Dont know if this has been posted as there are a lot of pages in this post, so forgive me if it has. How about Brogdon to Chicago for Ball, get our pick back and what ever plunder is available. Let him rehab this year and use him for trade bait down the road.
I like the idea of Ball and our frp back for Malcolm. The difference for me is that I would want to get him rehabbed and keep him. I'm looking at Ball the same way I look at Timelord. With their histories of injuries and the fact that we now have the future of both positions in good hands (projecting here), they can come off the bench and contribute to a strong second unit in limited minutes. Ball is the perfect backcourt mate for Ant...so is Brogdon. It seems like the perfect way to start building a second unit. 2 proven starters who play above average defense, but shouldn't be upset in limited minutes in order to prolong their careers. Plus, they won't be in position to ask for big contracts so they should be affordable. I've never been a fan of the Ball's (wtf?) but I now realize it was their Dad I despised. Lonzo has the type of confidence that would be great in the locker room with these younger guys. Sell these guys on the idea of being a part of this young, talented group with a future that is wide open.
Wasn't there a rumor that Ball might never play again? I doubt that is true but until he does I don't think he has much value. Personally, I would rather keep Brogdon or trade him for a forward.
Ball has pretty significant negative value. Taking him back in a trade would be worth a 1st round pick in itself
yeah this is the time to absorb bad salary with all these rookie deals on our books. if we have another high lotto pick next year, though, that's another mid-ish sized salary. something to keep in mind.
I’d be happy with us sending Brogdon + 2 2nds to them for Ball + our 1st back + ‘27 top-10 protected 1st (‘28 top 4 protected if not conveyed, ‘29 unprotected if not conveyed). We have 2nds (we’ll see where the Hawks ‘24 2nd lands) still available, parlaying some of them into 1sts might only be possible taking back a contract like Ball. That is as strong of a return as we can hope to get honestly, which I would take all day. That pick is going to be a good pick eventually. Worse case scenario imo, the pick ends up between 15-20 in ‘27. Best case scenario, they suck to the point where the we have to wait until ‘29 for their 1st to convey. But who would care, at that point, we would have four (!!!) 1sts in ‘29, with a solid-high possibility that our own 1st will be the worst of the bunch. Cronin would get high marks if he turned Dame into 5 total 1sts (3 unprotected, 2 lightly protected) and 2 unprotected swaps. Then we can wait for Ball to eventually 1) expire 2) contribute to a playoff run in ‘24-‘25 3) return more assets when he can play a stretch of games and show he’s healthy.
Ben is no longer the worst contract, the moment the last season ended. His contract is expiring ‘24-‘25. Between ready-to-compete players like Bridges/Cam/Claxton, vets like DFS/ONeal, and promising young guys like Clowney/Thomas/Whitehead, they have the talent to still compete for HCA. Getting the best version of Ben back would just set the team over the top, but they aren’t relying on him to compete. So no reason to treat him like a liability rather than an asset. If a team wants Ben, they can offer something of value for Ben.
LOL dream on, Nets are in no hurry, they are NOT going to give up 3 1st to trade Simmons who has only 2 yrs left. Try to be realistic.
The Process actually worked fabulously.... Not only what you mention, but it really fell apart by failing miserably multiple times with high lotto picks. Fultz, Okafor....to a lesser extent Ben Simmons. It was probably one of the greatest rebuild efforts in NBA history, but the hindsight execution/luck was poor.
I think Brogdon gets the most value from the east. Bucks set the first domino by trading for Dame and making themselves the favorite. Celtics overpay for Holiday to get within neck-and-neck of the Bucks. The two obvious teams viable for Brogdon are the 6ers and Heat. Cronin should do everything in his power to pull 2 1sts from a trade with either team. With the Heat, you have to wonder how confident they are that they can beat the Bucks with 4 years of Dame and Celtics with a re-signed Jrue. If they want to compete with those two teams with Jimmy exiting his prime, Cronin needs to capitalize on their desperate times—‘28 and ‘30 unprotected 1sts. Trade Brogdon’s $22.5m, take back Robinson’s remaining $18m (around $20m for two more seasons after that) + filler, give them multiple 2nds. If it’s the 6ers and they desperately need to make sure Embiid doesn’t ask out, Brogdon and multiple 2nds for Harden and 1 unprotected 1st, then send Harden to the Clips for an unprotected 1st. ORR…could we flip Harden and more 2nds to the Heat for Robinson’s contract and the 2 unprotected 1sts? Bulls for some reason keep popping up in all this. Brogdon + 2nds for Ball + our 1st back for a top 10 protected 1st in ‘27 (top 4 in ‘28, unprotected in ‘29). Then we wait on Ball to get healthy and do another round of extracting another asset out of him. If anything, his injury gives the 3 guards a chance to take all the minutes this year, and then he is the perfect backup 1-3 behind Scoot and Shae when/if Ant is traded next summer.
We need to revisit this after the season. He will either get hurt again or he and the Nets will have a great season IMO. I love their starting unit with him running the point. Simmons Dinwiddie Bridges Cam Johnson Claxton Their Bench ain't bad either: Dennis Smith, Whitehead, Rouce O'neal, Dorian Finney, Clowney
An educated guess: Clips don't want to give up a 1st rounder. JoeCro says maybe you will at the deadline.... I don't think it says anything about Ant.
