OK I talked to some sources & FA on hold bc ATM Ben Simmons is being shopped AGAIN..
why...
BC rookie Max extensions, Teams Can only have 1x.
Basically PHX will make moves to trade for Utahs Donavan Mitchell who will get routed to BKN, along w D. Ayton in a sign & trade.
BKN wants 2x Young All Stars & Picks for KD.
BKN 1st needs to move Simmons who Cle really liked & w Sexton At 23, & Player Utahs Danny Ainge sees as A Spider replacement, he will get paid around $18mil - $20mil in sign & trade. Cle also has former All Star sniper Kevin Love who has expiring $.
Danby Ainge being genius he is, is insisting on getting off bad $ of Mike Conley. He gets routed to Cle w Ben Simmons. Cle sends out Top 5x protected pick in 2025 which goes to Utah.
Phx has all 7x 1sts, but Nets view these as 2nd Rd Picks bc Sun's have been #1 without KD. With KD, the picks & swaps project to be late 1sts.
Phx is going to give up 4x 1sts 23 25 27 29 & 3x swaps in bt. D. Ayton, Mikal Bridges, C. Johnson which is Starting point to get KD.
Utah & Danny Ainge hold the cards here & Danny is known for asking for too much & pushing 4 too much.
So this Deal can fall apart quickly. Also Cle will not overpay for Simmons, it's same offer, Sexton Love + 2025 2st top 5 protected.
Basically,
Utah will get
Collin Sexton 23 yr like Spida Mikal Bridges 25 yr 2way Stud Cam Johnson 25 yr 3pt Sniper 2x 1st Rd Picks
+
Kyrie Irving on 1 yr 36mil.
Bkn not looking to do any favors for Kyrie, Danny Ainge knows LAL desperate to get KY & LeBron running out of time Will play Hard ball w LA asking at least Russ + THT + Nunn + 27 1st unprotected..
This is the 5th team. Jazz would take on KY & his expiring $$ & besides LA, w Russ Cha looking to clear cap space w Hayward. So Danny who took Hayward to Bos from Utah could get assets for taking on that $$$.
Basically as you can see.. Alot of moving parts.
Jazz also could take their ball & go home but that is unlikely bc Jazz are going to blow it up bc Mitchell is not a #1.
And 2 words...
Victor Wembanyama...
Jazz are going to blow it up & have alot of great pieces & alot of fut 1sts ...
Also other teams could be interested in Simmons, but alot of teams have been turned off completely...
If Nets are trading KD to Phx it will be for Ayton + D Mitchell + picks & bc rookie maxes, there's alot of moving parts.
Ben Simmons the gift thar keeps on giving...
Dude hasn't played a minute & could stop Bkn from getting The Spider..
So alot of moving parts folks. This will effect Top RFA in Sexton & Ayton, so don't expect to see anything until KD deal gets done.
Also I'm told Nets have no interest in helping out KY. If he gets to LA from Bkn, they are asking for 2x fut unprotected Picks w Russ, or asking for Russ, THT + 27 1st unprotected.
LeBron pushing hard for LAL to make move. Lakers to Klutch, sign an extension & we will make the move... LeBron yet to decide. If extends will prob be 1 + 1 w Player Option.
BKN will not trade KD & just keep him after moving KY, bc things could change Luke they did w Bryant & LA yrs ago.
Nets could goto KD who they are working with & trying to do a deal he wants. But will not trade 4 pennies on dollar. Want 2x All Stars in primes + assets + picks...
Ayton, Bridges, Cam Johnson + 4x 1sts + 3x swaps aren't enough...
DBOOK is not available bc signing max extension.
So it could happen those weekend or fall apart...
It's upto Jazz
Thoughts?