Edit: Oh I see you mentioned a three-team trade. Yeah, I don't see any good candidates for that unfortunately. Unless somebody unexpected demands a trade?
Maybe from a team willing to go into the second apron, but I don't know who that would be. You have to start inventing scenarios like "Luka told the Lakers he doesn't want to re-sign".
Why would they have to go into the second apron? For instance if the Pacers were willing to give up Haliburton for Booker why would they have to go into the second apron?
I'm not saying they would. I'm trying to figure out what your line is for trading those picks. You can plug in a player like Haliburton, Brown, Lauri etc.
Booker is about to be eligible for a contract with an AAV of $78M. Hard not to go into the second apron with something like that on the books and still field a win-now team. Maybe he's willing to sign for less?
Yep, and he is extension eligible after next season IIRC. That's his next contract that I'm referring to. Also keep in mind he's already set to get paid $57M in 2026-2027 and $61M the season after that.
I don't see the Rockets picking him up because he's very pampered physically. Ime is probably cooking something up with someone who passes his dawg test.
Fair enough. I don't think he's blowing up a lot of teams caps over the next 3 seasons with the cap increasing each year but the next contract might give teams some pause.
Yeah, I think it would have been good to put that into your title haha. A lot of people skim the posts (I'm guilty of it sometimes myself).
Outside of top-tier guys like Jokic, Giannis etc., only star player I currently want is Trae Young. I'd rather keep the young core intact than trading for anyone else. Suns can keep Booker. Their picks are a lot more valuable.
I'm so on the fence about Trae. I think he could be a good fit, if he can be convinced to improve his shot selection and least try harder on defense. He takes far too many logo threes, which drags his 3P% way down, and he is a major liability on defense (probably one of the worst in the league in that regard--tiny, skinny, and gives very little effort). On the other hand, he is a true floor spacer, playmaker, and I think a much more talented shooter than the 3P% shows.
