Where will Jimmy Butler end up? 2025 edition

[Phrazbit]

Possibly. However, weird things happen all the time in the NBA and teams do things that scratch your head.

Nobody....and I mean nobody had on their bingo card Utah trading 3 first round picks for our one 1st round pick which opened up the next 6 drafts for the Suns. Everybody was on the "no possible moves left" train. I was listening to Utah radio after that and fans there were in disbelief that Utah would do it.

Well... I would say that no one expected it because it was so lopsided. I am sure a ton of teams were drooling over the thought of getting that pick.

 

[Covert Rain]

Well... I would say that no one expected it because it was so lopsided. I am sure a ton of teams were drooling over the thought of getting that pick.

Yet I don't recall the last time a team traded 1st rounder for 3.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yet I don't recall the last time a team traded 1st rounder for 3.

I don't recall picks ever being leveraged so badly either.

We traded a pick that will likely be in the top 5 for 3 picks that will almost certainly fall in the last 5, one of which (the pick this year) is a virtual lock to be the last pick. The math is very bad for us.

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't recall picks ever being leveraged so badly either.

We traded a pick that will likely be in the top 5 for 3 picks that will almost certainly fall in the last 5, one of which (the pick this year) is a virtual lock to be the last pick. The math is very bad for us.

I would argue leveraging one pick for 3 while opening up the next 6 drafts was genius. However, I get the argument that they would not have had to do so if they hadn't already traded away so many of the previous.

 

[hcsilla]

I don't recall picks ever being leveraged so badly either.

We traded a pick that will likely be in the top 5 for 3 picks that will almost certainly fall in the last 5,

Both projections are way too pessimitic and basically represent the worst-case scenarios.

We just don't know how the Suns will look like in 2031. I understand that the future is not bright but bigger turnarounds did happen even in a shorter period of time.

The same applies for the picks that we acquired. This year's is 1/29-30, no question. But the 2027 one? The Cavs are not the Chicago Bulls from 1993.

one of which (the pick this year) is a virtual lock to be the last pick. The math is very bad for us.

According Kevin Pelton's calculation the 3 picks' combined value is 1/6 in 2031. So if it will be higher, the Jazz won, It it is lower, we won.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I would rather get Cam Johnson back. Full disclosure

 

[Mainstreet]

I would rather get Cam Johnson back. Full disclosure

At least it would make the Suns more likable, even if they had to pay again for Durant.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

At least it would make the Suns more likable, even if they had to pay again for Durant.

Cam Johnson is having a nuts shooting season for those that don't know. He wouldn't need the ball to make a huge impact.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Well... I would say that no one expected it because it was so lopsided. I am sure a ton of teams were drooling over the thought of getting that pick.

No one is drooling over a pick that’s 6 years away.

 

[Phrazbit]

No one is drooling over a pick that’s 6 years away.

I dare to disagree. Especially with a GM with the job security that Ainge has and with a team with the long term projections we have.

That pick is sold gold.

If that isn’t the case then why on earth did Utah agree to the trade?

They are making a bet, with house money. Trading away heavily leveraged picks for one with no limitations from a team with a really bleak future.

 

[Hoop Head]

We need to scale back thinking we can now trade any of our picks in the next 6 years because those are also leveraged and the 2026 pick would be the worst pick between us, Orlando, Washington, and Memphis. We don't have our own pick in 2027. In 2028 our pick goes to Brooklyn or Washington, if they choose. Our 2029 pick is also gone. Our 2030 pick is a toss up between Washington and Memphis. So those attractive trade assets by any means. They're slightly better than what we got from Utah but that also means the Utah picks are locked in due to the Stepian rule where we can't be without a 1st round pick for 2 consecutive years. So there's some wiggle room but not much. Ultimately it really shouldn't be discussed because it's more likely we trade away whichever pick we own that is most favorable.

The lack of draft capital makes it near impossible to bank on being relevant in 2031 when that pick goes to Utah. In 6 years, KD will likely be accepting his HOF induction, Beal will be retired, and Booker will be ring chasing at the end of his career. Kicking the can down the line only works for so long and I'm afraid we've kicked it as far as possible, especially if we bring in Butler and extend him.