2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

I’m terrified of RWIII’s health, but I think I’d rather gamble on a 2-3 year deal around $15M with him than pay $50M for Duren.

I really think there are only 2 centers in the modern NBA worth $50M+ and that’s Jokic and Wemby.

 

I mean, all we are doing is calling the guy. I sort of believe Detroit, at the moment, that they won't do a sign-and-trade....unless he really wants to go to Cow Town, slightly up north. Which then Sabonis for Duran is an interesting move.

But still, that 4 viable options it seems like....and all we need is two of them. I think Kessler could be had decently cheap, but we'll see...where the rest are just FAs. So sign them for whatever and call it a day.

 

Also, I mean we don't know what is going on with Peyton.....maybe something has happened there?

I know we don't WANT to go for RFAs, but you got to admit...there are good options out there to be had, if we can just figure it out.

 

So the thing about something like this is I actually don't mind the approach as long as its built particularly around players who fit what we want to do and can come in and contribute.

I don't have specific guys I'm attached to, but an offensive where we brought in multiple sound role players who can help with defense and adding some size is a great one to me.

What I don't want is scooping up guys who sound ok but don't really fit what we need.

 

second part's clear, else they'd be signed already.

i just know that history says the only successful external RFA bids are generally ridiculous, which is why i think you have to be prepared to just max it out if you really want a guy. that's what dallas did when they got chandler parsons. nobody actually thought he was worth that, including dallas--they just knew that was the only way to get him. that deal was a little weird (and i think not legal now) because it included multiple player options and was only 3 years.

in some ways i'm glad we're not the only team poking around the RFAs (read today that the clips are looking at watson, too), but on the other hand, i think our real goal is S&T that avoids RFA, so the conversations of greatest importance should be with the teams, not the players. you should have the player in your pocket already before that, if that makes sense.

really didn't see that morant trade coming at all. also really unclear on what houston's doing and who's helping them do it.

 

6pm ET today

Going all in on Duren or Kessler will clearly be an overpay. But both fit really well with Luka/AR and basically set the foundation for the rest of Luka's tenure. It raises our floor significantly and you have then this and upcoming windows to bring wings that can fit the core 3.

It's not perfect, but we're in a position where we lack assets to do a similar value build like OKC, Spurs and Knicks. It's also the last year we have cap space. I also prefer the overpay than a sign and trade at an also high salary, because if we win the RFA with a max deal we keep the 2 picks to trade for a wing.
Same goes for Watson.

I prefer Kessler's fit but Duren is intriguing too. Same conversation as the other day, the kid is 22. He is not a finished product. He'll continue to grow his game and has the body and build to be a great center.

I hope we get one of the 3, it's a better plan than anything else we might do so rather go for it. Then we will bet on Luka making low value guys outplay their contract

 

2 things: i'm the only one who's said we'd pay 50 million for duren. haven't seen any rumors to this effect. i just think it's the only way it makes sense for it to happen (a multi-team s&t where we offload some salary to a third team, they send a cheaper starting center to detroit, and detroit gets a big TE). i believe at his lower max (reaves's number), detroit will just keep him. same with kessler in utah.

and no, he's not worth either, probably. but he (or kessler) do theoretically fit as part of a three-player core with luka and reaves.

i don't like the three-max build in the modern era, particularly if two of them aren't really maxes. just trying to figure out the best use of space, since that seems to be the route we've chosen.

i think if you just did what i said above and added RWIII, kept lebron, added mamu, and added ellis, you're looking at:

rw/ayton/hayes (still assuming we can find a way to keep him, not seeing much interest around the league for him)
lebron/mamu/vando
luka/laravia/thiero
reaves/carr/knecht
ellis/bronny

you still have your two firsts to trade. you have ayton/laravia/knecht as 20m in expirings and vando as 12m in ballast.

that's probably a fireable offseason for rob, but i think that team would be comparable to last year's with some better-fitting parts.

i sort of hate it.

i hope i get better news than i'm expecting later today, lol.

 

I'm trusting the process tonight. I am curious to see what happens.

I at least feel better now. We have some hope and things seem to finally be settling.

 

I actually like that for free agency IF it’s supplemented with a trade that provides a 3D upgrade. If it’s just that, then yeah, Rob can go.

 

I still say, after drafting AJ.....why would you also want to add Jimmy to that? I think Trae, AJ, and AD work better together. Honestly if Westbrook wants to go back, that COULD be a good team. Not sure that is making it far in the Playoffs, but I don't think they'd fully be a play-in. At least the 6th Seed MAYBE.

Just people need to stay and be healthy.

 

Again, the biggest win today will also be the Kawhi trade....because JUST LIKE WE ALL SUSPECTED........the Clippers had it all and DID NOTHING......TWICE now.

They even built a new stadium for "THE TEAM OF THE FUTURE" just to crash and burn, like we all figured.

So, let's root for that to happen today too.

Enjoy Inglewood Clippys

 

Walter if using Dodgers method is going to favor signing Duren and blow up the market to do it - regardless of the playoff performance of Duren. A 22 yo all star/all nba center on the rise is clearly the best talent on the market. I think the approach to the Reaves contract is showing very little apron concerns

Now whether that approach can work in NBA modern CBA well I have doubts but I strongly doubt Lebron is going to GS and I suspect he's going to stay. If he stays for 2 years Lakers are switching the cheap Austin contract for a cheap Lebron contract and the team is going to be a solid contender (not a favorite) but it will be pretty damn good

I'm prepared for just a massive overpay for Duren

 

I think it's 50/50 whether the Jazz match a $40 million a year offer to Kessler. It doesn't really cause them financial problems this year to do so, but a year from now they'll probably have to dump a big salary (probably Markkanen). Nate Duncan was talking the other day about how there's real financial pressure to get Keyonte George and Kessler extended at a total number under $60 million a year. I don't think they'll be able to do it. Markkanen makes the most sense to trade given that Ace Bailey can just slide into that 3 spot, but who's willing to take on $50 million a year of 30 year old Lauri Markkanen? I don't think he'd be super easy to trade.

If they want to contend, they need Peterson to turn into an elite guy. Markkanen, JJJ, Kessler, George, those guys are all good but obviously none of them are best guy on a championship team types. So do you match a big offer for Kessler, knowing that you'll need to move one of your big salaries in a year? Is it worth it to have all of these guys for a year or two, when you're probably going to be pretty good but not a contender because Peterson isn't ready yet? Or do you negotiate a S&T for Kessler from a position of strength now, rather than trying to trade Markkanen or Kessler a year from now from a position of relative weakness?

 

100% this

He would melt like a candle

 

BTW, if we do end up with a stop-gap option like Rob Williams at center (which I'm fine with as a backup plan) I hope everyone is ready to do this dance with Dereck Lively in restricted free agency next year lol.

 

if league p****** out on punishing the Clippers they have done an outstanding job of getting themselves out of maybe the worst trade in NBA history.
Garland/Wagler/Mathurin, great coaching staff and they are about to get out of draft pick purgatory Just can't believe Indiana pulling that Zubac trade - wtf man

 

The fictitious scenarios were funny to read here the last few days. Kept up my entertainment.

Now we'll see what happens at 3 PST. Rob already kind of f**** my offseason; let's see if he continues to or if he can improve the roster. If not, he can get fired.

 

If he can play then we need to bring in this guy

 

WUT? Where did your weird brain come up with that BS and what name were you then that I would even remember you? Out of “necessity” and/or fickleness you’ve had multiples.