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

I think I get what you are saying. Why burn the 5.7 TPMLE on Capela, if he won't even be used as the backup center. That is a great point! Another thing of note: DFS and Vando are really expensive backup forwards, that would only be projected to play about 12-15 mpg each. Might as well use one of them as the back up center, and then you have JJ's preference for small ball as well, so you have that. Could look to use the 5.7 TPMLE to bolster the bench sscorin, instead.

 

In a scenario in which we focus in getting Claxton before we do anything else, we would be better off combining Vincent/Kleber than sending out Rui, since Rui would just be viewed as salary ballast to them anyway (I think that's kind of what abeer was touching on). If we are unable to find a deal for a POA defender, we get to keep Rui.

• So the deal would be something like Vincent + Kleber + DK + 2031 1st for Claxton. We might be able to do with sending a 2028 and 2028 swap in leu of the 2031 1st, We also should explore scenarios where they receive Vando instead of Vincent. With that said I would rather look at the worst case scenario.
• Once the Claxton trade is made, we would be left with Rui, Milton and swaps in 2026,2028,2030, and 2032 as basically our remaining trade pieces. The Rui/Milton combo doesn't match up with Orlando, I mean in terms of us not going into the second apron, unless the trade is expanded somehow.
• We might be able to trade Rui + cash + pick swaps to Portland for Thybulle, Reath, and Rupert, but this unlikley, depending on how Portland feels about Rui.

 

i want a first?

don't know. i didn't think jrue holiday was going to be available when we were entering that summer, for example. there's value in keeping at least some powder dry.

because of the salary? i think it's clear jj wants to play sfs at center. i'm not sure the fact that one is paid a lot more is going to sway it. it's part of why i'm not sure i want to pony up big assets for it.

btw, i'm not even sure capela is going to available for my desired price. i'm just saying that if it's capela at tpmle or three assets for claxton, i'm going capela. 10 times out of 10, actually. you can find other claxton-level players with multiple assets, imo.

for example...

i think you can get carter or goga for 1 or 2 assets.

 

Claxton is kind of different than most other centers that have been discussed, because he is switchy and doesn't foul a lot. He has also been fairly durable compared to a lot of the others mentioned, having played 70+ games in each of the lase three seasons. This gives us less concern in regards to signing an additional lob threat big. We need to have at least one. I suppose Vando could be utilized as the backup center. He's not a big time lob threat, but at least he defends and rebounds at a high level.

 

It would be nice if Rui could go to a team that actually wants him for his talent. That way, we could get a higher return for him. I think his value is higher than Dlo's was FWIW. I know it's not saying much. But there might be a team out there that actually wants him. Rui would look great in a C Bags jersey tbh.

 

yeah, i get why people want claxton. i just think a) it's pretty unrealistic and b) accomplishing it will leave other holes that would prevent contention.

i don't know; i just feel like teams will play hardball with us just like with dlo, too. and different than dlo, the coaching staff seems to like rui, so why move him unless it's just a no-brainer? and why attach assets unless it's a major upgrade.

and maybe the question is what constitutes a major upgrade.

one thing lurking behind all of my thoughts is that luka makes guys look better. so people who have been less impressive elsewhere could flourish here--maybe moreso than people who have looked good on their own. and the former come much cheaper.

derrick jones jr was bouncing around before luka showed people what was possible there. we need to be looking for those instead of paying too much for guys would only look marginally better here. lean into the fact that we have a one-man offensive engine the likes of which we haven't really seen since kobe.

 

Yeah, that is a great point. I thought about that too. Jones is obviously a freaky athletic player. I brought up names like Jalen Green, but that gets into Reaves territory. There is also Shaeden Sharpe. Im all for buying low and selling high. It's just Claxton is the rare player that meets the requirements of "lob threat" to appease Luka, and "highly switchable center" to appease JJ. So, I think it makes sense to go for this guy. To be fair, there may be more players out there that fit the criteria, but I jut don't know. Where is Willie Cauley Stein these days? Is Paul Reed or Adan Bona that gu? idk much about them.

 

If you have an opportunity to get Claxton before any "negotiations" with Capela, I think you need to pull the trigger. If we get commitment from Capela before then, maybe contingent on a starting role, it would be interesting to see what we do, considering Capela vs. Claxton's switching ability. BTW, do you by any chance know why Hayes was not playing in the playoffs?