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Everything I'm reading and hearing is that they don't see Wood as a long-term fit, which is a bit of a head-scratcher. Not very often you have an athletic big man who can shoot the way he does and score 30 pts, 10 reb, and 2 blks in a night. I get he isn't a great defender by any means, but he does rim-protect and offensively Luka and him on the floor together has been fantastic.
It seems like they want a more defensive minded center, who can rim run a bit, and block shots, and to find their offense from the guard and wing positions. Which I get that to a degree, but you better get some assets for Wood. I've seen Wood + Bullock + Bertans for something like Westbrook & a protected '27 1st from the Lakers.
I'm not moving the 1st rounders for anything less than Siakam, Rozier, or Bogdanovic. For Bogdanovic I'm only doing that if you're going all out to get both a Rozier-type, and Bogdanovic. Certainly not giving up a 1st for the Knicks deal. Hartenstein could be solid, but Rose and Reddish are just meh. I know the Knicks want Bullock, though.
If you could acquire both Rozier & Bogdanovic for the '25 & '27 1sts, some seconds and some salary matches, that's intriguing because then you keep Green & Hardy - the only issue at that point is that's your future with Luka.
Doncic, Rozier, Bogdanovic, Dorian Finney-Smith, Center - Dinwiddie, Hardy, Bullock, Kleber etc - You better be really sure you can win it all with that lineup, which with Luka you really might be able to. I prefer the, "get a 2nd bona fide star route, and then aim to convince one or two more really solid Top 50 players in free agency in two years" route.
I do really like what I see from Green & Hardy, worst case those guys look like staples. Hardy really looks like he could be a Jordan Poole-type player, and shows better defensive upside, and a better ability to get to the rim. Green could be an Iguodala-like player.
If they make a trade for Siakam, it will certainly be something like:
Mavericks receive:
Pascal Siakam
Raptors receive:
'25, '27, '29 1st-round picks
Josh Green
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Davis Bertans
Two 1st-round pick swaps
If there is some magical way the Mavs could swing a deadline deal with them, maybe:
Mavericks:
Pascal Siakam
Raptors:
'27 & '29 1st-round picks
Three 1st-round pick swaps
Christian Wood
Josh Green
Dorian Finney-Smith/Tim Hardaway Jr.
I think Josh Green is/has played himself into a very, very intriguing asset. He completely revamped his shot, shows elite defensive potential, and can play make - that sort of wing player is insanely valuable. I'd love to keep him, but I'm sure they'd ask for him.
The Bulls and the Raptors are probably the key deadline teams to watch through the rest of this year, and the off-season. The Raptors have four pieces to really, really keep an eye on: Siakam, Anunoby, Trent Jr., and Van Fleet. I'd love a shot at any of those guys, in that order. Bulls obviously have DeRozan and LaVine.
All that being said, Nico knows this team needs a huge revamp. The off-season might just be a much better time to try and make that strike. If you can clear THJ, Bertans, and McGee while waiting, sign me up.
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