Parameters: We don't move up in the draft, and since we missed out on Flagg/Harper/Bailey, Cronin decides our best path to contention is to use picks, a vet or two, and one of our presumed core 5--Scoot, Shae, Deni, Toumani, Clingan--to trade for a star to try to contend in the west in 2025-26. Given those parameters, which of our core 5 would you be most comfortable seeing dealt for a home-run swing? Would it be completely dependent on target? Like, you'd include Scoot in a trade for Ja, but would prefer to deal Sharpe for Booker, or Toumani for Zion? Is any one of those 5 completely off the table? (Yes, I'll probably merge this with the "summer trade targets" thread in a couple days, but I wanted to have this be its own stand-alone question for a moment)
This is part of the problem. If you look at the league and who might be available there isn't much unless you believe in Zion and that the Pels are ready to move on. I've gone team by team a few times and the availability and timeliness are going to make it very tough. I agreed this is the move to make I just don't see who makes sense AND is available. Bad timing unless someone asks out from their team out of the blue.
Yeah, Zion is one possibility. Giannis could be a target if the Bucks see the writing on the wall. Booker could be available if the Suns tear down. (Durant too, but I'd pass). Grizz could decide Morant needs a change of scenery. Maybe the Kings decide to rebuild and make Sabonis available, or the Hawks decide Trae and Risacher are on too far divergent timelines? Never really know...
I think that type of "out of nowhere" avaibilty is exactly what we have to hope for and then hope the player WANTS to come here and the timelines work but I agree.
Another Advija type player would be nice. Someone on the cusp of breaking out in the right situation.
Deandre, our pick in this draft, the worst of the 2029 FRPs for Zion. It's a big swing, it has high risk and high reward, we don't have to give up one of our young guys and we could still likely get something of value (a role player or late FRP) for Ant. I don't know who comes off the bench but a core six of Scoot, Shae, Tou, Deni, Clingan with Zion added to that mix sounds pretty fun to me.
If we want any of the high-priced vets that you used as examples, I think our best chance is to offer an ending contract and 2 first-round picks. This year's and the unprotected one from the Bucks. That is a good package. I'm just not sure who I would want in that scenario.
There isn't enough left over to legitimately compete even if we do trade for a star. We just don't have enough, IMO.
We'd probably need at least 2 more trades like that to even get into the conversation, IMO. And then we'd probably still be an underdog.
I wonder if the Kings might have interest in Ayton? Pairing him with LeVine and Derozan. We would probably have to add in a couple of picks.
I don’t think that anything other than seeing who we get in the draft and watching this young team get experience makes sense. Trading young talent away for someone like Booker (I know it was just an example) would feel like a step in the wrong direction to me. Outside of the realistic targets, I don’t think the value is there, and I wouldn’t trade a few of our young up and coming players for anyone we could realistically get for them. Grant is the only realistic trade piece we have for our current trajectory and his potential value to other teams.
