Pacers Forever wrote:JMaster5K wrote:Anyone else think there's going to be quite a bit of movement this offseason?.... Looking at Philly's cap situation, they might be some competition?
Tobias Harris
Gordon Hayward
Kyle Lowry
Buddy Hield
Bruce Brown
D’Angelo Russell
Malik Beasley
Russell Westbrook
are all players who I feel will opt out of their contracts or will not be retained by their current team for monetary purposes.
Others I think could renegotiate contracts and stay with their team are PG, Lebron, Anunoby, Klay, Harden, Hartenstein, DeRozan, and Trent Jr.
Teams I believe most likely to try for bigger changes to their rosters are Hawks, 76ers, Raptors, Hornets, Wizards, Pistons in the East. The other clubs in the East have very good cores or youth and need less additions to strengthen their squads.
In the West I see many more teams with solid cores needing minor upgrades. Only the Jazz, Grizzlies, Spurs, and Trailblazers are as bad record wise as the non playoff East teams.
Lakers will shuffle supporting cast and the Pelicans have indicated that moves will happen. Jazz, Trailblazers, and Spurs are all rebuilding so they could be looking to trading players for better fits to their roster.
So in summary I think most activity will be shuffling of free agent supporting players with many teams needing to find those players who help push them to the top.
A few trades might happen and a few big names could change their clubs. I just don’t feel like huge differences will happen this free agency period.
I hope the Pacers can find upgrades if they change their personnel.
I agree with you on the teams you mentioned,... Believe all of them will be looking to improve their talent level. I just get the feeling that Bucks, Cavs, & Magic will also be looking at consolidation & fit during the offseason. Bucks? not sure what they are going to do, probably just running it back, but with a first round exit, could be looking to make some changes around the margins?
Cav's have been saying all year that they don't like the fit with Darius & Donovan in the backcourt,... nor Allen & Mobley in the frontcourt. I'm not sure I really believe that? To me, it looks more like too many people deferring to each other & trying to fit in without a real training camp to learn how to be a team? I have to believe their chemistry will be much better next year. However,... if Donovan refuses to sign an extension with the Cav's this summer,.... can they really expect him to resign as an UFA next summer?... Specially with a team like Brooklyn clearing cap space & creating the holes they now have in their roster?
Magic, I think,.. will look for a veteran upgrade at the point,... which will requires some form of trades, waivers,... roster movement on their part?
Out west,... Phoenix & Golden State have ridiculously high payrolls, with first round exits, and very little flexibility. Ishbia in Phoenix is known in business circles for having no patience,... none. I have to think Phoenix will do something,... but with so little room or leverage, what is a big question?
Warriors,... second highest payroll going into 24-25, with a roster that is aging and declining? IMO, they've reached the point that if they don't start restructuring their roster around their younger players & finding others that can contribute, they will waste Curry's late prime years chasing nostalgia instead of putting a team around him that can play into the post-season?
Pops has already said that SA will be looking for a top level, young veteran point to pair with Wemby & run the team.
Portland has a ton of contracts, that just don't fit their team. Grant, Brogdon, Williams III, Thybulle will all be 27 or older, none of which really should be starting because of the need to develop the younger players,... together they make up just under $76M of their cap space? Yeah,.. they do need some veterans around to help the younger guys learn. They aren't really having any cap issues at the moment, but I would still expect them to look to lower their cap a bit trying to find guys that fit better with the developing team. If they do, this will put a couple of still desirable veterans into the market, creating some of those 'margin' moves for some of the contenders.