Ochai Agbaji Decision

[Godaddycurse]

So i did a crowdsourcing thread before and majority seem to think Agbaji deserves a deal around 15M or so give or take.

If we extend him then we are looking at being a tax payer in 2026-2027.

We are currently at about 170M for 10 players not accounting for Poeltl or Agbaji or our 2026 FRP, and the tax will be at around 206M.

What would you rather we do in this situation? (See poll)

[mtcan]

Sell high

[MessiahUjiri]

Selling now is loser talk.

Hes literally 25, and has recently learned how to shoot.

[Godaddycurse]

Selling now is loser talk.

Hes literally 25, and has recently learned how to shoot.

So what would you do?

[Tripod]

It's dumb to sell now imo...trading away our best 3+D guy.

And it's too early to vote the other options...too many variables. See how this offseason and season plays out 1st. No need to rush into a decision on him.

[mtcan]

Selling now is loser talk.

Hes literally 25, and has recently learned how to shoot.

Would rather invest the playing time in Jakobe and Gradey.

If you flip him for a late first rounder or future 1st...you have to do it.

[Tripod]

Selling now is loser talk.

Hes literally 25, and has recently learned how to shoot.

Would rather invest the playing time in Jakobe and Gradey.

If you flip him for a late first rounder or future 1st...you have to do it.

You don't have to do anything....lol. we are trying to win games next year...let internal competition push everyone to be better and let the best rise to the top.

[Westside Gunn]

Sell high. Im willing to eat crow but I think he's a one year wonder on a lotto team which was last year.

But I do see the argument in keeping him long term as a potential 3+D guy

[RapsFanInOhio]

I’ve said for a while now that I think they will give this team a chance to play together as constructed. I don’t think they’re making any major moves (unless Giannis is realistic, and we don’t know that) this summer and in fact, I’m not sure they make many moves at all. They’ll give this group a full season before making those tough decisions, especially since it’s likely we’re going to avoid the tax this year.

The core guys that will be kept after this season aren’t really determined yet, including Agbaji. If he keeps up consistent play next year in a likely reduced role, he’ll stick. If not, there may be more cost effective guys out there moving forward.

[RoteSchroder]

Selling now is loser talk.

Hes literally 25, and has recently learned how to shoot.

So what would you do?

Sell if the price is right. Either Gradey or Ochai should be traded (or both), whichever gets you the better deal. Ja'Kobe has overlapping skills/potential with both players.

I'd do #25 + future protected 1st from Orlando.

Don't think Orlando will be so loose with their picks though, but 3+D players have value in the league, especially ones with reliable 3 point shooting. Orlando gave KCP a 20+ M/year contract, so they're looking for and value this type of a player..and I'd rather have Ochai than KCP

[Yeezus_]

Why would they sell high? The team doesnt have to make any real decision until at least mid next season. There’s enough playing time for all the young guys including him.

[Raps in 4]

Keep him. He's a good, young 3+D player. Trade someone else if needed.

[DreamTeam09]

His option is already picked up, no need to sign him this summer, he's still an RFA next year.

[Rapsfan07]

No reason to make a decision on him right now. We have a ton of valuable depth at the wings with Barrett, Dick and Walter.

Let him play out this year and show his value and let him hit RFA. If he improves or proves to be worth it, we'll pay him market and look to move Barrett. If not, that's okay too - we can simply let him walk.

Unless, of course, he's willing to sign something really cheap, which I doubt and even then it takes us over the tax for a team whose ceiling we're unsure of.

[Godaddycurse]

His option is already picked up, no need to sign him this summer, he's still an RFA next year.

he is extension eligible. idea is if you intend to keep him long term signing him now may offer bit of a discount vs being in RFA when there are more teams w/ capspace in 2026 offseason

[mtcan]

Why would they sell high? The team doesnt have to make any real decision until at least mid next season. There’s enough playing time for all the young guys including him.

I don't see it that way.

Aside from the starting 5...you have, off the bench:
Shead - the de-facto backup PG

Dick, Walter and Agbaji are fighting it out for the backup 2/3 positions. And depending on how you view Battle...he might be in that conversation as well. And Battle deserves minutes being the best 3 point shooter on the team. You may make the case that he's a small-ball 4...so that's how Battle gets his minutes. I'm not even including Mogbo in the conversation because he needs to spend most of the year in the 905.

So on most nights...you will roll with the bench of:
Shead
Walter or Agbaji
Dick or Agbaji
Battle
insert name of backup C

So yes for the sake of development...you have to decide who you want to keep and develop and who you can flip in a consolidation trade or for future assets. One or two of Dick/Agbaji/Walter will have to go for the sake of both the team and the player.

[Yeezus_]

Why would they sell high? The team doesnt have to make any real decision until at least mid next season. There’s enough playing time for all the young guys including him.

I don't see it that way.

Aside from the starting 5...you have, off the bench:
Shead - the de-facto backup PG

Dick, Walter and Agbaji are fighting it out for the backup 2/3 positions. And depending on how you view Battle...he might be in that conversation as well. And Battle deserves minutes being the best 3 point shooter on the team. You may make the case that he's a small-ball 4...so that's how Battle gets his minutes. I'm not even including Mogbo in the conversation because he needs to spend most of the year in the 905.

So on most nights...you will roll with the bench of:
Shead
Walter or Agbaji
Dick or Agbaji
Battle
insert name of backup C

So yes for the sake of development...you have to decide who you want to keep and develop and who you can flip in a consolidation trade or for future assets. One or two of Dick/Agbaji/Walter will have to go for the sake of both the team and the player.

I get what you’re saying but its an 82 game season. Injures happen and also development isnt linear so some players may take a step forward, some might not. Depth is important when we’re trying to compete next season.

When a player becomes too good in their role AND you have to cut another player’s minutes thats impacting their development, then I think it’s time to consider a trade.

[C_Money]

He’s not that good. We also can’t afford his next contract.

[mtcan]

Why would they sell high? The team doesnt have to make any real decision until at least mid next season. There’s enough playing time for all the young guys including him.

I don't see it that way.

Aside from the starting 5...you have, off the bench:
Shead - the de-facto backup PG

Dick, Walter and Agbaji are fighting it out for the backup 2/3 positions. And depending on how you view Battle...he might be in that conversation as well. And Battle deserves minutes being the best 3 point shooter on the team. You may make the case that he's a small-ball 4...so that's how Battle gets his minutes. I'm not even including Mogbo in the conversation because he needs to spend most of the year in the 905.

So on most nights...you will roll with the bench of:
Shead
Walter or Agbaji
Dick or Agbaji
Battle
insert name of backup C

So yes for the sake of development...you have to decide who you want to keep and develop and who you can flip in a consolidation trade or for future assets. One or two of Dick/Agbaji/Walter will have to go for the sake of both the team and the player.

I get what you’re saying but its an 82 game season. Injures happen and also development isnt linear so some players may take a step forward, some might not. Depth is important when we’re trying to compete next season.

When a player becomes too good in their role AND you have to cut another player’s minutes thats impacting their development, then I think it’s time to consider a trade.

I just think it's the law of diminishing returns when you have too much overlap such that no one's potential is getting maximized based on circumstance alone.

[GLF]

I also agree that a decision doesn’t have to be made now. I think this is the season where we have to see which 2 of Ja’Kobe, Gradey and Ochai will show up when the games matter and we’re actually trying to win. It’s a lot easier to play well on a losing/tanking team who doesn’t care about winning.

The competition is going to be good for all of them. You are no longer going to get minutes just because, you’re actually going to have to earn your minutes and beat out guys. That will help all of them in their development. It’s a good thing. Trading guys prematurely just to ensure other guys have guaranteed minutes when none of them have proven anything yet doesn’t make sense. Especially when injuries happen and having good 3rd stringers is important even more than ever.

Now if it’s to get Giannis and that becomes a real thing then that’s a different story. But trading any of Ja’Kobe, Gradey or Ochai prematurely for a late first rounder to me isn’t very smart. I wouldn’t even do it for a big. Just draft the big, whether it’s in the first or second round and live with that. We aren’t contending yet, we don’t have to be strong at every position to make the playoffs in the weak East. Everything doesn’t have to happen in one offseason and it very rarely does.