They're a strong team and locked in right now. The dynasty word does feel out of place. Like Milwaukee, Golden State last year, none of these teams are really that great. But someone has to win the chip and Denver's the one really ready and able to do it this time.
Not all at once, but yes, if we maintain the same amount of FRPs, or increase that, it should be enough of a talent pool to draw from.
When you have 13 FRPs, almost any of our 19 SRPs that are drafted will be a wasted resource that could have been used to grease a trade like OKC did, or converted year over year into cash.
It's an interesting trade.
I don't think it's about Denver looking to fill up the roster with rookies, it's more likely that this gives them the opportunity to do trades using a pick as they'd now have 2 2024 1st round picks. They've already traded all of the picks they could going forward, so this gives them another option to use to upgrade the roster. They also must have reworked the protections on their 2027 pick that they already owe to OKC that has protections going to 2029.
I get the strategy there, I just think there's more value in packaging them in certain years for a pick several years down the road or in some cases attaching them to dump a poor contract, or attach them when trying to acquire a particular role player. I'm just not as high on dumping them for a few bucks when I think there is more value in being patient and opportunistic.
I posted this in the "Cost of moving up" thread, but the pick that OKC is giving up could in theory be as high as #2*.
LAC and OKC's relative standing in the league means it is likely to be in the teens or 20s as you mentioned, but this is not a nothing pick. Very interesting and it does have implications as to the (lack of) value in our CHA pick.
*For the pick to be #2, OKC, LAC and HOU would have to get Top 4 picks and UTAH a Top 10 pick and OKC-LAC (in any order) would have to get 1-2.
Murray always gets hurt in the playoffs and Michael Porter Jr is a ticking time bomb. Jokic is amazing but he can't do it on his own.
I doubt this gets a high pick for Denver, but there's a moderate chance it goes late lottery, although that's doubtful. It's highly likely one of Utah, OKC, or Clippers make the playoffs and this pick gets in the 16-20 range.
Still, I think this is a loss for OKC, depending on the protection on Denver's 2029 pick.
And I want to smack people (not you) who claim the next year's draft is weak. I abhor received wisdom just repeated carelessly. This year's draft was supposedly for the ages, back when Dereck Lively and Dariq Whitehead were considered godly prospects and Nick Smith Jr was considered a stunning player. None of that panned out. You got to wait until they play the next level.
By that definition no draft can be poor or one for the ages going into it.....
I also think this is an L for OKC, probably driven by the pressure of an abundance of picks (which is a cautionary tale for us).
If I were in OKC's shoes, I would have been angling for Top-6 protections on that DEN 29 pick just based on time value alone. While I agree that the smart money is on the pick going to DEN next year being in the 16-24 range, the range of outcomes is 2-30, which is wild. LAC is always in such a weird space with the health of their two stars, and OKC could be an SGA injury away from major regression. These are not, of course, things you can or should bet on - but the risk/reward profile of the pick going to DEN in 24 is really interesting, and DEN essentially gets a free roll for a mere protected pick in 2029.
The more I do the mental math, the more it looks like a huge L for OKC.
Also, 100% agree with you on thinking next year's class is weak. It doesn't have a Wemby, but people are acting like there are great players drafted who aren't Duncan/Lebron/Wemby level prospects. There are actually a few interesting prospects next year (Buzelis, Collier, Wagner, Booker, etc) that it is just too early to judge.
It's impossible to know what 2029 will look like, but I'd bet a 34 yr old Jokic is still pretty good, and that OKC pick might not be much. Denver getting four shots in the the next two drafts at finding a solid bench piece or two is a really smart move for them.
having a million picks is nice when you dont have the centerpiece and need to take swing after swing after swing on guys. landing wemby makes them less useful. need more quality than quan y now
It doesn't have a generational prospect, so some equate that with being weak. I reminded them that last summer, no one had Anthony Black or Taylor Hendricks as even being one and dones, and now, they're consensus top 10 picks.
I'm actually in favor of almost any use of the SRPs other than drafting players who will almost certainly be let go at some point, rendering the asset a zero value.
Pundits say a draft is weak when it doesn't have 2-3 topline players. Sometimes they'll react to high school rankings, which are almost completely worthless. Drafts aren't strong or weak by way of their top 3 players. But it's easy to market them this way.
And, of course -- you get it, a draft cannot be determined until guys start playing the next level. Anthony Black wasn't on anyone's radar. Coulibaly, Bufkin, any of these dudes. And then you have overrated players hanging on by fingernails because they were rated highly and didn't completely the bed, like Cam Whitmore.
The Denver trade suggests that highly leveraged teams will see decent to good value to these picks. I think the Spurs' cache has a lot of mediocre SRPs, but they're still going to appeal to teams who have traded away their firsts or need cheap young players to fill their rosters who might turn out to be better. The upcoming era, this stash of SRPs looks nice to have.
So much so that it's not outside the realm of possibility that a team might trade a future first for a wad of SRPs spread over nearby years.
Some stupid team will take his unmotivated ass.
i know it wont work out well for them, but portland seems like they'd be enticed to try something
Agreed. I want nothing to do with KAT, but Portland seems like a good partner if they’re trying to move him. If they’re dumb enough to offer the 3rd Pick for him (unlikely), T-wolves should jump all over that. They need to recoup some of those lost assets in that horrendous Rudy Gobert trade. And he’s locked up for the next 3 years, 4 if he opts in to his Player Option.
I remember getting downvotes and vitriol like two or three years ago for saying KAT was a complete bum.
Rumors are that Harden wants KAT to join him in Houston.
Lawls
Curious to see which idiotic FO is giving up the house for KAT. If Portland takes him and the Wolves can pair Ant with Scoot that's actually a W for them
Minny has to trade him. He’s not a 4 and can’t play next to Rudy. Too slow on both ends.
The only way KAT will be a net positive player is if you play him at the 5 and surround him with a strong defensive 4 and at least one other strong defender on the wing.
I think Miami is actually a reasonable fit. Slide Bam down to the 4.
It would probably take Tyler Herro and a 1st in a 3-team deal as I’m not sure Minny would want Herro since he and Ant are both position locked at the 2.
KAT
Bam
Jimmy
Strus
Vincent
Solid shooting, scoring and defense tbh.
Other good fits would include.
Cavs - Package centred around Jarrett Allen in a 3 team deal. KAT plays next to Mobley who will protect the rim and cover KAT on D.
Grizzlies - KAT plays next to JJJ. Would need to include Tyus Jones and probably 3+ 1sts and a prospect or two.
Thunder - Pair him next to Chet at the 4.
Every other team in the league KAT would be a net negative imo he gives up to much on defense.
KAT is soft as and I wouldn't take him for free. He's always been a soft nobody.
Do you have to take all his pornstar friends if you trade for KAT?
Or maybe that's the sweetener.
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