Free Agency, Rumors, Thoughts in General 2.0

[NYG]

So what does Dipo, Lonzo and Lauri go for before the deadline?

I don’t see how Dipo gets you a 1st with him wanting MIA.

Lonzo maybe a 2nd and a young prospect?

Lauri... no idea.

I think Lauri for Ball might end up making sense.

[Texas Chuck]

So what does Dipo, Lonzo and Lauri go for before the deadline?

I don’t see how Dipo gets you a 1st with him wanting MIA.

Lonzo maybe a 2nd and a young prospect?

Lauri... no idea.

I think Lauri for Ball might end up making sense.

Is Lauri or Zion playing center or do you envision Lauri as a $20M plus 6th man? I don't mind the value swap but that would be a ton of resources invested in the front court for the Pels and the guard spots look really weak.

[Buzzard]

So what does Dipo, Lonzo and Lauri go for before the deadline?

I don’t see how Dipo gets you a 1st with him wanting MIA.

Lonzo maybe a 2nd and a young prospect?

Lauri... no idea.

I think Lauri for Ball might end up making sense.

That does make sense for the Bulls if they don't want to pay Lauri. I think they should. Lauri, Zion, Ingram would be a sieve defensively but you can't argue against the offensive firepower.

[Chi town]

So what does Dipo, Lonzo and Lauri go for before the deadline?

I don’t see how Dipo gets you a 1st with him wanting MIA.

Lonzo maybe a 2nd and a young prospect?

Lauri... no idea.

I think Lauri for Ball might end up making sense.

That does make sense for the Bulls if they don't want to pay Lauri. I think they should. Lauri, Zion, Ingram would be a sieve defensively but you can't argue against the offensive firepower.

I don’t think AK would pay Lonzo and I don’t think he wants to pay Lauri. I think Lauri gets traded at the deadline. I’m hoping it’s for a better bet. Lauri and our 1st for Vuc would be good.

[Scoot McGroot]

I think this is Klutch laying the groundwork for Lonzo getting a fat deal in RFA. In the past week alone, he's been linked to both the Clippers and Knicks, two big market teams on either coast.

Clippers seems like a poor target/example if so, as they can only realistically max out at around $15m if both Serge and Kawhi opt out and walk. Knicks, sure, with their nearly double max cap room.

They're saying "Hey look, our guy has great interest around the league, even for contending teams".

I get it, but any GM worth a lick will say “the Clippers can only offer you the MLE, so we’ll offer you $1m more.” Looks to be a way to lock yourself into a barely $10m offer.
The Knicks, however, I get.

[Buzzard]

Vultures starting to circle around Myles Turner on the board today except seemingly without the realization that if a bunch of teams are interested a lowball bid has no chance to obtain him.

That is probably no worse than the vultures circling Bogdan or Gallinari when there is absolutely no rumors to substantiate they are even on the market. But very similar to Collins who is reportedly getting a lot of interest despite Atlanta almost taking him off the market.

Its the trade board. Not expecting or not seeing offers on your teams players probably means they are bad to average. So there is that positive spin to take as well

[becorz]

Holmes over the last stretch is making himself a priority to the kings if they think can resign him

They are going to have to move salary because he’s not taking any mle

I think Barnes will def be gone. I’ll make the call it will be to Boston for Nesmith and maybe Pritchard/first but I think Boston will have the leverage. So just nesmith and a 2nd

Boston isn’t giving up firsts from what I saw tonight but I still think there will be pressure to compete. Not sure who else is attainable and fits their 2023 offseason plan I’ve heard of

If the Kings are giving up Barnes, that signals a reboot. If they are rebooting, why are they paying Holmes?

It doesn’t need to signal anything other than they need to move some serious salary to pay Holmes and Buddy’s value isn’t yet where it needs to be/can be (though he’s looked better recently)

I love watching Holmes like everyone else, but are the Kings really going to pay an undersized 28 year old center $10mil plus if they are about to start a rebuild? I don't think that makes much sense at all.

[kalenclayton]

If the Kings are giving up Barnes, that signals a reboot. If they are rebooting, why are they paying Holmes?

It doesn’t need to signal anything other than they need to move some serious salary to pay Holmes and Buddy’s value isn’t yet where it needs to be/can be (though he’s looked better recently)

I love watching Holmes like everyone else, but are the Kings really going to pay an undersized 28 year old center $10mil plus if they are about to start a rebuild? I don't think that makes much sense at all.

They won’t go full rebuild. I know we have some fans here who want that, but it isn’t happening. Barnes is in play for any scenario. If he gets moved, we probably see a soft rebuild. Holmes can stay put if the salary is right and he will be an asset so long as he can keep up his play. I don’t see why his play would diminish, so I don’t see any issue with keeping him.

[Texas Chuck]

Wonder if the Lebron news changes the Lakers' deadline plans any? Or just get Lebron/AD healthy and say we have Lebron if we have to go through the play-in, we go through the play-in?

[Buzzard]

It doesn’t need to signal anything other than they need to move some serious salary to pay Holmes and Buddy’s value isn’t yet where it needs to be/can be (though he’s looked better recently)

I love watching Holmes like everyone else, but are the Kings really going to pay an undersized 28 year old center $10mil plus if they are about to start a rebuild? I don't think that makes much sense at all.

They won’t go full rebuild. I know we have some fans here who want that, but it isn’t happening. Barnes is in play for any scenario. If he gets moved, we probably see a soft rebuild. Holmes can stay put if the salary is right and he will be an asset so long as he can keep up his play. I don’t see why his play would diminish, so I don’t see any issue with keeping him.

I pretty much see it this way. If the Kings end up with another lottery pick, that is a good thing. If they get some value for Barnes that is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with having established vets around their young core of Haliburton, Fox, Bagley, this years pick.

They just need those vets to be good influences and everybody needs to understand their roles on the team.

[Buzzard]

Wonder if the Lebron news changes the Lakers' deadline plans any? Or just get Lebron/AD healthy and say we have Lebron if we have to go through the play-in, we go through the play-in?

With or without LeBron, the Lakers could use a shooter. I see a possible play in. 5 to 8 seed if they can get AD back by April. They are currently 6 games ahead of the play in. Knowing LeBron he will get jacked up for the challenge.

Even if they lose all 7 games remaining in March; so long as AD gets back in April I can still see them making a 5th or 6th seed.

[kalenclayton]

I love watching Holmes like everyone else, but are the Kings really going to pay an undersized 28 year old center $10mil plus if they are about to start a rebuild? I don't think that makes much sense at all.

They won’t go full rebuild. I know we have some fans here who want that, but it isn’t happening. Barnes is in play for any scenario. If he gets moved, we probably see a soft rebuild. Holmes can stay put if the salary is right and he will be an asset so long as he can keep up his play. I don’t see why his play would diminish, so I don’t see any issue with keeping him.

I pretty much see it this way. If the Kings end up with another lottery pick, that is a good thing. If they get some value for Barnes that is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with having established vets around their young core of Haliburton, Fox, Bagley, this years pick.

They just need those vets to be good influences and everybody needs to understand their roles on the team.

Exactly. The Kings will have a lotto pick. I don’t see it any other way. The higher the better, but we will likely see them be inconsistently competitive for the remainder of the season. Barnes and Holmes are the exact types of role models you want on your rebuilding squad if you are going to keep vets. They know their role and will try to motivate and teach when necessary. It’s obvious they can’t carry this team, so I see no harm in keeping them. They will help win a few games, but I think those wins will be more positive than if they aren’t there and the losses rack up. That losing can really beat up developing players.

[Buzzard]

They won’t go full rebuild. I know we have some fans here who want that, but it isn’t happening. Barnes is in play for any scenario. If he gets moved, we probably see a soft rebuild. Holmes can stay put if the salary is right and he will be an asset so long as he can keep up his play. I don’t see why his play would diminish, so I don’t see any issue with keeping him.

I pretty much see it this way. If the Kings end up with another lottery pick, that is a good thing. If they get some value for Barnes that is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with having established vets around their young core of Haliburton, Fox, Bagley, this years pick.

They just need those vets to be good influences and everybody needs to understand their roles on the team.

Barnes and Holmes are the exact types of role models you want on your rebuilding squad if you are going to keep vets. They know their role and will try to motivate and teach when necessary. It’s obvious they can’t carry this team, so I see no harm in keeping them. They will help win a few games, but I think those wins will be more positive than if they aren’t there and the losses rack up. That losing can really beat up developing players.

You could see it in Trae's face last season. I think the riff between him and Collins somewhat started with that suspension. Trae never complained about Collins getting suspended. But losing 21 of those 25 games had to of taken a toll.

There is a huge difference right now in watching the team play and interact on the court. Winning and/or competing takes care of most ills. Having solid vets this season is doing a lot for the young Hawks. I have never heard any negatives about Barnes and Holmes. Good vets and their impact on team morale should not be undersold.

[VCfor3]

Wonder if the Lebron news changes the Lakers' deadline plans any? Or just get Lebron/AD healthy and say we have Lebron if we have to go through the play-in, we go through the play-in?

With or without LeBron, the Lakers could use a shooter. I see a possible play in. 5 to 8 seed if they can get AD back by April. They are currently 6 games ahead of the play in. Knowing LeBron he will get jacked up for the challenge.

Even if they lose all 7 games remaining in March; so long as AD gets back in April I can still see them making a 5th or 6th seed.

I'm still trying to figure out how they match salary for much of anything. Anyone with salary is a fairly important player.

[Buzzard]

Wonder if the Lebron news changes the Lakers' deadline plans any? Or just get Lebron/AD healthy and say we have Lebron if we have to go through the play-in, we go through the play-in?

With or without LeBron, the Lakers could use a shooter. I see a possible play in. 5 to 8 seed if they can get AD back by April. They are currently 6 games ahead of the play in. Knowing LeBron he will get jacked up for the challenge.

Even if they lose all 7 games remaining in March; so long as AD gets back in April I can still see them making a 5th or 6th seed.

I'm still trying to figure out how they match salary for much of anything. Anyone with salary is a fairly important player.

I see what you mean. Dudley and Mathews are their only low value players in my opinion. They only total 6.1 million. Not a lot to work with unless Caruso, Gasol, Morris, or Horton-Tucker are included. And they are just for expiring cap space slots.

[VCfor3]

With or without LeBron, the Lakers could use a shooter. I see a possible play in. 5 to 8 seed if they can get AD back by April. They are currently 6 games ahead of the play in. Knowing LeBron he will get jacked up for the challenge.

Even if they lose all 7 games remaining in March; so long as AD gets back in April I can still see them making a 5th or 6th seed.

I'm still trying to figure out how they match salary for much of anything. Anyone with salary is a fairly important player.

I see what you mean. Dudley and Mathews are their only low value players in my opinion. They only total 6.1 million. Not a lot to work with unless Caruso, Gasol, Morris, or Horton-Tucker are included. And they are just for expiring cap space slots.

And the trading team has to have enough open roster spots to take in all the additional players. Gets rough really quick.

[becorz]

They won’t go full rebuild. I know we have some fans here who want that, but it isn’t happening. Barnes is in play for any scenario. If he gets moved, we probably see a soft rebuild. Holmes can stay put if the salary is right and he will be an asset so long as he can keep up his play. I don’t see why his play would diminish, so I don’t see any issue with keeping him.

I pretty much see it this way. If the Kings end up with another lottery pick, that is a good thing. If they get some value for Barnes that is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with having established vets around their young core of Haliburton, Fox, Bagley, this years pick.

They just need those vets to be good influences and everybody needs to understand their roles on the team.

Exactly. The Kings will have a lotto pick. I don’t see it any other way. The higher the better, but we will likely see them be inconsistently competitive for the remainder of the season. Barnes and Holmes are the exact types of role models you want on your rebuilding squad if you are going to keep vets. They know their role and will try to motivate and teach when necessary. It’s obvious they can’t carry this team, so I see no harm in keeping them. They will help win a few games, but I think those wins will be more positive than if they aren’t there and the losses rack up. That losing can really beat up developing players.

My argument is that IF they trade Barnes, THEN they aren't going to keep Holmes.

To me, it makes no sense to trade Barnes and weaken the team for a couple of late first rounders then turn around and spend a lot of that money on Holmes. The team is still worse in this scenario, but you get a couple of picks that you hope turn out to be role players? And about $20m in cap space (after signing Holmes and assuming you get expiring contracts back for Barnes)? If you are trading Barnes, you let Holmes walk if he gets anything near the MLE.

I guess one route the Kings could go would be to trade Barnes and take a shot at Collins, but I think that is a very long shot. Maybe go after Horton-Tucker?

To me, you have to pick a lane. We have seen too many examples in the past where a team tries to "compete" and rebuild. Trading Barnes and then signing Holmes is not picking a lane.

If they are going to stay competing, you try to trade Buddy for a player with a similar salary and skill level at another position. Balance out the roster. Someone like an Aaron Gordon/Gallinari/DeRozan (I think he is a SF at this point)/Jerami Grant/Valinchunis. Not saying any of those guys are available for Buddy (or that I spelled their names correctly), but explore trades like that.

[NYG]

I'm still trying to figure out how they match salary for much of anything. Anyone with salary is a fairly important player.

I see what you mean. Dudley and Mathews are their only low value players in my opinion. They only total 6.1 million. Not a lot to work with unless Caruso, Gasol, Morris, or Horton-Tucker are included. And they are just for expiring cap space slots.

And the trading team has to have enough open roster spots to take in all the additional players. Gets rough really quick.

Dudley for Ellington?

[Scoot McGroot]

I see what you mean. Dudley and Mathews are their only low value players in my opinion. They only total 6.1 million. Not a lot to work with unless Caruso, Gasol, Morris, or Horton-Tucker are included. And they are just for expiring cap space slots.

And the trading team has to have enough open roster spots to take in all the additional players. Gets rough really quick.

Dudley for Ellington?

Dudley with value, of course.

[NYG]

And the trading team has to have enough open roster spots to take in all the additional players. Gets rough really quick.

Dudley for Ellington?

Dudley with value, of course.

Yeah, I just meant for the cap wise/roster spot problem.