[Wojnarowski]: McConnell Extends in Indiana (4/$45M)

[bondom34]

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[JeffFosters]

Love to see him staying but thought I was reading one of the fake wojs when I saw the numbers

[Scoot McGroot]

Would assume that next years salary starts at $10.044m, as that’s exactly an 8% raise from this years salary, and would allow a 4/$44.9m type total salary.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

I like TJ but i didn’t expect him to get 5 years of guarantee money at his age.

[Mavrelous]

That puts them 20M below tax next year, with both their centers FAs, interesting...

[LightTheBeam]

Always liked TJ. Smart move, saw what happened to Tyus Jones and decided to take his bag now.

[Scoot McGroot]

That puts them 20M below tax next year, with both their centers FAs, interesting...

Would assume Toppin gets traded for an expiring near the deadline. Which would leave Indy with around $30m under the tax for Myles/1st and a minimum or two. Which yes, could be tight.

[Mavrelous]

That puts them 20M below tax next year, with both their centers FAs, interesting...

Would assume Toppin gets traded for an expiring near the deadline.

He was just signed, doesn't seem plausible

[Scoot McGroot]

That puts them 20M below tax next year, with both their centers FAs, interesting...

Would assume Toppin gets traded for an expiring near the deadline.

He was just signed, doesn't seem plausible

Why not? They’d obviously trade him for tax cutting measures much sooner than trade Mathurin or Walker, right? And Obi is an easier replacement than a Nesmith.

[JJ_PR]

I like that contract for Indy, very team friendly. He's one of the scrappiest players in the league.

[Mavrelous]

Would assume Toppin gets traded for an expiring near the deadline.

He was just signed, doesn't seem plausible

Why not? They’d obviously trade him for tax cutting measures much sooner than trade Mathurin or Walker, right? And Obi is an easier replacement than a Nesmith.

Why sign him?
The news of negotiating extention for McConnel are old, they knew the figure and still signed Toppin.
Either they are willing to pay the tax or they are giving up on one of the centers.

[Wizop]

That puts them 20M below tax next year, with both their centers FAs, interesting...

Would assume Toppin gets traded for an expiring near the deadline. Which would leave Indy with around $30m under the tax for Myles/1st and a minimum or two. Which yes, could be tight.

Nembhard and Nesmith are possibilities too. they and Toppin all have substantial contracts.

[hugepatsfan]

I assume that some of this is non-guaranteed.

I like the player and like the deal for the guy he is now. But 5 years is a looooong deal for a 31 year old bench player. If this is all guaranteed I wouldn't have this as a "bad" deal but I would have it as an incredibly hard contract to move because most teams wouldn't want to potentially create some burdensome financial moves down the line to lock a backup PG up this long.

[jbk1234]

Would assume Toppin gets traded for an expiring near the deadline.

He was just signed, doesn't seem plausible

Why not? They’d obviously trade him for tax cutting measures much sooner than trade Mathurin or Walker, right? And Obi is an easier replacement than a Nesmith.

Caris LeVert is on an expiring deal. We'll even let you keep the picks you stole from Altman.

[Scoot McGroot]

He was just signed, doesn't seem plausible

Why not? They’d obviously trade him for tax cutting measures much sooner than trade Mathurin or Walker, right? And Obi is an easier replacement than a Nesmith.

Why sign him?

Because he’s affordable? Because you can use him for a year, or part of a year? Because you don’t need to let him walk for nothing, if you can maybe get something of value/use out of him? He was a great fit with Haliburton/McConnell. Lots of possibilities, I guess.

The news of negotiating extention for McConnel are old, they knew the figure and still signed Toppin.
Either they are willing to pay the tax or they are giving up on one of the centers.

I agree that one of Jackson or Turner could be gone. Probably no reason to keep both. They’ll have their 1st to replace a developmental role at years end, if they need to? Maybe wiseman develops into a backup capable center by the end of the year? Who knows?

But the numbers of signing McConnell weren’t known. If they were, they would have signed a long time ago, right?

Otherwise, it’s mostly just a question of do you keep a guy forever just because you signed him, or do you trade Obi shortly after re-signing home so you can keep Turner? I think the answer is clear that you should be willing to deal Obi to keep Myles.

While I also personally wish Indy would pay the tax, I think Boston and Phoenix flying over the repeater tax for next year means Indy might be less likely to exceed the tax and give up an easy $15m type distribution check?

[Scoot McGroot]

He was just signed, doesn't seem plausible

Why not? They’d obviously trade him for tax cutting measures much sooner than trade Mathurin or Walker, right? And Obi is an easier replacement than a Nesmith.

Caris LeVert is on an expiring deal. We'll even let you keep the picks you stole from Altman.

Aw shucks. As generous as it is, Obi for Levert would put Indy into the tax. We’ll have to pass.

[Mavrelous]

Why not? They’d obviously trade him for tax cutting measures much sooner than trade Mathurin or Walker, right? And Obi is an easier replacement than a Nesmith.

Why sign him?

Because he’s affordable? Because you can use him for a year, or part of a year? Because you don’t need to let him walk for nothing, if you can maybe get something of value/use out of him? He was a great fit with Haliburton/McConnell. Lots of possibilities, I guess.

The news of negotiating extention for McConnel are old, they knew the figure and still signed Toppin.
Either they are willing to pay the tax or they are giving up on one of the centers.

I agree that one of Jackson or Turner could be gone. Probably no reason to keep both. They’ll have their 1st to replace a developmental role at years end, if they need to? Maybe wiseman develops into a backup capable center by the end of the year? Who knows?

But the numbers of signing McConnell weren’t known. If they were, they would have signed a long time ago, right?

Otherwise, it’s mostly just a question of do you keep a guy forever just because you signed him, or do you trade Obi shortly after re-signing home so you can keep Turner? I think the answer is clear that you should be willing to deal Obi to keep Myles.

While I also personally wish Indy would pay the tax, I think Boston and Phoenix flying over the repeater tax for next year means Indy might be less likely to exceed the tax and give up an easy $15m type distribution check?

The ballpark was known, 8 or 10 doesn't matter much.
I don't view Toppin as an asset at this price, and I don't think FO signed a player to 4 year deal with plans to dump him in 6 months.

[Scoot McGroot]

Why sign him?

Because he’s affordable? Because you can use him for a year, or part of a year? Because you don’t need to let him walk for nothing, if you can maybe get something of value/use out of him? He was a great fit with Haliburton/McConnell. Lots of possibilities, I guess.

The news of negotiating extention for McConnel are old, they knew the figure and still signed Toppin.
Either they are willing to pay the tax or they are giving up on one of the centers.

I agree that one of Jackson or Turner could be gone. Probably no reason to keep both. They’ll have their 1st to replace a developmental role at years end, if they need to? Maybe wiseman develops into a backup capable center by the end of the year? Who knows?

But the numbers of signing McConnell weren’t known. If they were, they would have signed a long time ago, right?

Otherwise, it’s mostly just a question of do you keep a guy forever just because you signed him, or do you trade Obi shortly after re-signing home so you can keep Turner? I think the answer is clear that you should be willing to deal Obi to keep Myles.

While I also personally wish Indy would pay the tax, I think Boston and Phoenix flying over the repeater tax for next year means Indy might be less likely to exceed the tax and give up an easy $15m type distribution check?

The ballpark was known, 8 or 10 doesn't matter much.
I don't view Toppin as an asset at this price, and I don't think FO signed a player to 4 year deal with plans to dump him in 6 months.

Maybe not to dump him. But to use him as security in case Walker isn’t ready, and then trade him (maybe with Mathurin and/or Jackson) for a better fitting piece long term and salary flexibility? Well sure. Why not? He was affordable, he’s good, and we have the room this year. Teams often trade guys they re-sign.

[Wizop]

I doubt we make any trades before the season starts although we could use a wing-sized-wing. I see step one as learning whether Walker/Furphy can be a better SF than Nesmith and step two as seeing how many wins we have as the deadline approaches - are we in the hunt for home court in the playoffs or fighting to get out of the playin? - that answer impacts our sense of urgency.

[Mavrelous]

Maybe not to dump him. But to use him as security in case Walker isn’t ready, and then trade him (maybe with Mathurin and/or Jackson) for a better fitting piece long term and salary flexibility? Well sure. Why not? He was affordable, he’s good, and we have the room this year. Teams often trade guys they re-sign.

I don't find this plausible at all, this is a 4 years signing at MLE+, to the upper end of his potential salary, if not more.