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

NO.

 

BINGO!
We are currently in “no man’s land” because of the LeBron situation. I’m not even sure if I would do the LeBron for Jimmy/Podz swap since Butler’s really close to becoming a bad value contract.
Like I’ve said before, it’s going to take at least this summer and next to build a properly balanced team around Luka and Austin. We could get lucky and get one or two pieces at this deadline and then a couple more perfect fits this summer, but I think that’s a bit too unrealistic.
It’s going to take some time.

 

How can you claim a Luka/Austin team will always be a poor defensive one when there hasn’t been enough time to build it?
Luka/Kyrie worked and so can Luka/Austin.

 

Watching Mavs vs Kings - Keon Ellis with 32 mins: 21 pts 3 steals 2 blocks with 5/10 from three.

He would be a really great addition here in my opinion. And the hope would be Adou can develop into that wing stopper.

As an aside: Westbrook is shooting 45% on wide open 3’s this season, top 10 in the league. Bizarro world.

 

Knecht + top 5 protected first for Ellis and a second.

Trade Rui for an upgrade at wing. I’d love to get a three team trade for DJJ.

 

Where in that post did I say Luka/Austin will always be poor defensively? I said you need three plus defenders around Luka and Austin to make that duo viable. I think everyone agrees with that. But I’m not sure Luka/Austin + three defensive players is actually good enough offensively.


That’s what happened to the Luka/Kyrie Mavs. Kyrie, and to a lesser degree Luka, struggled against an athletic and switchy defense in the C Bags and the rest of the team were defense-first role players. The result was the offense sputtering (they hit 100 points in 1 out of 6 games) and getting blown out in the Finals.

 

The 3/4 long athletic wing is the more important piece, moving forward than POA. Since Ellis is on a cheap contract, I'd make a play for him, but I wouldn't be interested in giving up a 1st rd pick in the process. A playoff veteran guy that can still play, to help develop the rook would be ideal. I hate to say it, but my boy Rui might have to go. Bummer


Imo the better teams are trending more size, length and athleticism, over 3pt shooters.

 

What players are you looking at that play the 3/4 role? Just interested. If we're talking a player like a prime PG's profile that could guard 1-3 and guard up a little, I get it. I'm not debating. Just interested in the player(s) you'd go after.

That's for everyone. I think we're all saying the same thing, IMO.

 

Wiggins, Grant, PJ Washington, Herb Jones types...guys with the ability to switch 2-4 and handle the rock some, and score off the dribble. Now...Scottie Barnes would be the ultimate Lebron replacement IMO. We don't have the assets for him, but I'd take any of these other guys, for any combination of Rui, Vando Gabe, Kleber, Knecht...plus a pick. I would try to lift Elis too though, he's gettable at that salary.

 

We can probably get a 3&D wing or POA guy. I’m not sure we can do both.

 

If we can get Ellis for Knecht it's doable. Rui and Kleber or Gabe or Vando puts us in Wiggins or Grant territory. Washington is probably off the table unless AD gets traded. Jones is on a 14M contract. It's a matter of draft compensation. Put two of these guys with Thiero and we have significantly upgraded our perimeter guys. This season and moving forward.

 

Right now Barnes and that Daniels kid from Atlanta, are two guys Id move Austin for.

 

The Ellis/Wiggins combo that I mentioned.

(1) Knecht + 2031 1st (top-4 protected) + 2030 swap + 2032 swap for Ellis + 2027 Charlotte 2nd (likely 30-40) + 2029 2nd

(2) Rui + Vincent + 2027 Charlotte 2nd + 2029 Sacramento 2nd + 2031 2nd for Wiggins + Johnson

 

Look at our former Center for 5 minutes Mark Williams getting socked by little Jose Alvarado! To be fair to Mark, he scored 24/13.

He certainly would be more helpful than Knecht lol. Rob was lucky we fluked into Ayton. I don't think the Sacramento Queens are giving away Ellis for Knecht guys!



Poole getting PTSD and remembering when Draymond kicked his butt.

 

I think Ellis can be had for less than a top 4 protected pick.

Seriously tho..is Ellis really a superior player to Max?

https://www.sports-reference.com/st...mparison&utm_medium=sr_xsite&utm_id=chrisma02

 

Max is the exact type player we need, but unfortunately had to let him go in the trade, because that's how trades work- even though overall it was an obvious fleecing. Look at their steals and blocks per 36 minutes, and look at their DBPMs, STL% and BLK%. You guys keep under valuing Ellis. He's an elite 3 and D player. Probably only player in the NBA with basically 2.5 three-pointers, 2.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes. This guy will be an all-defensive team member soon, then everyone will be glazing him. 3 and D is a rare skillset- so these players are pricy- look Suggs got 35 million out of no where- stuff like that.

 

Our trade target not looking too bad after coming back from injury huh?