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

Harden probably isn't the only guy, looking for a change of scenery for whatever reason. Harden and Edwards would cause problems for anybody in the playoffs, he's a huge upgrade over Conley.

 

That's still 4M short (Knecht too?)and he's owed 90M over the next 3 seasons. No thanks.

 

i'd definitely take allen, and i could see cleveland being willing to take ayton as his replacement (if they're truly trying to get off his salary). it would require a third team to absorb some salary, i think. also--does allen have any weird trade restrictions because his extension is coming up? i can't remember which deals get subject to that kind of BYC stuff.

i think it's weird that they're trying to contend right now and want to dump allen, who even at his new salary will be worth the money. it's not easy to find really good defensive centers who are playable on offense. and allen would fit wonderfully with luka/reaves. almost the ideal fit, tbh.

 

That guy's only a slight upgrade over Ayton. He might be more of a lob threat, and more of a shot blocking 5. But he is weaker on the boards, is he really 24M better? I don't think so.

 

you're assuming we're keeping ayton, when all signs indicate we're not and will have to find a long-term starting center in the near future. allen is suitable there. i'd prefer to upgrade at POA/perimeter defense, too, but if we can move ayton for allen (or claxton) right now, i'd do that, too.

 

Ayton and Kleber for Allen works salary wise. I’d do it.

Allen’s total rebounds per 36 minutes the last three years are 10.7, 12.5 and 12.0. Ayton’s total rebounds per 36 minutes the last three years are 10.8, 12.1 and 12.3. They’re the same player as rebounders.

There have been some issues with Allen getting outmuscled in the playoffs, the Knicks a few years ago with Randle/Hartenstein/Robinson really pushed him around. But I think that would be true of our current centers as well. I’ll take Allen as the better stylistic fit.

 

I’d do this or a similar move.

 

I would keep Ayton over trading for Allen though. If Allen stayed around 20M maybe, but he's heading for 30 plus, for the next three seasons. I don't like him at that valuation, Ayton has more blocked shots and rebounds, I don't think he's a slam dunk better fit, with Luka and Austin moving forward. What is he clearly superior at?

 

Ayton’s problem is all mental. He may very well be the better talent but just can’t be counted on long term. Allen isn’t Kareem but I think he’d work well with our guys.

 

Allen would be a great fit but I wouldn't send the pick. We need that pick for a wing, that's our most glaring need now and in the future.

If Ayton stays, he'll earn more than 6M. Probably around 20M, making Allen worthy the extra dollars

If we send Ayton and in the deal they sabe money, they may accept without the pick

 

I don't know Elgin..Allen hasn't been impressive in the playoffs and Ayton has at least been to the Finals. And by the numbers, Ayton is the superior post season performer. We aren't using him properly IMO, Allen might work a little better with the way we use Ayton, but at 90M? I'm not sure the value is there.

 

Allen in the playoffs is an interesting thing to watch. I do believe he’d perform a bit better with Luka and AR but it’s a valid critique of him.

 

which centers elevate their games in the playoffs? legit question, as we should pursue them!

i just think about it and like, gobert is almost an annual headache for his team there, despite being incredibly valuable for the regular season.

if the answer here is nobody, then the proper course is just to employ three jaxson hayeses with the understanding that rui hachimura will be closing games at center in the playoffs, right?

 

I’m with Slick, we aren’t using Ayton as we should, he is being ignored by old and fat ball hogs most of the time…AR coming back will help him

 

Re: the $. A Luka center on a similar age timeline is going to be north of $20m. We need to accept that. You can continue to bargain bin hunt, but that's not what he likes or wants. UNLESS you can find a Lively/Messi in the draft with an early teens pick (you'd have to trade for) and then you can utilize that rookie scale for a bit.

I think we'll have that problem with any of Luka's centers. Lob threats typically are going to be a bit lighter, you're not going to see the next Oliver Miller soaring through the air. That's why we'll want a backup with some more padding, at some point.


Spotrac and Fanspo both say the trades work and there's nothing funky with Allen's deal in terms of a kicker or anything. Only thing is a 2-1 will put Cavs over the roster limit so you'll probably want to find a 3rd team to take on a cheap contract of theirs and ideally we can dump DK there so we clear up the money to be buyout players.

 

Well there are several centers that have outperformed Allen in the playoffs career wise. Ayton is one of them.

Now to your small ball scenario, I put forward this idea, of how we could actually keep Ayton and Hayes, while still being able to deploy, a sound small ball defensive group for stretches of games.

Smart, Wiggins or Grant, Vando, Jake and Lebron. Jake and Vando would need to step up on the boards to help James, and both are capable of that.

Now we still have the Luka, Austin P&R action with Ayton or Hayes, as another look to throw at teams. Versatility is also a strength in the post season.

 

I'm not attacking you here man, but....
Why is it assumed that a lob threat, is the only type of 5 that can play with Luka though? Dallas didn't win a Championship with that, so why is their model, considered to be the only thing ,that works with Luka? I understand him having a particular preference but Hayes is a lob threat too, Ayton can catch lobs if you give him a proper pass. For the record Allen has 92 dunks this season, Ayton 86 and Hayes 67.

 

What do they have up their sleeve?

 

See Lively and Gafford

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Sure it's not the only path, but Ayton or Vuc are NOT that similar to anyone on that list.

That's enough evidence to me if what he wants. You want to keep him happy, you give it to him. We're already on the verge of wasting multiple years of his prime.

 

yeah, i think the interest in hunter was as a DFS type, whom jj clearly LOVED.

i think the problem with wiggins, grant, and even my suggestion of quickley is that they all make a little too much right now to make a trade that doesn't hurt the short-term. that is, rui has to be part of any of them, and we kind of need rui in addition to a player of that caliber right now, even if our long-term plan isn't to re-sign rui.