Some posters here just fundamentally don't understand anything this franchise is doing.
Some combo of DV, Keldon, Zollins and/or Branham plus Chi 2025 FRP let’s fking gooo.
Chicago still wouldn’t that is how trash that lot is but one can dream.
Some posters here just fundamentally don't understand anything this franchise is doing.
I think there is an argument for trading Keldon + Collins for Lavine. It’s not net neutral money every year, but it is *mostly* for next season. Where it hurts is the year after where Collins would be off the books but Lavine has his player option.
But on court, Lavine I think would actually fit really well and if you can get him without giving up much in the way of picks I think its worth a calculated gamble where the only year the money doesnt mostly line up Zach is a large expiring
Lavine is at 43/46/49 million in this and the next two seasons.
Keldon and Collins are at ~35.5 cominbed this and the next season.
Agreed that 26-27 would be the only issue money wise, but I don't think there's a point of having both Lavine and Devin on the roster.But on court, Lavine I think would actually fit really well and if you can get him without giving up much in the way of picks I think its worth a calculated gamble where the only year the money doesnt mostly line up Zach is a large expiring
He's overpaid, but still a good and most importantly consistent player when healthy.
I wonder if there's a deal to be made for him to decline the player option if he performs well and then accepts a team-friendly extension. I think he's also tired of losing and he's made enough money already.
Accepting something like 75/3 instead of that 49 million option in order to probably win a ring in 2027-2029 period isn't a bad deal.
Then we'd have to deal with Devin situation. We'd have to trade him for a legit 3-D wing, imo.
My biggest concern with Lavine is his health.
Stat wise, Lavine is having a very good year.
Stats aren't really the issue with Lavine. Aside of injuries, his big issue is his feel for the game. He often doesn't make the right play, takes bad shot...
Having a good team offense with Lavine would be quite a challenge.
For sure on the salary part - Thats why I said *mostly*…another 8M this year difference and very well could include Branham or something to make it closer. But ya, its not exact, but being able to consolidate something close of Keldon/Collins/Branham for him I think is more than justifiable in terms of talent (and opens up the roster spots for the extra draft picks SA has).
Lavine def has warts and it’s not a guarantee, but Im talking risk reward. If you can get away with basically swapping just salaries and only one of them is a rotation player (Keldon)? Thats very low risk for not much more money while keeping most of your draft capital.
It’s the “cheap” way to take a swing on talent (cheap meaning keeping picks and most of your talent) - but of course that path comes with risk (Lavine health + last year of money). It’s a trade off.
Agree - but if you look at the scenario does Keldon/Collins/Branham (for salaries going out) make better plays or help the offense all that much? So to me, while what you say is true for sure about Lavine, you aren’t giving up something that is better than that or his talent and ability. At least with Lavine bad decisions/feel you get the talent too to help make up for it some.
But ya, its not a clear cut case of SA doing something here, but I think its justifiable IF the price was something like Keldon+Collins+Branham since other than Lavines last year (which he would be expiring at least then) the money isnt that material of a difference IMO whether its paying Keldon+Branham+Collins vs just paying Lavine (and having open roster spots for the tons of extra picks SA has)
Yeah, I get your point and it's very reasonable.
If we're to upgrade to an actual star, we're going to have to send picks the other way.
Difference between Keldon+Collins going the other way as salary or Lavine would probably be just an additional FRP due to an extra year on his contract. But that FRP would be given up only if Lavine fails and at that point maybe it's even worth the gamble? I'm honestly not sure, but after yet another game where our offense grinds to a halt, I'm getting desperate.
Bulls want to get rid of him and Vucevic to enable the tank, the most they'd ask for would be their pick back alongside taking Keldon and Collins.
Yep, Keldon isn't really better than Lavine at making decision. The difference is that Keldon plays a more limited role than Lavine and has less negative impact. Spurs would surely win more games by adding Lavine but there is a good chance that it hurts the development of a player like Castle.
I think that the 2026/27 extra year is a big deal. If Spurs want Fox without giving too much in a trade, the scenario would be: Fox saying to Kings this summer that he won't re-sign with them, that he wants to be traded to SA and that if they don't do it, he will sign with Spurs as a FA the following summer. This scenario only works if Spurs have enough capspace in 2026. Keeping that 2026 capspace until this summer just give Spurs some significant trade leverage.
I'm fine with Spurs using Keldon, Collins, Branham, Wesley... contract to go after a big contract as long as it ends in 2026. Players like McCollum, Anfernee Simons, John Collins, Nurkic, Marcus Smart, Huerter could be potential trade targets.
Would it? The biggest issue for Castle is not having spacing around him, as evidenced by his awful stats with the bench lineup.
Ideal scenario for Castle would be three shooters and Wemby. Something like Castle/Lavine/Champ/Barnes/Wemby.
I think it all comes down to what's PATFO's view on Castle. Do they see him as a potential Jrue 2.0, a full time point guard or they think he'll be more of a mini-Jimmy and play next to a point guard.I think that the 2026/27 extra year is a big deal. If Spurs want Fox without giving too much in a trade, the scenario would be: Fox saying to Kings this summer that he won't re-sign with them, that he wants to be traded to SA and that if they don't do it, he will sign with Spurs as a FA the following summer. This scenario only works if Spurs have enough capspace in 2026. Keeping that 2026 capspace until this summer just give Spurs some significant trade leverage.
For sure - that’s all sort of included in my mind in terms of trade offs. SA doesnt take on Lavine if they think they have plans for that FA year where Lavine’s 3rd year is an issue (although IMO while its not as clean, since hes expiring and spurs have a lot of picks, Im pretty sure they could find a way to off load a lot of the salary using some picks if they need to. Not exactly an efficient way, but unless they have a very clear read on someone demanding a trade to SA or a FA at that time, they may not get to do it the optimal way).
It’s definitely a lot of factors though for sure and its why I think if it were to happen, it would have to be on SA terms and a value for them (as in ridding themselves of Collins/Branham etc…and not using any picks)
It’s why Brandon Ingram intrigues me. If SA views him as an expiring deal and can get NO to bite on taking salary for next year (Collins + Barnes) for something like a lotto protected first?
Might be the sweet spot. Get a look at how a high usage scorer fits next to Wemby, clear salary a year early (can just let Ingram walk) and all it takes is a lotto protected pick to dump those salaries while getting a peak at a talented player that may fit well (even if odds are slim there)
And TBH im all for being patient. These are just concepts of how SA may be able to hedge winning now and taking a swing to make playoffs while keeping majority of assets in tact. But if you think someone like Fox can come in FA or that Ant Edwards may want out you need to just be patient and not give up on those opportunities to rush something this season.
The line between blowing the load too early and waiting for too long is really delicate in modern NBA.
Wemby has two more years on his rookie contract and it would be a huge disservice to him if he doesn't get a legit roster as soon as the next season.
I'm also not for kneejerk moves just because someone is available, but some moves need to be made even before this deadline.
And we have some risky players on our roster.
Devin is still seen as a good asset around the league, but he's just not the player we expected him to be. There's still time for him to improve, but it's his 5th year and I don't think he'll ever become a good decision maker.
If he continues playing like this, the rest of the league will see it and then we have another Keldon on our hands. We could've easily had a FRP or another solid player for Keldon, but now he's worthless.
Jeremy is also seen as a solid asset, but with his extension coming up, things could go wrong if he doesn't develop a servicable jumpshot.
If Fox asks out before the deadline, we could probably get him with Devin, Jeremy and one or two solid FRPs.
If he asks out in the summer and Devin continues playing like this? Then we'd need to add more picks, despite him having less time remaining on his deal.
There's also obviously the other side and we could up by trading Devin and then he develops somewhere else. But that's all risk management. PATFO needs to make the right decisions.
LaVine's salary and injury history along with their inability to get anybody to bite on him for a year tells me he's seen as a negative asset around the league. Would I give Collins and Keldon for him straight up? Maybe.... probably....but I'm not giving any 1st's for him...I doubt anyone else will either unless it's part of a bigger deal somehow..
If swapping Lavine for Keldon & Collins and maybe second round picks is a possibility I think the benefits outweigh the cons. I’m all for waiting to see what happens with the Suns/Kings first but I think getting Lavine shows Wemby the Spurs are trying if no other paths develop and it’s not a long commitment. Make Vassell the 6th man.
Was only interested in Lavine in the scenario where we got lucky in the 2022 Draft, Got Banchero, and built the Seattle Core with DJM, Zach and Paolo.
Although, I wonder if there is some kind of Southside Mexican Voodoo lady who can lift the curse off of Zach's knees (hasn't worked for Bassey, tbh).
Lavine would also make a fantastic 6th man in this league, tbh, but like most no-defense scoring chuck machines, they want to get paid too much and all have main character syndrome. Lavine, Vassell, Cam Thomas, etc should all go to therapy sessions together.
Two years ago if you had wanted to do a Devin for Zach trade I would have said no way cause Devin is going to be a better all around player...instead Devin has become less efficient and at least as bad a defender as Zach and I probably only say no because of the money...if the money difference was smaller I'd probably do it straight up.
Posted this in the Trade Ideas thread. I think this works better than Lavine to SA or Vassell to SAC.
Insert draft picks as needed. My guess would be CHI25 back to CHI for taking the worst player of the deal, and maybe two picks to SAC.
I'd be thinking one pick or none to Sac if they're getting Lavine and Chicago gets their pick back.
, if the Kings are trying to be the Bulls of the West might as well throw Vuc in the deal too.
Kangz would have to be several demented to just swap Fox for Lavine. But... they are the Kangz...
I mean they wouldn't be doing it because they wanted to; they'd be doing it to not lose him for nothing in a year.
They've got a lot of time to figure it out (a season and a half). I don't think they are anywhere near desperation mode yet.
Once you become a Spurs Killer you are destined to make it to the team. Just maybe in 4-5 years before retirement.
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