James Horton’s business demand is advancing as most superstar business demands. He started with a unique favorite place: Brooklyn Nets. That team had no assets to immediately impress his current team, so the list expanded. As of Thursday, he is said to have expressed interest in the Philadelphia 76ers, the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Golden State Warriors are said to have made a call, but nothing worked.
The next logical step is very interesting. At this point in the proceedings, a mysterious group usually emerges. The city of Oklahoma moved from the left field to Paul George. Toronto Caviar Leonard delayed his return to Los Angeles by a year. It remains to be seen whether such a group will actually manage to get Horton, but before the process is over, one is going to become a meaningful part of these discussions. The following four teams stand out as potentially surprising.
Kavi made two decisions when he decided to join the clippers. The first and most basic is to live in California instead of Toronto. The second and most complicated is to play with Paul George instead of Pascal Siakam. It is not clear what the outcome was important for Leonard, who hails from Southern California, but rumors at the time said the poet would be open to extending his stay in Canada with the right fellow actor. ESPN’s Adrian Wozniacki said George discussed the trade with the Toronto Thunder while trying to get Leonard back. No drag was received on a deal, but Leonard did not engage with the clippers until George was on hand. All indications were that Leonard LeBron planned to join the Lakers with James and Anthony Davis, and that George’s trade was not working. Putting all of this together, it becomes clear that Leonard, the most important free agent in Raptors history, did not see Siakama as a suitable supporting actor.
After his post-season, other free agent targets may come to the same conclusion. Why would Giannis Antodo ounbo choose Siak rather than Luca Tansik or Jimmy Butler? In their current state, raptors not only have no real superstar, but also have the means to attract someone to the open market. Siyagam may not be that kind of player, but he is the bait that can catch someone. The 26-year-old’s All-NBA perspectives are not the same as growing on trees. If Philadelphia did not want Ben Simmons to deliver, Siakam is now far better than any other player who can deliver rockets. Norman Powell can add extra value and complement the dual functions of a required salary filler.
The fit is cleaner than you think. Fred Wonwaleed did not shoot less than 40 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. Kyle worked with Lori Leonard on the ball-handling time divisions alongside Vaughan and Timaro Trojan. Horton could really help fill the remaining security vacuum left by the departure of Mark Casolin, and the presence of OG Anunobi is enough to move forward. Half-off crime in 16th place in basketball could not hear a big improvement. Next summer there will be signs and trade routes for Giannis, though they are tricky. Miami’s decision makes the path easier to clear maximum space. Toronto is not the only case that requires the cooperation of Milwaukee.
Horton’s performance as a selector was secondary. The impact he made on the weak Raptors team through the free agency in successive officers was significant. Toronto has now seen in the back-to-back seasons just how essential a true superstar is. Horton will give them that kind of superstar and access to others. Siagam trading to get one would be a hard pill to swallow, but Masai Uziri did what it took to get Leonard. If he sees Horton as a path to the championship again, he is going to consider him.
Horton did not want to move to Minnesota, but he was not their first Houston transplant surgeon. Former Rocket executives Gerson Rosas and Sachin Gupta currently run the Timberwolves, and they have created a roster tailor in support of Horton. Carl-Anthony Downs will be his best Big-and-Roll partner and he is also one of the biggest shooting greats in NBA history. The pair make up almost the first three offenses, especially shooters Malik Beasley and Juanzo Hernangomas.
D’Angelo Russell will fulfill Houston’s desire for a talented young player. Anthony Edwards taps the need for draft capital. The bet will be substantial on both sides. Cities should not rejoice that Rosas traded within months of receiving his close friend Russell. The Russell-Edwards merger without the Downs link is found to be significantly less, and John Wall complicates matters further. Minnesota’s already weak defense could have retreated further without Edwards ’long-term reversal.
But teams have been trying to create doubles like Horton and Downs for years. Security is basically easier to find than crime, and as long as Downs’ four-year contract is now in place they really need to be started, you know, to win if you plan to keep him for a long time. Horton offers a better chance of doing so than Russell and Edwards. If you buy Horton & Downs, it’s not a brain. Get the stars and solve the rest later. Unfortunately, this is a Texas-level “if” and no force is likely to exclude immediate competitors interested in joining Horton.
Most teams in this derby are asking themselves if they can really get Horton. New Orleans asks itself whether or not it should. If pelicans go all out, they can outdo anyone. Brandon Ingram will become tradeable in February, and many teams do not seem ready to give up the 23-year-old All-Stars for Horton. Lonzo Paul, Jackson Hayes, Nick Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart and Grav Lewis are first-round picks on rookie-level deals. Oh, before we bring in transfer rights, pelicans can trade a lot Eight First-round picks: four of them, two from Milwaukee and two from Lakers. Only part of that battle chest will be a successful attempt. They will be enough to trade any stock players the Horton-Zion Williamson duo need. Eric Pletso, J.J. Redick and Steven Adams are a good start.
It solves the question of “can”. “Should?” What is the question of? no answer. Williamson is 20. His best basketball should not come until Horton retires. Pelicans are on the verge of organic controversy a few years later. Why sacrifice it to make a vain shot at the Lakers? Some teams in basketball are slower than the Pelicans. They are going to be so much better one day. That day does not need to be soon.
But it’s worth asking how confident the Pelicans are in Williamson’s long-term health. Torn menstruation is normally scary even for proportional basketball players. Williamson’s unique body raises its own concerns. His medical future for the Pelicans has a better grip than the masses. If they doubt his life, they will not like the idea of having to wait for a prime minister to come. Never underestimate the allure of instant championship conflict. The pelicans may have a bright future enough to resist it, but the idea that they can progress fast cannot be completely ruled out.
Denver has a brighter present and a safer future than New Orleans. Nuggets is a small business of immediate controversy. Nicola Jogic and Jamal Murray are finally set to go there. Some teams should be less motivated to trade for Horton than the Knuckles. They already have the first five offenses.
But Denver has no basketball argument in favor of the Brooklyn trade for Horton. Along with Horton, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will be the Nets’ best offense to the NBA. The Horton-Joachim-Murray trio have the same layoffs, but come up with the same reversal. The Nets will be weak on defense. Nuggets as it is. Horton should not be happy about landing in Denver with his heart set in Brooklyn, and the plans will be very different, but the basic plan, capable of attacking post-season opponents, will suit both.
Michael Porter Jr. is the type of star that Brooklyn can deliver. Gary Harris and Will Barton offer a positive value pay supplement. Although Joan and Murray are young, Denver will offer its own choices. A fun dessert like that. If you want the rockets upside down, Pol-Porter-R.J.
Lime as it is not possible. Knots are not a system for playing the Porter card lightly, and if they do, the younger, defensive counter will be Denver’s target. Horton will make the nails better. He could turn them into champions. But he is worth less to them than any other team in basketball. Decreasing revenue on crime would be enough to prevent this business from being killed in its infancy. But aha, the Denver crime featuring Horton is dangerous. If the nuggets at least don’t talk about it to themselves, they will do it soon.