Free Agent/Trade Thread 2026-27, Part X (It's a Tragedy to See the Dream is Over)

[bisme37]

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[keevsnick1]

Barring serious injuries I predict that they will win around 50 games and reach the EC finals-- against the Knicks most likely.

Why do you say 50 games? Aren't we better with JT, MRob, George than Brown, Simons? That's forgetting any improvement by anyone else.

Less tanking teams, team could easily be better and still lose more games

The East is going to be brutal next year. Off the top of my head I'd say EIGHT teams could convince themselves they have a shot.

NYK- Defending champs.
TOR- Added a top 10 player (when healthy) to a roster that was really just missing that top tier offensive player.
MIA- Has probably still the best player in the conference and they always seem to magically generate rotation guys.
PHI- A ton of top end talent. Arguably three guys who could be ALL-NBA if healthy (Embiid never is but still).
IND- Was in NBA finals just a year ago. Haliburton is back; Zubac will be joining.
BOS- Still has a really great well rounded team that finished last year as the #2 seed.
DET- Assuming Duren is back will be basically bringing back a 60 win team, just swapped Harris for Collins.
CLE- Made conference finals, might be adding Lebron.

You could tell me that any one of those teams wins the East next year and I wouldn't be shocked. All have some holes, or some injury risk, but all have talent too.

Teams like ATL, ORL and maybe WAS project to be solid. The only bottom feeders are CHI, BRK and MIL and even CHI and BRK added 20ppg scorers to their teams.

Obviously things will break wrong for a few of these teams, injuries will take others, but nobody is trying to be bad and quite a few of these teams are in win now mode.

Worth noting that the C's were also VERY healthy last year outside of Tatum. Noboy really missed more than 2-3 games in a row. The guys they are getting this year (Robinson, George even Tatum to some degree) also come with some injury risk. Winning a few less games wouldn't shock me with worse injury luck and a better conference.

[Dogen]

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The only 26 win team in NBA history that labels all of their players untouchable.

It's their polite way of saying that ain't nobody offered 4 - scratch that - 3 first round picks for him.

[itrsteve]

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This will be interesting to track and see how it trends out to the early 2030's from the 2024 CBA once we have the apron counters going.

Somewhat misleading looking at seasons prior because it was just money, not messing with tools for roster building (S&T, MLE, trade freezing, etc)...

[Curmudgeon]

Barring serious injuries I predict that they will win around 50 games and reach the EC finals-- against the Knicks most likely.

Why do you say 50 games? Aren't we better with JT, MRob, George than Brown, Simons? That's forgetting any improvement by anyone else.

The East got a little stronger. Even the Wizards improved a little. There won't be quite so many games against tomato cans. I'll stand by 50 games, 2nd or 3rd seed. And they will definitely be a better playoff team with another veteran center who defends and PG13, who also defends and shoots 40% for 3.

[celticgreenie]

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The Bob Myers quote reminded me of when tgmiii suggested how analytics can be imperfect.

Do analytics actually not value Klay? Surely shooting high volume 3's at 41%+ gives you good efficiency stats. If JB shot at that % we wouldn't be having this convo

Before his injuries kept him out of the
2019-2021 seasons, Klay's prime years from 2016-2019 were barely above pedestrian. VORP of 1.9, 1.0, and 1.2 in addition to a DBPM being negative his entire career despite being considered a good defender. His worse DBPM at -2.1 came during the 2017-2018 season. On a related note, JB did a very commendable job on Luka during the finals.

[Justin33]

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[phincsfan]

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I hope the C's don't entertain a contract like Jones.

With this type of report, I don't see Walsh making the roster unless Sam is moved for a guy like Johnson.

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

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I hope the C's don't entertain a contract like Jones.

With this type of report, I don't see Walsh making the roster unless Sam is moved for a guy like Johnson.

These "reports" seem more to me like complete speculation to keep the betting active.

[Bill Lumbergh]

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The vast majority on that list were from before the super punitive second apron rules applied, no?

[bfchs123]

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I hope the C's don't entertain a contract like Jones.

With this type of report, I don't see Walsh making the roster unless Sam is moved for a guy like Johnson.

This makes sense to me (though those aren't necessarily the guys, to me Keldon is like Grant Williams).

What we need around Tatum is another Derrick White level guy or someone like OG who impacts the game at a super high level but doesn't need the ball in his hands. The stats show we should have the ball in JT's hands as much as possible and trust him to make the right play.

[165bows]

Please no Keldon Johnson.

[Curmudgeon]

So is Bob Meyers going to give JB his $142M extension? Put your money where your mouth is Bob.

[BleedGreen1989]

Spoiler:

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I hope the C's don't entertain a contract like Jones.

With this type of report, I don't see Walsh making the roster unless Sam is moved for a guy like Johnson.

This makes sense to me (though those aren't necessarily the guys, to me Keldon is like Grant Williams).

What we need around Tatum is another Derrick White level guy or someone like OG who impacts the game at a super high level but doesn't need the ball in his hands. The stats show we should have the ball in JT's hands as much as possible and trust him to make the right play.

Agreed. I think it’s more speaking to a philosophy.

Have one bonafide superstar in Tatum and surround him with plus starters and depth instead of trying to stack 2-3 stars together.

Similar to the Knicks with Brunson (depending what star level you assign to KAT).

[djFan71]

Spoiler:

I hope the C's don't entertain a contract like Jones.

With this type of report, I don't see Walsh making the roster unless Sam is moved for a guy like Johnson.

This makes sense to me (though those aren't necessarily the guys, to me Keldon is like Grant Williams).

What we need around Tatum is another Derrick White level guy or someone like OG who impacts the game at a super high level but doesn't need the ball in his hands. The stats show we should have the ball in JT's hands as much as possible and trust him to make the right play.

Agreed. I think it’s more speaking to a philosophy.

Have one bonafide superstar in Tatum and surround him with plus starters and depth instead of trying to stack 2-3 stars together.

Similar to the Knicks with Brunson (depending what star level you assign to KAT).

Double agreed. The question is how soon do they try it? Lower salary guy that you can flip Hauser for and still stay at least under the apron (most likely tax too) and just pay fair pick value for seems doable this summer. Using PG salary, picks and trying to get 2 of those guys (or 1 and short-term filler) seems harder. My guess is that wouldn't happen til the deadline / summer so we don't have to overpay.

The counter is, don't waste a year of Tatum waiting for the trade cost to come down.

[Dogen]

Please no Keldon Johnson.

Spurs should try to keep him if only along for the ride. He’s been a heart and soul type of guy for them

[brackdan70]

Surround JT with guys like D White, Queta, Hugo,Walsh, M. Robinson, Playa P, PG13, Scheierman, Hauser, Garza.
That’s some pretty good supporting guys from a top 40 guy, top notch defensive bigs, disruptive young wings, one of the best 3 point shooters ever, an aging former top 10 player that still has some game…I mean give Tatum that 33% usage and let’s see what happens. I feel pretty good.
Edit: I didn’t even call out Jalen Brunson light.

[celticgreenie]

Please no Keldon Johnson.

Spurs should try to keep him if only along for the ride. He’s been a heart and soul type of guy for them

Klutch client. I don't see it happening.

[WeLikeOurGuys]

If they really don’t want 70% of the cap tied up in two players, then they’re going to have to find a creative way to put enough talent around Tatum to actually win.

My gut says if the Clippers pick lands in the top 5, you make the selection and hope that guy becomes your next top-25 player within two seasons while he’s still on a rookie deal. By that point, Tatum would still only be in his early 30s, and you’d potentially have the next guy in place.

Then on top of that, whatever else you can get for George, maybe it turns into another top-35 player on a favorable contract. That’s probably the only realistic path if they’re serious about not having most of the cap tied up in two guys.

[BostoNZ]

If they really don’t want 70% of the cap tied up in two players, then they’re going to have to find a creative way to put enough talent around Tatum to actually win.

My gut says if the Clippers pick lands in the top 5, you make the selection and hope that guy becomes your next top-25 player within two seasons while he’s still on a rookie deal. By that point, Tatum would still only be in his early 30s, and you’d potentially have the next guy in place.

Then on top of that, whatever else you can get for George, maybe it turns into another top-35 player on a favorable contract. That’s probably the only realistic path if they’re serious about not having most of the cap tied up in two guys.

Fair... but I don't think Brad was being 100% with that philosophy. I mean, we pursued Giannis hard - knowing it would be a 35% max

I think it's more - if we're going to have that top heavy of a roster - it needs to be the right two guys, and the FO evaluated that Jaylen wasn't good enough to justify that (rightly or wrongly)