just to clarify, spending future 1st round picks on a point guard just to improve our current competitiveness, including to help Sengun, is the last thing I’d want to do. We are not contending; I don’t understand spending valuable assets just to be a little more competitive. I’ve been pretty clear that if we can get back into the 2026 draft, I think there are franchise guards outside the top 4. Would love to take a swing on that talent. But I don’t want to spend future assets unless we are getting young blue chip prospects or getting into this talented 2026 draft that we should never have traded out of in the first place. So as far as point guard help for Sengun, I think we have to find a way to bolster that position beyond Fred and Reed. If we are not trading for a great young prospect or draft pick, it will have to be done via trading non-core pieces and/or FA. Depending on how good our trade target is, I’d be willing to do a S&T of Tari as well.
LAL in Kevin Durant HOU in LeBron James (sign-and-trade) HOU out (the door) Ime Udoka No picks changing hands. I suppose Bronny would probably also have to come over in a separate minimum salary swap too. Would you, just to get back to rebuilding sooner and get rid of Ime? Would LeBron or the Lakers have any interest?
To me, getting a point guard better than FVV without giving up a first-round pick or equivalent value sounds great in theory. I just don’t see why another team would let the Rockets do that. I love lopsided trades when they happen in Houston’s favor, and they do happen sometimes. I just don’t think they are predictable enough to build an offseason plan around. What you’re describing sounds like a player who, from the other team’s perspective, probably costs something closer to two firsts. Maybe an expiring guard on a big contract could be had for one first, depending on the situation. But getting a clear FVV upgrade for non-core pieces or a Tari sign-and-trade would be an excellent outcome. If Stone pulls that off, he deserves serious credit, because that would be a very hard needle to thread. I’m also not really interested in adding a point guard just for the sake of adding one. I don’t want a chucker who needs the ball, doesn’t defend, and can’t realistically stay on the floor next to Sengun. If they upgrade that spot, it needs to be someone who helps the offense without creating a new defensive problem.
Probably true, especially about LeBron. I could maybe see the Lakers thinking KD is a better fit and has more good basketball left in him than LeBron at this point though, but if LeBron doesn't want it, it's not happening. It would also require us to fire Udoka given their history (that's the biggest plus on such a trade in my book).
Brooklyn does have incentive to not be terrible now moving forward if and only if they control their own picks. Better to be mediocre the next three seasons than outright bad. It would be a question of how they value Sengun + one or both of their picks back versus whoever's available at #6. I'm also on the fence about whether that package makes sense for us to give up. Who would we be getting? Acuff, maybe? I keep coming back to the issue that if we trade Sengun we instantly become very thin at the 5 spot. Adams can't be relied on, Capela is a 3rd string guy, and we still need a stretch 5 if we're continuing on with Amen. Maybe there is a second trade out there to get Porzingis or somebody like that for now?
Why would we want pick 6 though, and not only give up a good player in Sengun, but also a very valuable Nets pick? Who would we be targeting? All the top prospects who will go in that range are smaller PGs like Fleming, Acuff, Brown. Are we going to have 3 small PGs in Fred, Reed, and pick 6 -- how would that make any sense? We'd be overpaying to draft a player who doesn't fit our roster. It makes zero sense.
What pick do ya'll see Labaron Philon going? See him going to Heat in a lot of mocks KD for Herro & #13 if Heat strike out on Giannis. Could do a Tari S&T for Hornets #13 if he falls past the heat FVV / Philon Herro / Reed Amen / Tari Jabari / Sengun / Adams Try to hit on a couple more guards and depth with the Nets / Phx picks. FVV walks. S&T Herro or extend
Sengun to LAC for 5 Amen to Sactown for 6. KD to Dallas for 9. Tari to who cares where just give me an asset. Reed to SA for .... whatever we can get.
Honestly might be the best we can realistically do if we want back into the 2026 draft: HOU in Ryan Rollins Myles Turner #10 draft pick in this class MIL in Alperen Sengun Brooklyn 2027 first round pick I'm not sure I see us getting a top 10 pick from anybody without giving up Sengun or way too much draft capital, unfortunately. It's an open question IMO whether #10 in this class or Sengun is more likely to become a #1 option. But, at least this also balances out the roster and gets us the stretch 5 and shooting/playmaking guard we need for the offense to not be so stuck in the mud--at the cost of losing Sengun's shot creation (so Amen better get as good as some of us still think he can)
who cares. I don’t think we want to fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy. It’s more likely than not that Reed is not our starting point guard of the future. But he can play off the ball or on the ball. You don’t pass on a good point guard because u think your undersized combo guard maybe could play point guard one day. We need an offensive engine; a shooter and ball handler; an elite scorer. Acuff is that guy. Maybe it works out with Reed or maybe not. Fred isn’t long for this team. We only have one guard on the roster after next season.
