Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[mvossman]

Melo is a reasonable comp for a possible Kyrie trade this summer, a trade of a star when M became a GM. But as you mentioned, that one happened because Melo was trying to force his way out - he was chasing a chance to play in NY - so M made the best deal and moved forward to build a team. If Kyrie starts making waves that he wants out, sure I think he gets traded; but if not, I don't see it happening.   

You mentioned Derozan, but that is not a realistic comp for what M might do in THIS type of situation at all. That's just a GM in a place he has been for quite some time making a trade of a good player to get a better one (which is what it takes sometimes), and he was offered a player who could take them to a title, if he will let go of DeRozan. So of course he did. Fast forward a half dozen years, and if he has a bunch of Robins (some of them fairly raw) needing a Batman, the DR deal is our comp for what he might do in THAT situation.

Rudy Gay was traded because he (with a big contract, and a ball stopper) didn't fit what TOR was building. That was their AD-to-Washington trade, basically -- a deal that freed up minutes, shots, and future payroll. They actually got MUCH better that same season, just by getting him out of the rotation.

I agree that none of those situations are just like what he is facing now.  He has never faced a situation like this before (a 19 year old budding superstar, a 34 year old aging star and limited assets) so no idea what he will do.  My only point was that I am not ready to assume he is not going to trade Kyrie just because that's the current message.

Regardless, the original question is why trade him in the offseason.  I think I provided valid reasons why it would at least be a consideration.  Of course I am coming from the belief that the goal should be to maximize asset return on him to support the long term rebuild.  Others prefer to keep him in order to be better in the near term and are going to need to be blown away.  By the same token, I don't have any interest in giving him away.  If his maximum return does reach a minimum threshold of significant assets then I rather just watch him play.