Who'd You Rather, 2019 FA Edition

[ecuhus1981]

OK, let's suspend disbelief for just a minute.

I want to get an opinion from fellow Nets fans, of this summer's free agency bonanza. There will be a ton of big names available, and even more teams with the capability to pay them. Some are restricted FA's, others have player options, all with varying degrees of interest in Brooklyn.

Independent of all of that, I want to look purely at OUR DRUTHERS. Let's suppose we keep our current core, even impending RFA's Russell and Jefferson with their cap holds, as well as our 2 2019 1st-round picks, which also count against the cap. We project to have around $22mil in capspace. Buying out or stretching Crabbe could yield $9-11mil in additional capspace, enough for a max player with less than 10 years of experience. The point is, we have the ability to offer a max slot.

Obviously, we would be fortunate to sign any of these guys, and nothing about FA guarantees we will, and blah blah blah... If we had our pick of who to sign, and no team would match or try to stop us, who would you most want? One free item from the candy jar, what'll it be?

KEVIN DURANT - a true perennial MVP candidate with a chip on his shoulder, he'll be 30 when free agency hits. Not ancient, but he's logged a ton of NBA miles. Having more than 10 years of experience means he is eligible for a maximum salary starting at nearly $39mil, compared to nearly all other FA's who top out at $27mil (less than 7yrs exp) or $33mil (7-10 yrs exp). We might need to attach Crabbe to our DEN1st, or part with another youth asset to free up enough space for a full max. Even in this fantasy, he's not taking less.

KAWHI LEONARD - a mercurial, uber-efficient All-NBA player, his ceiling in nearly as high as KD's. At 28 next summer with fresh legs from last season's SAS deadlock, he should have plenty of "prime" remaining. His salary would start at $33mil.

KRISTAPS PORZINGIS - the youngest in charge at 23, Porzingis is a two-way terror. He flirted with an MVP campaign last season, before a brutal ACL injury that may prove difficult to overcome. His max salary would be $27mil.

KYRIE IRVING - this 27yo ball-handling magician would seem to fill an already glutted position for us. Blisteringly efficient against even the best defenses, and inexplicably poor at playing D himself. Although he's an near-MVP candidate on paper, his deep statistical impact suggest he's more style than substance.

JIMMY BUTLER - a competitive firebrand and an elite offensive and defensive player, Jimmy turns 29 before the summer. He seems to have been in the league for decades, but this is just his 8th year. He was in the same draft as Kyrie, picked at the opposite end of the 1st round!

[TheNetsFan]

Leonard>Durant>Porzingis>Harris>Klay

[Prokorov]

1. Leonard












2. Durant (yuck vomit in my mouth)
3. Porzingas
4. Klay
5. Kemba
6. Kyrie
7. Butler
8. Harris

[MrDollarBills]

Leonard. Perfect system fit and having a starting 5 of Russell/LeVert/Leonard/Kurucs/Allen or Russell/LeVert/Harris/Leonard/Allen w/ Dinwiddie as the super sub is a top 3 team in the conference and a top 10 team in the league.

Klay would be my #2 on the list. he would feast in this system and average 25ppg imo

Durant is a obvious no brainer, but I have questions about his temperament tbh. Luckily, he'd be playing for the Nets, who the NY media don't pay attention to.

Realistically, Tobias Harris is most likely the guy coming here.

[ecuhus1981]

Yes, there are some pretty amazing tier 2 free agents, some of whom some will argue belong in tier 1. Kemba, Klay, Kris, Nikola, Tobias, Marc and Eric, maybe more.

But among the 5 choices, I have to say I'm most interested in Porzingis. Aside from the RFA brinkmanship and the chance to snatch a potential HoF-er from NYK, he's the youngest and the least expensive. That age difference could widen our contending window. And that $6mil may not seem like much, but it could be the difference down the line of being able to offer an MLE or an LLE to a key rotation guy. ACL injuries are gruesome for 7-footers, so there is definite risk. But the upside is dynastic.

[shakendfries]

KD is better than Kawhi by leaps and bounds.
Watch lockdown defender Kawhi "hold" Durant to 51

Watch on YouTube

y'all are trippin

[DeRoma]

KD is better than Kawhi by leaps and bounds.
Watch lockdown defender Kawhi "hold" Durant to 51

Watch on YouTube

y'all are trippin

It's the age and contract which is why they would rather go with Kawhi.

[shakendfries]

KD is better than Kawhi by leaps and bounds.
Watch lockdown defender Kawhi "hold" Durant to 51

Watch on YouTube

y'all are trippin

It's the age and contract which is why they would rather go with Kawhi.

Those are good reasons.

[MrDollarBills]

Durant is a great player don't get me wrong but the Nets play a particular system and based on what I've seen from KD in Golden State, he is not the type that will buy in to a system like ours. Leonard on the other hand...

[DeRoma]

Durant is a great player don't get me wrong but the Nets play a particular system and based on what I've seen from KD in Golden State, he is not the type that will buy in to a system like ours. Leonard on the other hand...

You'd think twice once playoffs starts

[vincecarter4pres]

Durant is a great player don't get me wrong but the Nets play a particular system and based on what I've seen from KD in Golden State, he is not the type that will buy in to a system like ours. Leonard on the other hand...

You'd think twice once playoffs starts

I'm torn between the two. I still rank KD higher, but both are Finals MVP's.

Both have personality/temperament issues as well, just in different ways.

Both are legitimate perennial MVP candidates.

Can't go wrong either way.

[vincecarter4pres]

I'd love to see a second poll/thread with the following options:

Klay Thompson

Tobias Harris

Kemba Walker

Khris Middleton

Paul Millsap

[SpeedyG]

I'd love to see a second poll/thread with the following options:

Klay Thompson

Tobias Harris

Kemba Walker

Khris Middleton

Paul Millsap

Kd/Kawhi

Porz (ignoring RFA status)
Kemba/Kyrie
Milsap (short term while Rodi gets stronger)
Harris
Klay
Middleton

Sent from my SM-G925T using RealGM mobile app

[ecuhus1981]

I'd love to see a second poll/thread with the following options:

Klay Thompson

Tobias Harris

Kemba Walker

Khris Middleton

Paul Millsap

I think you mis-spelled "Nikola Mirotic"!

Nothing against Millsap, he's really effective. But at 33, I don't see us throwing major money his way. I feel the same about Horford, if he opts out of his final year. At 32, he has a bit elite play left in him, sure, but on a team as young and hungry as ours, we'd regret bringing in someone on the decline.

[MrDollarBills]

I'd love to see a second poll/thread with the following options:

Klay Thompson

Tobias Harris

Kemba Walker

Khris Middleton

Paul Millsap

Pretty much how you ranked it here. middleton would be a perfect fit here but I like Harris better since he can play the 4

[Prokorov]

Yes, there are some pretty amazing tier 2 free agents, some of whom some will argue belong in tier 1. Kemba, Klay, Kris, Nikola, Tobias, Marc and Eric, maybe more.

But among the 5 choices, I have to say I'm most interested in Porzingis. Aside from the RFA brinkmanship and the chance to snatch a potential HoF-er from NYK, he's the youngest and the least expensive. That age difference could widen our contending window. And that $6mil may not seem like much, but it could be the difference down the line of being able to offer an MLE or an LLE to a key rotation guy. ACL injuries are gruesome for 7-footers, so there is definite risk. But the upside is dynastic.

Nikola Mirotic is like tier 4, not tier 2 and will never ever ever ever ever ever be close to a tier 1. Maybe you are thinking of Nikola Jokic?

[Prokorov]

KD is better than Kawhi by leaps and bounds.
Watch lockdown defender Kawhi "hold" Durant to 51

Watch on YouTube

y'all are trippin

Durant is also 4 years older and much more immature/rattled by the media.

Your video is completely irrelevant, what happens in 1 game is not important. Kawhi is a DPOTY type defender who has won the award. he also doesnt need the ball as much to be effective. durant would turn us into an isoball team. he would also cost 8 million more per year then KAwhi since he would get the 10+ year max not the 7-10 year max

it isnt close who the better free agent is. its kawhi

[Prokorov]

Durant is a great player don't get me wrong but the Nets play a particular system and based on what I've seen from KD in Golden State, he is not the type that will buy in to a system like ours. Leonard on the other hand...

You'd think twice once playoffs starts

Why? Leonard has been a great playoff perform, is a multi time NBA champion who has won NBA finals MVP. Last playoff appearance Kawhi averaged 28/7/5 on 52/45/93 while leading the spurs past the rockets and into the western conference finals before losing to the warriors.

[Prokorov]

Durant is a great player don't get me wrong but the Nets play a particular system and based on what I've seen from KD in Golden State, he is not the type that will buy in to a system like ours. Leonard on the other hand...

You'd think twice once playoffs starts

I'm torn between the two. I still rank KD higher, but both are Finals MVP's.

Both have personality/temperament issues as well, just in different ways.

Both are legitimate perennial MVP candidates.

Can't go wrong either way.

how much do you factor in that kawhi is 4 years younger and would cost 8 million less per year?

[Prokorov]

I'd love to see a second poll/thread with the following options:

Klay Thompson

Tobias Harris

Kemba Walker

Khris Middleton

Paul Millsap

1. Klay
2. Kemba










3. Harris









































4. Milsap




















5. Not middleton.