I was thinking the draft capital would come from the team receiving Durant to offload smaller contracts into MLEs or TPE instead of going to the Suns.
Yes, but the team that wants him likely does. Shedding salary for cap space or to create matching salary in a trade only takes picks.
Please point me at team that needs Durant to take them over the top and has either cap space or matching expiring contracts. If they have to take back non expiring contracts there is really no reason to dump him for mediocre to bad picks. The only teams that still have 50m in cap space are Washington and SA and why would they want Durant? Their only way out is to trade both Booker and Durant. Booker is the only one that will get re-building type picks and the best ones for that are the Rockets.
Rockets would do it next offseason. Not sure if it would take the Rockets over the top, but they would do it depending on draft cost. Why are you limited on teams that have cap space at this moment and to one team? Next offseason, there will be plenty of teams with cap space and MLEs. The matching salary doesn't have to go back to the Suns or one team. The Suns are probably going to give it one more go. The luxury tax for them goes crazy for them in 2025-2026. Edit: I thought we had Jeff Green for one more year. Rockets could still do it, but it would be more painful than I thought other than picks. I do fully expect the Suns will trade Booker as well. Maybe not at same time though.
I’d have to look at the 2nd apron rules which gets even more restrictive if you are in it for two years. I’ll get back to you.
Here are the apron rules. Hope this helps. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba...ry-cap-team-spending/efo6htjzzmzrswoncvvlbmhi
I don't think we have that much leverage. And you'd have to trade Brooks, Jock, Jeff Green and FVV to make the salaries work. The 1st 3, not a problem. But losing FVV at this moment would hurt. We'd have a ship with no rudder because it leaves us with Holiday, Amen and Reed as our PG options. None of those 3 are ready to start. I mean maybe you could do a 3 way trade sending KD off and getting a PG back but IDK. KD needs to go to a contender and PHX is holding out for the KD price. Those picks might not even get your Booker alone but that would be my asking price for their picks back.
Rockets’ Fred VanVleet Targeted by Lakers in Potential Trade To Lakers: FVV To Rockets: De’Angelo Russell + FRP(LAL) To Jazz: Rui + 2 SRP(LAL) + SRP(HOU) Lakers have been connected to a Jerami Grant trade, but are reluctant to give up two firsts and the Blazers have too many guards they need to get minutes for without throwing DLo in the mix. This improves them for only one FRP and gives them more flexibility over the next two years. The Rockets probably take a step back at the PG position, but could still improve overall with incremental improvements across the board. This move would also open up a few extra minutes for Cam, Amen and/or Reed. It also preserves all potential cap space next summer while obtaining a FRP (and maybe even a trade exception depending how it’s structured). Jazz get 3 SRPs for parking Ruiz’s contract for two years (this gets them to the cap floor, which they are $14M short of currently). Rui could hold down the starting spot once they trade Markkanen, and build up value for a trade next year.
Trading FVV would be a risky move. Not trading FVV is a risky move. There has been a lot of talk about 2025 cap space. I'd see trading FVV as almost a necessity for cap space as I see not exercising his team option as a huge loss. Not sure I'd want only Russell and a FRP for FVV and a SRP.
I don’t think there will be much done with any cap space other than using it to extend our own players, but it gets mentioned a lot, so I thought I’d reference it. The Blazers are wanting two FRP for Grant who is signed for 4 more years at $32m per. FVV is signed for 1-2 at an over market value of $44m. Getting a first for him now would be better than simply declining the option next year.
Probably would need to be an unprotected Lakers pick in 2027 or 2028 draft for me to consider. FVV has immense value to out team.
You could do a 2029 one and have the Mavs/Suns/Lakers all unprotected. You could trade for a hell of player for that most likely down the line.
