I wouldn't mind adding FVV, Brook Lopez, using MLE on someone else and/or making a S&T happen. If that's what Udoka believes will help the young core, just do it.
Here's my feeling... if we can't get Harden or another star via reasonable trade cost I would look at the teams with the highest payrolls who may have overpaid talent and take those veterans in exchange for improving future draft capital... For example, I might do the 2023 #20 pick for Derrick White and an unprotected pick in 2026. Push draft capital out and add to its quality potential. Then i get a useful veteran part of the way through their contract already instead of paying top of the market on a longer deal for someone like FVV or Kyrie... With that philosophy in mind, these are the top 5 teams: Warriors Bucks Mavericks Wizards 76ers Blazers and Clippers aren't far off either. Some veterans to consider: Tobias Harris Davis Bertans Jrue Holiday Jusuf Nurkic Marcus Morris
I would do this: To Bucks KPJ, Kenyon Martin Jr, #20 To Rockets Jrue Holiday From the Bucks perspective, KPJ can play the scoring SG role for them. They have Martin as a role player or potentially a replacement for Middleton. The 20 pick gets them a young rotation piece. The move saves them 17 million in cap space. That with Middleton opting out gives them 43 million in cap space... they could retool something like this: Russell Westbrook / #20 pick Kevin Porter Jr Kenyon Martin Jr Giannis Brook Lopez That also gives them the ability to open up max cap space next year too by having Westbrook on a one year deal and being able to stretch KPJ. Goal being to get younger and more cap flexibility.
In this scenario Houston starts Holiday and drafts highest upside PG at 4. This still leaves enough cap space for 40 more million in free agents...
I’ve been pretty high on FVV, but he’s pretty borderline. I’d like to get some vets who are still relatively young (mid to late 20s) that can be part of the team long term if we so choose. He still fits the bill, but it’s close. You could still draft an Amen or Black and let them challenge him for the starting role over the life of his contract. I certainly prefer FVV over Harden, who I don’t think is a real option anyway. I’m really not feeling Lopez at all. That is a move for a team that just got exposed badly at the center position in the playoffs. He has value, I just think it’s wasted here. Over the past couple of days, I’ve warmed to the idea of spending some assets to get someone like Dejounte Murray. A few years younger than FVV and actually might have some upside left. He could be starting for a decade. Sign one more youngish free agent, like Jerami Grant or Kyle Kuzma, then let the natural growth take over, supplementing as needed. While the focus has been on spending this offseason, I think it is unrealistic to think that they are going to try to construct a contender in one offseason like the Heat did with Superfriends.
I love the idea of getting Holiday. Have the Bucks made noises about wanting to move on from him? And if they did, they probably get a better deal than KPjr/ Martin and #20. Eg. What if Minny offered Towns straight up for Holiday? Or the Spurs offered Graham, Vassell and a chest of picks. I feel like with a new coach, they aren't cashing out to rebuild around KPjr and pick #20 (and the chance to overpay KJM next summer). More likely they would trade Jrue for a haul of picks if going that route (to me, anyway)
Here's my thinking on that... He has limited appeal for a few reasons... He has 70 million left on his deal over 2 years. He's 33 years old. He has a window of maybe 2-3 years of elite play left. Normally you think a contender would have interest. The problem is the salary. Almost all the good teams capped out meaning they have to send salary back and not completely wreck what team they already have. That's fine if Milwaukee values the players coming in return; but it does make it harder. Teams that have space to absorb like Houston and San Antonio aren't contending. They would be giving up assets for a stop gap. The Rockets can afford to do that if they draft his replacement at 4. The Spurs aren't having a high pick and the guys you mentioned have little value. Vassell is getting an extension soon and Keldon is overpaid now. The assumption I'm making with Milwaukee is that their goal would be to get younger and give them cap flexibility to add a star next to Giannis. Here are the teams with cap space and no young point guard of the future already in place: Rockets Spurs Pistons That's it. Here are the other teams: Thunder - Giddey Pacers - Haliburton Jazz - Sexton Miami and Chicago would be great fits for him but I don't know if the pieces work. The Bulls have a lot of free agents to resign and extensions to do. The Heat would have to move some bad deals like Duncan Robinson or a player they probably like more in Herro. Maybe Lowry and a lot of picks from Miami get it done... I'm just saying Houston has the most balanced potential offer of talent and cap savings.
I know the odds are high that at least half the open cap space will be dedicated to a big free agent signing, but here are some players that I would target if punting until the next FA class through trades. PG: Tre Jones, SAS, RFA Derrick White, BOS Malcolm Brogdon, BOS TJ McConnell, IND Boston will have to make some tough decisions if/when extending Brown. SF/PF: Bobby Portis, MIL Could be the odd man out with salary crunch, we have cheap non-core pieces to offer. Cam Johnson, BKN RFA Jaden McDaniels, MIN Patrick Williams, CHI Gordon Hayward, CHA Eat salary Tobias Harris, PHI Eat salary C: Nic Claxton, BKN Nick Richards, CHA Cheap, good defensive player, limited minutes available with Mark Williams emergence Daniel Gafford, WAS Savvy cap experts, please add to this list.
Yep, the fact that so many teams want to trade to get Scoot is making Charlotte think about taking him for themselves instead of the widely reported Brandon Miller. And of course that means Miller falls all the way down to the Rockets.
I could also see Orlando wanting to move ahead of Detroit for Whitmore. 6&11 has been mentioned quite a bit... Dropping down to 6 for an extra lottery pick a d still walking away with Amen Thompson? Winning!
Admittedly, I don't fully understand the SnT rules in the NBA. But... If Bruce Brown is now worth too much for Denver, would they be interested in a SnT for KJ Martin? They're a similar style of player, although Brown is much better. But since KJ is on a minimum deal it might be enticing to them. KJ is our best cutter and he would do well next to Jokic (and with a competent coach/organization).
The thing is that we could ALSO snag Coulibaly at 11 (and screw the Thunder over). And if Lively went at 20 (per the mock just posted), it would be an amazing draft (I am one of those guys who may be waaay too high on Coulibaly. But forgive me, I was high on Jaylen Williams last year for similar reasons) Edit: in your scenario, I assume you have Detroit taking Miller at 5?
I think Miller goes to the Bobcats at 2. In my scenario the Magic move up for Whitmore and the Pistons go one of Walker, Ausar or Hendricks leaving Amen for the good guys to select at 6. I'd also be all over Coulibaly at 11. He, Eason and Smith would be a hell of a forward rotation if all pans out in a season or two. I think Lively would be gone by 20 so I'd go high upside with one of Nick Smith, Whitehead or Rayan Rupert.
