2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

I get what you are saying. He would be what we hoped Rui would be. But I think I was kidding myself thinking Rui would slide in as a lebron eventually successor at the 4. I now feel that Luke and Reaves are so bad at defense that the other 3 starters need to be defenders, even the center. So Porter is not it. Ellis hits open 3s at a high rate. The you have the other wing, someone liek Wiggins in the short term and Thiero in the long term. I guess Ayton for now at the 5 until better defender.

 

I would do everything in my power to get Ellis and Wiggins. Ellis and herb is wishful thinking, but Ellis and Wiggins is actually attainable, and might be preferable in terms of replacing the offensive deficit from loosing Reaves. Further, Wiggins sort of acts as a place holder for when Thiero is ready, unlike Herb who is closer in age to Thiero.

 

And this is why I’m not bought in on a Luka/Reaves duo. You have to surround them with defensive players to be viable defensively, but I’m not sure Luka/Reaves and defensive players is actually good enough offensively. Locking those two in together creates a pretty narrow team building path, and even if you get the right pieces around them I’m not sure the ceiling is actually high enough.

 

Yeah that's an option too, and I wouldn't be surprised if Walter blows things up in that regard. If they break up that duo, we are having a different conversation, but we are not having that conversation right now it seems.

 

We definitely aren’t. We’re going to re-sign Austin for like $35 to $40 million a year this summer. But I could see a scenario where we pretty quickly start shopping him once he has that new contract. I guess we could do a sign and trade, but those always really tough to work out.

 

I think Porter would be perfect for this team.

You need to use this time that Austin is out to evaluate how he plays with Thiero. Put a defender next to him.

and let’s see what Thiero looks like as this 3-D give him major minutes.

what I would do. Just me

pg/Luka
Sg/Smart
Sf/Thiero
Pf/Lebron
C/Ayton

 

Well that's down the line then. I wouldn't trade for Porter and then hope all that happens lol. I don't think it works that way.

 

That's sound. But Reaves/Luka/Porter trio puts us in the same damn bind.

 

Look you gotta play Thiero.

get him minutes.

and have Reaves signed and then sign Ellis in the off season. Let smart play Ellis role.

 

Yeah, the Austin trade thing was a separate train of thought.

 

Im all for playing Thiero 100%. But playing Thiero and trading for Ellis are not mutually exclusive. Both could happen at the same time. Spacing is not ideal with Smart/Thiero. Elios would help alleviate this.

 

This will take a high level genius to figure out the right players for this team.


Enter

 

Also there’s a very good chance that first will be mid to late first round. If Ellis gives us what I think he can that’s a price I can live with. Also agree that we should be able to get protections on that pick.

 

I’m fine sending the first for Ellis. You’re not just getting Keon Ellis the player, you’re slotting everyone else better.

 

Yeah that is true. Plus, by receiving he second-round pick it keeps some hope alive to make and impact secondary trade, such as Wiggins. As it stands, trading a package of
Rui + Vincent + protected 1st for Wiggins would be too much. But, Rui + Vincent + two 2nds is about right. I would go as far as giving them three 2nds, if we could get one. Receiving one or two and high 2nds that are in the near future from Sacramento in makes it a lot easier for me to stomach removing the protection, because those picks would help us with trade B. It's a chess game. We have to stop thinking so much like Rob and more like the savvy spreadsheet Dodgers type GMs.

 

yeah, and you're getting him some time to build chemistry with luka and reaves before next year and reducing the risk that he gets traded somewhere and they use his bird rights to price him out of our FA plans.

 

Yeah we have seen that happen before.

 

Toumani is a fantastic 3&D piece. But Portland don’t want or need to trade him. To pry him away when they don’t want to let him go, you’d have to give them something stupid like 3 first round picks.

It reminds me of the OG and Bridges situations. You have to pay to play.

Other players that interest me:

Kyshawn George or Coulibaly from the Wizards

Donsunmu, Okoro or Heurter from the Bulls

DJJ from the Clippers

Wiggins from the Heat

Grimes from the Sixers

Aside from the obvious people.


Edit: also DVV from the wolves.

 

yeah I’m just saying if Sacramento wants to play hardball and not trade him to us.

 

Kyshown George would be a three first round pick trade to.