Discussing Other Teams' Moves - Part 8

[9 and 20]

Lots of interesting stuff after the draft. What happens with Ace? I'm sure Ainge and Ainge Jr will play hardball, especially since Ainge Jr just came on, but it doesn't make much sense that they'd do this - they should have just traded with us. What is Portland doing with so many centers, including two recent high picks that can't play together? Phoenix looking interesting - rebounded as well as can be expected, tbh. What happened in Toronto?

[dckingsfan]

Orlando made a great trade for Desmond Bane and added Jase Richardson and Noah Penda in the draft. That front office is top shelf.

Let's wait and see how those draft picks turn out in the long run. I am not convinced.

The picks were solid. I had Penda and Jase both top 20 - so, that was terrific value. And Jase could be a nice spark plug behind Bane and Suggs. Penda gets a chance to develop (and he definitely needs time) behind Wagner.

Either way, they are in a pretty good place to compete if the injury bug doesn't bite them again. I still think they are missing a rim protector to take them to the next level. And I don't buy their cap management thus far.

[gesa2]

I can’t believe the timing of Ujuri’s departure from Toronto. If you are going to fire someone don’t have them lead your draft 2 days before! Really weird

[tontoz]

Houston declined the $40 million team option on FVV, then resigned him for 2 years $50 million.

[closg00]

You’re first point has already been disproven, he is in the NBA now because he was effective playing against the NBA’s best players at the Olympics.

Re: Whether it was one of the best off-season moves, I wrote that it “may” be, not that it is was, and I was conservative. A survey of NBA GM’s ranked Philly’s off season a close 2nd best to OKC’s
1. OKC 37%
2. Philly 33%
3. NYK 20%
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/philadelphia-76ers/news/nba-gm-survey-76ers-best-offseason-title-top-championship-contender-okc-thunder-2024/5b6627aa0afda3c7ab9b4cb1

He averaged 17 mpg over 3 games in the Olympics with international rules averaging as many fouls as rebounds and as many turnovers as assists. I'm not sure how you can argue that proves anything.

As doe Philly having the 2nd best offseason, sure. But Yabusele is a drop in the bucket there. Their offseason included re-signing Maxey, Lowry and Oubre, signing George, Gordon, Martin, Drummond and Jackson, and having Jared McCain fall into their laps in the draft. NBA GMs liking their offseason has a lot more to do with that stuff than signing Yabusele for the minimum. You can tell NBA GMs liked the other stuff more because lots of them would have paid more than the minimum for most of those other guys but none of them were willing to pay more than the minimum for Yabusele. Yabusele wasn't even a tip 3 Sixers offseason move let alone one of the best offseason moves in the league.

We're about to find out

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[PaulinVA]

Suns Blocked From Bradley Beal Waive-And-Stretch Due To Previous Moves

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/281063/Suns-Blocked-From-Bradley-Beal-Waive-And-Stretch-Due-To-Previous-Moves

[penbeast0]

Orlando made a great trade for Desmond Bane and added Jase Richardson and Noah Penda in the draft. That front office is top shelf.

Let's wait and see how those draft picks turn out in the long run. I am not convinced.

The picks were solid. I had Penda and Jase both top 20 - so, that was terrific value. And Jase could be a nice spark plug behind Bane and Suggs. Penda gets a chance to develop (and he definitely needs time) behind Wagner.

Either way, they are in a pretty good place to compete if the injury bug doesn't bite them again. I still think they are missing a rim protector to take them to the next level. And I don't buy their cap management thus far.

What, no faith in Jonathon Isaac being healthy?

[closg00]

Suns Blocked From Bradley Beal Waive-And-Stretch Due To Previous Moves

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/281063/Suns-Blocked-From-Bradley-Beal-Waive-And-Stretch-Due-To-Previous-Moves

The nightmare ghost of Tommy Sheppard lives-on, I am not joking when I say they could make a Netflix documentary on Brad Beal's career and how he earned $379 MILLION DOLLARS.

[gambitx777]

I would sign mo Wagner to a cheap contract in a heart beat. He was playing well for them and I'd love to have him back as a back up bench big.

Sent from my SM-S926U1 using RealGM mobile app

[gambitx777]

Suns Blocked From Bradley Beal Waive-And-Stretch Due To Previous Moves

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/281063/Suns-Blocked-From-Bradley-Beal-Waive-And-Stretch-Due-To-Previous-Moves

The nightmare ghost of Tommy Sheppard lives-on, I am not joking when I say they could make a Netflix documentary on Brad Beal's career and how he earned $379 MILLION DOLLARS.

Yeah but the league rules on stretching are pretty clear. Like why would they do that when they knew they plan was to waive beal that's just incompetence.

Sent from my SM-S926U1 using RealGM mobile app

[closg00]

Suns Blocked From Bradley Beal Waive-And-Stretch Due To Previous Moves

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/281063/Suns-Blocked-From-Bradley-Beal-Waive-And-Stretch-Due-To-Previous-Moves

The nightmare ghost of Tommy Sheppard lives-on, I am not joking when I say they could make a Netflix documentary on Brad Beal's career and how he earned $379 MILLION DOLLARS.

Yeah but the league rules on stretching are pretty clear. Like why would they do that when they knew they plan was to waive beal that's just incompetence.

Sent from my SM-S926U1 using RealGM mobile app

The owner probably demanded that they ask anyway, rich people think there are special rules for them.

[NatP4]

Orlando made a great trade for Desmond Bane and added Jase Richardson and Noah Penda in the draft. That front office is top shelf.

Let's wait and see how those draft picks turn out in the long run. I am not convinced.

The picks were solid. I had Penda and Jase both top 20 - so, that was terrific value. And Jase could be a nice spark plug behind Bane and Suggs. Penda gets a chance to develop (and he definitely needs time) behind Wagner.

Either way, they are in a pretty good place to compete if the injury bug doesn't bite them again. I still think they are missing a rim protector to take them to the next level. And I don't buy their cap management thus far.

Was looking at EPM today. Franz Wagner is 10th in the NBA, above Curry, Wemby AD, Anthony Edwards.

One of the most underrated players in the league. I think they can compete for a championship next year.

[dobrojim]

Orlando made a great trade for Desmond Bane and added Jase Richardson and Noah Penda in the draft. That front office is top shelf.

Let's wait and see how those draft picks turn out in the long run. I am not convinced.

The picks were solid. I had Penda and Jase both top 20 - so, that was terrific value. And Jase could be a nice spark plug behind Bane and Suggs. Penda gets a chance to develop (and he definitely needs time) behind Wagner.

Either way, they are in a pretty good place to compete if the injury bug doesn't bite them again. I still think they are missing a rim protector to take them to the next level. And I don't buy their cap management thus far.

Didn't they also mortgage a fair bit of their future draft picks? I've forgotten the details.

[prime1time]

The irony of the modern NBA is that the former holy grail of the NBA - having a big time star - isn't what it use to be. Those guys simply make too much money and distort roster construction. Wizards are in a good place. With a lot of cap space and a young roster, they can afford to be deligent. Jimmy Butler signed a 2 year 121 million dollar contract. When you have to pay those guys so much, it's not even worth it having them on your team. And then couple that with the fact that so many teams don't even have a first round pick. We are very fortunate that the Wizards never sent all of their draft picks away for some "star."

[9 and 20]

Jabari Smith Jr re-upped with Houston for 5 years, about $25 mil a year. That's a solid deal for both if Smith doesn't improve and really good for Houston if he does. Tari Eason is their other young guy who needs to be re-signed.

I also have my eye on Shaedon Sharpe.

[nate33]

Orlando made a great trade for Desmond Bane and added Jase Richardson and Noah Penda in the draft. That front office is top shelf.

Let's wait and see how those draft picks turn out in the long run. I am not convinced.

The picks were solid. I had Penda and Jase both top 20 - so, that was terrific value. And Jase could be a nice spark plug behind Bane and Suggs. Penda gets a chance to develop (and he definitely needs time) behind Wagner.

Either way, they are in a pretty good place to compete if the injury bug doesn't bite them again. I still think they are missing a rim protector to take them to the next level. And I don't buy their cap management thus far.

Was looking at EPM today. Franz Wagner is 10th in the NBA, above Curry, Wemby AD, Anthony Edwards.

One of the most underrated players in the league. I think they can compete for a championship next year.

What's interesting is that he ranks so well despite having a horrific season from 3-point range (.295) which resulted in a very pedestrian TS% (.558). Where he shines is in his massive on/off differential of +12.9. I think EPM heavily draws on that metric.

[nate33]

The irony of the modern NBA is that the former holy grail of the NBA - having a big time star - isn't what it use to be. Those guys simply make too much money and distort roster construction. Wizards are in a good place. With a lot of cap space and a young roster, they can afford to be deligent. Jimmy Butler signed a 2 year 121 million dollar contract. When you have to pay those guys so much, it's not even worth it having them on your team. And then couple that with the fact that so many teams don't even have a first round pick. We are very fortunate that the Wizards never sent all of their draft picks away for some "star."

I think the other issue is that the intensity of the game is so grueling now, these highly-paid stars in the twilight of their careers just can't stay healthy through the playoff grind. You just can't expect guys like Jimmy Butler, Steph, Durant, Beal, Lillard, Kawhi, Davis, etc. to go 4 rounds in the playoffs. You need to be paying those guys $30-40M, not $60M.

[tontoz]

Listening to a yahoo podcast. Apparently there are several Duke alums among the Hornets owners/FO which explains the Kon love.

[nate33]

Listening to a yahoo podcast. Apparently there are several Duke alums among the Hornets owners/FO which explains the Kon love.

I suppose there is also some marketing synergy going on there. It's like the Wizards drafting Juan Dixon and Steve Blake.

[Silvie Lysandra]

The irony of the modern NBA is that the former holy grail of the NBA - having a big time star - isn't what it use to be. Those guys simply make too much money and distort roster construction. Wizards are in a good place. With a lot of cap space and a young roster, they can afford to be deligent. Jimmy Butler signed a 2 year 121 million dollar contract. When you have to pay those guys so much, it's not even worth it having them on your team. And then couple that with the fact that so many teams don't even have a first round pick. We are very fortunate that the Wizards never sent all of their draft picks away for some "star."

It's more that a lot of those stars got massively overpaid. If you're paying that much, you better be getting a top 10 if not 5 player. SGA, Jokic, Giannis, Luka, Wemby. Healthy Tatum maybe, healthy Hali maybe. Anyone else needs to be getting notably less than the max. The problem is that it's so hard to get talent in the NBA that teams will overpay for 2nd option guys.