Thoughts in General, Rumors, etc 3.0

[Buzzard]

As for the traditional *two* big lineups, yes, those we'll be seeing less of for now.)

I think it may just be more about skill. If you are a team with skilled bigs, you will still want the advantage size brings. Of course the limited numbers of players as size increases dictates more skill among smaller players.

We say the Clippers play small because they don't play a true center much, but PG is a huge SG, Kawhi's length and strength don't leave him disadvantaged as a PF, etc..

But look who is left -- Bucks play big, Sixers play big, Hawks play big. Nets don't play small by any means. Utah plays big, Denver only plays as small as they do because of injuries.

Last seasons small ball cliche is being put to rest. People want to say things like Capela can't stop Embiid and that makes him less effective against the 76ers. Horse hockey. No one stops Embiid.

What Capela does is impact every shot maker that gets into the paint not named Embiid. That is why Atlanta made such a great jump this season.

[HartfordWhalers]

I just have not heard a solution to fixing that worth doing.

The waiver system used for amnesty contracts or similar-ish has been suggested.

Something as simple as:
You cannot trade anyone waiver claimed.
You can waiver claim a player for more than they give up.

If Drummond give up 5m of 30m to leave Cleveland; he can be yours if you will take him for 6m and save Cleveland an extra 1m.

Now, I'm mixed on this. If you are Drummond and the Knicks have 10m in cap space; you literally cannot agree to be a mid season buyout and pick where you go. That seems too stiff and likely to actually hurt Cleveland there..

I personally am on the fence; but I think some version of this is reasonable even if not perfect as a fix.

[Devilanche]

I just have not heard a solution to fixing that worth doing.

The waiver system used for amnesty contracts or similar-ish has been suggested.

Something as simple as:
You cannot trade anyone waiver claimed.
You can waiver claim a player for more than they give up.

If Drummond give up 5m of 30m to leave Cleveland; he can be yours if you will take him for 6m and save Cleveland an extra 1m.

Now, I'm mixed on this. If you are Drummond and the Knicks have 10m in cap space; you literally cannot agree to be a mid season buyout and pick where you go. That seems too stiff and likely to actually hurt Cleveland there..

I personally am on the fence; but I think some version of this is reasonable even if not perfect as a fix.

1) Limit the number of waived player a team can take.
2) Bid for said player using whatever you have left . Highest bidder wins and this money goes to the buyout of said player ? Basically anyone who wants a buyout would really have to leave money on the table.
3) if you want to choose where you can go and bypass (2) player would have to leave 50% of what’s left on his contract.

[Texas Chuck]

The reports that the Cavs are interested in the two scrappy white guards McConnell and Caruso cracks me up. Pining for those glory Delly days I guess.

[jbk1234]

The reports that the Cavs are interested in the two scrappy white guards McConnell and Caruso cracks me up. Pining for those glory Delly days I guess.

I like the idea of adding McConnell. Caruso not so much. That said, the Cavs have put out smoke involving FA ahead of draft after the Hawks jumped them and took Hunter in 2019.

We were rumored to be interested in MLE defensive wings last year and then took Okoro.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J327A using RealGM mobile app

[babyjax13]

Apparently Josh Hart wants out of New Orleans (wiretap), that strikes me as a bit odd, but it makes sense given their guard depth. I think just about every team in the league should want him, that rebounding "guard" archetype that can play up several positions, I think they really make switching defenses go. [Think, Marcus Smart, Royce O'neale, Bruce Brown, David Nwaba, Jae'Sean Tate, etc.].

[Texas Chuck]

So what would Dallas offer for a mulligan and a chance to go shopping with a huge amount of cap space albeit in a down FA? This is assuming Dallas doesn't have other avenues to dump him for cap, like SA tells Dallas to kick rocks.

Memphis doesn't really have any need for any of the current Mavs players so future draft pick(s)/swap(s) would be our preferred sweeteners of choice. Maybe Brunson to a 3rd team for a late 1st would be a good start to the negotiations. Maybe Dallas doesn't offer anything?

Moved this here so we could keep talking about it without derailing his thread.

This is definitely more what I thought you were thinking than Val/Brooks which didn't feel buy low plus you'd really want Brooks I think with KP at center.

Great question about what would Dallas do to get totally off the contract. In terms of raw value, they have to owe something, right? But with a down free agency pool, I'm guessing they want a commitment from someone first? And then is Cuban willing to admit this big of a mistake and pay to make him go away? In the past they absolutely have though not with someone this high profile.

Then you get to the whole lack of asset problem. They can trade the 25(1st available after 23 conveys) 1st. They could as you suggest flip Brunson hopefully for a late 1st to attach. It gets tough if Memphis needs much and from a Dallas perspective would require knowing who they got. Josh Green has to have some value, but again probably not to Memphis who already has a bunch of young guys they already like and who have shown they can play at this level while he's still very much an unknown.

[psman2]

So what would Dallas offer for a mulligan and a chance to go shopping with a huge amount of cap space albeit in a down FA? This is assuming Dallas doesn't have other avenues to dump him for cap, like SA tells Dallas to kick rocks.

Memphis doesn't really have any need for any of the current Mavs players so future draft pick(s)/swap(s) would be our preferred sweeteners of choice. Maybe Brunson to a 3rd team for a late 1st would be a good start to the negotiations. Maybe Dallas doesn't offer anything?

Moved this here so we could keep talking about it without derailing his thread.

This is definitely more what I thought you were thinking than Val/Brooks which didn't feel buy low plus you'd really want Brooks I think with KP at center.

Great question about what would Dallas do to get totally off the contract. In terms of raw value, they have to owe something, right? But with a down free agency pool, I'm guessing they want a commitment from someone first? And then is Cuban willing to admit this big of a mistake and pay to make him go away? In the past they absolutely have though not with someone this high profile.

Then you get to the whole lack of asset problem. They can trade the 25(1st available after 23 conveys) 1st. They could as you suggest flip Brunson hopefully for a late 1st to attach. It gets tough if Memphis needs much and from a Dallas perspective would require knowing who they got. Josh Green has to have some value, but again probably not to Memphis who already has a bunch of young guys they already like and who have shown they can play at this level while he's still very much an unknown.

The timing could get a little tricky if we are looking at making moves in this year's draft based on a decision to trade for KP. Dallas might hesitate without having FA targets all ready in the fold.

However this does put Dallas in a cat bird seat for teams looking to get off expensive contracts. Dallas uses its favorite tactic of taking on salary for talent and could be paid to do so...the Kemba, Horford, maybe Bojan if Utah needs to cut salary, etc.

Regarding the cost...a late 1st and the 25 1st works for me, but still might be too much for Dallas given the state of their war chest.

edit. If good value presents itself for Val in this year's draft then I think we might make the move regardless. Like some version of the Charlotte 1st swap. Let Tillman/JJJ/FA man the center position if no KP.

[Resistance]

Apparently Josh Hart wants out of New Orleans (wiretap), that strikes me as a bit odd, but it makes sense given their guard depth. I think just about every team in the league should want him, that rebounding "guard" archetype that can play up several positions, I think they really make switching defenses go. [Think, Marcus Smart, Royce O'neale, Bruce Brown, David Nwaba, Jae'Sean Tate, etc.].

Griffin needs to get his act together because has some things to work though.

Ball will be a RFA* with a cap hold of $27,509,455.

Hart will be a RFA* with a cap hold of $10,473,477.

The Bledsoe situation is still lingering.

______________________
* With a QO from New Orleans.

[Texas Chuck]

Apparently Josh Hart wants out of New Orleans (wiretap), that strikes me as a bit odd, but it makes sense given their guard depth. I think just about every team in the league should want him, that rebounding "guard" archetype that can play up several positions, I think they really make switching defenses go. [Think, Marcus Smart, Royce O'neale, Bruce Brown, David Nwaba, Jae'Sean Tate, etc.].

Griffin needs to get his act together because has some things to work though.

Ball will be a RFA* with a cap hold of $27,509,455.

Hart will be a RFA* with a cap hold of $10,473,477.

The Bledsoe situation is still lingering.

______________________
* With a QO from New Orleans.

I think the solution may well include none of them on the roster next year. Sounds like Ball and Hart don't want to be and Bledsoe is simply too big of a drag for a team trying to win.

[K_chile22]

Apparently Josh Hart wants out of New Orleans (wiretap), that strikes me as a bit odd, but it makes sense given their guard depth. I think just about every team in the league should want him, that rebounding "guard" archetype that can play up several positions, I think they really make switching defenses go. [Think, Marcus Smart, Royce O'neale, Bruce Brown, David Nwaba, Jae'Sean Tate, etc.].

I understand if people don't agree but I feel like Hart is just one of those guys where the idea of him is better than he actually is

[Resistance]

Apparently Josh Hart wants out of New Orleans (wiretap), that strikes me as a bit odd, but it makes sense given their guard depth. I think just about every team in the league should want him, that rebounding "guard" archetype that can play up several positions, I think they really make switching defenses go. [Think, Marcus Smart, Royce O'neale, Bruce Brown, David Nwaba, Jae'Sean Tate, etc.].

Griffin needs to get his act together because has some things to work though.

Ball will be a RFA* with a cap hold of $27,509,455.

Hart will be a RFA* with a cap hold of $10,473,477.

The Bledsoe situation is still lingering.

______________________
* With a QO from New Orleans.

I think the solution may well include none of them on the roster next year. Sounds like Ball and Hart don't want to be and Bledsoe is simply too big of a drag for a team trying to win.

That is possible, but New Orleans could be net negative on results (compensation) from the movement of those three players.

If Ball and Hart weren't substantially improving in their two seasons with New Orleans and/or were poor fits with the core (Zion & Ingram?), then Griffin should have read the room better and moved them before the RFA situations that are about to develop.

If Hart & Ball sign Offer Sheets for salary numbers that New Orleans isn't comfortable with, then:

1. They match/accept the Offer Sheet and then start figuring out how to eventually flip them to get out of those contracts

2. Ball & Hart are gone to the teams that they signed offer sheets with and there is zero compensation coming back to New Orleans.

The Bledsoe situation has been discussed before, so I will skip over it.


Overall, the dawdling/indecision that Griffin has shown with Bledsoe, Hart and Ball is probably going to make other teams bolder in trade negotiations with New Orleans and contract discussions with their RFA players in Hart & Ball.

[Resistance]

Apparently Josh Hart wants out of New Orleans (wiretap), that strikes me as a bit odd, but it makes sense given their guard depth. I think just about every team in the league should want him, that rebounding "guard" archetype that can play up several positions, I think they really make switching defenses go. [Think, Marcus Smart, Royce O'neale, Bruce Brown, David Nwaba, Jae'Sean Tate, etc.].

I understand if people don't agree but I feel like Hart is just one of those guys where the idea of him is better than he actually is

Like Kuzma on a late first rookie contract versus Kuzma making $13 million a year?

[psman2]

Apparently Josh Hart wants out of New Orleans (wiretap), that strikes me as a bit odd, but it makes sense given their guard depth. I think just about every team in the league should want him, that rebounding "guard" archetype that can play up several positions, I think they really make switching defenses go. [Think, Marcus Smart, Royce O'neale, Bruce Brown, David Nwaba, Jae'Sean Tate, etc.].

I understand if people don't agree but I feel like Hart is just one of those guys where the idea of him is better than he actually is

I think a lot of teams would love to have him in their rotation for 25 minutes at SG/SF. I don't think he is a starter on a good team so it comes down to salary and team fit. For example if Memphis didn't already have Melton, I would love to have Hart on the same contract and role.

I think anything much north of the MLE is likely destined to be a regrettable contract. However, I would like to see him play with a better half court PG, so far he has had to play off Clarkson, Ball, Frank Jackson and now Bledsoe.

[HornetJail]

I wouldn't mind Hart in the role that the Martin twins are in now for Charlotte. if we trade for a starting center, I think Hart could be an MLE/cap space target for us. he isn't someone I'd trade value to get, but if we're just using cap space, i think that's a worthwhile gamble.

[Bologna Smasher]

Always liked Hart, wouldn't mind seeing him on the Kings. Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to have the money to do much unless some trades are made.

[bondom34]

Yeah I'd like either of the RFAs for OKC (though I have no expectation they go after either).

[eminence]

Should the Suns look to add Jerami Grant to the Booker/Bridges/Ayton core? Obviously hoping CP3 comes back too.

Feels like they should really be looking to add one more stud before Ayton/Bridges get their extensions.

[Texas Chuck]

I had some pretty big misses this year, but feeling good about how much I loved that Tucker deal for the Bucks when the consensus in that thread was that he was washed.

[jbk1234]

I had some pretty big misses this year, but feeling good about how much I loved that Tucker deal for the Bucks when the consensus in that thread was that he was washed.

A lot of the old guys have a reserve tank for the post season, but your team needs to be good enough to get them there.

Also, if Nash ever decides that the tough guy role isn't why they pay Durant, and Blake has always been a little too nice on the court, he's going to knock the dust off of DAJ and put him in the game the next time things get chippy.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J327A using RealGM mobile app