I've believed this is the play since the Whitmore rumors started. I think they believe they can move back to Orlando's spot at 6 and grab 11 or a potential future 1st rounder to be used in a trade. Detroit is likely not taking an athletic PG at 5 after taking Jaden Ivey, one of the top forwards available seems logical for them. Orlando seems pretty sold on their young PG rotation of Fultz/Suggs/Anthony and Amen doesn't really address the concerns with 3 point shooting.
I'd trade 4 and 20 for 6 and 11 if Orlando wants to move up. The difference between players from 4 and 6 is minimal. I really think the 11 could be a decent (small) role player next year while 20 will be a few years off of really helping out.
While I'm on the topic of trading up, what if we tried to turn all three of picks #2-4 into a mutual negotiation so that everyone ends up happy? We would agree to pick Scoot Henderson at #2, and Charlotte would agree to pick Brandon Miller with Portland's #3 pick. It seems fairly obvious that Charlotte likes Miller (even if they do ultimately end up picking Scoot, which they may), and it appears that Portland may like Amen Thompson quite a bit--they called the twins in first for a workout and they do fit Portland's preferred prospect profile. Hornets move back one but still get the guy they're considering at #2 in Miller, and also get a runningmate whose timeline matches LaMelo's and can play together with him long-term. Portland moves back one but still gets Amen Thompson for the future, who they may like better than Miller anyway, plus two good young players who can help now and in the future. They get Simons' big contract out of the way to allow Sharpe to move into his natural position. Most importantly, they offload a bunch of big contracts and can become major players in free agency to try and appease Dame and make a run without sacrificing the future. (For Porzingis, for example.) We end up with Scoot Henderson plus a better center than we may be able to find in free agency.
Give Silas his favorite guys. *Trade KPJ & Tate (Silas' guys) to Detroit (Silas) for Alec Burks (41% from 3) *Sign Jevon Carter(42% from 3) *Sign Seth Curry(41% from 3) *Sign Cam Johnson(40% from 3) *#4 Taylor Hendricks(39% from 3) *#20 Brandin Podziemski(44% from 3) *Trade KJM & Josh Christopher to someone for a 2nd round picks New Rockets w/ minutes... J.Carter(24)/S.Curry(24) Green(32)/Cam(16) Cam(16)/Tari(16)/Hendricks(16) Jabari(16)/Tari(16)/Hendricks(16) Sengun(32)/Jabari(16) A.Burks, TyTy, Garuba, Podziemski *Green, Cam Johnson, Jabari, Sengun, Tari, and Taylor Hendricks get 32 minutes each. *Jevon Carter & Seth Curry get 24 minutes each. These 2 will be the bridge until either TyTy or Podziemski is ready to start. *7 guys shooting over 39% from 3 (Carter, Curry, Cam, Hendricks, Burks, Garuba, Podziemski). *5 wings that are 6'8" or taller for switching on defense (Cam, Tari, Jabari, Hendricks, Garuba). Plenty of shooters for Sengun to kick out to. 2 vet PGs that don't need 20 dribbles to set up the offense. Get it done, Stone.
I like the idea behind this, but I might go half shooters, half defense. It's why I'm more and more warming up to taking Jarace Walker at 4 or trading down. Signing a Pat Bev, drafting Walker, and picking up shooters is a direction... at least. What we're really missing is a no doubt franchise player, but it doesn't seem like one will fall in our laps. Maybe we already have one on the roster, but that is only a maybe. Defensive guys are usually ready to go at a younger age than a polished offensive player, and hanging your hat on good defense might attract a franchise player via free agency.
You could be right, I didn't see much of him last year, but the style of play is what I was going for.
Trading something like Jabari + next year's Brooklyn pick would make some level of sense. I wouldn't like it because I don't like KAT and think he's too soft to win anything, but the things he does well would fit well with that group, and I wouldn't be calling for Stone's head. Adding in the #4 pick is too much to give up though. KAT only makes sense if we're picking Amen and want to pair him with a stretch PF/C to compensate for his weaknesses.
Trades - KMJ to Indiana for TJ McConnell and pick #26 - Tyty & Garuba for future picks Draft #4 - Amen Thompson #20 - Brandin Podziemski #26 - James Nnaji Free Agents Jevon Carter, Grant Williams and Brook Lopez. Next year's depth chart Carter - McConnell - Thompson Green - Christopher KPJ - Eason Smith - Williams Sengun - Lopez RPG: Podziemski & Nnaji
Amen at #4 Tate/KMJ/#20 to Utah for #9. #9-Walker Christopher+TyTy to Washington for Gafford. FVV 3 years 36 million per with 3rd year NG Brooks- 1 year 20 million Team option on year 2 for 16 million. Bev for 1 year 8 million. Sengun/Gafford Smith/Walker Eason/Brooks Green/KPJ FVV/Amen/Bev
Wow the Suns are getting Beal for basically nothing. I wonder if the Wiz would trade CP3 . update: CP3 likely routed to 3rd team; potentially Clippers https://basketball.realgm.com/wiret...s-Paul-To-Third-Team-With-Clippers-Interested
Would be nice but I still doubt he would be motivated to play well here. Perfect low risk contract for 60 games of 25 minutes per game. Great mentor, good on both sides of the court, excellent floor general. Only $25m/season then another non-guaranteed season. Such a flexible contract. I still think he'll find his way to a winner though.
Based on what we have just seen with Beal, a bloated salary is not an attractive prospect. At least Beal had suitors, KAT has none, and coming to us would be basically a salary dump. We could take him and send back a 2nd round pick. Assuming we would want to pay him (and play him).
