Rumors, Random Thoughts, and non-Threadworthy Posts 18.0 Dave Cowens drove a taxi

[Texas Chuck]

Edit: maybe you mean the Raptors would give minor incentive? Still curious which teams and what minor incentives means to you?

LAC could use him with Bogey and fillers. RJs contrsct lines up to expire along with Kawhi.

Clippers have Kawhi, Harden, Powell. I don't see them valuing a 4th scorer a lot worse than the 3 they have who doesn't compliment their core.
I don't believe the actual Jazz would do that. Doesn't make sense.

You could match without him as you say, but is Toronto willing to do that financially?

[Godaddycurse]

Edit: maybe you mean the Raptors would give minor incentive? Still curious which teams and what minor incentives means to you?

LAC could use him with Bogey and fillers. RJs contrsct lines up to expire along with Kawhi.

Clippers have Kawhi, Harden, Powell. I don't see them valuing a 4th scorer a lot worse than the 3 they have who doesn't compliment their core.
I don't believe the actual Jazz would do that. Doesn't make sense.

You could match without him as you say, but is Toronto willing to do that financially?

RJ is much younger than Powell. Im not convinced they will retain powell after this year. RJ would be a good 6th man for Clippers this year.

Re: tax - Sure they would. They paid tax for kawhi and they would do it for Giannis easily. Pretty sure giannis wouldnt come if they wouldnt go into tax in his last few prime years

[MoneyTalks41890]

4 years $7m per season.

My quick guess was 3/15 to 4/24, so we’re probably close? But I would bet that okc doesn’t need to decline his contract, as I think they could keep him for similar after unrestricted free agency in a year?

I don’t think he’s a threat to be “stolen” away, even if there is a decent chance he might walk eventually. I think he’s a bit more valuable to okc with his locker room vibes type presence.

Makes sense to resign him now to get discount (ie front load it) on future years when they will be in the tax though if they really intend to keep him

Yeah next year is when OKC has the most room under the tax to do something like front load and decline from there. I’m not sure he gets kept but helpful to understand how folks view him.

[Devilanche]

My quick guess was 3/15 to 4/24, so we’re probably close? But I would bet that okc doesn’t need to decline his contract, as I think they could keep him for similar after unrestricted free agency in a year?

I don’t think he’s a threat to be “stolen” away, even if there is a decent chance he might walk eventually. I think he’s a bit more valuable to okc with his locker room vibes type presence.

Makes sense to resign him now to get discount (ie front load it) on future years when they will be in the tax though if they really intend to keep him

Yeah next year is when OKC has the most room under the tax to do something like front load and decline from there. I’m not sure he gets kept but helpful to understand how folks view him.

I think he’s a candidate for an extension at a declining deal. Salary matching in future and a very very weak IH insurance in case we can’t afford IH beyond this contract.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Fascinating I just read that these finals will be first time the two teams are under the luxury tax since it went into effect 22 years ago.

[Mavrelous]

Never heard that name before, hopefully he can work well with the current GM

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[Scoot McGroot]

My quick guess was 3/15 to 4/24, so we’re probably close? But I would bet that okc doesn’t need to decline his contract, as I think they could keep him for similar after unrestricted free agency in a year?

I don’t think he’s a threat to be “stolen” away, even if there is a decent chance he might walk eventually. I think he’s a bit more valuable to okc with his locker room vibes type presence.

Makes sense to resign him now to get discount (ie front load it) on future years when they will be in the tax though if they really intend to keep him

Yeah next year is when OKC has the most room under the tax to do something like front load and decline from there. I’m not sure he gets kept but helpful to understand how folks view him.

Sure. But also, the numbers he should likely get are so low that an 8% fall annually will be but a tiny drop in the bucket. I don't think the gain would be worth paying him the extension a year early, like it was to do so for Nembhard last summer (kicking in next year).

[ReggiesKnicks]

Makes sense to resign him now to get discount (ie front load it) on future years when they will be in the tax though if they really intend to keep him

Yeah next year is when OKC has the most room under the tax to do something like front load and decline from there. I’m not sure he gets kept but helpful to understand how folks view him.

Sure. But also, the numbers he should likely get are so low that an 8% fall annually will be but a tiny drop in the bucket. I don't think the gain would be worth paying him the extension a year early, like it was to do so for Nembhard last summer (kicking in next year).

I agree.

When the difference annually is less than a minimum roster hold, it probably is worth it for OKC to maintain flexibility over extending a player of JWill's caliber.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Makes sense to resign him now to get discount (ie front load it) on future years when they will be in the tax though if they really intend to keep him

Yeah next year is when OKC has the most room under the tax to do something like front load and decline from there. I’m not sure he gets kept but helpful to understand how folks view him.

Sure. But also, the numbers he should likely get are so low that an 8% fall annually will be but a tiny drop in the bucket. I don't think the gain would be worth paying him the extension a year early, like it was to do so for Nembhard last summer (kicking in next year).

I think you are correct here. But they could make the extension dirt cheap by essentially tripling his salary for next year, and he’d still be moveable. Again that probably just makes more sense as an extension.

But with most of this team locked up I have very few trades and transactions to think about.

Something like 6.3/5.8/5.4/5

With the last two years as unguaranteed or partially guaranteed during the first years of the Shai supermax.

[jayjaysee]

Given how expensive the roster will be, I think it’s worth extending him early even though it’ll only likely cut off 2~ million a season.. Won’t be hard to dump 3yr20 (at most) if IH sticks around.

[jayjaysee]

So overly complicated and all but..

Davis and Martin to Houston
Green, Lauri, 10th, 2027 better of Phoenix/Brooklyn first to Dallas
Jabari, Brooks, Klay, Hardy, 2028 Dallas (OKC) first to Utah

Dallas goes young(er) and Lauri knows how to live through a tank season if Flagg isn’t ready. If Flagg is ready, then the roster should survive until Kyrie is back and be a nice first round out.

Houston goes for a title before the roster gets expensive, but sends out matching salary the next couple years anyways.

Utah gets a good prospect and a first a few years out (from the team set up better than anyone else in the league..)

But needs more?

[jayjaysee]

Delayed for matching..

Giannis to Dallas
PJ and Gafford (one into TPE) to Sac
2029 LAL first to NOP
Klay, Flagg, Jonas, 2026 Sac first (lottery protected, top 10, top 8, seconds), 2026 swap rights back to Milwaukee

Milwaukee gets one tank season. Sell everything that has value (not much) and go into 2026 with a healthy Dame playing for his last big contract and hopefully Flagg/AJ paired up.

Dallas dumps Martin later to fill the bench under the second apron but AD/Giannis/Kyrie for a real 3 year run. Hope the trio sticks together for the next 5 years of the pick debt. Eh. Hope Giannis is enough to bring in some good vet mins to fill the bench back up?

NOP likes Laker firsts. And let’s Milwaukee tank a season with the hope that they can’t build a roster for 2026-2027.

Sac puts two ideal bigs around Sabonis? The pick is protected well enough in case they do decide to blow it up.

[SkyHook]

Never heard that name before, hopefully he can work well with the current GM

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Nepotism, a tradition unlike any other.

[Mavrelous]

Delayed for matching..

Giannis to Dallas
PJ and Gafford (one into TPE) to Sac
2029 LAL first to NOP
Klay, Flagg, Jonas, 2026 Sac first (lottery protected, top 10, top 8, seconds), 2026 swap rights back to Milwaukee

Milwaukee gets one tank season. Sell everything that has value (not much) and go into 2026 with a healthy Dame playing for his last big contract and hopefully Flagg/AJ paired up.

Dallas dumps Martin later to fill the bench under the second apron but AD/Giannis/Kyrie for a real 3 year run. Hope the trio sticks together for the next 5 years of the pick debt. Eh. Hope Giannis is enough to bring in some good vet mins to fill the bench back up?

NOP likes Laker firsts. And let’s Milwaukee tank a season with the hope that they can’t build a roster for 2026-2027.

Sac puts two ideal bigs around Sabonis? The pick is protected well enough in case they do decide to blow it up.

I have no interest in trading Flagg for Giannis, but Lakers should give unprotected 1st for PJ/Gafford, better value for Milwaukee.

[SkyHook]

So overly complicated and all but..

Davis and Martin to Houston
Green, Lauri, 10th, 2027 better of Phoenix/Brooklyn first to Dallas
Jabari, Brooks, Klay, Hardy, 2028 Dallas (OKC) first to Utah

Dallas goes young(er) and Lauri knows how to live through a tank season if Flagg isn’t ready. If Flagg is ready, then the roster should survive until Kyrie is back and be a nice first round out.

Houston goes for a title before the roster gets expensive, but sends out matching salary the next couple years anyways.

Utah gets a good prospect and a first a few years out (from the team set up better than anyone else in the league..)

But needs more?

I don't see any real reason for Utah to be involved. Smith is fine, but I'm not a fan.

[Texas Chuck]

Stein saying Fenerbahçe wants Exum back, but so does Dallas and his preference is to stay in the NBA. Not sure what money Dallas has to give him or if he's worth more than the minimum with his health. But if this is real, I will put a sock in any Lonzo to Dallas ideas because that would be the role.

Now Ben Simmons? Still interested. Even with the utter lack of shooting and his health. I still believe lol. In fact if Dallas trades Gafford or PJ I'm even more interested.

[SkyHook]

Stein saying Fenerbahçe wants Exum back, but so does Dallas and his preference is to stay in the NBA. Not sure what money Dallas has to give him or if he's worth more than the minimum with his health. But if this is real, I will put a sock in any Lonzo to Dallas ideas because that would be the role.

Now Ben Simmons? Still interested. Even with the utter lack of shooting and his health. I still believe lol. In fact if Dallas trades Gafford or PJ I'm even more interested.

Selfishly I hope that the Mavs work out a deal with Exum. I love watching the kid play, despite his injury struggles. Hoping, as always, that he can stay healthy and have a positive impact for Dallas.

[Astaluego]

Stein saying Fenerbahçe wants Exum back, but so does Dallas and his preference is to stay in the NBA. Not sure what money Dallas has to give him or if he's worth more than the minimum with his health. But if this is real, I will put a sock in any Lonzo to Dallas ideas because that would be the role.

Now Ben Simmons? Still interested. Even with the utter lack of shooting and his health. I still believe lol. In fact if Dallas trades Gafford or PJ I'm even more interested.

I like Simmons' fit with the Kings. They need defense, size, and they have scorers everywhere.

[SkyHook]

Interesting. Does this indicate a real change in philosophy? Misdirection?

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[HadAnEffectHere]

There's basically zero moves for the Jazz to make to win now other than Zion.

Zion is a MISERABLE fit with the Jazz's roster and would hate it in Utah and might be a rapist and might miss the whole season too, but there's no real opinions other than him.

Like, who is the PG and 3D SG and 3D SF they can get to fix this roster? Panic trade for Jrue? John Colins for Jrue could happen, but it would be just a miserable plan. Even if you did a Jrue panic trade, this roster is still very very bad.