We have 3 players over 6'8. 2 of those are borderline to even make the active roster, and Nurk may be asking for a trade. Might we go into the season with Jabari Walker as our starting center?
Might be a pretty young guy. Dallas still is wanting another, more vet center. They signed Dwight Powell and even though he started a good portion of last season, his production is that of more of a back-up. Their 1st round pick, Derrick Lively, is one of the few unsigned players from a couple of weeks ago I believe. Just interesting coincidences.
They just recently used a big TPE to trade for Richaun Holmes, they have McGee under contract as well. Their front court is crowded.
A lot of money tied up in the back court of Garland and Mitchell to add another guard getting paid 27M this season and that number only goes up after that.
Crowded, but still not really what they want. They would like to move McGee, and Holmes isn't really a center, even though he ends up playing there quite a bit, and there are reports they are trying to move him even after just getting him. This is from ClutchPoints: "According to the latest reports, Holmes, Tim Hardaway Jr. and JaVale McGee are the three players under contract who the Mavs are trying to move this offseason, per Tim Cato of The Athletic. While THJ and McGee’s futures with the team have long been in question as Dallas tries to build a contender around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Holmes’ inclusion is certainly quite the surprise. “There are three more players under contract — Tim Hardaway Jr., JaVale McGee, and Richaun Holmes — who Dallas is attempting to trade. Holmes is the likeliest of the three to stick around, while Hardaway and McGee can’t be on Dallas’ roster if the front office wants to conclude its offseason in the way they envisioned,” Cato wrote in his report."
We're not getting KAT (thankfully). We're not getting Jarrett Allen. We'll get a couple of young players who haven't done much and some picks, and that only after a couple of months of nothing.
Unfortunately, I think you are right. Especially if they like Caris LeVert backing up Mitchell. (and I assume they do) Still, they would be giving up matching salaries so who knows......
I had never really watched Nikola Jovic play. I just watched some game 'film' with him, and have a question: is Pat Riley using a Rope-a-Dope on the Blazers? trying to make the Blazers want Jovic because Riley is pretending he doesn't want to trade him? Because I'm not seeing it; I'm not seeing a lot of talent or upside. He just turned 20, has length, and seems fairly mobile, so he does have a path to being a good player. But he's a long way from being that player right now obviously he represents an asset Portland needs to get if it's Dame-->Miami, but right now he looks like a fairly minor asset
Yup. He sits on the three point line. He doesn’t play good defense. He can’t really drive. He’s a backup stretch four at best.
Some have been predicting that the cream of first round draft picks is in 2025 and that's the pick you want. Those later Miami picks are going to suck. You want Charlotte or Minnie or Orlando picks.
I want Duren, JJJ, and 3 1s for Dame. I honestly don’t think that’s too much to ask for. Duren isn’t even 20 yet, gonna be a beast.
Miami can't trade 2027 pick. 2026 is possibly going to OKC and Stephen restrictions don't allow two consecutive picks to be traded. 2028 and 2030 picks are the ones they can freely trade with swaps in 2027 2029.
Looking at a Miami deal more it just has to be a 3 way trade where Herro goes to a 3rd team. Brooklyn seems to make the most sense, but the Spurs or Thunder or some other teams could work as well. Miami doesn't have very good players to give up, so they need to give us all of their future draft equity. OKC does this deal as they change the 2025 protected pick they are owed to a straight unprotected 2026 pick in a more coveted draft. In theory they probably have to give up a second rounder or something of value for this, if so then send that to PDX too. Nets do this deal as they get out of Simmons contract, pickup some young upside in Jacquez, and give up one great pick in the 2027 Phoenix pick but one mediocre pick in the lesser of 2025 Brooklyn/Houston pick which Houston can swap. They save $7 million as well as more next year. Heat do this deal as they get the best star player in Dame, they get to keep Martin and Robinson for role playing depth, and they add front court depth in Nurkic. They save $30k Blazers do this deal primarily for the picks, plus take a flyer on Jovic and maybe that small chance Simmons is worth more in a trade later. The Blazers getting a 2025 and 2027 pick from the Nets lets them get much more value in their swaps with the Heat. So the picks the Blazers get are; Unprotected 2024 from Miami Unprotected 2028 from Miami Unprotected 2030 from Miami 2025 Nets pick which is lesser of their own and Houston (Houston has swap rights) Unprotected 2027 Phoenix pick via Nets Three second round picks from Miami (2026 2029 2030) Unprotected swap from Miami in 2025 - Blazers get the best one or two picks of their own, lesser of Nets/Rockets, Miami - Miami only gets the single worst pick Unprotected swap from Miami in 2027 - Blazers get the best one or two picks of their own, Phoenix, Miami - Miami only gets the single worst pick Unprotected swap from Miami in 2029 - Blazers get the best of their own or Miami pick - Miami gets the worst. In theory Blazers could end up with these lottery picks 2024 #1 and #2 overall 2025 #1 and #2 overall 2026 #1 overall 2027 #1 and #2 overall 2028 #1 and #2 overall 2029 #1 overall 2030 #1 and #2 overall So this gives Portland FIVE additional first round picks that are all unprotected and could all be in the top of the lottery. They have all the Miami draft equity outside of 2026, they also have draft equity in Phoenix for 2027. Is it possible Miami has late picks many of these years? Of course, but its also possible Dame/Butler have massive declines and or Bam is hurt and they have a couple of major stinker seasons. It's possible a few of these years Miami gets "lucky" jumping in the lottery but the Blazers getting that benefit of a top4 pick. If I were negotiating for Cronin I'd initially ask for all of this as well as Caleb Martin (who could likely be flipped for a first), and an additional first from the Nets. But I'd agree to this type of trade. If the Nets aren't interested then get Herro to a different 3rd team for a 2027 pick.
That Duke system was a mess and he spent part of the year injured. If I’m plucking guys off of other teams I’m looking at upside only. Jaquez is a nice player, I’ll take him too.
I am very happy nothing was done early this week and nothing appears on the horizon. It's now a game of chicken between us and the M'eat. They need Dame right now more than we need a return for him. They have gutted their roster to accommodate his salary. The louder they squawk publicly, the more you know the pressure is working. If I were Cronin, I may make a few calls regarding some players I want on other teams, to see their price. I would forward that information to Riley to include in a trade. However, it's on Goodwin and Riley to make a deal work. It's not on us.
If Dame had given us a list of several teams, I would have 100% rooted for him to succeed wherever he ended up. Now? I hope the Heat crash and burn if he's traded there. I hope they don't make the playoffs. I hope Riley retires and they fall into squalor.
