Potential Free agent/trade/sign tracker
- Thread starter iowamcnabb
- Start date
If this team keeps playing this well, I’d probably opt for a minor move involving Hierter + a second for a backup center to even the roster out a bit. Richards, Valanciunas, and Collins, as previously discussed, would all be interesting options with different pros and cons. My preference would be Valanciunas.
Fox/Carter/McLaughlin
Monk/Ellis/Colby
DeRozan/Crowder
Murray/Lyles/Isaac/McDermott
Sabonis/Valanciunas/Len
Main rotation is starters + Keon, Devin, Lyles and Valanciunas.
You’re still short a wing, but having Keegan/Ellis/Carter and their versatility on defense could mask that deficiency enough short term to compete for a Playoff spot.
Fox/Carter/McLaughlin
Monk/Ellis/Colby
DeRozan/Crowder
Murray/Lyles/Isaac/McDermott
Sabonis/Valanciunas/Len
Main rotation is starters + Keon, Devin, Lyles and Valanciunas.
You’re still short a wing, but having Keegan/Ellis/Carter and their versatility on defense could mask that deficiency enough short term to compete for a Playoff spot.
If that rumor of Cam Johnson is true and they are willing to give up Toppin and Nesmith plus a first ( I wouldn’t do it if I were Indiana) then why don’t we swoop in and increase our length and athleticism? Nesmith plays with force and can shoot and Obi gives us even more athleticism. We can play him at the back up 5 and then use Len when we need more size.
Fox Devin
Monk Ellis
Deebo Nesmith
Keegan Toppin
Sabonis Len
Fox Devin
Monk Ellis
Deebo Nesmith
Keegan Toppin
Sabonis Len
Ya we need size and pen hasn’t been good
Two centers coke to mind would be Timelord and Jonas both I think can be had for seconds. Do you take the chance on Williams with his all nba defense potential or go for a sure thing in Jonas who would be great offensively. Either way our bench would be solid with the two guards and added size from a backup center
The Len thing isn't totally fair because he had impact the game before. Against small ball teams he's obviously going to struggle. I still really don't get the idea of investing value and money in backup C. The minutes just aren't there. For almost any team. Yeah, the only big out there that I think could work because there is a history of court time together is Valanciunas. The Kings might be able to continue to squeeze more than the 7-8 minutes the backup C position is getting currently on the Kings.
Len’s -11 in the Warriors game is actually not telling at all. I love how people just use #’s without any regard to what happened on the court. Warriors / Curry went crazy from 3’ in Len’s run and he wasn’t even involved in the action being run. Would have happened regardless of what the backup center was out there.
Len has proved to be a reliable backup - an odd 3 or 7 minute stretch here or there is statistical variance at this point. Now if someone is actually analyzing tape and saying “hey if there was this xyz center in there, that wouldn’t happen offensively or defensively” then I’d listen but noticing very shallow analysis lately in critiquing players.
In fact I’d say Len is a better player right now than Valancunis. Jonas can’t guard at all, so you really want to trot him out there with Fox, DeRozan, Carter, & Lyles for example? (The unit Len is paired with as an example). How in 2025 people are blinded by counting stats is amazing to me. Jonas is a backup on the worst team in basketball right now.
Len has proved to be a reliable backup - an odd 3 or 7 minute stretch here or there is statistical variance at this point. Now if someone is actually analyzing tape and saying “hey if there was this xyz center in there, that wouldn’t happen offensively or defensively” then I’d listen but noticing very shallow analysis lately in critiquing players.
In fact I’d say Len is a better player right now than Valancunis. Jonas can’t guard at all, so you really want to trot him out there with Fox, DeRozan, Carter, & Lyles for example? (The unit Len is paired with as an example). How in 2025 people are blinded by counting stats is amazing to me. Jonas is a backup on the worst team in basketball right now.
Haha I was thinking the same thing.
In reality, Huerter is likely viewed as a negative value asset in a trade, and at best, he has neutral value (which I personally doubt). You’ll be hard pressed to find a team that wants to add a non-expiring, bench shooter that makes $17-18 mil who’s currently shooting 31.5% from three (4.4% lower than the league average). Especially under this new CBA and with how the aprons work.
In reality, Huerter is likely viewed as a negative value asset in a trade, and at best, he has neutral value (which I personally doubt). You’ll be hard pressed to find a team that wants to add a non-expiring, bench shooter that makes $17-18 mil who’s currently shooting 31.5% from three (4.4% lower than the league average). Especially under this new CBA and with how the aprons work.
I saw this trade proposal online and thought it was interesting...
LAL Gets: DeMar DeRozan
LAL Gives: Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, 2025 LAL 2nd, 2025 LAC 2nd, & 2026 LAL 1st Pick Swap
Why for LAL? Vanderbilt & Vincent haven't been contributing very much so they swap them with a major talent upgrade in DeRozan to help bolster their playoff chances. DeRozan gives them another creator/playmaker to add to LeBron and Reaves to help keep them afloat when those guys are resting.
MIA Gets: Brandon Ingram, Gabe Vincent, & 2025 LAL 2nd
MIA Gives: Jimmy Butler
Why for MIA? Adebayo is 27 and Herro is 24. Ingram at 27 gives them another core piece that can fit that timeline while getting rid of their Butler headache. They also get Vincent who once succeeded under Spoelstra and a mid-2nd rounder.
NOP Gets: Kevin Huerter, Jarred Vanderbilt, Future SAC 1st (2 yrs after Hawks pick coveys - Top 6 protected for 2 years, then one Future SAC 2nd), 2025 LAC 2nd, & 2026 LAL 1st Pick Swap
NOP Gives: Brandon Ingram
Why for NOP? The Pelicans get some value for Ingram without having to worry about resigning him. They take on some negative value contracts in Huerter and Vando, but they receive a protected first, a pick swap, and a 2nd round pick to add to their asset pool in an attempt to retool/rebuild.
SAC Gets: Jimmy Butler
SAC Gives: DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Huerter, & Future SAC 1st (2 yrs after Hawks pick coveys - Top 6 protected for 2 years, then one Future SAC 2nd)
Why for SAC? With Devin Carter back healthy, Huerter is the odd man out and becomes disposable. Butler gives them a big upgrade over DeRozan since he's a better shooter, better defender, and a more efficient scorer. Butler also has that tough guy mentality which might be what we need considering the Kings have a bunch of "nice" guys on the roster.
If we want to even consider bringing Butler to SAC, we need to have insight into if he would be excited/happy about coming to SAC. Even then, Butler has seemed to wear out his welcome for each team he has played for and it would be a shame to disrupt the locker room right now. However, he is 35 so maybe he'll end up retiring before wearing out his welcome in SAC
.
In all seriousness though, I could see him enjoying playing for Doug Christie and I'm sure Christie would love having his toughness to lean on and help establish that “Christie” mentality for the team. Butler said in that interview that he has lost his joy and we have Christie on the record saying that we're about playing with joy and taking joy from the other team. That between Christie and Butler at least seems to align.
If Butler proves to workout personality wise with the team/locker room, he gives us a boost defensively and a much better 1-2 go-to scoring duo of Fox and Butler. Those two could do some damage in the playoffs when the game slows down and defenses tighten up.
LAL Gets: DeMar DeRozan
LAL Gives: Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, 2025 LAL 2nd, 2025 LAC 2nd, & 2026 LAL 1st Pick Swap
Why for LAL? Vanderbilt & Vincent haven't been contributing very much so they swap them with a major talent upgrade in DeRozan to help bolster their playoff chances. DeRozan gives them another creator/playmaker to add to LeBron and Reaves to help keep them afloat when those guys are resting.
MIA Gets: Brandon Ingram, Gabe Vincent, & 2025 LAL 2nd
MIA Gives: Jimmy Butler
Why for MIA? Adebayo is 27 and Herro is 24. Ingram at 27 gives them another core piece that can fit that timeline while getting rid of their Butler headache. They also get Vincent who once succeeded under Spoelstra and a mid-2nd rounder.
NOP Gets: Kevin Huerter, Jarred Vanderbilt, Future SAC 1st (2 yrs after Hawks pick coveys - Top 6 protected for 2 years, then one Future SAC 2nd), 2025 LAC 2nd, & 2026 LAL 1st Pick Swap
NOP Gives: Brandon Ingram
Why for NOP? The Pelicans get some value for Ingram without having to worry about resigning him. They take on some negative value contracts in Huerter and Vando, but they receive a protected first, a pick swap, and a 2nd round pick to add to their asset pool in an attempt to retool/rebuild.
SAC Gets: Jimmy Butler
SAC Gives: DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Huerter, & Future SAC 1st (2 yrs after Hawks pick coveys - Top 6 protected for 2 years, then one Future SAC 2nd)
Why for SAC? With Devin Carter back healthy, Huerter is the odd man out and becomes disposable. Butler gives them a big upgrade over DeRozan since he's a better shooter, better defender, and a more efficient scorer. Butler also has that tough guy mentality which might be what we need considering the Kings have a bunch of "nice" guys on the roster.
If we want to even consider bringing Butler to SAC, we need to have insight into if he would be excited/happy about coming to SAC. Even then, Butler has seemed to wear out his welcome for each team he has played for and it would be a shame to disrupt the locker room right now. However, he is 35 so maybe he'll end up retiring before wearing out his welcome in SAC
.In all seriousness though, I could see him enjoying playing for Doug Christie and I'm sure Christie would love having his toughness to lean on and help establish that “Christie” mentality for the team. Butler said in that interview that he has lost his joy and we have Christie on the record saying that we're about playing with joy and taking joy from the other team. That between Christie and Butler at least seems to align.
If Butler proves to workout personality wise with the team/locker room, he gives us a boost defensively and a much better 1-2 go-to scoring duo of Fox and Butler. Those two could do some damage in the playoffs when the game slows down and defenses tighten up.
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I'd be open to it, but as a GM, I would need to have insight into how he would feel about coming to SAC before making a trade for him.
If he's excited about coming here, excited to play with Fox, Sabonis, etc., likes what he sees from Christie thus far, etc., then perhaps it makes sense. If he's wishy-washy about coming to SAC, then absolutely not.
If he's excited about coming here, excited to play with Fox, Sabonis, etc., likes what he sees from Christie thus far, etc., then perhaps it makes sense. If he's wishy-washy about coming to SAC, then absolutely not.
I saw this trade proposal online and thought it was interesting...
LAL Gets: DeMar DeRozan
LAL Gives: Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, 2025 LAL 2nd, 2025 LAC 2nd, & 2026 LAL 1st Pick Swap
Why for LAL? Vanderbilt & Vincent haven't been contributing very much so they swap them with a major talent upgrade in DeRozan to help bolster their playoff chances. DeRozan gives them another creator/playmaker to add to LeBron and Reaves to help keep them afloat when those guys are resting.
MIA Gets: Brandon Ingram, Gabe Vincent, & 2025 LAL 2nd
MIA Gives: Jimmy Butler
Why for MIA? Adebayo is 27 and Herro is 24. Ingram at 27 gives them another core piece that can fit that timeline while getting rid of their Butler headache. They also get Vincent who once succeeded under Spoelstra and a mid-2nd rounder.
NOP Gets: Kevin Huerter, Jarred Vanderbilt, Future SAC 1st (2 yrs after Hawks pick coveys - Top 6 protected for 2 years, then one Future SAC 2nd), 2025 LAC 2nd, & 2026 LAL 1st Pick Swap
NOP Gives: Brandon Ingram
Why for NOP? The Pelicans get some value for Ingram without having to worry about resigning him. They take on some negative value contracts in Huerter and Vando, but they receive a protected first, a pick swap, and a 2nd round pick to add to their asset pool in an attempt to retool/rebuild.
SAC Gets: Jimmy Butler
SAC Gives: DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Huerter, & Future SAC 1st (2 yrs after Hawks pick coveys - Top 6 protected for 2 years, then one Future SAC 2nd)
Why for SAC? With Devin Carter back healthy, Huerter is the odd man out and becomes disposable. Butler gives them a big upgrade over DeRozan since he's a better shooter, better defender, and a more efficient scorer. Butler also has that tough guy mentality which might be what we need considering the Kings have a bunch of "nice" guys on the roster.
If we want to even consider bringing Butler to SAC, we need to have insight into if he would be excited/happy about coming to SAC. Even then, Butler has seemed to wear out his welcome for each team he has played for and it would be a shame to disrupt the locker room right now. However, he is 35 so maybe he'll end up retiring before wearing out his welcome in SAC.
In all seriousness though, I could see him enjoying playing for Doug Christie and I'm sure Christie would love having his toughness to lean on and help establish that “Christie” mentality for the team. Butler said in that interview that he has lost his joy and we have Christie on the record saying that we're about playing with joy and taking joy from the other team. That between Christie and Butler at least seems to align.
If Butler proves to workout personality wise with the team/locker room, he gives us a boost defensively and a much better 1-2 go-to scoring duo of Fox and Butler. Those two could do some damage in the playoffs when the game slows down and defenses tighten up.
LAL Gets: DeMar DeRozan
LAL Gives: Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, 2025 LAL 2nd, 2025 LAC 2nd, & 2026 LAL 1st Pick Swap
Why for LAL? Vanderbilt & Vincent haven't been contributing very much so they swap them with a major talent upgrade in DeRozan to help bolster their playoff chances. DeRozan gives them another creator/playmaker to add to LeBron and Reaves to help keep them afloat when those guys are resting.
MIA Gets: Brandon Ingram, Gabe Vincent, & 2025 LAL 2nd
MIA Gives: Jimmy Butler
Why for MIA? Adebayo is 27 and Herro is 24. Ingram at 27 gives them another core piece that can fit that timeline while getting rid of their Butler headache. They also get Vincent who once succeeded under Spoelstra and a mid-2nd rounder.
NOP Gets: Kevin Huerter, Jarred Vanderbilt, Future SAC 1st (2 yrs after Hawks pick coveys - Top 6 protected for 2 years, then one Future SAC 2nd), 2025 LAC 2nd, & 2026 LAL 1st Pick Swap
NOP Gives: Brandon Ingram
Why for NOP? The Pelicans get some value for Ingram without having to worry about resigning him. They take on some negative value contracts in Huerter and Vando, but they receive a protected first, a pick swap, and a 2nd round pick to add to their asset pool in an attempt to retool/rebuild.
SAC Gets: Jimmy Butler
SAC Gives: DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Huerter, & Future SAC 1st (2 yrs after Hawks pick coveys - Top 6 protected for 2 years, then one Future SAC 2nd)
Why for SAC? With Devin Carter back healthy, Huerter is the odd man out and becomes disposable. Butler gives them a big upgrade over DeRozan since he's a better shooter, better defender, and a more efficient scorer. Butler also has that tough guy mentality which might be what we need considering the Kings have a bunch of "nice" guys on the roster.
If we want to even consider bringing Butler to SAC, we need to have insight into if he would be excited/happy about coming to SAC. Even then, Butler has seemed to wear out his welcome for each team he has played for and it would be a shame to disrupt the locker room right now. However, he is 35 so maybe he'll end up retiring before wearing out his welcome in SAC
.In all seriousness though, I could see him enjoying playing for Doug Christie and I'm sure Christie would love having his toughness to lean on and help establish that “Christie” mentality for the team. Butler said in that interview that he has lost his joy and we have Christie on the record saying that we're about playing with joy and taking joy from the other team. That between Christie and Butler at least seems to align.
If Butler proves to workout personality wise with the team/locker room, he gives us a boost defensively and a much better 1-2 go-to scoring duo of Fox and Butler. Those two could do some damage in the playoffs when the game slows down and defenses tighten up.
I wouldn’t want Jimmy Butler here. Swapping him in for DeRozan doesn’t move the needle that much if at all. We need a proper big man to pair with Sabonis and slide Keegan into a more traditional forward position. We would instantly get bigger/longer and it would really bring some balance to the roster. You can run Fox and Monk together in the starting lineup if you have Keegan, X, and Sabonis out there. Ideally a mobile big man or larger forward that can defend well and shoot some.
I personally think we already have that forward in Keegan. He is essentially the same size as Aaron Gordon, about 9 pounds less in listed weight and same height. Keegan is already stronger than half the forwards in the league and imo he will only get bigger. I’ve said this before but I met his dad once and was shocked how big he was. Genetically he has a good chance of filling out a bit more and get even stronger. He’s also a great offensive rebounder and he blocks a shot nearly every game. We do need more size on the team in general so hopefully we can find that