2026 NBA Trade Discussion Thread

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Would you trade Key to Atlanta for their NOP/Milwaukee pick (likely to have top-4 odds)?

No possible way. While I do think DP/AJ are likely better pros than Keyonte, with Key's explosion it's not longer a guarantee, and that pick would only have 24-27% odds at top two.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Pretty crazy question. I think before the draft its a no. If it landed top 4 it's a maybe. Top 2 its a yes... rookie scale contracts are a thing and Key's is almost over.

Anyway just be glad we can ask that question unironically. We in a good spot. 40 more games of this bull **** and we can just start winning.

 

[KqWIN]

The question about Key vs top 4 says a lot about just how good this top 4 in the draft is.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

If you trade Key, you might as well trade Lauri as well. Whoever we draft in 2026 has a very low probability of being good enough to win as many games as we would win with Key in the first two to three years.

As much as I like Key and Lauri I would love to build a team around better defenders, but I'm also sick of losing and would love to see the team win more games next year.

 

[donAZ62]

View attachment 19981

Rockets need shooting and Svi and Brice bring at least a little ball handling. Also Svi is super cheap for multiple seasons and if they want to retain Brice I'm guessing he can be extended at a cost that fits their cap sheet.

Jazz get the chance to evaluate Eason's fit with the team and real health situation before making the decision on an extension. Then Jazz have the inside track on keeping Eason as a RFA.

I wonder if the Rockets are desperate enough to do something like this.

I might even add some kind of pick compensation if they would do this. I think Tari Eason could break out and transform the way Dillon Brooks has changed Phoenix- a two way player with more scoring potential than expected. His 3 pt percentage is 47%-- but he is only getting 9 shots a game in Houston. His shots per game and points per game are actually the same as Brice- but with more efficiency- and he is much better defensively..

 

[NUMBERICA]

Pretty crazy question. I think before the draft its a no. If it landed top 4 it's a maybe. Top 2 its a yes... rookie scale contracts are a thing and Key's is almost over.

Anyway just be glad we can ask that question unironically. We in a good spot. 40 more games of this bull **** and we can just start winning.

One of the major wrinkles here is it cuts our legs off, so it basically triples our odds of landing a top-4 pick

Another wrinkle is it creates the possibility of TWO top-4 picks, in addition to basically guaranteeing two top-8 picks.

Another one is it saves the Hawks’ season and keeps the Spurs from inevitably jumping top-4 for the millionth time.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

If you trade Key, you might as well trade Lauri as well. Whoever we draft in 2026 has a very low probability of being good enough to win as many games as we would win with Key in the first two to three years.

As much as I like Key and Lauri I would love to build a team around better defenders, but I'm also sick of losing and would love to see the team win more games next year.

I'm in my "Ben Affleck outside smoking" level of exhausted with the tank at this point. I just don't have much more in me. For that reason I would need it to be just an absolute no-brainer to move one of Lauri or Key. And yes... if you move Key then you should go ahead and move Lauri.

Let's just get through these next 40 and get a top 4 pick and start playing basketball.

 

[Elizah Huge]

One of the major wrinkles here is it cuts our legs off, so it basically triples our odds of landing a top-4 pick

Another wrinkle is it creates the possibility of TWO top-4 picks, in addition to basically guaranteeing two top-8 picks.

Another one is it saves the Hawks’ season and keeps the Spurs from inevitably jumping top-4 for the millionth time.

I get the premise of it but it would set the rebuild back 1-2 more years at least.

 

[Peter_Mentor]

I'm in my "Ben Affleck outside smoking" level of exhausted with the tank at this point. I just don't have much more in me. For that reason I would need it to be just an absolute no-brainer to move one of Lauri or Key. And yes... if you move Key then you should go ahead and move Lauri.

Let's just get through these next 40 and get a top 4 pick and start playing basketball.

Ben Affleck outside smoking is my spirit animal, so I pretty much 110% approve this message.