Plausible destinations for our vets?

True, but IMO guys like Banton/Walker/Murray can all be cut or sent to a third team and I personally assign zero value to those scrubs.

 

Problem is what asset do they get back? RW3 if healthy for more games might get a FRP, I'd think Grant might be able to get a FRP as well. All the others are worth 2nd round picks like the ones we sold for cash.

Reminds me of all the ideas posters had before the Clippers trade then we ended up with Bledsoe worthless contract and Didi.

This time I'd actually be ok with that irrelevant return as we've had years to shop these guys.

 

Lakers are in a unique position where they have matching salary AND picks AND young players. They're really an ideal partner.

Dallas sucks as a partner.

Kings have picks, they have SOME salary, and some young players. They'd be great. Not sure how motivated they are.

 

I've been mulling an Ayton-for-Simmons trade in my head for a while, the only objection being that I don't think Brooklyn actually wants to win (I know, adding Ayton is not the way to win, but we have to hope they don't believe that).

Interesting wrinkle: supposedly Giannis has made it no secret behind the scenes that he wants out and Brooklyn is one of his favored destinations. So... three way? Dame and Jerami reunited?

 

They've played much better than expected this season. The east is so horrific they might find themselves close to the playoffs.

Yeah I'd certainly do Ayton for Simmons as we'd get out of his max contract next year.

 

I'd keep Banton.

 

You can't use the Clippers trade as an example of anything. It was a master class in stupidity. Norman Powell was worth more than that. It was clear that Joe was given a directive to get us under the tax. There was no reason to make that trade a week before the deadline.

The CJ trade was a better example. We got a pick, we got Hart, and we got a trade exception.

 

Still think the Lakers make lot of sense as an Ant destination. I know Grant has been beaten to death going there, but feel Ant is the better fit. Great spot up shooter for kick outs from Lebron and AD. Gives you some of that secondary playmaker ability. Still relatively young so can look at him as a guy to help win now, and also bridge the gap as Lebron ages out.

 

I don't think Ant is worth that much, unfortunately.

 

Is Ant better than Russell? I assume the Lakers value Russell more.

I'd think the Lakers trade for Ant would involve them pairing Ant with Russell.

 

Sending the Lakers Duop/Walker makes sense and perhaps they give us Knecht. I doubt they give us Knecht and a pick. Also a trade like this might be hard for the Lakers to do before the deadline as filling out their roster could push them to the 2nd arpon. I think they'll be ok going over the 2nd apron, but they would want that to be the final move done a few days after the trade deadline;

 

Wasn't JJ just calling out Russell the other day, and benching him for lackadaisical performance?

Could definitely be totally wrong. I don't think they care at all about Russell, and see him as salary filler.

 

I think Houston is another team I could see looking to make a "consolidation" move of sorts. They have a lot of young guys to develop, a few good vets to mentor them, and are looking to be competitive. I think Eason should probably be starting over Smith at this point. They could be a random destination for Grant.

 

The big daddy trade!



Can't be done until December.

 

I'm down, either way.

 

Obviously picks would be involved, mostly going from Brooklyn to Milwaukee, but maybe Brooklyn sends one to us?

 

I think Simons is probably a little better (not so far this season). Russell is more of a PG though and the Lakers might value that, a little

my hunch is that the Lakers probably wanted to keep Russell in a potential Grant trade to balance their rotation. If Simons is coming in for Russell, the balance isn't really altered. Also, since the Laker's are only a few K below the tax-line, Russell's salary might be needed in any substantial trade

 

I didn't realize Russell was shooting 31% from 3p%, only scoring 12 ppg and has now been benched the last 3 games. Perhaps the Lakers would want Ant over him.

Yeah I'd try to do some trade like this, of course would want the best pick(s) possible but would need at least a first rounder especially since we'd be stuck with Vanderbilt for 4 years.

 

Nets are actually one of the few teams that has enough picks to go after Giannis - along with OKC. I'd think they'd need to play better for more of the season to be sure Giannis has enough to win with them. Bucks also would need to fail at winning with Giannis for longer as well to entertain trades - highly unlikely that would happen before the summer.