Trade & FA 2024-25:

[mvossman]

Jalen Smith. He can play Gafford´s role, too.

We need to cut one towel waiver next year. Morris/Powell is overkill that hurts us further with this Kleber problem.

Also not giving up a 1st for Toppin. That´s crazy talk.

Jalen would be another guy in that mold.

Disagree that Powell is a towel waiver.  He is a useful third center.

Its (hopefully) a crappy first and part of it is payment to get off Maxi contract.

[mvossman]

How do you propose to acquire Obi? I am not convinced that Indiana is really motivated to move him... certainly not for any package Dallas is attempting to cobble together.

Would we not give any consideration that having a viable option for always having 2 bigs on the court would let Lively play some 4?
IMO that is where the problem with Powell as the 3rd C really is.

I can't imagine any interest in playing Lively at the 4.  Still confused why Powell as 3rd C is a problem?

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I can't imagine any interest in playing Lively at the 4.  Still confused why Powell as 3rd C is a problem?

Spot on.  Lively at the 4 is insane.  He doesn't move like Chet and Wemby, if that's the comp people are thinking of.  Yes, Powell as our 3rd C is the least of our problems.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://nypost.com/2025/01/13/sports/kni...-deadline/


Knicks gauging Jericho Sims trade market
with Mitchell Robinson due back soon.

[mvossman]

https://nypost.com/2025/01/13/sports/kni...-deadline/


Knicks gauging Jericho Sims trade market
with Mitchell Robinson due back soon.

Wow.  He takes fewer shots than Maxi.  He hardly ever touches the ball, and when he does its a high chance of turnover.

[Chicagojk]

I am not sure if this makes first round picks in this draft more valuable or less valuable. Probably means teams like Booklyn, SA, and Utah would be less willing to want a 25 draft pick in any trade though.



Bobby Marks
@BobbyMarks42
Right now, there are 6 teams (Brooklyn, OKC, San Antonio, Utah, Orlando and Atlanta) that control 16 out of the 30 first round picks.

[SkenfromLMF]

I can't imagine any interest in playing Lively at the 4.  Still confused why Powell as 3rd C is a problem?

The issue is that one of the reasons Maxi is SUCH a problem stems from his being 3rd C (not Powell) AND backup PF. When Lively or Gafford are missing time our backup bigs are exposed.
I guess where I am at at the moment: I can't see a fix for backup PF between now and the Trade Deadline. Many people are saying that Gafford is the asset we could move to get a player like John Collins (but not quite there with the $$$). IF we had a better 3rd C (that could possibly grow into the #2 slot) it would make me much more comfortable saying that Gafford is expendable. Not willing to say that with Maxi and Powell both on the roster - not hate by any means, but definitely looking to improve.

The thinking regarding Lively would be to match him with another (more mobile than Gafford) player that could go 4/5 not named Maxi.

[mvossman]

The issue is that one of the reasons Maxi is SUCH a problem stems from his being 3rd C (not Powell) AND backup PF. When Lively or Gafford are missing time our backup bigs are exposed.
I guess where I am at at the moment: I can't see a fix for backup PF between now and the Trade Deadline. Many people are saying that Gafford is the asset we could move to get a player like John Collins (but not quite there with the $$$). IF we had a better 3rd C (that could possibly grow into the #2 slot) it would make me much more comfortable saying that Gafford is expendable. Not willing to say that with Maxi and Powell both on the roster - not hate by any means, but definitely looking to improve.

The thinking regarding Lively would be to match him with another (more mobile than Gafford) player that could go 4/5 not named Maxi.

I think in the scenario you mention below, that 4/5 would be the 4 next to Lively.

I have not seen a lot of suggestions for sending out Gafford (other than the Collins trade which we can't realistically do) at the TDL.  I think that is more likely something in the offseason.  I am skeptical we do anything at the deadline, but if we do it would make sense to replace Maxi with a 4/5 who could both take on backup 4 role and provide Gafford insurance.

[KillerLeft]

The issue is that one of the reasons Maxi is SUCH a problem stems from his being 3rd C (not Powell) AND backup PF. When Lively or Gafford are missing time our backup bigs are exposed.
I guess where I am at at the moment: I can't see a fix for backup PF between now and the Trade Deadline. Many people are saying that Gafford is the asset we could move to get a player like John Collins (but not quite there with the $$$). IF we had a better 3rd C (that could possibly grow into the #2 slot) it would make me much more comfortable saying that Gafford is expendable. Not willing to say that with Maxi and Powell both on the roster - not hate by any means, but definitely looking to improve.

The thinking regarding Lively would be to match him with another (more mobile than Gafford) player that could go 4/5 not named Maxi.

I think Gafford's minutes go down, and Kleber's up, in the playoffs even if no move is made. I think if/when you get to the post season with a healthy Lively, the better part of Gafford's job description for the season has been fulfilled.

[Smitty]

I think if/when you get to the post season with a healthy Lively

Do we need to start talking about this? I don't know that it's safe to pencil in Lively anymore. Starting to get to a point that it's a luxury or bonus if he's available. 

[Chicagojk]

Do we need to start talking about this? I don't know that it's safe to pencil in Lively anymore. Starting to get to a point that it's a luxury or bonus if he's available. 

Yeah, it is disappointing.  Just when it appears he was making a jump.   He just can't get a 30-40 game run of health.    Last year, Gafford really filled in the gaps and was really good.   He is in a funk or struggles playing without Luka or something.   Gafford just really hasn't had the same impact this year.   I have always thought I think he has a fragile ego and can get down on himself quickly.   I think you need to handle him carefully.

I brought up a name like Thybulle previously.   Heck, I am not really that familar with his game or a huge fan.   I just wonder if having a guy like that right out of your normal rotation now would help more than a scorer.   Last night, they had no answer for Murray.   If this team is going to have success, they need to be able to throw things at SGA, JA, Murray, Harden, Edwards, etc.  It would be nice to have another good defender.  Even if he was questionable at other things or even out of your main rotation.

[KillerLeft]

I think the reality is that "bigs" are always "injury prone" to one extent or another. It's just something you have to live with. Lively gets minor injuries, sure, but he hasn't really landed in the "luxury if he's playing" zone for me yet. He played a ton last year, including two months of war in the playoffs, and this year they're asking him to gradually take on more minutes. It's gonna be a process to get him to "full on NBA starter" level of durability, ability and professionalism. Still, I've seen nothing that leads me to believe he can't get there. I might be wrong in hindsight, later, but this isn't something I worry about. I think it's just annoying right now because the entire team is getting hurt at the same time.

[Chicagojk]

I don't believe Dallas has the assets for Cam Johnson, but I wonder if he could be the piece. The tricky thing is you would have to have the difficult conversation with Klay that he will be your 6th man. but a Luka, Kyrie, Cam, PJ, Lively starting lineup would be interesting. Klay comes off the bench and then you have at least one of Grimes/Marshall to be your 7th man.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_...ach-lavine


Five big trade proposals that would change the title race.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

I don't believe Dallas has the assets for Cam Johnson, but I wonder if he could be the piece.  The tricky thing is you would have to have the difficult conversation with Klay that he will be your 6th man.  but a Luka, Kyrie, Cam, PJ, Lively starting lineup would be interesting.  Klay comes off the bench and then you have at least one of Grimes/Marshall to be your 7th man.

Very curious if this is an angle Nico is taking.  If Nico thinks he has enough to go after Herb Jones then he probably thinks he has enough for Cam Johnson.  The big difference there is Cam probably isn't the point of attach defender Nico is going after though (maybe I'm wrong? don't really watch Cam enough).

[Chicagojk]

This is pretty incredible. Here am I thinking Mavs may have a decent asset by having Philly's second round pick. Only to find out OKC has Philly's first round pick protection from 1-6. Look at their other potential picks this draft.

2025 1 - PHI
Protected 1-6

2025 1 - HOU or LAC
OKC has the right to swap its 2025 1st round pick for HOU's 2025 1st round pick protected for selections 1-10 or the LAC' 2025 1st round pick; HOU then has the right to swap its pick or the OKC pick to BKN for PHX's 2025 1st round pick; if the HOU pick falls within its protected range, then HOU's obligation to OKC will be extinguished and HOU will instead have the right to swap its pick to BKN for the PHX pick [LAC-OKC, 7/10/2019; HOU-OKC, 7/16/2019; BKN-CLE-HOU-IND, 1/16/2021; BKN-IND-MIL-PHX, 2/9/2023; BKN-HOU, 6/26/2024]

2025 1 - Own

2025 1 - UTA
Protected 1-10

2025 1 - MIA
Protected 1-14

[Knutsen]

The Charlotte Hornets are trading 7-foot center Nick Richards and one second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1879645984822800473

[KillerLeft]

The Charlotte Hornets are trading 7-foot center Nick Richards and one second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1879645984822800473

Ouch. They couldn't get off of Nurkic,  which had to have been at least 50% of the goal. Maybe they'll find another team to take him at some point before the deadline.

[F Gump]

"Bucks Are Trying To Find A Taker for Pat Connaughton"

I don't think this was discussed, but it's hard to imagine this happening. The idea that MIL, who is over the 2nd apron, and needs to remove about $6.5M in salary to get below the line, wants to have someone take him off their hands? Of course. But PC is of no value, he is making about $9.5M, and he has a player option for another season.

It certainly makes sense that MIL or another team wants to shed some salary. In MIL's case, if they could do this, it leaves some cap space to refill the empty roster slot, they would escape the Apron 2 draft pick penalty, and they would save (very rough estimate) $30-35M in salary/tax payments this season alone.

As for which teams will take salary that another team wants to shed, that's not as easy to see. Using spotrac numbers, only DET has open cap room (every other team is over the cap). Some teams have decent size trade exceptions but far fewer would take added salary because they are dealing with aprons and taxes of their own. Are there few enough takers that it will lead to a sort of bidding war by the multiple teams who want to shed salary?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I think Detroit might facilitate a deal for other teams. At least that's what I'm hearing.