I don't see a star trade happening during this season. Not because we don't have the ammo, but rather because none of the guys that I think will come available potentially fit what we need (either due to age or position) or they are on expiring contracts (OG in Toronto, for instance). As perfect as JJJ would be, Grizz are not moving him, no matter how bad they get. He's part of their foundation, and even if they tank this season, they are going to hold on to him. So, an extremely impactful role player like Caruso is what we should be looking at. He only makes 10 mill, and has two years left on his deal (including this one), so we could get him by just moving the Dipo contract, and we'd still have him under contract for next year -- so, he wouldn't just be a rental, and we could either extend him before he is a free agent, or flip him to another team as part of a star trade in the offseason, or for a different pick. He's one of the best and impactful perimeter defenders in the entire league, so he would help a lot. Plus he shoots well enough to keep defenses honest and not hurt our spacing. Plus we would still have our seconds and Landale's contract on the books to move later in the year for a different backup 5, if we need to. But, really, just going with Jeff Green when Sengun sits isn't that bad of an option there imo. And if there is someone truly too big for Jeff there, then we can always bring in Boban for a few minutes per half. Caruso is the obvious target in my opinion, and is definitely worth a first round pick.
Oladipo/Sengun/Whitmore/Brooklyn pick & swap for Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duran FVV/Amen Thompson Green/Holiday Brooks/Ausar Thompson Jabari/Eason Duran With the Thompson's eventually starting. And around the world we go!
If we're fleecing the Bulls, why not go after Drummond, too? Oladipo, Londale, FRP, SRP for Caruso and Drummond (plus filler). Or just Oladipo for Caruso and Drummond works from a money perspective. FVV / Amen Green / Caruso Brooks / Tate Smith / Eason Sengun / Drummond
BKN Pick, Pick Swap, Oladipo (expiring), and Bullock(expiring) for Brogdon and we're contenders imo. Would that be enough for POR?
I would do this if Claxton could shoot 3s. IMO, playing Sengun with another center makes a lot of sense with a Myles Turner type of center, not so much with Claxton.
Well there ya go Jalen haters, you got your uninspiring all-star to demand he be traded for. Personally, I'm not too interested in LaVine. Doesn't fit our emerging defensive identity and isn't much better than what Jalen is already giving us on offense. Other possible targets on the Bulls if they're rebuilding for real: Vucevic is kind of too good, no way he accepts a bench role, and I'm not so sure about a twin towers starting lineup with Alpi at the 4. Could work, could be a disaster. Would definitely kill Jabari's minutes in that case. Caruso would be an upgrade over Aaron Holiday, but with Amen coming back soon I don't know if it's really worth it. Drummond is the guy who jumps out at me. They probably wouldn't mind parting with him and wouldn't ask for much. He'd be good competition for Jock and bring something we don't really have on the roster right now, an old-school traditional defensive big who can bang hard in the post against your JVs and Steven Adams of the league. TL;DR pass on LaVine, pick up Andre Drummond for a song instead.
That's not really the issue. The offense has looked great using Sengun as the "hub." That only works if the other guys around him can shoot 3s. Pairing Sengun with another player who doesn't shoot 3s negates the option of running the offense though him since it would destroy spacing, even if Sengun could shoot 3s better. Now, if you could pair Sengun with a Myles Turner type, that would make sense -- Sengun would continue to be the offensive hub, and the Myles Turner type would be a rim protector on D.
Offense looks pretty good running through Freddy too. If you could have the best defense in the NBA you would still be worried about Sengun and his identity as an offensive hub? The two man game with Claxton and Sengun would be hard to defend. Having Sengun stretch out more and become a true 3 level scorer is in the best interest of everyone. He can still run the offense from the high post.
Can we get Grimes from the Knicks and Hartenstein for Bullock, Ola contract and something else. 2nd unit Amen Grimes Hartenstein Tate Uncle Green Ideally I would want a younger Eric Gordon, who knows his role as the super 6th man.
