Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

If Christie was the 5th overall pick instead of the 35th and if Gafford was as good as Stewart (Killer thinks Stewart is better) and if 30 was 21, you’d be close.  

BTW, the most recent haul for Durant (and Capella) was Brooks (is that similar to Stewart?), Malachi (who only got 11 minutes a game in 4 playoff losses), Green (who people generally feel is overpaid) and some seconds.  Not exactly a kings ransom.

I mean, I think very similarly to you on this, as we've established. Not sure even why I'm choosing your post to respond to, but:

What I can't get past, in the context of the broader conversation, is the ridiculous notion that open-minded consideration for the idea of trading a 34 year old PG-sized non-PG is somehow akin to "bottoming out for the next ___ seasons." When did those two things become equivalent, and who should I talk to about that? I read someone's response that straw manned my point into "bottoming out until 2032." Like...WHAT? 

I'm trying to think of ways to make the team better (realistically better, not the fantasy version of better that some seem to expect will happen magically on opening night) SOONER, not later. I think there's a serious disconnect somewhere...something being assumed differently on both sides in deep and opposing ways that's making basic communication on this topic difficult. I don't quite know if that disconnect is about how we all view Kyrie, the rest of the team or both, but it's weird. 

FWIW, I could be convinced NOT to trade Kyrie, depending on how a few other variables shake out. However, I don't think the team is in a position to simply draft a guy at #9, make a smart MLE signing, hire a coach and then make the playoffs. I think that's rather far-fetched, personally. I'm trying to imagine ways of making the playoffs SOONER, and in such a way where they can remain a playoff team for some time afterwards. 

The other, separate conversation is: "if they decide to trade Kyrie, what kind of offers can we expect?" I think you've got the right of that part, for sure.