Free Agency & Trades Thread 2 **NOW OPEN**

[OakleyDokely]

Draymond Green’s words on this free agency and the new CBA in general.

July 7th, 2025
Dear Diary,
I’m sitting in my mancave having a conversation with my wife. Baffled at the fact that NBA free agency is over. Quite frankly it never really started. The level of anticipation leading up to July 1st were as exciting as the fireworks on the 4th. It was the excitement of the NBA Finals yet only a week after watching a team spray champagne and ride on floats.
One can only point to the “New CBA” and the 2nd apron(hard cap) for absolutely putting an end to Free Agency

As we once knew it.
Sadly, I sit here and watch so many players overplay the market and not understand what they are up against with the new rules. Which leads me to trying to understand the unstaggering percentage of guys that has no idea of THE BUSINESS they are apart of. And I as a “VET” in this league watch players mismanage their careers and before they know it, look back like DAMN, where to next? I can go so far with this but I really don’t feel like typing it all right now. Because,

there’s so many arms to this topic. An Insane amount and then add in my personal experience with it. I have what I think is an extremely unique perspective on this. I am obviously a player, a former amazing general manager is one of my close friends. I am very close with previous owners and current ones. I was introduced to the business at 16 by Joe D, so yeah all that to say, it’s interesting to watch and also be apart of. Maybe I’ll write some long piece, or maybe I’ll just do a podcast lol.

But regardless of where I decide to let these thoughts out, I should’ve been the Players association president lol. I could’ve helped a lot.

The league is great, it’s been great to all of us. Amazing partnership amongst players, staff, front office, ownership, and Fans that make the well oiled machine soar. And rightfully so, but it’s baffling to me how little players know about this business and how it affects them and ways most don’t understand. Funny thing is, I said this before the last CBA.

You gotta do most of your important business by the trade deadline or at the draft because FA is officially dead. Teams are fighting over min scraps while the decent players that are available are gambling there's some idiot out there willing to overpay, but those idiots will be hard to find now. If a team offers you a contract extension during the season, TAKE IT because nobody is going to save you during free agency.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I think the CBA and the draft lotto odds are working just fine.

The league's biggest issue is that non-Americans are dominating the upper crust of the league, and injuries to important players. The next CBA needs to offer an amnesty again.

[WuTang_OG]

The CBA puts more pressure on GM's to perform better in drafting/developing and giving out smart contracts. I think that's a positive.

The teams like the Lakers don't like it because they stink at both

And for teams like OKC who have to make a decision on Chet/Jdub, that's where they have to get creative. The 2nd apron era will be for the teams who are at the best at drafting and developing. Depth wins now. It's no surprise both Pacers and OKC were in the finals.

[causal_fan]

Draymond Green’s words on this free agency and the new CBA in general.

July 7th, 2025
Dear Diary,
I’m sitting in my mancave having a conversation with my wife. Baffled at the fact that NBA free agency is over. Quite frankly it never really started. The level of anticipation leading up to July 1st were as exciting as the fireworks on the 4th. It was the excitement of the NBA Finals yet only a week after watching a team spray champagne and ride on floats.
One can only point to the “New CBA” and the 2nd apron(hard cap) for absolutely putting an end to Free Agency

As we once knew it.
Sadly, I sit here and watch so many players overplay the market and not understand what they are up against with the new rules. Which leads me to trying to understand the unstaggering percentage of guys that has no idea of THE BUSINESS they are apart of. And I as a “VET” in this league watch players mismanage their careers and before they know it, look back like DAMN, where to next? I can go so far with this but I really don’t feel like typing it all right now. Because,

there’s so many arms to this topic. An Insane amount and then add in my personal experience with it. I have what I think is an extremely unique perspective on this. I am obviously a player, a former amazing general manager is one of my close friends. I am very close with previous owners and current ones. I was introduced to the business at 16 by Joe D, so yeah all that to say, it’s interesting to watch and also be apart of. Maybe I’ll write some long piece, or maybe I’ll just do a podcast lol.

But regardless of where I decide to let these thoughts out, I should’ve been the Players association president lol. I could’ve helped a lot.

The league is great, it’s been great to all of us. Amazing partnership amongst players, staff, front office, ownership, and Fans that make the well oiled machine soar. And rightfully so, but it’s baffling to me how little players know about this business and how it affects them and ways most don’t understand. Funny thing is, I said this before the last CBA.

And yet, one team continues to pay its players at the top of the market prices seemingly always bidding against themselves.

[Psubs]

I think the CBA and the draft lotto odds are working just fine.

The league's biggest issue is that non-Americans are dominating the upper crust of the league, and injuries to important players. The next CBA needs to offer an amnesty again.

There are no real huge terrible contracts outside of Beal. Just raise the tax threshold and 2nd apron.

[Godaddycurse]

I think the CBA and the draft lotto odds are working just fine.

The league's biggest issue is that non-Americans are dominating the upper crust of the league, and injuries to important players. The next CBA needs to offer an amnesty again.

There are no real huge terrible contracts outside of Beal. Just raise the tax threshold and 2nd apron.

george and embiid...

[dhackett1565]

And yet, one team continues to pay its players at the top of the market prices seemingly always bidding against themselves.

This is a funny characterization of a team that just let one core player walk rather than pay market, and traded two others rather than pay them their market.

[WaltFrazier]

Draymond Green’s words on this free agency and the new CBA in general.

July 7th, 2025
Dear Diary,
I’m sitting in my mancave having a conversation with my wife. Baffled at the fact that NBA free agency is over. Quite frankly it never really started. The level of anticipation leading up to July 1st were as exciting as the fireworks on the 4th. It was the excitement of the NBA Finals yet only a week after watching a team spray champagne and ride on floats.
One can only point to the “New CBA” and the 2nd apron(hard cap) for absolutely putting an end to Free Agency

As we once knew it.
Sadly, I sit here and watch so many players overplay the market and not understand what they are up against with the new rules. Which leads me to trying to understand the unstaggering percentage of guys that has no idea of THE BUSINESS they are apart of. And I as a “VET” in this league watch players mismanage their careers and before they know it, look back like DAMN, where to next? I can go so far with this but I really don’t feel like typing it all right now. Because,

there’s so many arms to this topic. An Insane amount and then add in my personal experience with it. I have what I think is an extremely unique perspective on this. I am obviously a player, a former amazing general manager is one of my close friends. I am very close with previous owners and current ones. [b]I was introduced to the business at 16 by Joe D, so yeah all that to say, it’s interesting to watch and also be apart of. Maybe I’ll write some long piece, or maybe I’ll just do a podcast lol.

But regardless of where I decide to let these thoughts out, I should’ve been the Players association president lol. I could’ve helped a lot.

The league is great, it’s been great to all of us. Amazing partnership amongst players, staff, front office, ownership, and Fans that make the well oiled machine soar. And rightfully so, but it’s baffling to me how little players know about this business and how it affects them and ways most don’t understand. Funny thing is, I said this before the last CBA.

[/b]

Introduced to the business by Joe D? Dumars?

[YogurtProducer]

I think the CBA and the draft lotto odds are working just fine.

The league's biggest issue is that non-Americans are dominating the upper crust of the league, and injuries to important players. The next CBA needs to offer an amnesty again.

I agree. Teams and players will adjust, it’ll take time.

The one thing i wish they’d add is salary retention. It would save teams like PHO or whoever else a bit where they can trade Beal but retain $20M of his salary. Right now they can buyout and stretch and get nothing - but being able to retain (aka - the NHL) would make trading just so much easier for everyone.

Instead of needing to match trades almost to the $, teams could trade a $30M guy for a $20M guy and maybe even get a pick in return to retain $10M of the deal.

I just can’t think of any downsides here for anyone

[Tor_Raps]

For those complaining about our team's decisions after the championship, it can't be worse than the Warriors.

Except they won 4 times haha

Even then we are nowhere near their level of incompetence. Botched three lottery picks that could’ve positioned themselves nicely post-Curry. Instead they are clinging onto what they have, doubling down on a really old core.

Our title run was always going to come to an end because of the age of our players and the fact Kawhi was a rental. Even the year after our championship, some didn’t even have us making the playoffs.

Not sure what youre saying. Gstate built their team from the ground up and got 4 titles while we had to trade for a rental to get 1.

Yes they didnt hit on 100% of their moves but clearly neither did we. How does this make Gstate incompetent and us better than them?

[Loso04]

Except they won 4 times haha

Even then we are nowhere near their level of incompetence. Botched three lottery picks that could’ve positioned themselves nicely post-Curry. Instead they are clinging onto what they have, doubling down on a really old core.

Our title run was always going to come to an end because of the age of our players and the fact Kawhi was a rental. Even the year after our championship, some didn’t even have us making the playoffs.

Not sure what youre saying. Gstate built their team from the ground up and got 4 titles while we had to trade for a rental to get 1.

Yes they didnt hit on 100% of their moves but clearly neither did we. How does this make Gstate incompetent and us better than them?

What I'm referring to is not the total number of champions, but the decisions made after each teams most recent championship.

[Jerry Lucas]

Raptors maybe want AJ Green in return for swapping RJ and Kuzma's contracts?

Read on Twitter

[Flush]

Raptors maybe want AJ Green in return for swapping RJ and Kuzma's contracts?

Read on Twitter

Getting Kuzma seems like such a negative trade lol Bucks barely have any picks to add value to it so I can see why we would want AJ Green as at least he's player that can spread the floor with good IQ so he'd at least be a decent asset

[Los_29]

Except they won 4 times haha

Even then we are nowhere near their level of incompetence. Botched three lottery picks that could’ve positioned themselves nicely post-Curry. Instead they are clinging onto what they have, doubling down on a really old core.

Our title run was always going to come to an end because of the age of our players and the fact Kawhi was a rental. Even the year after our championship, some didn’t even have us making the playoffs.

Not sure what youre saying. Gstate built their team from the ground up and got 4 titles while we had to trade for a rental to get 1.

Yes they didnt hit on 100% of their moves but clearly neither did we. How does this make Gstate incompetent and us better than them?

He specifically stated “after our championship.” What GSW did in 2008 is irrelevant. Wiseman over Ball and Hali in 2020. Kuminga over Wagner and Moody over Sengun and Murphy. What’s especially painful is Sengun and Murphy would be better than both Kuminga and Murphy and they passed on them twice.

Obviously, our FO should’ve been more proactive but there are no moves where you’re thinking “wow that really set us back.” The decisions that Golden State made have ruined any chance of having a seamless transition after Curry.

[OakleyDokely]

I thought Kuzma only had 1 year left, but he has 2.

He's an easy avoid.

[Los_29]

AJ Green is a decent player but not good enough for us to take on Kuzma’s contract. I like that RJ is being shopped around though. He’s played well for us but there aren’t enough minutes for him here and he’s not a great fit.

[Duffman100]

I thought Kuzma only had 1 year left, but he has 2.

He's an easy avoid.

Career loser, he's just awful. I want no part of him.

[tecumseh18]

Except they won 4 times haha

Even then we are nowhere near their level of incompetence. Botched three lottery picks that could’ve positioned themselves nicely post-Curry. Instead they are clinging onto what they have, doubling down on a really old core.

Our title run was always going to come to an end because of the age of our players and the fact Kawhi was a rental. Even the year after our championship, some didn’t even have us making the playoffs.

Not sure what youre saying. Gstate built their team from the ground up and got 4 titles while we had to trade for a rental to get 1.

Yes they didnt hit on 100% of their moves but clearly neither did we. How does this make Gstate incompetent and us better than them?

Dubs (barely) won in 2015 only because Kyrie and K-Love were injured. Then the KD years, thanks to the massive one-year spike in the cap. the last one was impressive, but Tatum was definitely playing hurt.

[HumbleRen]

I thought Kuzma only had 1 year left, but he has 2.

He's an easy avoid.

Descending contract, makes nearly $20M less over the span of 2 years compared to RJ, would be able keep Ochai and open up room for Jakobe/GD to get more minutes.

I can see why they would want to do it but I agree, Kuzma reeks as a player and person.

[dhackett1565]

I thought Kuzma only had 1 year left, but he has 2.

He's an easy avoid.

Career loser, he's just awful. I want no part of him.

Wonder if they'd make the trade to get AJ in the fold, then waive and stretch Kuzma. Clears wiggle room this year and next, though at the cost of about 8M of dead cap for three years after that.

Doesn't seem like enough compensation for RJ, honestly.