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

[Texas Chuck]

I'm convinced now.

One youtube video showing one limited portion of one prospect's game.

How much footage have you watched of these prospects.

Because I'm near 100 hours and it's been very bleak.

Way less than 100 hours. I'm not a qualified NBA scout so even if I watched 100 hours (which is not that many for all the prospects in the draft especially since its cherry picked video) I'd never be able to tell you how good of NBA prospects they all were.

Props to you for putting in some of your own work though. I don't think the vast majority of posters who have repeating the mantra this draft sucks for the past 9 months have put in the work but are just repeating what the other posters are saying though, right?

Or do you believe everyone saying this is like you? Both putting in the hours and being qualified to evaluate players at an NBA level?

[Asif16]

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[Mavrelous]

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I'd be surprised, he's a bad contract at this number, makes much more sense to just waive him...

[Scoot McGroot]

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I'd be surprised, he's a bad contract at this number, makes much more sense to just waive him...

He’s useful expiring salary filler. He’d be useful to match for acquiring someone, or for another team to dump a worse contract with.

But yeah, on his own, he’s not worth $23m, even for one year.

[Mavrelous]

I'm convinced now.

One youtube video showing one limited portion of one prospect's game.

How much footage have you watched of these prospects.

Because I'm near 100 hours and it's been very bleak.

This is just condensed raw footage of his entire offensive season so it's a good place to start.

You're not looking for good players in these vidoes, but for players with the tools to become good players, and these are 2 very different things, Austin Reaves had better stats than Anthony Edwards, one went 1st overall (justifiably so) and one went undrafted, Jalen Brunson was far and beyond the best player on those Villanova teams, Bridges, DDV and Josh Hart all went ahead of him, because scouting track record said these players were projected to be better NBA players.
Unless you enjoy watching lower leagues, you read reports of scouts with good track record and trust your GM scouting team (Ainge is one of the best drafters out there, he found serviceable players even at low picks, he hit on more than half of his low picks, which is insane, RWIII, Grant Williams, Neismith, Pritchard, even Yabusele was a good pick, he just didn't stick around).

[Mavrelous]

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I'd be surprised, he's a bad contract at this number, makes much more sense to just waive him...

He’s useful expiring salary filler. He’d be useful to match for acquiring someone, or for another team to dump a worse contract with.

But yeah, on his own, he’s not worth $23m, even for one year.

They are cap space team, they can simply absorb the salary if they just want to eat bad money.

[Godaddycurse]

I'd be surprised, he's a bad contract at this number, makes much more sense to just waive him...

He’s useful expiring salary filler. He’d be useful to match for acquiring someone, or for another team to dump a worse contract with.

But yeah, on his own, he’s not worth $23m, even for one year.

They are cap space team, they can simply absorb the salary if they just want to eat bad money.

Unless the incoming salary is higher than our capspace (~30M).. or the other team wants Brown more than a tpe.. (ie 2nd apron team?)

[Mavrelous]

Unless the incoming salary is higher than our capspace (~30M).. or the other team wants Brown more than a tpe.. (ie 2nd apron team?)

Maybe, but it's a very limited scenario, compared to having 30M cap space to sell...

[K_chile22]

Okay so I don't see any way for Jabari Smith Jr to provide game changing offensive or defensive value at all.

-No juice with the ball
-No juice moving without the ball
-No shot blocking

He rebounds, plays good defense, and is OK at shooting spot-up threes. That's a top 15 PF in the NBA and I have no idea what his path to being much better is.

Yup he does all that... at 20 years old. Not a huge Jabari guy but he's extremely young to be a productive winning player

I really like Jabari. I don't think he quite has the value on the open market Lauri does, but I would understand if Houston would prefer to bring their young guys along and keep him.

Well my original offer idea included 3 as well

[MoneyTalks41890]

Jabari is a prototypical 4. He still has to grow but he's got all the tools you want in a modern 4.

[ejftw]

I'm convinced now.

One youtube video showing one limited portion of one prospect's game.

How much footage have you watched of these prospects.

Because I'm near 100 hours and it's been very bleak.

This is just condensed raw footage of his entire offensive season so it's a good place to start.

You're not looking for good players in these vidoes, but for players with the tools to become good players, and these are 2 very different things, Austin Reaves had better stats than Anthony Edwards, one went 1st overall (justifiably so) and one went undrafted, Jalen Brunson was far and beyond the best player on those Villanova teams, Bridges, DDV and Josh Hart all went ahead of him, because scouting track record said these players were projected to be better NBA players.
Unless you enjoy watching lower leagues, you read reports of scouts with good track record and trust your GM scouting team (Ainge is one of the best drafters out there, he found serviceable players even at low picks, he hit on more than half of his low picks, which is insane, RWIII, Grant Williams, Neismith, Pritchard, even Yabusele was a good pick, he just didn't stick around).

Bingo. Checking out the intangibles while scouting is just as important as who is the "best."

Ie: there were two local high school players. One averaged about 30 a night, led the school to uncharted territory, winning sectional twice and almost a state finals appearance. The other didn't win either. The former played juco, the latter, well he hit the shot to lead his team to the finals in the F4 in 23.

[NYG]

Which centers fit next to Giannis if they move on from Lopez?

[oldncreaky]

Unless the incoming salary is higher than our capspace (~30M).. or the other team wants Brown more than a tpe.. (ie 2nd apron team?)

Maybe, but it's a very limited scenario, compared to having 30M cap space to sell...

It's not a foregone conclusion that they'll act as a cap space team. I think Toronto should be trying to use the cap space to take on a contract with an asset, but that might depend on what they see in the trade and FA market

Toronto's options
(With either option, they've got 9 under contract, plus Quickley, plus #19)

1) Act as a cap space team
- 9 players under contract at $94M
- holds for #19 FRP and IQ total $16M
- roughly $30M in cap space
- room exception
With option 1, they fill out 4 roster spots with the cap space and the room exception, plus maybe a min salary or two

2) Act as an over the cap team
- 10 players under contract at $117M including Bruce Brown
- holds for #19 FRP and IQ total $16M
- rights to Gary Trent (re-sign? S&T?)
- TPEs, including a $10.2M TPE from the Siakam trade
- full non-taxpayer MLE
With option 2, they have Brown under contract, and fill out 3 roster spots with Trent's bird rights, the full MLE, the Siakam TPE, and min salaries


I suspect Masai will go with option 2. And there is always room for Masai to stall by "evaluating", and wait for potential opportunities at the TDL. Even though I don't agree with it, I think this is the most likely approach Toronto takes.

[Colbinii]

I'd be shocked if Toronto operated under the cap. Teams have incentive to operate over the cap unless they are big game hunting. Masai is far from perfect but he isn't dumb.

[Godaddycurse]

I'd be shocked if Toronto operated under the cap. Teams have incentive to operate over the cap unless they are big game hunting. Masai is far from perfect but he isn't dumb.

Ya we are too far from contention for big game hunting

[giberish]

He’s useful expiring salary filler. He’d be useful to match for acquiring someone, or for another team to dump a worse contract with.

But yeah, on his own, he’s not worth $23m, even for one year.

They are cap space team, they can simply absorb the salary if they just want to eat bad money.

Unless the incoming salary is higher than our capspace (~30M).. or the other team wants Brown more than a tpe.. (ie 2nd apron team?)

I imagine the urgency in getting a deal done is that Toronto has to make the decision before July. So they're aggressively looking for a Brown deal that's better for them than just waiving him, but if they can't get one by the end of June (I'm assuming that's when they have to make the decision) then they'll decline the TO. They won't pick up the TO just hoping that a deal becomes available in later July.

[NYG]

Bruce Brown for De'Andre Hunter and 2 seconds

[Godaddycurse]

Bruce Brown for De'Andre Hunter and 2 seconds

No thanks rather have capspace to make an offer to patrick williams if we want to pay a SF

[NYG]

Bruce Brown for De'Andre Hunter and 2 seconds

No thanks rather have capspace to make an offer to patrick williams if we want to pay a SF

I agree.. trading him doesn't make sense given his value. Better off with the cap space.

[Texas Chuck]

Just put PJ and DJJ in my crow pile forever. I hated both additions for Dallas and legit posted in a version of this thread I wanted to cut Jones after game 1(seriously I posted this).

Just made hard nosed play after hard nosed play all playoffs.

So everyone who told me they were useful(and plenty of you did) I was wrong. So so wrong.