Second apron teams working together?

[Klomp]

The second apron eliminates the flexibility of teams to make deals that add money, but it doesn't eliminate the possibility to trade completely. These teams can still make deals that maintain or drop in salary. I wonder if it's possible you could see some of these teams working "together" on deals that could help out both teams, as it might be one of the easiest ways to financially do a deal while over the second apron.

How can this be possible? Many second apron teams likely have players with supermax contracts, some of which could have been signed in the same offseason. The beauty of the supermax in this context is that money doesn't need to be aggregated on either side because the contracts are identical in the first year at 35% of the salary cap.

Jaylen Brown
Devin Booker
Kawhi Leonard
Karl-Anthony Towns

These are the four individuals making 35% of the salary cap in 2024-25. Only Jaylen Brown is on a team that to this point should be satisfied with where it is at as a team. Other stars are on teams in cash-strapped situations, while one player is in a precarious position because his co-star could opt out of his contract this summer.

And if there is any valuation difference between players, picks can be included without adding salary to a deal.

Could anything come from this?

[gswhoops]

I don't really see a deal that makes sense here.

Boston isn't going to be looking to break up Tatum/Brown unless they have a spectacular collapse in the Finals.

Phoenix isn't going to trade Booker for either KAT or Kawhi regardless of how many picks Minnesota/LAC include (and both of them already owe most of their future picks to Utah/OKC anyway)

Kawhi for KAT somehow feels like a step backwards for both teams.

[Kalamazoo317]

Kawhi for KAT is the only one I can really squint and see the logic in. Extends the window for the Clippers a bit and maybe gives Minny the "win now" piece they need to get over the hump if they feel like they're knocking on the door. But KAT, for all his flaws, was also a huge part of their getting past Denver, imo, so if they're not going to get cap savings, I'm not personally sure why they'd move on from him. I guess Kawhi is probably better for the Luka match up, but it's also a huge bet on his being healthy, which has not been a winning bet for the Clippers.

[LightTheBeam]

Man if Minnesota could get Kawhi for KAT, I take that so fast and run. I'd let Kawhi sit the entire regular season and first round. I need you for 3 rounds big guy lol.

[gswhoops]

Kawhi for KAT is the only one I can really squint and see the logic in. Extends the window for the Clippers a bit and maybe gives Minny the "win now" piece they need to get over the hump if they feel like they're knocking on the door. But KAT, for all his flaws, was also a huge part of their getting past Denver, imo, so if they're not going to get cap savings, I'm not personally sure why they'd move on from him. I guess Kawhi is probably better for the Luka match up, but it's also a huge bet on his being healthy, which has not been a winning bet for the Clippers.

In the universe where this plan actually works, Minnesota might only have to score 85 points a game to win a ring. Kawhi/McDaniels/Ant on the perimeter with Gobert backstopping them would be ungodly good on D.

[Colbinii]

Man if Minnesota could get Kawhi for KAT, I take that so fast and run. I'd let Kawhi sit the entire regular season and first round. I need you for 3 rounds big guy lol.

Oh yeah, and then miss the post-season because we have no front-court depth and 46 wins misses the post-season out West.

In the universe where this plan actually works, Minnesota might only have to score 85 points a game to win a ring. Kawhi/McDaniels/Ant on the perimeter with Gobert backstopping them would be ungodly good on D.

Is it 2014 Kawhi or 2025 Kawhi?

[Godaddycurse]

looking at BRef it looks like none of the players outside of brown have the same $ value for their contracts

[Klomp]

Kawhi for KAT is the only one I can really squint and see the logic in. Extends the window for the Clippers a bit and maybe gives Minny the "win now" piece they need to get over the hump if they feel like they're knocking on the door. But KAT, for all his flaws, was also a huge part of their getting past Denver, imo, so if they're not going to get cap savings, I'm not personally sure why they'd move on from him. I guess Kawhi is probably better for the Luka match up, but it's also a huge bet on his being healthy, which has not been a winning bet for the Clippers.

Karl-Anthony Towns for Kawhi Leonard was the initial trade I had in mind when I started this thought process.

Towns is good friends with Paul George, who has the opt-out in his contract. The two of them have complementary skill sets, and the Clippers don't really have much standing in Towns' way at C or PF. He also provides intrigue as a "younger star" compared to Leonard, with "upside" possible for a Clippers team that hasn't been out of the first round in the past three seasons.

In terms of the defensive identity Connelly and Finch are building in Minnesota, Leonard is obviously a perfect fit. He has thrived in small markets before and could be willing to do it again. He can get his own shot whenever (a need for this Minnesota roster), and could probably be a good mentor for both Edwards and McDaniels. And while his extension starts at the same dollar amount as Towns, the raises are smaller, which means cap savings of approximately $3 million in 2025-26 and approximately $7 million in 2026-27. That's not nothing.

[Klomp]

looking at BRef it looks like none of the players outside of brown have the same $ value for their contracts

2024-25, once their new deals kick in

[Godaddycurse]

Kawhi for KAT is the only one I can really squint and see the logic in. Extends the window for the Clippers a bit and maybe gives Minny the "win now" piece they need to get over the hump if they feel like they're knocking on the door. But KAT, for all his flaws, was also a huge part of their getting past Denver, imo, so if they're not going to get cap savings, I'm not personally sure why they'd move on from him. I guess Kawhi is probably better for the Luka match up, but it's also a huge bet on his being healthy, which has not been a winning bet for the Clippers.

Karl-Anthony Towns for Kawhi Leonard was the initial trade I had in mind when I started this thought process.

Towns is good friends with Paul George, who has the opt-out in his contract. The two of them have complementary skill sets, and the Clippers don't really have much standing in Towns' way at C or PF. He also provides intrigue as a "younger star" compared to Leonard, with "upside" possible for a Clippers team that hasn't been out of the first round in the past three seasons.

In terms of the defensive identity Connelly and Finch are building in Minnesota, Leonard is obviously a perfect fit. He has thrived in small markets before and could be willing to do it again. He can get his own shot whenever (a need for this Minnesota roster), and could probably be a good mentor for both Edwards and McDaniels. And while his extension starts at the same dollar amount as Towns, the raises are smaller, which means cap savings of approximately $3 million in 2025-26 and approximately $7 million in 2026-27. That's not nothing.

nah he's not leaving LA willingly

[LightTheBeam]

Man if Minnesota could get Kawhi for KAT, I take that so fast and run. I'd let Kawhi sit the entire regular season and first round. I need you for 3 rounds big guy lol.

Oh yeah, and then miss the post-season because we have no front-court depth and 46 wins misses the post-season out West.

In the universe where this plan actually works, Minnesota might only have to score 85 points a game to win a ring. Kawhi/McDaniels/Ant on the perimeter with Gobert backstopping them would be ungodly good on D.

Is it 2014 Kawhi or 2025 Kawhi?

Was obviously an exaggeration about not having Kawhi play entirely, but you could heavily load manage him. Over the last two years Minnesota had pretty much the same win % with KAT as without. Slightly better this year when he didnt play. 70% win rate, vs 67% when he played.

[Klomp]

nah he's not leaving LA willingly

Well that's why this is a trade and not free agency