Okay- honestly, who says no to this three team deal? This trade works on Spotrac
Houston gets:
Fox, DFS, Colby, and Len
Houston gives:
Sheppard, Eason, Adams, Jeff Green, Jock Landale, 2025 FRP, 2026 FRP, 2027 FRP (they have multiple picks each year)
Why for Houston: They get Fox and DFS without touching their core. In fact, they don't trade any of their top 6 guys (Sengun, Smith, Brooks, Green, FVV, and Amen) and bring in Fox and DFS. Fox pushes FVV into a super 6th man role, Amen provides wing depth off the bench, and DFS is an upgrade over Adams with some veteran grit. That is a scary 8 man rotation, not even counting Whitmore, Tate, or Holiday. That is a win now roster that still has plenty of draft capital and young pieces. They'd give up Adams, Green, and Landale as salary matches, but take back Len for big man depth. They own several draft picks each year, so exactly whose draft picks they gave up would be TBD.
Brooklyn gets:
Huerter, Lyles, Steven Adams, 2027 FRP back from Houston (this was originally the Nets pick), and 2029 FRP from Sac
Brooklyn gives:
Cam Johnson and DFS
Why for Brooklyn: They move their two best trade pieces to complete their rebuild. They regain their 2027 FRP (which should be a good one), pick up another FRP from the Kings, acquire $20M in expiring contracts (Adams and Lyles) and also could flip Huerter in a separate deal. That is a pretty good haul for Cam and DFS. You could also make the pick from the Kings earlier (2027 or 2028) if that was important to get the deal done.
Sac gets:
Eason, Sheppard, Cam Johnson, Jock Londale, Jeff Green, 2025 FRP from Houston, 2026 FRP (from Houston)
Sac gives:
Fox, Huerter, Lyles, Colby, Len, 2029 FRP
Why for Sac: A chance to move Fox, but without igniting a complete rebuild. Acquire two starter/rotational wings in Johnson and Eason that provide immediate help on the wings. Acquire 3 young players to develop (Sheppard, and the additional 2025 and 2026 rookies). Add Londale as a center depth to replace Len. Clear $11M in salary (plus Green is an expiring), and add three pieces (Eason, Sheppard, and Johnson) who are all on either rookie or reasonable long term deals. This team seems a hell of a lot more fun to watch than whatever it is we have been watching the last several weeks.
Monk/Sheppard/McLaughlin
DeRozan/Carter/Mason Jones
Keegan/Keon
Eason/Johnson/Isaac Jones
Sabonis/Londale/Robinson
What the starting lineup lacks in shooting (Monk and Keegan the only plus shooters), it makes up for in size (finally!!). Keegan and Eason are a sick defensive pairing on the perimeter, and there is plenty of offense with Monk, Derozan, and Sabonis. The bench has some fun guys as well. Johnson is probably playing in the high 20 minutes each night as the main weapon off the bench, mixing in with Keegan and Eason, and backing up both positions. Carter and Keon give you some great guard defense off the bench, and Sheppard is another potential shooter. All three of those guards are super young and have room to develop. Plus, if you want to go bigger you have options like Jones, Londale, and Robinson. Plus you are adding 1 or 2 FRPs in the offseason (depending on what happens with our pick) and then another two rookies in 2026 to help build the talent base.
Fun team. Not a dumpster fire. Might compete for the playin this year, but with a lot more potential in the future.
