Minnesota made KAT available very late in the offseason but what if Conelly got offered (pre-Sixers) Paul George in a sign & trade in the beginning of free agency?
Important factors for the trade to work:
Deal happens on the first day of free agency since KATs extension didn’t kick in yet
Conelly gives PG the 4-year deal he wants and agrees to a no-trade clause (deal breaker in Clippers extension talks) on the premise that he signs a more team friendly deal (180/4 instead of 210/4 that he got from the Sixers), subsequently saving Minnesota enough money to at least resign Naz Reid (NAW being gone most likely)
Pelinka does his job for the first time in three years and isn’t afraid to trade the picks for immediate help
Timberwolves: Send out: Karl-Anthony Towns (36M) and Kyle Anderson (7M, S&T for 24/3) Receive: PG (42M, S&T 180/4) and 25’ Det FRP via NYK instead of Randle, DiVo + 25’ DET FRP
Starters Conley - ANT - PG - McDaniels/NAZ - Rudy Bench Rob - NAW - Minott- McDaniels/NAZ - Garza
Clippers: Send out: PG (42M, S&T for 180/4) Receive: Randle (27M) and Robinson (15M) + 25’ WAS FRP via NYK instead of losing him for nothing
Starters (healthy) Harden - Dunn - Kawhi - Randle - Zubac Bench Hyland - Norm - DJJ - Batum - Mitch
—> closer to a contender, better depth and Randle to carry the load alongside Harden while Kawhi is out —> PG doesn’t leave for nothing —> (minimal) trade assets in return too
Knicks (1) Send out: Randle (27), Mitch (15) + 2 25’ FRP Receive: KAT (36), Anderson (7) instead of Randle, Donte, 1 25’ FRP
Knicks (2): Send out: Bogdanovic (20), Donte (11) + 25’27’FRP 28’ Swap Receive Mikal Bridges (22) instead of sending 4 picks and a swap
Starters JB - Mikal - Hart - OG - KAT Payne - Deuce - Anderson - Sims
—> PG getting a smaller contract also lands OG a smaller contract (180/5 instead of 210/5 he eventually got) —> Knicks send earlier FRP and control their picks from 29’ onwards instead of 32’ onwards —> Anderson solves wing depth and bench playmaking issue —> OGs contract/moving Mitch for Anderson moves Knicks ~ 9M under second apron, allowing better chances for top buyout candidates
Lakers: Send out: Vincent (11), JHS (4), Rui (16), 29 FRP, 31 FRP (top 5 protection) Receive: DiVo (11), DFS (14), Sharpe (3)
Starters LBJ - Dlo/DiVo - Reaves - DFS/Sharpe - AD Bench: Dlo/DiVo - Reddish - Knecht - Vando - Sharpe
—> LeBron plays PG with a lot of spacing and AD isn’t forced to play Center for the whole game because of Sharpe/Dfs who can both guard fives —> Dlo runs second unit and Ruis scoring is replaced with Knecht
Nets: Send out: Mikal (22), DFS (14), Sharpe (3) Receive: Bogdanovic (20), Rui (16), Vincent (11), JHS (4) + 25’27’ FRP/28’ Swap via Knicks + 29’31’(T5) via LAL
—> more salary relieve, same amount of FRPs , more realistic price for Mikal but still more valuable picks/ player material in return