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

He's good enough. Rui is an awesome 3-level offensive player. Ellis is just a catch and shooter basically, but hits a good percentage and volume is good too. For his career, 70% of Ellis's shots come are 3-pointers, and 10% are at the rim. That's efficient. He doesn't try to do too much, which is good.

 

Luka would be a full-fledged point guard on offense, not a point-forward. He would just guard the opposing small forwards, which is preferable.

 

If Rui is traded, I prefer it’s for a big body returning who is better defensively and most likely would be less of an offensive threat. I don’t like Luka ever having to guard fours and if LeBron moves on this summer, we would need to replace BOTH Rui’s and LeBron’s size.
Our biggest problem is not scoring, it’s on the defensive end. Currently, we are ranked middle of the pack defensively and we need to shift much closer to being in the top ten to have a better chance at making a deep run.

 

i misread. yeah, no on rui going out in such a deal. if they asked for that, i'd ask to just pull rui and monk out and see what they wanted draft-capital wise.

 

Would Knecht + 2028 swap + 2030 swap + 2032 swap + 2031 1st + 2032 2nd get it done? Maybe it would.

 

No Rui on the Ellis trade.

They're trying to get off Monk's contract that goes for 2 more years after this one. Gabe & Kleber are both expiring contracts, which solves their problem there. I admit neither Gabe or Kleber is really playable for them.

They gain a first for Ellis - a player that they aren't playing much and will likely see walk in free agency. So they gain a first. They also get Knecht in return, who is a player they can develop as a microwave scorer or shooter.

We can include some swaps. But this isn't a deal that we need to sweeten, they're going to lose this guy for nothing in the summer. If they can find a better package, go for it. But Ellis is a 20 min bench player that isn't seeing any time on a losing team (regardless if it's due to their negligence or not).

I also wouldn't resign Ellis to anything over 20m. Offer him a 4 year 80m contract starting at 17m in year one.

 

Don't get me wrong, getting Ellis while keeping Rui would be ideal, but this is the optimistic perspective. I like to put "this is up to what I would pay". I'm pretty sure Rob could make it happen, but just don't want to puy hopes too high.

 

If we can't get it done for the Kleber, Gabe, Dalton & a 1st package - then we can't get it done. No point in overpaying for a 20 min bench player who isn't being played by his team.

We would be sacrificing Rui who is one of the better shooters in the league - from across the field - and who can defend 5's credibly for an improvement at POA. Rui's also useful as offensive cover for Lebron or Luka going down.

As much as I love Ellis, I don't think he and Monk get us over the hump in a way that it's a no brainer - especially when we lose Rui.

 

I think many here are undervaluing what Rui brings.

 

When Lebron comes back you got a 7 man rotation but the drop off gets steep after that.. Vando, Knecht have more games where they are useless then really valuable. Jake is a great add but his offense fluctuates a ton. And then you have Rui who also can be very streaky even within the game (he was terrible in the first half tonight).

They need some bench scoring to replace the Knecht minutes who my god sometimes his defense is just so bad you're scratching your head and he has games where he can't the ocean with open looks. Plus another POA defender who can hit open shots. Smart is another great add but his shooting comes and goes and he's best with limited minutes.

Got to somehow get to where Indiana was last year where you could mix and match enough good roleplayers to get the right recipe from night to night. Right now if Laravia is off and Knecht is playing like a d****** it just kills an offense that is designed to get shooters good looks.

 

Rui almost by himself created that lead in the third by not missing a shot.
Dude will always be under appreciated here.
He’s shooting 48% from three!!!!

 

I'm pretty happy with our top 7(+1).

Genuine MVP Option: Luka
Sub MVP Option: Lebron
Secondary Great Scorer: Reaves
Tertiary Good Scorer: Rui
Effective Big: Ayton
2-3 Defensive Stopper: Smart
Glue Guy: LaRavia
Serviceable Backup Big: Hayes

We're probably missing one more solid defender. That could be a 1-3 guy, or a 2-4 guy and if they can shoot - thats a bonus. If we had some more offensive firepower off the bench it would help in the regular season too. Monk and Ellis is pretty close to a perfect trade for Gabe, Kleber & Knecht.

Some other teams that could blow things up:

Wizards; Maybe CJ McCollum or Khris Middleton get bought out or they could maybe move one of Keyshawn George, Whitmore or Coulibaly. They're missing a PG and maybe Gabe could interest them from a vet leader point of view.

New Orleans: They may trade Zion to get their picks back, at that point they'd enter a full rebuild and I think Herb Jones, Poole, Looney, Bey, Alvarado, Saddiq Bey, Trey Murphy would all be up for trade. This would be my favourite trading partner.

Mavs: should blow it up and rebuild around Flagg, get another solid pick this year. They won't trade with us, but I'd love Christie back.

Kings: should also blow it up and buy out Derozan, trade Lavine, Schroeder & Sabonis. At that point I'd hope to swoop in for Ellis & Monk.

Clippers: if they accept a down year - which they won't - maybe a few of their vets shake free. I'd love to get DJJ here.

 

Cavs had 65 three points shots lol

 

Based on our poor defensive effort, again, we need one or two better defenders. Not sure who we could get, but I’m certain we have enough scoring and must improve defensively.

 

Gross.

 

Eh Rui is perfect next to Luka I just don’t think you ruin that chemistry. Dalton/Gabe/picks would be enough. Kings prob wouldn’t want to deal tho

 

Cade Cunningham with one of the ugliest triple doubles I’ve seen. Took 45 of a 114 total possessions of his team - almost half of all shots and only hit 14/45.

Terrible.

 

Rui is an efficient scorer. No need to make a trade.

 

Paul George one of the worst contracts in NBA history. 240 million.

and Paul George is just one of these guys who just doesn’t want to play basketball. He enjoys the Money. But really doesn’t want to play. This is who Jordan was referring to.

I repeat Paul George to the Clippers

6 first round draft picks and Shai a nba MVP and champion.

two of those picks became Jaylin Williams and Carson Wallace.

Kawhi Leonard and his strong arm of the clippers single handily destroyed that franchise.

 

More betting point shaving now we have rigged pitching Emanuel Clave Cleveland Indians closer 3 time all star making over 25 million why do this. He says he’ll throw a ball he throws a ball and then they all share profits in Dominican Republic. They’ve made $450,000 and Jose Ortiz started doing it he only made $5,000 idiot. But now it’s in baseball. The two were arrested.


One of the guys they struck out Andy Pages on a pitch low and away.