Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Smitty]

This is in no way a finished product.

They can't do a few things until they understand what the situations are with Sergio and Bibikiov. And If Klay is on the roster at the start of the season, I'll be shocked. And then there's Middleton's decision and the rather vague opportunities surrounding Marshall, Washington, and Gafford.

I think we are going to have to grind it out for quite a bit longer.

Thinking through the roster and how I view each players role and where they fit on a made up depth chart.

Kyrie is an All-star. PG1 or SG1. Simple. 

Max is a fringe starter on a good team. SG/SF. If he’s your 5th guy, it’s not a problem. 

Flagg, superstar, is and always will be a 3, that can play 1-2-4-5. Basketball player. Put him wherever you want on a depth chart.

PJ is a very good starter. A 4 that can play the 3 and also some 5. Can be the POA defender in certain matchups.

Gafford. Starting caliber 5. Doesn’t play starter minutes. More like a platoon guy. Innings eater. Tone setter.

Sasser and Nemby might be closer to PG3/PG4 guys on a good team.

Klay can still help a team. 16-20 minutes shooter off the bench. Can pencil him at the 2 or 3.

Sergio is a 3rd Guard from what I’ve seen so far, could be more. Can pencil him in at 1, 2, and probably the 3, given his size and off-ball skills.

Naji is a bench Wing. Can put him in 1-4 if you want to but pretty much the ideal backup 3 on a good team that has plenty of shooters.

Martin is a VetMin guy that provides defense off the bench. Situational type player. Offense for defense sub. Makes too much for the role, but not unplayable. 2-3-4.

Aldama and Morez are 4-5 guys. One’s a stretch Big the other is a versatile defender type. Both backup roles for now, with room to grow.

Lively is a bench Big. 14-16 mpg guy. Starter level impact, bench level role, for reinjury risk reasons. 


All that said, I think they’re missing a real PG2 type. Relying on a combination of Sasser/Nemby/Sergio when Kyrie is out of the game or gets injured is signaling to me that the real backup plan is more Flagg and Naji running things. Maybe that’s the plan, and simply adding more shooting is the way they’ll go, but I’m still on the Moar Guards train.