AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2026 12:05 pm
I've never actually watched him play but I get the sense that Dejounte Murray is probably the best option for a secondary ball handler.
I'm sure folks will still say Irving but I just don't see that as a worthwhile risk
Edit: looking at their contacts is pretty good confirmation for my opinion. Same length of term--- 2 more years with the last year being a player option, but Murray peaks at 33M while Irving would make 42M his option year in which he would be 37 years old.
Yes I realize Kyrie is the better player historically
I still think we realistically need to take a big swing and hit a homerun to overtake the top 2 guys. So I would gamble on Kyrie coming back and being not only healthy but engaged as well. I think he's more mature and more of a professional now at his age. And was it an ACL? Really not that big a deal with the time he's had to recooperate.
That's true, if you're trying to overtake those teams next year or the year after.
Realistically I think a more patient approach is required.
Using limited assets to hit long odds on Kyrie catapulting this team to a championship is dubious imo
AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2026 12:05 pm
I've never actually watched him play but I get the sense that Dejounte Murray is probably the best option for a secondary ball handler.
I'm sure folks will still say Irving but I just don't see that as a worthwhile risk
Edit: looking at their contacts is pretty good confirmation for my opinion. Same length of term--- 2 more years with the last year being a player option, but Murray peaks at 33M while Irving would make 42M his option year in which he would be 37 years old.
Yes I realize Kyrie is the better player historically
I still think we realistically need to take a big swing and hit a homerun to overtake the top 2 guys. So I would gamble on Kyrie coming back and being not only healthy but engaged as well. I think he's more mature and more of a professional now at his age. And was it an ACL? Really not that big a deal with the time he's had to recooperate.
That's true, if you're trying to overtake those teams next year or the year after.
Realistically I think a more patient approach is required.
Using limited assets to hit long odds on Kyrie catapulting this team to a championship is dubious imo
I wouldn't wait, guys like Rudy are getting older and as time goes on other guys may leave or get more expensive. It's not like Ant is getting any younger either. The time is now. Not 3-4 years from now IMO.
I still think we realistically need to take a big swing and hit a homerun to overtake the top 2 guys. So I would gamble on Kyrie coming back and being not only healthy but engaged as well. I think he's more mature and more of a professional now at his age. And was it an ACL? Really not that big a deal with the time he's had to recooperate.
That's true, if you're trying to overtake those teams next year or the year after.
Realistically I think a more patient approach is required.
Using limited assets to hit long odds on Kyrie catapulting this team to a championship is dubious imo
I wouldn't wait, guys like Rudy are getting older and as time goes on other guys may leave or get more expensive. It's not like Ant is getting any younger either. The time is now. Not 3-4 years from now IMO.
How can it be now when OKC is in their window and the Spurs are entering theirs?
I'm not saying they give up bites at the apple but if the plan is to desperately cobble stuff together cause you're afraid he'll leave is a flawed process.
Build something sustainable that entices him to stay. Makes moves now while those peaks are peaking that set you up for their inevitable downturn --- Shai gets older, promising prospects now don't develop as expected, players salaries climb.
I don't think anything needs to done out of desperation because this year likely ends in a step backwards. Because we still learned a lot about the career trajectory of a lot of players.
And for what it's worth I don't think anything should be sped up out of the anxiety of Rudy aging. His helpful window as mostly closed imo
I still think we realistically need to take a big swing and hit a homerun to overtake the top 2 guys. So I would gamble on Kyrie coming back and being not only healthy but engaged as well. I think he's more mature and more of a professional now at his age. And was it an ACL? Really not that big a deal with the time he's had to recooperate.
That's true, if you're trying to overtake those teams next year or the year after.
Realistically I think a more patient approach is required.
Using limited assets to hit long odds on Kyrie catapulting this team to a championship is dubious imo
I wouldn't wait, guys like Rudy are getting older and as time goes on other guys may leave or get more expensive. It's not like Ant is getting any younger either. The time is now. Not 3-4 years from now IMO.
The window with some of the older guys is technically now since Rudy is 33. 26-29 is the age range when most superstar lead a team to win their first title, with the exception of guys that played with other top 15 hall of famers like Kobe, Magic, and Wade played with. Ant still has one more full season next year at 25, before hitting that 26-29 age range. Not that Ant couldn't do it next season, but the majority of history has superstar winning their first ring between that age range with others like KG and Hakeem not winning until their 30's.
Another name in a potential off season Randle trade that comes to mind is Minnesota native Jalen Suggs. Contracts pretty much match next season and Suggs has one of those weird contracts that reduces about 2 mil per season till 29/30.
He's not much of a shooter, but great defender and decent ball hander/playmaker. Nice fit next to Ant as doesn't need to the ball in his hands to be effective and always gives it his all on the other side of the ball.
A third team would need to be involved to offload Randle too, as unlikely Orlando would want him with their plethora of bigs. Also probably draft compensation from Minnesota.
Draft night trade idea:
Minnesota receives: Jalen Suggs
Orlando receives: Michael Porter Jr and Terrance Mann
Brooklyn receives: Julius Randle, Jonathan Isaac, Goga Bitadze, MIN 2026 1st pick (28th) and 3 x 2nd RP's (via ORL)
KiwiMatt wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2026 3:35 pm
Another name in a potential off season Randle trade that comes to mind is Minnesota native Jalen Suggs. Contracts pretty much match next season and Suggs has one of those weird contracts that reduces about 2 mil per season till 29/30.
He's not much of a shooter, but great defender and decent ball hander/playmaker. Nice fit next to Ant as doesn't need to the ball in his hands to be effective and always gives it his all on the other side of the ball.
A third team would need to be involved to offload Randle too, as unlikely Orlando would want him with their plethora of bigs. Also probably draft compensation from Minnesota.
Draft night trade idea:
Minnesota receives: Jalen Suggs
Orlando receives: Michael Porter Jr and Terrance Mann
Brooklyn receives: Julius Randle, Jonathan Isaac, Goga Bitadze, MIN 2026 1st pick (28th) and 3 x 2nd RP's (via ORL)
That is a solid trade idea. Brooklyn owes a swap to Houston next season so they should be more motivated to win, however, maybe the new lottery rules makes it so Brooklyn wants to lose next year, be one of the 3 worst teams, and ensure that Houston can't get the #1 pick from them and reduce their ping pong balls from 3 to 2. The question becomes do they believe Julius would help them win or lose?
That's true, if you're trying to overtake those teams next year or the year after.
Realistically I think a more patient approach is required.
Using limited assets to hit long odds on Kyrie catapulting this team to a championship is dubious imo
I wouldn't wait, guys like Rudy are getting older and as time goes on other guys may leave or get more expensive. It's not like Ant is getting any younger either. The time is now. Not 3-4 years from now IMO.
How can it be now when OKC is in their window and the Spurs are entering theirs?
I'm not saying they give up bites at the apple but if the plan is to desperately cobble stuff together cause you're afraid he'll leave is a flawed process.
Build something sustainable that entices him to stay. Makes moves now while those peaks are peaking that set you up for their inevitable downturn --- Shai gets older, promising prospects now don't develop as expected, players salaries climb.
I don't think anything needs to done out of desperation because this year likely ends in a step backwards. Because we still learned a lot about the career trajectory of a lot of players.
And for what it's worth I don't think anything should be sped up out of the anxiety of Rudy aging. His helpful window as mostly closed imo
Wemby is younger then Ant, like it or not you have to beat the Spurs and it's not like OKC is old either.
You either have to step up or really, trade Ant and just give up for the next 7-8 years.
That's true, if you're trying to overtake those teams next year or the year after.
Realistically I think a more patient approach is required.
Using limited assets to hit long odds on Kyrie catapulting this team to a championship is dubious imo
I wouldn't wait, guys like Rudy are getting older and as time goes on other guys may leave or get more expensive. It's not like Ant is getting any younger either. The time is now. Not 3-4 years from now IMO.
The window with some of the older guys is technically now since Rudy is 33. 26-29 is the age range when most superstar lead a team to win their first title, with the exception of guys that played with other top 15 hall of famers like Kobe, Magic, and Wade played with. Ant still has one more full season next year at 25, before hitting that 26-29 age range. Not that Ant couldn't do it next season, but the majority of history has superstar winning their first ring between that age range with others like KG and Hakeem not winning until their 30's.
Yeah BUT, Wemby is 22 and kicking your ass. History is being rewritten right now. Like I said to Aussie, OKC and SA are not going anywhere in the next 3-5 years. You can say wait wait wait, by that time Ant will be gone.
I wouldn't wait, guys like Rudy are getting older and as time goes on other guys may leave or get more expensive. It's not like Ant is getting any younger either. The time is now. Not 3-4 years from now IMO.
How can it be now when OKC is in their window and the Spurs are entering theirs?
I'm not saying they give up bites at the apple but if the plan is to desperately cobble stuff together cause you're afraid he'll leave is a flawed process.
Build something sustainable that entices him to stay. Makes moves now while those peaks are peaking that set you up for their inevitable downturn --- Shai gets older, promising prospects now don't develop as expected, players salaries climb.
I don't think anything needs to done out of desperation because this year likely ends in a step backwards. Because we still learned a lot about the career trajectory of a lot of players.
And for what it's worth I don't think anything should be sped up out of the anxiety of Rudy aging. His helpful window as mostly closed imo
Wemby is younger then Ant, like it or not you have to beat the Spurs and it's not like OKC is old either.
You either have to step up or really, trade Ant and just give up for the next 7-8 years.
You're really missing the point. Making a reckless gamble like trading limited assets for Irving or whoever isn't going to help you beat with of those team or whoever else rises up.
You have to make smart and judicious moves, recoup draft picks, and repurpose the roles of players like Jaden and Naz
I wouldn't wait, guys like Rudy are getting older and as time goes on other guys may leave or get more expensive. It's not like Ant is getting any younger either. The time is now. Not 3-4 years from now IMO.
The window with some of the older guys is technically now since Rudy is 33. 26-29 is the age range when most superstar lead a team to win their first title, with the exception of guys that played with other top 15 hall of famers like Kobe, Magic, and Wade played with. Ant still has one more full season next year at 25, before hitting that 26-29 age range. Not that Ant couldn't do it next season, but the majority of history has superstar winning their first ring between that age range with others like KG and Hakeem not winning until their 30's.
Yeah BUT, Wemby is 22 and kicking your ass. History is being rewritten right now. Like I said to Aussie, OKC and SA are not going anywhere in the next 3-5 years. You can say wait wait wait, by that time Ant will be gone.
22 year old Ant was kicking the ass of former the next Kobe in Booker, and than the best player in the world Joker. I have a feeling Wemby's body isn't going to hold up long term, he's going to burn bright for several years before the injuries take their toll.
