Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Mavs2021]

It´s not worth moving Maxi for Jalen Smith right now, if it costs us two 2nd round picks. The same trade will be there in summer, after the draft.

I´m not giving up our first or even the 2nd round picks. Every draft you can find two exceptional players between 10-15. Right now we have 14, 38 and 47. That´s trade capital to move up 2-3 spots on draft night, if you want a specific player.

Here is the top players drafted between 11-15 since 2015:

2015: Turner, Booker, Oubre
2016: Sabonis
2017: Monk, Mitchell, Adebayo
2018: SGA, Miles Bridges, MPJ
2019: Cam Johnson, Washington, Herro
2020: Haliburton
2021: --
2022: Jalen Williams, Duren
2023: Lively, Dick

I left out a few really solid roleplayers as well. Morale of the story, if you fancy your FO to be good at their jobs there is an All Star/All NBA level player in almost every draft in this range. Do your job and you get a very good player.

If Nolan Traore falls to #16 (as currently projected), I´d be all over it. Starting PG on his team. Team is 10-7. His play-making, court vision and passing is Luka-ish. Despite being the leading scorer of his team his raw shooting numbers are awful, but I don´t see a broken shot. Very good AST/TO ratio for a kid in a pro league. Highest AST/36 in this draft despite playing in a pro league against proper adults.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Los Angeles Lakers are not expected to show interest in centers such as Nikola Vucevic and Jakob Poeltl on the trade market, per
@TheSteinLine


“League sources stressed over the weekend that the Lakers are not expected to join the hunt for either Vučević or Toronto's Jakob Poeltl ... while oft-suggested Lakers target Walter Kessler of the Utah Jazz is believed to as close to unavailable as it gets with less than 10 days to go before the trade deadline on Feb. 6 at 3 PM ET.”

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Bulls want a first-round pick for Nikola Vucevic, but the Warriors are only willing to surrender second-round picks, per @TheSteinLine


“The Bulls continue to seek a first-round pick in exchange for former All-Star center Nikola Vučević, league sources say. The Warriors have been at the front of the line in terms of potential Vučević suitors for weeks but, mired in a 10-20 funk that had them stuck at a lowly No. 11 in the West entering Monday's play, have to date been unwilling to surrender more than second-round draft capital.”

[SleepingHero]

Does a PHI 2nd round pick count as a first?

I don’t see a team giving away a FRP for Vucevic.


I am actually intrigued at adding him as a Maxi replacement. He is nowhere near the level of defender, but he is able to stretch the floor. That ability would allow him to pair well next to a mobile center like Lively, not so much Gafford. His size also would allow the Mavs to sort of match and throw out their own Pseudo- Al Horford lineup like the Celtics use where Vuc is a PF and we can use PJ as a not-so-small ball center on defense to matchup with Porzingis, while still being able to stretch the floor 5 out.

His contract is too expensive. We’d need to use Maxi+Naji as the base of the deal, which would keep the Mavs 430k under the 1st apron.

The trade ends up essentially being a Naji for Vucevic swap, which hurts the Mavs defensively. Is that worth it though? I like Naji, but this trade also enables us to send out Gafford pretty easily for another perimeter defender like Herb.

[mvossman]

Does a PHI 2nd round pick count as a first?

I don’t see a team giving away a FRP for Vucevic.


I am actually intrigued at adding him as a Maxi replacement. He is nowhere near the level of defender, but he is able to stretch the floor. That ability would allow him to pair well next to a mobile center like Lively, not so much Gafford. His size also would allow the Mavs to sort of match and throw out their own Pseudo- Al Horford lineup like the Celtics use where Vuc is a PF and we can use PJ as a not-so-small ball center on defense to matchup with Porzingis, while still being able to stretch the floor 5 out.

His contract is too expensive. We’d need to use Maxi+Naji as the base of the deal, which would keep the Mavs 430k under the 1st apron.

The trade ends up essentially being a Naji for Vucevic swap, which hurts the Mavs defensively. Is that worth it though? I like Naji, but this trade also enables us to send out Gafford pretty easily for another perimeter defender like Herb.

Count me a hard no on this one. I feel like playing Vuc next to any center means giving up wide open three on every possession. I would rather have Naji before even looking at the contracts.

[KillerLeft]

The only trade I want anything to do with concerning Naji Marshall would be to find him a better immune system. When he’s on the court, he’s exactly the guy the Mavs need!

There are quite a few current Mavericks I’d give up in exchange for Marshall getting over this constant sickness.

[Nowitzki Way]

The only trade I want anything to do with concerning Naji Marshall would be to find him a better immune system. When he’s on the court, he’s exactly the guy the Mavs need!

There are quite a few current Mavericks I’d give up in exchange Marshall getting over this constant sickness.

Or for a better version of Naji. Whoever that is. 

But seriously, i hope he's ok. His immune system is taking a hit.

[SleepingHero]

@esidery
The Bucks will likely have to include their 2031 first-round pick in any potential Khris Middleton trade to entice a team to take on his contract, per @BobbyMarks42
(https://espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/...l-30-teams).

Milwaukee’s only first-round pick eligible to be traded soon is this selection in 2031.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

@esidery
The Bucks will likely have to include their 2031 first-round pick in any potential Khris Middleton trade to entice a team to take on his contract, per @BobbyMarks42
(https://espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/...l-30-teams).

Milwaukee’s only first-round pick eligible to be traded soon is this selection in 2031.

That's turned out to be one of the worst contracts in the league.  It's at least $22mm per year overpaid.

[Chicagojk]

@esidery
The Bucks will likely have to include their 2031 first-round pick in any potential Khris Middleton trade to entice a team to take on his contract, per @BobbyMarks42
(https://espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/...l-30-teams).

Milwaukee’s only first-round pick eligible to be traded soon is this selection in 2031.

I would love Mil to wind up with Lavine or Butler.   Would make it another pretty good east team.   I am just not sure how MIL can get there with limited picks.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Does a PHI 2nd round pick count as a first?

I don’t see a team giving away a FRP for Vucevic.


I am actually intrigued at adding him as a Maxi replacement. He is nowhere near the level of defender, but he is able to stretch the floor. That ability would allow him to pair well next to a mobile center like Lively, not so much Gafford. His size also would allow the Mavs to sort of match and throw out their own Pseudo- Al Horford lineup like the Celtics use where Vuc is a PF and we can use PJ as a not-so-small ball center on defense to matchup with Porzingis, while still being able to stretch the floor 5 out.

His contract is too expensive. We’d need to use Maxi+Naji as the base of the deal, which would keep the Mavs 430k under the 1st apron.

The trade ends up essentially being a Naji for Vucevic swap, which hurts the Mavs defensively. Is that worth it though? I like Naji, but this trade also enables us to send out Gafford pretty easily for another perimeter defender like Herb.

I hadn't thought of that.  The problem is I don't see Vuc being on the floor with Lively or Gafford.  IMO, our biggest need is PF, then 3rd C.  I don't even see 3rd C as a big need.  Someone like Obi would be perfect

[SleepingHero]

I would love Mil to wind up with Lavine or Butler.   Would make it another pretty good east team.   I am just not sure how MIL can get there with limited picks.

I think Miami just wants off Butler now by any means necessary. They may swallow Middletons deal to make it happen.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Miami Heat are positioning themselves to have over $80 million in cap space in 2026, when players like Luka Dončić could potentially become free agents, per
@flasportsbuzz


“According to a source, the Heat also has felt it should receive a carrot (likely a draft pick) if it takes players whose contracts run through next season. Taking on non All Stars whose contracts run past 2025-26 has been a nonstarter for Miami, which is positioned to have more than $80 million in cap space that summer. Several All Stars, including Luka Doncic, are eligible to become free agents that summer.”

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Miami Heat are positioning themselves to have over $80 million in cap space in 2026, when players like Luka Dončić could potentially become free agents, per
@flasportsbuzz


“According to a source, the Heat also has felt it should receive a carrot (likely a draft pick) if it takes players whose contracts run through next season. Taking on non All Stars whose contracts run past 2025-26 has been a nonstarter for Miami, which is positioned to have more than $80 million in cap space that summer. Several All Stars, including Luka Doncic, are eligible to become free agents that summer.”

Absolutely LOL-ing at this

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
"Two guys who could be bought out that fit that bill are Lonzo Ball and Ben Simmons,"

- Brian Windhorst on potential buyout targets for the Cavs

[SleepingHero]

@thesteinline


“It remains to be seen whether the Raptors become more than that where Ingram is concerned, but the mere suggestion of potential Raptors interest is the most significant development in weeks when it comes to the New Orleans forward”

[Chicagojk]

@thesteinline


“It remains to be seen whether the Raptors become more than that where Ingram is concerned, but the mere suggestion of potential Raptors interest is the most significant development in weeks when it comes to the New Orleans forward”

Toronto is a weird team.  That GM was looking towards God status a few years ago.  The last few years have been rocky.   I was wrong about the team a few years ago.  I liked their talent (not elite though), but they just didn't win enough.

Now, they seem to have a group of really solid players.  Unfortunately they don't have players that help you win more than you lose.  And their good players are typically good, but probably paid more than you want to.   

The last few trade deadlines have been weird for Toronto.  Buying when fans wanted them to sell.  So I would expect anything from them.

[DallasMaverick]

Toronto is a weird team.  That GM was looking towards God status a few years ago.  The last few years have been rocky.   I was wrong about the team a few years ago.  I liked their talent (not elite though), but they just didn't win enough.

Now, they seem to have a group of really solid players.  Unfortunately they don't have players that help you win more than you lose.  And their good players are typically good, but probably paid more than you want to.   

The last few trade deadlines have been weird for Toronto.  Buying when fans wanted them to sell.  So I would expect anything from them.

Crazy how a GM can swing so wildly from hero to goat in such a short time.

Reminds me of some guys on this board.

[Chicagojk]

Shams said the kings are expected to open up talks about potnetially dealing Fox ahead fo the trade deadline.


Wow, that is a shocker. There will be many suitors. Lets move him to the east. Supposedly he has a place he wants to go to. Needs to be SA or Houston. SA more likely imo.

[Chicagojk]

Kings fans need to be shook. They weren't winning anything this year, but they finally were playing decent ball. if they move Fox, doen't that lead to a blow up of the rest of their good players?