probably require Kyrie dropping his salary back some and/or shipping someone off to a third team to stay under A-2. With that said, here are some of the ideas...many of which haven't been discussed here:
Is there anything another team could offer to make you even pause for a second and think about trading Cooper Flagg?
A: Charlotte gives #4, Ball and Dallas's 2027 back? They said no, they wouldn't do it if they were Dallas, but it would at least get them to answer the phone.
Non-Flagg deals (often involving Gafford or PJ or in some cases both:
Bogdanovic from the Clippers. Contract is $16mm this season and TO for $16mm next season. Idea revolved around Gafford and some additional minor salary going out also. Good fit next to Kyrie and probably could hold it together (along with Flagg) during the regular season while waiting for Kyrie. But, he's coming off an off-year and has had some injuries now that he's into his 30's. TO in 2026 is a plus.
Ivey from Detroit. This is a second draft opportunity. Unfortunately the same spacing issues and ball handling issues that hurt him in Detroit would hinder him here. Not sure if this was a PJ deal or stuff like Martin/Hardy. Ivey makes $10.1mm this season. Does Detroit move on before Ivey becomes RFA next summer. Feels more like the kind of flyer a younger team might take. If I were Brooklyn, I'd try to get someone like this and Kuminga.
They don't like Jrue by himself, but really like Jrue plus Pritchard (Pritchard being the 'pay' owed to Dallas for taking Jrue rather than picks). You have to get to $40mm outgoing, which isn't easy w/o two of Gafford, PJ and Klay. I don't mind Jrue in the right deal and I don't mind being paid in player assets rather than draft assets. I think I'd rather the add-on with Jrue be taller than 6'1". Talked some about the benefit of Jrue, Kyrie and AD all becoming FA in three years and the reset you could do around Flagg and Lively.
The also proposed Gafford/Max Christie for Lonzo and Coby White. They pointed out that White will be UFA next summer and unlikely to extend this summer. That makes him less valuable as a trade piece for Chicago and more risky to hold onto. I like Max Christie and would rather give up someone else, but if you have Irving, Klay and White as your eventual 1/2 rotation, where does Max play? The three is also very crowded if you still have Flagg, PJ, Marshall and Martin. Does Chicago really want Gafford back? Does he want to sign there? How about Christie, Martin and Hardy. One thing I like about any Ball deal is the TO. Much of the money you would need to keep White in 2026 could come from not retaining Lonzo.
Is there anything another team could offer to make you even pause for a second and think about trading Cooper Flagg?
A: Charlotte gives #4, Ball and Dallas's 2027 back? They said no, they wouldn't do it if they were Dallas, but it would at least get them to answer the phone.
Non-Flagg deals (often involving Gafford or PJ or in some cases both:
Bogdanovic from the Clippers. Contract is $16mm this season and TO for $16mm next season. Idea revolved around Gafford and some additional minor salary going out also. Good fit next to Kyrie and probably could hold it together (along with Flagg) during the regular season while waiting for Kyrie. But, he's coming off an off-year and has had some injuries now that he's into his 30's. TO in 2026 is a plus.
Ivey from Detroit. This is a second draft opportunity. Unfortunately the same spacing issues and ball handling issues that hurt him in Detroit would hinder him here. Not sure if this was a PJ deal or stuff like Martin/Hardy. Ivey makes $10.1mm this season. Does Detroit move on before Ivey becomes RFA next summer. Feels more like the kind of flyer a younger team might take. If I were Brooklyn, I'd try to get someone like this and Kuminga.
They don't like Jrue by himself, but really like Jrue plus Pritchard (Pritchard being the 'pay' owed to Dallas for taking Jrue rather than picks). You have to get to $40mm outgoing, which isn't easy w/o two of Gafford, PJ and Klay. I don't mind Jrue in the right deal and I don't mind being paid in player assets rather than draft assets. I think I'd rather the add-on with Jrue be taller than 6'1". Talked some about the benefit of Jrue, Kyrie and AD all becoming FA in three years and the reset you could do around Flagg and Lively.
The also proposed Gafford/Max Christie for Lonzo and Coby White. They pointed out that White will be UFA next summer and unlikely to extend this summer. That makes him less valuable as a trade piece for Chicago and more risky to hold onto. I like Max Christie and would rather give up someone else, but if you have Irving, Klay and White as your eventual 1/2 rotation, where does Max play? The three is also very crowded if you still have Flagg, PJ, Marshall and Martin. Does Chicago really want Gafford back? Does he want to sign there? How about Christie, Martin and Hardy. One thing I like about any Ball deal is the TO. Much of the money you would need to keep White in 2026 could come from not retaining Lonzo.
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