\**For the purposes of this post, I will be ignoring trade proposals and focusing on just the player(s)\**
Happy Holidays to all!
I’m going to be taking a break from this series for a bit before resuming it with a breakdown of the Warriors whippersnappers, assuming a large trade doesn’t happen between then and now.
But before that begins, I wanted to rattle off on a few other players worth considering, albeit for different reasons. These are not players who i’d consider to be “centerpieces” if a larger trade with were to occur but nevertheless could be interesting additional depth pieces or even targets for a smaller trade. What a trade for one of these players would be is the subject for another post but for now, here’s a quick rundown of a few names to potentially keep in mind as more candidates become available for trade and teams are more prepared to make moves come January.
Enjoy!
**Davion Mitchell (Kings)**
https://preview.redd.it/dxcm6v0wvd8c1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=0094bc34d529427aaecd58422f9b1bcae810b667
**2023/24 Stats (So far): 3.7 Pts on 34.1 FG%, 26.7% 3P%, 76.9 FT% | 0.9 Rebs |2.0 Asts**
\+PG and a good defender for his position
\+Ballhandling is above average and he has decent court vision despite only being 6’2
\+In games without Fox, he put up 17 points, 2 rebounds and 7 assists (2.7 turnovers) across almost 20 games during his rookie season
https://preview.redd.it/u4aq5fcpnh8c1.png?width=1918&format=png&auto=webp&s=f65150a0fbb8c6defa33a94c4da447f39a3e5524
\-…but that is a low sample size and since that rookie season, Mitchell has arguably regressed more than one could say he’s struggled; if one views the Fox-less games in his sophomore, he averaged 9.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists (1.2 turnovers) in 9 games and in his 3rd season, the Fox-less games average are 8.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists (0.8 turnovers)
\-In his 3rd season, he is shooting sub-27% from 3(!) and has struggled to stay in the Kings rotation **despite** their defensive woes
\-He’s never been a good shooter but even on low volume he’s never managed to be close to league average
\-At the age of 25, his upside is significantly lower than perhaps any one of the 2021 NBA draftees who could be available (He’s a few months younger than O.G.)
\-Aan aside: This is why Keegan Murray being off the table more or less rules out the Kings in any big trade because they don’t have the assets to compete/outbid other teams even if one does consider the incoming player to be a rental; the talent level of the outgoing players (Kevin Huerter, a declining Harrison Barnes, D. Mitch 2.0) is so far below what is being given up and they don’t have access to draft capital that will convey in a reasonable timeframe
​
**Jalen Smith (Pacers)**
**2023/24 Stats (So far): 10.1 Pts on 72.6 FG%, 70.3 3P%, 71.4 FT% | 5.2 Rebs | 0.8 Asts**
https://preview.redd.it/qg6i61pqvd8c1.png?width=714&format=png&auto=webp&s=e1e8d75005a92826349b3ab5263b2696f3e1ecb6
\+Highly efficient stretch 5 playing behind Myles Turner; he currently holds a PER of 23.1 for the season
\+Versatile 6’10 swingman who is best suited to the 5 but can play the 4 in a pinch
\++Stretch 5s are rare and young stretch 5s are even moreso
\+++Smith is 23 so he fits Scottie’s timeline neatly in a retool
\+Depending on offers from other teams (Knicks, Grizzlies, Mavericks may be in the market for a center), acquiring Smith would make it easier to recoup value from the Jakob Poelt trade by moving Jakob
\-Despite his 3-pointer jumping off the page this season (70%!), he has generally shot on low volume…
\+…mostly because he plays behind Myles Turner and averages 19.6 minutes to Myles’ nearly 29
\+In games without Turner last season, Jalen put up 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists; 23.4 minutes averaged over 17 games with a field goal percentage of 49.7%
\++++He wears goggles. I like them, they look neat.
\-Despite good defensive BBIQ, lacks the frame to slow down some of the more elite interior presences/big men in the NBA (Embiid, Giannis, etc.); he is 6’10 and weighs 30 lbs. less than Scottie
\-Jalen Smith will be extension eligible over the summer but due to the rules surrounding extensions i.e. maximum salary increases, it is very likely Jalen has played himself out of his current contract
\-Additionally, Smith’s 3rd year is a player option so he may need to be paid sooner than later in what will be a complicated offseason, regardless of who is still on the roster
\-Additionally, due to Robert Sarver’s cheapness (and racism), Jalen Smith will be an UFA – not an RFA like fellow 2020 draftee Immanuel Quickley – despite only being drafted in 2020 as the Phoenix Suns declined his 3rd year team option which made him a pending RFA sooner than originally anticipated
​
**Saddiq Bey (Hawks)**
https://preview.redd.it/ahwsjmbkvd8c1.png?width=3648&format=png&auto=webp&s=4ae18b15e327344f5dbfe74e81482cc4b31fe9b3
**2023/24 Stats (So far): 12.9 Pts on 45.6 FG%, 34.4 3P%, 79.4 FT% | 6.4 Rbs | 1.3 Asts**
\+Good shooter; has been 37% from 3 as a Hawk on roughly 5 3s a game
\-Given trading Bey cursed the Pistons (4-50 since the trade), the Hawks may be inclined to hold on to him
\-RFA but reported disagreements between Hawks and Bey’s on price tag could lead to prolonged contract discussions
\-Has the size to be impactful on defense but is generally poor on that side of the floor
\-Bey’s spacing for the Hawks may make him a tougher sell despite the extension concerns
​
**Ziaire Williams (Grizzlies)**
https://preview.redd.it/xgdlzwp4ee8c1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=f5b68f7241498b4bb0d71f34987bf88821f7ebaf
**2023/24 Stats (So far): 8 Pts on 40.2 FG%, 33 3P%, 83.8 FT% |3.9 Rbs | 1.5 Asts**
\+Lengthy, athletic forward with versatility and high ceiling that FO loves…
\-but they are redundant given the plethora of lengthy forwards on the roster and therefore may struggle to carve out a spot in the rotation
\-6’9 but at a [mere 185 lbs.](https://www.nba.com/player/1630533/ziaire-williams), lacks the ability to truly guard 3s and 4s
\+High motor on defense who is solid at finishing at the rim
\+Similar play to O.G. and got several comparisons to Anunoby leading up to the draft…
\-…minus the coveted 3 in 3&D. Not necessarily a poor shooter so much as they are inconsistent from outside; he has had decent spurts from 3 but never strung together a season’s worth of relative efficiency on around 3-4 3s per game
\-Despite getting plenty of opportunity while Ja was absent, the former 10th overall pick has shown next to no improvement as a player
​
**Collin Sexton (Jazz)**
https://preview.redd.it/dkf5t8gyhh8c1.png?width=2005&format=png&auto=webp&s=44715f6773a026086450fd1386db89d19d2b92a6
**2023/24 Stats (So far): 15.1 Pts on 45.6 FG%, 35.1 3P%, 88.7 FT% | 2.7 Rbs | 3.5 Asts**
\+Shoot-first PG with strong offensive toolset despite limited size
\+Shooting 38% from 3 not counting most recent season
\-Low volume from 3; career average of 3.7 attempts per game
\+++++Precious Dick Sex lineup would be possible
\++Since starting for the Jazz this season, Sexton has averaged 23.3 points, 2.7 and 4.4 assists, similar to what he averaged when he was “The Guy” in Cleveland
\-Poor defender from PoA, perimeter and in general is a negative on that end of the floor
\+He’s been better since being traded to Utah, albeit effort can be inconsistent
\-Assist/turnover ratio could be much better; 3.2 assists to 2.4 turnovers
\-Questionable decision-making as lead PG; has a reputation for being a “ball hog” and struggled to find a place in a rotation for a team in need of a starting PG…
\+…but he’s also been surrounded by (mostly) bad teams so it’s questionable if that decision-making steams from a lack of faith in surrounding personnel due to being on said bad teams
\-Danny Ainge is the Jazz’s GM so who knows what absurd price he’s asking for
​
**Andrew Nembhard (Pacers)**
https://preview.redd.it/8ef25wkxge8c1.png?width=640&format=png&auto=webp&s=4938a22e622e9c5bf8433512e41f032287393116
**2023/24 Stats (So far): 7.5 Pts on 48.4 FG%, 29.3 3P%, 66.7 FT% |1.6 Rbs | 4.0 Asts**
\+Well-rounded guard who may have higher potential if given a larger opportunity
\++Very good defender for his position (6’4 with a 6’10 wingspan) and relatively efficient floor general
\++Handles the rock without issue; those 4 assists are only coming with 1.3 turnovers, which is an improved ratio from a solid rookie season
\+++As a rookie, Andy averaged 13.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists (2.4 turnovers) in the 24 games he played while Haliburton was out; he was [one vote from getting an All-Rookie](https://www.si.com/nba/pacers/news/andrew-nembhard-of-indiana-pacers-finishes-one-voting-point-away-from-all-rookie-team-appearance) nod
https://preview.redd.it/1cw7u2i0oh8c1.png?width=1801&format=png&auto=webp&s=e227639252ee29f07e3b93bf8b30be5abdcb29db
\+Worth noting FO was interested in Nembhard and were going to draft him before the Pacers picked him up literally right before the 33rd overall pick that became Christian Koloko
\+Decent midrange shooter, converting about 41% of his shots into buckets
\-Not a volume shooter from 3 and was/is prone to significant shooting slumps from outside
​
**PJ Washington (Hornets)**
https://preview.redd.it/weqyrsepsd8c1.png?width=760&format=png&auto=webp&s=f09a1108867cc29b07a580e9545a272d2aa7a2bd
**2023/24 Stats (So far): 13.6 Pts on 41.6 FG%, 31.7 3P%, 75.0 FT% | 5.3 Rbs | 2.4 Asts**
\+Jordan is gone, new ownership has yet to pull the trigger on the patented “This is our team now” move a la the Suns going all in with Beal, and this is my list so i’m going to speculate about this
\++It’s the Hornets, it’s not out of the realm they do something *stupid* like trading one of PJ or Brandon Miller with Gordon Hayward’s expiring contract to go after one of the bigger names on the market
\+PJ was reportedly not high on re-signing with Charlotte ([per his agent](https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/news/washington-always-wanted-to-stay-in-charlotte-kupchak-doesnt-buy-it)) and could be available
\+Supporting this is the length of time it took for the Hornets to re-sign PJ as a restricted free agent; it happened at the [end of August](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10081000-pj-washington-hornets-agree-to-new-3-year-48m-contract-in-2023-nba-free-agency)
\+Washington was a player the Raptors were interested in during the 2021/22 season
\+Not counting the 2023/24 season he’s a career 37% shooter on 5 3s a game
\+Strong finisher and generally versatile wing who can be slotted in anywhere from the 3 to a small ball 5
\+Bargain contract makes it easy to salary match in any deal and will only look better in time ($48 million over 3 years)…
\-…but it does present a problem if/when PJ outplays his contract due to rules surrounding extensions
\+League overall not valuing PJ (RFA but no one with cap space threw an offer at him i.e. Jazz, Pistons) could result in a bargain of a trade
\+Champagnie isn’t on the roster so there’s no worry about chemistry issues
\-Is having a down year from outside, shooting below 32% for the first time in his career on roughly the same volume as last season
\-Poor FT shooter relative to the rest of the league/his position averaging 71% across his career\*
*^(\*not counting his ongoing season)*
10 comments
Interested in both Smith and Nembhard if there’s a deal with the Pacers, which I very much hope there is.
I’d like to once again state how much I like Jalen Smith, and not just cause I like his goggles.
OG for Nembhard, Jarace and Smith works salary wise.
I get it’s not a deal for a top level young player or pick, but it builds young depth for us at positions of need. Jarace also has pretty good potential.
A larger Pascal deal could also work in a 3 team scenario. Reroute Bruce Brown to the Knicks for IQ. Brown gives them another year of team control over their backup guard since they’re not seemingly willing to pay IQ.
Raptors get: IQ, Fournier, Jarace Walker, Jalen Smith, Nembhard
Knicks get: Bruce Brown
Pacers get: Pascal, Malachi, Temple
Not sure if there’d need to be picks going any direction, but getting 4 young players that could work around Scottie seems like a great way to start a rebuild. We don’t get a top prospect like a Keegan Murray or Mathurin but the team is in need of young depth that can develop on this team with Scottie.
>++++He wears goggles. I like them, they look neat.
Ok then
I like Precious Dick Sex
All terrible fits tbh
Absolute no to everyone on this list except the guys on the Pacers.
This is one of the highest effort posts I’ve ever seen. Nice work OP. I have no idea. But I think you can’t take over for Bobby if it doesn’t work out.
The situation is dire in Toronto people!
tre mann? wallace?