12-22-2022, 05:14 PM
(12-22-2022, 03:54 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: The fact I am so emphatically positive about this trade makes me think it's incredibly unrealistic.
The dinosaur comments others have made would indicate there is more than one side to this question. I actually think it is kind of fascinating...especially from the Phoenix side of things. New owner, so new assumptions about money. They literally have five...FIVE...players on guaranteed contracts next season. Eight are FA's and they have Cam Payne on a partial guarantee. I assume they'll pick him up to be #6 for a total of $138mm. Let's project Cam Johnson as #7 at $20mm?
The way I see the theory here is band-aide plus retooling flexibility. Ayton becomes three useful players (so 8, 9 and 10) for the next season and a half. The picks help with the post-Paul retooling that will happen around Booker, Bridges and Johnson. Someone said it the other day...that combo and Ayton doesn't scare me that much. Such a deal would say there is more value and flexibility to dealing the picks for that next 'star' than dealing Ayton for him.
On the other side of this, could there be a more Mav-like deal. Give up picks...check. Big man who doubles down on the 'better version of Powell' theory...check. At least Ayton isn't UFA this summer. He is age appropriate for Luka and has more of a post game than anyone Luka has ever played with.
Two notes...he's a Duffy guy and he can't be dealt until 1/15.
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