Around the League

[Cowology]

The league has done some really interesting things to force parity. This is a great explanation for why KAT for KD doesn't work.

“No, can’t do it. What happens is, when you’re in the apron, it eliminates you from trading with another apron team. Unless you’re trading $50.00 for $50.00. Because remember, you can’t take back more money in a trade [as an apron team]. So if you’re Karl-Anthony Towns making $49.3 million and Kevin Durant is making $51 million, let’s say.

Well you can do it, if you’re Phoenix. You’re taking less back. But you can’t do it if you’re Minnesota because you’re taking back $2 million more. And it’s not like you can say, well I’m gonna add $2 million to make the money work, because you can’t aggregate contracts [as an apron team].

You can’t combine Karl’s number with another player. So basically, apron teams and apron teams cannot [trade with each other]. So you’re looking at 10 teams that won’t be able to make trades with each other unless the money matches exactly.”

https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-timberwolves-news-karl-anthony-towns-rumors-luxury-tax/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1hTtaPT5LGLNV6GOQqLIyoFX3GwpUCJVL7LYyhSxIvB7_ef0jVnfkn4JE_aem_DTPNY2BpAY4pU0b5UEjTRg

[treefi]

Troy Weaver to the Wizards front office as a Senior Advisor.

"The move reunites Weaver with Michael Winger and Will Dawkins, with whom he previously worked with in the Oklahoma City Thunder's front office."

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/276211/Troy-Weaver-Joining-Wizards-Front-Office

[Snakebites]

Troy Weaver to the Wizards front office as a Senior Advisor.

"The move reunites Weaver with Michael Winger and Will Dawkins, with whom he previously worked with in the Oklahoma City Thunder's front office."

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/276211/Troy-Weaver-Joining-Wizards-Front-Office

Figured he’d get a job somewhere.

He was probably effective in previous roles. No ill will. I wish him well.

[Sheeeeed]

$270 million for Scottie Barnes.

[Kalamazoo317]

Cavs hired Atkinson. Didn't see that mentioned yet.

On Barnes, I think Cade is better than him.

[MortSahlfan]

Pistons hire Dennis Lindsey as Senior VP of Basketball Operations
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Detroit Pistons are hiring Dallas Mavericks executive Dennis Lindsey as the Senior VP of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Lindsey constructed the Utah Jazz era of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert and now goes to Detroit to join Trajan Langdon’s new group.

[Snakebites]

Woah. Knicks gave up a haul of picks to bring in Mikal.

[Fennis Dembo]

Any of those picks ours?

[Snakebites]

Any of those picks ours?

No.

[Kalamazoo317]

Some details:

"The Knicks will send the Nets unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031 along with a protected 2025 first-round pick from the Bucks, an unprotected 2028 first-round swap and a 2025 second-round pick, according to Wojnarowski. Bojan Bogdanovic will also be in the deal as matching salary.

As a secondary deal attached to this one, according to Wojnarowski, the Nets have also agreed to a trade with the Houston Rockets that will bring the Nets back their first-round pick in 2026 in exchange for a 2027 first-round swap originally belonging to the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets also acquired the right to swap whichever first-round pick they have in 2025, which would either be their own or Oklahoma City's, with Phoenix's, which had belonged to the Nets. In exchange for that, Houston relinquished its right to swap that pick with Brooklyn's in 2025, allowing the Nets to retain control over their picks for the next two years."

Nets appear to be all-in on the tank.

[Snakebites]

Some details:

"The Knicks will send the Nets unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031 along with a protected 2025 first-round pick from the Bucks, an unprotected 2028 first-round swap and a 2025 second-round pick, according to Wojnarowski. Bojan Bogdanovic will also be in the deal as matching salary.

As a secondary deal attached to this one, according to Wojnarowski, the Nets have also agreed to a trade with the Houston Rockets that will bring the Nets back their first-round pick in 2026 in exchange for a 2027 first-round swap originally belonging to the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets also acquired the right to swap whichever first-round pick they have in 2025, which would either be their own or Oklahoma City's, with Phoenix's, which had belonged to the Nets. In exchange for that, Houston relinquished its right to swap that pick with Brooklyn's in 2025, allowing the Nets to retain control over their picks for the next two years."

Nets appear to be all-in on the tank.

Either that or their assets are primed and their cap space is ready to go star hunting again.

But yeah, they’ll be bad next year.

[MortSahlfan]

I wanted Mikal Bridges to be a Piston so bad.. Dorian Finney Smith could probably be had for cheap.

[bstein14]

I wanted Mikal Bridges to be a Piston so bad.. Dorian Finney Smith could probably be had for cheap.

I think that's where we should be looking. Who left on that team could benefit us. The only downside is they are going to want draft assets more so than raw cap space moving forward. The one guy I could see them dump is Cam Johnson because he has 3 years $69 million remaining on his contract but perhaps they will want to see how he does as a player more involved in the offense this season. His numbers were down a bit last year but he still shot 39% from deep.

[Cowology]

I wanted Mikal Bridges to be a Piston so bad.. Dorian Finney Smith could probably be had for cheap.

A lot of people wanted Mikal, but this shows the type of value that was needed. Not once in any Piston fan proposal did we even come close to matching that. I hope people sorta absorb what it takes to land a Mikal/Markannen type in today's market. Ivey/Duren/#5 isn't bringing the type of return that people want.

This is as crazy to me as the Gobert trade, but it may take years (a decade?) to see the full effects. Are people just figuring that by the time that bill comes due that they won't be there anymore?? It's nuts.

[Kalamazoo317]

I wanted Mikal Bridges to be a Piston so bad.. Dorian Finney Smith could probably be had for cheap.

Join me on the draft Devin Carter bandwagon. He's in a similar mold, imo.

[Kalamazoo317]

I wanted Mikal Bridges to be a Piston so bad.. Dorian Finney Smith could probably be had for cheap.

A lot of people wanted Mikal, but this shows the type of value that was needed. Not once in any Piston fan proposal did we even come close to matching that. I hope people sorta absorb what it takes to land a Mikal/Markannen type in today's market. Ivey/Duren/#5 isn't bringing the type of return that people want.

This is as crazy to me as the Gobert trade, but it may take years (a decade?) to see the full effects. Are people just figuring that by the time that bill comes due that they won't be there anymore?? It's nuts.

Yeah, overpaid players are about the only ones we're realistically trading for.

[Cowology]

Ok, so now you got Brunson, Hart, OG (presumably), Mikal & Randle. Where do the Knicks rank??

Obviously a LOT can and will happen over the next few months with PG13 maybe being another huge swing for somebody. But that Knicks team does look pretty good.

[theBigLip]

Ok, so now you got Brunson, Hart, OG (presumably), Mikal & Randle. Where do the Knicks rank??

Obviously a LOT can and will happen over the next few months with PG13 maybe being another huge swing for somebody. But that Knicks team does look pretty good.

They have to stay healthy, but if they do, they could certainly win it all. That D is going to be brutal.

[Kalamazoo317]

Depends on what Philly and Milwaukee do, but NY feels like top 4 in the east as a floor with a legit shot at getting through the east.

[bstein14]

Milwaukee is in a really strange spot. Feels like they have to do something or Giannis is gone to LA or Miami to finish out his career. The Bucks got the best years out of him and a championship but the Bucks feel like they aren't real contenders anymore I think the Knicks and Celtics have passed them by and there are some other up and coming teams as well. They busted on that Dame trade.