Rumors, Random Thoughts, and Non-threadworthy Posts 17.0 The Least Random

[NYG]

NYG's hot take: this off-season isn't going to be crazy at all. Maybe a KD deal and like a Sabonis trade, but otherwise mostly dull.

Read on Twitter

Maybe if Giannis asks out then all bets are off... but if not which players even make sense to be traded?

I wouldn't consider an off-season of Jrue, Sexton, MPJ and Nic Claxton level guys being traded at a high clip to be a crazy off-season for example.

[ReggiesKnicks]

NYG's hot take: this off-season isn't going to be crazy at all. Maybe a KD deal and like a Sabonis trade, but otherwise mostly dull.

Read on Twitter

Maybe if Giannis asks out then all bets are off... but if not which players even make sense to be traded?

Durant
One of Randle/Gobert
Jaylen Brown or a different Boston guy
Dallas can balance their roster
Sacramento isn't going to roll with LaVine/Monk/DeMar
Is Houston big fish hunting?
Lakers need a lob-threat
Miami isn't running back their roster
Atlanta has a ton of cap flexibility below the Tax and a 26 Million TPE
Is Denver running it back?
Do we bring back Myles Turner?
Is Toronto rolling with a half-dozen shooting guards?

[ReggiesKnicks]

NYG's hot take: this off-season isn't going to be crazy at all. Maybe a KD deal and like a Sabonis trade, but otherwise mostly dull.

Read on Twitter

Maybe if Giannis asks out then all bets are off... but if not which players even make sense to be traded?

I wouldn't consider an off-season of Jrue, Sexton, MPJ and Nic Claxton level guys being traded at a high clip to be a crazy off-season for example.

How many starters were traded last off-season?

[NYG]

Read on Twitter

Maybe if Giannis asks out then all bets are off... but if not which players even make sense to be traded?

Durant
One of Randle/Gobert
Jaylen Brown or a different Boston guy
Dallas can balance their roster
Sacramento isn't going to roll with LaVine/Monk/DeMar
Is Houston big fish hunting?
Lakers need a lob-threat
Miami isn't running back their roster
Atlanta has a ton of cap flexibility below the Tax and a 26 Million TPE
Is Denver running it back?
Do we bring back Myles Turner?
Is Toronto rolling with a half-dozen shooting guards?

I'm not sure Monk, LaVine, Brown, Randle or Gobert get traded though... which stars are available besides KD?

[NYG]

Receiving team of a sign and trade gets hard capped at the first apron?

If you use the non-tax MLE, you're hard capped at the first apron? Tax MLE hard caps you at the second apron?

If you take back more than you send out in a trade, you're hard capped at the first apron? If you aggregate salaries in a trade, you're hard capped at the second apron?

BYC on sign and trades is the higher of the players 2024/25 salary or 50% of their 2025/26 salary for the outgoing team, but the full salary for the incoming team?

The minimum salary cap hold is $1,272,870 in 2025/26?

Am I understanding all of this accurately?

[Scoot McGroot]

Receiving team of a sign and trade gets hard capped at the first apron?

If you use the non-tax MLE, you're hard capped at the first apron? Tax MLE hard caps you at the second apron?

If you take back more than you send out in a trade, you're hard capped at the first apron? If you aggregate salaries in a trade, you're hard capped at the second apron?

BYC on sign and trades is the higher of the players 2024/25 salary or 50% of their 2025/26 salary for the outgoing team, but the full salary for the incoming team?

The minimum salary cap hold is $1,272,870 in 2025/26?

Am I understanding all of this accurately?

Yes.

Also, a team hard caps themselves at the 2nd apron if they acquire a player contract in exchange for an outgoing sign and trade, or if they use that TPE generated to later acquire a player contract.

And, a team using a TPE generated in a previous season (in this case, a season is from the day after the regular season ends until the last day of the next regular season) would hard cap themselves at the first apron.

[NYG]

Receiving team of a sign and trade gets hard capped at the first apron?

If you use the non-tax MLE, you're hard capped at the first apron? Tax MLE hard caps you at the second apron?

If you take back more than you send out in a trade, you're hard capped at the first apron? If you aggregate salaries in a trade, you're hard capped at the second apron?

BYC on sign and trades is the higher of the players 2024/25 salary or 50% of their 2025/26 salary for the outgoing team, but the full salary for the incoming team?

The minimum salary cap hold is $1,272,870 in 2025/26?

Am I understanding all of this accurately?

Yes.

Also, a team hard caps themselves at the 2nd apron if they acquire a player contract in exchange for an outgoing sign and trade, or if they use that TPE generated to later acquire a player contract.

And, a team using a TPE generated in a previous season (in this case, a season is from the day after the regular season ends until the last day of the next regular season) would hard cap themselves at the first apron.

So in a deal like say...

Kuminga, Salaun and Williams to the Kings
Valanciunas to the Warriors
DeRozan to the Hornets

Both the Warriors and the Kings are hard capped at the first apron?

[jbk1234]

Receiving team of a sign and trade gets hard capped at the first apron?

If you use the non-tax MLE, you're hard capped at the first apron? Tax MLE hard caps you at the second apron?

If you take back more than you send out in a trade, you're hard capped at the first apron? If you aggregate salaries in a trade, you're hard capped at the second apron?

BYC on sign and trades is the higher of the players 2024/25 salary or 50% of their 2025/26 salary for the outgoing team, but the full salary for the incoming team?

The minimum salary cap hold is $1,272,870 in 2025/26?

Am I understanding all of this accurately?

Yes.

Also, a team hard caps themselves at the 2nd apron if they acquire a player contract in exchange for an outgoing sign and trade, or if they use that TPE generated to later acquire a player contract.

And, a team using a TPE generated in a previous season (in this case, a season is from the day after the regular season ends until the last day of the next regular season) would hard cap themselves at the first apron.

Aren't you essentially hard capped if you're over the second apron anyway?

[Scoot McGroot]

Receiving team of a sign and trade gets hard capped at the first apron?

If you use the non-tax MLE, you're hard capped at the first apron? Tax MLE hard caps you at the second apron?

If you take back more than you send out in a trade, you're hard capped at the first apron? If you aggregate salaries in a trade, you're hard capped at the second apron?

BYC on sign and trades is the higher of the players 2024/25 salary or 50% of their 2025/26 salary for the outgoing team, but the full salary for the incoming team?

The minimum salary cap hold is $1,272,870 in 2025/26?

Am I understanding all of this accurately?

Yes.

Also, a team hard caps themselves at the 2nd apron if they acquire a player contract in exchange for an outgoing sign and trade, or if they use that TPE generated to later acquire a player contract.

And, a team using a TPE generated in a previous season (in this case, a season is from the day after the regular season ends until the last day of the next regular season) would hard cap themselves at the first apron.

Aren't you essentially hard capped if you're over the second apron anyway?

Not necessarily. If you haven’t executed a transaction that triggers the hard cap, you could stil add salary by signing draft picks, re signing your own free agents, etc. Sure, you can’t aggregate, etc, but it’s not like you would have to get under the 2nd apron in order to execute any transaction of note. You would just have to return “less” salary in trades while not aggregating, etc.

[Scoot McGroot]

Receiving team of a sign and trade gets hard capped at the first apron?

If you use the non-tax MLE, you're hard capped at the first apron? Tax MLE hard caps you at the second apron?

If you take back more than you send out in a trade, you're hard capped at the first apron? If you aggregate salaries in a trade, you're hard capped at the second apron?

BYC on sign and trades is the higher of the players 2024/25 salary or 50% of their 2025/26 salary for the outgoing team, but the full salary for the incoming team?

The minimum salary cap hold is $1,272,870 in 2025/26?

Am I understanding all of this accurately?

Yes.

Also, a team hard caps themselves at the 2nd apron if they acquire a player contract in exchange for an outgoing sign and trade, or if they use that TPE generated to later acquire a player contract.

And, a team using a TPE generated in a previous season (in this case, a season is from the day after the regular season ends until the last day of the next regular season) would hard cap themselves at the first apron.

So in a deal like say...

Kuminga, Salaun and Williams to the Kings
Valanciunas to the Warriors
DeRozan to the Hornets

Both the Warriors and the Kings are hard capped at the first apron?

Kings would hard cap at the 1st apron by receiving a player via sign and trade and GS would hard cap at the 2nd apron for receiving a player contract in return for sign and trading a player (Kuminga) away.

Also, depending on which Williams is involved, Charlotte may be hard capped at the 2nd apron for aggregating. They could avoid the hard cap by not aggregating if they end up under the salary cap and are able to execute this trade using cap space instead of salary matching/TPE’s.

[Texas Chuck]

I'm sorry but a Thunder/Pacers final would just make me so happy. No offense to our Knicks/Wolves fans and I realize neither series is over, but Indiana has done the most ethical team building of any franchise in the league and its nice to see a team that is almost always good get to be great and have a shot at a title.

And Presti has just done a master's class of a pivot away from the multiple superstars leaving his franchise and he didn't even do the well I better get something for Kevin Durant that this board insists on. He tried to win with an MVP level player and when he lost him, he just slowly gobbled up asset after asset and took advantage of opportunity after opportunity.

I like to see both of these approaches get rewarded.

[ReggiesKnicks]

#12, 2026 POR 1st (Lotto Protected through 2028), Coby White for #7

Chicago moves up, New Orleans cobbles up another future asset with Coby White for moving down

[Texas Chuck]

#12, 2026 POR 1st (Lotto Protected through 2028), Coby White for #7

Chicago moves up, New Orleans cobbles up another future asset with Coby White for moving down

Who is Chicago going up for?

[NYG]

I'm sorry but a Thunder/Pacers final would just make me so happy. No offense to our Knicks/Wolves fans and I realize neither series is over, but Indiana has done the most ethical team building of any franchise in the league and its nice to see a team that is almost always good get to be great and have a shot at a title.

And Presti has just done a master's class of a pivot away from the multiple superstars leaving his franchise and he didn't even do the well I better get something for Kevin Durant that this board insists on. He tried to win with an MVP level player and when he lost him, he just slowly gobbled up asset after asset and took advantage of opportunity after opportunity.

I like to see both of these approaches get rewarded.

If the Knicks don't make a miracle comeback, I kind of want the Thunder to win it all exactly because of Presti. His first off-season as GM of that franchise was drafting Kevin Durant. Drafted KD, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka, etc. Still landed Paul George. Lost every single player previously mentioned and built a championship caliber team with a better asset base than any rebuilding team.

[NYG]

#12, 2026 POR 1st (Lotto Protected through 2028), Coby White for #7

Chicago moves up, New Orleans cobbles up another future asset with Coby White for moving down

Who is Chicago going up for?

This is my mock from the other thread with a similar deal...

Trades...

Brooklyn Nets get:
Coby White
12th Overall Draft Pick
45th Overall Draft Pick

Chicago Bulls get:
8th Overall Draft Pick
26th Overall Draft Pick
27th Overall Draft Pick

1. Dallas Mavericks - Cooper Flagg
2. San Antonio Spurs - Dylan Harper
3. Philadelphia 76ers - Ace Bailey
4. Charlotte Hornets - V.J. Edgecombe
5. Utah Jazz - Kon Knueppel
6. Washington Wizards - Tre Johnson
7. New Orleans Pelicans - Jeremiah Fears
*-8. Chicago Bulls - Khaman Maluach
9. Toronto Raptors - Derik Queen
10. Houston Rockets - Kasparas Jakucionis
11. Portland Trail Blazers - Egor Denim
*-12. Brooklyn Nets - Noa Essengue
13. Atlanta Hawks - Collin Murray-Boyles
14. San Antonio Spurs - Carter Bryant

[ReggiesKnicks]

#12, 2026 POR 1st (Lotto Protected through 2028), Coby White for #7

Chicago moves up, New Orleans cobbles up another future asset with Coby White for moving down

Who is Chicago going up for?

No idea. I assume a lot of the scoring guards will be good fits next to Giddey.

[YayBasketball]

#12, 2026 POR 1st (Lotto Protected through 2028), Coby White for #7

Chicago moves up, New Orleans cobbles up another future asset with Coby White for moving down

Yea White is a great target for Pels. Think there's something there for sure. Would think CJ would have to go out in this deal or another. Is the gap between CJM and White needing an extension worth a drop from 7 to 12? Vucevic/Olynyk swap could also be included. A nice stop gap shooting C with Missi as big minute backup.

[Godaddycurse]

#12, 2026 POR 1st (Lotto Protected through 2028), Coby White for #7

Chicago moves up, New Orleans cobbles up another future asset with Coby White for moving down

Who is Chicago going up for?

No idea. I assume a lot of the scoring guards will be good fits next to Giddey.

Which of them do you think is better than white? Seems odd to pay so much to draft whites potential replacement

[ReggiesKnicks]

#12, 2026 POR 1st (Lotto Protected through 2028), Coby White for #7

Chicago moves up, New Orleans cobbles up another future asset with Coby White for moving down

Yea White is a great target for Pels. Think there's something there for sure. Would think CJ would have to go out in this deal or another. Is the gap between CJM and White needing an extension worth a drop from 7 to 12? Vucevic/Olynyk swap could also be included. A nice stop gap shooting C with Missi as big minute backup.

New Orleans is also getting the POR 1st.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Who is Chicago going up for?

No idea. I assume a lot of the scoring guards will be good fits next to Giddey.

Which of them do you think is better than white? Seems odd to pay so much to draft whites potential replacement

None of them is better than White at the moment. White is 24-25, they are 19-20.

Some of them might be better White. We can't know for sure. If we did, we wouldn't be on these forums