keevsnick1 wrote:I'd be VERY surprised if they weren't aggressively shopping Simons. Right now as things stand they are about 17 million away from the tax. Niang+Hauser make about 18 million, but then you have to replace their roster spots so trading them only really nets you about 13 million. So there's no real way to get completely under the tax unless Simons is moved. I didn't originally think they'd be able to get all the way under the tax, but it feels like that's where they are going.
I think what they'll try to do is another step-down trade, similar to what they did going from Holiday at 32.4 to Simons at 27.4. They try to swap that 27 in Simons for two guys make a combined 22-27 million then spin off one of those guys into a team's trade exception.
One team to keep an eye on is Detroit I think. They could potentially have enough cap space to swap Fontechio for Simons and absorb the bulk of Simons contract without sending anything else back. That saves the C's 19 million. There are also other constructions where they send out Ivey, Duran or Stewart if they want to use their cap space. With Beasley under criminal investigation and Schroder likely gone they could use some shooting/ball handling.
Dallas might still work as well with PJ Washington + Caleb Martin if they want a ball handler/scorer to fill in until Kyrie is back. Jazz might work with Clarkson + KJ Martin if they want a young ball handler/scorer with Sexton traded. The Bulls have a few expiring contracts that might work and might want more scoring.
Yeah people should go through the list of teams it’s a super short list that might want Simons and be able to trade for him.