2019 - 2021 Free-Agents

[Ranma]

Gotcha. Tapatalk doesnt show me the title of the post. My bad.

No worries. I actually appreciate you keeping me honest to sift through what's real news and what's fake and old. Thank you.

[wco81]

I can see KD wanting to play with Kawhi but he's not going to be too excited about playing the 4.

He's a finely tuned shooting machine but if he has to bang too much, may not be the best thing at this stage of his career.

[mttwlsn16]

So let KD and Kawhi play the 2 and 3. Shamet off the bench. Problem solved.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[Vae Victus]

So let KD and Kawhi play the 2 and 3. Shamet off the bench. Problem solved.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

But what about Lou Will

If the Clips somehow get KD and Kawhi, i think it makes keeping JaMychal Green more important. He's a 4 who can play some 3 and more importantly spread the floor. I would like to run a rotation like this

C - Zubac 24, Harrell 24
PF- Green 24, KD 24
SF- KD 8, Kawhi 24, Robinson 16
SG- Kawhi 8, Shamet 28, Lou Will 12
PG- SEGA 32, Lou Will 16

Keep as much shooting 1-4 as possible for floor spacing, while Zubac/Harrell are pure screen setting hard roll men. Protect KD from any hardcore banging PF but plug him in when its a softer stretch 4 type. Keep one of KD or Kawhi on the floor at all times, but finish with both for sure, let Lou finish if he's hot otherwise bench him at the end. Personally i think i'd prioritize Green over PatBev in this scenario, to soak up physical 4 mins, although if Green is willing to take the Room Exception, then the team can keep both. In the above rotation its hard to find PatBev enough mins to make paying his likely salary worthwhile.

Try to grab an extra quality SF/PF vet reserve (Tyrone Wallace might fit the bill?) who can step up and provide some quality mins when one of Kawhi and KD are sitting for load management. Grab a cheap vet PG with size (my preference is Lin, he's had a down year, so he's a good bounceback candidate and he'll definitely accept a min deal) for matchup purposes/injury insurance.

Gotta start deciding on which of the team's FAs are of higher priority.

PatBev over Green or vice versa. How much is PatBev/Green gonna get on the open market? I think their playoff showings have helped their value. Zubac otoh took a bit of a hit on his value so keeping him will likely be cheaper.

I kinda feel no matter the scenario (KD + Kawhi, Kawhi only, no Kawhi) id just rather prioritize Green over PatBev. The team is set in the backcourt with SEGA, Shamet, and Lou Will, all on cheap deals, a re-signed PatBev will need to be paid more than all of them, while playing the least mins. However stretch bigs who can play 3/4 and D up a bit (PJ Tucker i think is the ideal mold for this role) are more valuable than short PGs who can D up hard but cant create.

I mean if it came down to it, lets say PatBev needs a 3 year 30mil deal while Green only requires 3y 21-24mil, id rather grab Green. Then try to use the remaining cap space on Temple (so like 1-2 yr at 2-3mil per). Now i have a full Room Exception, i'd prolly use it to get the best big i can find, someone like Nerlens Noel ideally (but i doubt he'll come since he wants mins).

Now if its just Kawhi, then there's alot more more money available. Keeping PatBev is more of an option, as i think there will be enough mins for him to be useful. If PatBev and Green are signed to value deals, then theyre very tradeable if the time comes to clear up cap space for a 2020 FA run (AD) or be used as salary filler for a disgruntled superstar. Alternatively instead of spreading the cap out to PatBev and Green, there might be a superior FA that can be found that only needs to be paid 25mil a year? Who well i guess that depends on how teams spend their money. I can see the FA money dry up quick once all the top FAs have chosen their spots and the 2nd/3rd tier FAs need to start finding homes but teams far from contention arent willing to give them lots of money to treadmill.

C - Zubac, Harrell
PF- Gallo, Green
SF- Kawhi, JRobinson
SG- Shamet, Lou Will
PG- SEGA, PatBev

[mttwlsn16]

So let KD and Kawhi play the 2 and 3. Shamet off the bench. Problem solved.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

But what about Lou Will

If the Clips somehow get KD and Kawhi, i think it makes keeping JaMychal Green more important. He's a 4 who can play some 3 and more importantly spread the floor. I would like to run a rotation like this

C - Zubac 24, Harrell 24
PF- Green 24, KD 24
SF- KD 8, Kawhi 24, Robinson 16
SG- Kawhi 8, Shamet 28, Lou Will 12
PG- SEGA 32, Lou Will 16

Keep as much shooting 1-4 as possible for floor spacing, while Zubac/Harrell are pure screen setting hard roll men. Protect KD from any hardcore banging PF but plug him in when its a softer stretch 4 type. Keep one of KD or Kawhi on the floor at all times, but finish with both for sure, let Lou finish if he's hot otherwise bench him at the end. Personally i think i'd prioritize Green over PatBev in this scenario, to soak up physical 4 mins, although if Green is willing to take the Room Exception, then the team can keep both. In the above rotation its hard to find PatBev enough mins to make paying his likely salary worthwhile.

Try to grab an extra quality SF/PF vet reserve (Tyrone Wallace might fit the bill?) who can step up and provide some quality mins when one of Kawhi and KD are sitting for load management. Grab a cheap vet PG with size (my preference is Lin, he's had a down year, so he's a good bounceback candidate and he'll definitely accept a min deal) for matchup purposes/injury insurance.

Gotta start deciding on which of the team's FAs are of higher priority.

PatBev over Green or vice versa. How much is PatBev/Green gonna get on the open market? I think their playoff showings have helped their value. Zubac otoh took a bit of a hit on his value so keeping him will likely be cheaper.

I kinda feel no matter the scenario (KD + Kawhi, Kawhi only, no Kawhi) id just rather prioritize Green over PatBev. The team is set in the backcourt with SEGA, Shamet, and Lou Will, all on cheap deals, a re-signed PatBev will need to be paid more than all of them, while playing the least mins. However stretch bigs who can play 3/4 and D up a bit (PJ Tucker i think is the ideal mold for this role) are more valuable than short PGs who can D up hard but cant create.

I mean if it came down to it, lets say PatBev needs a 3 year 30mil deal while Green only requires 3y 21-24mil, id rather grab Green. Then try to use the remaining cap space on Temple (so like 1-2 yr at 2-3mil per). Now i have a full Room Exception, i'd prolly use it to get the best big i can find, someone like Nerlens Noel ideally (but i doubt he'll come since he wants mins).

Now if its just Kawhi, then there's alot more more money available. Keeping PatBev is more of an option, as i think there will be enough mins for him to be useful. If PatBev and Green are signed to value deals, then theyre very tradeable if the time comes to clear up cap space for a 2020 FA run (AD) or be used as salary filler for a disgruntled superstar. Alternatively instead of spreading the cap out to PatBev and Green, there might be a superior FA that can be found that only needs to be paid 25mil a year? Who well i guess that depends on how teams spend their money. I can see the FA money dry up quick once all the top FAs have chosen their spots and the 2nd/3rd tier FAs need to start finding homes but teams far from contention arent willing to give them lots of money to treadmill.

C - Zubac, Harrell
PF- Gallo, Green
SF- Kawhi, JRobinson
SG- Shamet, Lou Will
PG- SEGA, PatBev

Star SGA at the 1, KD and Kawhi at the 2 and 3.
Bev, Shamet, Lou Will back up those 3 spots.
Green returns like you said as well.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[Ranma]

Read on Twitter

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Ranma]

Read on Twitter

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Ranma]

Read on Twitter

[mttwlsn16]

Read on Twitter

As much as I hated DTS, as bad an owner as he was, as much as he an absolute piece of ****, I'm thankful he **** up the way he did 5 or 6 years ago.
If not, we wouldn't be where we are today. We have an owner who will do anything within his power to win, a good coach who's well respected by pretty much everyone, smart basketball heads running the organization, the logo, etc.
The future is bright indeed!

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[MartinToVaught]

Tellingly, the book's final chapter is titled "The Next Chapter." Durant's future options are dissected.

According to Thompson, "As long as Durant is on the Warriors, his legacy is tarnished. Durant dissenters want him to carry a contender from the ground up, winning as an underdog. Whatever ill will created, his success with the Warriors could be washed away by Durant resurrecting the Knicks. If Durant delivered that, he'd be a deity in New York basketball."

Thompson opines that success in New York is "more than a long shot," adding: "The Knicks for decades have been a magnet for dysfunction, which suggest they would have a hard time putting the pieces around Durant to win a title. Such a challenge might be appealing to Durant."

Thompson listed the Clippers and Sixers as alternatives that could wipe clean the Golden State signing stigma. Thomas suggests that winning the Clippers their first title after being the Lakers' stepsister "would make him an icon."

Either way, the "KD" book doesn't make it seem his final chapter will be in San Francisco, though it reports Durant bought a place there and he visited the under-construction arena earlier this season.

https://nypost.com/2019/04/30/unreleased-kevin-durant-book-more-telling-clues-of-warriors-exit/

[Ranma]

I saw some old tweets and recent articles, which happen to be related. Remember, Ballmer and the Clippers made an impression on Durant during their previous in-person pitch to him before he narrowed his choices to Boston and Golden State prior to officially joining the Warriors as a free agent.

Since then, the Clippers have proven to be a formidable foe and drawn universal praise for their gritty and spirited play. Durant himself has even praised rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for his current approach and potential. Rumors are buzzing that the Clippers not only have the inside track on Kawhi but also a legitimate, if not good, shot at KD. Personally, I think he's still leaning towards New York but I'm also confident that Ballmer, West and Doc are armed with enough ammunition to change his mind in a face-to-face setting.

Go to the 20:33 time stamp of the YouTube video below for the portion of the "Speak for Yourself" podcast referenced in the Express article. Granted that British tabloid is not exactly reputable, but it's basically speculating based on what Chris Mannix said on the aforementioned podcast.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Watch on YouTube

[wco81]

If Ballmer is going to cry again, maybe he shouldn’t go to the pitch meeting.

[QRich3]

If Ballmer is going to cry again, maybe he shouldn’t go to the pitch meeting.

His tears are light years behind Lacob's

[Ranma]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Ranma]

Read on Twitter

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Ranma]

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Ranma]

The funny thing is that I've identified Klay Thompson as one of those players not truly worthy of a max contract.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Watch on YouTube

[madmaxmedia]

He's worth it to the Warriors, but on other teams it just depends. We happen to be stocked at guard so that hurts his worth to us, although if we hypothetically signed him we'd make other moves to optimize the roster.

He just isn't going to get the chance to go through long shooting slumps without significant scrutiny, like he does now. He's best as 2nd or 3rd option on a good team (just like Tobias.) When he's on he's unbelievable though and he doesn't have a memory- he'll keep shooting which is what you want out of a guy with his skills.

We really, really want that #1 though...

[MartinToVaught]

This has all the makings of Klay's agent putting stuff out there to secure the bag from Golden State. We didn't trade Blake and Tobias just to max out a glorified role player who can't dribble and relies entirely on his teammates to spoonfeed him with assists.

[mkwest]

They're just making up stuff now.