"Deadline Day," cause BI won't have 2 working ankles until then...

Trade Breakdown:

Nuggets!

• Why they do it: MPJ's contract is the only one they can move to avoid the second apron. He's obviously good as shit at what he does, but his contributions are not impossible to replace. Nuggs need another playmaker for when Joker sits, BI is perfect for that. Clearly defined role (something he's never had) as the third option behind Joker and Murray + primary creator w second unit. Stagger minutes w Joker in the middle quarters. 4th Q, BI goes back to hitting the easiest catch-and-shoot looks of his career. The playmaking they need, from the roster spot that MPJ would have to vacate, is not gonna be easy to find. Klutch said BI wants a winning culture, and is willing to do a short term deal like he's on rn (so like 2/$75), so if everyone likes it fuck it, structure a new deal however to make the cap work and run it back. Green is a tough-nosed, 3-and-D, playoff rotation caliber player, who is destined for a capped out contender. Reeves can help knock down some end of the bench threes for pennies but is mostly here for the headcount. Save $6M + taxes this year. No more Saric contract.

• Why they don't do it: They're one of the worst 3pt shooting teams in the game as is-- can they afford to move their best 3pt shooter? BI is the better play overall, but is he good enough at everything MPJ is bad at to make up for the one thing that very few ppl anywhere are better at MPJ at-- draining 3s. Can you trust his injury history? If the partnership doesn't work out- not as in, they don't get a ring, but as in, it doesn't look like a partnership either side is happy with and they decide not to continue it- can they swallow the fact that they will have let KCP AND MPJ walk for nothing? They gambled Braun et al could replace KCP, fine. They'd go into the offseason w under $160M on the books-- if it's not BI, resigned and structured for your cap outlook, then who ARE you bringing in in free agency to justify MPJ walking?

Pistons!

• Why they do it: THJ plus some second round picks for a 25 yr old sharpshooter w size on a market+ contract but that you can easily afford? This is the reason you build up cap room + draft capital-- when teams like the Pels and Nuggets need help, you step in to save the day w those things. MPJ is an ideal fit next to Duren. His shooting is good enough he might even let them play Thompson AND Duren at the same time. Expiring money + 4 distant seconds for MPJ is a no-brainer. Check another box in the rebuild and keep moving. Pels take Fontecchio's salary, too-- how kind. Dennis Schroder just went for 2.5 second round picks, surely 4 second picks is an underpay for MPJ...

• Why they don't do it: Read a couple places lately that THJ is probably more valuable in DET rn than anywhere else, continuing to help them win... surely that can't be true in a deal like this? Harris clearly isn't/ shouldn't be in long term planning, but what are the vibes like there rn? Would bringing MPJ in- and potentially moving Harris OUT, this summer or at the following trade deadline- step on his toes too much to the point they say no? Are they comfortable w lineups that feature both of them? They're taking on a lot of salary here, and sending Fontecchio out purely to save $. Do the dollars still make sense?

Birds!

• Why they do it: Something for BI is better than nothing. And all of these draft picks surely ARE something. Whether or not they get CJ's money off the books, they will have successfully ducked the tax-- the FO's prime directive. If Fontecchio or Saric somehow can produce more expiring deals and/or draft capital, fantastic. If not, oh welp. The other deals expire, and nobody notices or cares. The worst case scenario of having to pay Fontecchio + Saric a combined $12.7M next year just to sit quietly is still not that bad when factoring in the return. Bonus, some of these picks can be packaged to move CJ's money, and they'd still have leftovers.

• Why they don't do it: Any added money is bad money, and that might not be enough for BI from a PR standpoint (as above, Schroder just went for 2.5 seconds...). They could potentially hold out for better draft capital from DET, but they aren't negotiating w a ton of leverage here... DET are the opportunists in this deal, NOP and DEN need something to get done. And Detroit already is missing a pick in each of the next 2 drafts, so their draft cupboard is a little bit barren. But yeah, my question would be if 4 seconds and some bad money for next year is sufficient. And if it isn't... what is? (and by what is, I mean, what better deal are you immediately agreeing to, because nickel-and-diming can't lead to no deal for BI at all). Does anybody want Fontecchio or Saric, rn? And if not, can you make DET keep Fontecchio, or hold find a way to get Nnaji?

Variables:

• Depending on what kind of handshake DEN is able to negotiate with Klutch before the trade, they may demand a pick, or require DET send them Beasley, too. Maybe Pickett and/or Tyson for Beasley? Do the Pels pull Reeves back in that case? Or maybe Beasley to Nugs, Nnaji to Pels, Fontecchio stays in DET?

• Can Griffin survive the PR hit if his whole return for BI is 4 second round picks (or, rly, 3 because Javonte is one of them) and some additional bad money for next year?

• Pels may not want to take on Fontecchio if they aren't positive they can eventually get a return on him, too.