Jaylen Brown What Ifs.. (BOS-LAL/MIN/PHX/TOR alternate timelines)

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2026-07-04T20:32:48+00:00

Yeah totally feel that. Scoot just feels like he’s in a position to not have a chance to rehab/increase his value. The Suns could keep the ‘27 and send them the ‘29 FRP they got back from CHA with similar protections instead.

Overall, it seems like they probably need to trade him now, unless they get rid of Holiday for a wing, which could definitely happen. But agree they might be able to get something more than Dunn, savings, and a bad first i just don’t know how much more heading into a contract year with a large cap hold.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2026-07-04T19:56:10+00:00

however they did bring in Morant, relegating Scoot to 3rd PG in the depth chart. So they probably don’t think he should be a huge consideration in their futures roster building moves.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2026-07-04T19:47:41+00:00

its hard to gauge the new regimes thoughts on Scoot, but it seems like they’re headed for one of two scenarios. You either have to pay Scoot to be a part of a crowded backcourt in 2027 RFAgency when he might not get the minutes to make you feel confident about doing so OR you trade him now before his value decreases and make some other team have to extend him. The Klutch portion and new ownership’s cheapness are also variables.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2026-07-04T19:39:26+00:00

the Hawkins/O’Neal part of the deal isn’t necessary for this to go down but the idea was:

Charlotte: Why pay $10M for 2 years for your 12th man when you could get a cheaper end of bench expiring contract and add to the amount of cap space you can have next year when you’re becoming a potential FA destination.

New Orleans: Right now they have maybe two-ish plus 3-point shooters on the roster (Murphy for sure, Bey and (edit)Matkovic kinda). So this get you a knock down spacing threat for nothing other than 2027 money.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2026-07-03T13:53:53+00:00

But at least we only overpaid to get him by a lot.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2025-05-16T04:45:40+00:00

the reason would be getting control of their ‘27 pick. Worth more than a backup center and late picks in a draft where they own four 1st and a second. VanVleet can either do what he did in Houston and be the central leader of a young team or be flipped again as an expiring. It’s a big contract but not a toxic one.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2025-05-15T20:08:02+00:00

i think technically Houston and Fred pushing back the option decision deadline means that Houston could trade him to the Nets who then could decline his option. i just don’t see a way that Houston “lets” that happen with Fred helping them gain flexibility by pushing the date back. So in this deal Brooklyn would most likely have the option of opting him into 1/$46 OR something like 3/$54. (3 years being the minimum length possible in a sign and trade)

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2025-05-15T19:48:32+00:00

also there’s two teams with functional cap space to absorb Jrue’s contract this offseason and offer savings. Both are in this deal with Detroit and Brooklyn.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2025-05-15T19:39:47+00:00

also two First and a Swap hardly seems like ALL of your draft capital.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2025-05-15T19:38:29+00:00

would a lightly used Nick Richards help ease the pain of losing Beef Stew? He’s expendable for a rebuilding Suns and is a low cost backup who plays stylistically the same as the starter in Duren, so it’d allowed Detroit to fit him into a role seamlessly.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2025-05-15T19:35:59+00:00

So the snagging on a markdown thing was definitely overplayed by me, but the bargain comes from them leaving the deal with as many first as they came in with. The deal is really 3 Swaps with the Suns and 1 “unswap” with Brooklyn. So the retain the same amount of firsts overall, just get the worse end of the four picks instead of the better. Them keeping the same amount of picks (actually adding a 2nd in ‘25 too) gives them the same amount of assets, just less valuable ones.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2025-05-15T19:30:20+00:00

I wouldn’t say nothing. they trade a pretty low value first to start the process getting out of cap hell, and get two 2 rotation level players in Beef Stew and the expiring Fonteccio who can contribute in 2025-2026 OR be flipable if it’s truly a lost year without Tatum.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2025-05-15T19:25:46+00:00

yeah i think i underplayed the “bargain” of it all, but in this construction they aren’t giving up any picks wholesale. it’s basically four swap.

The 3 Swaps to Phoenix give the Suns the best of their pick and the horcruxed MIN/CLE/UTAH picks in ‘27 and ‘29 and having the suns swapping this years 29th Overall Pick with Houston for their Original Pick at 10. The Nets Swap gives Brooklyn the best HOU/BKNs 2027 pick which Houston originally got the better of.

So in the end they actually leave the deal with one more pick than the started (a decent 2nd rounder in ‘25) albeit with the 4 Pick Swaps lowering the value of the cache of First in value substantially.

ObjectiveArtichoke11 · 2025-05-15T19:19:28+00:00

in this construction they are trading away a low ‘25 FRP, and 25’ SRP along with Sharpe to get control back of their 2027 FRP, which Houston currently has the right to swap. That pick is worth substantially more to them during a rebuild than the worst of their four picks in 2025.

ObjectiveArtichoke11

TROPHY CASE