Trade & FA 2024-25:

[SleepingHero]

My favorite pick from the 23 draft may be available. Although, seeing this, not sure if I want him now….

@casualtakeking
The Houston Rockets may have a Cam Whitmore problem. ?

HE WANTS TO PLAY. Tonight he had 17 pts in 18 min on 8 shots.

-Not celebrating with team on the bench
- Jalen Green telling Tari Eason how Cam pushed him and he pushed him back
-Storms off the court and bumps Tari

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

I would assume if Grimes is being shopped it's because they don't want to pay him what he's worth and if they know he's probably signing elsewhere then trading him would be the best option but that is a bummer because I love watching him play.

If you can get the Maxi we saw last night on a regular basis then I would rather us shop Gafford with those picks for a Herb Jones type and slide Maxi to backup C where he's most effective anyway. Just a lot of relying on his health at that point (as well as him building confidence in his shot back up) which is scary but the defense is better when he's at center than when Gafford's at center if you ask me. Lively + 2022 Playoff Maxi >>>> Lively + 2024 Playoff Gafford but that may be wishful thinking.

[SleepingHero]

@esidery
The Nets are currently seeking two first-round picks for Cam Johnson, but rival teams believe it will end up taking a top prospect and one first-round selection.

The Kings and Thunder continue to be mentioned among the top suitors competing for Johnson.

[SleepingHero]

@esidery
The Hornets are open to helping facilitate trades ahead of the deadline to gain future draft capital, a league source told @Forbes.

Charlotte is keeping the same strategy from the offseason as they hope to earn a top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Maxi/Hardy for Obi.... money is almost identical

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I agree with board concern regarding Grimes being mentioned at all in trade discussions.  One of the many negatives of the current injury situation is that Grimes is going to get a lot more minutes and potentially jack up his price.

One interesting scenario that I have not seen suggested.  If the Mavs are concerned with Grimes costing too much, and Herb Jones actually is available for the  right price, some kind of package centered around Grimes + first for Jones might make some sense.  I don't know if Maxi + Grimes + first works (it does in NBA trade machine) but that would make sense from an overall minutes standpoint.

There are worse problems than Grimes performing to big money.  Even when everyone is healthy, I think Grimes or Naji should start with Klay as the 6th man.  Going forward, I think Grimes is the perfect Kyrie replacement, such a great combo with Luka.

Grimes gambled on himself.  Looks like he will hit the jackpot.

[KillerLeft]

I agree with board concern regarding Grimes being mentioned at all in trade discussions.  One of the many negatives of the current injury situation is that Grimes is going to get a lot more minutes and potentially jack up his price.

One interesting scenario that I have not seen suggested.  If the Mavs are concerned with Grimes costing too much, and Herb Jones actually is available for the  right price, some kind of package centered around Grimes + first for Jones might make some sense.  I don't know if Maxi + Grimes + first works (it does in NBA trade machine) but that would make sense from an overall minutes standpoint.

Someone above (can't remember who) proposed this literal trade, only with TWO outgoing 1sts. He said it was a perfect match, money-wise (I haven't checked). 

I personally don't think that's enough to get it done, but then again, maybe Jones is trying to force his way out behind the scenes? For the record, I'd be ALL OVER THAT.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Maxi looked decent as a backup center. Much better than as a power forward. Maybe that’s his future if the Mavs trade Gaff.

Yes, C hides Maxi's degraded game more than PF.  He's not the backup C we need, tho.  Gafford is.  I don't understand why everyone is so quick to trade away Gafford when we have a 1-2 punch at C that no one can match.  Not to mention...  Maxi is always hurt.  Trending towards 800 minutes this year.  IMO, Obi is our answer to replace Maxi.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

My favorite pick from the 23 draft may be available. Although, seeing this, not sure if I want him now….

@casualtakeking
The Houston Rockets may have a Cam Whitmore problem. ?

HE WANTS TO PLAY. Tonight he had 17 pts in 18 min on 8 shots.

-Not celebrating with team on the bench
- Jalen Green telling Tari Eason how Cam pushed him and he pushed him back
-Storms off the court and bumps Tari

You'd think falling in the draft would have humbled him.

HOU is a shark tank of stud young big SFs stuck behind Brooks; of course there's going to be some biting.  If I'm them, you keep Tari and Amen.  Whitmore and Tate should be moved for better fitting parts.  Whitmore looks like the lottery pick he was supposed to be.  Pushing your starting SG and bumping the dude you can't play in front of is a bad look though.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Yes, C hides Maxi's degraded game more than PF.  He's not the backup C we need, tho.  Gafford is.  I don't understand why everyone is so quick to trade away Gafford when we have a 1-2 punch at C that no one can match.  Not to mention...  Maxi is always hurt.  Trending towards 800 minutes this year.  IMO, Obi is our answer to replace Maxi.

The Maxi injury concern is real but the 1-2 punch that no one can match is starting to get exposed this season.  Gafford is fun to watch but is starting to show he's really an average backup center at best and I think there's fair concerns that his next contract won't be worth it.

He has the worst defensive rating in the rotation and his defensive rebounding rate is really rough as well.  He's a -1 in net rating and Hardy is the only other rotation player (if you can call him that) with a negative net rating.  Lively's net rating by comparison is 7.7.  He's a fan favorite for a reason, I get that, but he's become pretty over valued pretty quickly because we're a jaded fanbase when it comes to the center position.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Someone above (can't remember who) proposed this literal trade, only with TWO outgoing 1sts. He said it was a perfect match, money-wise (I haven't checked). 

I personally don't think that's enough to get it done, but then again, maybe Jones is trying to force his way out behind the scenes? For the record, I'd be ALL OVER THAT.

I don't necessarily think Herb Jones is a guy that would require 3-4 first round picks.

He scores 10ppg and last season was the only time he was good from three.  He is the archetype of player everyone wants so maybe I'm wrong.

[DallasMaverick]

You'd think falling in the draft would have humbled him.

HOU is a shark tank of stud young big SFs stuck behind Brooks; of course there's going to be some biting.  If I'm them, you keep Tari and Amen.  Whitmore and Tate should be moved for better fitting parts.  Whitmore looks like the lottery pick he was supposed to be.  Pushing your starting SG and bumping the dude you can't play in front of is a bad look though.

You’d think that, after Kevin Porter, the Rockets would want to jettison malcontents quickly.

Buy low?

[mvossman]

Someone above (can't remember who) proposed this literal trade, only with TWO outgoing 1sts. He said it was a perfect match, money-wise (I haven't checked). 

I personally don't think that's enough to get it done, but then again, maybe Jones is trying to force his way out behind the scenes? For the record, I'd be ALL OVER THAT.

Actually that trade was Maxi + Hardy + 2 firsts (unless you are referring to a trade proposal a lot longer ago).  The problem with that trade is (assuming we ever get healthy again) you have a massive minutes crunch and you are sending out a far in the future first.  Grimes potentially provides enough value that you only have to send out the current first (which is getting better by the week).  

I'm a little surprised you are so high on Herb Jones and so down on Thybulle.  They are similar players defensively, and I'm not sure the gap is that massive offensively.  Herb Jones is not much different than Josh Green offensively.  He would definitely be a downgrade from Grimes on that end.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

The Maxi injury concern is real but the 1-2 punch that no one can match is starting to get exposed this season.  Gafford is fun to watch but is starting to show he's really an average backup center at best and I think there's fair concerns that his next contract won't be worth it.

He has the worst defensive rating in the rotation and his defensive rebounding rate is really rough as well.  He's a -1 in net rating and Hardy is the only other rotation player (if you can call him that) with a negative net rating.  Lively's net rating by comparison is 7.7.  He's a fan favorite for a reason, I get that, but he's become pretty over valued pretty quickly because we're a jaded fanbase when it comes to the center position.

What team can match 48 minutes of Lively/Gafford?

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

You’d think that, after Kevin Porter, the Rockets would want to jettison malcontents quickly.

Buy low?

Worth pursuing.  Their embarrassment of riches matches our number one starting need: a big SF.  What is Whitmore's defense like?

[mvossman]

The Maxi injury concern is real but the 1-2 punch that no one can match is starting to get exposed this season.  Gafford is fun to watch but is starting to show he's really an average backup center at best and I think there's fair concerns that his next contract won't be worth it.

He has the worst defensive rating in the rotation and his defensive rebounding rate is really rough as well.  He's a -1 in net rating and Hardy is the only other rotation player (if you can call him that) with a negative net rating.  Lively's net rating by comparison is 7.7.  He's a fan favorite for a reason, I get that, but he's become pretty over valued pretty quickly because we're a jaded fanbase when it comes to the center position.

This seems harsh.  Gafford is definitely an above average backup center, its just that most of his value is on the offensive end.  The real issue is that he makes a lot more than most of his competition.  Teams don't spend money on backup centers unless they can also play the 4.  This has been touted as a competitive advantage, but I'm not sure if that's true, especially in the playoffs where the best teams like to play centers off the court.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

This seems harsh.  Gafford is definitely an above average backup center, its just that most of his value is on the offensive end.  The real issue is that he makes a lot more than most of his competition.  Teams don't spend money on backup centers unless they can also play the 4.  This has been touted as a competitive advantage, but I'm not sure if that's true, especially in the playoffs where the best teams like to play centers off the court.

Ya might be harsh, he's definitely good when compared to backup centers across the league.  But backup centers don't win you championships and to your point, he's not really being paid like one now and will definitely not be paid like one on his next deal.  I would say most of what I said though lines up with your last sentence which is what I'm trying to get at.  Gafford is a great guy in an 82 game season but may be better as a trade asset when trying to build a 16 win team for the post season.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

I think my main point is when it comes to what our trade assets are, it would hurt to lose Grimes more than it would hurt to lose Gafford IMO.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

What team can match 48 minutes of Lively/Gafford?

The team that just stomped us in the finals.

[KillerLeft]

I don't necessarily think Herb Jones is a guy that would require 3-4 first round picks.

He scores 10ppg and last season was the only time he was good from three.  He is the archetype of player everyone wants so maybe I'm wrong.

I agree, as far as draft capital. Two seems fine, or one, if you've got something else they want. Maybe Kleber and Grimes qualify as that something? 

I do that 10/10 times. I'd count myself lucky Gafford isn't in the deal, but even then, I'd do it. I really like Herb Jones though. He's what everyone thinks Thybulle is, only in reality.