Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[kodo]

Holiday is a pro. Ayton is trash

Holiday is 35 with 3 years on his contract. Reportedly the Blazers had deals they were looking at with Ayton, but they didn't want to take back any long term money. Jrue had his worst statistical year last year 11 pts/gm, 35% 3pt shooting. He's not likely to get better. Traded a 26 yr old guard 19 pt/gm and added picks to add this older player.

Simons expires next year, like Ayton. They took on an almost 10 yr older player with more years left on his contract for Simons. Gave up picks to do it. That's a win now move. Then pay your vet center off, lose him for nothing so your young guys can play. That's a rebuilding move. What do they gain dumping Ayton, other than a roster spot? They have to pay him anyway and injuries happen. He's better than any center they have other than Clingan right now and expiring. So are they trying to win now, or tank? Or just ride the middle? How did either of these trades improve the Blazers long term?

It's extreme to buy out a $35 mill expiring guy because you don't want to take on longer contracts. When you just took on a longer $35 mill contract of a declining 35 yr old for a smaller expiring.

Ayton had the worst on/off splits of anyone in the Blazers rotation. All the winning the Blazers accomplished last season was largely because of their young players. Ayton and Simons don't fit the current direction of the team and were moved. If the Blazers save so money in buying out Ayton, they might have the MLE for trades or going after free agents.

Yeah they never wanted Ayton, they took on Ayton's contract to get Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, a 1st round pick and 2 pick swaps. Holiday himself was traded for 2 more picks. They couldn't care less about Ayton as a basketball asset, he was the price for getting 5 picks/swaps + one of the best defenders in the league.

[kodo]

Salary cap $154,647,000
Luxury tax: $187,895,000
First apron: $195,954,000

A $40M contract is now only 21% of the roster of a team trying to stay just below lux tax.
These #s are just nuts these days.

[Ben Wilson25]

Did the Knicks really fire Thibs without any plan for the next move? Mike Brown? Oof.

[_txchilibowl_]

Salary cap $154,647,000
Luxury tax: $187,895,000
First apron: $195,954,000

A $40M contract is now only 21% of the roster of a team trying to stay just below lux tax.
These #s are just nuts these days.

NBA Total Revenue 1990 season - $164 million

NBA Total Revenue 2025 season - $12 billion

[ImSlower]

Did the Knicks really fire Thibs without any plan for the next move? Mike Brown? Oof.

Reinsdorf and Dolan are both atrocious owners in very different ways.

[Infinity2152]

Holiday is 35 with 3 years on his contract. Reportedly the Blazers had deals they were looking at with Ayton, but they didn't want to take back any long term money. Jrue had his worst statistical year last year 11 pts/gm, 35% 3pt shooting. He's not likely to get better. Traded a 26 yr old guard 19 pt/gm and added picks to add this older player.

Simons expires next year, like Ayton. They took on an almost 10 yr older player with more years left on his contract for Simons. Gave up picks to do it. That's a win now move. Then pay your vet center off, lose him for nothing so your young guys can play. That's a rebuilding move. What do they gain dumping Ayton, other than a roster spot? They have to pay him anyway and injuries happen. He's better than any center they have other than Clingan right now and expiring. So are they trying to win now, or tank? Or just ride the middle? How did either of these trades improve the Blazers long term?

It's extreme to buy out a $35 mill expiring guy because you don't want to take on longer contracts. When you just took on a longer $35 mill contract of a declining 35 yr old for a smaller expiring.

Ayton had the worst on/off splits of anyone in the Blazers rotation. All the winning the Blazers accomplished last season was largely because of their young players. Ayton and Simons don't fit the current direction of the team and were moved. If the Blazers save so money in buying out Ayton, they might have the MLE for trades or going after free agents.

Yeah they never wanted Ayton, they took on Ayton's contract to get Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, a 1st round pick and 2 pick swaps. Holiday himself was traded for 2 more picks. They couldn't care less about Ayton as a basketball asset, he was the price for getting 5 picks/swaps + one of the best defenders in the league.

No problem with them getting rid of Ayton. They took on Ayton's contract to get assets, great. Still seems to conflict with the Holiday-Simons trade. Now that I know Ayton gave up $10 mill, buying him out makes more sense. But don't see how trading Simons and picks for Holiday is going in that same direction. What direction of the team does Holiday fit more than Simons? Win what they can this year, because Holiday's likely to decline even more the next two? Win just enough games to give the Bulls their draft pick? Plus two second round picks?

I'm just talking about the inconsistency of buying out an expensive expiring player the week after you trade a younger player with picks for an older dcelining player with more long term money than any of them.

[sco]

Ayton had the worst on/off splits of anyone in the Blazers rotation. All the winning the Blazers accomplished last season was largely because of their young players. Ayton and Simons don't fit the current direction of the team and were moved. If the Blazers save so money in buying out Ayton, they might have the MLE for trades or going after free agents.

Yeah they never wanted Ayton, they took on Ayton's contract to get Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, a 1st round pick and 2 pick swaps. Holiday himself was traded for 2 more picks. They couldn't care less about Ayton as a basketball asset, he was the price for getting 5 picks/swaps + one of the best defenders in the league.

No problem with them getting rid of Ayton. They took on Ayton's contract to get assets, great. Still seems to conflict with the Holiday-Simons trade. Now that I know Ayton gave up $10 mill, buying him out makes more sense. But don't see how trading Simons and picks for Holiday is going in that same direction. What direction of the team does Holiday fit more than Simons? Win what they can this year, because Holiday's likely to decline even more the next two? Win just enough games to give the Bulls their draft pick? Plus two second round picks?

I'm just talking about the inconsistency of buying out an expensive expiring player the week after you trade a younger player with picks for an older dcelining player with more long term money than any of them.

Your point is good. IMO they viewed Ayton as being in the way of Clingan's development and wanted him gone to hand Clingan the keys. I see the Holiday deal as them looking for guard-based defense and bringing in a vet leader for a young team. I think they came to feel like Simons was duplicative with their other guards and was at or near his peak. I think they are focusing on building on their end-of-year success like us (which is good for us).

[dumbell78]

This 2nd apron/hard cap tax line is forcing some very reasonable contracts to happen. I like it.

[Infinity2152]

Yeah they never wanted Ayton, they took on Ayton's contract to get Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, a 1st round pick and 2 pick swaps. Holiday himself was traded for 2 more picks. They couldn't care less about Ayton as a basketball asset, he was the price for getting 5 picks/swaps + one of the best defenders in the league.

No problem with them getting rid of Ayton. They took on Ayton's contract to get assets, great. Still seems to conflict with the Holiday-Simons trade. Now that I know Ayton gave up $10 mill, buying him out makes more sense. But don't see how trading Simons and picks for Holiday is going in that same direction. What direction of the team does Holiday fit more than Simons? Win what they can this year, because Holiday's likely to decline even more the next two? Win just enough games to give the Bulls their draft pick? Plus two second round picks?

I'm just talking about the inconsistency of buying out an expensive expiring player the week after you trade a younger player with picks for an older dcelining player with more long term money than any of them.

Your point is good. IMO they viewed Ayton as being in the way of Clingan's development and wanted him gone to hand Clingan the keys. I see the Holiday deal as them looking for guard-based defense and bringing in a vet leader for a young team. I think they came to feel like Simons was duplicative with their other guards and was at or near his peak. I think they are focusing on building on their end-of-year success like us (which is good for us).

You know I'm all about adding vets to young squads, lol. That said, Jrue Holiday should be considered a negative contract, imo. they could have gotten a defensive vet for much cheaper, don't see any way Jrue is going to give you $30+ mill/yr worth of value the next few years. Don't think I'd view Simons as negative, they should have been able to get something decent and certainly younger and cheaper than Holiday for Simons. Sending picks makes it even worse. Celtics got over on them, and they're probably going to get something flipping Simons.

[kulaz3000]

This 2nd apron/hard cap tax line is forcing some very reasonable contracts to happen. I like it.

Yeah, a handful of overpays but not overly egregious which is great for the league as a whole. I think the 2nd apron is doing exactly what it's supposed to, but it will make it challenging for contending teams that want to keep their team together, though, we are so far removed from even being in that position, it's not something I'm concerned about.

[dumbell78]

I also like what Houston did alongside the KD move. Capela and DFS on reasonable deals, nice work. Still have assets to look into other things down the road.

[kodo]

This 2nd apron/hard cap tax line is forcing some very reasonable contracts to happen. I like it.

Let's see if Devin Booker gets a $75M per year extension.

[dumbell78]

Just shows how moronic AKME were with that PWill contract. Just look at the value signings made today. Unreal how fundamentally flawed we are in the FO.

[Mk0]

So Portland gets much older by trading Simons for Holiday, then buys out their veteran center to play the rookie and second year guy. Which way are they going?

yes

[Mk0]

This 2nd apron/hard cap tax line is forcing some very reasonable contracts to happen. I like it.

Let's see if Devin Booker gets a $75M per year extension.

He will. It was always the plan.
The guy said he wanted to play in Phoenix his whole career and I honestly think he would rather get a statue than ring chase.

[step]

This 2nd apron/hard cap tax line is forcing some very reasonable contracts to happen. I like it.

Let's see if Devin Booker gets a $75M per year extension.

He will. It was always the plan.
The guy said he wanted to play in Phoenix his whole career and I honestly think he would rather get a statue than ring chase.

Like with any superstar ... rule 1 ... sign the contract.
Then he can decide if he wants out a year or two later... if at all.

[DASMACKDOWN]

This 2nd apron/hard cap tax line is forcing some very reasonable contracts to happen. I like it.

Yeah, a handful of overpays but not overly egregious which is great for the league as a whole. I think the 2nd apron is doing exactly what it's supposed to, but it will make it challenging for contending teams that want to keep their team together, though, we are so far removed from even being in that position, it's not something I'm concerned about.

I actually think its still too harsh.

They are basically preventing teams from being successful long-term. But maybe that is the idea.

I think its actually an owners ploy/excuse to prevent them from paying out big money long term.

In the past where you had title contending teams and the team would slowly drop key role players and stuff. The top players would get mad about it. But now they have an excuse of the 2nd apron.

OKC for that reason probably has a 2 year window before they get out priced by trying to keep their own players.

So the 2nd apron is doing what its meant to do but I think down the line they might have to tweak it a bit.

[kodo]

Sam Presti is 100% on the minutes-cause-injuries side of the debate.

Spoiler:

One thing we have to do is get away from the defensive nature of trying to convince players and teams that there's no connection between the loads and the injuries
We're bordering on a level where it's almost insulting.
I don't think we should be putting our head in the sand and acting as if there's no correlation

[kodo]

Can't believe the Indiana Pacers team is already dismantled, surely a young Finals team is worth going into the tax for?
Unless they think Turner is easily replaceable, which I don't believe for a minute. Shotblocking centers with 3P shots aren't that common, especially since Turner is capable of dribble pull up contested 3s, most centers can only hit standstill wide open 3s with no defenders coming at them.

[HomoSapien]

Shocked that the Pacers would let Turner go when he wanted to return. East is completely wide open for Orlando and Cavs.