2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

But Anfernee Simmons would be good because he’s cheap and you get a ball handler and scorer who could come in and get buckets. And start for Luka when he needs load management.

Yall won’t like it but Luka can use a lot of Load Management this season. I’d sit him for quite a few games. I’d sit him for about 10 games.

He’s gotta be available for the playoffs.

Kobe only won 1 MVP. But won 5 championships. I rest my case.

 

Grimes is a 6'4 shooting guard. So we are basically thinking Reaves, Jones and Thiero as the small fowards. Luka, Grimes, Ellis and Bronny at guard. Lebron and Jake at PF. And 3 lob threat 5's.

So.. Grimes, Ellis, Thiero and Jones stepping up is the key to success.

Possible

I'm still skeptical of thrusting Ellis into a key role, when he can't seem to beat out, the smaller Shroeder, in Sacramento or Cleveland.

 

If you took Lebron and Bronny off the board. We might be able to conjure up...Ellis, Grimes, Watson and Robinson.

 

Reaves at small forward?? Who is thinking that? He is too small, shooting guard is his spot. We just need a solid Michael Cooper type for our 3rd guard.

 

Ellis is overrated. I like Grimes, Watson is okay. Robinson would be okay.

 

Ellis is dirt cheap though. 9.4 million room exception. I suppose, Lakers could also use that on Smart. Herb trade opens up an extra 3 million or so, but we could also not do that trade and draft a Vaassar. 7 foot lob threat, 3 pt shooter, and good help side rim protector. Plays PF at NC with Wilson at the 5. They both get about 1.5 blocks per 36 each. Vassar measured well at the combine.

In any case, the jist of it is sign 2 elite lob threat/rim protectors and 2 elite POA defenders who shoot the lights out. All UFAs. No draft picks going out or bloated contracts to damage depth.

 

I have Reaves in that Kyrie role, and Grimes in the DJJ role. He's not that big, but he's strong. He could play the 3, just like Smart can. You could also start Herb there if you wanted. The starting unit that went on that run in March was Luka/Reaves/Smart/Lebron/Ayton. Remember, Luka guards the small forwards, and Reaves the shooting guards. Players like Grimes and Ellis guard the Point Guards. They are in that Byron Scott / Cooper mold. Magic wasn't chasing around the Isiahs and Stocktons and KJs.

 

It's more by role than traditional position per se. Remember, Luka defends the small forwards.

Playmaker: Luka, Reaves
Shooter: Reaves, Ellis
POA Shooter: Grimes, Herb
Big Wing: Lebron, Thiero
Lob Threat Big: MitchRob, TimeLord, Hayes

Grimes guards the PG on defense, while playing off ball SG on offense.

 

Everybody made some valid points. Adding some bounce and athleticism, is a good thing. I'd still like to bring in a draft pick, and take a camp flyer on a couple of prospects. We have some options.

 

Can't help but feel that Herb Jones is just a similar Vando, but more injury prone. His defensive metrics have fallen off a cliff the last two years while his shooting has really regressed. I'm out on Herb even though he was a favourite of mine. I'm all for using those guys as trade pieces, but I don't think going for Herb is the right move. No way I'm letting Smart go to get Herb, Smart is the same level defender but a better shooter.

I also like Ellis, but it's damning that such a good defender and shooter gets no playing time. I tend to trust multiple coaches over us arm chair analysts, so if he can't beat out Schroeder, I'm probably happy to stay with Kennard to be honest.

I like both Robinson and Timelord. I think Robinson goes back to the Knicks on a deal above 12m (they'll match up to 20m in my point of view) and you can't spend a ton on Robinson because he can't stay healthy.

Timelord would be a great pick up at the TPMLE level of around 6m. He has missed 55% of games in his career, the poor guy just can't stay healthy, so I think giving him too much money is not a good use of resources. As a 3rd stringer though, I'd be keen. I'd love to get him and Thybulle and split the MLE between them if Smart sticks around in a different way.

Now we come to Grimes. I like him, but he kind of fell flat this year after the end to last season. His performance in the playoffs has also left a lot to be desired, averaging 6.7 points on pretty poor percentages and struggled with the intensity. Which could be a chance for us to pick him up for cheap. But personally, I wouldn't get rid of Rui for Grimes. Rui is just a better offensive player and shooter and I'm not sure Grimes' defense bridges that gap. I'd be happy to get Grimes while keeping Rui, but not over him.

So I would argue, that we improved defensively in your scenario, but we lost a lot of shooting in Kennard, Rui & Smart. Adding Robinson and Timelord improves us defensively from an effort and consistency point of view over Ayton, but those guys miss about 50% of the games a year and if they miss the same games, you're left with Hayes at 24 mins and playing Lebron at the 5 again.

I think Smart, Rui & Kennard are pretty good. I wouldn't be getting rid of them for lateral movements.

 

I'd really like to add more players to our rotation and not just swap out what we have. Can we add 2-3 players to our core of Luka, Reaves, Lebron, Smart, Rui, Kennard, Hayes, Adou? We need a starting 3 that can defend 1-3 and shoot, and a starting 5.

 

I like the concept and way of thinking. You can change player A for player B but it just shows the multiple avenues we have. With the right engineering we can really beef up the squad.

What I liked the most about your presentation is the archetype of players we are looking at, I think you nail it on what we need.

I'd personally keep Smart over Ellis as Smart is a sure thing and for continuity and leadership.

All fair points.
Particularly agree on both centers, if they indeed get injured at the same time we're screwed. But I like the idea of adding one or both of them for a good price. Agree that Mitch may re-sign for NY, he's in a good place there and they certainly need him.

On Herb, I'd say to think about Smart who was also bad in the previous 2 years. Context matters a lot for these role players, especially defensive-minded, they struggle and disappear in bad teams. I think last 2 years of Herb were caused by that and he's an elite defender and role player in the years to come if he gets to a contender.

Ellis is a gamble. It's fair to have reservations on him because he has indeed not gained a consistent role in the previous 2 teams. It comes to personal belief and that's highly subjective. I do believe he will do well here.

On Grimes, fair points too. He wasn't great these playoffs, including on the eye test. I do like him though and having 1 of Herb/Grimes/Smart with our big 3 is a championship caliber rotation. Basically in 4 non-center spots you have any combination between those 3 and the big 3 as your core rotation, that's really good. I think as we wouldn't need to rely on him to be good due to that depth is what makes him more interesting. As showtime said, they are all 2-way players and that's exactly what we should look for

Grimes also brings the ability to raise his offensive game when stars are out, as he shown in that crazy run he had last year playing at an all-star level. I think we need to add one of those type of players to better manage injuries.
Finally, saw above some question on him playing the 3. Our 3 is a guard, that's why Smart is a better starter for us than Rui, so he clearly fulfills that role. He also played the 3 in Philly along Maxey and Edgecombe so no issues there

I think the conclusion is that we have a ton of avenues to strengthen the squad. My goal is to get to that 6 core non-center rotation with three 2-way defensive-minded players to put around the big 3. That has to be the build and for me the roster construction that can elevate us to tier 1. Get to work Rob!

 

It’s a given Vassar will be our 1st round draft pick.