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

Funny enough, I just watched him beat the Hornets last week. Definitely looked good.

 

Agree on him. I don’t think anyone could really outbid us unless they played hardball.

 

And not to mention Rich implying he needed to come off the bench on his first podcast. Definitely looked like a AR hit job for whatever reason.

 

Next summer is quickly becoming Peyton Watson or bust for me. What that guy has been doing on-ball, in addition to being a good defender and 40% three point shooter this year (albeit on only 3 attempts per game) is pretty remarkable. Absolutely perfect guy to plug in with Luka and Austin. It’s getting to the point that I wonder if the Nuggets prioritize keeping him and moving Gordon, who is 30 now and has had some injuries.

 

Yeah that guy is on a great trajectory. If we don't trade for him, I don't think we could get him. This is the trade that might justify trading Thiero, but I dont think I would do that.

 

yeah, in a matter of a couple weeks i went from: "we can get this guy" to "denver might blow up their championship role player core to keep him".

in any case, i wonder if they're regretting not trying harder to sign him to an extension last summer.

cam johnson's an expiring next year, so that presents trade issues (receiving team has to believe they can re-sign him, else he's just an expiring). as you said, gordon's older and really isn't a great fit in most places that don't employ jokic. braun's solid but not spectacular--appropriately compensated and young, but not bringing in a prospect or potential high pick in trade.

still kind of waiting for the new cba to shake some good players loose, and this is a test case.

i guess we saw minny have to move towns, but otherwise the tax/apron really hasn't done much other than suppress player movement. redistribution hasn't happened.

 

I think it’s insane the Lakers kept Bronnie James over Jordan Goodwin who is balling on Phoenix. And we had him. Everyone deciding to trade first round picks for Ellis when we had that here for free. We should’ve did the Basketball thing and waived Bronnie James. But because LeBron is here we can’t do that. Nepotism is getting in the way of winning.

Jerry West would’ve done it. What are we getting from Bronnie??? Goodwins averaging 8 points. That’s our P.O.A. Makes no sense.

let me say the quiet part out loud Rob it’s not the Luka trade. It’s s*** like this. Trading for Luka that’s easy. Wanna trade Jordan for smush Parker?? AD can’t get on the court.

but Goodwin and THT over Caruso. Costing us our AD Lebron Championship window.

Klutch has had their Gorilla hands on this organization. And that’s why Rich Paul is hollering on his podcast. Because he has no more control. I’m so glad Mark Watters is running this franchise.

 

Well..I keep saying POA was absolutely not the problem against Minnesota. I don't know why folks keep bringing this angle up. We need more length and athleticism, not another guard. I seriously don't think another guard, makes this particular roster any better. Derrick White or Jaylon Brown maybe..but we ain't getting either one of them.

 

Nothing to do with LeBron. And I called it out on here and Told y’all LeBron was gonna put his a** on blast. When the money is talking and the bread is talking that’s when you shut the f*** up. We won’t be hearing from Rich Paul anymore about the Lakers.

It makes the locker room a little messy because it’s like why is he just saying this Random s***? But as I stated Rich Paul is trying to put his stamp on the team and put scenarios. As much as you think that makes us better you don’t say it.

Austin is a great guy. Lebron didn’t do nothing. I’m glad he squashed it.

 

But Keeping it a buck Jaren Jackson jr. Makes us better than Austin.

Pau Gasol Jaren Jackson Jr. we get GG young two way perimeter player who can ball and go put that around Luka. That’s the anchor you need to protect Luka with. I go back to Jerry West. Jerry West made tough trades like this. Eddie Jones for Glen Rice was controversial. But we know why we did it. Because it spaced out the floor and Kobe had to play.

So Austin is that tier All Star. Eddie was an All Star. Austin plays with Luka but he can’t really play with Luka to unlock the true Austin. Austin needs the ball in his hands. He’d be better having his own team.

Jaren Jackson is an anchor in the mold of an AD he cleans up the glass. Rebounds blocks shots. Gives you offense 20 on the other end. And can step out to 3. Going against Holmgren. Jokic and Wembyana. That’s what you need. You can off set Reaves because he can’t defend. Him and Luka together they can’t defend anybody.

now this trade it’s more of a championship team.

Luka
Smart
LaRavia
James
JacksonJr.

I think you have enough offense with Luka James Jackson Jr. GG Jackson who’s a great shooter and Hachimura if hes not part of the trade to get you to the championship. That looks more like Dallas.

it’s a hard trade but you win. Better than what you got now. Now the Lakers would never make that trade. But you win.

just keep the trade quiet. Jackson Jr. is the only two way guy who can make a difference like that outside of Gianiss. And Gianiss might be in play. Looks like his tenure in Milwaukee is done. Those Boos didn’t help.

 

Austin ain’t getting traded for JJJ.
Dude doesn’t rebound for his size and is always in foul trouble.
Austin and Luka together works- did you miss the whole beginning of the season? If we had decent defenders around those two, we would’ve been second in the West.
Anyway, I expect us to add a few good pieces that fit by the end of this summer.
That’s when this team will finally be balanced and able to compete with the good squads.

 

We don't know if Austin and Luka, work great together in the playoffs post Lebron. We don’t know if they work great together, in the playoffs with Lebron either really. Austin is my boy so, I'm opposed to trading him, we do have to see a better performance from him in the playoffs this season, or things could get dicey in the offseason. We are going to have to cover for Luka on D, for as long as he's here IMO. I think we need a dynamic two way player at 3/4 to replace Lebron in order to make it work. So yeah I can see a JJJ fit tbh, but at the cost of Rui and draft picks, NOT including Austin. Austin will be our single biggest asset, outside of Luka post Lebron.

 

I never said I didn’t like Austin. Slicks right. Have you not read my post at the beginning of the season Austin Jerry West Kobe Magic taking that mantle.

he’s a hard worker. But facts are facts. Austin and Luka cannot guard. Lebron can’t guard. 3 of your top players can’t guard. Playoffs

Houston Minnesota OKC Phoenix Denver

we gotta get guys that can guard. And Austin best effective with the ball in his hands you have a ball dominant player in Luka and LeBron who is effective with the ball in his hands.

Austin is not a catch and shoot corner of the 3point shooter. He’s a volume scorer he needs to be ball to conduct and run the team. That’s just my observation. That’s a buck.

now bring up Brunson and Kyrie. Kyrie can play with anybody.

and while Austin might still average 20 he’s giving up 22 on the other end.

The Lakers with LaRavia and Perimeter D players are a better team because the defense balances out.

that’s all I’m saying. You can’t ignore a reigning defensive player of the year.

so for team. Jaren Jackson Jr. isn’t a Jarrett Allen he’s a great defender.

Gianiss is a great defender. You gotta have a balance of offense and defense to win a championship. Look at Phoenix.

Austin Reaves is not getting traded but the diffidency is obvious.

 

Well I get your point but I view this from what's the best move, now with LeBron, that also sets us up to contend post LeBron. Adding JJJ without giving up Reaves accomplishes both goals IMO.

James/Jackson jr works great with Ayton or Hayes IMO, and it works great as the small ball 4/5 too.

Post Lebron Jackson Jr makes Luka/Austin more palatable too. Now you can add your POA defender to help Austin on the perimeter, while Jackson Jr covers up Luka in the frontcourt as the 4 on defense. Win win situation IMO.

And hell yeah.. I 'd give up Rui and our draft capital for JJJ ..absolutely. From Memphis standpoint it depends on what they get for Ja. He's definitely getting moved.

 

LoL too much Rich and Klutch
Rich Paul is not going to bully us.’ That is a direct quote from a member of the Mavericks organization. Another member of the Mavericks organization referring to Patrick Dumont, the Governor. ‘Patrick’s not going to sign off on a deal just to do a deal. Ownership doesn’t feel any pressure to do an AD deal,'” reported ESPN NBA insider Tim McMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast.

“Patrick has no problem going into next year and seeing with a healthy Kyrie and a healthy AD alongside Cooper Flagg and seeing what it looks like,” added another staffer

 

AD is probably done for the season, I'd shut Kyrie down too, and tank it. This upcoming draft is supposed to be deep, I'd look at flipping Gafford and Washington, for another late FRP and a young prospect. Refresh and reload

 

I'd go for Knecht for GG Jackson too though. Jackson and Thiero could be nice combo in a couple of seasons. Both being only 21...there are some possibilities there with that pairing. The price is right, Rob excells at plucking talent on the cheap.

 

while i certainly can sympathize with telling rich paul sit down and shut up, the mavs need to move AD for whatever they can get, right now. if people are simply offering full salary relief, do it before they can rethink.

the best thing to have in the nba is a supermax player on a non-supermax contract (e.g., wemby, maxey, SGA right now). the worst thing to have is a non-supermax player on a supermax contract (e.g., embiid, paul george, and now AD). sure, try to get a pick, but if no one's offering, literally take the money and run.

memphis isn't trading jackson for knecht.

 

…regret for my JJJ post is setting in.



would not trade Austin for him but would take him if Memphis has a sell off. Like his defense but he has flaws like rebounding that I wouldn’t give up Austin for. There are some bigs I’d give up Austin for but I can’t imagine they are available and don’t even want to mention.