Around The NBA : 2023-24 Season #2

[Ice Man]

Even if from a basketball standpoint the players are OK with just running it back for old times sake, I have a hard time believing anyone with any financial responsibility is going to greenlight continually throwing away 1/5th of a billion a year for a feel good.

There's no reason to keep anybody but Steph. Klay and Draymond were loved in their time, but they are Pippen and Grant to the franchise, not Mike. And Wiggins ... oh man. I can't even.

[jnrjr79]

Even if from a basketball standpoint the players are OK with just running it back for old times sake, I have a hard time believing anyone with any financial responsibility is going to greenlight continually throwing away 1/5th of a billion a year for a feel good.

There's no reason to keep anybody but Steph. Klay and Draymond were loved in their time, but they are Pippen and Grant to the franchise, not Mike. And Wiggins ... oh man. I can't even.

Given his decline and antics, is anybody gonna take Draymond Green off of GS's hands at $20-odd million/year for 3 more seasons?

I agree they should let Thompson walk.

[MrSparkle]

Even if from a basketball standpoint the players are OK with just running it back for old times sake, I have a hard time believing anyone with any financial responsibility is going to greenlight continually throwing away 1/5th of a billion a year for a feel good.

There's no reason to keep anybody but Steph. Klay and Draymond were loved in their time, but they are Pippen and Grant to the franchise, not Mike. And Wiggins ... oh man. I can't even.

Given his decline and antics, is anybody gonna take Draymond Green off of GS's hands at $20-odd million/year for 3 more seasons?

I agree they should let Thompson walk.

Pretty sure Draymond's still got value in the league, despite everything. Especially as a buy-low. He can still help a contender with depth.

[jc23]

i want no injuries during these playoffs.

[jc23]

There's no reason to keep anybody but Steph. Klay and Draymond were loved in their time, but they are Pippen and Grant to the franchise, not Mike. And Wiggins ... oh man. I can't even.

Given his decline and antics, is anybody gonna take Draymond Green off of GS's hands at $20-odd million/year for 3 more seasons?

I agree they should let Thompson walk.

Pretty sure Draymond's still got value in the league, despite everything. Especially as a buy-low. He can still help a contender with depth.

not sure if they have the contracts but i always felt he would be willing to go to LA.

[Dan Z]

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[DASMACKDOWN]

Wow Porter got banned.

I thought they would go hard on him, but not banned. I guess they have to set a precedent of no tolerance. Seems harsh but Silver aint messing around.

[Ice Man]

Wow Porter got banned.

I thought they would go hard on him, but not banned. I guess they have to set a precedent of no tolerance. Seems harsh but Silver aint messing around.

Silver had to ban him, for the integrity of the game and (as you write) for the precedence. That said, it might have been a difficult position with a popular, well-known player. But a nobody scrub, that is an easy choice for setting an example.

[TheSuzerain]

I was somewhat peeved we didn't give Jontay Porter a roster spot as he had looked promising during his Raps stint.

But dear lord what a moron. He was betting crazy amounts.

[FriedRise]

When you get blown out in an elimination game against Sacramento missing two of their top 4 3P shooters and Sabonis with only 16 points, time to hang 'em up. It's one thing to get knocked out in the play-in, that's what we're looking at, but GS has consistently been the league's most expensive team paying massive lux tax. I believe w/ operating expenses, they run at a loss.

2023-24 Payroll: $207.2 million
2023-24 Luxury Tax Payment: $188.2 million
2023-24 Combined Payroll and Luxury Tax Payment: $395.4 million

The Warriors are now the NBA’s all-time leader in total luxury tax payments after spending $163.7 million last season. They’ve paid $500 million in six seasons as taxpayers and are projected to spend approximately another $200 million this year. There is a pathway to finally get under the tax next season but that will mostly depend on what Klay Thompson’s next contract looks like.

Even if from a basketball standpoint the players are OK with just running it back for old times sake, I have a hard time believing anyone with any financial responsibility is going to greenlight continually throwing away 1/5th of a billion a year for a feel good.

I wonder if there are far fewer teams paying the luxury tax, that it would make certain owners of non-tax teams be more willing to spend and possibly go into the tax. Because right now if the Bulls go into the tax, the Reinsdorfs would have to both pay the tax AND miss out on that sweet tax refund check. There's no way that's ever gonna happen. But if the check is insignificant, maybe - just maybe - they'll care less about it.

[MrSparkle]

CP3 is still on the books for 30m next year (team option) so that could make things easier, plus Kuminga at 7.6m gets it pretty close.

I doubt the Warriors trade Kuminga for Zach, let alone Kuminga plus other assets for Zach. Or any team for that matter.

Maybe not, but that's where I would start. It's a matter of whether they want to waste away Curry's last few great season, and wait for Johnathan, or bring in more veteran players to eke out another possible championship run. They definitely have decisions to make. But them getting bounced out of the play-in will definitely put some pressure on them to make some significant moves this off season I'd say.

Yeah, it seems everything will come down to how committed they are to ring chasing with an aging Curry vs. blowing it up or accepting being merely ok.

Could you use Caruso to spice up the offer to get Kuminga? Zach + Caruso for Paul + Kuminga + salary filler + a pick?

Kuminga's gonna get some money. He made his 3rd year jump (unlike Pat). Probably gonna move way up in minutes and usage if any combo of Klay/Dray/Wiggins is moved. Whoever has him, are they prepared to dance with a potential max? His numbers went up to 16/5/2 and they won 46 games. He's 21yo, and he started most the season (after incorrectly warming the bench for 1.5 months). IMO that's around the territory where a 22yo RFA gets paid the max- either home team matches, he walks, or they S&T him.

I don't see the incentive for GSW to move him for some kind of sub-500 players. Caruso and Zach would be boosts, but one's a 20 MPG specialist and the other has serious question marks (from injury to decline to winning/influence). Kuminga, Moody,

Honestly, GSW's early exit is being a little overblown. They won 46 frikkin games. It's not their fault the West was comically stacked. Frankly, Kumi/Mood/Pod/Trayce comprise a better youth farm than ours. Am I right? You know I am. I'll take those 4 over Pat/Coby/Ayo/Terry. Ayo and Coby have improved their stock a lot, but their guys are a little younger and a little better, as far as the numbers go.

They've got a lot of dead money. I think they could send Wiggins out for cap relief (i.e. Knicks- Bogdanovic's expiring, better fit for both sides); extend Kuminga and promote his role; send Draymond to a thirsty playoff team for some asset(s); let Klay resign cheap or walk; ditto with CP3.

In fact, I think CP3/Moody ought to be enough to get LaVine, if they want to make that deal.

[Ice Man]

Frankly, Kumi/Mood/Pod/Trayce comprise a better youth farm than ours.

Sure. But that's not saying much. I wouldn't bet on those guys + a declining Steph to become even a peripheral contender.

[Michael Jackson]

Wow Porter got banned.

I thought they would go hard on him, but not banned. I guess they have to set a precedent of no tolerance. Seems harsh but Silver aint messing around.

Silver had to ban him, for the integrity of the game and (as you write) for the precedence. That said, it might have been a difficult position with a popular, well-known player. But a nobody scrub, that is an easy choice for setting an example.

I mean he was betting on the raptors to lose and was throwing prop bets to his friends... Not good. Pete Rose wasn't even allowed to watch baseball on TV (j/k) but there is prrecedent for this and Pete was betting on himself.

Aside from the prop bets... I get betting on the raps to lose when they were trying to tank lol. Still of course this was the outcome.

[drosestruts]

Frankly, Kumi/Mood/Pod/Trayce comprise a better youth farm than ours.

Sure. But that's not saying much. I wouldn't bet on those guys + a declining Steph to become even a peripheral contender.

Hmmm it's actually an interesting comparison. Originally included Terry but I'd swap him out for our #11 pick which makes comparing a little more difficult but

Coby/Ayo/Williams/2024 1st vs Kuminga/Moody/Podz/TJD is an interesting one.

Another difficulty is factoring in how much these players are boosted by playing alongside hall of fame players like Curry, CP3, and Draymond (Klay will be in the HoF too, just not sure he was helping this year).

I'm not sure where I land on it. I think based on performances this season I'd rank the players as:

1. Coby
2. Kuminga

^ this is very close. Slight edge to Coby for more assists and getting it done on a worse roster.

3. Ayo
4. TJD
5. Podz
6. Moody
7. Williams (<-- didn't really show much)
8. Our theoretical pick

Would be interesting to re-visit this in a year

[erlim]

Coby is quite alright.

[DuckIII]

Wow Porter got banned.

I thought they would go hard on him, but not banned. I guess they have to set a precedent of no tolerance. Seems harsh but Silver aint messing around.

It’s not harsh. It has to be an automatic lifetime ban. If the NBA had not given him a lifetime ban it would have been very concerning.

Feel for the guy. He made a mistake and criminal charges are almost certainly coming as well. But the league has to think total picture and everything Porter did was premeditated.

[dice]

Even if from a basketball standpoint the players are OK with just running it back for old times sake, I have a hard time believing anyone with any financial responsibility is going to greenlight continually throwing away 1/5th of a billion a year for a feel good.

There's no reason to keep anybody but Steph. Klay and Draymond were loved in their time, but they are Pippen and Grant to the franchise, not Mike. And Wiggins ... oh man. I can't even.

wig has bamboozled 2 teams now

[dice]

Wow Porter got banned.

I thought they would go hard on him, but not banned. I guess they have to set a precedent of no tolerance. Seems harsh but Silver aint messing around.

It’s not harsh. It has to be an automatic lifetime ban. If the NBA had not given him a lifetime ban it would have been very concerning.

Feel for the guy. He made a mistake and criminal charges are almost certainly coming as well. But the league has to think total picture and everything Porter did was premeditated.

would've been more interesting w/ higher caliber player

[dice]

i want no injuries during these playoffs.

really wanted jimmy and co. to take down the knicks. guess "the process" doing it is next best thing

[Ice Man]

I really wanted jimmy and co. to take down the knicks. guess "the process" doing it is next best thing

If the The Process can both stay on the court and be effective. That's a big if.