Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[mvossman]

Agree with the emboldened, but not so much on the "equally irrelevant." I think there's value in taking a route to Flagg's era, sure, but I also think there's value in getting there with as much comfort as possible, and I think an effort to shorten the trip could easily lengthen it. 

They don't need to start assembling the team that will be around Flagg when he's 28 yet. They just need to assemble a team that fits with him and can support him if/when he's ready to compete, which might actually be next year. Maybe it won't be, but I have faith in him. And, it is so, so obvious that he and AD fit like a DREAM on the court. Meanwhile, he's 18. They can afford to try something, have it completely fail, and even if it does, by that time they'll have more ammo in the pick war chest again, through several means, including time. 

I just don't think there's a way to bridge the gap of pickless years in a meaningful way. It would take some GREAT picks to replace the ones they've traded away, in the event they opt to be bad. I think they have to try to be good, I really do. That means, for me, that no, AD and Trae Young are far from "equally irrelevant."

Its so crazy because those picks would likely not be valuable if Nico hadn't traded away the very reason they were traded.

It's not pickless years. They have a first in every year except 27, it just won't be their own.  If they end up with Risacher plus a quality first plus their own lottery pick, I would say that would effectively bridge the gap.  I would argue that Gafford, Naji and PJ are all probably worth a first as well.  I'm a little worried about the 27, but after that I don't think their picks they traded away are going to be that valuable.  Flagg is too good.  Put reasonable pieces around him and I think they stay out of the lottery after next season at the latest.