Minnesota Sports Forum

papalrep wrote:Lip--he Sixers might swap Okafor and their pick for Butler, which would certainly beat the #7 plus Ricky deal. It will be interesting.

I hope so. Butler peaks before our core. He's a stop gap. Any interest in trading down on this board?

The trade down train definitely seems to be building.

I am 100% for it.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Lip, with all due respect the Lakers do not have 4 guys with all star potential:

Ball - Maybe
Ingram - Doubtful
Russell - Very doubtful
Randle - No chance

Let's not get carried away here. They may add some all star calibur players like George or another free agent, but today their roster still has a long ways to go.

However, by far the biggest disappointment to me is the Lakers staying in the top 3. Of course they did.

Cool I agree with your post. I will say some of those guys are well suited to playing off a true star. Paul George could go there this year and add Clarkson in there its a bunch of nice young talent that's more than intriguing. They need to get George or one of those guys to blow up to be worried about them especially since they really don't have a lengthy big that projects to be more than a fringe starter.

Edit: I thought Paul George was a FA this year but I was wrong he is still under contract for another year.

Lot of rumors about offers coming into la for russell. What about a deal for russell? Think they would do ricky plus for him? I know him and towns are real close and think would make things interesting.

crazysauce wrote:Lot of rumors about offers coming into la for russell. What about a deal for russell? Think they would do ricky plus for him? I know him and towns are real close and think would make things interesting.

No thanks. I'm not a fan and we do need to start thinking about the levels of salary/development now.

We can afford to take the chance on a known commodity, but we cannot afford to add another question to the LaVine/Wiggins conundrum.

Simmons won't stop the 76ers from taking Ball. If he's there they would take him. They desperately need a PG and as much as Simmons might be a point forward, there's no guarantee he can do that as the primary guy. Even Lebron doesn't play PG every posession. You need multiple ball handlers and Ball/Simmons/Embiid would be huge for them because they'd just need to surround them with shooters and maybe defenders as well if they can get them (might not need them with how dominant they were defensively with Embiid in the game). Regardless I don't think Ball makes it to them. No way the Lakers take Jackson over Ball when they have Russell and Ingram.

My Predictions:

Celtics: Fultz
Lakers: Ball
76ers: Jackson
Suns: Tatum
Kings: Fox
Magic: Monk
Wolves: Isaac
Knicks: Smith
Mavs: Ntilikina
Kings: Anunoby

I think Collins and Markkanen drop just because of fit, but I think Collins could go to the Magic (replacing Vucevic), the Mavs to play behind Dirk for a year or us.

crazysauce wrote:Lot of rumors about offers coming into la for russell. What about a deal for russell? Think they would do ricky plus for him? I know him and towns are real close and think would make things interesting.

The Lakers are about to draft Ball as their franchise PG. I don't see them trading any player of value like Russell for a pure PG like Ricky. I know your said Ricky "plus" but I'm not sure who that would be.

Q12543 wrote:

TheFuture wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Boy, Monk at 3 seems like a stretch - a classic "drafting for need" play. Yes, Philly needs shooters, but he's a little on the short side and if the shot isn't falling, what else is there for him to hang his hat on? Jackson seems like the better prospect for them, especially with Covington's contract expiring soon.

I think I'd be fine adding either Isaac or Collins, but would really like to see the Wolves then explore all other options of trading for a vet, trading down in the draft, etc. I'm not married to any single strategy other than ensuring that whoever we draft isn't put in the position of having to be a major rotation player for us next season.

Is Monk really a stretch though at 3? He is projected anywhere from the fourth to eighth best player in most mocks. His strengths fit the sixers biggest need by far without considering what they ca fill with cap space. Ball doesn't make sense with their plan with Simmons. Neither does Tatum or Isaac. Nor Collins or Frank..

Well, you know I'm not a fan of guys that are known solely for their shooting/scoring, but offer up very little else. I just think it's a stretch and they should go with a potential 2-way wing in Jackson, then try to figure out a way to pick up one of the solid free agent vet PGs that can help share the load with Simmons, steady the ship when things get a little crazy, and hit open jumpers. Collison? May be re-unite with Jrue Holiday? Teague? Some solid options out there.

I think it depends on how good or bad of a shooter you project Jackson to be. Its a concern for me, but if the 6ers think he can shoot well enough...imagine the defensive stuff they could do throwing Jackson on PGs if they wanted to while Simmons was running the PG position? Could be a lengthy group that switches everything.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Lip, the wildcard is if there is someone lower in the draft that Thibs thinks he can mold into an elite role player (like Draymond is for Golden State or Ibaka was for OKC) and get another asset in the process. I think trading down for someone that has great defensive chops and high motor could be on his radar. We've seen how some teams have taken players like this and then molded them into better offensive players over time such that they are truly a 2-way threat. I'm beginning to think that toughness, defense, and motor are foundational traits that are difficult to teach/develop. We need a huge helping of all three!

I'd be interested in a trade down that gets us Bell and another glue guy.

Absolutely love his fit for our squad. Not a bad passer either for a defensive/low usage guy. I have to believe he is on Thibs' radar along with OG from Indiana.

Am I missing something here about Ball to the Lakers? Yes the Ball camp and the media has been driving that wagon for over half a year now, but have the lakers gave any inkling to Ball being the preferred player for them?

Hell, Fox or Jackson make plenty more sense for them. Don't act like they need to play the PR game either. that doesn't matter in LA if they are winning.

Q12543 wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Lip, the wildcard is if there is someone lower in the draft that Thibs thinks he can mold into an elite role player (like Draymond is for Golden State or Ibaka was for OKC) and get another asset in the process. I think trading down for someone that has great defensive chops and high motor could be on his radar. We've seen how some teams have taken players like this and then molded them into better offensive players over time such that they are truly a 2-way threat. I'm beginning to think that toughness, defense, and motor are foundational traits that are difficult to teach/develop. We need a huge helping of all three!

I'd be interested in a trade down that gets us Bell and another glue guy.

Absolutely love his fit for our squad. Not a bad passer either for a defensive/low usage guy. I have to believe he is on Thibs' radar along with OG from Indiana.

Getting 2 prospects I like instead of just 1 is tempting. Collins and Isaac right now are the guys I would have the hardest time passing up to trade down, but it depends on what was offered. Lets say Portland called and offered #15 and #20 for #7 would you consider it or how quick do you hang up the phone?