While the2019/20 season hasn't even officially begun, we already have a monster trade to report. It's kind of like the NBA Free Agent period where teams were supposed to wait to talk to Free Agents until a certain date and time - but when that time arrived, players and teams already had multi-year multi-million dollar contracts in place. The Kok/Seoul trade fits the same mold.
With Zion Williamson being the clear #1 Fantasy rookie by a landslide everyone was going to the Kok looking to land the #1 pick. While we heard rumours of lowball offers I was thinking it would be silly for Bangkok to even consider trading this kid. He's being hyped as the best rookie since Anthony Davis and before that LeBron James. He set all sorts of efficiency records in college basketball this past season. Most of us have known about him since he was in grade 8. The kid could be a phenom. There was no way Bangkok could pass him up and I could only imagine that it would take the world to pry that #1 pick away from the Kok.
But then there was rumblings that Seoul was offering the world and then some. The rumour was all 3 of Seoul's keepers and the #4 rookie pick. The 3 players are Myles Turner, Donovan Mitchell and Pascal Siakam.
Siakam is on the books for $9 bucks and has 2 years left on his contract. Mitchell is $14 dollars and has 3 years on his rookie deal and Turner is $27 and is entering the final year of his contract. Those 3 players, at those prices, are undervalued. Siakam could be worth $40 at Auction. Mitchell is certainly in the $30-$40 range with the revamped Utah offense. And Myles Turner is likely worth $40ish as well as he was the NBA's leading shot-blocker last season.
While there is a significant drop off in this rookie class after the top 3 picks, Bangkok essentially gets his chance to find the next best rookie in this class. Zion, Morant and Barrett are the top 3 picks. There is no one else who can break into that group. But who is the 4th best rookie? Is it De'Andre Hunter who the Hawks gave up several assets to move up and acquire? Is it Darius Garland who the Cavaliers selected at #5? Or is Jarrett Culver who the T-Wolves moved up from #11 to grab at the 6-hole? Could it be Rui Hachimura who the Wizards selected at #9 and now there are rumblings that he will start right away and he's been fantastic this summer? Or is someone else? The Kok gets to decide who he thinks will the man. Huge opportunity here for Bangkok if he gets this right.
And I get why Seoul sold the farm. Zion could be special. You get him for 5 years with the starting price of $15 bucks. That means year 5 he'll be just $35 bucks. He's probably already worth the $35 so I see why Woo went all in. And if Seoul doesn't think there are any potentially good rookies at #4 then that part of the deal is a moot point for him.
So who would I rather have? As much as I love Zion and his potential, I take the deal and bring in Turner, Mitchell and Siakam and a rookie.
The key to winning the JBL is utilizing your $260 cap space to your advantage. If you have players at salaries well below what they are actually worth - you have a great chance at winning. Look at French last season. With his 4 keepers, his rookie pick, and a wicked draft, I figure he got over $400 bucks of value from his $260 salary. That's why he destroyed the rest of the league. The rest of us were working with $260 and he essentially had a $400 dollar budget.
So for Bangkok, this trade moves him in that direction. The 3 players he acquired cost him $50 bucks in JBL salary. But in terms of value, those 3 are worth over $100 bucks in value. Again, no brainer for the Kok. Instead of going for the slow rebuild, if the Kok drafts well, he is a contender. Yes, I'll say it again, a contender. It's all about 'value' my friends. There are 3 phases here for the Kok for this to have a chance. Step 1: He's acquired significant undervalued players. Step 2: Find the rookie who will out-perform his $9 dollar cap hit and Step 3: Nail the draft (which means focus on Bangkok and not serving scotch to the Doctor).
Bangkok wins the trade hands down, but Seoul has acquired a potential gem in Zion. How Woo handles the draft is his next step. Seoul's track record the past few years has been less than stellar but maybe Zion is the building block he needs to bring back a once mighty franchise who lately has been an also-ran.
Post-trade there are rumblings that there were better offers on the table for the Kok to consider. Namely that Chilliwack was interested and had a better package to offer. I don't have any details of what was the Wack was offering so we'll never know. Was the Wack offering KAT and the #2 rookie pick? Is one year of KAT and Ja Morant better than the Seoul package? Was the Wack offering 3 years of Bam Adebayo and #2? For me, neither of those are better than Seoul's package. Now, if the Wack was offering KAT, Bam AND #2 - now we've got a debate. Because getting Ja Morant at #2 is very appealing and makes me want to dance! (FYI-I love Frankie!)
So there you have it gents. The Kok traded Zion. I never thought it would happen and I never thought Bangkok should do it. But I can't argue with the haul he received. Well done Kok.
JBL Auction Night - Saturday, October 19th @ 6pm PST
Location TBD (Kok's house or Golden's house or......)
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