2018 Free Agency and Trade Discussion continued

[bwgood77]

I really like Brogdon. I'm guessing Budenholzer will too. Not sure how much I'd pay him but considering we pretty much lose our cap space after next summer, and many teams have cap space, so it is unlikely we get our star, so giving him a deal that might seem like an overpay, just to get him, might be worth it. Basically when a bunch of teams have cap space, if you don't overpay, you don't get the player.

[lilfishi22]

I would be willing to throw all the cap space the Suns have next summer at Malcolm Brogdon next summer on the first day of Free Agency itself. Basically Arizaing him.

Not because I think Brogdon the player is necessarily worth it but because I think the fit with Booker and the rest of the Suns players is worth it. I remember last season I went through all the PGs in the league for all 30 teams and Brogdon was the one that I thought would best fit next to Booker.

Solid choice and I'm down with it if the Bucks will let him go - Bledsoe severely hurt his progress, IMO.

Brogdon's a reasonable distributor, more than capable 3-point shooter and a good defender with size at the 1. Not so sure on his up-tempo game, but he's a solid facilitator with a career 2.6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. We'll have to see what the Bucks think about going with Bledsoe moving forward - as Suns fans, we know that Brogdon beats hell out of Bledsoe every time, but Bucks brass aren't Suns fans, so.....

I'm going to pass. If all we're looking for is a serviceable distributor, capable 3PT shooter and good defender at the 1 that's also a complement to Booker, I don't think we need to spend our entire $20m in cap space of Malcolm Brogdon. PG's don't come at a premium anymore. I'd throw *maybe* half of that at him. I really like Brogdon and I think he's a great fit next to Booker but I think spending 20m on him would be a 2016-off-season-esque mistake

These guys will be free agents next summer

Jeremy Lin
Rubio
Joseph
Rozier
Delon Wright
TJ McConnell
Dinwiddie

All of these guys could be had for much less than $20m. I'm especially interested in Delon Wright. Raptors just resigned FVV so I think Delon Wright could be had.

[lilfishi22]

https://raptorsrapture.com/2018/07/22/toronto-raptors-time-part-ways-delon-wright/
Nice little opinion piece

With Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry locked in for the next two years, it may be time for the Toronto Raptors to trade Delon Wright.
Delon Wright is a skilled two-way point guard who has improved every season and just turned 26 years-old. Despite all of that, the Toronto Raptors should look to trade him.

The market for Wright is still unclear, largely due to the fact he hasn’t been involved in many trade rumors to this point. Considering his contract and age, his trade value may be higher than his production level. Fans rarely want to trade players who are young and talented. Endowment effect runs rampant through NBA circles. However, most* NBA teams are not dumb, and if you want to receive something of value in return, you can’t offer up garbage.

Duplicate skill-sets
With Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet still on the roster, Wright played the majority of his time at shooting guard last season. At 6’5″ with solid athleticism, Wright is able to guard most shooting guards around the league, particularly ones that come off the bench.

On the offensive end, however, Wright’s abilities are somewhat compromised playing off the ball. For one, he is not an elite shooter.

Wright shot 36.6-percent from three last season on 2.2 attempts per game, so it’s not like he is Elfrid Payton or Rajon Rondo out there. Still, 2.2 attempts is less than ideal, and watching him play it’s clear that he does not carry the same gravity as other elite marksman.

Secondly, shifting Wright to the off-guard position eliminates one of his biggest advantages, his size. At 6’5″ with a crafty handle, Wright is often able to throw a point guard on his hip use his large frame to score around smaller defenders. Play Wright at shooting guard and he loses that advantage.

Depth on the perimeter
Not only do the Raptors have a bevy of talent at point guard, they have more than sufficient depth on the perimeter as a whole.

The Kawhi Leonard trade impacted the Raptors in many ways. Swapping two wings for one as given one of the deepest teams in the NBA last season even more depth on the perimeter.

As it currently stands, Toronto is projected to have eight perimeter players who are expected to receive considerable playing time. (Lowry, VanVleet, Wright, Green, Leonard, Anunoby, Miles, Powell). Depth is important, but players will grow malcontent if they are not receiving the time they believe the deserve.

At least a couple of players stand to fall out of the rotation, and if Toronto doesn’t deal them soon, they will start to lose value.

Different timelines
It has been well documented the Toronto Raptors are gearing up for the summer of 2020 when Giannis Antetokounmpo and other notable free agents hit the market. Delon Wright, however, hits the market one year earlier than that, meaning any contract Wright signs will likely eat into the Toronto’s 2020 cap-space.

With Wright hitting free-agency in the summer of 2019 just as he enters his prime, and with a bevy of teams expected to have available cap space, it’s very possible that Wright may receive a considerable offer sheet.

If Toronto wants to maintain their flexibility for 2020, matching Wright’s offer sheet might not be an option.

Hitting free agency in just one year, it’s easy to assume that Delon Wright would have limited value to all teams, but that is not necessarily the case.

Any team that acquires Wright next season will also receive his Bird Rights. In the NBA, if a team owns a players Bird Rights they can offer him any contract, including one that exceeds their salary cap.

Wright will also have a low cap hold and be a restricted free-agent in 2019, meaning he can also be an attractive option to anyone who is looking to sign a big-name free agent in 2019 as well. Basically, Wright’s value is only limited to teams attempting to make an offer with 2020 cap-space.

Shedding Salary
A report has recently surfaced from Ian Begley, indicating the Raptors are looking to shed salary for next season. If this is true, Toronto will likely need to attach an asset along with any salary dump.

The natural combination is Delon Wright and fellow backcourt mate Norman Powell. Yes, Wright is probably a bit too much of an asset to trade along with Powell, but Toronto can always receive draft compensation in return. (Probably Powell and Wright for a good 2nd rounder or two bad 2nd rounders).

Wright is a young, talented and is a valuable asset to any team. If Toronto can’t find a reasonable offer then they should hold onto him despite all the reasons above. That doesn’t mean it isn’t time to start looking.

[bwgood77]

Yeah, I was going to mention earlier that of the list NotMcD posted that Wright might be the only one that would be available via trade....I like him. As far as how much we pay someone next summer, it doesn't matter that much for fans because I think we likely lose cap space after next summer so maybe not a long term deal...but a one year big pay deal like Ariza I might do.

But my ultimate hope is that Okobo ends up having a KJ like season and is the clear PG of the future.

[lilfishi22]

So whether it's Brogdon or Wright or whoever else, are we thinking about a mutli-year deal or are we looking at an Ariza/Reddick like deal with the hope that Okobo is an actual NBA player?

[bwgood77]

So whether it's Brogdon or Wright or whoever else, are we thinking about a mutli-year deal or are we looking at an Ariza/Reddick like deal with the hope that Okobo is an actual NBA player?

Well I'm really high on Okobo. I hope he becomes our PG of the future. I have a good feeling about him. So until I see what he does this year, I wait and see.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

So whether it's Brogdon or Wright or whoever else, are we thinking about a mutli-year deal or are we looking at an Ariza/Reddick like deal with the hope that Okobo is an actual NBA player?

The preference of course is to grow a starter internally, whether that be Okobo, or Knight experiencing a resurgence, or Shaq developing a 3 pointer. I'm eager to see how much better our players look in solid offensive and defensive schemes under Kokoskov. This year should tell us more than previous years about what we have in our youngsters.

To my mind, what the $20 million represents is flexibility - to sign a PG if we think we can upgrade that position next summer or to make a big, splashy trade. If all goes perfectly, that $20 million will be largely superfluous, and the FO will have to brainstorm ways to best utilize it.

I find myself daydreaming about everything going perfectly. The truth is, I'm not at all worried about finding a way to make a great rotation 1-4 using the right combination of Booker, JJ, Bridges, Bender, TJ, Knight, Ariza, Chriss, Shaq, Reed and Okobo. I trust that a good coach can make that work.

It's Ayton I think about. If Ayton hits, it almost won't even matter how the rest of these guys pan out - Booker, Ayton and warm bodies could be good enough to take most teams to the playoffs by the time these guys hit their primes. But if for some reason, something starts to look off, and the big guy's effort level starts out wildly inconsistent and he starts to have stretches of looking completely disengaged and lethargic..... welp! That might be your whole rebuild! So I'm just praying that Ayton is great!!!

[jredsaz]

https://raptorsrapture.com/2018/07/22/toronto-raptors-time-part-ways-delon-wright/
Nice little opinion piece

With Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry locked in for the next two years, it may be time for the Toronto Raptors to trade Delon Wright.
Delon Wright is a skilled two-way point guard who has improved every season and just turned 26 years-old. Despite all of that, the Toronto Raptors should look to trade him.

The market for Wright is still unclear, largely due to the fact he hasn’t been involved in many trade rumors to this point. Considering his contract and age, his trade value may be higher than his production level. Fans rarely want to trade players who are young and talented. Endowment effect runs rampant through NBA circles. However, most* NBA teams are not dumb, and if you want to receive something of value in return, you can’t offer up garbage.

Duplicate skill-sets
With Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet still on the roster, Wright played the majority of his time at shooting guard last season. At 6’5″ with solid athleticism, Wright is able to guard most shooting guards around the league, particularly ones that come off the bench.

On the offensive end, however, Wright’s abilities are somewhat compromised playing off the ball. For one, he is not an elite shooter.

Wright shot 36.6-percent from three last season on 2.2 attempts per game, so it’s not like he is Elfrid Payton or Rajon Rondo out there. Still, 2.2 attempts is less than ideal, and watching him play it’s clear that he does not carry the same gravity as other elite marksman.

Secondly, shifting Wright to the off-guard position eliminates one of his biggest advantages, his size. At 6’5″ with a crafty handle, Wright is often able to throw a point guard on his hip use his large frame to score around smaller defenders. Play Wright at shooting guard and he loses that advantage.

Depth on the perimeter
Not only do the Raptors have a bevy of talent at point guard, they have more than sufficient depth on the perimeter as a whole.

The Kawhi Leonard trade impacted the Raptors in many ways. Swapping two wings for one as given one of the deepest teams in the NBA last season even more depth on the perimeter.

As it currently stands, Toronto is projected to have eight perimeter players who are expected to receive considerable playing time. (Lowry, VanVleet, Wright, Green, Leonard, Anunoby, Miles, Powell). Depth is important, but players will grow malcontent if they are not receiving the time they believe the deserve.

At least a couple of players stand to fall out of the rotation, and if Toronto doesn’t deal them soon, they will start to lose value.

Different timelines
It has been well documented the Toronto Raptors are gearing up for the summer of 2020 when Giannis Antetokounmpo and other notable free agents hit the market. Delon Wright, however, hits the market one year earlier than that, meaning any contract Wright signs will likely eat into the Toronto’s 2020 cap-space.

With Wright hitting free-agency in the summer of 2019 just as he enters his prime, and with a bevy of teams expected to have available cap space, it’s very possible that Wright may receive a considerable offer sheet.

If Toronto wants to maintain their flexibility for 2020, matching Wright’s offer sheet might not be an option.

Hitting free agency in just one year, it’s easy to assume that Delon Wright would have limited value to all teams, but that is not necessarily the case.

Any team that acquires Wright next season will also receive his Bird Rights. In the NBA, if a team owns a players Bird Rights they can offer him any contract, including one that exceeds their salary cap.

Wright will also have a low cap hold and be a restricted free-agent in 2019, meaning he can also be an attractive option to anyone who is looking to sign a big-name free agent in 2019 as well. Basically, Wright’s value is only limited to teams attempting to make an offer with 2020 cap-space.

Shedding Salary
A report has recently surfaced from Ian Begley, indicating the Raptors are looking to shed salary for next season. If this is true, Toronto will likely need to attach an asset along with any salary dump.

The natural combination is Delon Wright and fellow backcourt mate Norman Powell. Yes, Wright is probably a bit too much of an asset to trade along with Powell, but Toronto can always receive draft compensation in return. (Probably Powell and Wright for a good 2nd rounder or two bad 2nd rounders).

Wright is a young, talented and is a valuable asset to any team. If Toronto can’t find a reasonable offer then they should hold onto him despite all the reasons above. That doesn’t mean it isn’t time to start looking.

Wright is a versatile player and a rotation piece who can guard across multiple positions. Have long wanted him on the suns. I dont think that speculation is accurate. The Raps arent looking to move him. He plays a different role than van fleet.

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[lilfishi22]

So whether it's Brogdon or Wright or whoever else, are we thinking about a mutli-year deal or are we looking at an Ariza/Reddick like deal with the hope that Okobo is an actual NBA player?

Well I'm really high on Okobo. I hope he becomes our PG of the future. I have a good feeling about him. So until I see what he does this year, I wait and see.

So whether it's Brogdon or Wright or whoever else, are we thinking about a mutli-year deal or are we looking at an Ariza/Reddick like deal with the hope that Okobo is an actual NBA player?

The preference of course is to grow a starter internally, whether that be Okobo, or Knight experiencing a resurgence, or Shaq developing a 3 pointer. I'm eager to see how much better our players look in solid offensive and defensive schemes under Kokoskov. This year should tell us more than previous years about what we have in our youngsters.

To my mind, what the $20 million represents is flexibility - to sign a PG if we think we can upgrade that position next summer or to make a big, splashy trade. If all goes perfectly, that $20 million will be largely superfluous, and the FO will have to brainstorm ways to best utilize it.

I find myself daydreaming about everything going perfectly. The truth is, I'm not at all worried about finding a way to make a great rotation 1-4 using the right combination of Booker, JJ, Bridges, Bender, TJ, Knight, Ariza, Chriss, Shaq, Reed and Okobo. I trust that a good coach can make that work.

It's Ayton I think about. If Ayton hits, it almost won't even matter how the rest of these guys pan out - Booker, Ayton and warm bodies could be good enough to take most teams to the playoffs by the time these guys hit their primes. But if for some reason, something starts to look off, and the big guy's effort level starts out wildly inconsistent and he starts to have stretches of looking completely disengaged and lethargic..... welp! That might be your whole rebuild! So I'm just praying that Ayton is great!!!

I'm high on Okobo but I'm forcing myself to be realistic with expectations. On paper he has the physical profile and the developing abilities to thrive in tomorrow's NBA but he was also passed on by 29 teams despite not having any obvious red flags. That tells me that most don't believe in his ceiling is particularly high or that he's unlikely to reach his ceiling. I hope they are wrong and Okobo turns into one of those 2nd round gems like a Dragic or Barbosa.

I agree with you about Ayton. If Ayton hits even without a high level PG to set him up, we have an absolute monster on the roster and Booker/Ayton will be the best duo in the NBA in a few short years. But if he doesn't, it's going to be a problem not just for McD's job security but also for Suns fans who's been through 7 seasons of mediocrity leading the franchise's first #1 pick which turned into a big man pick in an era where bigs are quickly becoming extinct.

[gaspar]

TJ McConnell is Derek Fisher which is exactly what we need

Rubio
Walker
Collison
Beverley
Russell
Rozier
Delon Wright
Tyus Jones
Malcolm Brogdon
TJ McConnell
Spencer Dinwiddie

Take your pick!!

Ew!

[Jdiddy701]

Alec Peters signing overseas surprised me. I think he’s an NBA player. I actually enjoy him shooting so much more than Dragan Bender.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Alec Peters signing overseas surprised me. I think he’s an NBA player. I actually enjoy him shooting so much more than Dragan Bender.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's funny, because the hoop clearly prefers Dragan.

[Kerrsed]

The Nets still haven't had extension talks with D'Angelo Russell, according to Brian Lewis of the NY Post.

"For now we’re going to see how this group plays together, how it all unfolds," said GM Sean Marks. "[We] have no plans to make any crazy changes, whether that’s an extension or signing or trade anyone else. But things happen quickly." Brooklyn is aiming to maximize their flexibility for free agency in 2019, and Lewis writes that they're "seemingly content to ... let [Russell] hit restricted free agency next summer." Russell currently shares the backcourt depth chart with Spencer Dinwiddie, Shabazz Napier, Allen Crabbe and Caris LeVert.

https://nypost.com/2018/07/23/nets-not-straying-from-2019-plan-for-a-dangelo-russell-extension/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons

[Damkac]

Good thing Suns didn't trade for him.

Read on Twitter

[BobbieL]

Daniels and Chandler should work because of cap rules within a certain %. 16.8 out; 19 coming back

Saves the Cavs 3.2 as Hill has a 1m buyout next summer

Chriss or bender instead of Daniels works too if dumping one of those two

That would be the only way the Cavs would do it as they need some incentive besides minor $$ saving because I think they plan on having Hill mentor Sexton. A young player with some potential is what the Cavs would demand I think. They would probably pick up the player option for either one as well to give them more time to evaluate the player and see if a change of scenery will do them any good.

I also believe they will try and make another run this season so they will need depth at the PG position. I'm not sure Daniels/Chandler helps their cause in anyway. As over the hill (pun intended) he might, Hill is probably still a more useful player than either Chandler or Daniels.

But if not Daniels then it needs to be Chriss or Bender. Not a fan of Chriss but I'm not sure it's a wise use of either assets for one year of Hill. Rather wait til the trade deadline to see what we can get via buyouts/trades etc.

I agree with all of the above. Hill is better than Daniels and Chandler. They probably would want a young play to go with Sexont. But the Cavs have a long term decision to make. If the pick is not top 10 in 2019 - it goes to Atlanta. Cavs can talk a good game about being competitive - but they probably are at best a 12 to 16 team without LeBron. And if they trade Korver, not getting better. I can see them wanting Chriss or Bender with Chandler for Hill But do the Suns do that deal. probably not.

That was always option 2 - I still think if Tyson is traded - its to the Clipers. Thats even a long shot.

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

[BobbieL]

Read on Twitter

probably a very smart move for PEters -- will make double the money than he would here
probably won't have to pay for as much stuff like apartment and other costs

play there , get some experience, get better and who knows.

Suns now have a second spot open for a two way player. Alkins did summer league with Raptors and just signed with the Bulls. So, there are options. Maybe Cooley?

[Saberestar]

Read on Twitter

probably a very smart move for PEters -- will make double the money than he would here
probably won't have to pay for as much stuff like apartment and other costs

play there , get some experience, get better and who knows.

Suns now have a second spot open for a two way player. Alkins did summer league with Raptors and just signed with the Bulls. So, there are options. Maybe Cooley?

I do not want Cooley.

I prefer a young undrafted player with some upside.

[Revived]

Daniels and Chandler should work because of cap rules within a certain %. 16.8 out; 19 coming back

Saves the Cavs 3.2 as Hill has a 1m buyout next summer

Chriss or bender instead of Daniels works too if dumping one of those two

That would be the only way the Cavs would do it as they need some incentive besides minor $$ saving because I think they plan on having Hill mentor Sexton. A young player with some potential is what the Cavs would demand I think. They would probably pick up the player option for either one as well to give them more time to evaluate the player and see if a change of scenery will do them any good.

I also believe they will try and make another run this season so they will need depth at the PG position. I'm not sure Daniels/Chandler helps their cause in anyway. As over the hill (pun intended) he might, Hill is probably still a more useful player than either Chandler or Daniels.

But if not Daniels then it needs to be Chriss or Bender. Not a fan of Chriss but I'm not sure it's a wise use of either assets for one year of Hill. Rather wait til the trade deadline to see what we can get via buyouts/trades etc.

Won’t it be one year of Chriss or Bender as well though since it’s highly unlikely that the Suns pick up team options for both players?

[spanishninja]

Good thing Suns didn't trade for him.

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If people think Booker is a ripoff at 5/158, man what will they think of Harris at 5/188?