The Kings have garnered significant attention in their pursuit of sharpshooter Cam Johnson, the versatile forward from the Brooklyn Nets, and John Collins, the dynamic forward/center from the Utah Jazz. While these high-profile names have been the talk of the town, it’s time to shine the beam on the lesser-known players who could fill essential roles for the Kings at a significantly lower cost.
Given the complexities of the Kings’ first-round pick situation, due to the Stepien rule in particular, the protected first-round pick from the Huerter trade, along with a scarcity of second-round picks following questionable trades during the past offseason, the front office has to get scrappy and creative. I’d like to see the team give the core six (centered around Malik Monk, Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Keon Ellis) an entire season to see what they’re capable of with balanced depth. In particular, two reliable rotation players were added: a capable wing defender and a consistent center. Here’s a look at some potential trade targets who may not be in the spotlight but could make a significant impact.
Cody Martin
The Kings missed the boat on a potential trade for Cody Martin and Nic Richards, with the Suns swooping in first to acquire Richards. However, Martin remains available and could serve as a strong seventh or eighth man, currently shooting a career-high 33% from beyond the arc for the Charlotte Hornets. Standing at 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he’s an active defender, versatile enough to guard multiple positions, and thrives in transition. Notably, his shooting percentage would improve over Kevin Huerter’s current career-low of 30%.
Matisse Thybulle
Stop me if you’ve heard Thybulle and King’s speculation before, but his value is at an all time low, coming off a fairly significant ankle injury. He’s yet to log any time this season and still carries a less than desirable contract at $11 million this season with a player option for next year (I think he’s going to pick that up). With the Portland Trail Blazers having an overabundance of forwards with limitations (see my next player), he shouldn’t be difficult to pry from the team, especially with him having trouble finding a consistent role and thus consistent minutes with the team since re-signing there in the 2023 offseason. Thybulle’s defensive prowess, quickness, and lateral movement make him a compelling candidate for the Kings, particularly as a defensive specialist.
Toumani Camara
One of my favorite potential targets, 24-year-old forward Toumani Camara, has shown promise as a defensive presence. Over his last 10 games, he averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and nearly a block per game on 44% shooting for the Blazers. With further offensive refinement and a defined role, he could fit well next to Keegan in the front court.
Chris Boucher
Chris Boucher AKA Swatterboy, AKA Slimm Duck, has been a player that has long been on my radar since the Kings traded for Domas Sobanis. At 7 feet tall, his combination of 3-point shooting and rim protection makes him an attractive option. Boucher has averaged 36% from deep on limited attempts and could effectively fill the backup four or five roles. However, his floor game, basketball IQ, and shot diet leave much to be desired.
Simone Fontecchio
Simone Fontecchio has struggled to find his footing in a crowded Detroit Pistons frontcourt. However, his past performance in Utah, where he shot nearly five threes per game with solid efficiency, speaks volumes about his potential. At 6-foot-8, he brings size, defensive competence, and rebounding ability, making him a valuable addition to the Kings.
Conclusion
The Kings have a unique opportunity to make impactful moves before the trade deadline without jeopardizing their core. There are plenty of options for pursuing low-risk, high-reward trades that enhance the team’s depth. Engaging with tanking teams like Charlotte, Toronto, or Portland should yield fruitful results. While Detroit may present a more challenging trade partner given their recent success, previous deals with the Monte McNair regime prove it’s possible to find common ground.
Some interesting suggestions.
I follow the Blazers a lot and the fans would be okay to part with Thybulle, who’s injury has been viewed as somewhat mysterious.
Camara is a fan favourite in the Keon mold, more athletic and bigger but without the shooting touch. I think the Blazers fans will riot if he’s traded for Huerter and a lowly pick.
Yeah this is spot on.
That wouldn’t work under the cap anyway. We’d either need to be sending someone cheaper, or they’d need to be including other contracts. But if they’re sending us more players, or we’re sending one of our cheap pieces, we’d be right back to your overall point that it would be tricky for us to provide a proper incentive for Portland.
Like, Huerter for Camara and Timelord works, but we’re getting all the interesting pieces in that deal and we don’t have a ton of draft capital to make it worth their while. Would a lightly protected first get it done? No idea.
Thanks for putting this list together. Really wish the Kings had spent the last couple of seasons targeting the under the radar guys. One of the biggest opportunities last season was the Mavs getting PJ Washington, who’s turned into a nice two way wing for them.
I’m ok if the Kings can’t land Cam Johnson but they really need to find some players being underutilized on bad teams that could come in a play a limited role off the bench in Sacramento.
There were earlier opportunities, like getting Collins for a decent price.
Monte dropped the ball and never balanced the roster.
I doubt that he will be able to get Cam or Collins and then you get to the bargain bin guys, like most of those named here above.
I’m kind of over the idea of getting Cam because doing so would almost assuredly require Lyles. Cam is a great wing, but he can’t play the Lyles role of a 4/5. Now, if you can include Day’Ron Sharpe in the mix, then I’m listening.
I still prefer the Collins as he can play that 4/5 role.
Yeah, we need The Collins!
The lineup options and flexibility would be pretty cool. You would have the ability to mix and match Domas, Collins, Murray, DDR, Monk, Fox, Ellis and Carter. Domas, Collins, Murray and DDR would all be 36 min. guys while filling 3, 4 and 5. Fox and Monk at the point, Monk and Ellis at the 2 (with guest appearances from Carter). Either Len, Crowder, DMD or Isaac Jones fills the 9th chair.
I wouldn’t cry if it winds up being Cam Johnson, but Collins seems to fit a little better.
I really like the idea of slotting Collins in between Sabonis and Keegan. That’s a nice big and long lineup for Christie to play with. It also free up the possibility, if Monte were so inclined, to move on from DDR.
Still, my fear is that Ainge is going to want to fleece anyone who comes calling about Collins.
A top 7 rotation of Fox, Monk, DDR, Murray, Sabonis, Ellis, Collins would be fairly nasty for opponents. Then add in Carter for 10-15mpg, and Len as needed.
Those top 7 rotation players create a highly diversified offensive approach. ISO, DHO, PnR, lob threats, spacing with Monk, Murray, Collins and Sabonis. Pick your poison!
I like Lyles, but he is not the same caliber player as Collins.
Question: If the Kings trade Lyles this season, can they re-sign him in the offseason? I thought there was some weird rule about that not happening, but maybe not.
I believe they can. I think the rule applies to the same season. If a team were to trade away a player and that player was then waived, the former team cannot re-sign him.
That’s what it is. Thanks for the clarification. If they got Collins and retained him this offseason, then brought back Lyles, the frontcourt would be stout.
I could actually see Utah simply waiving Lyles if he were traded there. He only hurts their tank effort and I believe he has voiced his displeasure with his prior time in Salt Lake.
I’ll also add, I could see Utah flipping Lyles to a team that is desires his expiring deal, or even a three team deal. As an example the one I’ve been kicking around:
Huerter and Pat Connaughton to Utah
Lyles to Bucks
Collins to Kings
Sprinkle in a 2nd from the Kings and a 2nd or two from teh Bucks, and it could work.
a second apron squad Bucks cut short and long term salary while still competing with Lyles, Kings get Collins, and Utah gets some 2nds for eating Pat and Huerter’s deals.
Call Monte!!!
My blind guess is that the market is going to be more robust for Cam than Collins (just taking a 20k look at the needs of contending teams, coupled with their ability to make a deal). Ainge is heading into Masai territory, in which his past deals are getting farther and farther away, clouded by the stench of the current product. He may need to get off his hands sooner than later.
I do wonder if Ainge is getting an itchy trigger finger with Collins. A lot of that has to do with Collins’ PO next season. Does he opt in, re-sign, or walk for nothing? It would also be a concern for anyone tradeing for him, which is why he may not require a 1st round pick in exchange.
This is a good point Adam.
Yea he was literal available for free two seasons ago when the Kings had cap space and they just decided to resign Barnes. Total fail by the front office.
On Sam Vecenie’s Game Theory podcast yesterday they were discussing the Kings and possible trade pieces. He hated the idea of the Kings trading for Collins which I found interesting. His contention was that he brings absolutely nothing on defense and isn’t a good enough shooter to justify bringing him in.
He also didn’t think it would be possible to get Cam Johnson without giving up either Keon Ellis or Devin Carter and even then he said we’d also have to get Day’Ron Sharpe back or it wouldn’t be worth it. Even then he thought the fit was marginal at best.
Interesting perspective because I’ve generally like the idea of getting either Collins or Johnson if the cost isn’t too prohibitive. He also didn’t think the Kings should make another move until they get through this next stretch of games because it’s a brutal schedule from now until the all star break Just interesting to hear another perspective.
Collins doesn’t bring enough shooting? What was he basing that off of?
I think the thought is, his shooting this year is a pretty big outlier based on the last few years. Which is fair. Will his shooting continue when he’s the 4th or 5th option on offense? It’s an interesting question. I’ve thought Collins is a solid fit here but I think Vecenie is really smart so it was interesting he was so against it.
What he kind of overlooks is that Collins had a gnarly hand injury during his shooting funk.
.401, .399, .292, .371, .438. Those are his last five years beyond the arc. I would argue that the .292 is the outlier. Even if you knock out the high and the low, he comes in somewhere between .371 and .401. That would place him behind only Domas and Keon among the core rotation players.
He has a career TS% of .625, .632 this season. Again, only behind Domas and Keon.
I really enjoy reading Vecenie, especially when it comes to college and international prospects. But I don’t think that I agree with his assessment here.
I enjoy reading Sam as well, though his podcast is a slog.
I really like the idea of Colllins, for all the reasons everyone pointed out above, and because I think the team still lacks a great lob threat, and Monk in particular could do some damage in a pick and roll with him.
If there was a way, perhaps with a third team, to be able to get him without losing Lyles, it seems like it would give Doug some interesting options, as any two of Domas-Collins-Lyles could play together.
The current bench alternatives that were added to provide depth either are inadequate or poorly employed – you decide which. However – Jae Crowder, Doug McDermott and Jordan McLaughlin have seen little time in either the Mike Brown or Doug Christie rotations.
On the younger side of things – Colby Jones (not my favorite and has just been sent down to the Stockton Kings by Coach Christie), Isaac Jones (just hit a 42 point game with those same Stocktonians) are other options.
I get the impression that Thybulle or Martin are different versions of Chris Duarte, that is, an end of the bench addition that won’t add enough (ok, I’ll say it – move the needle. There! I did it).
That’s why the talk is Collins and Cam. I’m in for Nikola Vucevic or the other Martin, Caleb. I would like Camara, he’s a player the Blazers should keep.
I dunno about Patrick Williams. Not getting a good vibe.
And then there’s still Jimmy Butler…
And this is why having 2nd round picks available are important. Sweeteners for deals with tanking teams for their non-start players.
-Not a big fan of Boucher. Streaky 3pt shooter, weighs nearly as much as Huerter but is 2 inches taller at 6’9.
-Thybulle hasn’t played this season, which is concerning to me.
-I don’t see the Blazers moving Camara unless he is packaged with another player (thybulle/Time Lord + Camara) and draft compensation is coming back to the Blazers (maybe a protected 1st at that).
-Huerter + 2nd rounder for Cody Martin (and a smaller salaried player) would be fine, I guess. Huerter has been so bad that Martin’s poor shooting would still be an upgrade this season.
-Fontecchio provides the kind of shooting this team could use at the SF position. I don’t much about his game. Huerter for Fontecchio straight up probably wouldn’t entice the Pistons as they would be taking on an additional $9m in salary. Maybe a 3 team trade could be figured out somehow?
The right type of players to be looking at, and having those 2nd rounders might make these deals actually get done. The Kings have ONE 2nd round pick that is tradeable!!!
Robert Williams and camara for huerter by himself works. Huerter with an unprotected first and the only second available? Will that do it? Two protected firsts and no second?
Why not take a flyer on Justin champagnie from Washington?
The Thybulle fascination around these parts has always been odd to me. He rarely has gotten minutes on teams both good and bad and is a complete zero on offense. I just don’t see the fascination.
I’ll take a whack at this. Prior to his injuries, Thybulle was a younger, more lithe Jae Crowder (talking about the pre-aged Jae). He was a DPOY candidate in 20-21 and 21-22, and in 22-23 he began shooting the 3 pretty well for a defense first wing. He was becoming a guy that you could not completely ignore on defense, and he was a guy that was happy as a defensive disruptor and an offensive afterthought. However, and although he is only 27, injuries may have gotten the better of him.
My Kings comp for him would be Tariq Abdul-Wahad. And like Jae Crowder, his best days may very well be behind him at this point.
Yeah I could see the appeal a few years ago I just don’t think he’s been a positive asset for a couple years now.
Tariq Abdul-Wahad! Don’t hear that name often. I played pickup ball with him between when he joined San Jose State and left Michigan. His name then was Olivier Saint-Jean.
6’5″ All NBA defender with a 7′ wingspan who can guard 4 positions and has averaged more minutes per game in his career that Trey Lyles.
I had him on my fantasy team a few years ago and he would get eye-popping steal numbers. If he was healthy he’d be a great fit with this team where the defense relies on getting lot of deflections. Last couple years have not been good so I think he may be washed.
Dude’s wearing a vest, so I guess the math checks out –
Kings got the wrong Monty..
Beef Stew?
And we’re back
I can’t see the Pistons trading Stewart for anything other than packaging for an established star. He gets a lot of minutes backing up Duren, who while is progressing nicely as a young center, can be pushed around a lot and is a rim protector but otherwise mediocre defender. The Pistons are really playing well, and Stewart’s fiery demeanor is a part of their chemistry, as well as being a fan favorite.
Yeah, I too don’t see them moving Stewart at this point. Piston are playing like Kings East right now and I only see them making a move that really improves their rotation.
Monte:
Kings have officially acquired Kyle Kuzma for a fist bump and cash considerations.
First, great post. I love that you didn’t just list under the under the radar players, but actually dove into why they might be available and why the Kings would want them. A couple of thoughts.
First, I’m really starting to think that trading Huerter, unless we add significant pieces, is going to be trading one player who has underperformed for another player in the same situation. It’s getting harder and harder to argue that his previous numbers still have much value. Since he isn’t an expiring, I think we end up either using him as salary filler along with picks or trade him for someone who also might improve with a change of scenery, or might not.
Second, agreeing with the big six you listed, we have plenty of guard depth, two solid defensive players, and several guys who can bounce from the 2-3 or undersized four in a pinch. With that in mind, I just don’t see defensive wing as a huge need right now. Between Ellis and Murray and maybe Carter down the road, we have that fairly well covered.
Our biggest issue by far is someone other than Lyles who can come in for Keegan and/or Domas. Len should be our 3rd center. I know that a shot blocking big who can stretch the floor is what half the teams in the league are looking for. But we are massively broken there. Sabonis plays way too physical to play the minutes he is, and we can’t afford for him to get in foul trouble as much as he is, heaven forbid an injury. Keegan and Trey are our only two real power forwards, and Lyles is not good enough to be the primary backup for both the 4 and 5.
Third, I mentioned this in another post, but I don’t see this team as a 1a 1b 1c team. Fox, Sabonis, and Monk are all high level players at their positions, but none of them are the kind of players that typically carry a team through the playoffs. Instead, I see this team as a lot of 1bs working together. I believe that all of the top six players listed would play heavy minutes for a championship team. So it’s a lot more like Fox, Domas, Monk, and DeRozan are all 1bs, with Ellis and Keegan being 1cs who kind of pull up to 1bs because of their defense.
I don’t see us needing a 1a to go with Fox and Domas. I see us needing another 1b at the 4/5. If we can get that at the trade deadline, I really believe this is one of the top 4-5 teams in the west.
Just as a weird side note, if you combine the defensive rating and offensive rating of each team (so a team that was number one in both categories has a score of 2) we are currently tied for 8th place in the NBA. Not just since we changed coaches, but for the season.
OKC 7
Celtics 8
Cavs 10
Griz 11
Rockets 14
NY 18
Denver 19
Bucks 20
Mavs 20
Kings 20
Agreed:
I think this is why the Kyle Kuzma rumors will continue to fester from now until the deadline. Both are having horrible years and their contracts go beyond this one.
That being said, I can squint and see a team desperate for shooting and see Huerter as a buy low player that just needs a change of scenery. Lakers, Suns, and Magic come to mind, but I have now idea if they have any interest. Huerter in a Vanderbilt package comes to mind, but the Lakers are gonna want to attach Gabe Vincent to the deal.
Huerter and McLaughlin for Vanderbilt and Vincent works.
I know a lot of people don’t want us to trade any firsts, but I’d like to try to add one or maybe even two protected firsts (for the right deal) with Huerter to get that 4/5 we need. Here is my reasoning. We’re either going to be a deep playoff team in the next couple of years or we’re going to blow everything up. If we are a serious contender, our first round picks are only going to go down in value. If we blow things up, we will not only get a ton of picks back, but the protections will come into play since we are rebuilding.
If could package two protected firsts along with Huerter for a younger power forward or center that would be a true 1b player, it is time to make that move. I don’t want a player like Butler that would destroy our cap space and be injury prone. I want to package some protected firsts to a rebuilding team like the Jazz who are collecting picks, and try to make a real run with this team.
Honestly, I could see that guy being Jabari Smith Jr. My feeling is that Houston is not going to want to extend him as they are keeping the powder dry for Thompson and Eason. They might move him for a couple of firsts. The thing is, Smith may not be back on the court until close to the end of the season.
I agree. And honestly that wouldn’t kill me. I wouldn’t mind going with what we have this season if we had someone like Jabari ready to join the team next season.
We wantz all the forwardz
My problem with Kuzma isn’t his talent. I could definitely see him come back with the right team. It’s that he’s another undersized power forward. I don’t want a SF who can slide to the 4. I want either a true center who can backup Domas or occasionally play alongside him by moving Sabonis to the four, or a 6 10-11 true PF who can back up Keegan and occasionally move to center like Green used to do for GS but without the attitude.
What talent? Kuzma’s advanced stats are consideribly worse than Lyles’ with the sole exception of assist rate.
He’s a 6’9 forward and never had a TS% of .550 or higher! His shot selection is awful, he tries to avoid contact with his stupid fadeaways, his rebounding is so-so and his defense is spotty at best.
My problem with Kuzma is everything related to basketball. He’s a genuinely nice guy, btw, and is really involved and engaged in charities.
I don’t enjoy watching Kuzma on the basketball court.
I enjoy him immensely when he is on the opposing team.
PoetryPoultry in motion.I’m not going to argue that’s he’s a great player. Honestly, I’ve never understood why he keeps getting linked with the Kings. I do think that in the right situation he could be a solid player. First or second off the bench. My point is that even if he was an all star, I wouldn’t want to trade for him, because I don’t think we he’s a true PF and we are already undersized at almost every position. Keegan should be a 3. DeRozan should be a 2. The last thing I want is another 3 who plays the 4 a lot.
Oh agreed. Good points.
I just get into a quite rational rage when I hear Kuzma being equated to talent.
Haha. You will get no argument from me.
Just an opinion here, I think DDR’s days of playing the 2 are over. Have you seen the 2 guards in the league now? DDR can barely keep up with the SFs.
And Monk IS NOT going back to the bench.
While i would love some work around the edges of this team, getting a guard or 2 out, and some wings/center depth my concern as of right now is does that address the overall issues with this team?
Im not trying to derail this convo but does adding a Cam Johnson or Collins ( or anyone listed above ) turn this team into a deep playoff team ?
Im not one of those Championship or busts type fans, but at the end of the day you’ve got to put your team in the playoffs with a chance to make a deep run. Luck and health plays into the equation also.
This team as currently constructed i believe lacks that ability and will continue to do so until something shifts the direction of this team. Maybe im wrong and that shift is in the form of Doug ( we can hope ). But i believe to really do that you’ve got to move off one of your “big pieces” to fill out the this roster. We can make one of these edges type trades and possibly just kick the can down the road, or we can make the change now and try and really do something.
Almost every NBA champion of the last 10 years has had a least one “home grown” talent on their roster that you could argue is/was one of their best players on that team. The biggest question now is do you think Fox or Keagan fits that description and if not it’s time to move on.
I still think if this team really wants to compete for anything they need to move one of Fox or DeRozan. The team’s worst Net rating lineups are still when both of those two are on the floor together. Fox is obviously better and younger than DDR but he also has a lot more trade value and is owed a massive contract. I personally don’t think Fox is worth a supermax extension. If you could get someone like Amen Thompson and a pick or two for Fox I think I’d do it. I genuinely believe we’d have a more complete, more versatile team while also having the flexibility to make more moves because of the added draft capital. It’ll never happen though because I don’t think this team is going to trade Fox unless he demands it.
OT: WTF? The Suns have to be going after Jimmy Butler with this move, right?
That would be my guess.
Bradley Beal and three shitty first round picks for Butler is….something, I guess.
It’s cut your losses time for Phoenix and Beal, Miami and Butler and Utah and three late round FRPs (which are guaranteed money x 3 years) – I am sure Utah would have preferred 20028 or 2029 (the career span for Durant, Booker and maybe Butler – about 3 years from now), but still a best chance for lottery in 2031 than those 2025, 2027, and 2029 swap picks, maybe.
It’s also an easier draft capital for trade for Utah with an unprotected 2031.
Butler had one of his preferred trade locations as PHX. This means they will be more likely to re-sign/extend him. Also, Beal dropped his trade restriction. Sure seems like that is what is poised to happen.
Still don’t think that makes Phoenix a title contender.
I don’t know. Should they land Butler, he has the “it factor” when it comes to playoffs. He’ll also play with a chip on his shoulder and he is far better than Beal.
A healthy Durant, Booker and Butler with a decent supporting cast (they added Nick Richards, have Grayson Allen and Tyus Jones, Monte Morris and I like their new young’uns – Ryan Dunn and Ighodaro) are poised to make noise.
They are putting all the chips in. And that’s smart, IMHO. (healhy) Butler > (healthy) Beal, no matter what.
Are they going to make the playoffs? And does Butler still have the it factor at 36? I’m skeptical. If Phoenix wants to mortgage its future more than it already has, nobody should stop them.
It will be interesting to see how this unfolds.
Butler has a $52m player option next year. And while he made it clear that he wants out of Miami, I could see him opting in just to handcuff the Heat. So with that being the case, Miami kicks the can down the road one year by trading for Beal’s $54m 25-26 contract, which also comes with a $57m player option the following year.
If that winds up being the deal, Miami does its best to stay relevant this season and perhaps next – they certainly not going to tank with Bam and Herro on the roster. And while their desire probably would be to go into free agency this year with neither contract, Butler holds the cards with the PO.
I’m also not 100% certain that Beal winds up in Miami. There is chatter about a three or even four team trade, with teams such as the Bucks and Raptors being mentioned. I have no idea who winds up being involved in this case – Beal to the Bucks in some form of Middleton+ going out would be my blind guess.
Stay tuned, I guess.
I have read some speculation on the Bucks getting Beal with Middleton being the main salary going out. I guess I see it, Middleton is a shot creator/ball mover, and Beal does the same thing. Middleton isn’t the defender he once was, so even if Beal is a downgrade, it is more slight than serious. Would be interesting to see how that worked out, and who else would need to be involved to get all that salary matching with apron teams exchanging contracts.
Super appreciate the article! Lots of great research here and names I certainly didn’t know about.
I wanted to say in relation to the thread I’m adamantly against using first round picks on marginal players. We already used a first on Kevin Huerter. We burned another one salary dumping Richaun Holmes. We traded Davion Mitchell to salary dump Vezenkov. Are we going to use yet another pick to get rid of Huerter, while bringing in another average starter in the process?
This is not a team that’s a piece away from a championship. They’re a piece away from losing in the second round. It’s really counterproductive to continually burn the future of the franchise trying to get just above mediocrity.
Couldn’t agree more. I’m of the mindset that you shouldn’t use first round picks unless you are bringing in a starter who is gong to give you upwards of 30 minutes per game. I’m fine with the first that Monte sent out for Huerter, because well, he was the starter on the best team this fanbase as seen since before the invention of the iPhone.
No one in this article is worth a first because none of them would be impactful starters for this current roster. The same could be argued for the rumored interest in guys like Cam Johnson and John Collins because who are they replacing in the starting 5?
Agree that the Huerter deal was good for the first year and has been steadily worse since then, where it now looks like a flat out bad deal. I was going to say that the Kings might have been better off with Bogdan Bogdanovic, but he’s been awful this season too.
Yeah, the Huerter deal is classic hindsight is 20/20. No one could have predicted that he would forget how to shoot. That dude was money during the playoff season and is the kind of player you’d want (especially if he could play defense) on the floor with Sabonis.
On a side note, Huerter’s career numbers aren’t that dissimilar to Cam Johnson’s. This season is the outlier. Take it FWIW.
Can someone explain why Utah gave up 2025, 2027, and 2029 FRPs for PHX’s 2031 FRP? Seems so lopsided.
It looks like they are nearly guaranteed to be late first round picks. From the article that Adamsite linked to at 4:18 pm:
Yup. Ainge is a savvy MFer. He’s banking on the Suns being completely destitute by 2031 (he’s likely not wrong) so those Minny and Cavs picks are nickels and dimes compared to the $20 bill of the Suns pick in 2031.
IMO, he sees Suns ownership as the new kids on the block who think they can buy a title. He’s simply taking advantage of Matt Ishbia’s purse and ego.
Those picks are the lesser of the multiple picks Utah already owns. Simply put, Utah has numerous first round picks. So many in fact, that they can’t realistically use them all for their own benefit. This is Ainge cashing in.
They traded away 3 “likely” late round firsts, for the Suns unconditional 2031 first. The 2025, 2027, and 2029 picks are likely to be in the high 20s. Ainge is banking on that unconditional 2031 to be worth its weight in gold when the Suns no longer have Durant, Booker, and likely Butler.
Utah still owns all of their first rounders. They are just selling off the Wolves and Cavs picks they got in the Mitchell and Gobert deals.
Is this really any worse than the Kings trading a 1st round pick swap for 2031 in order to get DeRozan this season? What does everyone think? Spurs and Jazz hoping for a lottery pick 6 years in the future for moves now.
Actually a good deal for both teams. PHX gets assets they can cash in now in their current tax situation. Utah gets rid of lake round picks they are going to have too many of and probably ends up with a single valuable pick they can use later.
….
Wild, but hear me out.
Heat get 60 cents on the dollar and maintain flexibility with big expriring money next year. Their overall talent drops, but both of their guys could use a change of scenery.
Suns get their guy and dump Beal. Huge wins all around for them, even if they outlay all the FRPs they just got.
Pelicans get a worse deal, but a lot of draft capital. I assume they get all the suns FRPs they just got plus the Kings free 2nd rounder.
Kings take a big swing but get a legit backup for Sabonis. If BI doesn’t work out this year, they free up cap room earlier. If he does, cap is going up a LOT next year and they could still resign him and fox, but they’d be over the first apron. It gives the Kings a legit top 6 that have guys who would start for nearly every team in the playoffs this year, as well as some other good depth.
+1 If you swap McCollum for Murray in this deal it still works exactly as is, and maybe doesn’t cost as much to get the Pellicans to take the trade.
Badge Legend