Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Dundalis]

Agree with pretty much all of this.  I think there is a reason we have heard rumors of Gafford and PJ on the trading block and nothing on Kyrie or Naji.  I'm not worried that Masai is going to get a bad return for PJ.  If anything, his history indicates he has a tendency to set the price too high and wait too long to sell.  I'm on the fence whether PJ is likely to rehabilitate his value this coming season.  As it stands (assuming Klay is gone) there will be a roster crunch and given the need for shooting and creation, he might find his minutes getting cut.

I think PJ's defense gives him a clear advantage over every other forward on the roster in line for his spot/minutes though (that include Morez who I think will have growing pains on both ends). And as for his shooting, if you look at his shooting historically, it's more likely than not the shooting rebounds to something solid than it stays bad, especially if you aren't giving him a role that burdens him with significant offensive creation, which is obviously more likely this season than last.

Like Im not sure whatever advantage Aldama has with his overall offensive game gives him any advantage over PJ playing time wise given the gap in defensive capability, especially if PJ is even just shooting at his career average, which I think is pretty reasonable to assume.