Draft is done, now free agency begins

[theBigLip]

So we picked up Ausar and Sassar. Draft is done. Now the real work of creating our 23-24 team is about to go down. We have some cap space and some players we would like to move on from. What do you think we should do?

My thoughts are to make a hard run at Cam Johnson. After that, assuming we don’t get him, is to just be patient. Let other teams blow all their cap space. Once we are the last ones left, we should have leverage to extract a lot of value in trades.

[bstein14]

So we picked up Ausar and Sassar. Draft is done. Now the real work of creating our 23-24 team is about to go down. We have some cap space and some players we would like to move on from. What do you think we should do?

My thoughts are to make a hard run at Cam Johnson. After that, assuming we don’t get him, is to just be patient. Let other teams blow all their cap space. Once we are the last ones left, we should have leverage to extract a lot of value in trades.

Before free agency starts we'll have to make decisions on Eugene, Hampton, Livers and Burks. Right now I'd operate under the assumption that Livers and Burks are staying but Eugene and Hampton are gone or moved down to two-way contracts.

1. Cade
2. Ivey
3. Duren
4. Bojan
5. Ausar
6. Sasser
7. Stewart
8. Bagley
9. Wiseman
10. Hayes
11. Livers
12. Burks
----

We have about $27 - $28 million if we end up keeping Burks... and then once we spend that on a player we have about $7 million for a "room exception" we could then go over the cap to sign someone else. It's certainly possible we could use the room exception on Diallo but its probably more likely we look to a different vet.

The ideal scenario for most would be to get Cam or Jerami Grant with the bulk of our cap space, and then use the room exception for a veteran/lockerroom/defensive minded/shooter type player I think we're mostly over need to take gambles on unproven high lottery picks like Wiseman, Bagley, Jackson, etc.

[Kilo]

I really don't think Cam is leaving Brooklyn. And I think BKLN is willing to offer close enough to whatever Pistons or Houston offers that he'd stay. He's already talking about house hunting and checking out various cool neighborhoods.

Jerami Grant is much more possible I think if Lillard is dealt. Maybe he just wants his bag though and Portland will give it to him hoping that appeases Dame, but I don't see Dame there much longer. But if Jerami wants his money he might not care with Scoot there now long term with him if Lillard is dealt away for a haul coming back also.

If Dame asks out first though then it might make Portland decide to rebuild and not make Grant an offer at all. Then I think Pistons would have a decent chance.

Given rumored interest in Hunter and Harris, it seems to me that Weaver is telegraphing he's going to go the trade route with the plan seemingly to get a PF who can shoot and looking at teams with cap issues who might sell off asset cheaper to cut costs.

After Lillard I think KAT is the next bigger name who will be looking to be moved. I might play the longer game with that. Get the FRP back NYK has for example, to be able to offer multiples.

[flow]

So we picked up Ausar and Sassar. Draft is done. Now the real work of creating our 23-24 team is about to go down. We have some cap space and some players we would like to move on from. What do you think we should do?

My thoughts are to make a hard run at Cam Johnson. After that, assuming we don’t get him, is to just be patient. Let other teams blow all their cap space. Once we are the last ones left, we should have leverage to extract a lot of value in trades.

Here's the thing. Restricted free agents don't usually field offers until after the UFA's get sorted out. Cam's not going to be determined for a while.

[Piston Pete]

I still maintain that Christian Wood is our perfect fit on the roster.

Tall, athletic, can shoot, can rebound and block shots. Still only 27. Perfect fit next to Duren.


Cam Johnson isn’t leaving Brooklyn

Jerami Grant fits offensively, but not so much defensively. And he’d be more expensive than Wood.

Grant Williams would fit nicely and would be cheap, but dude’s a 6’5” SF/PF who offers little in terms of blocks.

Kyle Kuzma is all offense, no defense.

Khris Middleton is out there too, but he’s a pure SF

[bjones521]

I still maintain that Christian Wood is our perfect fit on the roster.

Tall, athletic, can shoot, can rebound and block shots. Still only 27. Perfect fit next to Duren.


Cam Johnson isn’t leaving Brooklyn

Jerami Grant fits offensively, but not so much defensively. And he’d be more expensive than Wood.

Grant Williams would fit nicely and would be cheap, but dude’s a 6’5” SF/PF who offers little in terms of blocks.

Kyle Kuzma is all offense, no defense.

Khris Middleton is out there too, but he’s a pure SF

Christian Wood plays less defense that Grant and Kuzma fyi

[aad]

Harrison Barnes should be a target

[theBigLip]

Harrison Barnes should be a target

Barnes and Oubre seem like good options if we can get them cheap.

[flow]

Not interested in Oubre at all. Barnes would be good.

.

[Kalamazoo317]

Kuzma has the ability to play high-level defense. Not sure he's committed to doing so, though.

[Piston Pete]

I still maintain that Christian Wood is our perfect fit on the roster.

Tall, athletic, can shoot, can rebound and block shots. Still only 27. Perfect fit next to Duren.


Cam Johnson isn’t leaving Brooklyn

Jerami Grant fits offensively, but not so much defensively. And he’d be more expensive than Wood.

Grant Williams would fit nicely and would be cheap, but dude’s a 6’5” SF/PF who offers little in terms of blocks.

Kyle Kuzma is all offense, no defense.

Khris Middleton is out there too, but he’s a pure SF

Christian Wood plays less defense that Grant and Kuzma fyi

Wood at PF is good.

Wood at C - he can get bullied by some of the bigger C’s down low.

[mattao313]

I just hope we get rid of 2 of Stewart, Wiseman, and Bagley and replace them with guys that can shoot. We don't need all these paint bound big men they don't compliment anyone on the team.

Sent from my SM-A528B using RealGM mobile app

[chrbal]

1- send Marvin Bagley to Washington for Landry Shamet. Decline Burks option. The Wizards have no real spot for Shamet, we have little need for Bagley. Monty gets his guy, Detroit might be able to pull off a small asset. Makes more sense for Washington to have a role for Johnny Davis over a guy who won’t make a huge impact on their future success/improvement. At least Davis, possibly, has upside. Burks get to join a playoff team.

2- see if you can get anything for Hayes even remotely worthwhile, you probably can’t. Let him ride out the season, don’t restrict anyone’s minutes to get him playing time unless Killian has shown real improvement.

3- assess if there’s any chance Cam Johnson leave’s Brooklyn. Doubting he will, hope Houston makes a ridiculous offer Brooklyn has to match. Try to get a cap casualty wing (Dorian or Royce). If it doesn’t work, that’s fine.

4- pick up Livers option, renegotiate the options for Eugene Omoruyi and RJ Hampton getting them some guaranteed money, other teams have done this before. Say hello to two of the two way contract players.

5- I’m sure there should be more, but I’m done for now.

[Moses ShamMoses]

With this being a pretty crappy free agent class, and unless Weaver gets lucky on the trade market, our best bet might be to hold onto the cap space until next offseason and plan on getting one last top 10 pick. I know there is a cap floor but we could always sign a couple guys to 1 year deals (2nd year team option).

[Mr Peanut]

The Jerami Grant situation is very dependent on Lillard. If Lillard makes clear indications in the next week that he wants to be traded then the Blazers likely won't re-sign him and we would have to be at the top of his list. Otherwise he's going back to PDX on a 5y/140-150M contract.

Cam Johnson will be difficult as he'll tie up our cap space for a couple of days while other potential targets get signed, and there's a good chance BKN will match anyway.

Weaver could revisit Hunter in ATL but not sure if we have the assets to get him without giving up a piece of the young core (reports are that ATL weren't looking for a pure salary dump). And it sounds like Morey is asking for way too much for Harris.

Otherwise Kuzma and Oubre could be in the mix but they will steal a lot of shots away from our young guys.

Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[mattao313]

I don't want Jerami Grant we don't need a 'get his' type player unless they'll truly a star. We need guys who'll come in play hard, defend, and hit open shots. Grant is more interested in offense and trying to be a star player.

Sent from my SM-A528B using RealGM mobile app

[Menace2Sobriety]

Being a Pistons fan living in DC for 20+ years - definite no to Oubre and Kuzma. Please - no. Johnny Davis didn’t show much last year either - albeit due to injuries to start the season.

I do believe the teams could be good trading partners. I was interested in KP initially, but that’s sailed. The Wizards have 3 veteran PGs, all expiring and my preference would be Delin Wright. He can can guard 1&2s effectively, and has a respectable 3 pointer. They may consider Killian as a tank commander and consider him a reclamation project? Not sure how this regime feels about the incumbent PGs. We just drafted his U21 teammate.

I would pickup options on both Burks & Livers. Opportunistically look for trades of Burks and Bojan. I’m in the minority, but I’d run with our front line as is.

As for our cap space: like many, not impressed with available FAs. I’d look for salary dump opportunities where we pickup a useful player plus draft assets. This is the last year we can do this. The D. Hunter rumors are interesting only if a 1st is attached.

[Mr Peanut]

RJ Hampton waived. Another 2M to add to the cap space.

[MotownMadness]

Read on Twitter

[bstein14]

1- send Marvin Bagley to Washington for Landry Shamet. Decline Burks option. The Wizards have no real spot for Shamet, we have little need for Bagley. Monty gets his guy, Detroit might be able to pull off a small asset. Makes more sense for Washington to have a role for Johnny Davis over a guy who won’t make a huge impact on their future success/improvement. At least Davis, possibly, has upside. Burks get to join a playoff team.

2- see if you can get anything for Hayes even remotely worthwhile, you probably can’t. Let him ride out the season, don’t restrict anyone’s minutes to get him playing time unless Killian has shown real improvement.

3- assess if there’s any chance Cam Johnson leave’s Brooklyn. Doubting he will, hope Houston makes a ridiculous offer Brooklyn has to match. Try to get a cap casualty wing (Dorian or Royce). If it doesn’t work, that’s fine.

4- pick up Livers option, renegotiate the options for Eugene Omoruyi and RJ Hampton getting them some guaranteed money, other teams have done this before. Say hello to two of the two way contract players.

5- I’m sure there should be more, but I’m done for now.

Shamet is an expiring contract (or team option for next year) and essentially an ok bench player. I doubt Washington would trade him Bagley who has more guaranteed money on the books.