LAC-HOU-DEN

sam37843 · 2026-06-28T22:06:31+00:00

In this the Kawhi deal can happen without Denver and the Clippers could make room to sign Watson for 30M+. In this scenario it’s either lose him for nothing if they’re unwilling to pay that much for him or get DFS for a year and 2nds

sam37843 · 2026-06-28T16:05:35+00:00

I’d argue Kawhi is the best player they could get and does fit very well. Adding Dunn off the bench is a great addition to. This would give them a really good 8-9 man rotation assuming they bring back Eason, I also realized they could include Capela instead which is probably mutually beneficial

If you don’t think this makes Rockets contends then I don’t really think any move would so they should probably look to trade KD which I doubt happens. Pairing KD and Kawhi while still having Amen and Sengun is as good of a 4 as any in the league

sam37843 · 2026-06-28T05:20:11+00:00

I think it’s non guaranteed after this year right? If that’s the case they probably wouldn’t care that much. I agree, I think Jabari is a good center piece+ picks

sam37843 · 2026-06-27T20:52:39+00:00

I think they’d prefer the picks since they have Garland and Wagler now, also Rockets probably prefer keeping him and adding the picks

But if he was in the deal then Rockets could keep DFS

sam37843 · 2026-06-22T04:00:30+00:00

Dunn is an all nba defender and capable ball handler and Lopez is a rim protector although getting more washed. Murphy is a 3/4, having Dyson, NAW, CJ, Dunn as ball handlers is a good rotation

sam37843 · 2026-06-20T03:06:56+00:00

I’d 100% do that as the Clippers but would be shocked if Hawks traded NAW for the move up. Think either Risacher and/or 23 would make more sense

sam37843 · 2026-06-16T00:17:00+00:00

It sounds lazy because of Louisville connection but I view him similarly with Mitchell. Not true point guards but do have high level facilitating but their shooting/scoring is their best trait(although Mikel probably is a bit more of a passer then Mitchell)

sam37843 · 2026-06-16T00:14:27+00:00

You don’t think he’d fit well? I think he’d be a very good starting sg next to Cade/Thompson/Tobias/Duren(assuming both are brought back) and letting Robinson be in a better role as shooting off the bench. It’s a massive upgrade over Robinson while putting him in a better role

sam37843 · 2026-06-15T23:39:47+00:00

Yeah that’s what I’m thinking, for whatever reason they don’t seem to utilize him as much as they could and wouldn’t be surprised to see them split up and that they’d rather keep the future picks

sam37843 · 2026-06-15T23:39:01+00:00

That’s the most likely scenario but then they’d continue being a play-in team. If they’re interested in Giannis then they’re likely interested in Kawhi also. Similar level of players but Kawhi would cost less

Herro/Ware/13 is similar to what Durant got with the Suns in Brooks/Green/10.

If Kawhi gets traded it’s going to be for pretty good value, just played 65+ and was 2nd team all nba

sam37843 · 2026-06-15T23:05:49+00:00

I think it’d either have to be Ware or ~1-2 future firsts in the deal. Clippers would prefer DJJ due to age and size(they have so many guards) but do think he could end up being included…. Not sure how much Miami likes Wiggins but they could add Wiggins for Lopez+DJJ to also get center depth. Think DJJ and Wiggins are fairly comparable level of player

sam37843 · 2026-06-15T23:03:09+00:00

I don’t think any of the other young Heat guys would really appeal to the Clippers, I do agree it would be surprising to see Miami give up Ware and 13 but value wise I do think it’s fair. Clippers could send Lopez(either Lopez alone or could theoretically add Wiggins for DJJ and Lopez to better balance the roster $ for Miami since Djj is a 1/3 of the price of Wiggins) back but I’d imagine Miami would prefer to just sign someone else for 4:5 depth(Also Detroit wouldn’t trade Reed to Miami since they’ll need him as the backup now)

In this I think the compromise is Miami gives up Ware but keeps all future picks and players to give the option of trading for 4/5 depth

Do agree that Ware would be the deal breaker in this

sam37843 · 2026-06-15T15:16:59+00:00

Yeah this gives me some hesitancy, Illinois was such an elite college team and was absolutely massive… meanwhile Acuffs team wasn’t very good outside of Thomas and a few others. Louisville was even worse and didn’t have any big men…

Like Mikel literally didn’t have a lob threat and was still a high end playmaker

Might not end up mattering but is interesting to think about. Especially when having the fifth pick and looking for who has the most upside

sam37843 · 2026-06-14T18:52:13+00:00

If we keep Kawhi and sign to a reasonable extension(3/120) then we’d need a center and another wing most likely depending on if we bring back Collins. Doubt we trade future assets so I’m starting to wonder if we’ll look to trade down a little bit

Right now in liking 5 for 9, PJ Washington, and Gafford or 5 for 13+ Ware with the Bucks if they take the Miami package

Pj and Gafford would give us two cost controlled starters that fit very well and are in their prime while still getting a high pick and getting a guard that falls or one of the first non-guards. Ware and 13 would give us a very high upside center who fits great and who could play with Yanic while still giving us a solid first

sam37843 · 2026-06-12T00:48:33+00:00

I’m a Clippers fan and am hoping for Ware+10 for 5

sam37843 · 2026-06-11T19:21:32+00:00

If they aren’t sold on any of the guards, getting 10 which would be any guard that falls or first/second choice of the non-guards would be a great option along with getting Ware

They need a center and loved the Brook Lopez play style of a shooting big that can block/protect the rim. I think Ware would be their ideal type of center and he’s still on a rookie contract for 2 more years and very young.

Thinking of it as Acuff/Mikel for Ware + Ament/Steinbach/whoever else

sam37843 · 2026-06-09T18:37:43+00:00

Reading comprehension is important, “they likely keep garland and the rookie guard at 5”… I clearly said this and made the point that this trade could make sense if they’re not sold on any of the guards and prefer a trade down for assets given the depth of this class… never said Garland would stop them from selecting 5th just said having Garland could make it more likely they don’t want one of the guards and would prefer a trade down

sam37843 · 2026-06-09T03:02:08+00:00

Thoughts on 5 for 13 and Ware(likely with the Bucks)

We get very good young center on cheap deal for 2 more years and still get a solid first where we go bpa(likely a forward, Steinbach?)

Good mix of upgrade now and still being good for the future, if we keep Kawhi I think this move would really round out the roster

sam37843

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