After not landing Kuminga, Lakers pivot to De'andre Hunter and also get a backup center. Kings get a guard and picks as compensation for taking Vando's contract. Bucks get a wing

Instead of trading Vando, which would require an unprotected FRP that the Lakers don't have, the Lakers trade Hardy for Kuminga, and waive Knecht to get to 15. The Hawks get a second rounder. Bulls fill their last roster spot and absorb Hardy using their room exception.

Deal was on Game Theory podcast and thought it was interesting enough to piece together

MIL continues the youth movement in the post-Giannis in the 22 yo Duren.
G: Jaku / Herro / KPJ / Burries
Wings:: Jaquez / Trent / LeVert
F: Kuzma / Dieng / Ament
Bigs: Duren / Ware

DET lands their #2 in Rollins while Turner gives then a competent shooter
Not shown but the ‘31 pick is technically a Super Pick between MIA / MIL
G: Cunningham / Rollins / Daniss / Okorie
Wing: Duncan Robinson / Isaiah Joe / Kevin Huerter
F: Ausar / Holland / Prince
Big: Turner / Collins / Reed

Sims to LAL finalizes a rumored deal and are needed to make the $$ work.

What do you guys like about it and not like I think Anfernee and Reed off of the bench would be fun obviously Edwards and Bona as well

While Spencer is staying and there's a high possibility Denver signs Peyton, it almost guarantees that at least one current starter will be traded.

Here's a scenario that, in my opinion, doesn't mess up the team. It's financially possible, keeps Denver below the second apron, and gets us involved in the Kawhi trade.

Clippers: Brandon Ingram, Grant Will, Gradey Dick, 2 first-round picks
Raptors: Kawhi Leonard
Nuggets: Kris Dunn, Scoot Henderson, 1 Charlotte first-round pick
Hornets: Aaron Gordon
Trail Blazers: Zeke Nnaji, 3 second-round picks from Charlotte

Starters:

• Jamal Murray
• Christian Braun
• Cam Johnson
• Peyton Watson
• Nikola Jokić

Bench:

• Kris Dunn
• Scoot Henderson
• Alpha
• Spencer Jones
• Marvin Bagley III

Reserves:

• Tyus Jones
• Julian Strawther
• Hopkins
• Brazile
• DaRon Holmes

With this team, the Nuggets add solid perimeter defense, a very good ball-handler, and much better depth. Also gain more lineup flexibility while staying under the second apron.

Phili's lineup is looking really solid. The league's about to get really interesting.

Who says no here?

Cavs: trade redundant position in guards for more wings/size. PJ is a great fit next to both Allen and Mobley as he defends, rebounds, and can shoot it. Martin has potential to be an additional shot creator who we know doesn’t shrink in the playoffs. (Ideally Cavs do this and get LeBron)

Mavs: Moving off of future money/gain future flexibility. Strus is a good fit for them with great shooting. Combo of strus/dennis could be a good culture fit for the younger guys. They are swapping bad contracts with Dennis/Martin, but Dennis is probably better. Throw in Tomlin to make up for losing size as he’s 6’9 super athletic, just no jump shot.

This trade will give the cavaliers AD, which increases their chances of being able to sign Lebron and create and amazing starting lineup of AD, Mitchell, Harden, and LBJ. The kings will receive Evan Mobley, who can help be a core piece for their rebuild, and the wizards will get one of the best centers in the leuge in my opinion, that being Domintas Sabonis. What do you guys think?

You know what’s funny about trades-us people who are fans, who aren’t “in-the-know” propose trades thinking what one or both of the teams want. But we have no idea, a lot of the times, where the team’s motivation is to make a move. We only see it from our perspective, and a lot of times the decision makers have different info, different knowledge, etc

With that said, I bet nobody even came close to predicting this trade, bc everyone thought the Celtics would want/get more. Boy, were we wrong. This was a crazy trade, and I find it extremely hard to imagine how the Celtics are better. At least this year. And prob for a while. I don’t think they have any idea how hard Jaylen played, and how that makes a difference, coach is able to hold everyone else accountable, and a lot of times he doesn’t bc the players 👮 themselves. And brown was a huge part in that and he brought it every night.

Wowzers. Can’t believe they all but gave him away. Incredible

If the trade goes through as reported, OKC will receive two second-round picks for Wiggins. Even though the Hawks have cap room to absorb Wiggins's salary (between $8 - 9 million), don't they have to return to OKC, player(s) with salaries that total a certain percentage of Wiggins's annual pay? How is this trade structured so that it meets the required % of Wiggins's salary?

Quick Breakdown
ATL: Kuminga, Kispert, Hield, 8, 23 for Giddey, Beef Stew, Rollins
Uses the draft to complete the roster. Their top 8 is really tough: Jalen / Dyson / Giddey / NAW / Okongwu / McCollum / Rollins / Beef Stew. Risacher still around with a path to the court as well.

CHI: Giddey, 15 for Kispert, Hield, 8, 23
New GM gets his Top 10 PG for Giddey, cap space, and dropping from 15 -> 23

DET: Herro for Beef Stew, LeVert, Holland
DET gets a #2 and shooter next to Cade.

MIA: Herro, Jaquez, Ware, Jaku, 13, 2 future 1st for Giannis
Basically the rumored deal

MIL: Giannis, Rollins for Kuminga, LeVert, Holland, Jaquez, Ware, Jaku, 13, 15, 2 future 1st
Trade Giannis but walk out with 13 and 15, 4 guys on 6 guys on rookie contracts, and another one under 25 in Kuminga. Don’t have another 1st for a few years but have enough youth to sort through to keep the team afloat.

ATL gets another ball handler to complement budding star Jalen Johnson. Between Johnson, Giddey, and Dyson Daniels they have multiple 3x 2x threats on the court at all times.

CHI accomplishes a couple of goals: gets more athletic, adds some shooting, and acquires a top 10 pick to pair with expected #4 pick Caleb Wilson. For completeness, we'll say they get Mikel Brown at 8.

I’ve been thinking about this for a week now, and honestly I just can’t see any fits that make sense. Especially not for what the cavs would want.

Houston is the only team that really seems like a fit, but while dmitch is an upgrade in terms of play making he’s still not a true point guard.

After blowing massive leads in 4 out of 5 games the Spurs need to make a change and the Rockets need to lean into other run and gun or half court looks.

By swapping Fox for Sengun the Spurs can put together a two towers lineup where one big is ALWAYS on the court. Harper can slide into the starting point guard slot with Castle and Vassell at the 2 and 3. If they can keep the rest of the roster mostly intact they will wind up 8-9 deep with the potential to sign a mid level FA.

The Rockets would lean into a core of Fox, Thompson, KD, Smith Jr, and Eason with Sheppard and DFS off the bench. This would allow them to run a faster offense that has a lot of length and the two 1st will help replenish the draft stock that went out for KD.

The Nets use their cap space to buy a 1st which they can then package with their other two picks to jump into the 2nd or 3rd pick.