Mock Off-Season: Central Division

[NYG]

Chicago Bulls

Trades:
18th Overall and Lower of 2025 Magic/Nuggets First Round Draft Pick for 11th Overall
Nassir Little for Jevon Carter
John Collins and Jordan Clarkson for Zach LaVine

Draft:
Draft Kyle Filipowski 18th Overall

Free Agency:
Re-sign Patrick Williams to 4 year deal starting at $14 Million
Re-sign DeMar DeRozan to 2 year deal starting at $25 Million

Other Transactions:
None

Lonzo Ball $21,395,438
Nikola Vucevic $20,000,000
Coby White $12,000,000
Alex Caruso $9,890,000
Ayo Dosunmu $7,000,000
Nassir Little $6,750,000
Dalen Terry $3,510,480
Torrey Craig $2,845,342
Terry Taylor $2,196,970
Julian Phillips $1,891,857
Kyle Filipowski $3,820,680
Patrick Williams $14,000,000
John Collins $26,580,000
Jordan Clarkson $14,092,577
DeMar DeRozan $25,000,000

Total Salary $170,973,344
Cap Space -$29,973,344
Tax Space $371,656
1st Apron Space $7,681,656
2nd Apron Space $18,494,656



Cleveland Cavaliers

Trades:
Donovan Mitchell for Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, '27 Top 8 Protected 76ers 1st, '27 Suns 1st and '29 Suns 1st
Brandon Ingram and Jordan Hawkins for Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert
Nick Richards for Georges Niang and 2025 Cavaliers Second Round Draft Pick

Draft:
Draft Yves Missi 20th Overall

Free Agency:
Sign Devonte Graham to veteran minimum

Other Transactions:
None

Darius Garland $36,725,670
Max Strus $15,212,068
Evan Mobley $11,227,657
Nick Richards $5,000,000
Dean Wade $6,166,667
Ty Jerome $2,560,975
Sam Merrill $2,164,993
Craig Porter Jr. $1,891,857
Yves Missi $3,502,800
Cameron Johnson $23,625,000
Dorian Finney-Smith $14,924,167
Brandon Ingram $36,016,200
Jordan Hawkins $4,525,680
Devonte Graham $2,093,637

Ricky Rubio Dead Cap $1,301,031

Total Salary $166,938,402
Cap Space -$25,938,402
Tax Space $4,406,598
1st Apron Space $11,716,598
2nd Apron Space $22,529,598


Detroit Pistons

Trades:
Quentin Grimes for Pat Connaughton and 33rd Overall
Isaiah Stewart for Kevon Looney and Moses Moody
Ziaire Williams and Jake LaRavia to Detroit for Future Top 55 Protected 2nd

Draft:
Draft Reed Sheppard 5th Overall
Draft Ryan Dunn 33rd Overall
Draft Pelle Larsson 53rd Overall

Free Agency:
Re-sign Simone Fontecchio to 2 year deal starting at $4.1 Million with a player option
Sign Miles Bridges to 4 year deal starting at $27 Million
Sign Tobias Harris to 4 year deal starting at $27 Million with a team option
Re-sign James Wiseman using Cap MLE

Other Transactions:
None

Cade Cunningham $13,940,809
Ausar Thompson $8,376,000
Jaden Ivey $7,977,240
Jalen Duren $4,536,840
Marcus Sasser $2,755,080
Reed Sheppard $8,682,600
Pat Connaughton $9,423,869
Simone Fontecchio $4,100,000
Miles Bridges $27,000,000
Moses Moody $5,803,269
Kevon Looney $8,000,000
Ziaire Williams $6,133,005
James Wiseman $8,006,000
Jake LaRavia $3,352,680
Tobias Harris $27,000,000

Dewayne Dedmon Dead Cap $2,748,674

Total Salary $147,836,066
Cap Space -$6,836,066
Tax Space $23,508,934
1st Apron Space $30,818,934
2nd Apron Space $41,631,934




Indiana Pacers

Trades:
None

Draft:
Draft Terrence Shannon 36th Overall
Draft Trevon Brazile 49th Overall
Draft Trentyn Flowers 50th Overall

Free Agency:
Re-sign Pascal Siakam to MAX contract
Sign Isaac Okoro using Non-Tax MLE
Sign Daniel Theis using BAE

Other Transactions:
None

Tyrese Haliburton $35,250,000
Myles Turner $19,928,500
Aaron Nesmith $11,000,000
T.J. McConnell $9,300,000
Bennedict Mathurin $7,245,720
Jarace Walker $6,362,520
Isaiah Jackson $4,435,381
Ben Sheppard $2,663,880
Andrew Nembhard $2,019,699
Pascal Siakam $42,300,000
Trevon Brazile $1,160,544
Trentyn Flowers $1,160,544
Isaac Okoro $12,859,000
Daniel Theis $4,681,000

Nik Stauskas Dead Cap $702,310
Juwan Morgan Dead Cap $576,229
Malik Fitts Dead Cap $555,216

Total Salary $162,200,543
Cap Space -$21,200,543
Tax Space $9,144,457
1st Apron Space $16,454,457
2nd Apron Space $27,267,457



Milwaukee Bucks

Trades:
Brook Lopez and 23rd Overall for 12th Overall
Quentin Grimes for Pat Connaughton and 33rd Overall

Draft:
Draft Ja'Kobe Walter 12th Overall

Free Agency:
Sign Jonas Valanciunas to Tax MLE
Sign Cody Zeller to veteran minimum
Sign Kris Dunn to veteran minimum
Sign Jae Crowder to veteran minimum

Other Transactions:
None

Giannis Antetokounmpo $48,787,676
Damian Lillard $48,787,676
Khris Middleton $31,666,667
Bobby Portis $12,578,286
MarJon Beauchamp $2,733,720
AJ Green $2,120,693
Andre Jackson Jr. $1,891,857
Chris Livingston $1,891,857
Ja'Kobe Walter $5,198,160
Quentin Grimes $4,296,682
Jonas Valanciunas $5,183,000
Cody Zeller $2,093,637
Kris Dunn $2,093,637
Jae Crowder $2,093,637

Total Salary $171,417,185
Cap Space -$30,417,185
Tax Space -$72,185
1st Apron Space $7,237,815
2nd Apron Space $18,050,815

[Skybox]

Good job...but if Terrence Shannon drops all the way to 36th, he'd better be going to jail.

[oldncreaky]

Good job

I'll only comment on Detroit. Apart from signing Tobias (ah, man, do we have to? Can't we get to the minimum salary level some other way?) I think all the moves you've proposed make sense. I would like us to at least try to swing for the fences by making an offer for a prime FA (Anunoby, Siakam), but after striking out on FAs this plan would be a pretty good fallback.

[ChettheJet]

Thorough.

Good trading down 7 spots, probably getting the same guy while getting a 2025 pick
All for trading Lavine for Collins/Clarkson
all in on resigning Patrick Williams

now to disagree
Little costs too much for too long for a 6-6 not big enough PF, not enough shooter as a SF, not going to play much behind your front court of DeRozan, Collins, Williams, he costs Julian Phillips playing tome
moving on from DeRozan either way

Ready to trade Caruso for youth or a 1st and 2nd round picks
either S&T DeRozan for one empty spot or just let hm go for cap space

Collins Craig Phillips
Williams new FA shooter Bitim
Vucevic or deal bring back Drummond
Clarkson Dosunmu
White FA (dreaming of Lonzo)

[Godaddycurse]

i think P williams get a larger offer sheet than that (looking at Detroit)

[oldncreaky]

i think P williams get a larger offer sheet than that (looking at Detroit)

With Langdon incoming as POBO, it's anyone's guess what the Detroit FO will do

But if you're looking at Detroit's roster, do you think incremental building is in order? Is there a viable core? A cynical take is we've got 1 good young player (Cade) about to become overpaid because he's the only legit NBA starter on the roster, a backup big (Stewart) also a bit overpaid, and a handful of talented but raw prospects who are 2-3 years away from finding their level (Duren, Ausar, Ivey)

Do small incremental improvements like adding P Williams to try to get to 20-25 wins make sense?

I've come around to the idea that a complete reset, ala Danny Ainge, is the way to go -- trade what we can to get a bunch of picks, try to find a core -- because the alternative is treadmilling at a level below the play-in.

[Godaddycurse]

i think P williams get a larger offer sheet than that (looking at Detroit)

With Langdon incoming as POBO, it's anyone's guess what the Detroit FO will do

But if you're looking at Detroit's roster, do you think incremental building is in order? Is there a viable core? A cynical take is we've got 1 good young player (Cade) about to become overpaid because he's the only legit NBA starter on the roster, a backup big (Stewart) also a bit overpaid, and a handful of talented but raw prospects who are 2-3 years away from finding their level (Duren, Ausar, Ivey)

Do small incremental improvements like adding P Williams to try to get to 20-25 wins make sense?

I've come around to the idea that a complete reset, ala Danny Ainge, is the way to go -- trade what we can to get a bunch of picks, try to find a core -- because the alternative is treadmilling at a level below the play-in.

you have to get to the salary floor somehow so might as well gamble on a young player w/ upside still (former 4th overall pick)

[oldncreaky]

i think P williams get a larger offer sheet than that (looking at Detroit)

With Langdon incoming as POBO, it's anyone's guess what the Detroit FO will do

But if you're looking at Detroit's roster, do you think incremental building is in order? Is there a viable core? A cynical take is we've got 1 good young player (Cade) about to become overpaid because he's the only legit NBA starter on the roster, a backup big (Stewart) also a bit overpaid, and a handful of talented but raw prospects who are 2-3 years away from finding their level (Duren, Ausar, Ivey)

Do small incremental improvements like adding P Williams to try to get to 20-25 wins make sense?

I've come around to the idea that a complete reset, ala Danny Ainge, is the way to go -- trade what we can to get a bunch of picks, try to find a core -- because the alternative is treadmilling at a level below the play-in.

you have to get to the salary floor somehow so might as well gamble on a young player w/ upside still (former 4th overall pick)

I want to sell space: take back negative contracts for draft picks. Give me your injured, your overpaid, your unplayable . . .

[jowglenn]

I like the Okoro pickup for the Pacers, and agree they're unlikely to make any trades, but would they really go after Daniel Theis? He got let go this last season because he was out of the rotation and wasn't going to get any playing time; why would he want to come back?

[jayjaysee]

i think P williams get a larger offer sheet than that (looking at Detroit)

I agree with this.

Even if Chicago marches, I’m giving Patrick a front loaded deal starting around 20 mil for Detroit. Works out to be only about 2 million more a year but front loading hurts Chicago and helps Detroit..

I’d go higher, but know I have too much faith in him probably.

[theBigLip]

Great content!

Detroit Pistons

Trades:
Quentin Grimes for Pat Connaughton and 33rd Overall
Isaiah Stewart for Kevon Looney and Moses Moody
Ziaire Williams and Jake LaRavia to Detroit for Future Top 55 Protected 2nd

Draft:
Draft Reed Sheppard 5th Overall
Draft Ryan Dunn 33rd Overall
Draft Pelle Larsson 53rd Overall

Free Agency:
Re-sign Simone Fontecchio to 2 year deal starting at $4.1 Million with a player option
Sign Miles Bridges to 4 year deal starting at $27 Million
Sign Tobias Harris to 4 year deal starting at $27 Million with a team option
Re-sign James Wiseman using Cap MLE

Other Transactions:
None

I think Stewart doesn’t get traded. He’s a great locker room guy and has improved every year.

Draft makes sense to get a shooter in Reed.

I think people need to take a second look at Fontecchio. He will get extended but it’s going to be $10M+ per season. He played great to finish off last year.

I like getting Bridges.

Please not Tobias. Or at least on a much lesser deal. He seems to be running out of gas and I don’t want the Pistons to be paying top dollar for a washed up player.

Wiseman has shown improvement. Hope he’s extended too. That will happen soon in free agency since his cap hold is much higher than his value.

[Wizop]

if Caruso is available, I think the Pacers have to bid.

no interest in Theis.

[7r5ur]

$4.1M starting salary for Fontecchio would be a ridiculous bargain. I expect closer to $15M and it wouldn't shock me if someone pushed that number up. His numbers in Detroit were better than a guy like Cam Johnson who makes like $23M per year. I'd take $10M/year as a very team friendly deal. Hopefully no one noticed him balling out for the Pistons...

Wouldn't trade Stew for Moody/Looney (I like Moody, but I value a big that can shoot over a guard).

I'd be happy if we came out of the draft with Sheppard and Dunn, for sure, so good work there. Would probably work in an Ivey trade if that were the case though. Ivey, Sasser, and Reed are too many small guards.

That Tobias Harris deal is 1-2 years too long for me.

I'm not a Miles Bridges guy, but yeah, it wouldn't shock me if they went that route.

[DetroitDon15]

Great content!

Detroit Pistons

Trades:
Quentin Grimes for Pat Connaughton and 33rd Overall
Isaiah Stewart for Kevon Looney and Moses Moody
Ziaire Williams and Jake LaRavia to Detroit for Future Top 55 Protected 2nd

Draft:
Draft Reed Sheppard 5th Overall
Draft Ryan Dunn 33rd Overall
Draft Pelle Larsson 53rd Overall

Free Agency:
Re-sign Simone Fontecchio to 2 year deal starting at $4.1 Million with a player option
Sign Miles Bridges to 4 year deal starting at $27 Million
Sign Tobias Harris to 4 year deal starting at $27 Million with a team option
Re-sign James Wiseman using Cap MLE

Other Transactions:
None

I think Stewart doesn’t get traded. He’s a great locker room guy and has improved every year.

Draft makes sense to get a shooter in Reed.

I think people need to take a second look at Fontecchio. He will get extended but it’s going to be $10M+ per season. He played great to finish off last year.

I like getting Bridges.

Please not Tobias. Or at least on a much lesser deal. He seems to be running out of gas and I don’t want the Pistons to be paying top dollar for a washed up player.

Wiseman has shown improvement. Hope he’s extended too. That will happen soon in free agency since his cap hold is much higher than his value.

The only think that makes sense here is adding Reed. I'd personally work to acquire a 4. I think adding Tobias doesn't make any sense. We've seen that show. I'd also prefer to keep Stew and move one of Thompson or Duren. I don't see these two non-shooters working together on the court here.

[theBigLip]

Great content!

Detroit Pistons

Trades:
Quentin Grimes for Pat Connaughton and 33rd Overall
Isaiah Stewart for Kevon Looney and Moses Moody
Ziaire Williams and Jake LaRavia to Detroit for Future Top 55 Protected 2nd

Draft:
Draft Reed Sheppard 5th Overall
Draft Ryan Dunn 33rd Overall
Draft Pelle Larsson 53rd Overall

Free Agency:
Re-sign Simone Fontecchio to 2 year deal starting at $4.1 Million with a player option
Sign Miles Bridges to 4 year deal starting at $27 Million
Sign Tobias Harris to 4 year deal starting at $27 Million with a team option
Re-sign James Wiseman using Cap MLE

Other Transactions:
None

I think Stewart doesn’t get traded. He’s a great locker room guy and has improved every year.

Draft makes sense to get a shooter in Reed.

I think people need to take a second look at Fontecchio. He will get extended but it’s going to be $10M+ per season. He played great to finish off last year.

I like getting Bridges.

Please not Tobias. Or at least on a much lesser deal. He seems to be running out of gas and I don’t want the Pistons to be paying top dollar for a washed up player.

Wiseman has shown improvement. Hope he’s extended too. That will happen soon in free agency since his cap hold is much higher than his value.

The only think that makes sense here is adding Reed. I'd personally work to acquire a 4. I think adding Tobias doesn't make any sense. We've seen that show. I'd also prefer to keep Stew and move one of Thompson or Duren. I don't see these two non-shooters working together on the court here.

Keeping Stew definitely makes sense. I’d hate to give up on Ausar and Duren this early. Just because Duren isn’t shooting 3s doesn’t mean he can’t play - he is pretty good in the post. We just need him to learn to play better D. And Ausar, if he can get his shooting to average, he could be great for us. Always good to have an ace defender that we can put on an opponents best player.