Potential Free Agent Signings

[Ruzious]

I am skeptical that we sign Bertans for 15 mill. What is now the full MLE amount? 9 million?

9,258,000. https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2020/11/values-of-202021-mid-level-bi-annual-exceptions.html

[prime1time]

So...Bobby Marks tweeted out the four teams with the most cap space. ATL and NY are the only two teams with 40+ million in cap space. Charlotte has $19 million.

If I were Jeremi Grant's camp I would be concerned. I think Charlotte would more than likely look for a center rather than a wing, especially because they got guys like PJ Washington and Bridges on the team.

ATL doesn't seem to make much sense because they got Hunter and Reddish on the wings and it doesn't make sense to pay someone $16 million a year. I think the rumor is they are trying to sign 2 of Gallo/Bogdan/Rondo which probably takes them from $44 mil in cap space to maybe $18 million? I suppose that still keeps them in the running for Grant but financially it doesn't make sense.

NY has roughly $42 million in cap space. The rumor is they are going to try and sign Fred Van Vleet and potentially Christian Wood. That would definitely take them out of the Grant sweepstakes.

TLDR - it's entirely possible Grant's camp played the market wrong and he could be looking at the MLE from a team. Another point and I think it was Nate who said this, there's going to be a ton of guys, solid free agents who will sign for the MLE or less. This cap crunch isn't just going to affect guys like Grant and Bertans, but even players like Joe Harris maybe, Favors, Crowder etc.

One thing to track is 1-year deals vs. multi-year deals. Teams will be less willing probably to give up multi-year deals and hurt cap going forward. We could get a lower yearly average for Bertans if we give him more years. Something I'm fine with.

[Rafael122]

I am skeptical that we sign Bertans for 15 mill. What is now the full MLE amount? 9 million?

There's only 3 teams with significant cap room. My concern is that if he strikes out on any of those 3 teams, would you rather sign for the MLE in DC or for the MLE in say...Boston?

[closg00]

I am skeptical that we sign Bertans for 15 mill. What is now the full MLE amount? 9 million?

There's only 3 teams with significant cap room. My concern is that if he strikes out on any of those 3 teams, would you rather sign for the MLE in DC or for the MLE in say...Boston?

The Knicks just cleared a ton of space, are they amongst the 3? There is going to be a surprising offer

[gambitx777]

Do you think davis might be interested in a full MLE,? 4 year security vs taking A one or two year 15 mill ?

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[NatP4]

I have no clue what the free agent market looks like, but based off of the roster we have now, I would be looking for quality perimeter defenders as opposed to rim protection. The frontcourt has 3 good players already in Wagner, Bryant, and Bertens. No, they aren’t quality defenders, but they are net positive players. We need better defense from Beal, Brown, Hachimura, and whoever plays PG.

I’d be looking to move Ish Smith and find a defensive guard or wing.

[rl25g]

I'm thinking/hoping

Resign Bertans
Favors for 2 year MLE
Harkless for 1 year bi annual

[doclinkin]

I still like my crazy Carmelo plan. Whaaaat: he's a crafty veteran teaching offensive skills to Deni and Hachi. They can pick up defense elsewhere...

[pcbothwel]

I'm thinking/hoping

Resign Bertans
Favors for 2 year MLE
Harkless for 1 year bi annual

Bertans: Agreed
MLE: I'd go with Noel, but Favors would be #2.
Also, I'd go after Shaq Harrison as well in the MLE (I think Noel + Shaq can be had for 9.5M total)
BAE: Save this for mid season pickup.

[nate33]

Do you think davis might be interested in a full MLE,? 4 year security vs taking A one or two year 15 mill ?

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I figure some other team with a shot at contending will offer the full MLE for 4 years. That's what, 4 years $42M? We're going to have to beat that. I'd try to lock him in to 3 years $39M on a declining contract paying roughly $14M, then $13M, then $12M. The only teams that can beat that are Atlanta, New York and Charlotte. I don't think Charlotte will get involved, so it's down to New York and Atlanta.

Hopefully, Atlanta will now focus their energy on acquiring Hayward, which should just leave New York as our competition for Bertans. New York is probably willing to pay big money, but not for a very long contract.

[Ruzious]

Do you think davis might be interested in a full MLE,? 4 year security vs taking A one or two year 15 mill ?

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

I figure some other team with a shot at contending will offer the full MLE for 4 years. That's what, 4 years $42M? We're going to have to beat that. I'd try to lock him in to 3 years $39M on a declining contract paying roughly $14M, then $13M, then $12M. The only teams that can beat that are Atlanta, New York and Charlotte. I don't think Charlotte will get involved, so it's down to New York and Atlanta.

Hopefully, Atlanta will now focus their energy on acquiring Hayward, which should just leave New York as our competition for Bertans. New York is probably willing to pay big money, but not for a very long contract.

Agreed that NY is probably the leading candidate. Atlanta's got such a strong frontcourt already - with Capella, Collins, Okongwu, Dedmon, Hunter, and Bruno Fernando.

Otoh, he's gotta realize NY's going to be really bad - and with players who love to shoot and not play defense - does he really want to be in that environment with Barrett and Toppin. I think Barrett's going to end up being a big disappointment. Mitchell Robinson plays D, but he's a very low IQ player. No point guard. At least the Wiz are a likely playoff team with him.

[Ruzious]

Do you think davis might be interested in a full MLE,? 4 year security vs taking A one or two year 15 mill ?

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

I figure some other team with a shot at contending will offer the full MLE for 4 years. That's what, 4 years $42M? We're going to have to beat that. I'd try to lock him in to 3 years $39M on a declining contract paying roughly $14M, then $13M, then $12M. The only teams that can beat that are Atlanta, New York and Charlotte. I don't think Charlotte will get involved, so it's down to New York and Atlanta.

Hopefully, Atlanta will now focus their energy on acquiring Hayward, which should just leave New York as our competition for Bertans. New York is probably willing to pay big money, but not for a very long contract.

Agreed that NY is probably the leading candidate. Atlanta's got such a strong frontcourt already - with Capella, Collins, Okongwu, Dedmon, Hunter, and Bruno Fernando. The free agent that would make the most sense now for Atl would be Bogdanovic.

Otoh, he's gotta realize NY's going to be really bad - and with players who love to shoot and not play defense - does he really want to be in that environment with Barrett and Toppin. I think Barrett's going to end up being a big disappointment. Mitchell Robinson plays D, but he's a very low IQ player. No point guard. At least the Wiz are a likely playoff team with him.

[Ruzious]

Hmm, seems that Atlanta traded Dedmon for Tony Snell and Khyri Thomas - and cut Thomas - balanced their bench a bit.

[Kanyewest]

The Knicks didn't pick up Portis's option- so there's that.

[doclinkin]

Do you think davis might be interested in a full MLE,? 4 year security vs taking A one or two year 15 mill ?

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

I figure some other team with a shot at contending will offer the full MLE for 4 years. That's what, 4 years $42M? We're going to have to beat that. I'd try to lock him in to 3 years $39M on a declining contract paying roughly $14M, then $13M, then $12M. The only teams that can beat that are Atlanta, New York and Charlotte. I don't think Charlotte will get involved, so it's down to New York and Atlanta.

Hopefully, Atlanta will now focus their energy on acquiring Hayward, which should just leave New York as our competition for Bertans. New York is probably willing to pay big money, but not for a very long contract.

I don't see him as a priority for a Thibodeaux scheme. TT relies on smart tough Bigs at the 4 position. Granted long ball bigs proved to be the silver bullet to his Strong Side Defense scheme, so maybe he has learned that he needs to add that wrinkle on offense. But the Penguin has proven to be a stubborn stubborn man, so I'm not sure he would overpay to add a player that only gets played as a specialist in his scheme.

[nate33]

Best case for us is Van Vleet going to NY and Hayward going to Atlanta, each for big money. That would pretty much eliminate all teams with significant cap room.

[doclinkin]

Best case for us is Van Vleet going to NY and Hayward going to Atlanta, each for big money. That would pretty much eliminate all teams with significant cap room.

Van Vleet by contrast is a perfect fit for what TT likes to do.

Watch on YouTube

That is Rondo level defense from a perimeter player.

[nate33]

Reading on Wiretap that Indy is still pursuing a S&T for Hayward. I assumed that once Hayward opted out of his player option, Boston no longer had the capability of sign-and-trading him. Maybe that's incorrect.

[Ruzious]

Best case for us is Van Vleet going to NY and Hayward going to Atlanta, each for big money. That would pretty much eliminate all teams with significant cap room.

Van Vleet by contrast is a perfect fit for what TT likes to do.

That is Rondo level defense from a perimeter player.

FVV combined with Thibs coaching could go a long way to changing the culture in NY - even though he is an unathletic looking 6 foot guard with short arms.

[wall_glizzy]

Reading on Wiretap that Indy is still pursuing a S&T for Hayward. I assumed that once Hayward opted out of his player option, Boston no longer had the capability of sign-and-trading him. Maybe that's incorrect.

You usually see the S&T thing happen in RFA (as it did a bunch last season) because the incumbent team has matching rights and can leverage that into getting a second rounder or something back, like we did with Sato.

This is the other use case, where Indiana can't sign Hayward directly into open cap space and thus has to arrange a trade. Since the Celtics have Hayward's Bird Rights, they're exclusively (between them and the Pacers, or them and any other non-cap space team), capable of signing him to a deal at $25m or whatever he's looking for, and thus able to use that to demand assets for facilitating the move to Indiana.

The interesting part is that looking at Indiana's cap sheet, they don't have a lot of dud mega-deals for cap ballast. Assuming Hayward isn't taking a massive paycut, I don't see any way the salaries could match without at least one of Turner/Oladipo/Lamb/Warren/Sabonis/Brogdon coming back. But sign and trade limitations prevent the Celtics from sending any players/assets along with Hayward in the deal! It sounds like the only possibility is working out two separate transactions - the first being Hayward for... Oladipo? Turner? The second, which could execute simultaneously, would have to be the Celtics sending out desirable low-salary players and/or some draft compensation for pure salary filler from the Pacers scrap heap. Maybe this is the window the Pacers have been looking for to dump Oladipo or Turner, but it'll have to be quite a deal.