2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Um that's a done deal instantly. However, I highly doubt Cleveland's solution this summer is Mitchell, Garland, and Reaves.

 

would have to be a three team deal that netted cleveland a better-fitting, low cost piece. i don't see it happening, either.

 

It's a tough call. I'm more in the push the chips in for next year camp because I think LeBron will still be at a Top 10-15 level and its hard for me to just assume we'll be able to bring in another guy that good for Luka. And as much as I've enjoyed watching Reaves' growth these last few seasons, I think the easiest way for this team to improve is to turn him, our best asset, into one or two of the athletes we need around Luka regardless. But I understand the other perspective. I think a lot of it comes down to the discussions around Luka's extension. I'm pretty certain he signs it this summer, but what does he think the direction should be? I feel like we haven't actually heard a ton from him about how he likes playing with LeBron.

 

Nah, don't get me wrong, I doubt that too. But, Reaves makes more sense than Garland next to Mitchell, due to his size. So they would have to ship Garland out, which they are rumored to be doing. Maybe at that point it would make sense? That Cavs big is a good option for us though, he is a lob catcher, defender, rebounder, and doesn't foul a lot.

 

We almost got Williams without having to give up AR, and people thought it was an overpay. So, we should in theory be able to get a similar big w/o having to give up AR. Williams was good for 3.4 dunks per 36 last season, and 3.3 dunks per 36 for his career, which is elite. He also isn't that bad of a fouler. He gets around 3.2 per 36. His rebounding is also elite, with a TRB% of 20.1. The only problem is his defense, with a 0.5 DBPM, which is below average for a big. However, he did check most boxes though. Your not really going to find somebody that checks all of the boxes, you just do the best you can. I'm comparing him to to other lob catching bigs. Allen and Claxton also check most of these boxes, but probably dont have the injurt red flags, like Williams.

 

i'll say one more thing people are going to hate: lebron is in cp3/kawhi territory in that i simply don't trust him to make it four rounds of playoffs anymore. this is why my favored action is to keep as much powder dry for when he leaves as is possible.

and i'm sure luka loves playing with lebron! i'm not saying trade lebron. i'm saying don't spend everything on marginal upgrades. again, i'm seeing stuff like moving reaves for gafford types (or even claxton types) and i'm just...not at all sure that's the right idea. when lebron's gone, we will need at least one other guy who can carry offense, and reaves has shown he can do that. those guys are NOT cheap. so moving him for a slightly better chance next year doesn't make sense to me.

i think allen is a tier above those two in terms of fit for our needs. this is why i'd consider moving reaves for him. but man...even then i'm not sure. he's getting underestimated again around here.

i would have loved williams, and as i've said many times, i'll be watching his health like a hawk for years. could be the one that got away. if he even plays just next year fully healthy, an argument could be made that some heads should roll, lol.

i'm still interested in seeing how cheap robert williams can be had for. i want to talk to portland about ayton or williams/thybulle (with the latter being my preference). knecht is on the table in either deal, along with kleber and gabe and shake as expiring money. i'm open to discussing 1sts with protections/swaps, etc., too.

reaves stays in these scenarios, and we still have the tpmle to try and address other holes.

 

Maybe give Cleveland both Rui and Knecht for Allen. It sounds rough, giving up our two best shooters, but we keep other 20+ million in expiring's + picks, which we could use in trades. Cavs might go for this, since they are in win-now mode. Maybe expand this to include Gabe + swaps and Okoro.

 

(1) Rui + Knecht for Allen

(2) Kleber + Vincent + Milton + 2031 1st + 2030 + 2026 swap + 2028 swap for some 3 and D talent

 

Oh I definitely wouldn't move Reaves for guys like that. My ideal Reaves trades are something like Reaves for Suggs, Reaves for Kessler + something, Reaves for Duren + something, Reaves for Lively + Christie. And I'm not really saying that Luka might not like playing with LeBron, but I think it's a fair question whether he would want to see Reaves/Dalton/our remaining draft picks all traded this summer just to try and capitalize on one, maybe two LeBron years. Maybe he'd prefer your flexibility route.

I get that concern about LeBron, the last 2-3 playoff runs we've come away saying he couldn't do X on one end of the floor because he was tasked with doing Y on the other end.

 

Would you move Rui + Knecht for Allen? Cavs save money, and also get young talent that could help them immediately, and also more in the future. Rui fits better next to Mobley than Allen, and Knecht has much better size than Garland to put next to the 6-3 Mitchell. They get two excellent shooters that could complement Mobley/Mitchell. We get our rim running big out of the way, and could still make other moves. It's not like we traded away all of our shooters, since Reaves is going to take up 36 minutes at a starting spot, and we are going to probably give DFS another contract. But we still have Kleber + Vincent + picks to dangle for 3 and D players.

 

Who knows what Luka wants? He just got here. I noticed that the first thing, that he asked for, was another big. We don't know what he told Rob in his exit interview. We shall find out soon enough.

On the roster stuff, I don't want to trade Austin or Rui. However Im not sure Austin and Rui, are enough to win without Lebron. We didn't win with them all this season. I can see some adjustments roster wise , that would make us better. It would still take some superstar play, from Luka and Lebron to get it done.

Conversely..there are some young guys, that I would trade Austin or Rui for, that doesn't mean that their current teams, would be interested in doing that trade though.

We should value our guys IMO, but that doesn't mean, that everyone else values them in the same way.

I think there is a path to upgrade our roster, and keep both Austin and Rui at the same time.

Well see next month

 

We are likely going to have to trade either Austin or Rui. Imo, it is not ideal to have them starting together, with Luka. Maybe if one of them could hold off until Lebron retires. Rui would basically have a starting job waiting for him at the 4.

 

LOL ... now in spite of what you say about NOT wanting to trade AR .... you're down to doing it just because it's not "ideal" having him and Rui starting together.

 

yeah, i think this was my point. and as slick mentions below, we may find out what everyone wants soon. if lebron is really opting in instead of doing his standard 1+1, i think that's bigger news than people are suggesting...he's giving up power there.

yeah, he's 40. no shame. i don't trust his groin just like i don't trust mine, lol.

yeah, my thought is that if we still have those guys on the roster, post-lebron, more trades may be possible than if we cash them in now for guys who aren't stars. and none of the suggestions i'm seeing are for long-term pieces that are even quasi-star level. maybe allen qualifies. someone mentioned suggs, and that's an example of someone i'd consider worth moving reaves for, too. and in that case, much like with allen, i'm not sure we wouldn't regret it. i just like suggs because he's a two-way guy who fills a position of need on a luka roster. allen same, but maybe less so.

true. which is why i don't get worked up when we fail to make trades. someone has to agree to them. you can't control what people want. everyone's mad nico harrison wanted AD. only takes one.

i do, too. but it may take beyond the summer to realize, unfortunately.[/QUOTE]

 

In the middle of the Bron report from Tuesday (posted it in the Bron thread too, let's try to steer his side of it there)

Top two priorities are what we thought they were: C and wing depth

 

LOL, well I'm leaning more toward trading Rui, but like I said they are not ideal guarding the opposing teams two players who Luka isnt guarding. If kept, one of them one better off coming off of the bench, and it's not going to be Austin. Also, not sure if Rui is going to be unhappy for a year if that were the case, but it wouldn't be the worst thing for him, since he would likely have a starting job at the 4 waiting for him in the end, but maybe that's thinking a little too far ahead.If we could get a big and a 3 and D wing without having to give up AR/Rui, that would be a huge win. But it would not be the end of the world if we traded Rui. This year, it would be nice to have his scoring off of the bench, but there are higher priorities.

 

We could get this if Lebron takes a paycut. Josh Green, Portis, Timelord, Robinson, Thybulle,Moody types

 

If they've reached that level desperation. Savor Doc, then Antetokounmpo is already gone.

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Couple Irwin pieces