OKC/IND

[Wizop]

I just personally see this Indy team in need of a shake up. I don’t think the current iteration has a high enough ceiling.

Nembhard's absence was underappreciated outside of Indy. also we've played 21 road games and on 14 home games. I expect us to climb as the schedule evens out.

[Ell Curry]

Mostly just discounting that Indy can wait a while before having to make something super drastic. And still have to see what happens in the market at large the next year or two as the new CBA continues to make its impact known.

I think that's mostly fair, but even if you let Jackson go (or he can be added as a minimum guy) and add 2 minimum guys + your first rounder (let's say 18th (you're 15th pick I guess as of today, but should finish the season a bit stronger) and only carry 14 instead of 15, you're still at about 12.5M under the tax with Myles Turner left to pay this summer. Presumably he's getting, what, about 25-30M a year?

So isn't it either the tax next year, or get off of Obi Toppin's contract by getting an expiring contract? I don't think that would be impossible, and you can draft a backup 4/5 with the first?

[Scoot McGroot]

Mostly just discounting that Indy can wait a while before having to make something super drastic. And still have to see what happens in the market at large the next year or two as the new CBA continues to make its impact known.

I think that's mostly fair, but even if you let Jackson go (or he can be added as a minimum guy) and add 2 minimum guys + your first rounder (let's say 18th (you're 15th pick I guess as of today, but should finish the season a bit stronger) and only carry 14 instead of 15, you're still at about 12.5M under the tax with Myles Turner left to pay this summer. Presumably he's getting, what, about 25-30M a year?

So isn't it either the tax next year, or get off of Obi Toppin's contract by getting an expiring contract? I don't think that would be impossible, and you can draft a backup 4/5 with the first?

A lot can change in many different ways. Does Myles get $30m? Or does he get only $20-25m? Does Indy’s first fall a little later and only cost $2.5m instead of $3.5m? Does Ben Sheppard make Aaron Nesmith superfluous? Does Indy make a different type of consolidation trade that changes the salary structure completely?

It’s absolutely possible Obi needs to be dealt. The good news is he could be dealt into anyone’s MLE next year (with Indy taking back a smaller contract in return). But Indy doesn’t necessarily need to turn Obi into any expiring at this moment, or the deadline. He’s currently a great fit, and can help a ton through the playoffs for us.

But yes, dumping Obi is the simplest answer.

[Ell Curry]

Mostly just discounting that Indy can wait a while before having to make something super drastic. And still have to see what happens in the market at large the next year or two as the new CBA continues to make its impact known.

I think that's mostly fair, but even if you let Jackson go (or he can be added as a minimum guy) and add 2 minimum guys + your first rounder (let's say 18th (you're 15th pick I guess as of today, but should finish the season a bit stronger) and only carry 14 instead of 15, you're still at about 12.5M under the tax with Myles Turner left to pay this summer. Presumably he's getting, what, about 25-30M a year?

So isn't it either the tax next year, or get off of Obi Toppin's contract by getting an expiring contract? I don't think that would be impossible, and you can draft a backup 4/5 with the first?

A lot can change in many different ways. Does Myles get $30m? Or does he get only $20-25m? Does Indy’s first fall a little later and only cost $2.5m instead of $3.5m? Does Ben Sheppard make Aaron Nesmith superfluous? Does Indy make a different type of consolidation trade that changes the salary structure completely?

It’s absolutely possible Obi needs to be dealt. The good news is he could be dealt into anyone’s MLE next year (with Indy taking back a smaller contract in return). But Indy doesn’t necessarily need to turn Obi into any expiring at this moment, or the deadline. He’s currently a great fit, and can help a ton through the playoffs for us.

But yes, dumping Obi is the simplest answer.

Yeah, I'd say Toppin to someone's MLE this summer makes the most sense. You get him for the playoffs then draft a 4 or 5 with your own 1st. Guys like Queen, Murray-Boyles and Sorber are all really productive young college bigs and maybe them being 4/5 tweeners is less of a problem on an team with a stretchy 5 like Turner and one that wants to play up-tempo anyways.

Nesmith I assumed was higher in the pecking order. But I think he has legit value. I could see Detroit moving down from say #10 to #18 to get Nesmith and then the Pacers might well get the first (or at least 2nd) big in the draft, or a promising and cheap wing. He'd fit nicely with Ivey + Cade for the Pistons as a 3+D perimeter guy and they can still try to grab a backup 5 or bench scorer with that pick, keep developing Duren as the starting 5 and Holland + Ausar fighting to be Tobias' Harris long term replacement at the 4.