Thoughts in General, Random Rumors and Musings, Blah Blah 14.0 Eddie Najera Edicion

[K_chile22]

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft

If nothing else I feel like this draft is going to be really entertaining/unpredictable and someone is going to make a Jalen Williams like pick in the later lotto.

There's definitely going to be a couple all stars in the draft, always is, it's just nearly impossible to tell who those guys are going to be. Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher are the least appealing #1 overall options I've seen since the Anthony Bennett draft (insane that was already 11 years ago) and even that draft had 3 all stars (think Noel could've gotten close too if not for injuries+bad agent work derailing him)

[MoneyTalks41890]

Yeah bad year to be top 5. Good year to be in the lotto after that I think. But of course that stops at wherever the pick OKC has lands.

[Colbinii]

Yeah bad year to be top 5. Good year to be in the lotto after that I think. But of course that stops at wherever the pick OKC has lands.

Yeah Jalen Duren sucks!

[Godaddycurse]

Yeah bad year to be top 5. Good year to be in the lotto after that I think. But of course that stops at wherever the pick OKC has lands.

I still haven't made up my mind if I want Raptors to keep their pick or not

[K_chile22]

Yeah bad year to be top 5. Good year to be in the lotto after that I think. But of course that stops at wherever the pick OKC has lands.

I still haven't made up my mind if I want Raptors to keep their pick or not

Well I think they'll be mostly bad again next year (might make the play in but even then in the east that means 10th best lotto odds) so if I were them I'd rather give the pick up now but who knows what Masai thinks

[Scoot McGroot]

What is the max 2024-25 salary that Indiana can offer Jalen Smith?

They have full bird rights since he was never renounced/lost his bird rights.

So more than anyone else / more than he needs

Yup. They re-established his full Bird Rights with no qualifying/non-qualifying issues like last time coming off his non-exercised rookie contract option.

[jayjaysee]

Yeah bad year to be top 5. Good year to be in the lotto after that I think. But of course that stops at wherever the pick OKC has lands.

I still haven't made up my mind if I want Raptors to keep their pick or not

Toronto’s situation is really interesting to me.

If you move up, you’re happy and go for the play-in next year with a young core..

If you move back, you are okay with it and at least still have Indy’s pick. Can decide what the future looks like.. Maybe tank, maybe trade 5 future firsts for a star if the team believes in Barnes/IQ enough to push in, etc.

The 9% chance of 6th feels worse than losing the pick to me? Not sure. *

[mademan]

Yeah bad year to be top 5. Good year to be in the lotto after that I think. But of course that stops at wherever the pick OKC has lands.

I still haven't made up my mind if I want Raptors to keep their pick or not

Well I think they'll be mostly bad again next year (might make the play in but even then in the east that means 10th best lotto odds) so if I were them I'd rather give the pick up now but who knows what Masai thinks

Between Scottie-IQ-RJ-Poeltl, Toronto has a solid SL. Brown and Olynyk are solid role players too and they should have a bit of cap to get another solid contributer as well. Depending on how all the young guys develop, they can either push for top 6 in the conference next year or completely fall apart and be a bottom 5 team and i wouldnt be surprised at either

[vincecarter4pres]

I still haven't made up my mind if I want Raptors to keep their pick or not

Well I think they'll be mostly bad again next year (might make the play in but even then in the east that means 10th best lotto odds) so if I were them I'd rather give the pick up now but who knows what Masai thinks

Between Scottie-IQ-RJ-Poeltl, Toronto has a solid SL. Brown and Olynyk are solid role players too and they should have a bit of cap to get another solid contributer as well. Depending on how all the young guys develop, they can either push for top 6 in the conference next year or completely fall apart and be a bottom 5 team and i wouldnt be surprised at either

Without a major addition, the Raptors look prime for a 25-33 win season.

[mademan]

Well I think they'll be mostly bad again next year (might make the play in but even then in the east that means 10th best lotto odds) so if I were them I'd rather give the pick up now but who knows what Masai thinks

Between Scottie-IQ-RJ-Poeltl, Toronto has a solid SL. Brown and Olynyk are solid role players too and they should have a bit of cap to get another solid contributer as well. Depending on how all the young guys develop, they can either push for top 6 in the conference next year or completely fall apart and be a bottom 5 team and i wouldnt be surprised at either

Without a major addition, the Raptors look prime for a 25-33 win season.

eh. East isnt great. If a team like Chicago and ATL can get high 30's, im not sure why Toronto cant and be in the play-in. And unlike Chicago, Toronto has young players like Scottie and IQ with breakout potential.

[Scoot McGroot]

I still haven't made up my mind if I want Raptors to keep their pick or not

Well I think they'll be mostly bad again next year (might make the play in but even then in the east that means 10th best lotto odds) so if I were them I'd rather give the pick up now but who knows what Masai thinks

Between Scottie-IQ-RJ-Poeltl, Toronto has a solid SL. Brown and Olynyk are solid role players too and they should have a bit of cap to get another solid contributer as well. Depending on how all the young guys develop, they can either push for top 6 in the conference next year or completely fall apart and be a bottom 5 team and i wouldnt be surprised at either

If they keep Bruce brown, I don’t see them having any cap space. At least, not more than the full MLE would provide. The cap hold on IQ and extension for Olynyk put them up a bit in salary, and if they keep their pick, that’s a higher salary too.

[psman2]

What is the max 2024-25 salary that Indiana can offer Jalen Smith?

They have full bird rights since he was never renounced/lost his bird rights.

So more than anyone else / more than he needs

Yup. They re-established his full Bird Rights with no qualifying/non-qualifying issues like last time coming off his non-exercised rookie contract option.

If Siakam gets his full max, what number do you think Indy would be comfortable with resigning Smith. I sort of like him as a MLE target for Memphis if we release Kennard (dump Zaire too). I wish he was more of a 5/4 than a 4/5 since we need a little more size, but the frontcourt MLE targets just like FA as a whole are rather slim.

[NYG]

Bruce Brown for Khris Middleton

[NYG]

They have full bird rights since he was never renounced/lost his bird rights.

So more than anyone else / more than he needs

Yup. They re-established his full Bird Rights with no qualifying/non-qualifying issues like last time coming off his non-exercised rookie contract option.

If Siakam gets his full max, what number do you think Indy would be comfortable with resigning Smith. I sort of like him as a MLE target for Memphis if we release Kennard (dump Zaire too). I wish he was more of a 5/4 than a 4/5 since we need a little more size, but the frontcourt MLE targets just like FA as a whole are rather slim.

I like this deal...

Jalen Smith (signed and traded to a deal starting at $13 Million) and a Pacers 2nd to OKC
John Collins to Miami
Tyler Herro to Indiana
T.J. McConnell to Utah

[NYG]

If the Knicks offered Randle, Bojan and Sims plus picks for KD... how many picks would they need to add to beat the below Philly offer?

Philadelphia 76ers get:
Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns get:
Paul Reed
2024 76ers First Round Draft Pick
2026 Lowest of Rockets/Clippers/Thunder/76ers First Round Draft Pick
2028 Earlier of Clippers/76ers First Round Draft Pick
2029 Unprotected 76ers First Round Draft Pick (conveys 2 years after 2027 1st goes to Brooklyn)
2031 Unprotected 76ers First Round Draft Pick (conveys only if 2029 1st conveys 2 years prior otherwise becomes 2031 76ers 2nd Round Draft Pick)

[NYG]

Does anyone beat the Nets best offer for Mitchell?

Does anyone beat the Spurs best offer for Trae?

Does anyone beat the Lakers best offer for Dejounte?

[NYG]

If the Nets traded for Mitchell, would they have cap space for a 3rd star in 2025 around Mitchell and Bridges if they re-signed Claxton this off-season?

[HadAnEffectHere]

If the Nets traded for Mitchell, would they have cap space for a 3rd star in 2025 around Mitchell and Bridges if they re-signed Claxton this off-season?

Yeah, probably, but the 2025 free agent class sucks. Derrick White is the only guy they can realistically get and it's not clear Derrick White would pick them over other teams.

The Celtics could also just eat the $400m luxury tax bullet and give Derrick White the $50m a year he'll get elsewhere.

[jayjaysee]

How much does it cost to steal Wiggins from Presti? I know he’s a cult figure up there. But I have joined his fan base.

[jayjaysee]

If the Nets traded for Mitchell, would they have cap space for a 3rd star in 2025 around Mitchell and Bridges if they re-signed Claxton this off-season?

Yeah, probably, but the 2025 free agent class sucks. Derrick White is the only guy they can realistically get and it's not clear Derrick White would pick them over other teams.

The Celtics could also just eat the $400m luxury tax bullet and give Derrick White the $50m a year he'll get elsewhere.

Until they have resigned.. Mitchell, Lauri, Ingram, Brunson, Randle, Kyrie, Jimmy, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon…

And there’s a few really good RFA’s who aren’t worth the contracts they might be offered and could be stolen if a team wants to create a bad contract (Giddey, Kuminga, Murphy, etc)..