If you can get McCollum to buy into a reserve-ish role, it should definitely be on the table. His contract is actually somewhat of a bargain and doesn’t go beyond next season. Fantastic shooter and could be the perimeter spark we need on nights where Jalen is not involved and FVV can’t hit the ocean.
HOU in: D'Angelo Russell Christian Wood 2030 FRP LAL in: Tate Jeff Green Cam Whitmore The Lakers are said to be looking to move Russell for depth over a splashy move. This would give them some players who are starved for minutes on our roster but can immediately contribute. We could swap out Landale for Green if they prefer. We move our expirings for theirs. I include Whitmore in order to exctract a future first as he'd be a lottery ticket for them. Russell would be a better bench option than Reed for the remainder of the season for the Rockets and should enhance their playoff push. It would give Reed a chance to go to the G-league and get some significant minutes.
I don't think this trade really works for either team. We need someone who can shoot well, DLo is at career low splits this season, and he's not even in an Ime offense yet. The Lakers want a big name true third star, and someone who can actually do what Westbrook was brought in to do which was take pressure off of Lebron, I don't see them giving up a future first unless there is a big name coming back.
So you want LA to give up a first rounder for the corpse of Jeff Green, Tate who is DNP and Cam Whitmore who can't get run? They're trying to win now, right or wrong. It's not a move that helps us either.
Houston Rockets Trade Breakdown Change in Team Outlook: +4.9 ppg, -1.7 rpg, and +0.5 apg. Incoming Players Malcolm Brogdon 32 year old, 6-4, 229 lb SG from Virginia 13.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg in 23.8 minutes in 2024-2025 Patrick Baldwin, Jr. 22 year old, 6-9, 220 lb SG from Milwaukee 2.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.1 apg in 4.7 minutes in 2024-2025 Outgoing Players Steven Adams 31 year old, 6-11, 265 lb C from Pittsburgh 2.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.0 apg in 10.7 minutes in 2024-2025 Jae'sean Tate 29 year old, 6-4, 230 lb F from Ohio State 2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.6 apg in 5.9 minutes in 2024-2025 Cam Whitmore 20 year old, 6-7, 230 lb F from Villanova 5.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.5 apg in 9.9 minutes in 2024-2025
Our expirings (Adams/Green/Tate) are enough to set the framework. From there it’s all about enticing New Orleans with a prospect (Cam?) and draft compensation.
Brogdon would be a good get but not at the cost of Whitmore. Take Whitmore out and sub with highly protected frp convertable to a couple of seconds.
Keep in mind that when making these lopsided trades (3 for 1 in this case) that the team has to have an open roster spot for each incoming player in a trade - even if their intention is to waive that player, he must fall into one of 15 roster spots first. New Orleans has 1 open roster spot, meaning they would have to create another by waiving a player prior to the trade - the 3rd spot is one held by the outgoing player. More often than not, it's not realistic to expect a team to create roster spots for incoming players - This case, I think they might - depending upon the compensation as it does save them $$$.
Really Like the idea of adding McCollum. Has playoff experience. Can create for others and himself. Hope Stone is reading this! Expirings, Cam and a 1st Rounder?
