Cavs interest has reportedly picked up, move could happen sooner rather than later. Nets could draw things out to the day of the deadline though….

Jimmy and the Suns get what they want.

Heat get a good return with Ingram and a return of Strus.

Cavs do a low risk high reward for Zion.

Pels get a great return for the value they give away….

The Suns get 13 picks (seven of which are first rounders) and a lot of veterans with pretty good flip value or their contracts will expire soon. The best part is that they get a few young guys with all star potential namely Reed Sheppard who just dropped 50 in the G League. I’m also a really big Cam Whitmore fan.

KD going to play for Kenny Atkinson on the Cavs makes too much sense to me, if that doesn’t make them favorites I don’t know what will. The Cavs would still have some nice depth pieces as well.

The Rockets make the most sense to get Booker imo because they’re legit contenders if they can get one go to scorer (que Booker) and they have a couple of the Suns picks which Phoenix should try to re acquire if they’re going to tank.

The Lakers get a really good floor general point guard and a nice two way guard who can help space the floor in Grayson Allen and an okay center who has a lot of playoff experience who can come in and play alongside AD to give him a break from bruising …

Cavs: PG Garland Jerome CPJ SG Mitchell, Merrill, Tyson SF MPJ, Okoro, Strawther PF Mobley, Wade, Watson C Allen, TT

I have done similar trades to this before but this is my current favorite MPJ to Cavs deal.

Why? Cavs get a true SF starter and reserves to play SF that are taller than 6'5" .. Cavs maintain their depth and get two young guys to develop in Watson and Strawther that for sure can play at this level.

Cavs playoff 8 would have Jerome, Okoro and Wade/Watson competing for last spot

Nuggets do this for depth depth depth! Strus is the exact not selfish starting SF they need. LeVert the perfect 6th man and Niang 8.8 PPG as the #9 will be huge for them in regular season play

Edit: Thank you all for my highest views yet. I know not all of my trades hit, but I like to see some people agreeing with the merit/ thought process….

The 2 trades - POR/HOU & then SAS/POR/CLE

——Pick details——

CLE gets-

*2030 1st rd pick swap with POR where CLE gets the worse of the 2 picks (CLE pick is top 2 protected)

POR Gets-

*Four 2d rd picks

*2030 1st rd pick swap with CLE where POR gets the better of the 2 picks (protected top 2)

2025 1st from HOU via PHX (Most likely pick 12-18) *Rationale - OKC can swap with HOU or LAC- OKC will most likely swap with LAC. After this HOU will swap this pick for PHX 1st in 2025. OKC has no claim over PHX pick.

THOUGHTS? CHANGES? ISSUES? Happy to break down the why for the different teams….

Cavs first is top 3 protected…

Cavaliers get: SF D'Andre Hunter Hawks get: SG Caris LeVert PF Georges Niang 3 SRPs 2 Swaps Cavaliers: They didn't even have to give up a first. This is a solid deal. And it's a deal that could go a long way in terms of making thems the favorites in the East. Grade: A Hawks: The Hawks didn't need to sell. They should've been buyers. And they didn't even get a first. Grade: D…

Let me know your thoughts on this trade (:

Rosters: Cavs PG Garland SG Mitchel SF Okoro PF Johnson C Mobley. Bench: PG Ty Jerome SG Merrill SF Strus PF Niang C Allen.

Nets: PG D’Angelo Russell SG Cam Thomas SF Levert PF Bojan C Claxton. Bench: PG Melton SG Whitehead SF Wade PF Watford C Sharpe…

Hawks Offseason…

The projected salary cap for the 2025-26 NBA season is $154.6 million

Cavs salary table 25-26: Cavs at $181.3!!!!!

Mitchell $46 mil Garland $39 mil Mobley $38 mil LeVert EXT: $17 mil Jerome EXT: $11 mil Merrill EXT: $6 mil Okoro: $11 mil Wade: $6 mil TJD: $2 mil Tyson: $3.3 mil CPJ: $2 mil

Even with trading Allen, Niang and Strus, keeping the rest.. Cavs are around $27 mil over next year!

The thought is Cavs can manage cap by going from Allen to TJD, frp and keep the above top 9 roster.

This way they keep their d-guys: Okoro and Wade

Their offensive spark plugs: Jerome, Merrill and Levert

The Cavs value Allen a lot so that's why it takes the top big on a cheap deal and a pick to make Cavs realize they need this long term

Warriors say yes because they aren't on TJDs timeline. They need a guy like Allen now! He will help unlock their starting lineup…

I am not big on Cam Johnson for the cavs -inflated stats on a rebuilding nets -not a true SF paid too much for backup PG -too ball dominant to be #5 on Cavs

I just see comments that the Cavs don't have enough assets for Cam and I just don't think that is true especially with a 2nd frp from a 3rd team….

I think RJ Barrett is one of the most underrated appreciated NBA starters. He is really good to me, can play SG or SF.

I would throw out the feeler. To see if 2 FRPs, 2 SRPs, Tyson (frp 2024) and a shooting Wing is enough (with Miami's help)

With butler issues, I think it benefits Miami to get younger from Highsmith to Okoro as the defensive SF and Burkes to LeVert. Cavs still get those guys with Barrett that can at least play some of the roles of the guys missing. CPJ is a young backup PG so heat are getting younger upgrades at 3 positions for their lottery protected frp.

I think the raptors realize they are more than 1 Barrett from competing so doing another asset collection may not be a bad idea….