We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.
Who would be a better fit for the Thunder, Jonathon Simmons or Avery Bradley? — Duhhkari Sanchez, via Twitter
Bradley is almost a perfect replacement for Andre Roberson, who is out for the season with a ruptured left patellar tendon. Bradley has been an elite wing defender for years and is a better 3-point shooter than Roberson. He has an $8.8MM contract that expires after this season, so he won’t require a long-term financial commitment. The obstacle in the way of any deal is the Thunder’s lack of resources. They can’t offer a first-round pick until at least 2022 and they don’t have enough young players with small contracts to interest the Clippers. They’ve been reluctant to part with Terrance Ferguson, but that will probably be the price to obtain Bradley. Simmons may not be an option, depending on whether Orlando’s front office wants to do a complete overhaul. He is averaging 13.7 points per game and has an affordable contract at $6MM for next season and a non-guaranteed $5.7MM for 2019/20.
Which player is the most realistic option for the Bucks: Malik Monk, Tyreke Evans or Avery Bradley? — Kyle Wagner, via Twitter
The Bucks are focused on winning right away, so Monk isn’t an option. The word out of Charlotte is that he needs significant improvement, especially on defense, before being ready to play regular minutes. Evans and Bradley would both be nice additions, but they will come at a high cost with so many teams being interested. The Grizzlies and Clippers will each be seeking first-round draft picks, and Milwaukee sent this year’s first-rounder (with protections) to Phoenix in the Eric Bledsoe deal. The priority in Milwaukee seems to be finding another center, so don’t expect Evans or Bradley to be heading north.
Phoenix GM Ryan McDonough said he is ready to advance the timeline and swing big with all assets for a young star to grow with Devin Booker and T.J. Warren. Is an Anthony Davis or a similar young star realistic? Please say yes. — Nathan Dylong, via Twitter
It looks like Suns fans are the latest to join the waiting party for Anthony Davis. However, Davis reportedly loves being in New Orleans and there’s almost no incentive for the Pelicans to trade him. He’s still just 24 years old and is signed through the 2019/20 season, with a $28.75MM player option for 2020/21. That salary may be a bargain for his level of production, especially in light of some of the super max deals signed over the past two seasons. Davis is the heart of the Pelicans and the best player in franchise history. Trading him would mark the beginning of another long rebuilding process for an organization that hasn’t enjoyed much success. A lot of stars change teams in the NBA every season, so there will be plenty of opportunities for the Suns to grab one, but don’t count on getting Davis out of New Orleans.