Official Speculation Thread ‘19-'20 I: Big decisions on the horizon

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Why da hell Hawks did this trade ?

They're gearing up for 2020.

Got two draft picks for basically nothing except some cap space, they wouldn't be signing any star, so it was a good trade for them, IMO.

In fact, if Nets sign Irving and Durant, this trade will be good for both teams (and even for Orlando if we sign DLo lol).

Brooklyn definitely just said we’re going after 2 Max guys. If they get KD and Kyrie then they’ll let DLo walk easily.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Hawks could use the 8&10&17 to trade with NY at 3 now. NY was rumored to be interested in moving back since they didn’t get Zion...

[ezzzp]

Their goal, I assume if they don't try to trade up, is to have 9 guys on rookie contracts and no one else going into 2020 Free Agency.

Young, Huerter, Collins, Spellman, #8, #10, #17, 2020 Hawks FRP, 2020 Nets FRP.

Max tier free agents never join small market rebuilds. They would have to at bare minimum make the playoffs next season to even get middle tier guys to glance at them. That group right there looks like a high lottery team.

[MasterGMer]

BKN is trying to get KD. Do they have 48 million with or without the cap hold of DRussell?

[ezzzp]

BKN is trying to get KD. Do they have 48 million with or without the cap hold of DRussell?

they have to renounce Russell to get there

[MartinsIzAfraud]

BKN is trying to get KD. Do they have 48 million with or without the cap hold of DRussell?

They’ll have to renounce DLo for that 2nd Max.

“Brooklyn is clearing $18M in additional salary cap space for July, which gives the Nets $46M in salary cap space to sign a max free agent and even retain restricted free agent D'Angelo Russell. Without Russell, the Nets have two max salary slots.”

[PrimeThyme]

I can see that I'm firmly going to be in the minority on this board with this take but I would not max D-Lo. I think any team that does will regret it going forward. He's your typical high volume inefficient scorer and is not a max player in my eyes. His TS% wasn't even league average last year. I also think his shot selection is very questionable at times and that got exposed in the Philly series imo.

There is no doubt that he made a jump last year, im not denying that, but Im still not overly impressed with him as a player. I also don't think I'm confident enough to say this wasn't more of an outlier contract year and that he won't inch back closer to the much less efficient/worse defending version of himself he was the previous 3 seasons of his career.

If given the volume he will undoubtedly put up points but I have my doubts on how many games he will win a team in March/April/May when he is their highest paid player.

[MasterGMer]

I think DRussell to Magic is legit prediction. They are getting KD and they will renounce DRussell.

DRussell is Orlando native. I am thinking he will choose his hometown

[Def Swami]

I was all down for going after D-Lo prior to acquiring Markelle. But it makes no sense to bring in D-Lo to me now. If you are going give Markelle any chance of succeeding you need to let him have a chance to be the one with the ball. All his college highlights are with the ball and pick and rolls. Bringing in D-Lo is essentially doing the same thing that didn't work in Philly with Simmons. I'd rather see what we got with the kid first. I do think there is a chance D-Lo is interested in us though. He does have ties to Orlando from Montverde.

Why would anyone assume Markelle Fultz ever sees the court again? Is there any evidence that he's made progress in almost 8 months he has taken off to rehab what initially slated to be 6-8 weeks? It just doesn't make sense to even consider him in the long term plans.

[Bensational]

I can see that I'm firmly going to be in the minority on this board with this take but I would not max D-Lo. I think any team that does will regret it going forward. He's your typical high volume inefficient scorer and is not a max player in my eyes. His TS% wasn't even league average last year. I also think his shot selection is very questionable at times and that got exposed in the Philly series imo.

There is no doubt that he made a jump last year, im not denying that, but Im still not overly impressed with him as a player. I also don't think I'm confident enough to say this wasn't more of an outlier contract year and that he won't inch back closer to the much less efficient/worse defending version of himself he was the previous 3 seasons of his career.

If given the volume he will undoubtedly put up points but I have my doubts on how many games he will win a team in March/April/May when he is their highest paid player.

I think this is a really valid position. His FT rate is concerning. And a $27M+ contract is hefty and hard to live up to.

I'd still take the chance and hope he is capable of just maintaining last season's levels. That should at least keep him as a movable contract that could later possibly be shipped for another player (DeRozan for Kawhi/Covington for Butler style).

[OrlChamps2030]

I think DRussell to Magic is legit prediction. They are getting KD and they will renounce DRussell.

DRussell is Orlando native. I am thinking he will choose his hometown

I’ve been seeing on here that DLo is a Orlando native but I haven’t seen it anywhere else.. can someone provide some info

[Bensational]

Question: Why would KD pick BKN over NY, or vice versa?

BKN have better win-now pieces already in place with Dinwiddie, Levert and Allen.

Knicks have good youth in Robinson and DSJ and the #3 pick.

[Nyce_1]

I think DRussell to Magic is legit prediction. They are getting KD and they will renounce DRussell.

DRussell is Orlando native. I am thinking he will choose his hometown

He's actually from Kentucky. Only went to HS in Florida for a year or 2 for bball.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

I think DRussell to Magic is legit prediction. They are getting KD and they will renounce DRussell.

DRussell is Orlando native. I am thinking he will choose his hometown

I’ve been seeing on here that DLo is a Orlando native but I haven’t seen it anywhere else.. can someone provide some info

He went to Montverde academy and if I remember correctly his mom still lives nearby.

[Def Swami]

Russell is definitely on the move. The Nets have much bigger plans. The Magic could potentially make a similar move as the Nets and attach the #16 to Mozgov or Fournier and maneuver cap space to give Russell a max deal. And if Russell isn't going to be matched, which seems likely, I'd take the gamble and go for it.

[Nyce_1]

Question: Why would KD pick BKN over NY, or vice versa?

BKN have better win-now pieces already in place with Dinwiddie, Levert and Allen.

Knicks have good youth in Robinson and DSJ and the #3 pick.

Man, if Knicks miss out, laughing stock.

[OrlChamps2030]

I think DRussell to Magic is legit prediction. They are getting KD and they will renounce DRussell.

DRussell is Orlando native. I am thinking he will choose his hometown

I’ve been seeing on here that DLo is a Orlando native but I haven’t seen it anywhere else.. can someone provide some info

He went to Montverde academy and if I remember correctly his mom still lives nearby.

Monteverde is just a prep boarding school.. everything I’ve read said he grew up in Louisville he even has a big Louisville tat on his forearm. Haven’t seen anything about a connection to Orlando other than playing for Monteverde for a few years like Joel Embiid and countless other NBA players

[MasterGMer]

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Steve Kyler said Nets do not have to renounce DLo. Contrary to what was reported

[ezzzp]

I think DRussell to Magic is legit prediction. They are getting KD and they will renounce DRussell.

DRussell is Orlando native. I am thinking he will choose his hometown

Russell grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. He transferred to Monteverde Academy in his HS sophomore year for basketball reasons. Then left for Ohio right after HS. So I'm not sure if that is enough for him to have a "hometown" attachment.

[SOUL]

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