u/Never_enough_Dolf

Source: https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/july-fourth-nba-trade-free-agency?r=nuq3a&utm\_medium=ios

Valančiūnas and Zeke Nnaji are the Nuggets' only veteran names of late circulating as certain trade candidates. For all the expectation this spring that Denver was determined to shed salary to make it easier to match offers on restricted free agent swingman Peyton Watson, this is not a team that has been operating in recent days with a determination to stay below the second apron like James Dolan's Knicks.
Watson, meanwhile, is said to be seeking a deal north of the $25 million in average annual value that Christian Braun secured from Denver in October. How feasible that is in this marketplace remains to be seen.

Most notably in Denver ...
We're told that the Nuggets have rebuffed several trade offers from teams attempting to pry away Cam Johnson.
Some rival teams projected the Nuggets to prioritize trying to trade Braun in the wake of a first-round exit, but the timing was clearly suboptimal given Braun's injuries last season and the fact that his five-year deal is only just beginning in 2026-27.

Certified not AI, a play on the worn copper of the Statue of Liberty, drawn while taking a dump in the wait for extra time in the Argentina game.

Vamos Cabo Verde

Yeah yeah yeah AI Slop or whatever, but the post yesterday inspired me to throw in some ideas I think would look better than that Grey Redish and not the usual Red white and blue.

Well, we’ve had a day to sit on the Jaylen Brown news, and more importantly a day to wait to hear about Bill Simmons and what he was doing during the trade… getting a supposed colonoscopy during it.

Spending this time to soak in the downfall of our most well known hater, basher, scrutinizer ever since Danny Ainge swindled Billy King.

Wish you all a happy holiday weekend, and as always, Go Nets!

Cleveland gets cap space to sign Free agents (Dean Wade or LeBron) in exchange for some second round picks

Nets get Strus on an expiring deal for more shooting and vet presence on their young team

Source: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-ultimate-late-night-nba-trade

Last night we reported the Lakers' rising interest in Toronto free agent Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Now league sources tell @JakeLFischer and me that Philadelphia's Quentin Grimes is emerging as another top Lakers target.

Bucks receive 4 firsts and 2 swaps for Giannis, along with an expiring MPJ, a back up PG in Traore (to their presumable top 10 guard pick), and some additional scoring in Ziaire Williams. Bucks also most likely try to leverage some of these assets to trade higher in the 2026 draft.

Celtics receive Giannis

Nets take on Jaylen Brown who gets to lead his own team along with the Nets 6 overall pick, and whoever they throw another max too this offseason (Duren, Reaves, etc.)

Trades are more frameworks than anything, but more what I expect to happen on draft night.

Truly sickening display tonight. Spurs get a PF and better back up big than Kornet, Nets take on a huge contract for 3 picks and a swap after striking out on Giannis.

Reposting cause I’m dumb and put the wrong picture in my last post.

Hawks trade up from 8 to get their choice of the top PGs after the Clippers take Keaton Wagler with their pick, while also getting a serviceable big who went to college in Georgia in Nic Claxton, who would help the Hawks with their size presumably better than whoever they take at 23. If Claxton does not work out, he has a declining scale contract and would be easily movable next season for something else.

Nets trade down to 8 and take whoever is left of the guards, or Aday Mara/Nate Ament. At pick 23 Nets will look to trade further up into the first round, packaging 23, 33 and a future Knicks or the 2027 Rockets swap to try and target a pick from 15-18. Alternatively, depending on who is selected at 8, they opt to draft a big like Quaintance if he falls, Luigi Suigo, Tarris Reed, Cenac, or a PG like Christian Anderson or Okorie if they fall.

Nets also receive Risacher who has a chance to redeem his value as a number 1 pick on a team devoid of talent, and Buddy Hield for bench shooting and vet presence.

To get that Daryl Morey funk out, Sixers send out their second worst contract to get an entire bench unit and a second rounder. Nets receive the Sixers pick 22, Clippers 28 pick and 2 2027 seconds from Philly for their troubles.

Warriors get Kawhi, Grayson Allen and Royce to help Steph and the warriors be competitive in his last years. Kawhi would sign a 2 year extension after being traded, and the warriors also re-sign Porzingis to a more team friendly deal (probably a 2 year deal with a team option year 2)

Clippers get a big head start on their rebuild, getting pick 11 from the warriors, Jalen Green, Jimmy Butler who will get moved to a contender when he becomes an expiring the next year, and another 5 first round picks for future flexibility.

Suns get a serviceable PG to pair with Booker while also creating the most annoying defensive team ever with Brooks and Draymond.

Chances this happens, nearly 0, but I think it would be fun to think about this happening

Nets help facilitate Fox to the Wolves by sending MPJ to the Spurs along with Saraf and taking in Randle and an injured DDV for the 20th and 28th pick this year, and the Spurs 2030 pick.

Nets ideally pair both of those picks to move up in the draft or get more future picks.

Brooklyn bails out Toronto from 2 of their worst contracts for 19, 2 top 4 protected firsts, their 2026 second, and a young player coming off a bad year in Dick.

Toronto gets a starting center in Clax, bench scoring from Williams, and a vet who can be moved at the deadline in Mann.

Charlotte goes all in on shooting and acquires MPJ from the Nets, while also adding Claxton to catch lobs from Melo in transition and defend the paint.

Nets receive 2 more first rounders to move up in the 2026 draft or take another wing and big man, and also receive the protected Miami pick in 2027.

Mock is under the impression that Koa Peat and Tounde both return to college.

Edit:

Didn’t realize Ngongba get left in. Order following the hawks is as follows:

Hawks - Henri
Lakers - Jefferson
Celtics - Tarris Reed
Nets - Zuby
Cavs - Baba Miller
Mavs - Luigi Suigo

Rest of the picks in that range stay the same.