Almost off-season discussion! Trades/Free Agency Ep. 9

[WeekapaugGroove]

Charlotte trying to gain some cap space this year while losing a lot next year. Makes me think they will make a run at SOMEONE in free agency, and probably won't deal Kemba now.
OR, they are just trying to get under the cap. I dunno. You have enough bad contracts and Howards was expiring. Now you add another crappy contract.

On the flip side, Nets will have a ton of space (but who would they even be able to use it on?

Zach Lowe said this move gets them under the luxury tax - but another year of Mozgov - not sure what Mitch is thinking. Why not just see if somebody takes Lamb for nothing and save the 7m on Lamb and let Howard walk

I'm sure they exhausted all possibilities. Jordan probably gave him one key objective to start with and this was the best deal they could find to get under the cap.
Makes me believe they are keeping Kemba. They could have moved him with a contract like Lamb or Williams to get under the cap.

Yes; I think it's a pretty clear sign they are going to keep Kemba. This is all about getting away from the lux tax line this year and now if they can find a home for Williams or Lamb for an expiring they are comfortably under the tax line next summer even after giving Kemba a big extension.

I don't love the plan for charlotte because while under the tax they will still be over the cap for years to come with only the MLE but I guess they just couldnt stomach moving one of the best players in franchise history and going full rebuild.

[BobbieL]

Zach Lowe said this move gets them under the luxury tax - but another year of Mozgov - not sure what Mitch is thinking. Why not just see if somebody takes Lamb for nothing and save the 7m on Lamb and let Howard walk

I'm sure they exhausted all possibilities. Jordan probably gave him one key objective to start with and this was the best deal they could find to get under the cap.
Makes me believe they are keeping Kemba. They could have moved him with a contract like Lamb or Williams to get under the cap.

Yes; I think it's a pretty clear sign they are going to keep Kemba. This is all about getting away from the lux tax line this year and now if they can find a home for Williams or Lamb for an expiring they are comfortably under the tax line next summer even after giving Kemba a big extension.

I don't love the plan for charlotte because while under the tax they will still be over the cap for years to come with only the MLE but I guess they just couldnt stomach moving one of the best players in franchise history and going full rebuild.

I think this is true. I wonder if the Hornets have called the Pacers about AL Jefferson for Marvin Williams. Williams could replace Thad Young who opted out - two years 14m per . I know Marvin was my guy for Dudley or Chandler of course - but I am guessing there are many teams who would take Marvin on a two year deal. Jefferson is only owed 4m so more savings for the Hornets. Granted, not sur ee the Hornets would move from 11 to 23 in the draft to do this deal

[jredsaz]

Spurs would ask for Harris is any Kawhi deal I think.

First trade

Spurs / Clippers

Leonard for Harris, Pick 12, future pick





Second trade

Spurs / Suns

Harris for Warren, Pick 16, 31 and future lottery




Spurs have;

Pick 12, Pick 16, Pick 31 for 2018 and Future pick in 2019

Warren to replace Gay and 3 2018 picks to move up to top 7 or draft their next wave of players



Suns run
C: Ayton
F: Harris
F: Jackson
G: Booker
G: Free agent

might be workable as for the SPurs to get good value for Kawhi - they might need the Suns "draft picks" to add to their overall return for Kawhi.


As for the Kemba thing - I too am concerned how much he will cost. I also wonder how much Smart will cost. Bradley too. Hence, I know what Dragic costs for two years - use the 16 on him, the 31 on Carter or Brunson and roll with it.

Why would we include three picks forbTobias Harris?!

[jredsaz]

Zach Lowe said this move gets them under the luxury tax - but another year of Mozgov - not sure what Mitch is thinking. Why not just see if somebody takes Lamb for nothing and save the 7m on Lamb and let Howard walk

I'm sure they exhausted all possibilities. Jordan probably gave him one key objective to start with and this was the best deal they could find to get under the cap.
Makes me believe they are keeping Kemba. They could have moved him with a contract like Lamb or Williams to get under the cap.

Yes; I think it's a pretty clear sign they are going to keep Kemba. This is all about getting away from the lux tax line this year and now if they can find a home for Williams or Lamb for an expiring they are comfortably under the tax line next summer even after giving Kemba a big extension.

I don't love the plan for charlotte because while under the tax they will still be over the cap for years to come with only the MLE but I guess they just couldnt stomach moving one of the best players in franchise history and going full rebuild.

I just think Mitch wanted to prove everyone wrong and give Mozgov the opportunity to live up to that contract he gave him three summers ago on LA

[TeamTragic]

I'm sure they exhausted all possibilities. Jordan probably gave him one key objective to start with and this was the best deal they could find to get under the cap.
Makes me believe they are keeping Kemba. They could have moved him with a contract like Lamb or Williams to get under the cap.

Yes; I think it's a pretty clear sign they are going to keep Kemba. This is all about getting away from the lux tax line this year and now if they can find a home for Williams or Lamb for an expiring they are comfortably under the tax line next summer even after giving Kemba a big extension.

I don't love the plan for charlotte because while under the tax they will still be over the cap for years to come with only the MLE but I guess they just couldnt stomach moving one of the best players in franchise history and going full rebuild.

I just think Mitch wanted to prove everyone wrong and give Mozgov the opportunity to live up to that contract he gave him three summers ago on LA

[Saberestar]

After the Howard's trade it is pretty clear that Kemba is gone IMO.

The Hornets are gonna tank hard next season. New GM and a young coach...they want a complete rebuild.

[GetYourPHX]

Please no to Kemba. I like him a lot as a player but he just doesn't fit this team right now. I'd much rather throw a ridiculous 1 year prove it deal at IT or just resign Payton.

[bwgood77]

Crazy that he’s one of the biggest celebrities in Arizona.

He lives in San Diego if I recall correctly. Funny too though, he only got big because his brother played Call of Duty professionally for Faze Clan, a top e-sport organization. Rug (his brother) promoted Brandon on his Youtube channel, and eventually he got his own following that now amasses over 2mil subs on Youtube. He's a huge die-hard Suns fan, but doesn't really know the nuances of how everything works in the NBA such as trades, salary cap, etc. He posts occasionally in a Suns fans FB group, but I generally avoid discussions in there as most of them aren't very knowledgeable to say the least. I find RealGM to be the most intellectual group of posters across the web when it comes to everything regarding the NBA.

He's good friends with Booker apparently and both have hung out together and Booker has had him over at Booker's place and all that. Certainly not the average fan.

I don't know if I'd call him good friends with him. He has a pinned tweet yeah, which makes me think that was a HUGE deal for Brandon. Good friends probably wouldn't be so excited to post a video of them hanging out with their good friend.

[bwgood77]

I wondered how Hornets fans would react to trading Dwight for a bad contract that goes two years (and a much worse player)....

well damn that was quick, well Dwight its been real......real awful really really awful

I get this doesn't seem like a good trade on first thought. That being said... DWIGHT IS GONE! DWIGHT IS GONE! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

I've never hated watching someone play basketball more. He was a cancer to this team and I'm so glad I go back to rooting for everyone on our squad.

[matt131]

Read on Twitter

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Man if the Celtics land Doncic...

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Man if the Celtics land Doncic...

Yeah, when people were talking about us getting the 4 for 16, 31 and Warren I figured they would be a team that would offer as much as maybe Brown, Rozier and the Kings pick to get up there...and then the Clips with Harris and their picks. Ainge and West strike me as two guys that would really like Doncic.

[BobbieL]

After the Howard's trade it is pretty clear that Kemba is gone IMO.

The Hornets are gonna tank hard next season. New GM and a young coach...they want a complete rebuild.

I think it means the exact opposite. If they wanted to rebuild - they would have

1) let Howard walk or buy him out
2) find a taker for Lamb or let him walk at the end of the year
3) see if MKG or Williams can bring back an expiring (i beat the Dudley for Marvin to death) but I am sure other teams might have taken one of those players

that too me would have shown full re-build. I think Michael wants to keep his pride and salvage a rebuild but Mozgov -- that's stupid. I get the lux penalty - but come on - Howard costs you 16.7m in lux tax this year. guess what Mozgov costs you that next year --

[matt131]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Man if the Celtics land Doncic...

Yeah, when people were talking about us getting the 4 for 16, 31 and Warren I figured they would be a team that would offer as much as maybe Brown, Rozier and the Kings pick to get up there...and then the Clips with Harris and their picks. Ainge and West strike me as two guys that would really like Doncic.

Man I wouldn't even do any scouting if I were McD. I would just draft who those guys like. Okay, not really, but shouldn't that be a clue??

[bwgood77]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Man if the Celtics land Doncic...

Yeah, when people were talking about us getting the 4 for 16, 31 and Warren I figured they would be a team that would offer as much as maybe Brown, Rozier and the Kings pick to get up there...and then the Clips with Harris and their picks. Ainge and West strike me as two guys that would really like Doncic.

Man I wouldn't even do any scouting if I were McD. I would just draft who those guys like. Okay, not really, but shouldn't that be a clue??

Well I don't know that they'd pass on Ayton, but given that West helped build the Warriors and Ainge the Celtics and Ainge played with Bird, and West was like a 30/7/6 pg/sg himself...probably loves Doncic.

[starbosa10]

Celtics would be an amazing spot for doncic

[BobbieL]

Yeah, when people were talking about us getting the 4 for 16, 31 and Warren I figured they would be a team that would offer as much as maybe Brown, Rozier and the Kings pick to get up there...and then the Clips with Harris and their picks. Ainge and West strike me as two guys that would really like Doncic.

Man I wouldn't even do any scouting if I were McD. I would just draft who those guys like. Okay, not really, but shouldn't that be a clue??

Well I don't know that they'd pass on Ayton, but given that West helped build the Warriors and Ainge the Celtics and Ainge played with Bird, and West was like a 30/7/6 pg/sg himself...probably loves Doncic.

I love Doncic too - -probably more than Ayton. But I get the Ayton pick

I would hope the Hawks and Suns have had talks. Suns take Ayton. Sac town do not take Doncic. Hawks take Doncic

Doncic to the Suns with what to make it worthwhile and I don't mean Schroeder

I just cannot come up with something.

[bwgood77]

After the Howard's trade it is pretty clear that Kemba is gone IMO.

The Hornets are gonna tank hard next season. New GM and a young coach...they want a complete rebuild.

I think it means the exact opposite. If they wanted to rebuild - they would have

1) let Howard walk or buy him out
2) find a taker for Lamb or let him walk at the end of the year
3) see if MKG or Williams can bring back an expiring (i beat the Dudley for Marvin to death) but I am sure other teams might have taken one of those players

that too me would have shown full re-build. I think Michael wants to keep his pride and salvage a rebuild but Mozgov -- that's stupid. I get the lux penalty - but come on - Howard costs you 16.7m in lux tax this year. guess what Mozgov costs you that next year --

They have one really good piece in Kemba who loves it there and is building a house. A new GM should want to keep him unless he gets some GREAT offer for him. Many say they wouldn't offer much and point to other PGs getting traded, but some of those guys wanted out....so not much was gained...but Dragic still got two firsts when he wanted out....Bledsoe wanted out but had injury issues and depressed trade value.

Kemba will re-sign so they don't need to dump him unless they get some great offer, and they have a ton of wings and need 3 pt shooting. Not sure what they would want that would make it worth it. Why would they trade him for like the 16th pick? Teams are less likely to full out tank these days with the revised lottery, and small markets can't really afford to do it...especially one like Charlotte who struggles with fanbase and has had their years as a laughing stock.

[starbosa10]

Imagine after all these different trade scenarios and rumors we end up just making picks at 1, 16, and 31 and sign some low to mid class free agents

[GetYourPHX]

Imagine after all these different trade scenarios and rumors we end up just making picks at 1, 16, and 31 and sign some low to mid class free agents

You mean, the thing that happens pretty much every year?

I don't think they'll be an major movement for the Suns this offseason, and I don't really think there should be. We were the worst team in the league last year. There isn't a realistic combination of moves that is going to make this team competitive next year.

Sometimes the best move is not to play. Take high upside guys with our picks, try and bring back Len and Payton on bargain deals, and wait until next offseason. We'll have another high draft pick, the Bucks pick, and the unprotected Heat pick to play with. Tyson and Jared will be off the books and Knight will be an expiring.

We still don't really know what we have in Jackson and (likely) Ayton. Pulling the trigger now and building around those guys could be a mistake. I also wouldn't be surprised to see TJ take it to another level this year. The dude is a baller and it just seems like he's on the cusp of something big.

This fanbase and this front office really need to take a long term view of this rebuild. If we mess it up we're going to be stuck in the basement forever.

[Waylay13]

We still don't really know what we have in Jackson and (likely) Ayton. Pulling the trigger now and building around those guys could be a mistake. I also wouldn't be surprised to see TJ take it to another level this year. The dude is a baller and it just seems like he's on the cusp of something big.

What is it that you think you have seen in TJ that give you any idea that he is going to do anything different this year? The only reason his scoring has increased is that he is one of the few reliable scorer on this team. However he still is only a fair rebounder and defender and a horrible passer. He has no outside shot. He is still basically playing the same game that he did in college with his mid-range game.