Around the NBA (Part Four)

[younggunsmn]

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I wish MIN and Donte agreed on extension already. Under the 2023 CBA, Minnesota can offer up to 4 new years (making the total contract 5 years including the final existing season). A first-year extension salary 140% of his final-year salary, which will be around 78.62 million over 4 years. I'd offer 70 million over 4 years, with last year team option.

I've seen a lot of people think this is an amazing contract. I think it's fine. I personally question if George is a 1A or 1B to build a winning culture around, but I get that he has been productive. The beauty of $30M AAV is they can get off of it Randle style if they need to. But do they upgrade from him or just sell him off for more picks?

With the salary inflation that's basically a Jaden McDaniels contract.
Even better for them if it's descending and gets cheap on the back end.

But Darryn Peterson could also come in and hog the ball and crater his production.
It's always risky to pay a guy based on putting up stats on a tanking team.
Could be a value contract. Could also be Andrew Wiggins.

Also interesting to see the first two of the 5 1st rounders traded for Gobert both get 30 mil+/year contracts this summer.
Walter Clayton was a bust with pick 3.
Two more picks to go.

[TimberKat]

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I wish MIN and Donte agreed on extension already. Under the 2023 CBA, Minnesota can offer up to 4 new years (making the total contract 5 years including the final existing season). A first-year extension salary 140% of his final-year salary, which will be around 78.62 million over 4 years. I'd offer 70 million over 4 years, with last year team option.

I've seen a lot of people think this is an amazing contract. I think it's fine. I personally question if George is a 1A or 1B to build a winning culture around, but I get that he has been productive. The beauty of $30M AAV is they can get off of it Randle style if they need to. But do they upgrade from him or just sell him off for more picks?

With the salary inflation that's basically a Jaden McDaniels contract.
Even better for them if it's descending and gets cheap on the back end.

But Darryn Peterson could also come in and hog the ball and crater his production.
It's always risky to pay a guy based on putting up stats on a tanking team.
Could be a value contract. Could also be Andrew Wiggins.

Also interesting to see the first two of the 5 1st rounders traded for Gobert both get 30 mil+/year contracts this summer.
Walter Clayton was a bust with pick 3.
Two more picks to go.

30 Mil seems like a lot for George. I don't even know if he had proven that he is a legit starter on a winning team. The same goes with Walker.

[Klomp]

With the salary inflation that's basically a Jaden McDaniels contract.
Even better for them if it's descending and gets cheap on the back end.

But Darryn Peterson could also come in and hog the ball and crater his production.
It's always risky to pay a guy based on putting up stats on a tanking team.
Could be a value contract. Could also be Andrew Wiggins.

Also interesting to see the first two of the 5 1st rounders traded for Gobert both get 30 mil+/year contracts this summer.
Walter Clayton was a bust with pick 3.
Two more picks to go.

Bolded is the biggest key for me. If they are essentially the same valuation, give me Jaden every time if building a team.

Is Keyonte a starting guard on a championship team? I think not. If not, that's a lot of money to pay to a sixth man at best. He's a rich man's Bones Hyland and now he's paid like a rich man.

This just cements in my mind that Utah does not care about seriously winning for the next 5 years....and by that point, our debt to Utah will be paid.

[TimberKat]

With the salary inflation that's basically a Jaden McDaniels contract.
Even better for them if it's descending and gets cheap on the back end.

But Darryn Peterson could also come in and hog the ball and crater his production.
It's always risky to pay a guy based on putting up stats on a tanking team.
Could be a value contract. Could also be Andrew Wiggins.

Also interesting to see the first two of the 5 1st rounders traded for Gobert both get 30 mil+/year contracts this summer.
Walter Clayton was a bust with pick 3.
Two more picks to go.

Bolded is the biggest key for me. If they are essentially the same valuation, give me Jaden every time if building a team.

Is Keyonte a starting guard on a championship team? I think not. If not, that's a lot of money to pay to a sixth man at best. He's a rich man's Bones Hyland and now he's paid like a rich man.

This just cements in my mind that Utah does not care about seriously winning for the next 5 years....and by that point, our debt to Utah will be paid.

Feels to me, had we kept both Walker and George, we will face the same issue as Jazz at this time. 30 Mil to George or 30 Mil to Walker. Walker, Towns, JMcD, Ant, George. Naz 6th man. Is that a good team? I will assume we made a couple playoffs/play-ins but no conference finals by this year. Do we let Walker walk and hand the key to George?

[minimus]

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[frankenwolf]

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I know there were a number of posters that were pinning to get him last season, but is he someone we would want now?

[Devilzsidewalk]

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I know there were a number of posters that were pinning to get him last season, but is he someone we would want now?

Probably not, we like guards that can get physical. I imagine they'd just turn to Pullin if needed.

[BlacJacMac]

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I know there were a number of posters that were pinning to get him last season, but is he someone we would want now?

I don't think so. He's a special passer, but he's so tiny that he's a major problem on defense. And he's never been a shooter or shown any ability to get to the line.

By every stat I've seen, he's somehow an even worse offensive player than defensive...

[BlacJacMac]

After handing down punishments to the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for their involvement in salary cap circumvention, the NBA has turned their eyes to another potential case of cap circumvention. The NBA has hired law firm Hecker Fink to investigate the Milwaukee Bucks and Gary Trent Jr. in regard to the four-year, $64 million contract the two sides signed this offseason.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7621957/2026/09/23/bucks-gary-trent-jr-nba-investigation-kawhi-clippers-comparison/

[minimus]

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I know there were a number of posters that were pinning to get him last season, but is he someone we would want now?

I am still looking for McLaughlin type of development point guard, who can be for Rocco and Beringer the same steady presence McLaughlin was for Naz.

[Klomp]

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[minimus]

Interesting that I’ve seen multiple posters say Ware is mislabeled as a stretch big who can protect the rim. One poster described him as more of an offense-first big, while another pointed out that opponents shot around 66% on six attempts per game against him at the rim.

It makes me wonder whether Turner-Ware could end up being one of the more overrated frontcourts next season. On paper, the idea looks great: two long bigs who can protect the rim while also stretching the floor. But pairing two players who are theoretically versatile doesn’t automatically produce a versatile frontcourt. If neither consistently wins the possession through rebounding, physicality, switching or creating advantages with the ball, you can end up with a frontcourt that checks a lot of boxes without actually dominating any areas.

[BlacJacMac]

Ware is definitely a very strong rebounder.

[Devilzsidewalk]

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Funny to see Tim McMahon ripping on it too and calling out his co-workers. Though in their defense, there are rookies on the list, so that implies this is a projection, not strictly a ranking based on past performance. If he's healthy, Kessler will most likely look amazing feasting off all the attention Luka draws in the lane.

[Klomp]

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Judging by how the Hornets handled LaMelo Ball injuries, I expect both players to miss the entire 2026-27 season.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

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Funny to see Tim McMahon ripping on it too and calling out his co-workers. Though in their defense, there are rookies on the list, so that implies this is a projection, not strictly a ranking based on past performance. If he's healthy, Kessler will most likely look amazing feasting off all the attention Luka draws in the lane.

Without the trade to LA, he will be out of top 100 .

[TwolvesFanRome]

Have you read about KJ Martin?

[Klomp]

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[FrenchMinnyFan]

I've seen a lot of people think this is an amazing contract. I think it's fine. I personally question if George is a 1A or 1B to build a winning culture around, but I get that he has been productive. The beauty of $30M AAV is they can get off of it Randle style if they need to. But do they upgrade from him or just sell him off for more picks?

With the salary inflation that's basically a Jaden McDaniels contract.
Even better for them if it's descending and gets cheap on the back end.

But Darryn Peterson could also come in and hog the ball and crater his production.
It's always risky to pay a guy based on putting up stats on a tanking team.
Could be a value contract. Could also be Andrew Wiggins.

Also interesting to see the first two of the 5 1st rounders traded for Gobert both get 30 mil+/year contracts this summer.
Walter Clayton was a bust with pick 3.
Two more picks to go.

30 Mil seems like a lot for George. I don't even know if he had proven that he is a legit starter on a winning team. The same goes with Walker.

Can't agree more. Inflation in NBA is insane. Players looking good in tanking team not always translate well in contending team.

[Klomp]

How's it going in Portland?

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Pay Temu prices, expect Temu quality.....