Around The NBA : 2023-24 Season #3

[drosestruts]

is it even possible for New York to keep Hartenstein at this point? I think he played a key role in their success last year.

[sco]

is it even possible for New York to keep Hartenstein at this point? I think he played a key role in their success last year.

If they can trade Robinson, I think so.

[Muzbar]

Thibs absolutely loves that team now.

So do I.

Hey! That's the Knicks you're talking about you can love them being a Bulls fan!

I do too... shhhh

[Repeat 3-peat]

Watch on YouTube

[Muzbar]

Read on Twitter

Nic Claxton resigning with Nets

[Charlesareed]

Read on Twitter

Nic Claxton resigning with Nets

I guess if Drummond leaves akme will pivot to james wiseman who the pistons just made a unrestricted free agent

[DASMACKDOWN]

Read on Twitter

Nic Claxton resigning with Nets

Honestly, and I hate to say it, Vooch is actually worth his contract. Not to me but in an NBA sense he definitely is now.

We may not want to admit it, but current deals make it true.

Nic Claxton literally does one thing better than Vooch (defense) and he makes 25 mil a year. Im going to bet guys like I.Hart will make more as well. And I.Hart is a typical backup big. There is nothing amazing or special about what these guys do.

I don't think any center should be making that much. An MVP, Jokic, Embiid absolutely. But in general, it's a mis management of NBA funds. NBA funds are limited. There are Lux tax implications, second apron ittues etc. You have to manage your money right.

I love Daniel Gafford but I would puke if I had to pay him 25 mil a year.

if I were a GM, I am hoping for the best guy at like MLE. If not keep drafting a big late in the draft and hope they stick. That will be least cost controlled.

[Ice Man]

I don't think any center should be making that much. An MVP, Jokic, Embiid absolutely. But in general, it's a mis management of NBA funds. NBA funds are limited. There are Lux tax implications, second apron ittues etc. You have to manage your money right.

I love Daniel Gafford but I would puke if I had to pay him 25 mil a year.

if I were a GM, I am hoping for the best guy at like MLE. If not keep drafting a big late in the draft and hope they stick. That will be least cost controlled.

Yep. I recall thinking when Steven Adams signed for $100 million/4 years with OKC that was a colossal waste of money. Why do that when you can get a guy who is 80% as good as Adams on the cheap?

Yep, I was right. As are you with your post.

[MrSparkle]

I agree with the general sentiment, that you don't want to pay overpay for a role-playing C (which is most of them). There are probably 4 superstar centers (or soon to be): Embiid, Jokic, Wemby, Chet.

Bam gets a very fringe nomination as a guy you can build with, as a defensive pillar and productive offensive player. Still, not a superstar that you build around, and every max increase is tougher to swallow. 166/3 is his latest deal. Miami had no choice, but I've got to imagine once they decide what they're doing with Jimmy, Riley will try to sell high on Bam.

Every single other C is replaceable. Celtics won a chip with Porzingis' help, albeit on a broken foot and not really contributing after G1. KAT and Gobert laid eggs by the WCFs; Reid helps give them a 3rd look, but he's a super 6th man. Hartenstein had a big season, and I'm sure Knicks resign, but he'll be hard to stomach if it's closer to $25-30M salary. It's really the position you want to keep a constant eye on with replacement players (draft, MLE, expiring/buy-low trades). You look at the "low" price Toronto paid to get Poeltl, a prime C upgrade, and what did that do? Got SAS a #8 pick, and essentially put the Raptors on their own tank path.

I believe Vuc will stay and Demar/Zach will go. I actually agree that at $20M expiring next year, Vuc is not a horrible contract. I think more concerning is he's declined into being one of the worst centers, but as far as fit has gone... He's been set up to look as bad as possible. Undersized guards and wings, no PFs to help with rim protection or help defense, no PG/passer to deliver him an easy assist, and of course playing with Zach/Demar in the front court was really the worst-case scenario for him as it took away his comfort zones in the high post and midrange, and it made his defensive job extra hard. Also didn't help that Caruso, Javonte and Patrick had a lot of injuries over the years (not to mention Lonzo), the guys who specifically made life a little easier for Vuc on D.

At this point, there's just no reason to dump Vuc for Fritos. There's a win-win to it; you can lose games with him as a tank commander, or he can actually bring his 3P% and advanced stats back up with a bigger, more defensive lineups surrounding him with Zach/Demar gone (and then get something mildly worthwhile in a deadline trade).

[DropStep]

Read on Twitter

Nic Claxton resigning with Nets

Honestly, and I hate to say it, Vooch is actually worth his contract. Not to me but in an NBA sense he definitely is now.

We may not want to admit it, but current deals make it true.

Nic Claxton literally does one thing better than Vooch (defense) and he makes 25 mil a year. Im going to bet guys like I.Hart will make more as well. And I.Hart is a typical backup big. There is nothing amazing or special about what these guys do.

I don't think any center should be making that much. An MVP, Jokic, Embiid absolutely. But in general, it's a mis management of NBA funds. NBA funds are limited. There are Lux tax implications, second apron ittues etc. You have to manage your money right.

I love Daniel Gafford but I would puke if I had to pay him 25 mil a year.

if I were a GM, I am hoping for the best guy at like MLE. If not keep drafting a big late in the draft and hope they stick. That will be least cost controlled.

Interesting thoughts. Maybe C is to the NBA what RB has been to the NFL.

[drosestruts]

I continue to not understand trades and what certain players are traded for vs others.

Reggie Jackson to Charlotte for 3-second round picks minutes after Charlotte just drafted a point guard. What's the point?

Also like, you have cap space, just sign a veteran point guard in free agency. Why trade for Reggie Jackson???

Edit: I see Woj has changed his initial report - the picks are from Denver to Charlotte. Makes much more sense this way.

[kodo]

Nic Claxton literally does one thing better than Vooch (defense) and he makes 25 mil a year. Im going to bet guys like I.Hart will make more as well. And I.Hart is a typical backup big. There is nothing amazing or special about what these guys do.

Claxton is far better than Vuc on offense and on defense.
Claxton scores on 63% TS, well above league average.
Vuc scores on 54% TS, well below league average.
Claxton is an elite shotblocker, top 10 and higher than Gobert, Gafford, JJJ.
Claxton has a higher offensive rebounding rate than Vuc.
Per 36 minutes, Vuc averages 1.0 assists more than Claxton.

Claxton is far superior on the two most important aspects, scoring & defense.
He's slightly better at offensive rebounding.
He's slightly worse at assist making, at 1 assist per game difference.
Claxton is 24 and can improve as the contract goes on. Vuc is 33 will continue to decline.

It's completely lopsided in favor of Claxton. And Claxton is not some star C, Vuc is just terrible at this age.

[boozapalooza]

Immanuel Quickley….5 years 175 MILLION??? I get he was solid with TOR in the 2nd half but still…wow. Some of these contracts are crazy.

So if Lavine plays well for 25-30 games to start the year, the contract shouldn’t be as much of a problem.

[sco]

Immanuel Quickley….5 years 175 MILLION??? I get he was solid with TOR in the 2nd half but still…wow. Some of these contracts are crazy.

So if Lavine plays well for 25-30 games to start the year, the contract shouldn’t be as much of a problem.

I like IQ, like a lot, but $35M per year is A LOT for him. Makes me feel good about Coby's contract.

[ChiefILL53]

The kings traded Davion mitchell? Im watching Bulls Central and Haize is talking about it in reference to their cap situation and being able to trade for Zach.

[kodo]

The kings traded Davion mitchell? Im watching Bulls Central and Haize is talking about it in reference to their cap situation and being able to trade for Zach.

Yep interesting, Sacramento news is reporting this is a pure salary move, makes no basketball sense. Sac gave up the much better player and had to give a pick.

[MrSparkle]

IQ is a $15M player. But OK!

Perhaps best to begin estimating Coby's extension value. I would not want to pay Coby $35M+ unless he became an actual all-star.

[kodo]

Immanuel Quickley….5 years 175 MILLION??? I get he was solid with TOR in the 2nd half but still…wow. Some of these contracts are crazy.

So if Lavine plays well for 25-30 games to start the year, the contract shouldn’t be as much of a problem.

I like IQ, like a lot, but $35M per year is A LOT for him. Makes me feel good about Coby's contract.

I wonder how much Coby at $11M would be worth on the trade market.
Gotta give AK props on this one.

[sco]

Immanuel Quickley….5 years 175 MILLION??? I get he was solid with TOR in the 2nd half but still…wow. Some of these contracts are crazy.

So if Lavine plays well for 25-30 games to start the year, the contract shouldn’t be as much of a problem.

I like IQ, like a lot, but $35M per year is A LOT for him. Makes me feel good about Coby's contract.

I wonder how much Coby at $11M would be worth on the trade market.
Gotta give AK props on this one.

True. I have a hard time thinking of obvious trade partners with assets I'd want back for Coby.

[DropStep]

IQ is a $15M player. But OK!

Perhaps best to begin estimating Coby's extension value. I would not want to pay Coby $35M+ unless he became an actual all-star.

Apparently Quickley blossomed in Toronto when I wasn't looking. Quickley as a Raptor versus Coby's last season:
points 18.6 vs. 19.1
rebounds 4.8 vs. 4.5
assists 6.8 vs. 5.1.

Last season's PER was 16.7 for Quickley vs. 14.5 for Coby, win shares both at 4.7. Both in their fifth season, both 24 years old. Pretty comparable, with the edge to Quickley based on 38 games in TOR.

That three year, 40 million contract Coby got a year ago is aging so well.