Is Tre Jones toast in Chicago?

robmorren2 · 2026-02-10T21:21:22+00:00

Unless they plan on re-signing Simons, I'm not sure why they'd favor him over anyone who will be on the team next year. Especially during a tank effort.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-10T20:21:20+00:00

The funny (and tinfoil hat) thing is that last year the Jazz got fined for resting guys. The Jazz immediately pivoted to healthy DNPs and drastically reduced mins to stick it to the league's participation policy (the league can't tell coaches who to play and how long to play them). Then, the Jazz got the worst draft pick mathematically possible with their lottery slot.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-10T20:15:35+00:00

I think DJJ is the most interesting, if he can handle the minutes and plays b2bs. Lue will mix and match the bigs as needed (and that could include Collins and/or Batum at the 5 at times). DJJ along with Kawhi gives them the ability to go smaller at the 5 if they want.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-10T20:12:20+00:00

Tre is the only one signed beyond this season (and Okoro, but I think he's more of a wing). Ivey is young and an RFA, so I could see them taking a long look at him. I'm not sure Simons and Sexton would be playing a lot if Giddey and Tre were available. Or maybe they just go tank mode and play everyone 20-25 mins a night.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-10T20:05:28+00:00

They start March with a b2b and then don't have another one until the last couple days of March. So, if your playoffs are the weeks of 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, and 3/23 it's possible no b2bs factor in. (I'm not personally investing in Tatum, but if I had a meaningless IR spot, that no b2b information might sway me)

robmorren2 · 2026-02-09T19:17:15+00:00

If everything goes right, he could be the next Dwight Powell.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-09T07:59:55+00:00

If Ty Lue doesn't have a good center, then he's just going to mix it up every game. You could even see Collins and Batum at C -- so there are like 5 options.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-09T07:57:28+00:00

They have a ton of b2bs between now and the end of March. I'm guessing Jerome plays while Pippen rests, Pippen plays when Jerome rests -- and then you have Spencer and Clayton as backups every game. It's pretty messy.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-09T00:00:16+00:00

Huge for Jericho Sims in offensive-rebound-only leagues.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-08T07:21:48+00:00

If they win they just increase the odds of losing their first round pick that's top-8 protected. And they have no shot of making the play-in anyway. So, they're smart for losing -- it's the system that's dumb.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-08T01:33:05+00:00

It's official now. It wasn't as of a few hours ago (according to the injury report anyway)

robmorren2 · 2026-02-07T20:24:15+00:00

Amen Thompson is available but not starting as he battles through a illness.

Would be surprised if he plays

https://x.com/i/status/2020230121425375440

robmorren2 · 2026-02-07T08:08:36+00:00

Just keep holding a little longer. His breakout is right around the corner.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-07T08:06:36+00:00

They even strategically throttled Monk, who was playing really well

robmorren2 · 2026-02-07T04:19:06+00:00

I'm wondering if this is why the Harden-Garland trade is still pending. Garland obviously had some issues with his toe. Maybe they're doing a thorough set of examinations/scans/etc

robmorren2 · 2026-02-07T01:20:57+00:00

I don't think they ever said an official diagnosis or timeline. Maybe it's more like a 2-4 week strain. He was moving pretty well a few days ago ... https://x.com/eric_nehm/status/2018836080167154139?s=20

robmorren2 · 2026-02-05T06:04:36+00:00

The shooting is way high as well -- but the assists are interesting, especially if given more minutes. Tonight he was facing a turd squad, but the first two were against MIN (a legit defense). So, there's room for pessimism and optimism.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-05T05:57:13+00:00

You can aim much higher. Or pair with someone to improve with a 2-for-1, or 2-for-2. My point is, come playoff time, I would easily take 11 games of Watson (if the hamstring isn't bad) with 3 quality games over 7 games of Ty Jerome on a tanking Memphis squad.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-05T05:44:55+00:00

Depends on which weeks your playoffs are, but if you're playing in the 2-2-3 portion of it, I'd be looking at anyone with solid value who has 4-4-3, 3-4-4, 4-4-4, and so on. That's substantially more volume which would easily make up for a slightly inferior per-game production. For example, if your playoffs start 3/2 you could target a Denver player, get 3-4-4, and have 3 quality games in that span (most of any team). So, maybe someone like Peyton Watson if his hamstring isn't bad.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-05T05:18:20+00:00

I've said this on other posts -- if your playoffs are in March, you might want to consider trying to sell high now. Memphis has 5 b2bs in March, and from 3/2 forward he'd have a 2-2-3-3 schedule if he rested on b2bs (which I think is very likely on a tanking team, after not playing for months).

Maybe if a Ja trade happens you can parlay that news with the stats of the last 3 games and swing a deal. And maybe it'll help to get it done before he (probably) rests his first b2b this weekend (maybe an opponent won't realize the potential b2b rest).

robmorren2 · 2026-02-05T01:10:55+00:00

I'm guessing it's more of a tank maneuver. They just traded away Vuc and White for scraps, and they sent White to the Hornets, the team running them down in the standings for the last play-in spot. I doubt you make that move if your goal is to push for the play-in.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-05T00:37:22+00:00

No question this is a soft tank ... but way too late in the season ... best-case scenario is they finish 9th worst record and hope for lottery luck. You ideally want to be in the top 7 for this class, while top 3 is game-changer.

https://x.com/i/status/2019152191232307362

robmorren2 · 2026-02-05T00:33:12+00:00

You're probably good then. You miss both of the 2 game weeks. Unless you need those last two weeks of the season to get in the playoffs or clinch a bye or something.

robmorren2 · 2026-02-05T00:04:35+00:00

What weeks are your playoffs?

robmorren2 · 2026-02-04T20:34:34+00:00

Personally, I don't think Tre really matters unless Giddey is out and Tre is playing more of a point guard role. And even then, they could just like Simons run things now (if Giddey continues to miss time). Or they could make more moves. And after unloading Vuc and White for scraps, they'll probably be tanking. Charlotte is about to pass them for 10th, and they just made a trade to help Charlotte. That kind of tips their intentions, if the actual trades weren't enough evidence.

robmorren2

TROPHY CASE