The Official NBASupes, Sothron, and theCampster Insider Thread - NBA 2022-23 Season

[NBASupes]

This is an interesting year as they are not many sellers but a lot of buyers and the buyers think the cost is way too high from the sellers. I don't any blockbusters yet. 

Let's start with the Hawks. 

Ownership - I couldn't get much of anything and haven't on this front but I was told that Travis did NOT offer Trae to anyone. I was also told, he was not leading a force to move him. I was told, he suggested that moving Trae would give us the best return and that it could put us in a place of winning for awhile even if we aren't ever contenders. He never mentioned it as the best case. That's all I can confirm. @Sothron is that guy who has that source. I don't. 

Rumors are that most Hawks are available or being shopped. Hunter, OO, Griffin, JJ, Murray, and Trae are the only ones who aren't. 

Capela is unlikely to be moved as long as Atlanta was quality core pieces in return. This summer could be when Clint is moved. =

Bogi is likely to finish out his deal in Atlanta. He could be a throw-in at some point but that's it. A player that Atlanta has reached out about for Bogi is Atlanta native, Collin Sexton. This might be something to look into as Atlanta is trying to improve it's struggling bench. 

The most shopped player is Justin Holiday. Atlanta is offering two 2nds and Holiday for a rotational big that can help us. Jarred Vanderbilt has been a target. I was told it's unlikely as Utah wants a 1st for Vanderbilt. There are a lot of players like Cam Reddish available for trade in this range but what people want is an useful rotation player and teams with them want more than the price teams are willing to pay. Atlanta has also offered a 2nd attached with Bogi as well. 

He has even heard of Aaron Holiday being packaged. He thinks Atlanta wants to add more rotational pieces to the bench. That's a big deal. 

 Nate - As others have said here, it seems like Atlanta is waiting to the offseason to get a new coaching staff. There was willingness from Nate to leave on his own but leadership pleaded with him to stay. 

John Collins - Everything you heard is true. It's the Wizards, Jazz, Nets, Pacers that want him. All have sent scouts to all of his games of the last several months and the reports have come back glowingly on JC. His trade value has gone up to the point Atlanta feels it can make a reasonable deal. I think it will come down to Washington and Indiana. Indiana is far more likely as they have players that appeal to Atlanta and can give Atlanta a lot of cap space. Do not count out Brooklyn. They have interest but it will take Ben Simmons. Brooklyn hasn't been too open on trading Ben for JC thus far but that's the only player Atlanta is willing to entertain from Brooklyn. The issue with Washington is while the organization loves JC and his fit, they don't have buy-in from Beal on it so I am not betting on WAS. I honestly think he's going to Indy but if he had his choice and if Brooklyn decided to move on from Ben, I think Atlanta jumps all over Ben Simmons. That's who Trae wants and that's who many in the organization been wanting for years. I honestly think that's why we haven't seen a trade yet but both have talked about it so there is potential there. 

Around the League -

Atlantic

NY - Cam Reddish - We already know he's available. He's heard Quickley was available as well but the cost is high. All these rotation players that can help teams are not available for a reasonable cost. 

Toronto - They have sky high prices for GTJ, FVV, etc. There is interest in these guys but not for the current price. Considering Ujiri doesn't bend in negotiations for his core players, he said don't expect any moves. Maybe willingness to add role players or trade role players but unlikely as there guys just aren't that valuable. 

Central 

Cleveland - Looking for a wing, having a lot of issues finding one. Looking hard at THJ right now. There are so few and the cost is insane for one. They reached out to Atlanta and Toronto for their wings and both teams asked for Mobley in return. So yeah, you aren't getting one of those guys unless you give up something significant. 

Indy - He's heard Indy been shopping Duarte as the fit with the new core just isn't there. They are looking to add another core piece and have been all in on JC of late. 

Scrub Teams 

Washington, Orlando, Detroit, and Charlotte 

A lot of teams called Washington but the cost is high for their players and they are looking at win now deals only. Orlando is tough as the prices are way too high as he says. Detroit has Saddiq Bey available but many feel like the price is too high and he's not the same player he was years ago. His reports haven't came back as positive. Charlotte had suitors for Oubre before he got hurt. 

Western Conference

Dallas - They are open to making moves. It's just difficult to find a team that wants what you got. Cleveland is looking at THJ. Dallas is seriously interested in Toronto's pieces. It's tough because no one really likes what Dallas has outside of Cleveland which has little to offer that they would be willing to offer.

Clippers - They are willing to trade non core players to get a core piece. They want Capela and bad but Atlanta wants a core piece for core piece for Capela and that's just not happening at this stage of the season for LAC. Look for them to try to find ways to upgrade the 5 position.  

Mid to scrubs

Minnesota, GS, Utah, PHX, LAL, SA, and HOU

MIN is shopping Russell and Reid. Reports on Russell did not come back glowingly. Expectations are that he will be finishing his contract out with MIN. Teams don't see him as more than a MLE guy moving forward. Reid is getting a lot of interest but cost is very high. 

GS is willing to listen to any potential blockbusters. He says, they are open to resigning Green but only at a team friendly deal and he could be had for trade but it's unlikely, as once again, cost is insanely high. 

Utah is the king of overpriced goods. Whole Foods is what we will call them. They have several players appealing to a lot of teams. I am told the most likely trade target is Collin Sexton as his price tag isn't crazy like the others nor is there a high demand for him either. A lot of teams have called about Kelly O., M. Beasley, and J. Vanderbilt but their price tag is HIGH. 

PHX - Crowder is wanted by a lot of teams. It's just PHX wants a solid rotational player in return and as I've stated, those are expensive these days. Everyone wants them. The Cam Reddish's are available but teams want useful role players. We will see what happens to Jae but PHX wants value in return. 

LAL - I know this has been said a lot but LAL wants to keep Russ but Pat Bev and Walker are being heavily shopped. They have been talking with DET for Bogey and Noel but Utah is the team they spoke with the most for Vanderbilt and Kelly O. The Lakers are interesting. Keep an eye on them. 

SA - They got players available but the price is way too high. He said to get Poeltl will take a high lottery - mid 1st. Yeah, Spurs aren't shopping their guys outside of the ones no one really wants like that like Romeo Langford. 

HOU - Eric Gordon is on the block, for what? A lot. Will he be moved. Hell no! They are using him to entice James to come back home which is likely. 

 

It's just not a big market this year. Atlanta got most of the damn players that's on the market. 

I am not expecting much other than a JC trade which is a given at this point. Maybe a LAL trading a 1st trade too. 

Team that everyone wants to be active: Toronto. Team that everyone knows will be active: Atlanta. 

 

Supes predictions:

JC to Brooklyn (Simmons) or Indy.

If Utah wants to move Sexton, Sexton to Atlanta for Bogi. 

Reddish to LAL or Mil. I think he will go for just one 2nd rounder at some point. 

THJ to CLE for Caris L. to DAL

Jae to Miami for a 1st, Celeb Martin/Jovic

Dallas willingness to trade a future 1st for a rotational player could happen. I do expect them to be in the running for Duarte if it cost two 2nds and a player. 

I think Bey might eventually go for two 2nds. Where, IDK. 

 

@Sothron @thecampster

[hawkster911]

Supes.  Interesting you couldn’t get any ownership feedback.  I’m trying to envision who is making trade phone calls around the league, is it Landry Fields along with Ressler Jr?  

Schlenk was a wizard evaluating talent coming from his videotaping days in Golden State and drafting Curry.  Who the hell is scouting for the Hawks?  March madness is coming around.  I won’t sweat it, I have a feeling this new leadership regime will trade all our draft picks by this years trade deadline and we won’t have any 1st round picks for 5 years.  Spurs are laughing at us with our dysfunctional leadership and hoping the Hawks ‘25, ‘26, ‘27 are top 5 in the draft and Spurs reap the benefits. 

[Sothron]

I have been told much of the same things for the Hawks and the Twolves that @NBASupes said above.

I will say that based on what I've heard (I do have more than one source on the Hawks and have a very solid Twolf source FWIW) I do think JC is playing out his last days as a member of the Hawks. I think it is 55/45 that he goes to Indy because Indy can give us tax relief plus firsts. Yes, I know I said before that this FO isn't interested in firsts but you can use firsts in the offseason to improve the roster. The 45? Yes, the Nets. Yes, for Ben Simmons. Yes, we did report last year that Trae wanted to play with his friend Ben and that has not diminished at all. 

What has diminished is Ben's trade value. Trae is 100% behind Ben and could perhaps reignite Ben back into the All Star he was in Philly. Ben's defense, passing and rebounding are still there this season but his personal scoring is just not good. 

Honestly I'd rather take the Indy deal even if its basically Duarte and two firsts. I would kill to get TJ McConnell from Indy personally and they could keep Duarte. Ben is so bad offensively in his anti gravity on offense that our spacing issue would expand more than it is now. At least JC can still hit open jumpers.

Capela is probably gone this offseason. The recent play by OO  has convinced the FO that it is time to move on from Capela and his lack of availability is a cause for concern. Why this doesn't extend also to Hunter is confusing not to just to me but my sources. Anyhoo....

Hawks are shopping J Holliday expiring contract and 2nd rounders HARD to try and get a rotational big man. They have tried to get PHX to do a Crowder for Bogi trade but PHX is resistant. I personally would like it if they do trade JC that they could get Crowder whose at least a decent starting 4 while we develop Jalen to hopefully take over that role next season.

Teams are testing Atlanta by trying to do the "oh by the way we can do this deal you want but we want a small contract back, like, AJ Griffin"  and the Hawks are at least awake enough to resist that. As well liked as Bogi is by Trae and the team, as well as how well liked Capela is, I do expect both of them to be moved in the offseason.

Our offseason trade targets that actually has Ressler signing off on the luxury tax would be Embiid or KAT. I finally got the blessing to say this outright. Harden is probably going back to Houston this offseason which leaves Embiid alone in Philly with no real way to get another star there. So he will want out and Philly will almost certainly trade him after they realize he's finally done with putting up with things in Philly. We want Embiid as the primary trade target and KAT as the secondary. Feeling is it is easier to swap center for center for Embiid for Capela with other contracts going to Philly. AJ Griffin could very well be included to make that deal happen.

If that doesn't go through the focus would be on Minnesota and KAT. I think everyone here knows how much of a fan I am of KAT so I will try to be as unbiased as I can. My Twolf source has told me that the team can't stand Gobert and that two bigs just wasn't working out like they had hoped. Imagine my surprise at that. If we could get KAT then it would have to be a three team trade to send Capela to another team while KAT came back here. 

I know no one on here wants to here Twolf talk outside of Atlanta so I will stop there. The Twolves are so invested into Gobert working out after the mammoth haul they gave up for him they are willing to trade KAT to get a more balanced team around Gobert. The idiocy of that should be obvious but their new team president has to try and save face after that debacle of a trade. I say that to say that KAT potentially coming to Atlanta is on the table. 

The Twolves have wanted JC for years but that's cooled off because of their KAT situation. And before anyone asks he can't be traded until the offseason. I expect JC to be gone off Atlanta by no later than the trade deadline.

If we trade JC for Ben Simmons it will speak volumes about how much actual voice Trae Young has with Nick Ressler. Trae already got his way to get DJM traded here. I honestly supported that trade then and now. Going after Ben Simmons? I just can't see it. Not with Capela still on the team. We would need a stretch five to make that work because you just can't have two non shooters on the court at the same time in the modern NBA. Having one non shooter causes issues but two? I just can't see that working. 

[Phunkabilly]

Thanks Supes and Soth!  Always look forward to these threads.

Soth, I believe it was you that has mentioned in the last month or so of a player that the Hawks were targeting in a trade, but you were not at liberty to talk about.  Are you free to talk about them now?  Is Ben or KAT that player by chance?  No worries if you're still not able to talk about said player... i was just curious.

I also find it interesting that two primary targets are Ben and Embiid... with the obvious bad blood between those two.  Although I would assume that if JC is ultimately traded for Ben, then Embiid in the offseason would be off the table at that point.

Edited January 16, 2023 by Phunkabilly

[Sothron]

7 minutes ago, Phunkabilly said:

Thanks Supes and Soth!  Always look forward to these threads.

Soth, I believe it was you that has mentioned in the last month or so of a player that the Hawks were targeting in a trade, but you were not at liberty to talk about.  Are you free to talk about them now?  Is Ben or KAT that player by chance?  No worries if you're still not able to talk about said player... i was just curious.

I also find it interesting that two primary targets are Ben and Embiid... with the obvious bad blood between those two.  Although I would assume that if JC is ultimately traded for Ben, then Embiid in the offseason would be off the table at that point.

Embiid and KAT are the big fish Ressler is willing to pay the LT to land. Yes, if we traded JC for Ben then it would probably kill any interest in Embiid in coming to Atlanta. 

[Wretch]

6 hours ago, NBASupes said:

Nate - As others have said here, it seems like Atlanta is waiting to the offseason to get a new coaching staff. There was willingness from Nate to leave on his own but leadership pleaded with him to stay.

I have too many things to say about this...and strangely, nothing at all to say. It's baffling, but making sense all at the same time. 

[REHawksFan]

5 hours ago, Sothron said:

I have been told much of the same things for the Hawks and the Twolves that @NBASupes said above.

I will say that based on what I've heard (I do have more than one source on the Hawks and have a very solid Twolf source FWIW) I do think JC is playing out his last days as a member of the Hawks. I think it is 55/45 that he goes to Indy because Indy can give us tax relief plus firsts. Yes, I know I said before that this FO isn't interested in firsts but you can use firsts in the offseason to improve the roster. The 45? Yes, the Nets. Yes, for Ben Simmons. Yes, we did report last year that Trae wanted to play with his friend Ben and that has not diminished at all. 

What has diminished is Ben's trade value. Trae is 100% behind Ben and could perhaps reignite Ben back into the All Star he was in Philly. Ben's defense, passing and rebounding are still there this season but his personal scoring is just not good. 

Honestly I'd rather take the Indy deal even if its basically Duarte and two firsts. I would kill to get TJ McConnell from Indy personally and they could keep Duarte. Ben is so bad offensively in his anti gravity on offense that our spacing issue would expand more than it is now. At least JC can still hit open jumpers.

Capela is probably gone this offseason. The recent play by OO  has convinced the FO that it is time to move on from Capela and his lack of availability is a cause for concern. Why this doesn't extend also to Hunter is confusing not to just to me but my sources. Anyhoo....

Hawks are shopping J Holliday expiring contract and 2nd rounders HARD to try and get a rotational big man. They have tried to get PHX to do a Crowder for Bogi trade but PHX is resistant. I personally would like it if they do trade JC that they could get Crowder whose at least a decent starting 4 while we develop Jalen to hopefully take over that role next season.

Teams are testing Atlanta by trying to do the "oh by the way we can do this deal you want but we want a small contract back, like, AJ Griffin"  and the Hawks are at least awake enough to resist that. As well liked as Bogi is by Trae and the team, as well as how well liked Capela is, I do expect both of them to be moved in the offseason.

Our offseason trade targets that actually has Ressler signing off on the luxury tax would be Embiid or KAT. I finally got the blessing to say this outright. Harden is probably going back to Houston this offseason which leaves Embiid alone in Philly with no real way to get another star there. So he will want out and Philly will almost certainly trade him after they realize he's finally done with putting up with things in Philly. We want Embiid as the primary trade target and KAT as the secondary. Feeling is it is easier to swap center for center for Embiid for Capela with other contracts going to Philly. AJ Griffin could very well be included to make that deal happen.

If that doesn't go through the focus would be on Minnesota and KAT. I think everyone here knows how much of a fan I am of KAT so I will try to be as unbiased as I can. My Twolf source has told me that the team can't stand Gobert and that two bigs just wasn't working out like they had hoped. Imagine my surprise at that. If we could get KAT then it would have to be a three team trade to send Capela to another team while KAT came back here. 

I know no one on here wants to here Twolf talk outside of Atlanta so I will stop there. The Twolves are so invested into Gobert working out after the mammoth haul they gave up for him they are willing to trade KAT to get a more balanced team around Gobert. The idiocy of that should be obvious but their new team president has to try and save face after that debacle of a trade. I say that to say that KAT potentially coming to Atlanta is on the table. 

The Twolves have wanted JC for years but that's cooled off because of their KAT situation. And before anyone asks he can't be traded until the offseason. I expect JC to be gone off Atlanta by no later than the trade deadline.

If we trade JC for Ben Simmons it will speak volumes about how much actual voice Trae Young has with Nick Ressler. Trae already got his way to get DJM traded here. I honestly supported that trade then and now. Going after Ben Simmons? I just can't see it. Not with Capela still on the team. We would need a stretch five to make that work because you just can't have two non shooters on the court at the same time in the modern NBA. Having one non shooter causes issues but two? I just can't see that working. 

So Trae wanted Ben and couldn't get him. Then Trae wanted DJM and got him.  Now Trae STILL wants Ben, even with DJM?  Does that mean he wants both together or he's willing to move DJM for Ben?  And Trae lobbied to keep Capela, right? 

I'm just curious if anyone understands Trae's roster building strategy?  And if so, kindly explain it to my like I'm 5.  Thanks. 

 

 

[bleachkit]

Also with Murray here what is the role for Ben Simmons? Like others have said, I don't see the fit. His contract is not cheap either. If anything, it's a negative value contract. Trae isn't prime LeBron, he hasn't earned the clout to hand pick his teammates. I don't feel good about the Ressler/Trae alliance, decisions can't be made purely based on relationships. Decisions should be made without fear or favor, in the best interest of the team.

Edited January 16, 2023 by bleachkit

[NBASupes]

37 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Also with Murray here what is the role for Ben Simmons? Like others have said, I don't see the fit. His contract is not cheap either. If anything, it's a negative value contract. Trae isn't prime LeBron, he hasn't earned the clout to hand pick his teammates. I don't feel good about the Ressler/Trae alliance, decisions can't be made purely based on relationships. Decisions should be made without fear or favor, in the best interest of the team.

I don't believe any moves we see this year is the final moves we make. We will be active this trade deadline and this summer. 

[JayBirdHawk]

So the gist of this is, with 24 days left before the trade deadline every team has overpriced their players. ....as usual.

 

It's going to be an interesting trade deadline.

 

 

[GameTime]

@Sothron @NBASupes

How protected are the Indy 1sts?

[bleachkit]

1 minute ago, JayBirdHawk said:

So the gist of this is, with 24 days left before the trade deadline every team is overpriced their players. ....as usual.

It's going to be an interesting trade deadline.

Everyone is like "we want 2 first round picks for our role player." Everyone else is like "um, no."

[ShooterSays]

Good info, thanks y'all!

The Simmons interest makes sense to me ONLY if you think you'd have to give up DJM and OO17 in a trade to get KAT or Embiid...which I'd imagine you'd have to in addition to a SIGNIFICANT amount of draft capital.

Otherwise, no interest at all in Ben if DJM and OO17 are still on the team as the spacing would be a nightmare. 

Trae / AJ / Hunter / Ben / KAT(Embiid)

[Final_quest]

2 hours ago, Wretch said:

I have too many things to say about this...and strangely, nothing at all to say. It's baffling, but making sense all at the same time. 

This one does make sense to me.  We don't want to give a coach the interim tag and create another Nate situation.  It's better to let the season play out and start a coach search when good candidates are available.  

[JayBirdHawk]

8 hours ago, NBASupes said:

A player that Atlanta has reached out about for Bogi is Atlanta native, Collin Sexton. This might be something to look into as Atlanta is trying to improve it's struggling bench. 

This is new, haven't heard this rumor before. Sexton's contract is 3yrs 17, 18, 19, mil remaining.

[JayBirdHawk]

1 hour ago, bleachkit said:

I don't feel good about the Ressler/Trae alliance, decisions can't be made purely based on relationships. Decisions should be made without fear or favor, in the best interest of the team.

This is the one thing that concerns me the most. I have Landry has enough good sense to be the one that sees reason when it doesn't make sense for the team as a whole.

We saw LBJ got his klutch clients paid to remain on his teams and is wasn't the best thing for the team.

[JayBirdHawk]

9 hours ago, NBASupes said:

He has even heard of Aaron Holiday being packaged. He thinks Atlanta wants to add more rotational pieces to the bench. That's a big deal. 

Why?

Nates only gonna play 4 guys off the bench, sonif we've got AJ, Jj, OO - that leaves one spot.  

I'm kidding of course, but we do need a better bench when the kids are struggling or when starters are out.

[JayBirdHawk]

1 hour ago, REHawksFan said:

So Trae wanted Ben and couldn't get him. Then Trae wanted DJM and got him.  Now Trae STILL wants Ben, even with DJM?  Does that mean he wants both together or he's willing to move DJM for Ben?  And Trae lobbied to keep Capela, right? 

I'm just curious if anyone understands Trae's roster building strategy?  And if so, kindly explain it to my like I'm 5.  Thanks. 

 

 

Ben's not gonna gripe about offensive touches/shots.   The more defensive players he has the less he's gonna have to worry about it  

[macdaddy]

JC for duarte and firsts is going to be hard to stomach for me.   I know JC wants out but i'd still like him to be a Hawk.  I hate the direction we seem to be going.   Even if we get Simmons that's not that fun to me and I"m not a believer that Simmons is an effectve 4.  

I hope we can get something for a Holiday but I think this is going to be a quiet deadline. 

1 minute ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Ben's not gonna gripe about offensive touches/shots.   The more defensive players he has the less he's gonna have to worry about it  

Can Ben really defend the 4 though?   Is Ben/OO a good frontcourt?   Talk about anti-gravity.

[JayBirdHawk]

9 hours ago, NBASupes said:

Indiana is far more likely as they have players that appeal to Atlanta and can give Atlanta a lot of cap space.

Not cap space, but Luxury Tax space. Even if JC is traded into Indy's capspace - Hawks are still over the cap this and next year.