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

Boo hiss

 

Race for Flagg is underway

 

I could see Christie/Knecht starting at the 2 and 3 in the near future. If this is the case, could Reaves start at the 1? Or, would he come off of the bench? Reaves looked solid defensively. With Christie defending the point guards, the only question about Reaves would be, can he handle the ball?

 

Wore out AR last year when he was backup PG a lot of times. I think that works for a finishing lineup where you know Lebron is going to be de facto PG anyway but I don't think AR can be the point for large chunks of the game

 

So, lets say we didn't have Dlo, would we be okay with a line up of Reaves/Christie/Knecht/Lebron/AD? Or would Reaves be better off coming off of the bench, or traded for a point guard type?

 

I've been thinking and changing my stance for this team iteration.

I wouldn't give up an FRP for Grant. He's too old and cost too much. If he were 27, I would do it.

As @Pioneer10 correctly pointed out in the WMC thread, there are too many guards on this team right now, which brings me to this: I was listening to A. Irwin on one of his shows and he thinks that there's a chance that Kuzma could be back on this team.

That's my bigger point. Kuzma is 29, he has a good contract, and I know he spent WAY more time playing the last few seasons (particularly last season). However, I do think he could play SF, he can switch, and when engaged isn't a liability defensively. Offensively, he has some gravity, too. He's not a knockdown shooter, but it is what it is. He's flawed, but given where we're at, it's probably worth the risk, IMO.

You could also target Jonas. I think both of their contracts are $23 million? I might need to be "fact checked on that." It isn't a sexy deal, but it would give the roster way more balance. It probably also wouldn't include any first-rounders, and we've done business with Washington before, but I think that was under a different GM. Either way, depending on how the deal is structured, it could improve the team and gear up the roster for a longer potential postseason run, IMO.

 

Reaves isn’t going to be traded anytime soon.
There’s a small possibility that he’s included in a trade for an All Star sometime in the future.

 

I didn't think so. It's very early but right now, I'm thinking the following (for this season)

1. Christie earns starting SF spot over Rui

2. Knecht plays 30+ minutes off the bench. Might get 6MOY and ROY. I know it sounds a bit outlandish but Reddick values shooting. This kid is too good to not play big minutes.

3. Rui reduced to 12-15 mpg as strictly Lebrons backup, unless he plays some small ball 5.

4. Vanderbilt might be out of the rotation.

5. Vincent and Koloko are 8th and 9th men.

6. Rui or Vando might be shopped for upgrade at back up 5. But don't give up a 1st.

 

Even in this very optimistic scenario: Reaves is still clearly you're 3rd best player who gives you Desmond Bane like production at literally a 1/3rd the price. It's absolutely insane value and with this CBA, Reaves value is boosted because of his contract significantly.

Even in the preseason game he was clearly the Lakers most talented player - it's a no go unless you're getting truly elite player back

 

It's around 33 million for both: you'd have to flip both rui and dlo for them. Not sure the Wiz want rui back, if you go dlo/gabe you got no PG on the team. I like the concept but Lakers problems remains that both Rui and Dlo have value as players they are not trash and you have get requisite production back for them

 

Happy birthday AC https://www.instagram.com/jamesworthy42/p/DAyo8lvyEl4/?img_index=1

 

Yeah, we can't pay that.

Drop it to a 1st or a first plus a couple seconds and I'm in.

 

not being delusional, imo--having low fan/media expectations. nobody cares if utah loses 60 games this year, next year, and two years after. he can afford to just take wild swings or make wild demands.

if he doesn't get the two firsts...nobody will care. there will be no article written defaming his intelligence or acumen. because nobody cares. he'll put out an alternative narrative that people will accept (instead of questioning for years thereafter), and he'll move on to doing a whole lot of not much whilst retaining the "genius" title.

he'd fail hard here, imo. it's a different job.

 

I'm all for keeping Reaves. I absolutely agree with you regarding his contract. The Reaves, Christie, Knecht, and even the Dlo contract to an extent are great value. We should benefit from that.

 

Ainge is just a good GM. You're right about Utah but he also successfully in Boston.

The dude said he wanted to Lebron #1 when he was a sophomore in hight school lol. And it's not just the Pierce KG acquisition and then trade. The Fultz Tatum trade is one of the best all time now. He missed on a lot of mid low draft picks but he got got the big ones right big time

 

yeah, i think his success is overblown and stand by the opinion that he couldn't hack it here because the fans won't put up with "we might be really good six years from now!".

 

Interesting list..

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/st...1-nba-breakout-players-tiers-2024-2025-season