Around the NBA Thread 2016-17

[165bows]

I was going to say horrible move by the Bulls that they were probably better off rebuilding.... They is probably still the case.

But the Bulls may be evil geniuses and just want to be the team that learns Lebron/Chris Paul/Carmelo Anthony is a few years if they all decide to play together.

That's an interesting idea. I think CHI tends to get overrated as a front office, they draft well and otherwise seem like a bit of a mess. They've been bleeding value consistently since 2011 and would have totally cratered except for Butler.

An interesting note on that - everyone keeps saying 'Westbrook to LA' even though the Lakers stink. So if you are Doc Rivers and Blake Griffin and Chris Paul opt out, would they ditch Chris Paul and make a run at Westbrook in FA instead?

Edit - wow, just looked at their salary structure, they would either have to let both Paul/Griffin go to try to sign Westbrook, or move some of the $30ish million Doc just signed Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers and Wesley Johnson to.

Just terrible GM'ing there. Amazing how LAC and Cleveland have lost so many trades in the last 2-3 years.

[Gomes3PC]

LAC has no hope of getting Westbrook. The Lakers are the ones to worry about. They could offer something like Russell+Ingram+future picks to the Thunder, which would be tough to match.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

I was going to say horrible move by the Bulls that they were probably better off rebuilding.... They is probably still the case.

But the Bulls may be evil geniuses and just want to be the team that learns Lebron/Chris Paul/Carmelo Anthony is a few years if they all decide to play together.

That's an interesting idea. I think CHI tends to get overrated as a front office, they draft well and otherwise seem like a bit of a mess. They've been bleeding value consistently since 2011 and would have totally cratered except for Butler.

An interesting note on that - everyone keeps saying 'Westbrook to LA' even though the Lakers stink. So if you are Doc Rivers and Blake Griffin and Chris Paul opt out, would they ditch Chris Paul and make a run at Westbrook in FA instead?

Edit - wow, just looked at their salary structure, they would either have to let both Paul/Griffin go to try to sign Westbrook, or move some of the $30ish million Doc just signed Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers and Wesley Johnson to.

Just terrible GM'ing there. Amazing how LAC and Cleveland have lost so many trades in the last 2-3 years.

I'm still giggling over Austin Rivers' contract. What they should have done there is have Steve Ballmer give Doc a $10 million/year raise, then sign Austin for the league minimum. Then Doc could just say he was giving his child his weekly lunch money.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

LAC has no hope of getting Westbrook. The Lakers are the ones to worry about. They could offer something like Russell+Ingram+future picks to the Thunder, which would be tough to match.

Why would they give that much up, or anything for that matter when Westbrook said he wanted to play in LA anyway when his contract is up?

Thunder may have to let him expire. I don't see a team that will trade for him just to let him walk away in free agency.

[Slartibartfast]

Darn you Detroit.

[Crossy2008]

Darn you Detroit.

Boban is a good deal for that money. Solid very large player.

I would actually like to see Ainge go after Merji.

[celticgreenie]

Good news that the Spurs took another rim protector off the market, who supposedly the Warriors were after:

Shams Charania: Free agent center Dewayne Dedmon has agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell The Vertical

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Found this interesting:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16859143/nba-salary-cap-projection-2017-18-season-lower-expected

In a surprise turn, the NBA is pulling back on its salary-cap projection for the 2017-18 season, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN, and it could complicate the Golden State Warriors' efforts to keep their new super team together.

This will affect teams' planning for 2017 free agency -- specifically the Warriors. Kevin Durant is signing a contract Thursday that will allow him to re-enter the market as a free agent next summer. Because the Warriors will not have his full rights at that time, they will have to create $33.5 million in cap space if Durant wants a new max contract.

Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala are also scheduled to be free agents next summer. The Warriors retain both players' full rights, but it will be a challenge to re-sign them while also leaving room for Durant. That challenge was just projected to be $5 million more difficult.

[Slartibartfast]

The Pistons are in good hands now:

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

The Pistons are in good hands now:

My god if his hands are that big imagine how big his....gloves must be.

[15th overall]

LAC has no hope of getting Melo. The Knicks are the ones to worry about. They could offer something like Gallo+W.Chandler+Mozgod+future picks to the Nuggets, which would be tough to match.

Why would NYK give that much up, or anything for that matter when Melo said he wanted to play in NYC anyway when his contract is up?

Nuggets may have to let him expire. I don't see a team that will trade for him just to let him walk away in free agency.

Teams are dumb and the Lakers have been on an absolute roll the past few years. They gave up 4 picks (2 1st's) for the right to sign a 37 yo guard w/ back problems for 3 years.

Buss Kid would definitely make a midseason SPLASH move by bringing Russ home, if he still has any say anymore.. I thought he said he was gonna resign if they continued to suck--- dont remember him following through with it though.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

LAC has no hope of getting Melo. The Knicks are the ones to worry about. They could offer something like Gallo+W.Chandler+Mozgod+future picks to the Nuggets, which would be tough to match.

Why would NYK give that much up, or anything for that matter when Melo said he wanted to play in NYC anyway when his contract is up?

And that didn't end up turning into the trade that the Knicks were hoping for so maybe they should have waited. I think it would be absolutely insane for the Lakers to give Russell & Ingram plus future picks for Westbrook who is an a contract year.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Boban would make for a great villain in a Bond movie.
He could be known as "Big Hands" and they could have him crushing a guy's skull with one of his hands.
You definitely don't want to High Five Boban, because you could break a few fingers...

[gocelts]

Found this interesting:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16859143/nba-salary-cap-projection-2017-18-season-lower-expected

In a surprise turn, the NBA is pulling back on its salary-cap projection for the 2017-18 season, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN, and it could complicate the Golden State Warriors' efforts to keep their new super team together.

This will affect teams' planning for 2017 free agency -- specifically the Warriors. Kevin Durant is signing a contract Thursday that will allow him to re-enter the market as a free agent next summer. Because the Warriors will not have his full rights at that time, they will have to create $33.5 million in cap space if Durant wants a new max contract.

Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala are also scheduled to be free agents next summer. The Warriors retain both players' full rights, but it will be a challenge to re-sign them while also leaving room for Durant. That challenge was just projected to be $5 million more difficult.

Haha. The NBA wishes. Guys are already taking pay cuts to sign up for the GSW '17 championship trophy that should be given to Golden State tomorrow. Spreading out 5 less million isn't going to do much. They can sign their big 4 and have D league players and still win the next few years.

[Gomes3PC]

Found this interesting:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16859143/nba-salary-cap-projection-2017-18-season-lower-expected

In a surprise turn, the NBA is pulling back on its salary-cap projection for the 2017-18 season, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN, and it could complicate the Golden State Warriors' efforts to keep their new super team together.

This will affect teams' planning for 2017 free agency -- specifically the Warriors. Kevin Durant is signing a contract Thursday that will allow him to re-enter the market as a free agent next summer. Because the Warriors will not have his full rights at that time, they will have to create $33.5 million in cap space if Durant wants a new max contract.

Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala are also scheduled to be free agents next summer. The Warriors retain both players' full rights, but it will be a challenge to re-sign them while also leaving room for Durant. That challenge was just projected to be $5 million more difficult.

Haha. The NBA wishes. Guys are already taking pay cuts to sign up for the GSW '17 championship trophy that should be given to Golden State tomorrow. Spreading out 5 less million isn't going to do much. They can sign their big 4 and have D league players and still win the next few years.

Curry isn't taking a paycut - he's getting the max, and I doubt Iggy will be working for free either. I would not count out GSW having to lose one of their four stars after this year.

[15th overall]

Why would NYK give that much up, or anything for that matter when Melo said he wanted to play in NYC anyway when his contract is up?

And that didn't end up turning into the trade that the Knicks were hoping for so maybe they should have waited. I think it would be absolutely insane for the Lakers to give Russell & Ingram plus future picks for Westbrook who is an a contract year.

Agreed and I dont think that specific package would fly either.

I just think youre applying logic to a scenario where it holds little value. I think Buss Kid would trade DRuss+Randle+picks (if they exist) for Russ. People who trade multiple picks for 37 yo guards aren't patient, I could see this happening. It's LA.

[djFan71]

Found this interesting:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16859143/nba-salary-cap-projection-2017-18-season-lower-expected

In a surprise turn, the NBA is pulling back on its salary-cap projection for the 2017-18 season, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN, and it could complicate the Golden State Warriors' efforts to keep their new super team together.

This will affect teams' planning for 2017 free agency -- specifically the Warriors. Kevin Durant is signing a contract Thursday that will allow him to re-enter the market as a free agent next summer. Because the Warriors will not have his full rights at that time, they will have to create $33.5 million in cap space if Durant wants a new max contract.

Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala are also scheduled to be free agents next summer. The Warriors retain both players' full rights, but it will be a challenge to re-sign them while also leaving room for Durant. That challenge was just projected to be $5 million more difficult.

I find that awesome!

[Roddy]

Classics NBA games (lots of C's games) : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC81bdQ36B-23hSr6gw7KAEA/videos

[KGboss]

They will retain durant. Not worried about that. Rich always get richer

[165bows]

Found this interesting:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16859143/nba-salary-cap-projection-2017-18-season-lower-expected

In a surprise turn, the NBA is pulling back on its salary-cap projection for the 2017-18 season, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN, and it could complicate the Golden State Warriors' efforts to keep their new super team together.

This will affect teams' planning for 2017 free agency -- specifically the Warriors. Kevin Durant is signing a contract Thursday that will allow him to re-enter the market as a free agent next summer. Because the Warriors will not have his full rights at that time, they will have to create $33.5 million in cap space if Durant wants a new max contract.

Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala are also scheduled to be free agents next summer. The Warriors retain both players' full rights, but it will be a challenge to re-sign them while also leaving room for Durant. That challenge was just projected to be $5 million more difficult.

What the league needs to do is change the structure for cap holds for the top players. Every one of their own guys will have minuscule cap holds relative to their final salary. If they make GS account for what they are going to spend by creating a more realistic cap hold framework, that will make the biggest impact without significantly changing the rules.

Only reason they would be able to keep Iguodala next year is because Curry's cap hold is ~18M for what will eventually be a ~$30M contract. Make them account for his max salary as a cap hold (MVPs usually command max deals) and the space for Andre vanishes unless he'll play for the minimum.