Trade & FA 2024-25:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

For sure (I was wrong about Grant Williams, too). And, just saying, but this reporting makes it seem like Dallas preferred Portis over PJW. Now, I'm a Portis fan, so no shade at him, and maybe there was a longterm financial planning aspect to their thinking, but my goodness, where would this team be with Portis instead of PJ? That would've been a tough blow, imho.

If that trade would have gone through, Portis would be here instead of PJ. No knock-on PJ, but I'd rather have Portis who's bigger and a better shooter.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Bulls are willing to trade Lonzo Ball for second-round draft capital.

Ball’s $21.4 million expiring deal could help a contending team shed future salary, while having a high-upside backup point guard.

Ball is averaging 5.4 points, 3.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 17 minutes.

[Chicagojk]

Portis is a good player, but man am I glad Mil backed out. It probably would have meant no Gafford either. Portis can't guard on the perimeter either. I don't think he would have been as valuable as PJ has been in Dallas. Especially if PJ can turn into a 36% three point shooter. If so, he is one of the best 3 and D non stars in the league. At a great age too.

[mvossman]

If that trade would have gone through, Portis would be here instead of PJ. No knock-on PJ, but I'd rather have Portis who's bigger and a better shooter.

Man, I don't think Portis would have had nearly the defensive impact that PJ has.  I can see the argument that Portis + holding onto the first is better than PJ (assuming that was the deal) but its hard to imagine Portis would have fit as well as PJ has.  That being said, Portis as a backup 4/5 would make a lot of sense on this team.  He is an obvious replacement for Maxi, but could even take on Gafford role if necessary.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Portis is an indifferent defender. PJ fits what we need here infinitely better.

[mvossman]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Bulls are willing to trade Lonzo Ball for second-round draft capital.

Ball’s $21.4 million expiring deal could help a contending team shed future salary, while having a high-upside backup point guard.

Ball is averaging 5.4 points, 3.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 17 minutes.

Man, I really wanted him in that offseason.  I thought he would be a great fit next to Luka.  Does he have any chance to get back to what he was?  If so, this is more the type of player (and cost) I would want the Mavs to take a gamble on than Zion.

[DallasMaverick]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Bulls are willing to trade Lonzo Ball for second-round draft capital.

Ball’s $21.4 million expiring deal could help a contending team shed future salary, while having a high-upside backup point guard.

Ball is averaging 5.4 points, 3.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 17 minutes.

Seems like the trade partner would need either:

1. Cap space, or,
2. Another bad contract to send back in trade,

...because $21m is too much for a 17mpg backup point guard.

[Knutsen]

If that trade would have gone through, Portis would be here instead of PJ. No knock-on PJ, but I'd rather have Portis who's bigger and a better shooter.

No way… As posted in the Mavs thread as well, PJ is the secret sauce to our success. When he plays we‘re 16-4 this season and 1-5 without him. When he scores in double figures we‘re 16-1. 

Portis is good as a sixth man, but doesn’t fit really well to a team around Kyrie and Luka. He’s much better next to Giannis.

[Chicagojk]

Anyone else notice the Mavs have the more favorable second round pick of Denver or Philly this summer? In what is suppose to be a good draft. Philly looks like a dumpster fire now.

[Chicagojk]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Bulls are willing to trade Lonzo Ball for second-round draft capital.

Ball’s $21.4 million expiring deal could help a contending team shed future salary, while having a high-upside backup point guard.

Ball is averaging 5.4 points, 3.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 17 minutes.

tough to see a fit for a trade due to his contract and health.  Not sure what he wants, but if healthy he is the perfect third or fourth guard for a contender.   For a good team where he can rebuild some value.    His dad may be off, but Lonzo plays a beautiful style of basketball.  Probably a minimum type of contract or close to it too.

[DallasMaverick]

tough to see a fit for a trade due to his contract and health.  Not sure what he wants, but if healthy he is the perfect third or fourth guard for a contender.   For a good team where he can rebuild some value.    His dad may be off, but Lonzo plays a beautiful style of basketball.  Probably a minimum type of contract or close to it too.

So, for minimum salary... Lonzo, or Dinwiddie?

Or, for $6m/yr... Lonzo, or Hardy?

[KillerLeft]

If that trade would have gone through, Portis would be here instead of PJ. No knock-on PJ, but I'd rather have Portis who's bigger and a better shooter.

Wowowowowowowow. You and I couldn't be farther apart on that one. 

PJW is probably the 3rd or 4th most important player on this team right now, cost controlled, and still an IMPROVING young player. I like Portis as much as the next guy (unless the next guy is you), but I don't think they're even on the same level.

[KillerLeft]

Portis is a good player, but man am I glad Mil backed out.  It probably would have meant no Gafford either.  Portis can't guard on the perimeter either.  I don't think he would have been as valuable as PJ has been in Dallas.  Especially if PJ can turn into a 36% three point shooter.  If so, he is one of the best 3 and D non stars in the league.  At a great age too.

I'm not even 100% sure we should limit our expectations to "3&D" or "non star" at this point. Dead serious.

[Knutsen]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Bulls are willing to trade Lonzo Ball for second-round draft capital.

Ball’s $21.4 million expiring deal could help a contending team shed future salary, while having a high-upside backup point guard.

Ball is averaging 5.4 points, 3.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 17 minutes.

If you haven’t read it, his story is crazy:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4276...return-nba

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Bucks have gauged the trade market on Bobby Portis to find rotational upgrades.

With Milwaukee over the second apron, they can’t take back salaries totaling more than Portis’ $12.6 million.

Portis is averaging 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 36.7% on threes.

[SleepingHero]

tough to see a fit for a trade due to his contract and health.  Not sure what he wants, but if healthy he is the perfect third or fourth guard for a contender.   For a good team where he can rebuild some value.    His dad may be off, but Lonzo plays a beautiful style of basketball.  Probably a minimum type of contract or close to it too.

I would freaking kill to have Lonzo here as our 3rd guard on a vet min deal. But he's just too expensive right now.

Maybe in the summer he'd be a crazy reclamation project.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

No way… As posted in the Mavs thread as well, PJ is the secret sauce to our success. When he plays we‘re 16-4 this season and 1-5 without him. When he scores in double figures we‘re 16-1. 

Portis is good as a sixth man, but doesn’t fit really well to a team around Kyrie and Luka. He’s much better next to Giannis.

That's your opinion. You're entitled to it. I beg to differ. PJ is 26, Portis 28. Big difference? Not really. How do you know how he'll fit next to Luka, and Ky? He might not be better as a defender, but he's a much better scorer and rebounder.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Kings, and Lakers are among the contending teams showing trade interest in Dorian Finney-Smith.

After shopping Finney-Smith last year, the Nets have lowered their asking price.

Finney-Smith is shooting a career-high 44.8% on threes this season.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith are names to watch for the Lakers, per
@jovanbuha


“Brooklyn is expected to make wings Cam Johnson ($22.5 million but with a likely cap hit of $27 million) and Dorian Finney-Smith ($14.9 million) available — and much sooner than the Feb. 6 deadline. Both have been tied to the Lakers for months. The Lakers have been interested in Finney-Smith for at least a couple of years.”

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Lakers have been linked to players such as Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Bruce Brown, Jerami Grant, Robert Williams, and Kyle Kuzma, per @jovanbuha


“Other names that have come up in talks with team and league personnel over the past few weeks include Utah’s Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton, Toronto’s Bruce Brown Jr., Portland’s Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III and Washington’s Kyle Kuzma. The Lakers are not anticipated to be heavily in the mix for Miami’s Jimmy Butler, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram or Chicago’s Zach LaVine.”