What should the FO do if we are 0.500 by January?

[Max Porter]

It’s only unethical if it gives you an unfair advantage and seeing how we still aren’t a playoff team right now in a small market that doesn’t attract free agents while losing to the Mavs with a .6 chance for the Flagg sweepstakes, I think it’s more than fair.

 

[KqWIN]

I don't know why discussion about OKC brings out the dumbest takes lmao.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Would anybody trade the rights to our 2027 pick (top 4 protected) to OKC for the rights to our pick this year?

OK, so I looked in to this a little. My premise was that OKC might not mind moving the pick out since they have a bunch of picks and probably not many roster spots next year. The problem is that they already have a bunch of picks in 2027 as well.

The good news for the league is that after 2027 OKC doesn't have too much extra draft picks. So maybe they would be willing to do a 2029 protected pick for our pick this year?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

OK, so I looked in to this a little. My premise was that OKC might not mind moving the pick out since they have a bunch of picks and probably not many roster spots next year. The problem is that they already have a bunch of picks in 2027 as well.

The good news for the league is that after 2027 OKC doesn't have too much extra draft picks. So maybe they would be willing to do a 2029 protected pick for our pick this year?

So I had an idea during the trade pod we did a bit ago that I think to do a deal we would like we need OKC afraid that they will get nothing because we will just get grimy. Its getting harder to make that threat the more we keep winning. I also wondered if we could threaten to make a deal with the Clips where we send Love/Svi for Beal/CP if they aren't willing to play ball (some seconds involved too) but I'm not sure it would have a huge impact on the Clips pick... better than what they will get out of those two this year.

I wanted to do like the lesser of the Minny/Cavs/Utah/Lakers pick (so it would be subject to the Phx swap first) that way they guarantee they get a first.

What I would do is nothing and just tank better but I could see us making a deal in that range. I don't want another pick hanging over us in like 2028 or 2029.

Another idea is Dieng for Svi could be added into the 2027 pick we give. Gets them a little further from the tax if they need to maneuver a bit and gives them a budget insurance player. He also played for them so they may have good feelings there as Svi seems like a standup guy.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Like... either way we should engage with Presti to see what it would take. I think if I was him I may just roll the dice and hope I get a late lotto pick.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Like... either way we should engage with Presti to see what it would take. I think if I was him I may just roll the dice and hope I get a late lotto pick.

I've tried pretty hard to come up with ideas and I can't really come up with something that I think Presti would take and that I would be willing to do.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

So I had an idea during the trade pod we did a bit ago that I think to do a deal we would like we need OKC afraid that they will get nothing because we will just get grimy. Its getting harder to make that threat the more we keep winning. I also wondered if we could threaten to make a deal with the Clips where we send Love/Svi for Beal/CP if they aren't willing to play ball (some seconds involved too) but I'm not sure it would have a huge impact on the Clips pick... better than what they will get out of those two this year.

I wanted to do like the lesser of the Minny/Cavs/Utah/Lakers pick (so it would be subject to the Phx swap first) that way they guarantee they get a first.

What I would do is nothing and just tank better but I could see us making a deal in that range. I don't want another pick hanging over us in like 2028 or 2029.

Another idea is Dieng for Svi could be added into the 2027 pick we give. Gets them a little further from the tax if they need to maneuver a bit and gives them a budget insurance player. He also played for them so they may have good feelings there as Svi seems like a standup guy.

Maybe the guy who would help the Clippers the most is Niang. According to Locke he is the Vibes master.

 

[Roy_McAvoy]

The Thunder should be trying to trade Isaiah Joe (2 more years at $12M/year after this season) to the Jazz for Svi or Kevin Love (whoever they like more) & Cody Williams so they can have the brothers together.

This is essentially them trading Isaiah Joe + a 2nd round pick to the Jazz for Svi/Cody Williams & the 12th pick or so.

(I’m only halfway joking.)

 

[NUMBERICA]

They obviously never had a choice like that.

Anyway, OKC executed a multiyear scorched earth tank. There was never any question about what they were going to do. They wanted to hit rock bottom.

I’m confused by this comment. So what’s wrong with the Jazz tanking is they’re being weak-willed about it? Or?

 

[NUMBERICA]

They had two years in the tank. They just did it right. They sent Al Horford home instead of letting him continue to play. They sat SGA a **** ton of games. They basically did what we did last year... except they did it for two years. They had choices. They made choices and the followed through with their commitment.

Correct. Sitting SGA doesn’t seem to have ruined his development or caused a cancerous loser culture, either.

Our organization is just run by cowards, whose cowardice is dragging out the number of years we end seasons desperately trying to lose games.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Correct. Sitting SGA doesn’t seem to have ruined his development or caused a cancerous loser culture, either.

Our organization is just run by cowards, whose cowardice is dragging out the number of years we end seasons desperately trying to lose games.

I think Presti and OKC trigger something weird. Like what he did isn't genius but he is regarded as one. I think he is just really disciplined and smart. I don't think we have the discipline to fully commit and stay on one path at times. We want to be skinny while eating cake ya know.

We also seem to get tripped up by things that could have been easily foreseen but catch us by surprise. I realize post-Walker injury the team projected as a loser and is winning more than expected... but coming into the season with Walker this is a record that could be considered possible. I'm just not sure why they thought they needed to keep all the expiring contracts for trade purposes. We have enough exceptions and other things to do deals. Should have cut bait with a couple guys before they came into camp tbh.

It seems like they are on a path now (hopefully) that they embrace the tank more. Who knows though.

 

[Zombie]

I think Presti and OKC trigger something weird. Like what he did isn't genius but he is regarded as one. I think he is just really disciplined and smart. I don't think we have the discipline to fully commit and stay on one path at times. We want to be skinny while eating cake ya know.

We also seem to get tripped up by things that could have been easily foreseen but catch us by surprise. I realize post-Walker injury the team projected as a loser and is winning more than expected... but coming into the season with Walker this is a record that could be considered possible. I'm just not sure why they thought they needed to keep all the expiring contracts for trade purposes. We have enough exceptions and other things to do deals. Should have cut bait with a couple guys before they came into camp tbh.

It seems like they are on a path now (hopefully) that they embrace the tank more. Who knows though.

My read is that this has less to do with discipline (or cowardice) and more to do with OKC's front office and ownership all being on the same page throughout their tanking years, something I don't think is the case with Utah. Especially since baby Ainge arrived.