Y’all i’m jobless and bored and killing time with the trade machine, so it goes

Alright so looking around the league to add a bona fide stud to the starting unit as we need more top end talent and could certainly consolidate our assets. What i’m weighing in my thoughts are fit, timeline, price, and trade partner status. I think i’ve zeroed in on two candidates to strike a deal with.

1. Lauri Markkanen

Pacers send: Jarace Walker, Daniel Theis, ‘24 pick (least favorable of LAC, OKC, HOU, or UTA), ‘25 Pacers first unprotected, ‘27 Pacers first lightly protected, ‘27 UTA 2nd round pick.

potentially: Andrew Nembhard

Utah send: Lauri Markkanen

Thoughts: can anyone argue how Lauri wouldn’t fit on this roster? Shooting, rebounding, passing…he’s not a defensive specialist but he’s average at least and would instantly be our second option. To add an all star player who is 26 years old on a 2 year / 17mil per year contract right now is perfect for any roster in the league - so it’s going to cost us. 3 first round picks, a young lottery pick player who is stuck low in the pecking order, and salary filler (Theis and Ainge have a good connection). If I take off my homer glasses I can see how this is not enough to land Lauri, after all Walker is a big unknown right now. There’s enough room in this deal to add Nembhard to it which i’m sure Utah would gladly accept. Is that overpay? I’m certain many here would scream yes.

Consider that this team is very close to ready to compete. If we give up Nembhard and Walker in this deal, we have Mathurin, Nesmith, IJax, Stix, and Haliburton all 24 and under to develop not to mention an underrated guy in our wings waiting for his chance in Ben Sheppard who I believe can work his way into the Nembhard role given the opportunity. We have our own ‘24 pick as insurance if the worst case scenario happens. Markkanen’s timeline fits so much better with Haliburton, Mathurin, Turner and the team than Walker who seems like he might need some time to grow into a serviceable player (id love to be wrong on this, i know it’s far too early in the season to tell - big believer in Walker btw).

Lineup:

Haliburton - Brown - Mathurin - Markkanen - Turner

McConnell - Hield - Nesmith - Toppin - Stix

reserves: IJax, Sheppard

where do you see any deficiencies? This is a well rounded roster ready to play Carlisle and Haliburton’s uptempo run and gun system with a clear 2nd option in Lauri and improved rebounding (and frankly defensive improvement over Toppin). The next 5 are also complete with youth and veteran players, shooting, and toughness ready to step up. This team would be a top-4 team in the east right away and has room to grow.

Utah gets two young players that fit their timeline and address their clear need for a PG, 3 FRP including rights to their own pick in ‘24.

2. OG Anunoby

Pacers send: Jarace Walker, TJ McConnell, IJax, ‘25 Pacers FRP unprotected

Raptors send: OG Anunoby

Thoughts: Raptors ‘24 FRP is owed to the Spurs unless it’s 1-6 and the current 1-3 Raptors are bottom of the East with aging veterans on expiring contracts and a youth movement. It’s quickly becoming time for them to decide a direction and giving the keys to Barnes, Dick, and acquiring assets seems to be the best move for them currently (again i know it’s too early to tell but im trying to create a fantasy to distract myself from my bleak reality). Walker again is an enticing young lottery pick, Stix is a young spark plug center and Toronto needs frontcourt depth, TJM likely competes with Schroeder to be their starting PG and is a great vet to have for a youth movement.

The fit for the Pacers is a little more awkward…does OG slide to the PF and we play small? Does Mathurin or Brown move to the bench? Id wager Carlisle is more comfortable going small out of these options.

Lineup:

Haliburton - Brown - Mathurin - OG - Turner

Nembhard - Hield - Nesmith - Toppin - Stix

Reserves: Theis, Sheppard

OG and Turner make a formidable defensive duo that would terrorize the league. The modern 4 plays on the wing and spaces the floor which OG is more than capable of covering defensively. Brown can and has been able to slide down and cover 4’s on defensive assignments as well if we need OG to cover a wing. The switch ability here is fun. Does this improve our rebounding? Not likely though OG has some decent rebounding to his game. Offensively he’s an upgrade for our team but he and Turner are both 3rd options so the 2nd option is up for grabs for Mathurin to grow into. adding a POA defender as good as OG makes us better and this team ought to be between 4-6 seed in the east. Imagine the lineup of Nembhard - Brown - Nesmith - OG - Turner having one of the best defensive ratings in the league. The opportunity cost is lower for us than Lauri, we’re still a youth movement but we improve our starting unit significantly nonetheless.

Final Notes: I’m sorry Jarace Walker, im a big believer and fan but I just see how this team is ready to make the playoffs and we have a lot of mouths to feed on this team as is. Improving our starting unit by using our assets that have good value benefits us all around. We can’t develop guys that don’t earn minutes! I believe our timeline is a lot further along than people realize and that’s why we signed Bruce Brown. For this (healthy) team to miss the playoffs this year would be a failure for our growth.