2025 NBA Trade Deadline

[casimir]

On 1/10/2025 at 2:04 PM, Deleterious said:

 

Politely decline.

[casimir]

2 hours ago, buddha said:

tom gores demanded that his team build around andre drummond and trade picks (that became shai) so he could get blake griffin's last gasp in order to do it.

if we DONT make a stupid "8th seed or bust" trade i'll be shocked.  

the thing is, the bottom of the east is tanking HARD.  and some of the good teams are really beat up.  they dont have to make a trade to contend for the play in.  they will almost assuredly make it unless cade goes down.

dont ruin it by trading for someone's problem.  use that cap space wisely.  accumulate assets and draft well.  that will get you where you want to be.

Relax.  Drunk Uncle Tommy probably doesn’t even realize how much this team has improved since last season.

[Betrayer]

19 hours ago, Deleterious said:

I think those days are past, or about to be.  They are out of cap space starting this summer.  They can no longer bring players in for picks.  Also, nobody gives up 1st round picks for cap space anymore.  On top of that, they have a decent shot at giving up their pick this year.  So why wait for picks?  That pick is 3+ years away from helping this team.  Cade isn't waiting on that.  

 

If I'm collecting picks it's not for drafting, it's for trading. You need multiple firsts to bring in the type of star you'll need next to Cade for this thing to actually go anywhere.

[Deleterious]

2 hours ago, Betrayer said:

If I'm collecting picks it's not for drafting, it's for trading. You need multiple firsts to bring in the type of star you'll need next to Cade for this thing to actually go anywhere.

But that doesn't work anymore.  The new CBA punishes teams over the cap too much.  The high cost vets are being priced out by young guys due to the sever punishments the second apron brings.  You need contributors on their rookie contact to help with the new cap rules.  This is why everyone has been blowing Presti for acquiring all of those picks.  He was on the negotiation team for ownership and understood what the rule changes would bring.

The Pistons have had the ability to take cap space on for 5+ years now and have collected exactly 0 1st round picks for it.

[buddha]

1 hour ago, Deleterious said:

But that doesn't work anymore.  The new CBA punishes teams over the cap too much.  The high cost vets are being priced out by young guys due to the sever punishments the second apron brings.  You need contributors on their rookie contact to help with the new cap rules.  This is why everyone has been blowing Presti for acquiring all of those picks.  He was on the negotiation team for ownership and understood what the rule changes would bring.

The Pistons have had the ability to take cap space on for 5+ years now and have collected exactly 0 1st round picks for it.

thanks troy 

[NYLion]

I'm fascinated by this deadline. The Pistons have something cooking so it's tempting to add an impact guy if possible but you don't want to lose sight of the big picture for a quick fix.

First of all, the Pistons don't really have the assets to make a real impact trade until that pick conveys and they have control of all their picks and the new salary cap rules with the second apron rule makes it more difficult to add long term salary so with Cade already maxed out and with Beasley due for a new contract and Ivey coming up it makes it complicated to add anything more than an expiring deal. I'd like to see the Pistons weaponize their current cap space to add picks for future ammo to make a bigger trade but don't see a path to adding any 1sts so I don't know what they should do tbh. Maybe a smaller deal for a vet like Brogdon to help alleviate the ballhandling duties from Cade? Something like that seems prudent.

Edited January 14 by NYLion

[Deleterious]

Building around your star is incredibly difficult.  

[Betrayer]

4 hours ago, NYLion said:

I'm fascinated by this deadline. The Pistons have something cooking so it's tempting to add an impact guy if possible but you don't want to lose sight of the big picture for a quick fix.

First of all, the Pistons don't really have the assets to make a real impact trade until that pick conveys and they have control of all their picks and the new salary cap rules with the second apron rule makes it more difficult to add long term salary so with Cade already maxed out and with Beasley due for a new contract and Ivey coming up it makes it complicated to add anything more than an expiring deal. I'd like to see the Pistons weaponize their current cap space to add picks for future ammo to make a bigger trade but don't see a path to adding any 1sts so I don't know what they should do tbh. Maybe a smaller deal for a vet like Brogdon to help alleviate the ballhandling duties from Cade? Something like that seems prudent.

This is where the mismanagement by Weaver (and SVG before him) is really going to hurt this team. We have no war chest of assets and now we need to build around our star. It's a tough spot.

The only way to do it is to move one or two young assets, some vet contracts to match salary, and a future pick. But that could totally screw up the chemistry they have cooking right now. I'm curious to see how Trajan handles this.

[Deleterious]

It will take some creative thinking without a pick this year and no cap space this summer.  

It will also require a lot of internal growth.  Ivey, Holland, and Thompson are the three that we really need to develop.  Duren would be nice, but not counting on him at this point.  I expect big things from Ivey next year.

Nobody will want to hear this next part,  including me.  It probably will require some sort of calculated risk at sometime.  That means taking a chance on a good player who maybe has an injury history that makes us cringe.  

 

[gehringer_2]

22 minutes ago, Deleterious said:

Nobody will want to hear this next part,  including me.  It probably will require some sort of calculated risk at sometime.  That means taking a chance on a good player who maybe has an injury history that makes us cringe.  

 

If it were me, the chance I would look for is a big man drafted too young that his original team has soured on or can't wait for. I know they just had a colossal fail with Wiseman along those very lines, but I'm going to blame that one on the choice, not the concept. 

[Deleterious]

 

[Deleterious]

 

[Deleterious]

 

[Deleterious]

 

[buddha]

jimmy butler is an ass.

[Deleterious]

The other argument is they can't speed up their timeline because they have so few assets to trade.

 

[Deleterious]

Our buddy JEIII talking trade ideas for the Knicks.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6069896/2025/01/20/knicks-trade-deadline-scenarios-nba/?source=emp_shared_article

Quote

Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls

Knicks receive: Isaiah Stewart and Torrey Craig

Pistons receive: Zach LaVine and Precious Achiuwa

Bulls receive: Tim Hardaway Jr., Mitchell Robinson, Simone Fontecchio, a 2025 second-round pick from New York (via Detroit), a 2026 second-round pick from New York (via Detroit, Orlando or Milwaukee), a 2027 second-round pick from Detroit and a 2028 second-round pick from Detroit (via New York)

Edwards: There’s a lot going on here, so stay with me.

This trade benefits New York because it gets a very good defender in Stewart, who can play behind Towns and alongside him in certain situations. Last season, Stewart showed the ability to hit the 3-ball playing primarily as the power forward, so he adds some versatility offensively if he’s able to find his stroke again. (Detroit isn’t letting him shoot as much from 3 this season, so I wouldn’t read too much into the numbers this year.) Stewart, who is only 23 and has been a big part of the Pistons’ resurgence this season, is under contract at $15 million per year until the end of the 2027-28 season. He does have a team option in that final year. The Knicks also get to add a veteran wing in Craig, who has had a solid career. New York is getting little production currently from any of its backup wings. Lastly, the Knicks would shed more than $5 million from their payroll in this deal.

Why do I think the Pistons do this? I’m not sure that they want to commit themselves to LaVine’s contract, even though he’s still a very good player. However, Cade Cunningham should be an All-Star this season. He also should be in the conversation for an All-NBA team. Detroit is ahead of schedule and has been the surprise team of the NBA without another high-level ballhandler/playmaker alongside Cunningham. If you told me that the Pistons pivot and make a big move to capitalize on Cunningham’s star aura without having to give up any of their recent first-round draft choices or significant draft capital, I wouldn’t be surprised. As for Achiuwa, he’s a capable backup center who can step into the Stewart minutes until his contract expires at the end of the season.

In regards to my thinking behind why the Bulls should do this, it’s time to rebuild … seriously. And this feels like as good of a collection of pieces as you’ll get for LaVine’s hefty deal. Hardaway’s contract expires at the end of this season. Robinson could be used as a future asset when/if he gets healthy. If he doesn’t, that likely means you’ll be bad next season, which might not be the worst thing in the world. Fontecchio, despite struggling this year, can be a solid rotation piece and could have some value at next year’s deadline. And then, there are the four second-round picks.

Darnell Mayberry, Bulls beat writer: If the Bulls’ goal is to rebuild, the framework of this trade makes sense. The Bulls can begin life after LaVine and will have successfully traded his contract without having to attach additional assets. Robinson would give the Bulls a sorely needed athletic big who can block shots and finish lobs. But the Bulls have displayed little interest in second-round picks. It would be atypical of them to value four second-round selections, and that might be the sticking point in this scenario. But that doesn’t mean it’s one the Bulls shouldn’t consider.

Hunter Patterson, Pistons beat writer: My first thought would be that the Pistons are playing so well right now, I’d be hesitant to break this group up at all. But, LaVine, even though he will enter next season at 30, could be a lethal running mate next to Cunningham. LaVine would be a secondary ballhandler who can create his own shot, plus he’s coexisted with another ball-dominant star in DeMar DeRozan.

LaVine is a career 38.7 percent 3-point shooter, but it will be tough to replace two players shooting better than 36 percent from deep over their careers in Hardaway and Fontecchio. Hardaway also has been a vital veteran to this young Detroit group, and there’s no guarantee LaVine or Achiuwa would be able to replace that value. Lastly, Stewart would arguably be the biggest loss. Outside of Cunningham, he’s the longest-tenured Pistons player, and his grit is key to this group. I worry about breaking up close bonds on this team in trading Stewart, and I don’t think Achiuwa would match Stewart’s defensive production. He’d at least be a serviceable backup center.

With that said, LaVine is too talented to pass up on, in my opinion. If Detroit can land him, it should.

 

[buddha]

5 minutes ago, Deleterious said:

Our buddy JEIII talking trade ideas for the Knicks.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6069896/2025/01/20/knicks-trade-deadline-scenarios-nba/?source=emp_shared_article

 

would you make that deal?

[Deleterious]

10 minutes ago, buddha said:

would you make that deal?

Probably not.  But I understand why people would.

What is the best case scenario?  He stays healthy but that doesn't put them over the hump to win a title.  It doesn't even let them approach the hump.  Then you have to replace him in 2-4 years due to his age.  

[buddha]

15 minutes ago, Deleterious said:

Probably not.  But I understand why people would.

What is the best case scenario?  He stays healthy but that doesn't put them over the hump to win a title.  It doesn't even let them approach the hump.  Then you have to replace him in 2-4 years due to his age.  

i'd be worried about lavine coming here for all the reasons ive stated before: selfish, plays no defense, opted out last year rather than play, will think this is "his team" and thus make even more selfish decisions.

plus, where does ivey fit in next year?

on the positive side, it would give them a dynamic scorer that they lack.  he's kind of like a bigger kyrie irving, but more reluctant to pass.  if kyrie and luka can coexist in dallas, why cant lavine and cade coexist here?  

the fit with lavine, ivey, and cade would be really awkward and i dont see how they make it work with them being on the court at the same time.  unless they just want to eschew defense altogether and just try to outscore teams.

or do you then move ivey for a rim protector?  and if they got lavine they would be capped out, right?  im not sure about that but i think theyre right up against it next year.

youre trading interior defense and hustle for expensive superstar offense.  in the long run, superstar offense is harder to come by.  but i still have reservations about taking lavine and his deal.

[Deleterious]

If I was to take a flyer on an oft-injured player, I think it would be De'Andre Hunter.

The rumored price is supposed to be a 1st round pick + an expiring contract (THJ would do).  So offer them a 2029 or 2030 pick with lotto protections.

He is a great 3 and D type.  Excellent size at 6'8" 225lbs. 

Not a great defender but I would consider him to be a plus defender.  Able to guard the 3 and also offers some position versatility.  He can guard smaller 4's and slower 2's.  

Excellent shooter.  He averages 37% from three for his career.  He is shooting 42% this year and on volume, over 6 attempts per game.  He has sort of reproduced those numbers in the playoffs.  Only 16 games (551 minutes) but shot 40% from three.

Not just a shooter.  Can get to the rim a little bit, with some mid-range game as well.  He is scoring 19 PPG off the bench.  He is the guy that will beat Beasley for 6MOY so he has some game.

Problem is, he is always hurt.  He doesn't even average 50 games a year.  But man, the talent is there if you can keep him on the court for 70 games a year.  And he is a perfect fit for what we need.  

[Betrayer]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

i'd be worried about lavine coming here for all the reasons ive stated before: selfish, plays no defense, opted out last year rather than play, will think this is "his team" and thus make even more selfish decisions.

plus, where does ivey fit in next year?

on the positive side, it would give them a dynamic scorer that they lack.  he's kind of like a bigger kyrie irving, but more reluctant to pass.  if kyrie and luka can coexist in dallas, why cant lavine and cade coexist here?  

the fit with lavine, ivey, and cade would be really awkward and i dont see how they make it work with them being on the court at the same time.  unless they just want to eschew defense altogether and just try to outscore teams.

or do you then move ivey for a rim protector?  and if they got lavine they would be capped out, right?  im not sure about that but i think theyre right up against it next year.

youre trading interior defense and hustle for expensive superstar offense.  in the long run, superstar offense is harder to come by.  but i still have reservations about taking lavine and his deal.

Agreed.

I don't see how you bring in Lavine and keep Ivey. They can't play together or you'll sacrifice 150 pts a game, especially with Duren in the paint. If I do this deal, I'm sending out Ivey instead of Stew but then NY doesn't want it anymore and the whole thing has to change.

Even then, I don't trust Lavine and I certainly don't want to buy high when we could have bought low last year. His next injury is always a month away and he's not a winning player.

Also, Stew is clearly more meaningful to this team and this locker room than simply a bench big man. I think the deal would have to be for someone more significant than Lavine to move him.