2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

so... let's say you are right and a merely ok center is enough, paired with Jax.

What do we need:

Luka/Gabe
AR/Goodwin
Rui/DFS/DK
Bron/Vando
Jax/Center/Trey

I think, smart move whatever money we have, is at C. There is no minutes anywhere else and DK will need more.

 

And hang onto Knecht!!

 

i'll preface again by saying that the playoffs could change my mind, but honestly, if we just signed goodwin and jemison and let len and reddish walk this summer, i'd be pretty comfortable. i'd like to keep koloko on a two-way again if possible as well.

i could let shake go if someone shows up worth the tpmle, but otherwise, i feel pretty good about the current group. i think they really just need more time to get comfortable with each other and for luka to get right physically.

we'll have maxi's contract to deal for fringe upgrades next year, should they become necessary.

we'd also be under the first apron if we just didn't use the tpmle, and that might be helpful for some things.

 

You can get a clone of Hayes if you trade for Richaun Holmes.It would cost you Maxi and shake so not losing any important pieces.Holmes is more physical thus a better rebounder but the dunker offense is the same

 

Not sure that a marginal (LOL) upgrade at POA sub is better than at C.

 

holmes has been kinda cooked for two years, i think. edit: just checked and his numbers in limited games and minutes this year have recovered some after a years-long decline. still not interested, though.

if we want someone like hayes, koloko is sitting right there, too.

i also like the idea of hanging on to maxi and seeing how he could fit, all the while watching the value of his expiring appreciate. someone will have to knock me over, or the playoffs will have to reveal a very specific need that can be addressed using that contract.

for the first time in a long time, we're heading into the offseason not really needing much to happen to feel good about next season.

 

We had our chance to get a center in
Valancunas, but they said he's washed and old.He's averaging double digits points and rebounds since Sabonis injury but JJ is comfortable playing small ball.
On another hand do you still want Williams who is missing more and more games ..

 

Holmes has the same reputation that Hayes had when he arrived and as we have seen Luka and LeBron have done wonders for Jaxson.That being said I’m in agreement with post.Minor fixes is all this team needs

 

I’m in favor of running it back. If a C becomes available that’s better defensively and has a post game, then I would be fine with trading a couple guys for him.
We surely should sign Goodwin and Jemison before the playoffs.

 

You need a lob threat whether it be Hayes, Nic Claxton, Robert Williams or some combo to maximize Luka IMO.
You have the history with it in Dallas, and you can see how he takes an average NBA player in Hayes into a real force that defenses have trouble to contending with.

Luka is not a guy like a prime Lebron who puts so much pressure on your defense that you have to put up the wall but it's his stepback that cause so much trouble, that leaves so much room for a vertical threat to feed off defenses trying to stick with his deceleration and step backs that the paint opens up.

 

This is exactly the plan I want to see. We need to use Kleber’s contract to add a big and that’s about it. I’ll pass on swinging for the fences by trading Rui or DK.

 

Christie would be perfect with the current group instead of Gabe and Goodwin. That kind of upgrade at POA would improve us.

Having another wing defender that can hit the 3 at 35-37%. That would help marginally but the playing time isn’t really there if you have Rui/DFS/Vando. In saying that a really good wing could steal minutes from them.

If Maxi comes back healthy, he would improve the team as he can defend SF/PF/C pretty well and is a good switch out big who can stretch the floor. Another starting or backup big that can defend, rebound and jump to finish a lob would also improve us.

We don’t really have that many holes at the moment with how we want to play.

 

I think we need more scoring. We have only 4 guys who score double digits in the core rotation in Luka, Bron, AR and Rui. We need the center to at least avg between 11-13ppg to take some burden of Rui and AR. A guy who can get 20 in some nights. At least who's a threat in something offensively, be it a lot threat, paint monster or whatever.
Hayes has been really nice but he's not a starting center. In the last 25 games, he only scored double digits in 5, with only one over 12.
Hope he stays as a backup though.

I'm still not sure what's the move, to be honest. Capela and Claxton aren't great scorers but they are the archetype (lob threats, good defenders, rebounders). Not sure about Capela's perimeter defense, but Claxton is alright in that aspect. The Mark Williams move was a really good one, unfortunate it didn't worked out. Duren is nice too but I believe too expensive, Detroit ain't selling, they are top6 this year.

I'm pretty sure I'll spend some part of the offseason thinking about this and what guys can we target.

Let's see what the playoffs show. It's a different game and you can't just play hard. As abeer already pointed out, I also think it will make more visible where we can improve. I don't think this is a "perfect team" yet.

A better center, a better POA defender and a 3pt shooting threat is where I see potential holes to fill.

 

I'm game, depending on the price. He's making just shy of $2.5m at the min. I'd offer something like 3 years/$13m total.

I'd still be willing to go after him but he's the only above the NTPMLE range center I'd trade for. He's only 25 and he's a top 14 center without Luka. So he'd be a piece of the post-Bron era squad just as he's entering his prime on a reducing salary. Jax is a fringe second/third string center without Luka. He's Jax but doing everything 5x better. Offer up Kleber, Gabe, Shake and a 1st (a swap if needed). All you're losing is Gabe and with one of Bron/Luka/AR on the court at all times, he becomes less valuable.

Outside of him, the only big I'm looking to give up big assets for this summer would be Duren. I don't think he's attainable, but I'm calling and offering DK, Shake, first and a swap.

If both of those are no gos, there's other options.

Trading for a lesser skilled big on a bad team (Sharpe, Robert Williams, Jalen Smith, Nick Richards... yes, Suns are a bad team) and signing another backup to round out the rotation would be my next move.

FAs:
Achiuwa: outside our price range unless Bron takes a haircut.
Capela: also outside our price range unless Bron takes a haircut.
Aquaman: I've wanted Adams for YEARS. He'd be a great, not every night center.
Looney: would be a good fit
Paul Reed: another solid rotation big who would check a lot of boxes

 

Hornets should be forced to publicly apologize to us for even suggesting that we were not being honest about his physical

 

if luka likes him, i'd go higher, tbh.

prisoner of the moment, but...i don't want to move gabe to upgrade the center spot right now. he fills a need, imo.

i don't think he's available for what we're offering. i'm glad we tried, and i understand detroit telling us to kick rocks.

could see it, but still wouldn't give up anything beyond maxi's contract in most cases.

any of these three at vet min interests me greatly, tbh. and one of them will almost certainly sign somewhere for that. why not in la with luka and lebron?

 

Hello.
Take up sports and be always healthy!

Good luck

 

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