Ugh, I want nothing at all to do with AD. No way he's opting out of the $62m deal in 27/28 .... unless they are giving us that #1 pick and that's not happening.
I agree, but that's basically what he was probably thinking when he left Phoenix, too : this isn't working out, I want to go to a contender, etc. But, if I recall, KD somewhere along the drama timescale last year made it known via "sources" that he had no desire to be in Minnesota. I don't know if it's just the city, the chances for a ring, the weather, or a combination of things. But who knows - maybe things have changed.
Agreed!! I'm just attempting to point out there isn't a lot of joy to be found in trading with Minny. They are willing to offer passable junk, that we could perhaps exchange for other junk. All of this junk seems like it could work, but most likely will never... Just run it back if that's the option. Flip out DFS, Capela and some seconds for a lower salary guy then use the MLE a bit better, and re-sign Tari, and keep enough space under the apron to churn some minimum salaries...
Do you guys think we will get close to what we paid for (Green, Brooks, #10) to get him last year? He's one year older. I expect to get less. The question is, did we pay fair value, and will we get fair value if we trade him?
Sure, if they are giving you multiple unprotected picks and you still think they are a lotto / play in team. But doing that is crushing your own cap for two years - it's essentially a franchise reset. Is that the point we are at - another rebuild? I don't think the front office can afford that or the owner would Ok it. They think "we're good enough to compete", or at least that's the way they come off. I would welcome another reset, I just don't think any of these guys are more than role players, none of them are worth the money they have been paid or in the case of Amen the money being discussed. They are ancillary players and should be paid as such, not paid as fringe stars.
Depends on what you think about Green....I can see why PHX wanted to take a chance on Green in their situation but he's a bad contract IMO. I think the trade was a homerun when you separate it out from how the overall season went. KD took a discount and signed a 2 year extension at 26% of the cap so I think he'd be worth a late lottery pick + a rotation player + bad contract. However, KD would have to sign off. Feels like the Heat might be a good option if Giannis falls apart.
My list is headlined by New York, Miami, and maybe Detroit. I think KD might be happy enough to play for those teams and I can see them having interest. I don't love what New York or Detroit have to offer in terms of draft capital / young players. But I would be willing take a package from them at this point just to get something back, if nothing better presents itself.
KD destinations (Combo of older contenders, potential superstar buddies, big name cities, desperate situations) and their potential salary packages. Wolves: Randle, DDV Bucks: Kuzma, Portis Nuggets: Braun, Cam Johnson Heat: Wiggins (OPT-in or S&T), Jovic Warriors: Butler OR Porzingis S&T w/Moody Lakers: Vanderbilt, LaRavia, Knecht w/cap space OR Reaves/LBJ S&T (to other team). Clippers: Bogdanovic, Lopez, Jackson, Batum, Beal (or John Collins S&T replacing some of these players). Question is where is the most interested, and what asset(s) are they willing to attach. I think the Warriors, Bucks (if Giannis is held), Nuggets stand out given they don't have much upside for the future outside of the next few years.
DICKERSON IS RETIRING A ROCKET! Yeah, I’m keeping him over all those packages, with all due respect. Now if he requests out, guess they’d have to make the best of a shitty situation.
Those are the salary fillers, the idea is the asset(s) make it worth our while. I don't think KD is going to do anything to improve out future, so if we can get something for him that will, I would do it. I would also consider just getting rid of him to free up space for our youth to grow and to improve our chemistry. The potential assets: GSW - Podz, Santos, #11, future picks Nuggets - Future picks Wolves - Shannon, Beringer, Future picks Heat - Ware, Jakucionis, #13, future picks Bucks - #10, future picks Lakers - Future picks Clippers - Future picks
now we’re talking. I’d take the Bucks off that list. They don’t have any good young prospects and if they are trading Giannis they will want to keep their picks. I don’t see the front office trading KD to the Lakers and I doubt they are super interested. I’m not sure the Nugs have many draft picks to trade. Miami is going to offer the least because Pat is cheap. I like what the wolves and GS can offer. And no one seems to know what the Clips are going to do, but if they want KD they’d be a good trade partner.
I agree with that list of assets and trade partners for the most part. I think that KD is the difference between this team winning 50 games and 30 games. Without him the offense is just abyssmal. I don't disagree with the idea of moving him for future assets because ultimately this team is going nowhere with or without him, at best they are a first or second round exit as currently constructed. May as well plan for the future and accumulate assets. The problem is that I believe that the front office thinks differently - this team in their eyes is better than that. For them to trade Durant, they'd be admitting that the rebuild is a failure (It Is) and I just can't see them doing that yet. It's unfortunate, but that's where we are at. I posted in another thread that the Wemby window is probably 5-6 more years, it's not often guys that big have long careers and he's already had a ton of injuries. IF championships is the goal, I think the best way to do that is evaluate future draft classes, figure out which ones are what - good / bad / top heavy / deep and accumulate multiple lottery picks in those you feel good about and go into a great draft with multiple picks. I think that's the way teams will approach the new draft rules instead of outright tanking, you are looking for unprotected picks from teams from 3-10 in the standings. The other thing is, if you pick up a top 5-10 pick in a draft you don't feel is very good, don't make the pick - trade it for future picks again with the idea of having multiple picks in a good draft class.
By all accounts the Rockets tried to trade out of the Reed draft, but could find no takers. I think the 27 draft may be the same.
