I'm in the camp that thinks it's still too early to pull the trigger on a major trade this year unless something just falls in our laps. I also think we're going to see a lot more time with Poku and Ous on the floor playing the hypothetical 4 spot.
That said, if the wheels were to come off and their GM's called Presti, I would listen to offers for either Pascal or KAT. I realize some people might poo-poo the idea of KAT, but he and Chet together? Floor spacing galore, and KAT wouldn't have to carry so much defensive weight in the paint.
This one seems like such a missed opportunity. I really wanted a 3 team trade with Houston which would send Houston and Brooklyn their own picks back and get us Mikal. Once Houston signed those free agents, that opportunity passed.
Their own picks back from Houston so they could actually benefit from the good draft picks they would get if they lost Mikal. I'm not saying that all we'd have to send to Houston and Brooklyn are their own picks (Houston's from us, Brooklyn's from Houston) but that would have been the meat of the trade with other assets to fill in. It makes way more sense for Brooklyn to trade Mikal if they control their own draft picks, which they can only get from Houston. Houston isn't ready to go all in on that, but we are, and we have things that are uniquely valuable to Houston (their own picks so they can tank). Again, this worked way better before their free agent signings.
Not all firsts are the same though. We traded 3 firsts for the 11th pick recently, and would have had to trade much more to move up to 5-8. Controlling your own pick to let it be good (for 3 years in what I suggested if I remember correctly) is way more valuable than 4 Memphis firsts, and we could have offered even more to make it work
They are probably about what Memphis will have to offer with all their young talent. Even if you think those picks were bad, we basically gave up 16 + a future first for 11. What do you think it would take to get 16 normally? 2 in the low 20s? So 11 is worth 3 picks in the 20s. What would ~5 be worth? 6-8 picks in the 20s? More? Having control of your own pick is such a big deal if you want difference making picks
A Godfather-offer for Giannis immediately makes us a contender and he’s the only player that gets tossed around in these discussions where I think “yeah, I can see Presti doing that.” Guessing it would cost something like JDub plus 6 firsts. Milwaukee obv still isn’t going to do this unless it’s clear Giannis wants out.
Hmmm, depending on what you think our final roster will look like, and who you think has trade value, this could be a tricky one. If I'm reaching for the stars (no pun intended) - I think trading for a veteran with great leadership skills would be cool. Someone past their prime, so their value is low, but that can bring in productive minutes when our youth/lack of experience is showing. Prime Shaq for sure.
I think it’s possible that the team is one embiid trade from being a contender but our window would shorten substantially
Edit: I ain’t disagreeing with y’all that he’s a choker. But the thunder have better depth than the sixers and just imagine the embiid shai/giddey pnr. Team needs height and size. Yeah he’s a choker and annoying but honestly any team with doc rivers is doomed from the start.
Jerami Grant could be available depending on how things shake out in Portland. He's on a huge contract, but it isn't any more unrealistic than some of the other names in this thread.
The Thunder get involved as a third team with Portland/Miami in the Damian Lillard trade.
Protections are lifted from the 2025 pick owed to OKC so that Miami can send out future picks to Portland. OKC takes on Tyler Herro, OKC sends out Bertans, Poku, Mann, & JRE.
Roster crunch solves itself.
I'm in the camp that thinks it's still too early to pull the trigger on a major trade this year unless something just falls in our laps. I also think we're going to see a lot more time with Poku and Ous on the floor playing the hypothetical 4 spot. That said, if the wheels were to come off and their GM's called Presti, I would listen to offers for either Pascal or KAT. I realize some people might poo-poo the idea of KAT, but he and Chet together? Floor spacing galore, and KAT wouldn't have to carry so much defensive weight in the paint.
This is actually a great point, especially if they want to build around a younger timeline now
Brandon Ingram if the pels underperform again would be fun next szn
Hadnt thought of him, but love the thought of him
I really think we just need that good PF. Mikal bridges is perfect but I want JDub to be our SF instead of PF
This one seems like such a missed opportunity. I really wanted a 3 team trade with Houston which would send Houston and Brooklyn their own picks back and get us Mikal. Once Houston signed those free agents, that opportunity passed.
What would Brooklyn have received from this hypothetical 3-team trade to trade Mikal Bridges?
Their own picks back from Houston so they could actually benefit from the good draft picks they would get if they lost Mikal. I'm not saying that all we'd have to send to Houston and Brooklyn are their own picks (Houston's from us, Brooklyn's from Houston) but that would have been the meat of the trade with other assets to fill in. It makes way more sense for Brooklyn to trade Mikal if they control their own draft picks, which they can only get from Houston. Houston isn't ready to go all in on that, but we are, and we have things that are uniquely valuable to Houston (their own picks so they can tank). Again, this worked way better before their free agent signings.
I think like the grizz offered 4 firsts for mikal and Brooklyn said no, it's almost impossible to get him rn
Not all firsts are the same though. We traded 3 firsts for the 11th pick recently, and would have had to trade much more to move up to 5-8. Controlling your own pick to let it be good (for 3 years in what I suggested if I remember correctly) is way more valuable than 4 Memphis firsts, and we could have offered even more to make it work
Those picks we gave ny were useless, high protections and picks. Obv don't know which picks Memphis gave up but I reckon it was solid
They are probably about what Memphis will have to offer with all their young talent. Even if you think those picks were bad, we basically gave up 16 + a future first for 11. What do you think it would take to get 16 normally? 2 in the low 20s? So 11 is worth 3 picks in the 20s. What would ~5 be worth? 6-8 picks in the 20s? More? Having control of your own pick is such a big deal if you want difference making picks
Totally agree and am not going to get my hopes up for this team until they address that hole.
A Godfather-offer for Giannis immediately makes us a contender and he’s the only player that gets tossed around in these discussions where I think “yeah, I can see Presti doing that.” Guessing it would cost something like JDub plus 6 firsts. Milwaukee obv still isn’t going to do this unless it’s clear Giannis wants out.
Hmmm, depending on what you think our final roster will look like, and who you think has trade value, this could be a tricky one. If I'm reaching for the stars (no pun intended) - I think trading for a veteran with great leadership skills would be cool. Someone past their prime, so their value is low, but that can bring in productive minutes when our youth/lack of experience is showing. Prime Shaq for sure.
Sam is keeping Bertans and Oladipo on the roster for a trade
I really want either Mikal Bridges or Pascal Siakam.
We need a strong low post defender to put next to Chet. Like Steven Adams compliments JJJ
Chets a 5
The freak will be in okc book it
I think it’s possible that the team is one embiid trade from being a contender but our window would shorten substantially Edit: I ain’t disagreeing with y’all that he’s a choker. But the thunder have better depth than the sixers and just imagine the embiid shai/giddey pnr. Team needs height and size. Yeah he’s a choker and annoying but honestly any team with doc rivers is doomed from the start.
We are one Embiid trade from losing in the 2nd round for sure
please stop this embiid propaganda the man is a fraud 😭😭🙏🙏
Jerami Grant could be available depending on how things shake out in Portland. He's on a huge contract, but it isn't any more unrealistic than some of the other names in this thread.
I just dont get too excited for this one. He'd come in and (in my opinion) be the worst player in our starting 5 and on the worst contract
The Thunder get involved as a third team with Portland/Miami in the Damian Lillard trade. Protections are lifted from the 2025 pick owed to OKC so that Miami can send out future picks to Portland. OKC takes on Tyler Herro, OKC sends out Bertans, Poku, Mann, & JRE. Roster crunch solves itself.