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

NO.

 

BINGO!
We are currently in “no man’s land” because of the LeBron situation. I’m not even sure if I would do the LeBron for Jimmy/Podz swap since Butler’s really close to becoming a bad value contract.
Like I’ve said before, it’s going to take at least this summer and next to build a properly balanced team around Luka and Austin. We could get lucky and get one or two pieces at this deadline and then a couple more perfect fits this summer, but I think that’s a bit too unrealistic.
It’s going to take some time.

 

How can you claim a Luka/Austin team will always be a poor defensive one when there hasn’t been enough time to build it?
Luka/Kyrie worked and so can Luka/Austin.

 

Watching Mavs vs Kings - Keon Ellis with 32 mins: 21 pts 3 steals 2 blocks with 5/10 from three.

He would be a really great addition here in my opinion. And the hope would be Adou can develop into that wing stopper.

As an aside: Westbrook is shooting 45% on wide open 3’s this season, top 10 in the league. Bizarro world.

 

Knecht + top 5 protected first for Ellis and a second.

Trade Rui for an upgrade at wing. I’d love to get a three team trade for DJJ.

 

Where in that post did I say Luka/Austin will always be poor defensively? I said you need three plus defenders around Luka and Austin to make that duo viable. I think everyone agrees with that. But I’m not sure Luka/Austin + three defensive players is actually good enough offensively.


That’s what happened to the Luka/Kyrie Mavs. Kyrie, and to a lesser degree Luka, struggled against an athletic and switchy defense in the C Bags and the rest of the team were defense-first role players. The result was the offense sputtering (they hit 100 points in 1 out of 6 games) and getting blown out in the Finals.

 

The 3/4 long athletic wing is the more important piece, moving forward than POA. Since Ellis is on a cheap contract, I'd make a play for him, but I wouldn't be interested in giving up a 1st rd pick in the process. A playoff veteran guy that can still play, to help develop the rook would be ideal. I hate to say it, but my boy Rui might have to go. Bummer


Imo the better teams are trending more size, length and athleticism, over 3pt shooters.

 

What players are you looking at that play the 3/4 role? Just interested. If we're talking a player like a prime PG's profile that could guard 1-3 and guard up a little, I get it. I'm not debating. Just interested in the player(s) you'd go after.

That's for everyone. I think we're all saying the same thing, IMO.

 

Wiggins, Grant, PJ Washington, Herb Jones types...guys with the ability to switch 2-4 and handle the rock some, and score off the dribble. Now...Scottie Barnes would be the ultimate Lebron replacement IMO. We don't have the assets for him, but I'd take any of these other guys, for any combination of Rui, Vando Gabe, Kleber, Knecht...plus a pick. I would try to lift Elis too though, he's gettable at that salary.

 

We can probably get a 3&D wing or POA guy. I’m not sure we can do both.