What/Who should we aim for in a BI trade?

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If we are trading him at the deadline (which we absolutely should) then we should be aiming to get a return simliar to what Toronto got last year for Siakam.

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I hope you are right, but I seriously doubt anyone is trading anything close to that value for BI.

I unfortunately do not expect us to get a Siakim type return. A first is a must, and I hope to get two. But the market just isn’t the same, hence why I think the players coming back is important. I want to know we have a 2025/2026 rotational player on top of whatever picks we can negotiate. If not two.

John Collins is the most interesting to me as a true backup to Zion finally, but also a guy that can maybe finish at the 5 in a smaller lineup. A more offensive Larry Nance if you will.

Isaac is having a very down year, but he could play the same role, and is under contract at a very modest amount moving forward.

The available cap space in FA is so sparse, I don’t think we should shy away from expiring deals for a guy that fits. I like Lonzo because he can play the wing off the bench, but also step in as a starting PG instead of asking too much from Jose. Long shot, but he and Zion fit like a glove.

Robert Williams as a backup big that could maybe take over starting role or maybe just finishing role. LA guy and low cost. Brings a lot of the things Missi does, but more experienced and better passer. Has to be healthy of course.

Many more just the ones that jump out first to me

Not happening

Love Kessler but have convinced myself he’s probably not available. Spit balling other possible names with varying interest…..

Bobby Portis
Patrick Williams (pass)
Vucevic
Dayron Sharpe
Isaiah Stewart
Clint Capella
Nikola Jovic
Brandon Clarke (if Memphis made a big move)
Jared Vanderbilt
Daniel Gafford
Naz Reid
Kevon Looney
Harrison Barnes
Duop Reath

Again, multi team BI trades where we end up with a 4 or 5 in our rotation for next year, plus picks.

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Spit balling other possible names with varying interest…..

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With the exception of Williams and Barnes, I like the list based on fit/contract. But it totally depends on the balance of the trade. This is the level where it might make sense to wait for the offseason
For example, I'd be very happy with Ingram for Portis and a 2nd if Milwaukee was able to send players elsewhere and we only took back 12 million. But if we're taking back 34 million and losing future manueverability and roster spots, it would be worse than letting Ingram expire.

Drop coverage can work in the playoffs. Just see championships by the likes of Jokic with the Nuggets and Brook Lopez with the Bucks, etc. Rim protection and rebounding still goes a long way. I know Shamit was just talking about how the numbers don’t really back up the “switchable bigs”. That being said, I do share concerns regarding Kessler. And while it sounds stupid, I do think screen setting from a big is a big deal.

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What?
he's taken 4 threes this year. He hasn't shown improvement in something he doesn't do.
54% from the FT line this year. It's not improvement, and even if it was, it's still horrible.

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He couldn't hit the backboard 2 years ago. Now his shot looks normal.

It doesn't matter though because he is very unlikely to be available

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Just see championships by the likes of Jokic with the Nuggets and Brook Lopez with the Bucks,

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Both of those guys are much better defenders than Kessler, and are surrounded by better defenders as well.
Having Giannis looming around with his 7'3" wingspan is why Brook Lopez doens't get exposed more.
Jokic moves his feet better than people think, and you can't just take him 1 on 1 just b/c you got the switch, especially in the playoffs when he really starts trying.

I want a big that can be some sort of threat from 3 more than anything.

Jonathan Isaac is what we need, assuming he's just having some slump this year due to some injury woe, although i'm sure if we traded for him he'd likely have some career ending injury.
He was #1 in the league last year at defending FG% within 6' of the basket, and defensive eFG% in isolation. And I think we could get 3-4 threes a game out of him hitting around 38%.


all this stupid 40 threes a game talk can be achieved the right way by finding a backup 4 and backup 5 that actually shoots 3's. We can't play with a starting 4 and 5, as well as their backups and get only 2-3 3's a game from those 4 guys and expect everyone else to throw up 38 threes.

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Orlando will trade him right after they trade Paolo. They turned down 1st round picks for him when they didn't even know if he would ever play again.

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He plays 16mpg for them, even with Paolo and Franz hurt, and he's having a down year. He's a backup 4.

They'd trade him for BI in a heartbeat.