After Michael Scotto reported on Sunday that the Grizzlies wanted to include top-15 protection on their 2025 first-round pick in their offer to the Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith, Marc Stein writes at The Stein Line (Substack link) that one source said the protection on that pick was actually top-17.
Brian Lewis of The New York Post, confirming that the protection on the pick the Grizzlies offered was so heavy that “it might never have conveyed,” adds (via Twitter) that Memphis was asking for the Nets’ own 2025 second-round pick in return. Based on the current standings, those two selections are just 11 picks apart at No. 26 and No. 37, per Tankathon, and they could end up even closer than that if Brooklyn moves further down the standings.
As Stein explains, the Nets were more inclined to take the Lakers’ offer for Finney-Smith since it added three future second-round picks to their stash without requiring them to give up any draft assets of their own. It also didn’t include any guaranteed salary beyond this season, whereas the Grizzlies’ offer would’ve meant taking back John Konchar, whose deal is guaranteed through 2026/27.
Now that they’ve missed out on Finney-Smith, it wouldn’t surprise anyone around the NBA if the Grizzlies continue talking to the Nets and pivot to pursuing forward Cameron Johnson, according to Stein, who adds that Memphis is expected to continue shopping Konchar.
Brooklyn is said to be seeking multiple first-round picks for Johnson, but they were also asking for a first-round pick for both Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder and ultimately settled for second-rounders, Stein observes. That doesn’t mean they’ll take second-rounders for Johnson too, but it suggests the asking price of “multiple first-round picks” may come down a little before February 6.
Here are a few more trade-related notes and rumors from across the league:
- Many league observers had been expecting the Lakers to pursue the Wizards duo of Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valanciunas and were surprised to see them make a deal with Brooklyn, according to Stein. Los Angeles could still technically make a deal for both of those two Wizards, but it would be difficult to land more than one of them without D’Angelo Russell‘s expiring contract. “I like the combo of Finney-Smith and (Shake) Milton better for the Lakers than the two Washington guys,” one longtime talent evaluator told Stein.
- Citing team and league sources, Jovan Buha of The Athletic confirms that the Lakers will continue exploring the trade market for additional upgrades ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline. For now, the Lakers’ plan is to assess Finney-Smith’s fit with the current group and make a decision close to the trade deadline on whether it makes sense to give up one or both of their tradable first-rounders (2029 and 2031) in another deal.
- Given that Schröder and Finney-Smith were traded for second-round compensation, teams pursuing a first-round pick in exchange for their role-player trade candidates might have trouble getting the return they’re seeking, Stein notes, pointing to Bulls center Nikola Vucevic and Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma as a couple examples. Valanciunas, Brogdon, Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, and Raptors teammates Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown are a few of the players believed to be available for second-round picks, Stein adds.
Brogdon needs the ball to be effective and JV is the most overrated Center in the NBA; no defense at any range or in any layout this year. He can’t even protect the rim a little bit! Never bought the Lakers wanting them outside of being potential buyout candidates (which I don’t expect either to end up that way).
Most overrated? Hmmm. I take him on the Warriors all day. He’s a great passer and gets gritty. That was a lazy comment on your part.
He can’t play defense. That alone sinks a Center’s value. You can’t be a valuable Center if your defense is garbage-tier. Same reason Enes Kanter fell out of the league and Jahlil Okafor never played a real role. “Gritty” doesn’t help you when you can’t do anything with that supposed grit. He’d be flailing on the Warriors, just too slow-footed to work in transition with them, which they rely on. There’s a reason the Warriors ran traditional bigs only situationally during their dynasty and instead rely on guys like Draymond, Looney, and TJD.
The passing is a positive, but he’s not *that* good. Guys like Okongwu, Zubac, Jalen Duren, Jarrett Allen, KAT, Dwight Powell, and Derrick Lively are all ahead of him in basically every form of value generated by passing on a per game and per pass rate. None of those guys except Allen are actually known for their passing, either, not like Domas or Poeltl, let alone Jokic. So while he’s a net positive as a passer and can make a few good ones, it’s not enough to call it a feature of his game.
He can pass a little and score inside, and grab some rebounds. That’s his *entire* value. Negative defensive value, negative spacing, negative in transition. For the modern game, he’s a non-factor at *best*. There’s a reason that, even on the *Wizards*, his on-court value is 11th on the team (minimum 10 Games Played), and 12th in On-Off numbers. He’s just not good.
His defensive numbers are exactly neutral, neither good nor bad, and has solid rebounding numbers. He’s a “bad defensive player” like Jokic is. Meaning, he’s not at all, just doesn’t block a lot of shots. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
Opponents shoot eight points below league average from 3 with Jokic on them and -2 at the rim. JV allows BETTER than league average at the rim and -1 percentage points from 3. YOU don’t know what YOU’RE talking about. Those metrics are easily available to anyone who pays attention. Try again.
Also, “exactly neutral” from a Center, especially at the rim, is garbage. Centers are supposed to suppress opposing offense, especially at the rim. That’s literally half of their entire job. “Rim protector” is one of the other terms for a competent defensive Center.
He’s a great rebounder and reliable post scorer, very consistent. Plays hard and has good attitude and good leadership. Warriors would be great acquiring him, he complements with Jackson Davis’ skillset, who is inexperienced and has no post game. Jackson Davis can protect the rim some, and bring energy and rebound somewhat, not much else. Valanciunas’ skillset is that of a 2000’s center, excellent and with consistency. He even added three point shot as a veteran, something that speaks of his work ethic. The Warriors would benefit of having him, they have no big like that in the current roster.
He could help the Knicks also. Knicks do need a rim protecting big, though. But, if you play with heart, you might compensate that.
@EonADS – The difference is all those guys you mentioned aren’t available for second round picks. You aren’t going to get the best players for the little players/draft capital the Warriors are willing to give up. So in that scenario, yes, he would be a good get for the Warriors who aren’t willing to go all in on trying to acquire one of the guys you mentioned. He likely wouldn’t bring them a championship, but he does improve the team in some capacity, just like Schroder. And for that reason, it is worth a shot.
lakers do not want to give up 1st round picks knowing Lebron could leave soon and AD health is not good. can’t blame them holding onto 1st round picks.
Agree Eon
His half court offence is ok on a team that needs his offence (Wiz)
I don’t think that’s LAL or GSW in all honesty
His def metrics will turn you blind pogo, and his terrible footspeed would majorly clash with what the Warriors D is all about. He’d be a better fit on Lal as just a 18 min b/u (Hayes upgrade) but I wouldn’t count on him running 25+ on a major contender , V happy with Robs choice of 2nd rd expenditures. and getting him 5 weeks early is a major boon too
* Just stop with the saltiness arc, you just got off the nobody wants DLO mountain now you start another one? Start reading more/commenting less, learning is COOL
Lakers need a backup center badly. I don’t think JV is a difference maker for any playoff team. Maybe Jacob Poeltl or Kelly Olynyk would actually be a better fit. I know Raptors asking price is high for Poeltl but he could be that missing big man they have needed for a few years.
Id take Drummond or Nic Richards over that group considering the monies attached but no 2nds so doesn’t really matter
How much would Utah want for Keesler/Sexton is my Q?
Probably more than 1 first but 2 firsts tooo much Imo in this environment especially considering both players will be ext eligible in the summer and their agents will be on your doorstep with hands out
* In the end tho I think they find a name off the scrap heap but ultimately have DFS/Rui/LBJ playing the bu 5 like currently so
A bad first round pick isn’t much better than a second round pick. Plus, you have to pay that pick over several years.
Plus, other than last year, the draft has been top heavy for awhile. That’s why I don’t get why teams are overvaluing their bad first round picks.
Sure, they could be bad when it comes time to pay, but if you want to be impatient and get good talent now then that’s the price you pay.
All these non-trades because everyone is scared to trade firsts now is getting boring.
If you trade for Brogdon he will ve hurt when you need him most,
I can’t see the Nets take anything less than firsts for Cam Johnson. If that’s the case, they should keep him and build along with him.
I could see dropping the price from multiple firsts to one unprotected and an interesting young player or two. Johnson’s a good player, but he misses a decent amount of time with injuries each year. He’s passed 65 games in a season only once. That’s a real problem, if any team that acquires him is worried that he might miss part or all of the playoffs.
Agreed. He’s on a very reasonable contract for the next few years and the Nets have already accumulated tons of draft picks while clearing cap space.
Look at the back of Brogdons card. If he had much left right now then he wouldn’t be on the move so much.
So the Raptors are really only going to end up with a bunch of second round picks, Agbaji, and Ja’Kobe Walter for Pascal Siakam? Interesting. Masai just might be washed.
DeRozan for cam Johnson
12 wins improve trade idea
Kings should trade DeRozan and Huerter for Johnson/Finney Smith two weeks ago
Kings add 2 firsts
Kings GM think that getting rid of Brown would win 12 more games?
So now that it’s down to just DeRozan for Cam Johnson, how many firsts do you believe that the Kings would need to include with DeRozan to acquire Cam Johnson?