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

[Domejandro]

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Being a Minnesota fan is the worst.

[Mavrelous]

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Being a Minnesota fan is the worst.

That's really heart wrenching for the fans, probably best season in franchise history.

[K_chile22]

Jabari+Jalen+? = Lauri+Sexton

[MoneyTalks41890]

100 percent the right decision for his career, as long as he isn’t rushed back; because that sounds like pushing it a bit:

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[ejftw]

Tough break for Minny...wonder how many fantasy owners rushed to add Naz tho

[jayjaysee]

The 7 game lead on play-in teams should give KAT an extra week, so 6 weeks to the playoffs start for Minnesota. And the 6 game lead over NOP should be enough to keep them with one home court series. The second round won’t start until May…

It’s terrible news for Minnesota fans and KAT. But I don’t think it ends the season for KAT or Minnesota. 7-8 weeks return is a bit idealistic, but possible. And this is what you kept Naz for.

[HartfordWhalers]

The 7 game lead on play-in teams should give KAT an extra week, so 6 weeks to the playoffs start for Minnesota. And the 6 game lead over NOP should be enough to keep them with one home court series. The second round won’t start until May…

It’s terrible news for Minnesota fans and KAT. But I don’t think it ends the season for KAT or Minnesota. 7-8 weeks return is a bit idealistic, but possible. And this is what you kept Naz for.

We have seen a less than full health Embiid lift his team not enough to get as far as a healthy Embiid might have. I think the question is if Towns is greater than 90%, far more than if they are on the road.

[jayjaysee]

The 7 game lead on play-in teams should give KAT an extra week, so 6 weeks to the playoffs start for Minnesota. And the 6 game lead over NOP should be enough to keep them with one home court series. The second round won’t start until May…

It’s terrible news for Minnesota fans and KAT. But I don’t think it ends the season for KAT or Minnesota. 7-8 weeks return is a bit idealistic, but possible. And this is what you kept Naz for.

We have seen a less than full health Embiid lift his team not enough to get as far as a healthy Embiid might have. I think the question is if Towns is greater than 90%, far more than if they are on the road.

No disagreements. But would note, I feel KAT is the third most important player on his team this season. While Joel is probably the third most important player in the league. Maybe higher?

It’s still a huge blow and I don't mean to downplay it. Just think a healthy Rudy, Ant, and 80% KAT can beat most teams in a playoff series.

[Residual-Heat]

anyone know whats the max amount the Suns can offer Grayson Allen?

[Scoot McGroot]

anyone know whats the max amount the Suns can offer Grayson Allen?

Legally? Full league maximum salary. He carries full Bird Rights, as he extended his rookie contract after he was traded to Milwaukee, and was traded on that extension to Phoenix. He has not changed teams via free agency nor has he been waived, so he would carry full Bird Rights as, even though he's played for 4 teams already, it's all been on the "same contract continuation" the entire time.

Realistically? Well, depends on how much luxury tax they're willing to pay?

[Residual-Heat]

anyone know whats the max amount the Suns can offer Grayson Allen?

Legally? Full league maximum salary. He carries full Bird Rights, as he extended his rookie contract after he was traded to Milwaukee, and was traded on that extension to Phoenix. He has not changed teams via free agency nor has he been waived, so he would carry full Bird Rights as, even though he's played for 4 teams already, it's all been on the "same contract continuation" the entire time.

Realistically? Well, depends on how much luxury tax they're willing to pay?

Thanks!

[MKWB]

The 7 game lead on play-in teams should give KAT an extra week, so 6 weeks to the playoffs start for Minnesota. And the 6 game lead over NOP should be enough to keep them with one home court series. The second round won’t start until May…

It’s terrible news for Minnesota fans and KAT. But I don’t think it ends the season for KAT or Minnesota. 7-8 weeks return is a bit idealistic, but possible. And this is what you kept Naz for.

If things stay on this course, MIN lands at #4, NOP holds down #5. With KAT maybe returning for that playoff series or mid-way through the series, could be rusty fitting him back in the team flow--- that series gets pretty spicy. Zion has mostly run through Gobert in the matchups so far.

[jayjaysee]

The 7 game lead on play-in teams should give KAT an extra week, so 6 weeks to the playoffs start for Minnesota. And the 6 game lead over NOP should be enough to keep them with one home court series. The second round won’t start until May…

It’s terrible news for Minnesota fans and KAT. But I don’t think it ends the season for KAT or Minnesota. 7-8 weeks return is a bit idealistic, but possible. And this is what you kept Naz for.

If things stay on this course, MIN lands at #4, NOP holds down #5. With KAT maybe returning for that playoff series or mid-way through the series, could be rusty fitting him back in the team flow--- that series gets pretty spicy. Zion has mostly run through Gobert in the matchups so far.

Yeah, I didn’t watch either game but Zion’s shooting stats are impressive and NOP seemed to have pushed Rudy in foul trouble? Not sure why minutes so low other than that.

Not sure how to feel about Anderson (or Jaden I guess) getting out on Zion, but it probably feels better to get that match up when you have Rudy behind you.

Would be a fun series to watch.

[jayjaysee]

For fun? Have we suggested undoing the Smart trade now that Memphis has fallen in love with Vince?

DJM to “Brooklyn” (or Utah or SAS or..)
DFS and Smart to Atlanta
Tax relief / TPE, a decent projected first and a meh projected first to Memphis?

So Memphis can use Vince as the third guard, keep Luke, draft in top 7, and use most/all the MLE on a big if they want?

Obviously, you get rid of Luke first if Smart doesn’t have value. But just checking room..

[psman2]

For fun? Have we suggested undoing the Smart trade now that Memphis has fallen in love with Vince?

DJM to “Brooklyn” (or Utah or SAS or..)
DFS and Smart to Atlanta
Tax relief / TPE, a decent projected first and a meh projected first to Memphis?

So Memphis can use Vince as the third guard, keep Luke, draft in top 7, and use most/all the MLE on a big if they want?

Obviously, you get rid of Luke first if Smart doesn’t have value. But just checking room..

Memphis doesn't need tax relief or a TPE. Smart is going to be a 30+ minute player for us for either starting or backing up 1-3. We can just cut Kennard to have the full MLE already (with small dumps like Zaire) to target a center and have the Adams and Brooks TPE already too if needed. Our owner and everyone associated with the team has expressed no fear of the tax here and since he has bought the team he has eaten or traded for money almost every year in a attempt to improve the team or its assets.

I know we are a small market team and if we still owned by Heisley then we would be in tax avoidance mode. But Pera bought this team for a bargain 377m, and even as one of the least valuable franchise it is now estimated to be worth 1.5B. And he is one of the top 3-4 richest owners in the NBA. Do you really think paying some tax when he has already has 4x his investment is something that someone worth 6.4 Billion is going to sweat. Paying an extra 20+ million in taxes for a team that has a legit shot at doing something great is just not the deterrent posters here think it is for guy at this wealth level. And if we really want to dodge the tax then we just cut Kennard and operate below the tax way before dumping Smart for this return.

[HartfordWhalers]

For fun? Have we suggested undoing the Smart trade now that Memphis has fallen in love with Vince?

DJM to “Brooklyn” (or Utah or SAS or..)
DFS and Smart to Atlanta
Tax relief / TPE, a decent projected first and a meh projected first to Memphis?

So Memphis can use Vince as the third guard, keep Luke, draft in top 7, and use most/all the MLE on a big if they want?

Obviously, you get rid of Luke first if Smart doesn’t have value. But just checking room..

Memphis doesn't need tax relief or a TPE. Smart is going to be a 30+ minute player for us for either starting or backing up 1-3. We can just cut Kennard to have the full MLE already (with small dumps like Zaire) to target a center and have the Adams and Brooks TPE already too if needed. Our owner and everyone associated with the team has expressed no fear of the tax here and since he has bought the team he has eaten or traded for money almost every year in a attempt to improve the team or its assets.

I know we are a small market team and if we still owned by Heisley then we would be in tax avoidance mode. But Pera bought this team for a bargain 377m, and even as one of the least valuable franchise it is now estimated to be worth 1.5B. And he is one of the top 3-4 richest owners in the NBA. Do you really think paying some tax when he has already has 4x his investment is something that someone worth 6.4 Billion is going to sweat. Paying an extra 20+ million in taxes for a team that has a legit shot at doing something great is just not the deterrent posters here think it is for guy at this wealth level. And if we really want to dodge the tax then we just cut Kennard and operate below the tax way before dumping Smart for this return.

Why isn't the decent 1st (and meh prospect) being discussed?

I have the decent first as the value being given for Smart here, not a TPE. Right?

As for the idea of tax dodging move, I personally think resetting the repeater tax/delaying it when it makes sense to is prudent smart ownership. It tends to be that suddenly much higher tax that matters, so if the team can take a sideways step and delay paying a ton in taxes, it definitely could make sense even for an owner planning to go into the tax later.

[jayjaysee]

Obviously, you get rid of Luke first if Smart doesn’t have value. But just checking room..

Memphis doesn't need tax relief or a TPE. Smart is going to be a 30+ minute player for us for either starting or backing up 1-3. We can just cut Kennard to have the full MLE already (with small dumps like Zaire) to target a center and have the Adams and Brooks TPE already too if needed. Our owner and everyone associated with the team has expressed no fear of the tax here and since he has bought the team he has eaten or traded for money almost every year in a attempt to improve the team or its assets.

I know we are a small market team and if we still owned by Heisley then we would be in tax avoidance mode. But Pera bought this team for a bargain 377m, and even as one of the least valuable franchise it is now estimated to be worth 1.5B. And he is one of the top 3-4 richest owners in the NBA. Do you really think paying some tax when he has already has 4x his investment is something that someone worth 6.4 Billion is going to sweat. Paying an extra 20+ million in taxes for a team that has a legit shot at doing something great is just not the deterrent posters here think it is for guy at this wealth level. And if we really want to dodge the tax then we just cut Kennard and operate below the tax way before dumping Smart for this return.

Yeah. Fan bases not caring about the tax is normal and hard to defend here.

But Memphis will likely be living over the tax for a long time once they do make that jump. And delaying the tax a year considering Williams’ development seems a Smart choice.

Whether you consider the trade Luke and two youth assets for Smart or don’t want to keep Luke and get that MLE.. really it’s about the two youth assets.

[psman2]

For fun? Have we suggested undoing the Smart trade now that Memphis has fallen in love with Vince?

DJM to “Brooklyn” (or Utah or SAS or..)
DFS and Smart to Atlanta
Tax relief / TPE, a decent projected first and a meh projected first to Memphis?

So Memphis can use Vince as the third guard, keep Luke, draft in top 7, and use most/all the MLE on a big if they want?

Obviously, you get rid of Luke first if Smart doesn’t have value. But just checking room..

Memphis doesn't need tax relief or a TPE. Smart is going to be a 30+ minute player for us for either starting or backing up 1-3. We can just cut Kennard to have the full MLE already (with small dumps like Zaire) to target a center and have the Adams and Brooks TPE already too if needed. Our owner and everyone associated with the team has expressed no fear of the tax here and since he has bought the team he has eaten or traded for money almost every year in a attempt to improve the team or its assets.

I know we are a small market team and if we still owned by Heisley then we would be in tax avoidance mode. But Pera bought this team for a bargain 377m, and even as one of the least valuable franchise it is now estimated to be worth 1.5B. And he is one of the top 3-4 richest owners in the NBA. Do you really think paying some tax when he has already has 4x his investment is something that someone worth 6.4 Billion is going to sweat. Paying an extra 20+ million in taxes for a team that has a legit shot at doing something great is just not the deterrent posters here think it is for guy at this wealth level. And if we really want to dodge the tax then we just cut Kennard and operate below the tax way before dumping Smart for this return.

Why isn't the decent 1st (and meh prospect) being discussed?

I have the decent first as the value being given for Smart here, not a TPE. Right?

As for the idea of tax dodging move, I personally think resetting the repeater tax/delaying it when it makes sense to is prudent smart ownership. It tends to be that suddenly much higher tax that matters, so if the team can take a sideways step and delay paying a ton in taxes, it definitely could make sense even for an owner planning to go into the tax later.

Because we wouldn't consider trading Smart for a decent 1st. He is a key rotation player for a team that we think has a top 5 roster next year and if things go right has a chance to complete for a championship. Teams who believe they are in that position do not trade key players for a 1st unless if is part of a bigger win now move. Ja is injury prone and we have no other PG on our roster and our SF rotation while looking better is not proven, Smart shores up both of those positions and provides a much needed vet influence.

Again we can side step the tax by dumping Kennard and still have avenues to address our frontcourt needs via trade or a TPE/MLE. We haven't even started the repeating tax clock so I don't see why resetting something that hasn't started would be a concern. I do think we are going to avoid the second apron but I firmly believe that entering the tax this season is not going to be a major concern in our decision making. But of course once our moves are made and if we can dump a 5m salary like Zaire to dodge the tax then that is something we would of course try to do. But I don't think we are going to dump a 30+ minute rotation guy that like Smart because we don't want to start the tax clock.

Smart is needed here just as much as he was when we made the trade initially. We entered the season hoping one of LaRavia/Zaire or Roddy would step up and not require Smart to be our SF. It just so happens that our answers were in the Gleague. So we are still on the same path as we had hoped when we made the trade and I don't think we have any buyers remorse.

[jayu70]

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The Hawkspital is at capacity!

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[jayjaysee]

Sad timing for Bey.

Atlanta really should have let Brooklyn pass them in the standings.