Pascal as a #2 = back to ECF

[Zeno]

How many of the young guys will they be able to retain once Pascal & Hali are maxed out? Any chance we could land Nembhard or Mathurin in a few years?

Hali getting the supermax puts them in a bit of a difficult spot. That 7 million extra plus raises on it isn't nothing. Nembhard is going to be a challenge to retain because in two games with Hali out, people think he is the next Brunson now. Not saying he can't have a break out. But there was a chance before those two games they could have tried to get him on an MLE type deal early. Now they have to take him into free agency after next year likely to get his full bird rights and be vulnerable to a massive offer they don't want to match. I feel like, if I were them, I see if Orlando if at all interested in a Suggs for Nembhard swap framework. They need to improve the defense long-term. But whatever they do this offseason, they are going to have to make some tough choices a few years from now for sure. Even this offseason, Obi Toppin might be tough for them to pay if the offers get too rich.

[PushDaRock]

How many of the young guys will they be able to retain once Pascal & Hali are maxed out? Any chance we could land Nembhard or Mathurin in a few years?

Hali getting the supermax puts them in a bit of a difficult spot. That 7 million extra plus raises on it isn't nothing. Nembhard is going to be a challenge to retain because in two games with Hali out, people think he is the next Brunson now. Not saying he can't have a break out. But there was a chance before those two games they could have tried to get him on an MLE type deal early. Now they have to take him into free agency after next year likely to get his full bird rights and be vulnerable to a massive offer they don't want to match. I feel like, if I were them, I see if Orlando if at all interested in a Suggs for Nembhard swap framework. They need to improve the defense long-term. But whatever they do this offseason, they are going to have to make some tough choices a few years from now for sure. Even this offseason, Obi Toppin might be tough for them to pay if the offers get too rich.

It's surprising to me that more teams don't really factor the cap situation into their competitive window. OKC could have used their draft capital to really add while they had Williams and Holmgren on year 2 of their rookie deals. You see it in the NFL where teams with their QB on their rookie deal can field very competitive teams by not having to pay franchise QB money and that's often their window to contend. Similar concept in the NBA now that these max deals are getting massive.