Hello, everyone, Welcome to the latest episode of Hardwood Knocks. This is
Adam Framwell, back from a semilong hiatus to join my fantastic co host Dan
for Valley. We are moving closer to the December fifteenth magic date, when
players who signed new contracts in the off season are actually eligible to be traded,
which kind of opens the floodgates in the NBA world with so many more
possibilities. And because of that, we thought it was only appropriate to start
going through team by team, starting with the Eastern Conference today and discuss some
trade targets, some potential trade, more overarching concepts, all sorts of stuff
related to trades for each team, starting with the Atlanta Hawks and proceeding alphabetically.
But before we can do that, I have to ask Dan, how's
it going. I am exhausted as you know tonight, excited to get back
to podcasting with you. We've been We've been lazy over here. I think
we've only done one podcast each of the best two weeks. So we'll have
this Eastern Conference Trade target one and then next week we have a Blazers pod
that'll drop, and then we'll do You and I will sync up for the
Western Conference for sure, and we'll have to do a mailbag at some point
because I have a couple of side questions that people have already dm to me.
But I'm excited to see your face again. Video will be happening soon
too. You've seen the video template, so I'm not lying when I say
exists. It looks good. How are you just professional? I think it's
I didn't do it. My wife, who's a graphic designer, did it,
and I've been on her to do them. It took her probably like
five seconds, but I kept asking and asking, and it took me basically
being passed regressive by saying, hey, should I just hire a freelancer to
do this? And then lo and behold, she had it to me like
an hour later, shout out saying, how are you doing? I'm good,
I'm good. My son's third birthday party is this weekend, so I'm
like kind of wiped out just prepping for that and for having people in our
house and all that. But it'll be fun. I'm looking forward to that,
and I'm glad to be back here doing this because thanks to travel and
weird circumstances and people being sick and all that, like it's been a while.
Yeah, I'm interested to see how many people enjoy this podcast, because
I do feel like part of the MBA discussion landscape has been anti transaction.
I think that's mostly among MBA media types. Though that I think there are
some people that there are people that dislike it, and that's not there,
you know, like I can't go into like, you know, a Stephan
no x's and o's type breakdown or a Caitlin Cooper XS and os type breakdown,
and so there's just people that probably don't prefer this type of content.
But there's just like a sub genre of MBA media that thinks that are above
the transaction game. And I get that there's clickbait or listen bait whatever this
is, but it's also and I also do think the trades have gotten inherently
less interesting since the play in started, since so many teams think they have
something to play for. That being said, it's like a part of the
and I do enjoy it for the most part. I do understand the human
element behind it, that these players will be switching ocals. That's part of
the obligation of playing in the NBA though, that's why you're getting paid most
of these guys a ton of money, and I do think that every aspect
of the NBA is important. Like I'm going to read up and try and
follow along with x's and os even though it's not my fort like they're nitty
gritty xs and os, even though it's not my forte. I'm gonna watch
a game between fucking Orlando and Oklahoma City in the middle of March if there
is one, because like, I need to try and be in tune with
every team as much as possible. Adam Silver might attend these days. Attending
Magic Kings was It's funny because I've kind of enjoyed when they've been healthy watching
the Magic this year. But that's just like a game you wouldn't expect the
commissioner of the NBA to go to. Definitely not so yeah. If people
if this isn't for some people, you, I guess, don't listen to
it. But I do think trades are are important and they are fun.
I don't think they need to be the sole focus. I get that some
people think the NBA is too hypothetically covered, and I totally get there's an
oversaturation of this. But as Adam already alluded to. December tenth is coming.
Most of the people who signed contracts, with the exception of a handful
like a like a talent Horton Tucker. I think I can't even remember which
ones they are. I have them in my document who can't be traded toil
like January or slightly later, most of those guys can be traded. It's
the unofficial start of trade season. And at this podcast specifically, like we'll
do these two podcasts, then I'm sure we'll do a trade idea podcast at
some point. We're not going to try and over inundate you with this stuff.
I still just you know, it just it grinds my gears. I
guess is my old man yelling at clouds that there are certain people that just
think that they're they're so far above the transaction game and or and even if
people think that, like, oh, I don't want to read about the
actual basketball. My big thing is I'm not going to police how people want
to consume this league, this sport. But I'm very much unless it's detrimental
or a moral consume the sport. How you want to consume the sport,
I'm right there with you. I don't think it's any secret that, like
this kind of content isn't my favorite, I still get it, and I'm
still willing to participate in it. And I do think that we're way too
quick to criticize different types and really different levels of fandom. I'm always bothered
by the implication that casual is supposed to be an insult, Like not everyone
is required to follow the nuances of the league, and it is not mandatory
to have enjoyment. And ultimately, that's what the NBA is. It's an
entertainment product. So if if you are able to find entertainment value in watching
basketball, even if you're not studying the rosters, even if you can't name
more than fifteen people, I don't. I just I don't think that should
be looked down upon. No, I don't think there's any and I'm told,
by the way, just to make this clear, I don't people who
just say that the hypothetical trades aren't there thing maybe even go a level of
above what you said. I think that's absolutely fine. It's just like the
parade of I'm better or I'm above this. It just comes off. It's
the difference between not engaging with the content not producing the content, not caring
for the content and doing all of those things and broadcasting that you feel that
way, or just crediting the people that are putting actual thought into it,
because there's are obviously clickbait. And what's funny about these podcasts for us is
they're not our most listening to podcasts by any stretch, like some of the
other league wide stuff we do just gets more downloads, pints, download this
episode, subscribe to Hardware Knocks if you've not already for our first time listeners
who who have barreled through this rant. But that's just my mini soapbox spiel
at the moment, because I do think this happens, and especially for people
like us, even if we're blatantly wrong, like there's real thought put into
this, so we're not trying to sling mud or just only gobble up low
hanging through here. I'm just there's so much that goes into this league,
and I respect how anyone wants to cover it within reason obviously or consume it.
And I do think that's a good natural segue to shouting on a previous
episode of this podcast. I believe we did it back in July talking about
how Dan currently and me in the past have worked to construct fake trades,
the value they bring, the potential pitfalls, how to handle the response to
them, everything. I think it was one of the single best episodes that
we've done at Hardwood Knocks. So I'll make sure that Dan downloaded ones too.
Shout out to us, Shout out to us. So make sure that
Dan provides a link to it, because we need to see. That's absolute.
Doesn't matter, We're not we don't care about downloads. We're gonna talk
about what we want to talk about. You've already brought up downloads twice.
I'm very self conscious about our downloads because we've been around a while and we
are surviving. I know there are operations that are larger than ours, but
we had people send us their Spotify wrap. We ended up on it.
Shout out to all those people, So I'm happy with the numbers that we
do. Was just that was an episode that was not one of our more
poppulent ones. Even though I agree with you that I think it was.
I think it promoted more like meaningful responses from people who listened to it.
Even if the numbers were lower, they were they were high quality lists that's
how we'll that's how we'll put it. That's what it was. We were
not volume shooters there. The last note I think before we begin is I
tackled this from knowing that we wanted to enter blind and throw these names at
Adam. I'll named guys by thinking about potential packages, but we don't have
packages for everyone because there's some teams I have like eight names for it.
Then I'm just gonna rattle off and we're gonna try and go through this quickly
in about an hour. But I looked at team needs, what I think
they need the most, and then who could they get within reason? What
type of contracts do they have to send out? What is their draft that
would be like. While we will not always get into the nitty gritty of
this, like I said, well, I'm sure I'll convince Adam to do
a trade idea pod because, for better or worse, I really do enjoy
doing I think it's a good thought exercise, especially closer to the deadline.
I enjoy responding to them a lot more than I enjoy the ideation process.
Dan has always been way better at that part, to the point that when
we were both writing at Bleacher Report, I basically had to run any ideas
by him. Yeah, back before you were a trader and left Bleacher Report.
And finally, the one thing this is more of an observation. It's
gotten a lot harder to do these because there there are just fewer teams that
you can project as sellers, even with the Pacers coming out, And maybe
we should even just start with whatever we'll get. We'll get there for sure.
But yeah, I mean, thirteen of the fifteen teams in the mix
for at least a play in birth, and I would wager that even the
Pacers, who again will get too later are in the mix for it,
because they're not going to just be engaging in a fire sale for the sake
of a total tear down right, and they have It's clear that people like
have not thought about the Indiana Pacers before. Now certain people just based off
like some of the packages that have been floated for Miles Turner and sabonas specifically,
and also sort of the the other thing here is it feels like that
has a weird impact on the actual trade market, like to play in where
it's teams are less likely to go make these heavy all in moves during the
middle of the season because they're either going to happen during the off season or
like because free agency basically no longer unfolds, and free agency we're talking about
extensions now. Looking at Damian Lillard report, which was bs definitely coming from
nelile SHA's camp, the way he's kind of dragged Dame through the Mudson's leaving
Portland's wild, but we'll have a Portland podcast coming anyway. I just trades.
They're still interesting to me, but I do think like the transaction landscape
is vastly different from three or four years ago. Yeah, I could not
agree with that more. Let's begin with your Atlanta Hawks. I did not
run these names by you. I probably should have. And the one thing
I mentioned about them that they're a great exercise and how I thought about this
and the next team that I think will be a great exercise is actually the
Pistons, which we'll get into and talk about that they're not really built for
a small trade. Yes, they have these smaller type salaries, but some
of them, like a Cam Reddish or DeAndre Hunter, you're not They're still
a key piece, so you're not just going to send them out for nothing,
and then you just look at all their other salaries like that, you're
you're either not trading trade if you're gonna trade at Bogda mcdonovitch, he's important
to what you're doing. It's a larger salary also, so that it's the
same thing with the Neil Gallinari. The names I have for them, and
this is just based off I think they need better point of attack defense in
general, and I understand some of that this season they've suffered with DeAndre Hunter
cam Reddish being injured, but Clickopella just really hasn't looked the same and so
you can't funnel guys towards him like you used to. It's not a sustainable
model, even with the way John Collins has been playing. So the names
I came up with where Derek White is on the higher end. He's been
pretty bad offensively at points this year. He is someone who can run a
pick and roll and then gives you some real defensive juice on the perimeter or
on the lower end. And I'm not sure whether conference rivals would be trading
with each other. I do have one of the Hawks players names listed for
them when we get to them, but was Josh Richardson In Boston who can
be traded despite signing his extension since he didn't get like this huge ass raise.
And those are just the two of the names I came up with,
because unless they're gonna go star hunting and you want them to look at and
I don't even know what the star is because they need a superstar wing and
that's just not really going to become available, and if it does, it's
happening in the off season when it's a free for all and anyone can pursue
said player. But the only part I'll push back on is the Capella portion,
because he was pretty clearly belabored with some injuries in the beginning of the
season when he was even on the court, and he has looked more spry
in recent games, and I think we're seeing some noticeable strides as a result
with the Hawks. Even early in the season when the struggles were more pronounced,
neither of us were really panicking because it was clear that this team,
which had so much continuity from the previous season that resulted in an Eastern Conference
Finals appearance, that there was going to be a higher level to which it
would rebound, and I think Capella rediscovering that form of last season plays a
big part in that. But yeah, I mean the wing is still the
biggest need. It's a evaded by the absences of the guys who were supposed
to grow, and both of those players make sense. I don't know that
it would be worth paying the premium it would take to get Derek White because
of the offensive struggles and just because they have enough depth at point guard in
the future with Sharif Cooper in addition to Trey Young, like you can reasonably
think that rotation is more set and just probably would not be worth paying that
price. With Josh Richardson, I think that that is a name that the
Hawks should undoubtedly pursue because he doesn't need the ball in his hands, but
he can operate off the catch and put it on the floor and find another
open teammate. But you're paying for the three and D element, which is
exactly what this team needs to be looking for if it makes a move at
all, which I think is pretty unlikely given the roster construction. Yeah,
Richardson's tough, just because he's definitely dropped off over the past couple of years,
but he's better this year than he was less season, and with I
will clarify with Derek White. Is my thought process there was you're using salary
anchors, so like your gallow or you're Bogdanovitch. I don't even know if
I give up Aganovitch for him and he's been bad, But so you're using
your salary anchor, and gallow makes more, so you might take back more
from san Antonio, but your salary anchor maybe Jalen Johnson. And then it's
with picks, like I'm not including Camber Redish or DeAndre Hunter in that deal,
just to be clear. And it's only if the Spurs look at White's
contract and they're a little if be on it. He's older. They want
to enter their their rebuild and they would prefer to recoup picks and maybe take
a flyer on a Jalen Johnson. And the other thing that makes it's difficult
about the Hawks is like we know they're not going to trade Collins, we
know they're not gonna trade trade Young and they extended Kevin Hurder. You're not
moving him on the poison pill provision. It's like there's even a more finite
list of players that you can move. I would be willing if you wanted
to step ladder your way to Derek White. I would be willing to move
the loan right, even though he's been big defensively, because I think White
is a step up significantly defensively from the loan right. I would as well.
But yeah, I mean, how hot of take is it to say
that I probably wouldn't want to move Jayalen Johnson and a Derek White deal.
I'm still so high on that guy's potential, and I realized that can come
across as biased, given that you introduced this as my Atlanta Hawks, but
he was in the number one pick conversation before his one season A duke went
so sour, it's worth seeing what is there. I guess it's just with
him Yeka kong Wu and then Clink Capella and John Collins there. I wonder
what his pathway to playing time is per se, and they've been they've they've
played him at center this season, so I guess that's the pathway. But
again, if Okongo is healthy, I'm just curious as to how that works.
I don't think it's a hot take. De Jeante Murray's dad would definitely
agree with you. I guess i'd be banking a little bit on the space
that Atlanta can create on offense probably opens up things for Derek White because San
Antonio, if they get into the half court like they could be super clumpy.
Yeah, but I think the counter argument is that if Jayalen Johnson does
pan out, that he's only promoting more of that space from an unorthodox position
like that that can be immensely valuable on this team with so many shooters.
I just if you're not willing to give up Jalen Johnson in that trade,
you have to view Derek White as you just don't think it's gonna happen.
Well, I don't. I don't think any of these are gonna happen.
These are my thought ex resides. So for the Boston Celtics, I'll run
through the names I have here. I feel like they need a whole bunch
of stuff, but I would prefer to see them get someone else who can
handle the ball and create They could kind of use some extra wind depth too,
even though you have Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum. Mean Brown's been through
the ringer this year obviously, So a lockdown shoot, a wing or just
like someone who can put pressure on the basket, so it should. It
feels like everything is offense. Everything, Yeah, on offense anyway. The
names I have are Doug mc dermott, Kyle Landerson, Daniel Gallinari or Casselvert.
And I actually I like Gallo in Boston because of the way if you're
gonna have Horford or Robert Williams the third upfront, and just he is Gallows
starting to pick up and you technically have him from one season. He's partial
guarantee for next year and he can really do things for you in the playoffs
get to the line still, So I don't think he's I don't know.
You go into the trade and I'm saying, hey, he's my top target,
because you are going to end up giving up a fairly expensive player for
Gallo just because he's making so much money, and that would be something to
consider here. But I think he'd be interesting, So I had him,
Doug McDermott, Kyle Anderson, and Carras Lavert. I hit all the lines
of the spectrum here. I'm pretty game for any of those except McDermott,
just because I think the one thing that you're looking for if your Boston is
the ability to take a little bit of offensive pressure off of Jaylen Brown and
Jason Tatum in a way that diversifies the entire offense. And that's not going
to happen with Doug McDermott, who's just such a complimentary catch and shoot piece.
I don't think you want significant portions of the half court set running through
him at any time, and I would just push back. I think he's
established himself, and I know people didn't really like his contract with the Spurs.
I think that's probably more to do with the Spurs than McDermott, just
based off San Antonio's timeline. But he's someone who can really score on cuts.
Can He's not shooting well on drives this year, but again there's not
a kind of open space in San Antonio. He did better on that in
Indiana last year, so I think he would work well in Boston. And
what the opportunity cost I'm thinking of here is for a contract like that is
if the Spurs are becoming sellers, you're looking at you have the one Herning
Gomez salary, and then it's you know, Romeo Langford might be too much
because Aaron E. Smith too much? Is Peyton Pritchard too much? And
then a pick. So I think that there are ways to get there without
trading anyone that's really consequential to you, and that's would be huge for him.
And I think the package would have to be you're selling a young player
and a pick. I think that probably works for a Carus Lavert. I
don't know you the gallow stuff would be would be interesting because you do have
expensive salaries to get there, But the Josh Richardson and one Herning Gomez for
Dino Gallinari, that's a framework that could techinically work. I don't know how
interested in Atlanta would be in that. And then Kyle Anderson, sort of
just like Memphis, is my favorite of my favorite of the bunch. I
think he might be the like the worst fit of the bunch. I don't
think he's a terrible fit. He's hitting third, he's hitting a higher clip
of his threes than Carris Labertas this year, and you can handle the ball,
and he's gonna be a better defender than anyone I included on this list.
I'm curious he's entering free agency. Memphis isn't playing him as much this
season. Would they be able to give him up? And what does it
cost, like, can you attach they're trying to win now, so was
Juan Herning Gomez plus picks or one of those young Does that get the job
done for him? I don't know, but probably not. I think his
salary is kind of feasible to Matt. I think so to me, just
based off memphisis timeline how much they've used him given the uptake. You have
Dylan Brooks, you have Desmond Baine. Maybe they make another trade too.
I would think you can sweeten it enough with picks and young players to get
Anderson out of Memphis, just knowing he's assumed to be free agent. I
have a Doug McDermott trivia question for you now, So it's looking at it
up while I was curious just about how reliant he is on set up passes
dating back to the beginning of the twenty seventeen eighteen season. So this encompasses
his brief times with the Knicks and the and the Mavericks, as well as
his three years with the Pacers and the current season with San Antonio. Doug
McDermott has made four hundred and fifty three pointers. How many of those were
unassisted? You want a percentage or a total total. What's that number again?
Out of four hundred and fifty, I'm gonna say twenty zero. Wow.
I mean he's not that type of players. He has not made an
unassisted three in the last four and counting seasons. I don't know that that's
fine with me, By the way, I think they don't see. I
just I don't think it's what they need. They need shooting without a doubt.
I just think it's more important that you diversify the offense by forcing the
ball out of Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum's hands every once in a while.
I think you need that guy who can actually create. And I would say
you have Al Horford, Marcus Smart, and Dennis Shrewders. You're alternatives.
I don't think any of them are the ideal. Yeah, yeah, but
you have some ability in conjunction with shooting. And I think that's why I
like Kyle Anderson more than the others, because even if he position wise probably
isn't the best fit for this team, his skill set, just the ability
to put the ball on the floor and create for himself in slow motion a
little bit, while also serving as a respectable outside shooter, is what I
would pick for this team. The issue there is, if you want to
argue that point of attack offense is their biggest need, you can't go after
Kyle Anderson, then like this needs to be a Darn Fox or Damian Lillard
situation. And so that's why I think I think Carrath the Vert probably comes
to or actually Gallo probably comes the closest to straddling both lines. So he
might be my favorite, even I think it's just harder to get him probably
at Yeah, I like McDermott more than Vert because he's the biggest carous Lavert
fan, and I know he's the thing. He's coming back from the was
it the kidney cancer? I think he had like he deserves all the time
in the World's trying to work his way back in fury. He's probably the
best fit, but he's always had his struggles with off the ball shooting and
is not hitting jumpers that well this season does put pressure on the basket.
Gallows probably my favorite functional fit. I just think I like McDermott because you
actually have what he does available and shorter supply on your roster than what Kyle
Anderson does on offense. To me, Yeah, fair enough. This team
is inherently uninteresting when we get to the nets, and the way I approached
this is that they're not trading hard and they're not trading Durant. We can
come they should trade Kyrie Irving if but they're not. I would be shocked
if they did. Anyway, you're not trading Joe Harris. He's injured and
I know he just slow starts the year. I still think he's important,
but his injury I think makes it not impossible but very unlikely you're gonna trade
him. Patty Mills has become way too important, and so after him,
your next highest paid player. I just name their five paid player players is
Bruce Brown Junior, who has an implicit no trade cause and earns under five
million dollars after him as Jevon Carter at three point seven, and so I
think you can talk yourself into the next needing a bunch of things. They've
gotten a lot of mileage out of a very slap dash front court, like
a Marcus Aldridge is shooting the hell out of long twos Nicholas Claxton's back.
They've gotten really good minutes from James Johnson, Blake Griffin's out of the rotation.
Paul millsapp is sparingly used. So they it's like a mishmash up there,
and you have Bruce Brown Junior to be sort of your your pseudo big
They're all they have and they're playing DeAndre Benbury. So I think that also
means, especially with their alliance on Cam Thomas, they need wings as well,
and so I just went with just some cheap o wings that wouldn't cost
anyone through basically Bruce Brown Junior like he would still be on your officer after
this. I've Justin Holliday, who's gonna be mentioned a lot here because the
Pacers, the report for the Athletic we should get that out of the way,
was they're ready to blow it up. They kind denied it. They
said they talked to their players and said that necessarily the case. And look,
they have a top ten net rating outside garbage time, they're just pretty
far under five hundred. But Justin Holliday, ken Ridge Williams just one of
my guilty pleasures in the NBA, and Daniel M. House just as a
I think Holliday and Williams do more in general, and House is theoretically a
three point here. I think he's just a body where it's like, hey,
go defend the two, three, four, or even some five,
and that would be interesting for Brooklyn. Those aren't splashy additions. And by
the way, that net campigs is eleventh in points allowed per possession. I
just don't I don't think they have a game changing move in them. Even
if I guess I guess the way you phrased it, I'm not entirely sure
that I agree they don't have a game changing trade in them. I think
that someone like House is probably the best target, just a versatile defender who
can reasonably line up against a wide variety of positions and allow Steve Nash to
run out even more different lineups build to around the stars who are actually willing
to play basketball right now, I think the big move comes on the buyout
market, just as we saw last year when they acquired more veterans, Like,
we're going to see somebody who gets bought out and wants to go play
for a contender, and you know that Brooklyn is going to be functioning as
such when the buyout market is in play. So I just I don't think
we see any moves at all from this team. But if there are house
is a reasonable target just I'm easy to acquire pseudo veteran who can be plug
and play on the defensive ent. Well, someone like Holiday is good for
them because it could be a two for one where then you open up your
roster spot to use on the buyout market, because that's gonna have to I
don't think they have a roster spot right now, unless my sheet is wrong,
I do not have them as having a roster spot. So that's something
that they're gonna have to consider, and just to speak to kind of their
need on the wings or even the front court like David Duke junior on a
two way just all minutes for them in part because of the availability. But
I just think the next need wings which someone needs to sign James Ennis unless
there's like an injury we don't know about here. I cannot believe James Ennis
remains unsigned. But let's move on. There's Charlotte Hornets. Everyone thinks that
or knows that they need a big I think the names that are going to
pop up, and I would agree with them are Miles Turner or Rashaun Holmes.
My issue with them, how many times have we mentioned those two names
with this team already, I don't know that Homes would be so fun to
watch within the offense. And he's a better rim protector than people think.
I don't think he gives you enough of the interior defense. Miles Turner certainly
does. Is this team good enough to go all in on a trailer?
Because okay, so what I came up with was difficult is I don't know
who you're It's easier to get Homes if you're just sweetening it with if you're
willing to give up a book night, which maybe you're not because Home is
a big but you can do picks plumbly and another salary, and I don't
even know if that's enough to get him as a baseline. So you don't
have to give up like a Terry Rosier or and you can't even give up
a Terry Rosier right now. You don't have to give up a Gordon Word,
you don't have to give up a PJ. Washington with a Miles Turner,
you do, You're gonna have to give up Washington and you can't can't
like you can't step out of your way middle of the season and do a
four for one. So I just don't know what the deal is to get
Turner's money back, and I guess you go Ubre Washington, Ubray Washington and
picks. Does that? I guess are you're willing to give up that much
for Miles Turner. I think it makes sense for this team it to this
click does it does? But I think that there's already reason to believe that
that's worth doing. LaMelo ball during his rookie season was super fun, was
impactful, was largely good. I don't think we knew if it was the
product of their just not being a big time scouting report on him as a
guy who was not playing in one of the premier leagues in the world or
in the NCAA and he was able to parlay that into so much success,
or if he was a legitimate foundational block. I don't think that question exists
anymore. He is the guy in Charlotte who is going to be able to
elevate this team for the better part of a decade, and there are already
good fitting pieces around him in Miles Bridges and Terry Rogier and then on some
nights guys like Gordon Hayward. If you put that rim protecting defensive player the
year, chasing occasionally floor stretching big in Miles Turner next to LaMelo Ball with
the rest of this roster around him, I think Charlotte makes some noise in
the playoffs this year. I get it. It just seems like an unnecessary
risk at this point. And it's funny, isn't that the kind of risk
that a team in this market that isn't going to have the free agency appeal
needs to make when that kind of opportunity presents itself. Because Turner is the
kind of player you draw up to fill in the cracks of this team.
Filling the cracks, but doesn't elevate you to a conference finalist, because that
has to be aim if you're making an all in trade right now given the
youth. Maybe not this year, but it certainly is reasonable within the near
future. And that's why I would just bide my time if I were them,
and to that point I have I'll call him stop gap suggestions. Mo
Bamba. I think he's been playing, he's been good this year in Orlando.
How much does it cost to get him the one? And my this
is probably a hot take at the moment. I think the Knicks need to
become quasi sellers. They're just this is not this is not the roster.
I think it's clear we'll have to do a deeper dive on that little secret
there is that you've been saying that since like Game two of this season.
No I was definitely aboard the Knicks train when they were like six and one
or whatever. It is been all downhill basically since that went over the bulls.
Nolan's Noel would be interesting here a minter end salary, and he can
run the floor with you, even though he has terrible hands, and he's
gonna give you some real rim protection. He can't play a ton of minutes
because he will get in foul trouble and he just never played a ton of
minutes. But given that you want to play smaller, that's actually not a
bad thing for you. And it's not he's not going to cost you if
the Knicks are selling, or if the Knicks aren't at most like an Ubre
for Norlan's Noel swap, and the Knicks might even have to send you something
in that given how Ubre has played this season. So the fact that he
doesn't cost you a core guy or a core pick, I think that's intriguing
for them. I'm one pcent on board with that as a lower end target.
But I do think that following this Pacers report, I would love to
see Charlotte strike on that. What do you think about Christian Wood for this
team? Another really strong fit. I just I like the idea of guys
who have biggs who can really keep up with LaMelo in in transition, who
can also create in the half court set and are total slapters on defense.
I think the Turner is a better fit. But if you name an athletic
big and I'm going to tell you that I like him here because that's what
you want to put around LaMelo Ball. I do just think that if you're
going to make the all in play right now, it feels Miles Turner or
bust ish because is Christian Wood just isn't gonna give you enough defensively. He's
gonna give you less, way less defensively than Noel, less than Rashaun Holmes.
I think if there was a way to just make the mid end move
where if you want to step above Noell, what is the cost of Rashaun
Holmes? Maybe a Yaka Peardle. See, I don't think I would want
to go anywhere in between, because with Newland's Noel, you can get away
with offering nothing better than you bray. If you go above that, then
PJ. Washington is probably entering the discussion, and I just don't want that
to happen unless it's for a player I dm a very strong fit like Miles
Turner. I would you give a PJ. Washington for Rashaun Holmes for this
team? I don't think I would for this team if it was Mason Plumbly
and PJ. Washington, you wouldn't do that. No, I don't think
I love Rashaun Holmes, as you know, I don't come off it.
I don't think he provides the defensive presence that I would need to give up
PJ. Washington, not because it wouldn't be a good val value, but
because I then don't have that asset to move for a better fit. I
think it's fair because you're also then trading two of your quote unquote centers,
because we know Washington plays and dual big lineups as well for one, and
that is what it's not. It's in a vacuum. Yes, I'm moving
PJ. Washington and Mason plumbly for Rashaun Holmes without linking. But for this
team, when I have to consider the other assets, I need to be
able to move, because all of a sudden, then you're starting to talk
about Miles Bridges or Terry Rosier in a trade, and I don't want to
be doing that. Yeah and yeah, yeah, the Miles Bridges stuff.
Even with this next contract, you just don't want to give him up.
The other name. I thought about if he became available and people are adamant
that he's not a center, would you do the Miles Turner special and it
would cost more? But for a Pascal Siakam on this team it would cost
more. I would be very intrigued. I just don't really see a feasible
path there. I don't think Siakam is exactly what this team wants or needs,
but he's so good in so many different areas that it's hard to ever
turn down a player of that caliber. I think that's totally fair. And
that's why the Hornets were just interesting, because I don't think they're at the
point where they should do the Turner type move. I do, but I
get why you don't think so. For Chicago, they were interesting they could
probably use, or definitely could use a backup big. They do have some
assets in the chamber if they want to trade a first and then you have
Derek Jones Junior's expiring salary. I just think they need to get like a
an impactful wing, preferably one who can shoot threes, but just to make
up some of the defensive ground you lost with Patrick Williams. Even if Patrick
Leomis wasn't a good defender, he was covering a ton of tough assignments.
And yes, you have Alex Caruso, you have Devonte Green, but I
still think they could use insurance, especially if you want to go after some
bigger guys. The names I have from them are Tory Craig, Josh Hart,
and Kyle Anderson. And just to be clear, I'm not saying I
would give up I would probably give up a first Portland's first round pick for
Josh Hart. I'm not giving up a first round pick for any of the
other guys. But those are the names that I thought of for them because
I think they need more than just a Daniel House Junior could work for this
team, too, but I think they need like a little bit more defensive
than that or a little bit more of. And you know Tory Craig is
going to give you some offensive rebounding, Josh Hart can put some pressure on
the rim, Kyle Anderson gives you some extra ball handling and playmaking, and
Daniel House is just very he's a defensive specialist at this point because he's not
shot well enough to be called three and day. I like all those those
potential targets here for exactly the reasons that you explained. Chicago is another team
where I'm just not quite sure the degree to which they want to be buyers
right now, because it's clear that they're not sellers. But if you're making
a big move, where's it coming from? And really, if you're making
a small move, I'm not quite sure where I see it's coming from.
Where where I see it coming from? Either, because yeah, like you
could move the Derek Jones expiring, I think that's going to be an upgrade.
Like they're at this weird intermediary point where they're on the rise with some
intriguing young players and also some older veterans, and they're so like the key
players are pretty entrenched because ultimately, like you're pretty set at four positions,
and then you also have Alex Crusoe filling a number of different roles. I
just I struggle to see them getting anything more than like an eighth or ninth
man in the rotation, which is important if you want to make a run.
That's why I think I think the framework is Troy Brown Jr's five point
two million dollars buyer Sally plus stuff. And that's where Tory Craig is interesting.
I think Craig is the name I'm gravitating towards most. His defensive energy
feels like it would really fit with the high motors that we see from Javonte
Green and Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball on that end of the floor, Like
that would be a fun defensive rotation. He also offers some stuff in transition
where Lonzo Ball loves to play in transition that could work pretty nicely. He's
not enough of a shooter to really thrive with this team on offense, which
already has half court limitations. But when you're down that far in the in
the lineup, you're you're not expecting a perfect fit. I don't think next
team, Cleveland Cavaliers, I have three sets of players for them totally five
players. They are just they need perimeter offense basically just some there. Justin
Holiday was it was a recurring name here, and then britt Forbes was even
just you need Colin Sexon's out the rest of the year. You need someone
to come in and just microwave score. Britan Forbes is so cheap those I
just think your names don't even need to discuss where if you can get them,
if they're not going to cost you, even a Jetty Osman, you
do it. The medium size quarter god Jetty Osman, I believe it is
his full name. Now. The medium sized guy I have is a Carous
Lavert as someone who is gonna put downhill pressure on the rim theoretically can create
his own shot. And I think he can give you, you know,
because I don't know what he costs. You. Are you willing to give
up Ricky Rubio plus stuff for Caris Lavert when Lavert has been so off I
know Rubio has been important to the Calves. I might consider it just because
of what they need offensively, and I think Lavert as point guard lineups can
work, and he's making He's cheap enough next year where it's not prohibitive to
have him and Colin Sexton Junior on the roster. That's called context and Junior
for no reasons. I have no idea why where it's not prohibitive to resign
Colin Sexton and keep Lavert on the roster at the same time. So he
was my medium sized guy. It's just it's tougher to actually construct the medium
trade because unless you're going to give up Jetty Osman, which he's kind of
important, if push comes to Chovey's the way better shooter than carous Lavert,
you have to go to the Ricky Rubio route. And then even if you're
willing to give up Osman, you're not trading a Korro for carous Lavert,
and so it gets really hard to get up to the Vert's salary. The
two all are in plays I had brandon Ingram and the thought process here was
you offer every pick and prospect you basically can without including Alan Mobile or Darius
Garland, like those are the guys who were off limits. Coorl's not off
limits in that trade. If New Orleans decides to start selling I don't know
that. I actually, I actually don't hate it for Cleveland obviously the other
one and this was the longest similar lines. But let's say Portland decides to
rebuild. I know people have pointed out Damian Lillard. I saw trades where
the cows were getting Damian Lillard without giving up Darius Garland. It's not happening.
Would you just go through this with me? I would you wouldn't?
Is that what you're gonna say. I'm just saying, if you give up,
you're keeping all your core guys, but you're getting CJ. McCollum.
And it's probably mean to use Kevin Love as the salary basis here, So
it would just be cruel if the trade into Portland and that's when CJ mccollm's
leaving and they're rebuilding around Dame. But you can also go the Ricky Rubio
plus others, like if it's O and Okoro and Filler to get CJ McCollum,
and Portland's just looking to rebuild and they view Isaac Okorro as okay,
you know what this is? Fine, Like, we have a defensive ring
now around Dame. We're planning for the future. My basic premise here is
if you can get CJ. McCollum without giving up any one core to your
existence right now, or too many picks. Maybe you're not even giving up
a pick if you're giving up a Cooro, our hazard. Mccllum's way too
important for Portland to them to think like that. The premise here, again
is the Blazers have decided to rebuild, but they're not necessarily trading game.
Maybe they've decided to try and rebuild a round game, which I do think
is a path not enough people are considering. That's on the table. Is
No, they're not trying to trade McCollum for a star or other players for
a star. It's we are rebuilding, but we're also trying to do so
a round game in a semi expedited fashion. I want this to happen so
badly now. I had not considered that possibility before, But Darius Garland,
CJ McCollum, Evan Mobley and Jared Allen. If you can't build a contending
team around that quartet, and you just shouldn't be working in an NBA front
office, and it's I'm curious. I think some of the hang ups are
I would trade Ocoro for McCullum personally, given how good the Cavs have been
Colin Sexton, I would move, and he fits with Portland's timeline in the
sense that he's not playing again this season all of a sudden, Now he
needs to get paid though, and you kind of enter this weird cycle where
it's all right, we've paid McCullum, traded him, we've paid Paddle,
we have Dame, or we're gonna pay Sexton two. So is there a
third team involved? Are you keeping Sexton because he becomes super fluous with I
don't think you need to come Sexton here. I'm just saying, would Portland
be interested in him? And that's why I could necessitate a third team.
But if the basis is Sexton Ocoro and maybe a pick and then salary filler,
whatever it is, I'm considering it if I'm Cleveland, because I do
think a full strength McCullum is an upgrade over Sexton. I mean, that's
actually tough to say. They're probably I think it's close to them people realize.
But McCullum, the exception of this season, like his offense, has
proven to be playoff proof. Yeah, and I'm not sure that Sexton elevates
those around him yet. I enjoy watching him play, but like, I
don't know, I feel like we've read enough stories about his mentality and seeing
kind of the put the head down, I'm gonna go get my points mentality
and play that. I don't know how much of a superfluity it is so
much as like an unnecessary piece, just different connotations there. I mean,
in theory, just because Rubio is making seventeen point eight and Okoro's at six
point seven, you're I think you can take back CJ with that. So
if it's those two end picks, you can keep Sexton and to have him
come off the bench behind McCollum and a Garland, that's something that you could
look at, not something I would be if he's if he accepts that role.
I mean, he's a restrictive free agent, so his leverage would be
minimal in that situation. But yeah, I definitely I hear that. So
the Cabs were interesting because they've been so good year. I know it's just
year one of Mobley, but there's also like Garland's going to be extension eligible
this summer. Section's a restricted free agent. You've paid Allan. There's a
little bit of urgency there, especially again when you've been so competent this year,
and Evan Mobley alone just changes the calculus a lot because he's so good
in so many ways at this age, with this experience level, like the
fact that we don't have any idea what his ceiling is going to be because
he's just looked that good as a rookie just opens the door for so many
more moves of that nature, which is why trading for someone like McCollum is
not necessarily tethering yourself to the middle because Mobley and even Garland, those are
two impact players now, but also these huge swing pieces. Also, let's
not discount Jared Allen, who's just been phenomenal. This leveled up his offense
for sure. So that would just be something I'd look at if I'm Cleveland
Detroit and so this is the team that I want to mention where I just
would rather teams like this take flyers on these younger guys. Is the issue
with Detroit is unless they're trading Jeremy Grant and I'm look, they're not gonna
trade Kate Cunningham. We know that they're not going to trade to Deep Bay.
They're just not in a position to like get good stuff back, and
so I would trade Jeremy Grant if I'm them, assuming they could still get
a first round pick and a prospect for him. I think his value peaked
and we've seen him struggle this year and the team spoil this for a Western
Gardens one ive Jeremy Grant is a target for Memphis. And so if you're
looking at the Grizzlies, can you get a Zay Williams out of them in
addition to a pick? Can you get a Brandon Clark or an Xavier Tillman
senior? Those two have just Brendon Clark has now averaged more minutes per game
than Xavier Tillman Senior over the past couple of weeks. So like, those
are the higher end names you get the other ones I had, I say
higher end, Like that's just I'm not thinking they are the package for Jeremy
Grant. But if you're using Jeremy Grant in a Memphis trade target, you
know, definitely their best prospect not named Desmond Bay And I don't consider Jared
Jackson junior Grant prospects anymore. And then one of those flyer bigs and can
you get one of you know they have Utah's pick this year, can get
that out of it or Memphis his own. I also had a lot to
go Canchar from Denver just as a winning to take a flyer on. I
have Nikkil Alexander Walker. I don't know what the Pelicans would be willing to
give him up for. He's been rocky, but I actually think he might
be a better fit alongside Kaide than a Killian Hayes, Jared Colver. I'm
just gonna name all Memphis players. He's good salary matching, but like,
let's give Jared Colver minutes one more chance for Jarreed Colver. You're not really
playing Josh Jackson as much. One don't want him to go to Wade Baldwin.
We're out, is what you're saying. And the deeper cut here alas
a Johnson, I feel like he could be fun on this team if you're
gonna give him playing time. I figured you wouldn't have much pushback there unless
you have thoughts on the Jeremy Grant to Memphis idea. But like people are
gonna tell Detroit to sell, they don't really they have Jeremy Grant. And
is any team gonna be hot after Kelly Olynick when he's been banked up this
year too. I could see them getting something from for Kelly Olynick, and
then you probably are trying to float like Trey Lyles, Rodney McGruder, Cory
Joseph to see if you can get even a protected second for them or something.
I think that's the most likely route for this team is just seeing what
it can get. It probably doesn't have to be any sort of specific target
so much as just calling other front offices and floating these names and just seeing
what is offered back, because you're not far enough along in a rebuild that
you have a direction. So Kaid Cunningham is an amorphous enough player that you
don't need to tether him to any specific archetype. So if you want to
take that shot on Jared Culver, then you do it. If you want
to take a shot on Alisa Johnson, you do it whoever you like.
As a front office, if their names come up, you just fight and
hope that you find something. I will just say, like, they haven't
done a good Roddy mcgruders in net negative, they haven't even done a good
job of building up Hammadudiala, who's been playing fairly well offensively over his past
ten games or so. Just they haven't done enough with those on the Argins
players to build them up to where you could say, oh, a team
would definitely give us a second round pick or any of the names aside from
the Memphis names for them. So, but that's just where Detroit is.
I would like to see them get any one of those guys, and I
could definitely come up with others, but I stopped myself at seven. So
interasonable you want to just skip past the next one because I don't. I
don't think they're that relevant. Yeah, So Indiana is interesting because there's the
report that they want to blow it up. They can't trade Malcolm Brogden right
now. You're not going to trade TJ McConnell, who might be done for
the year. I don't know who would want him. I'd be intrigued.
There was the report in The Athlete that said t J and Warren wants to
stay in Indiana. He's entering free agency. We don't know when he's gonna
come back from his injury. His timetable has been like pushed and pushed or
hush hushed. Is there a team that would be Willing. I'd probably keep
him just because what I'm saying is there might be a team that's like,
oh, the idea of TJ. Warren, especially if he comes back this
season. They're not giving you a bunch of stuff for him, and his
market is now probably deflated enough entering free agency where you could keep him.
So you're really looking at Holiday, Tory, Crag Sabonis, Miles Turner.
And that's what I wanted to ask you about this team before getting into names,
is like, who do you think actually and Caraslavert excuse me, Jeremy
Lamb, as well as on expiring, who are the names that you expect
to be moved from this group this year? I don't know that I anticipate
that much beyond a Turner deal, And it just it kind of feels like
it's time. We've talked about the Miles Turner to Montes Sabonis pairing since about
ten years before it was formed. It feels like at this point so it's
it's beyond time for something to just happen, if only to free Miles Turner
from the incessant trade rumors. I don't know if you saw the story about
an Indiana based reporter whose name I cannot remember, apparently like asked Turner about
his thoughts on his name coming up, and his response was like, you
must be new here, like it's been happening for years, Like it's it's
time. I expect him to be moved, just because I think with this
report, where there's smoke, there's fire, But I don't think it's a
raging inferno. Because the Pacers are better than their record has indicated. The
underlying metrics all point towards positive regression during the remainder of this season. They
have enough veterans who are soon to get healthy hopefully, who are going to
contribute at higher levels. They still have an absolute full fledged All Star and
Sabonus another fringe one in Malcolm Brogden. They have reasonable veterans around them.
This is not a team that is positioned to just embark on this full blown
garage sale, nor is it an organization that has ever shown a predilection for
going that route. Because the Pacers have tried to skirt the fringes of contention
and rebuilding for roughly forever, so I don't really see any major moves beyond
whatever Turner blockbuster, which hopefully results in him wearing a Charlotte Hornet's uniform.
Yeah, And the thing to remember about he and Sabonis they're both twenty five.
So if the Pacers aren't angling for like this half decade rebuild, you
can certainly keep one of them. And because Sabonis is this good offensive hub.
And I think what I've seen from the Pacers this year one I feel
like on a game, in the game basis, they can be unrecognizable when
you look at how they play, but this year Rick Carlisles tried to sort
of really spread it, like the front court usage around and Sabonis is averaging
much fewer touches. Turners complaining about his touches, but they've done stuff in
games where he's not just necessarily spotting up. And then you also have Lavert
and Rogged in that factor into that. I would think Lavert and Turner are
the players that I'm looking to move this season. And then of course Jeremy
Lamb, Tory Craig, Justin Holliday. Those are guys that are if you're
looking to rebuild, those are guys that I would move as well. So
the names I have for the Pacers are just either not higher end youngsters,
but maybe distressed youngsters or just complete unknowns. And I don't even know if
they fit into the model of you know, these are teams that would want
any of the players I'm willing to offer, but the names I have listed
are I'm not accepting any except PJ. Washington just as a cave yat I
was good. So he's on the list, but like that's only in a
Turner trade that you're gonna get him. I have Peyton Pritchard because you know,
I have to put a Caucasian point guard as Indie's target, one of
Indie's targets. But I really do if Peyton Pritchard, Kobe White, Kilexander
Walker, and I thought too was just like a how deep into the rebuilder
You're going like, let's get key On Johnson here, because if the Clippers
they could really use I know he was just a first round pick, but
like, if you're gonna send out carros Lavert, what is the bare minimum
you're willing to accept? And if they can get the salary matching with Keyan
Johnson and other stuff, I don't think that's enough. But Caros Lavert would
be a really good fit for the Clippers without Kauai anyway, and so those
are just names there. I could come up with a ton That's what makes
these should be rebuilding squad's a lot different. I don't know how you get
Kobe White from Chicago. Is it an instance where they're giving you Kobe plus
all this salary and you're literally sending out all your wings. Maybe it's TJ
Warren they want to take the flyer on him, Tory Craig and Justin Holliday.
Or do they want Carol Slavert even though they have Zach Lavine and Dmard
Rosen and Lonzo Ball already. I don't know, so I don't necessarily know
the path to getting these Maybe it's a three teamer, But if you're a
team that wants to rebuild without having this long restructuring period, you need to
take these swings where maybe these players could pan out into something semi immediately with
a bigger role. And that's why I was thinking Alexander Walker, Kobe White,
Peyton Pritchard, and I recognize that Alexander Walker was given a larger role
this season, and also that Peyton Pritchard had a great summer. League has
not had a good regular season, so I recognize that these are distressed assets,
but that was my thought process here. I really don't think there's an
answer for Indiana though, because we don't actually know what they're looking for.
What there was going to be My follow up question is like, you know,
the names are great, but like, what is the target here?
Do they turn around Aaron Fox? And when? Now? Is that something
they consider? I don't know. Are you looking to contend right now?
Are you looking to go on a bigger rebuild? If you're looking to rebuild
at what positions are you looking to improve? Because other than Sabonis and maybe
Brockden, like, you don't have all stars on this team, So what
direction are you going? Because there are so many to choose from. It
feels like Indiana is the great mystery box because anything could happen there and you
could you could justify basically any move with this team, Like if they if
they get wind that a legitimate star is available for Sabonis, If Portland comes
calling you and it's like, hey, we'd like to give you Damian Lillard
in a deal centered around Sabonis, You're going to hear them out. Yeah,
And the other thing is historically. Look at what they did with Paul
George and even Victor Oladipo when they got Charis Lavert back. They've prioritized when
selling off what are supposed to be the better players, even though it's clear
Lavert than all the depot at the time of that trade, given all the
Deepo's injury history, They've prioritized bringing guys who can help them tread water and
then get to launch a little more quickly. And so I know the report
said that Herb Simon at age where is the eighty seven is more open to
a rebuild. Now, that does not if you're eighty seven, I wouldn't
think that that makes any sense. Even whether you want to keep the team
or sell the team, it doesn't make any sense to agree. So I
found that to be a little bit curious. But without knowing what they're gonna
do, this was just a borderline and possible exercise. I do. I
don't know where you land on this. I do think it's time for a
shakeup. I'm not saying you need to take a stick of dynamite to the
whole thing. I'm fine if you want to keep sibonus brogged in Duarte and
kind of, you know, rejigger around that Core. I get it,
but I would Turner Lavert and then the guys holiday Tory Craig on the margins.
I'm absolutely looking at moving them, and at the same time, I
understand if they don't. I get it. If you're just making the Turner
move for another win now piece and you think that that kind of shake up
gets you deeper into the Eastern Conference playoffs, and you're willing to do that,
I think that's feasible as well, which is what makes this an impossible
team. Moving on to the Heat, they're in a similar situation to Brooklyn
to where Jimmy Butler, bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry not getting moved.
I thought about maybe they'd be willing to trade Duncan Robinson. He has been
ice cold of for him. That selling a shooter who can't shoot right.
And when you don't have all these picks to attach, what are you gonna
do with Duncan Robinson? Are you gonna That's not fair? The Heat still
have their twenty eighty three first round pick. They were fine a second round
pick. Pat Riley was shocked to learn that there were such a thing as
second round picks that were still in the heats possession. So I just assumed
that Duncan Robson is probably not gonna be trading. Also, he's still important
the idea of him, and so you're gonna have to sell low. I
can't imagine that they would want to do that. I also am just writing
off PJ. Tucker because he's been pretty important for them, and Tyler Hero
has been great for them. You're not trading Hero. Yeah, Now when
you go through after those times, if we assume they're not going to trade
any of their six highest paid players, their seventh highest paid player is Kazyakpala
at a whopping one point eight million, and so their bench has actually been
good this year. A big part of that has been I don't know how
they got Caleb Martin on a two way. Max Drews has worked out for
them, Gave Vincent has come along. I just think they could use like
due to could play the three in the four, especially Mark Kieth Morris.
I don't even know has he I think he was nearing a return. Has
he played yet since he was shoved by I don't think he has either.
I'll check really quick so I'm not saying he won't play again, but yeah,
he has not played still. So those are the bodies I thought off.
And the two names I just came up with is they're cheap, They're
gonna cost two players, and then I guess something depending on what one or
two players. But Daniel House and ken Rich Williams were the names that I
came up with. They're cheap, guys can play and defend multiple positions.
I don't know if you're gonna do better than that if you're the heat,
unless you trade one of your more integral players, and I just don't know.
It's not going to happen. You're not trading your top three. I
don't know what and who are you now attaching to Tyler Hero to get anyone
who's gonna better than Tyler Hero for you? And then what does Robinson or
Tucker what do you parlay them into when you're just not sitting on this cache
at first round picks attach nothing happens here. Who would you prefer of those
two for Miami? Probably ken Ridge Williams, right, probably so, just
because I love him so much and I think he deserves a bigger opportunity.
Not that he'd really get one in Miami, but at least his minutes might
matter if they traded for him before bam Adebayo comes back because they are playing
has gotten some minutes with Dwayne Dedman there, so and Williams can play the
five, is my point there. We could go right on to the Milwaukee
Bucks. They're a similarly limited team, but if you're willing to give up
Dante de Vincenzo, who hasn't returned from injury, you do have the the
mid tier salary of a George Hill on this roster, and then you could
be willing to give up Book Lopez with knowing Jannis how well he plays in
loan big lineups, how well Bobby Portis has played for you as well.
The names I have written down, I don't know who you necessarily have to
give up, so that the higher end one is Harrison Barnes. If you
want to give up Brook Lopez and Sacramental leaning into a rebuild because Brook Lopez
is you know, either a third team he gets involved there. Harrison Barnes
will be great for this really fun fit with this Bucks team, the shock
creation ability in the half court would be huge. Just giving yourself another option,
especially come playoff time. I really like that fit. This guy shouldn't
cost too much, but his salary is so high that I couldn't figure out
a real way to get him, but I wanted to list him. That
he is young, just the fourteen million dollars price point is tough. I
don't know would you give up Brook Lopez for that he is young. I
don't think I would. The back injuries pre sinister, but that is Young's
in an expiring contract, and like that is young, and that is young
also doesn't space the floor as well as even a PJ. Tucker, and
so I don't think I would, just because Brooke getting healthy is too key
for this team. So ultimately you need him to be able to contribute,
So you would need to be in a three for one situation. And even
that is tough, because why would you give up Dante DiVincenzo even though you
have Grayson Allen? I thought he would be somewhat. I think it's more
reasonable to give him up now because Pat Connaughton has been good enough and Grayson
Allen has taken legitimate strides forward that you can view him as more of a
luxury item, especially because Jannis handles the ball because Chris Middleton can be a
go to wing scorer, because you have Drew Holiday, like I do think
that the emergence of those two has been significant enough that you can bear it
apart with him. The issue you run into with him, though, is
so if you use Dante Devencenzo and George Hill, you still need two of
your other players because you can't. You shouldn't move Grayson Allen, and he's
also signed extension to the poison pill provision and we've already said we wouldn't move
brook Lopez, So just I listened to him because I liked him. There.
Robert Covington's a little bit cheaper, and so it'd be easier to step
out of your way to a three for one with him if you're able to
give up Devincenzo. I don't like to fit. Covington is like a little
bit of a fake three indo you guy, right, Like the three ball
isn't quite always there and the defense is more situational where he thrives in these
off ball settings and can struggle at times against the point of attack. You
already have that in Yannis, who is not the world's greatest isolation defender and
thrives is that free safety. I don't think that you can maximize Covington's skill
set on this team. I think you can because you have Drew Jannis and
then even Chris Middleton to where they're not going to be asking him to do
the same stuff as as Portland is. And then in lineups where Yannie isn't
playing Portis and Covington in the front court where maybe Drew Holiday isn't that lineup
as well. I think I think it's enough of an overlap that you're even
if it's not his skills, you're limiting. You're limiting someone else's to maximize
him. I just don't love to fit the last two names I have.
One is probably easier to get, you'd be trying to reboot his stock.
But Jamichael Green, the idea of him been bad this year, but he
would definitely work for Yoka just spoke up for him the other night. Joki
is a good teammate, though that's not a bride. And then this,
I don't know what it would take for Dallas to think about it, like
maybe there's another move happening where they're just worried about long term health. I
would love Maxi Kleiba in Milwaukee. I thought you're about to suggest Chris stops
there. For a second, I was like, how is how is this
going to happen? Yes, Cleban would be a good fit. Underrated defender
goods, good floor spacing, shooter can play the five. I think that
makes sense there. Now that being said, in all reality, Milwaukee's probably
looking at a Daniel House or Kenrick Williams type situation. We don't even know
if they have enough assets to get them, but you might have to look
that cheaply because it's so hard to get into salary matching trades. Harrison Barnes
would be amazing, though Everson Barnes is the ideal fit here. Yeah,
and Eric Gordon. I thought about two if you're willing to give up brook
Lopez. I don't know why Houston would want brook Lopez, But if they
really liked Dante Devincenzo, I don't know that I would give up deven Cenzo
for Gordon. Oh I would. I wouldn't hearteat Gordon is so good.
I guess the price point next year, I get it. But with Devencenzo,
I guess Gordon doesn't have the cleanest help they'll either, I would think
about it. I guess giving up both Lopez and Devincenzo you need to get
Harrison Barnes back. If I give you another ten minutes, you're gonna fully
talk yourself out of it. Fair enough, I did catch ship from Bucks
fans by I think I suggested it was Devincenzo, Brook, Lopez and something
else last year for Harrison Barnes, and they gave me a bunch of shit
for it. Maybe they all do so again. The name that's gonna be
my strategy on the Western Conference if I just like hype up every single team's
players and just rule all of them untouchable. Do you think I'll just get
all of the Twitter love. Maybe you also post like three second clips and
say this guy has improved his pick and roll decision making and it's just one
highlight that lasts like two and a half seconds, and they'll go viral and
and you'll be set. So the Knicks are next up? I don't I
don't even know people are gonna say it should be. I don't know what
they should do. I think they should probably lean towards selling the names I
have listed now go with me on this. Josh Hard was one. I
think that they need someone else other than RJ. Barrett who is going to
be versatile and a net positive on defense and cover. Heart's going to give
you a wider range of assignments than RJ. Barrett because I think he's better
than Barrett at covering bigger players. Even though I believe Barrett is taller at
six to seven than Heart is, he doesn't hit enough of his threes necessarily
be an asset at that end. But again I'm looking at I feel like
they don't have enough players who are even really good at one thing. They
don't have enough two way players period, but they don't have enough players aside
from Randall, who's just really good at one thing. And Randall has been
all over the place this year. So I just thought of Josh Hart because
maybe you give up a lower level pick if New Orleans is willing to take
back one of your cruddy contracts. I also could talk myself in a New
Orleans actually needing Kemba. So if it's Kemba and an asset for Heart,
and you might have to include a smaller salary in there, but maybe Kemba
a smaller asset and then a pick for Josh Hart. I don't know if
that gets done. Now, if there was a team that I think should
buy low or buy it at all to dunk the Robinson, it would be
this. It would be the Knicks, because Evan Fournier is not Miami's willing
to sell low. Well, I'm just saying yes, absolutely, And I
don't think you're trading Alec Burks in that scenario. Who are they going to
be interested in among your other middle Land guys. In theory, it could
be Evan Fournier, just as someone who handles the ball more. But I
think we've seen that, at least in New York, the idea of Evan
Fournier is a lot better than actual Evan Fournier. I just I can't bring
my bring myself to get hyped up about the idea of you know what,
the Knicks should be the team that tries to go in all in Ford Aaron
Fox, or they should try and push for Damian Lillard trade. Some people
have floaded the idea of it being CJ McCullum. I just don't CJ.
McCullum and Julius Randall and RJ. Barrett. Where does that get? I
just don't know what to make of this team. Honestly. It the fact
that Kemba panned out that poorly just significantly alters the fortunes of this team because
now you're trying to to squeeze Alec Burke's in at point guard and keep Derek
Rose coming off the bench. But RJ. Barrett has struggled to progress on
offense and Fortyer as you said, the idea has been better than the actual
player, and Julius Randall has been all over and Nerland Joel can't stay healthy,
and Mitchell Robinson is sometimes coming off the bench now and has lacked conditioning
and all that jazz. So it's like, I just I have no idea
what this team is. And that's troubling. And it also makes the idea
of trading an even riskier proposition because you're selling diminished assets and trying to force
a fit back because this team is not going to be entering or rebuild.
It can't, so you're trying to find an immediate contributor alongside struggling players who
then have to figure out chemistry with a new primary player. And it's just
it's a baffling situation. It's really tough. We wrapped my head around and
that's why it was tough to come up with targets for them. I know
Miles Turners become a popular name among Knicks fans on Twitter. The trades that
I've seen floated are terrible. They're in atrocity. When it comes to trade
suggestions, it's basically been kemba, a salary, a young player like Knox
that the Knicks don't even want, and a terrible first round pick for Miles
Turner. I just don't know what they have to give up. They look
they have quickly, they have topping. Those are guys that I don't consider.
They also have their picks from this year, like a a Deuce McBride,
Grimes, Quentin Grimes. So there are I think there are moves that
they could make. So for Josh Hart, it body needs to be a
salary, Like if you could, if you could get off Evan Fournier.
What if New Orleans that we're going to eat Evan Fournier, you give us
two first and one of your rookies from this season, Quentin Grimes, So
you're not shot, by the way, what's that? Nothing? So I'm
just I don't even I don't think New Orleans would even necessarily do that,
but I think they have options. I just don't know. I don't know
how to fix this team, is my point, because they need they need
so many things that you've also you've tied yourself to a core built around Julius
Randall, where unless RJ. Barrett explodes and stays like at the mountaintop.
And I'm not ruling it out because I tend to be higher on RJ.
Barrett now than the consensus, even though I might have been lower on him.
I wouldn't say that the consensus, but I was not encouraged by his
rookie season at all. Like what Julius Randall is even your first as your
first best player, You're not maybe a mid end playoff team as your second
best player who needs to be your first best player for you to be a
contender. And I don't see that type of first best player out there.
I don't even think it would be game if he was available. And so
that's where you run into issues. That's what makes the squad so tough to
wrap your head around leading into the trade deadline. Right there with you key
if they decide to sell, I think they could get something nice for Alec
Burks, who has been by and large fantastic this year. Yeah, they
could definitely get like a back end first round pick or some sort of intriguing
young player, but nothing that's going to change the trajectory of this season.
I don't think the Orlando Magic or Net next and I have them in Detroit
Pistons territory where they probably have some more interesting players to trade than just a
Jeremy Grant in Detroit. But Terrence Ross has not shot the ball well this
season. How much are you getting from Obamba? Are you willing to trade
Jonathan Isaac while he's injured or recovering from injury. Same from markl Foltz.
So I just have sort of stab in the dark perimeter. Younger distressed assets
here are unplayed guys. I have Lonnie Walker, the fourth Josh Green in
Dallas. Sorry, I thought you said distressed assets, not just bad assets.
Yeah, line, but in theory, at least Linnie Walker is someone
who's going to generate his own shot. You have col Anthony Jalen Suggs who
do that. Novis on your in Orlando team that has a bunch of guys
who can create their own shot. Josh Green, I don't even know what
he should. Deechinitely look like the fact they can't see the floor in Dallas
might be a red flag, But Josh Green, Jalen McDaniels someone who intrigues
me a little bit. And then Troy Brown Junior as the you know,
if the Bulls want, they're trying to build a package and for some reason
get Terrence rossback. Are they trying to trade from Obama's the backup? Big
Troy Brown is not getting you that alone, I would like to be clear.
But if he's the part of the salary that you're sending out, I
don't You can come up with different names, but this team is just like,
I don't know what they do. They have been They're starting lineup when
Jelen Sugg has been healthy and he doesn't even play well, mashing opponents and
Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony so Wendell Carter Junior has been a joy to watch
this season. So I don't think the Magic car I don't want to say
the Pistons are hopeless either. They have Kaid Cunningham. The Magic are more
fun to watch right now. I think the Magic are so far from hopeless
because they have so many intriguing pieces, some of whom are already breaking out.
Like col Anthony has been great for a while now, friends, Wagner
has been so much more advanced than we could have imagined as a rookie.
Carter has been good. You have Isaac and Folks coming back, You have
j Suggs coming back eventually. They have a lot of options for growth.
I wouldn't mind like a consolidation trade in some ways because they do have probably
too many options that they have to prioritize development for. Actually, and I
actually really like either of the McDaniels has a target here because both have been
underperforming, but both are reasonable fits who have enough potential to McDaniels Jayalen and
Jaden. I should clarify, it's been a while since I've heard kJ McDaniels'
name. I wonder what he's up to now. I caved hard for him
that not that did not thrown out. Well, the thing let's say about
Jaren's ross for for Jalen McDaniels could be interesting. I could see both teams
getting behind that kind of idea. Are you talking, he said, Jalen,
Jalen, Who else is Charlotte sending out in that? I guess I
have no idea, not specifics, but I do think that the idea of
Ross, if his shot returns, is a good fit in Charlotte and McDaniels
is an intriguing piece at more of a position and of need than the backcourt
because you do have so many options there. Once Mark hell Folds is healthy
again, like, let's not even forget about RJ Hampton. I like RJA
Hampton. He is there's a smoothness to his game, even when it doesn't
translate to efficiency. I will say the Magic aren't built for that consolidation trade
that you talk about, just because Folds and Isaac aren't on the table.
And then who wants Gary Harris at twenty million unless you're taking back a bad
contract? And again, even Ross, are you getting a second round pick
for him right now? I would say yes, you're definitely not getting a
first though with the way that he is shot the ball this year, No,
you're definitely not, which is why I think you go for another upside
play. And so this isn't us shitting on the Magic so much as saying
they would complimenting them at all. Have an interesting trade assets table is what
we're getting at. That's awesome. Mobamba would be the name, because you've
extended model Carson, you're not. I just don't know what you could get
for him, Philadelphia. So I'm not going into the Ben Simmons trade realm
because I don't think he's gonna get traded this season. And I'm all are
just like we know the players they want, and I can't even come up
with a creative name that maybe Philly would would think about. You don't need
Pascal Siakam when you have a Joel Embiid there. I don't even think with
Toronto will give up Fred van Fleet in a Ben Simmons trade. I don't
think that they would. And then Philly would probably say if that's not enough.
So I'm more so looking at, Okay, who can they get without
moving Ben Simmons, And then you have to look at players they still aren't
going to move. You're not trading Embiid, you're not trading Tobias Harris,
and then all of a sudden you have you're not trading Seth Curry. Now
all of a sudden, you're not trading Maxie unless it's a you know,
Ben Simmons and Maxie in a Damian Lillard trade, because I don't think you're
getting You need to attach stuff. But that's my point is so and you
just don't have a ton of expendable salary matching. I think Danny Green comes
closest. I'm not even moving him ten million dollars a year with a non
guaranteed salary for next season. I like what he does. Even George n
Yang has given you some big minutes firk On Krk Miles was playing better,
fallen off a little bit like you have a bunch of these guys in a
shake Milton in a firk On Coors, Mos or Niang who are not playing
these huge roles, but they've done well for you. So I just have
guys these are more so flyers who deep in the rotation, and I also
fill these offense. I think in the playoffs they'll definitely need some more jet
fuel in the half court, but they haven't needed it so far. But
the names I have these are not splashy. I have justin holiday because I'm
just gonna name him for every single team. Apparently I have this one here
we go two deep not deep cuts Malik Monk, and I'm going in reverse
order right now. I don't know if the Lakers would trade Malik Monk,
but he's cheap enough to where if they did decide to move him and they
need to clear up a roster spot as part of another trade, or they
want to sign someone off the buyout market, Malik Monk. I think he
gives you some extra shock creation. But again, you have Maxie, you
have Milton, you have Harris. Do you need Malik Monk in the playoffs?
Maybe? Probably not. I don't know. This is the name that
excites me. Are you ready? I'm ready? O'she Brissette. This is
this is the guy deep cut. He can defend so many different positions.
He's not going to give you a whole ton on offense, but he has
hit his threes at a decent clip this year. Philly's been off defensively.
I know a lot of that is Joel Embi just missed time, but they
miss time and not been at full strength. When he hasn't missed time,
well, he's been amazing defensively when he's been on the court, fantastic,
but still not at full strength. As he admitted himself after the game before
we're recording this, and I think when you look at some of their other
like like Matisse Tibel, how many minutes can you play him without him hurting
you on offense? So well, zero seems a little mean, but I
get what you mean. You need to kind I don't know that Prost's going
to do enough on offense to play as many minutes as Tyble, but you
just need to kind of fill smaller gaps. And he's so cheap, he's
younger. I don't know what the Pacers want for him, because they should
be playing him more, and maybe they'll open up minutes for him with some
of their trades. That's just what I came up with because I'm not even
maybe you trade Danny Green, but for who Danny Green and what to get
who? I just you know, Harrison Barnes isn't enough of a wing for
this roster. I'm just I'm not kind of a loss there. Eric Gordon
would be super nice for them, that's the name I thought about, but
to get to his salary, it's just even Danny Green, you still need
to come up with like another four or five million from there, and so
it just gets a little difficult. And I don't know if I want to
give up Danny Green because he's going to give you more of a positional spectrum
on defense than Eric Gordon, who, by the way, been great this
season, was good last season, but he also got injured last season like
so many other seasons before that, so his health is obviously concerned. I
don't have much to add. I feel like it just about says it all
that we're talking about O shape or set as the name that excites you for
this team. I think there are names, and a friend of the podcast,
Brian to Porrek, could definitely he'll if I asked him for somebody'd probably
spit out fifty of the non Ben Simmons trade variety. But this is just
there. I can't to me if I'm keeping Danny Green and Seth Curry.
You can't get too creative with the sixth was basically right right there with you.
Although I would say Brissette was at least a creative name. It was
creative, it's just also telling I just want usually exclusive concepts. Fair enough.
This is second to last team here, the Toronto Raptors. I don't
know what to do with them because they don't seem like if I was.
If I were them, I would definitely go in on a big or a
wing type guy who's going to help elevate your defense, maybe give you a
little bit more offensive creation. But they're the type of team that if they're
not contending, I would argue they'll either stam pat or they might get rid
of don't get anything for him, so they can in certain traits that I
came up with for Rashaun Holmes, so bonus or this is one that it
doesn't fix their center need, but I'm a I'm a fan of it.
Derek White for this team, I can see that as kind of that that
bigger off guard who can play alongside Van Fleet. And they already have Gary
Trent Jr. Who's defended really well and just to be really good in general
this year. If I'm trading for Derek White, it's you want if the
Spurs want mal Kai Flynn, if they want Delano Banton and picks plus going
on draga. Okay, I'm not trading, I'm not. My point is
I'm not trading Garry Tren Junior for Derek White at this point. So I
looked at this as an opportunistic package of if the Spurs want to get off
of White's contract, they could actually use going on drags. By the way,
they're not trying to. Their offense just needs someone like him if he's
willing to play for them. But that that was what I was thinking with
Derek White, Sabonis and what's your package there, because that's the one that
really intrigues me. And I assume you're including Siakam for Sabonis. You're not.
No, no, no, no, you have that's the one where
you can look at. Okay, one of the pacers want. Gary tren
Junior is the filler because he's young and what he feels if they don't Draga
gives them capital leief. So you have like ready made salary filler there.
You you have Delano Banton, you have you have mal Kai Flynn. Still
you're not trading, so okay, let me go with this. I'm not
trading o Gianna Nobi, Scottie Barnes or Fred van Fleetter Pascal Siakam for some
bonus. It's the pacers want picks. We have we have the salary matching
fire to do it. And look, we also have mal Kai Flynn.
You don't want an Abby Who's I think I have listed for a few Western
Conference teams. He's good, but he's not an expiring contract. He's not
that young. We have mal Kai Flynn, you have Delano Banton, who's
been a nice surprise this year. I doubt anyone's gonna be super interested in
Precious to Chua. But it's those lower level youngsters plus picks, plus this
huge expiring contract that maybe who could be intriguing. And he's an expiring contract
the same as Will ken Burge isn't expiring anymore. He's at least cheap.
So those are the names I came up with. Now, if you're the
Raptors to wrap them up, are you doing anything this season? Are you
buying, selling? Standing Pat? What's the move? I think you're standing
Pat right now, just continuing to see what you have in Scottie Barnes,
seeing how he fits alongside the established pieces, before you make a big scale
move that would that would push the timetable up. I think I'm with you
because I thought about Turner for this team since they do need some defensive pizzazz.
He's not gonna do enough against the bigs that you're worried about, and
Bed be honest, Sabonis definitely isn't gonna enough defensively again against them, even
though he does kind of. I really like his fit there offensively, and
I do. I'd be curious to see how he and Siakam fit together just
defensively. Plus you do have guys in the perimeter who can help cover up
Mashaun Holmes. I like because he does give you real rim protection and I
think he's a if you have Siakham handling the ball or on the perimeter,
and Scottie Barnes is shot well for mid range this year and he's in starting
to hit threes, there's there's just something to the Holmes. I think he
would nudge your defense in the right direction without defining it, and he might
be the maybe he's the middle ground where I think the package I came up
with for him was you gave up Delano Banton, Malachai Flynn, or maybe
it was Delano Banton, precious Achiuwa and a first round pick and then there
were Sally s Filler in there. I don't know if the Kings do that,
but that does That's an intriguing proposal though, Yeah, I'd be there
for that. I'm with you that they would probably stand pat. The final
team is the Washington Wizards, who I feel like they really need guard help
this year. There they've had a fairly good season, but there's something off
about the offense. Part of that is Bradley Beale has not been up to
snuff. Spencer Dinwood, he has definitely not been up to snuff. So
I constructed these three names with that in mind. I have Eric Gordon,
and there's what can you attach to Davis Berton's a salary to get him from
Houston if they're not willing to soak up that type of long term money.
Washington does have the expiring contract of Thomas Bryant, but that's on the tinier
end at eight point seven, So who else would you be moving there?
That might be an unrealistic name. I also have Alec Burke's listed for this
team, and just go with me as someone coming off the bench. Maybe
perhaps you don't want him, You definitely don't want him starting for Spencer ability
Kem Walker in Washington, I feel like maybe he's someone who could help their
offense. I feel like he's just too toasted to to make a big impact
there he is not. I hate it. I hate it because he was
one of my absolute favorite players of all time to watch in college and I've
regrooted for him throughout his career. But he's just he looks done. I
don't think he looks as done as people think. There's definitely a rollercoasterness to
the way he's played. I'm just not I don't think he was as bad
as people made him out to be, and I think we're seeing with the
Knicks he was not the problem. He was definitely was not the problem.
But I kind of agree with the Knicks and that I probably rather have Burks
right now. But if you just if you can just get Kevil Walker,
you're not trying it out. If you're Washington, I mean you have Maybe
the Knicks want Thomas Burton's at this point, if they maybe they're getting rid
of Mitchell Robinson. If they're giving him to me, then sure, I'll
try it out. I guess the issue is who you're not giving up KCP
or Kuzma for KEMBA. I don't know why the Knicks would want Thomas Bryant
for Kemba, even though they're salaries aligned perfectly so it would be hard to
step out of the salary there. But I think Kemba would be an interesting
fit for Washington. Interesting, yes, successful, probably not rude. That
does it for this. We went longer as per usual than we expected,
but I don't think we were actually asked that much Twitter. I don't think
yeah, yeah, I don't like that. I can't see how long this
I should really time the easily. We had a lot of catching up before
we started recording, so I think that that might be throwing off our sense
of time. So let us know if you agree with any of these trade
targets. If your favorite Eastern Conference team, you have any targets for them
or packages, hit us on Twitter at pamoz or nine at Dan for Valley,
FA V A l E. Follow us on Twitter at Hardwood Knox,
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which I think is a step above the what people think of league wide analysts.
At this point, I'll call that a win for us. Until next
time, we'll leave you to shout out to the one, the only.
He was not a preferred trade target of any of the teams that I named,
but maybe he will be on the next podcast. Frank Nila Kina