2025 Offseason Thread Vol.4

[Johnny Fontane]

The east is a barren wasteland to the extent that Heat COULD in theory make some noise IN CONFERENCE. Maybe even win a playoff series who knows. Like we’ve seen in the past never write off an Erik spoelstra coached written off to the extreme, and now free from distractions team

That said, getting off Rozier at minimum and preferably Wiggins ad well SHOULD be priority number 1 for the rest of the offseason

[EMC5466]

Read on Twitter

?s=61

[marson]

If we have to choose between DeRozan or Kuminga, then give me Kuminga.

[heater4life]

For what? We just replaced Duncan's salary with the new guy's salary.

3 options.

A. Have a player on a 19.8M expiring deal
B. Have 9.8M in dead money
C. Have a player on an 8M expiring deal


Org chose C.

No.

A. Duncan opts out of his contract and we have $0 on our cap
B. We sign & trade him for a guy making $8 million and change

We chose B. We now have one more overpaid player on our roster for no reason whatsoever.

Duncan did not opt out to test the market. His agent knew they had a willing taker that would extend him. They approached the Heat to see if they were willing to play ball, opted out and the move was made.

You don’t opt out of 20M in the hopes that your previous employer will want to make a trade so you can sign a 3yr/48M dollar deal.

[fincane30]

Skolnick said on his pod that Heat were never really that interested in bringing Duncan back. It was relayed to him that the Heat are not interested in progress stoppers on the roster. Duncan was viewed as such. Keeping Fontecchio is not a sure thing. "You want young? Well not retaining Duncan is another step in that direction." They'll trade Wiggins if they can and of course getting Rozier out is a priority as well.

[SA37]

Our legit scouts know the players on their radar since high school - their work ethic, attitude, and skill set. So they must see something in Kuminga that we casual fans might not fully recognize.

They probably view him as a low-risk, high-reward project. He's incredibly athletic and could develop well under our coaching staff with the right fundamental training.

Personally, I'm intrigued and open to a reasonable deal. We lack a POA attacker who can pressure the paint outside of Herro, and Kuminga could definitely help fill that gap.

I have no issue with Miami taking a flyer on Kuminga, but all reports seem to indicate this guy wants star money. No one -- not even Golden St -- thinks he is worth that kind of deal. From Wiretap:

The Heat are currently balking at Kuminga's potential $30 million-per-year price point and have also been linked with DeMar DeRozan and John Collins.

I'd rather have DeRozan for ~$25M and/or Collins.

DeRozan is basically on a deal like Miami had with Robinson. So ~$25M this season is guaranteed and then next year "2026-27: $10,000,000 guaranteed, $12,000,000 guaranteed if makes All-Star in 2025 OR 2026, $14,000,000 guaranteed if makes All-Star in 2025 AND 2026, fully guaranteed if team makes 2025 or 2026 NBA Finals and player plays in at least 60 regular season games, or fully guaranteed 1/10/27"

IMO, that is MUCH better than giving Kuminga $100+M.

Also like the idea of acquiring Collins. He's athletic, can shoot the 3 and is a solid rebounder and shot-blocker. He can get you 20-10 in starters minutes.

[marson]

Our legit scouts know the players on their radar since high school - their work ethic, attitude, and skill set. So they must see something in Kuminga that we casual fans might not fully recognize.

They probably view him as a low-risk, high-reward project. He's incredibly athletic and could develop well under our coaching staff with the right fundamental training.

Personally, I'm intrigued and open to a reasonable deal. We lack a POA attacker who can pressure the paint outside of Herro, and Kuminga could definitely help fill that gap.

I have no issue with Miami taking a flyer on Kuminga, but all reports seem to indicate this guy wants star money. No one -- not even Golden St -- thinks he is worth that kind of deal. From Wiretap:

The Heat are currently balking at Kuminga's potential $30 million-per-year price point and have also been linked with DeMar DeRozan and John Collins.

$30 mil is going to feel like $20 mil in a few years with the cap going up. That’s basically the Duncan contract we’ve dealt with over the last four seasons.

With Tyler and Bam both about to be making $50 million, $30 million seems like a fair price for Kuminga.

[unowen85]

Even the knicks got wayyy better.

If they hire Mike Brown, their failure will be complete. Another 10+ years of irrelevancy.

[Wiltside]

I’d 100% take Kuminga over DeRozen. We know what DeMar is. He’s a quality player but he doesn’t fit and there’s a reason he’s being passed around the league now.

Kuminga is an unknown quantity. He has a lot of the tools to be great, but needs work too. In a development year, he’d be a good get as a 22yr old out to prove himself. Maybe he’s great. Maybe he’s meh. If possibly I’d limit the years to 3 and try and get him on a 3/70 type deal.

[DayofMourning]

If we have to choose between DeRozan or Kuminga, then give me Kuminga.

What bout Kuminga or Whitmore?

[SA37]

Spoiler:

Our legit scouts know the players on their radar since high school - their work ethic, attitude, and skill set. So they must see something in Kuminga that we casual fans might not fully recognize.

They probably view him as a low-risk, high-reward project. He's incredibly athletic and could develop well under our coaching staff with the right fundamental training.

Personally, I'm intrigued and open to a reasonable deal. We lack a POA attacker who can pressure the paint outside of Herro, and Kuminga could definitely help fill that gap.

I have no issue with Miami taking a flyer on Kuminga, but all reports seem to indicate this guy wants star money. No one -- not even Golden St -- thinks he is worth that kind of deal. From Wiretap:

The Heat are currently balking at Kuminga's potential $30 million-per-year price point and have also been linked with DeMar DeRozan and John Collins.

$30 mil is going to feel like $20 mil in a few years with the cap going up. That’s basically the Duncan contract we’ve dealt with over the last four seasons.

With Tyler and Bam both about to be making $50 million, $30 million seems like a fair price for Kuminga.

You're gaslighting yourself into believing Kuminga is worth $30M. He may turn out to be, but nothing he has shown and nothing anyone has seen has led them to the conclusion he's worth $30M.

The only way I'd even consider such a contract would be if it were structured like Robinson's (1st year guaranteed, 2nd year partially guaranteed, 3rd year not guaranteed) or something similar. As long as Miami has outs along the way, I'd be ok with it. But Miami cannot guarantee Kuminga $100+M.

And Miami would be crazy to give Herro $50M/season.

[Hoops3355]

I’d 100% take Kuminga over DeRozen. We know what DeMar is. He’s a quality player but he doesn’t fit and there’s a reason he’s being passed around the league now.

Kuminga is an unknown quantity. He has a lot of the tools to be great, but needs work too. In a development year, he’d be a good get as a 22yr old out to prove himself. Maybe he’s great. Maybe he’s meh. If possibly I’d limit the years to 3 and try and get him on a 3/70 type deal.

Sir he's known. He shoots 60% from stripe and 30% from 3. We don't need Temu Jimmy Tito.

[heater4life]

If the Heat are truly interested in Kuminga, it can’t happen without dropping Wiggs or Rozier.

I’m not into giving up assets for Kuminga.

[unowen85]

If it’s between Kuminga and Derozan, I’m taking Jaime Jaquez Junior. He’s gonna be 2026 NBA Most Improved Player.

[SA37]

I’d 100% take Kuminga over DeRozen. We know what DeMar is. He’s a quality player but he doesn’t fit and there’s a reason he’s being passed around the league now.

Kuminga is an unknown quantity. He has a lot of the tools to be great, but needs work too. In a development year, he’d be a good get as a 22yr old out to prove himself. Maybe he’s great. Maybe he’s meh. If possibly I’d limit the years to 3 and try and get him on a 3/70 type deal.

The issue is 100% about money. Kuminga reportedly turned down 5-years, $150M from the Warriors, iirc. This guy seems to continue to want a deal that is superior to that.

DeRozan is an easy choice -- and almost 100% certain the better player -- at his price point and he has an unbeatable contract.

Kuminga simply isn't worth $100+M more than DeRozan.

[Lennyzinho]

Yep, there is zero incentive for Dame or his next team to pay him anything more than the minimum.

Bucks are paying 22.5M for five years. This year, 100% minimum deal. Teams are ofc gonna want him to sign a 2-3 year minimum deal but... lets say he does just a 1 year deal. And word is hes looking good in practice toward end of season. And offseason lots of teams will have money unlike this year. Will dame prioritize getting a last 2-60M type contract? Which means bucks pay nothing those two years. And hes making a total of 16M more. And then he goes back to minimum and making 22.5 from bucks years 4-5. Or maybe hes not even in nba year 5 but still collecting. Its really up to dame if he wants to chase the money and if someone will pay him 30-35M a year. Obviously its either minimum or 25M and up type offers.

No, that's just a salary cap thing. Dame is getting paid the same as if he was playing.

$54,126,450 this coming season
$58,456,566 next season

The offsets would be against those numbers.

Source?

CBS Yahoo and AI all back up what I said.

[Flash4thewin]

If the Heat are truly interested in Kuminga, it can’t happen without dropping Wiggs or Rozier.

I’m not into giving up assets for Kuminga.

Are Wiggin or Rozier assets to begin with? Assets like do they help the team on the court based on last season?

[DayofMourning]

If it’s between Kuminga and Derozan, I’m taking Jaime Jaquez Junior. He’s gonna be 2026 NBA Most Improved Player.

Hes gonna come back like a super saiyan.

[SA37]

Bucks are paying 22.5M for five years. This year, 100% minimum deal. Teams are ofc gonna want him to sign a 2-3 year minimum deal but... lets say he does just a 1 year deal. And word is hes looking good in practice toward end of season. And offseason lots of teams will have money unlike this year. Will dame prioritize getting a last 2-60M type contract? Which means bucks pay nothing those two years. And hes making a total of 16M more. And then he goes back to minimum and making 22.5 from bucks years 4-5. Or maybe hes not even in nba year 5 but still collecting. Its really up to dame if he wants to chase the money and if someone will pay him 30-35M a year. Obviously its either minimum or 25M and up type offers.

No, that's just a salary cap thing. Dame is getting paid the same as if he was playing.

$54,126,450 this coming season
$58,456,566 next season

The offsets would be against those numbers.

Source?

CBS Yahoo and AI all back up what I said.

Yeah, when contracts are stretched, it's over 5 years.

Turner is eight years younger than Lopez, but their numbers last season were virtually identical. And Turner is now making three times as much money -- and that's before you factor in the more than $22 million in roster charges that will now be on Milwaukee's books over the next five seasons because of the decision to waive and stretch Lillard's deal.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45636299/nba-free-agency-2025-ripple-effects-myles-turner-damian-lillard-news

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Development piece:

Whitmore >>> Kuminga

Vet addition:

Collins >>> Derozan

Idk why we’re not being linked to Whitmore if we’re reportedly interested in Kuminga. Give me the developmental piece at the same exact position that can actually shoot and is 2 years younger. Oh and he’s not due for a new contract for another 2 years so we don’t have to pay him $30M off the bat just to see if he might one day be a good player.