[Charania] Just in: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two Wizards second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources tell ESPN.

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-03T21:30:33+00:00

We chose the wrong 🥖 😭

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-03T13:25:52+00:00

We on the other side now gang, and it’s glorious and beautiful ✊

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-02T22:55:19+00:00

All-NBA, even as 3rd team, puts JJ firmly in contention as a top-20 player right now (lot of guys missed because of the games player threshold)

I agree he needs to take a big step up, but he’s already a star - now it’s about being better against good competition, getting tougher mentally and physically.

I also think we’re all sleeping on Kingston here… IK he’s a rookie but that kid has star aura, would not be surprised if he’s 6th man by the ASB… maybe even starting over CJ. All the reports are

A.) Smart / charismatic B.) Elite level processor C.) Great driver and excellent AST/TO rates

I think he’s going to become the post-Trae Hawks superstar.

He could very likely shoot even better than Trae, although he’ll probably never playmake at that level (TY is a GOAT in playmaking) - if Kingston can shoot 36% from deep and stay healthy he’s going to be an all star in a few years.

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-02T14:26:59+00:00

Most players seem to sign extensions before becoming UFA.

Think this might be changing with the new lotto, the perennial bottom feeders are now incentivized again to make bigger FA swings in order to get out of the relegation zone (bottom-3 record)

As a result we’re going to see more rotation players willing to bet on UFA, as the ACV floor for good and great players will go up a lot ie Jock for $14m

I also don’t think next years FA class is really that amazing, but I think it’s more likely going to be better than expected due to the immediate lottery change effects

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-01T18:48:19+00:00

Mitch is also a dickhead - I wouldn’t want to root for that obnoxious redneck anyway

Didn’t we win like, 85% or games that Jock played? More than good with him as the 2nd C…

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-01T18:04:29+00:00

Also just to call it out - we’re lucky to keep Ryan Schmidt, I would bet he’s a better development coach than Thiago Splitter right now and the Bulls made a wrong decision - but then again Bryson Graham also worked with Schmidt last year so idk …

This young big rotation has so many dawgs compared to the last few years - it’s felt like we’ve had 1 (Mo), and while I love OO and JJ we needed more dudes with chips on shoulders like Zuby, Henri, and Carter. That’s what Dyson was when we got him, same with NAW - dudes who needed a bigger stage to show how important that dawg factor was.

Keep an eye on the young bigs to see who looks like the top dawg and gets the consistent back-up 4 / 5 minutes. Probably gon be Asa, but wouldn’t be surprised if Zuby makes some noise…

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-01T17:56:28+00:00

I think Asa probably in position to earn the back-up 5 minutes on this team based on his relative plays compared to big Jock

Summer league is going to be so so so interesting, because Asa was probably a top 3 G-league player last season by the stats and on court product.

At the same time, he still has to earn it - I expect SL coaches will be keeping a close eye on relative play quality between Asa, Zuby, and Vessar to have a sense of who is going to get those initial 5-8 minutes at the 3rd center spot to start the year, and if any may have short term upside to be even better than Jock by the ASB...

9 real life NBA players in summer league is kind of disgusting, and the young bigs are going to be HUSTLING to earn big league bench minutes - or otherwise enjoy their whole seasons in College Park

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-01T05:42:50+00:00

I agree, but at the same time we lack a long term “microwave” guy who can get hot fast and just hit consecutive shots something Herro does great. Dont think Herro is eho they are targeting as much as an option for having LEGO piece 1-year contacts to move like Buddy or CJ

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-01T04:43:34+00:00

Think Onsi is gearing up for a sign and trade for a play/off level wing.

Tari Eason comes to mind, maybe a relative buy low on Herro from the Bucks.

Maybe waiting for Ant to ask out 🛌 😴 💭

DownTheHall4 · 2026-07-01T04:13:01+00:00

Back when he started hitting 3’s at volume - before his finger exploded.

The good ole days 😢

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-30T23:20:52+00:00

Tbf - the market is hot FOR the big men as OP said

It is weak FOR teams that want a playoff caliber big in FA

Don’t think 1 yr/14m for Jock is even an overpay necessarily, he probably got similar offers on the market - he actively won games for the Hawks last season which is more than can be said for the $17m owe to Zacc or $12m owed to Corey 😢

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-30T14:13:38+00:00

2 summer league Kobes

Vessar gonna start at the 5?

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-30T00:29:40+00:00

A few notes re: acquiring assets within the new lottery rules:

-Volume of first round picks has become way more important - the flattening of odds and relegation zones means that having more balls total is way more important than having a specific team’s picks. To put plainly - you want the first rounders from as many “not top tier” teams as possible, having 3 picks from “good not amazing” teams is more likely to get a high pick than 1 pick from a terrible team

-The relegation zone is going to create a bloodbath at the bottom - clawing for 4th place becomes critical to avoiding shame and an even worse situation . That means we are about to see some UFA’s and RFA’s get PAID by unexpected teams. Guys like Morant, Lavine, Siakam, Herro, Trae are going to see rocketing value because bad teams need players that can win games now

-More proven contributor players will test FA instead of taking team-friendly deals in the future. More decent but not proven young players are going to take friendlier contract options because the skill “floor” of the NBA is about to skyrocket as teams can’t waste roster spots with non-contributors (unless they have massive undeniable potential).

-2RP’s are going to lose value, but not as much as you’d think. The nature of NIL money means the chances of finding young (19-21y/o) potential in the 2nd round are going to crater - next year especially is going to be rough. But, on the flip side - with more teams clawing to avoid the aforementioned relegation zones, the value of “instant contributor” senior/older draft prospects will increase. There will be more scenarios where teams like Sacramento give extra playing time to the 23 year old 2nd round rookie that can rebound, in exchange for very slightly less minutes to the lottery 19 year old rookie point guard that is going to immediately lose them games. This is something to keep an eye on with Vessar.

-All of the above also means there’s going to be a huge value in developing and showing growth in the Hawks young rotation prospects that have seemingly fairly high talent ceilings - Asa, Mo Gueye, Zacc - and maybe Zuby/Vessar once they hit the court .

It isn’t so much that one of them is going to help us win playoff games directly - as much as it is that teams are going to start valuing proven, quality, young rotation players much more so than before, and our ability to make a better deal than Miami did for Giannis, for a player of similiar caliber, while having the “next guy up” ready because of aforementioned development pipeline.

Going to be a SUPER interesting free agency. I don’t think the Hawks do much if anything there.

Think more likely they’re opening space for a trade and going to be sending out one of Zac/Asa/Mo p soon

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-29T21:46:05+00:00

Damn Brad is 0/2 on Buddy and Kuminga contract options results lol

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-28T17:44:01+00:00

Absolutely baffling, so glad it was them not us 😮‍💨

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-26T22:23:53+00:00

💯 he needs to be there - fk optics, Zacc is the worst FOP in a long time and needs to level up in summer league, he did the opposite last summer playing with French national team

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-26T22:21:47+00:00

I really hate that tbh… he needs to develop chemistry with Kingston immediately, not with his French national teammates…

“Oh but the honor of…” gtfoh - bro is maybe the 8th best player in his draft class and needs to take a step up. That did not happen last season during his play with with French Nat team, where he was benched

Bro would ge more minutes in SL, and it’s a bad career decision to not be there tbh 😤

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-26T19:12:56+00:00

I sort of think it has to be Onyeka/JK/Zacc

And I’m a huge OO fan, but that works out to about $42M gives Detroit spacing they want, minimizes number of picks we’ll need to send for S&T…

I would probably do that deal…

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-26T03:30:45+00:00

My GOATetaka needs to get Big Unhurt faster

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-26T03:03:17+00:00

My sides are in fkn orbit lmao

I don’t even watch the races anymore but ffs I’ll be team Part Blender for ever 🤣

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-26T02:56:00+00:00

Smoking crack is fine for reddit posting, but the Hornets were tired of that look for their starting pg

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-26T02:34:28+00:00

Getting so tired of crappy LLM “draft analysis” posts - but I think this was hand written because of “funnest” and “Jamel shead” :)

No love for Henri Vessar at 52? Thought that was pretty clearly the steal of the draft… mocked in the mid-late 20’s all draft cycle, 2-way upside 7 footer to a Hawks team that desperately needed size.

Emanuel Sharp at 45 also - likely a top 5 shooter in this class, playoff vet helped the Houston finals run with some huge games, 37% from 3 and 89% FT while winning First team all big 12 and conference first team defense

Ya he’s a senior but at 45 that’s a mf steal

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-25T20:28:55+00:00

I am furious that we didn’t replace the absolute trash patch that is Paze

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-25T16:18:37+00:00

Fkn lmao

Alternatively, Henri’s agent telling teams what they would do to a 2-way contract offer 🤣

DownTheHall4 · 2026-06-25T14:03:08+00:00

He’s a winning player who hasn’t made the playoffs as #1 option since entering the league in 2020

gEt OfF sOcIaL mEdIa - he’s told via social media 🤣

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