2024 Off-Season

[Wizop]

A coach can't enter the game to deal with a bully. JJ can.

[JMaster5K]

I think that Swider is basically just never going to play unless Furphy (and others) is (are) injured?

I too would prefer to keep the 15th spot filled and Swider seems fine enough there. But he’s just so low stakes to me, and I see an immensely tough road for him to ever get minutes, that I’m just not bothered. It’s super low stakes.

The more I think about this,... the more I am ok with it. We gave Swider a chance to show who he is. It turns out,... though he is listed at 6'9",... he's got a 6-8 to 6-9 wingspan,... his standing reach is no longer than Walker, Mathurin, Nesmith, or Furphy. All of whom are probably ahead of him on the depth chart. Offensively, he is a catch & shoot release guy at the 3. He doesn't give us anything the other guys don't? Defensively, He isn't as stout as you would hope, but almost has to defend 4's without the standing reach to defend them in the post,.. or the wingspan to keep more athletic players from getting past him?

I loved his hustle, and he had some effective games in the summer vs others at his competitive level,... He doesn't give us the
'big wing defender' that we all seem to agree we need & don't have. He also doesn't give us anything in terms of 'development potential' that could improve the team in a year or two? Like the old saying,.. he is what he is.

If he doesn't have the ability to grow into something that fills a team need long term, and he isn't going to give us something during the season unless we have 3 or 4 guys injured? He doesn't give us the intangibles of a JJ? I'd rather see that spot go to someone else we haven't yet identified? Injuries happen & there are usually workman players available to sign to 10-days to cover those happenings? So why carry a guy when that is likely his only role,.. now and in the future?

[Pacers Forever]

I guess I didn’t remember Furphy will take the Doug McDermott minutes which would have been Swider’s best chance to make an impact for minutes.

The way Mathurin and Walker are playing recently if Furphy gets healthy and balls out like he did in summer league those guys might lose minutes.

[Wizop]

Swider got a two-way in Detroit.

[Wizop]

no extension yet for iJax and the deadline is 6:00 PM today. easy to speculate.

[Scoot McGroot]

no extension yet for iJax and the deadline is 6:00 PM today. easy to speculate.

There’s reports (Fischer or Stein, I believe) that they’re having solid talks, but when you look at NEXT YEAR’S cap, and see Myles also expiring, you start to wonder why they’d lock in more salary?

[Wizop]

no extension yet for iJax and the deadline is 6:00 PM today. easy to speculate.

There’s reports (Fischer or Stein, I believe) that they’re having solid talks, but when you look at NEXT YEAR’S cap, and see Myles also expiring, you start to wonder why they’d lock in more salary?

understood, but a trade of a player in the 10mm area is almost required and is it smart to put iJax in the Stix position?

[Wizop]

no extension yet for iJax and the deadline is 6:00 PM today. easy to speculate.

There’s reports (Fischer or Stein, I believe) that they’re having solid talks, but when you look at NEXT YEAR’S cap, and see Myles also expiring, you start to wonder why they’d lock in more salary?

understood, but a trade of a player in the 10mm area is almost required and is it smart to put iJax in the Stix position?

[Scoot McGroot]

no extension yet for iJax and the deadline is 6:00 PM today. easy to speculate.

There’s reports (Fischer or Stein, I believe) that they’re having solid talks, but when you look at NEXT YEAR’S cap, and see Myles also expiring, you start to wonder why they’d lock in more salary?

understood, but a trade of a player in the 10mm area is almost required and is it smart to put iJax in the Stix position?

Oh, I’m sure Indy would do it if Jax agreed to something like 3/20 with the 3rd year only a partial gtd or something. And yeah, I’m leading the drum for the concept of dealing Obi to keep Myles.

[Wizop]

And yeah, I’m leading the drum for the concept of dealing Obi to keep Myles.

and I'm in the dealing Nesmith camp. but that isn't this week's debate. I'm thinking Walker and Furphy may both be 3's. if either is a 4, the pendulum swings your way.

[JMaster5K]

There’s reports (Fischer or Stein, I believe) that they’re having solid talks, but when you look at NEXT YEAR’S cap, and see Myles also expiring, you start to wonder why they’d lock in more salary?

understood, but a trade of a player in the 10mm area is almost required and is it smart to put iJax in the Stix position?

Oh, I’m sure Indy would do it if Jax agreed to something like 3/20 with the 3rd year only a partial gtd or something. And yeah, I’m leading the drum for the concept of dealing Obi to keep Myles.

Do think it would be 'poetic justice', for a team like,.. oh,.. say the Knicks, With Randle gone,.. Achiuwa injured,... uncertain if OG can give you minutes at the 4,... suddenly came calling to inquire about acquiring one,.. OB1 Toppin?... I am certain he would be much more expensive to get now....

[Wizop]

Do think it would be 'poetic justice', for a team like,.. oh,.. say the Knicks, With Randle gone,.. Achiuwa injured,... uncertain if OG can give you minutes at the 4,... suddenly came calling to inquire about acquiring one,..

I expected you to say iJax.

[Scoot McGroot]

Do think it would be 'poetic justice', for a team like,.. oh,.. say the Knicks, With Randle gone,.. Achiuwa injured,... uncertain if OG can give you minutes at the 4,... suddenly came calling to inquire about acquiring one,..

I expected you to say iJax.

Yeah, that relationship of Obi with the Knicks is dead. Plus, NY is super close to their hard cap at the 2nd apron, so for salary matching, they'd have to send out Mitchell Robinson or Josh Hart, and Hart would be an overpay. Robinson likely would be an overpay, unless the continued injuries kill his value.

Maybe Jackson? But, why would we?

[Wizop]

Maybe Jackson? But, why would we?

does it feel like the team and iJAx are not close on the dollars of an extension and the team is willing to accommodate a trade and let Wiseman be the 2nd unit center?

[Scoot McGroot]

Maybe Jackson? But, why would we?

does it feel like the team and iJAx are not close on the dollars of an extension and the team is willing to accommodate a trade and let Wiseman be the 2nd unit center?

I would not say that I get that feeling, no. The books for next year are tight, and Jackson is in a precarious situation where he's trying to extend while not really having a prior performance worthy of a big number to be paid, while Indy would likely want to see more before giving him a salary he wants?

As for Wiseman, he's not been 2nd unit worthy. His offense/rebounding isn't bad at all, sometimes good. But his defense is horrible so far. At this point, I think he's at risk of being waived around Thanksgiving when he would have used up all of his $500k guarantee?

[JMaster5K]

Do think it would be 'poetic justice', for a team like,.. oh,.. say the Knicks, With Randle gone,.. Achiuwa injured,... uncertain if OG can give you minutes at the 4,... suddenly came calling to inquire about acquiring one,..

I expected you to say iJax.

Yeah, that relationship of Obi with the Knicks is dead. Plus, NY is super close to their hard cap at the 2nd apron, so for salary matching, they'd have to send out Mitchell Robinson or Josh Hart, and Hart would be an overpay. Robinson likely would be an overpay, unless the continued injuries kill his value.

Maybe Jackson? But, why would we?

Yeah,... I don't think that would ever happen,... but it would be funny. I suspect there are some other 4's out there that NYK will be looking into,... probably a couple that could help with cap, but you take a bigger risk that they need more development than the Knicks can give?

I still think they will start the season with a more uptempo attack. If they can convince him,... and coach him to play a more physical game & focus on rebounding? I can see OG playing a lot of time at the 4,.. at least early. If, he can adapt as mentioned, with his already present floor game, improved shooting, and defense,... his ceiling is probably higher at the 4 than the 3? Just a question of his willingness to do it?

It would also put 3 near elite wing defenders around KAT (Hart, Bridges, OG), greatly relieving some of the defensive pressure he is going to feel? A couple of years ago, they might have had trouble scoring with that lineup,.. but Brunson, Bridges, & OG have all become decent shooters. exactly the kind of wings you want around KAT?..... They might not have a bench,... but that 5 would make a pretty decent 2-way group?

[Scoot McGroot]

Oh, I assume OG will be the fulltime 4 until Mitchell Robinson returns.

[JMaster5K]

Maybe Jackson? But, why would we?

does it feel like the team and iJAx are not close on the dollars of an extension and the team is willing to accommodate a trade and let Wiseman be the 2nd unit center?

I would not say that I get that feeling, no. The books for next year are tight, and Jackson is in a precarious situation where he's trying to extend while not really having a prior performance worthy of a big number to be paid, while Indy would likely want to see more before giving him a salary he wants?

As for Wiseman, he's not been 2nd unit worthy. His offense/rebounding isn't bad at all, sometimes good. But his defense is horrible so far. At this point, I think he's at risk of being waived around Thanksgiving when he would have used up all of his $500k guarantee?

This guy,... in this vid,...

Watch on YouTube

does a pretty good analysis of why scouting potential draftees for the NBA is so hard. He uses Wiseman as a case study. Has a pretty good analysis of why JW hasn't been successful (right along the lines of Scoot's analysis = he doesn't have the footwork, or flexibility to defend the P&R or the Post) He even points to high school highlights that show those issues were there all along. He was just so big & more athletic in HS they didn't matter. We didn't really see him in college. In the NBA they really matter.

I think the Pacers will give him a chance,... Myles was actually a bit stiff in the hips his second year,... (that's why he was doing all that aerial yoga stuff back then. - the star had pictures if you can find them!) He improved dramatically. I wonder if they want to see if the same can be done for JW? If he succeeds, they could get a decent backup. If he fails,... he's gone before the deadline?

[Scoot McGroot]

Yeah, James has $500k guaranteed. In terms of his salary earned, Indy can basically try him out until around Thanksgiving with no additional costs, and I expect them to keep him at least that far. But, I think he has to earn his way on the roster past December 1. And even if he sticks past 12/1, it could only be until 12/15 when he's trade eligible and we may dump his contract with some cash or a swap of 2nds, or something.

I don't think he's a guarantee to develop for the whole season. I think he has to prove something to be kept around. Granted, a Myles or IJax injury could change that calculus.

[JMaster5K]

Yeah, James has $500k guaranteed. In terms of his salary earned, Indy can basically try him out until around Thanksgiving with no additional costs, and I expect them to keep him at least that far. But, I think he has to earn his way on the roster past December 1. And even if he sticks past 12/1, it could only be until 12/15 when he's trade eligible and we may dump his contract with some cash or a swap of 2nds, or something.

I don't think he's a guarantee to develop for the whole season. I think he has to prove something to be kept around. Granted, a Myles or IJax injury could change that calculus.

Agreed. I think there are other teams that have more offensive focus on their 5, where he might be a capable, low usage back up? I think he can survive in the league,... but unless something changes, he isn't going to be a major piece of anyone's rotation? Another case where all the hype was really unfair to the guy as a HS'er.