Discussing Other Teams' Moves - Part 8

[dckingsfan]

Let's wait and see how those draft picks turn out in the long run. I am not convinced.

The picks were solid. I had Penda and Jase both top 20 - so, that was terrific value. And Jase could be a nice spark plug behind Bane and Suggs. Penda gets a chance to develop (and he definitely needs time) behind Wagner.

Either way, they are in a pretty good place to compete if the injury bug doesn't bite them again. I still think they are missing a rim protector to take them to the next level. And I don't buy their cap management thus far.

Was looking at EPM today. Franz Wagner is 10th in the NBA, above Curry, Wemby AD, Anthony Edwards.

One of the most underrated players in the league. I think they can compete for a championship next year.

I do as well.

Desmond Bane and Jase Richardson were more than enough additions to propel the Magic to the top in the East.

Cleveland and Atlanta say hello...

[9 and 20]

Why did Indiana give up its starting center after just making the finals and pushing the thunder to 7 games? They calling it a wrap on this group?

Do they have a backup plan at C now, and how badly do they want Kelly O??? Reasonable rates, will take back anything, tbh.

I remain convinced that the minute Tatum went down, Silver resolved to have the Celtics win the lottery next year. This is going to bother me until next year's lottery at least, and then probably all the way through to the draft.

Any rumblings out of Utah and Ace Bailey's situation? Now that he's settling in and realizing that Utah is his home address, is that helping or making it worse?

[AFM]

My understanding is Pacers didn’t want to pay the tax. And of course Haliburton is done for the year. It’s not totally unreasonable. Maybe they felt like they overachieved and wouldn’t be able to do that twice.

[closg00]

Pacers are kinda taking a year off like Boston, they also have been schizophrenic on Myles Turner his entire time with them.

[nate33]

My understanding is Pacers didn’t want to pay the tax. And of course Haliburton is done for the year. It’s not totally unreasonable. Maybe they felt like they overachieved and wouldn’t be able to do that twice.

What's interesting is that it's not like Milwaukee offered him a massive raise. Turner's last contract paid him $20.5M a year which was about 15% of the cap at the time. The Milwaukee contract is only $26.7M a year, which is also about 15% of the cap over the next 4 years.

I guess they felt that Turner was overpaid even at his current salary, and that his production could be replaced cheaply. If you refuse to pay the tax, and you are already paying Siakam and Haliburton max contracts (for roughly 29% of the cap each), there just isn't room for a third guy to earn 15% of the cap.

[tontoz]

Kuzma catching strays. Hollinger was on the Zach Lowe Show talking about the Bucks stretching out Dame's deal 'so they will have a $20 million dead cap hit. They already have some experience with that with Kuzma'.

[Frichuela]

Kuzma catching strays. Hollinger was on the Zach Lowe Show talking about the Bucks stretching out Dame's deal 'so they will have a $20 million dead cap hit. They already have some experience with that with Kuzma'.

Yep. Kuzma is truly DEAD weight

[AFM]

Thoughts on NY's coaching decision? Lateral move?

[DukeLecker]

Thoughts on NY's coaching decision? Lateral move?

I thought he did a halfway decent job getting the kings to a good spot for a couple of years, but he seems like a nothing burger. Without LeBron carrying him in Cleveland is he even on an NBA coaching payroll? Maybe not. Regardless, Thibs had to go. Grinding his players to dust negated whatever positive he gave to NY.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

On paper, several teams got better.

How is that possible? The aggregate amount of talent will remain the same until we can process how well the 2026 rookies play. Yet, as I look at transactions, I see a bunch of teams that made good moves.

Cleveland -( have to look up their transactions)
Atlanta-(same)



https://www.spotrac.com/nba/transactions/cleveland-cavaliers/

[nate33]

On paper, several teams got better.

How is that possible? The aggregate amount of talent will remain the same until we can process how well the 2026 rookies play. Yet, as I look at transactions, I see a bunch of teams that made good moves.

Cleveland -( have to look up their transactions)
Atlanta-(same)



https://www.spotrac.com/nba/transactions/cleveland-cavaliers/

The starting-caliber players who changed teams were:

Kevin Durant: PHO to HOU
Desmond Bane: MEM to ORL
Kristaps Porzingis: BOS to ATL
Cam Johnson: BRK to DEN
Myles Turner: IND to MIL
DeAndre Ayton: POR to LAL
Dorian Finney-Smith: LAL to HOU
Caris Lavert: ATL to DET
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: MIN to ATL
Michael Porter Jr: DEN to BRK
Anfernee Simons: POR to BOS
Jrue Holiday: BOS to POR
Jordan Poole: WAS to NOP
CJ McCollum: NOP to WAS
Mark Williams: CHA to PHX
Collin Sexton: UTA to CHA
Isaac Okoro: CLE to CHI
Lonzo Ball: CHI to CLE

So those are the main team that go hurt or were helped. There were a bunch more bench players who moved around, but that probably won't move the needle much. Maybe it'll help a couple of teams like Denver who were unusually devoid of depth last year.

[dckingsfan]

On paper, several teams got better.

How is that possible? The aggregate amount of talent will remain the same until we can process how well the 2026 rookies play. Yet, as I look at transactions, I see a bunch of teams that made good moves.

Cleveland -( have to look up their transactions)
Atlanta-(same)

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/transactions/cleveland-cavaliers/

The starting-caliber players who changed teams were:

Kevin Durant: PHO to HOU
Desmond Bane: MEM to ORL
Kristaps Porzingis: BOS to ATL
Cam Johnson: BRK to DEN
Myles Turner: IND to MIL
DeAndre Ayton: POR to LAL
Dorian Finney-Smith: LAL to HOU
Caris Lavert: ATL to DET
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: MIN to ATL
Michael Porter Jr: DEN to BRK
Anfernee Simons: POR to BOS
Jrue Holiday: BOS to POR
Jordan Poole: WAS to NOP
CJ McCollum: NOP to WAS
Mark Williams: CHA to PHX
Collin Sexton: UTA to CHA
Isaac Okoro: CLE to CHI
Lonzo Ball: CHI to CLE

So those are the main team that go hurt or were helped. There were a bunch more bench players who moved around, but that probably won't move the needle much. Maybe it'll help a couple of teams like Denver who were unusually devoid of depth last year.

In the east, Atlanta, Cleveland (depth - maybe) and Orlando separated a bit in my opinion (I would love to hear other opinions) through FA. In the draft Philly, Brooklyn, the Wiz.

Boston and Indiana, not so much. Milwaukee losing Lillard (signing Turner isn't a needle mover). Miami has been a loser thus far.

Detroit, NYK were already good and did not hurt themselves.

Chicago, Toronto, Charlotte were already bad and didn't make much progress.

So, early days but - I see the top 4 teams in the East as Cleveland, Atlanta, Orlando and New York for next season (baring injury) with Detroit knocking on the door.

Improving I have Philly, Wizards,

Getting worse are Brooklyn, Charlotte will still be bad, Toronto will still be bad. Boston, Indiana & Milwaukee will fall a bit due to the injuries (how far I can't tell). Miami will be getting worse due to FA (although they had a surprisingly good draft, IMO). I think Chicago gets worse by a bit.

What I don't see is any one team in the east becoming dominant like OKC or upstarts Dallas or San Antonio in the west.

[dckingsfan]

Chris Paul going to Milwaukee would be "interesting". Seems he wants a starting PG role... that would be the place.

[Hidden Eye]

New Orleans is going to be a dark horse this upcoming season.

[gambitx777]

Chris Paul going to Milwaukee would be "interesting". Seems he wants a starting PG role... that would be the place.

CP3 and Brogdon going would legit make them dangerous. I think just CP3 would be an issue cuz he's just too damn old.

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[SUPERBALLMAN]

Its so funny how much of a mess Beal has been for the Suns!

[gambitx777]

Its so funny how much of a mess Beal has been for the Suns!

Well beal is an issue but he's not the reason the suns front office couldn't do math lol .

If he gets bought out I can see him contributing to a team somewhere but I can't see him making up 14 million somewhere.

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[Frichuela]

Ainge latest moves do not look that smart. Feels good to have a competent FO in the nation's capital.

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[closg00]

The Jazz are basically blowing it all up with Jr in-charge now, the Jazz of a few years ago would have drafted Kon.

[nate33]

The Jazz are basically blowing it all up with Jr in-charge now, the Jazz of a few years ago would have drafted Kon.

Kon was already gone when Utah was on the clock.