Thoughts in General, Rumors, etc 5.0

[Dadouv47]

Everyone is focused on Daryl's supposed "sky high" asking price for Ben. That's always been Daryls MO. So Im sure its fair. But not much critique on the Kings who seem to think they can acquire an all star caliber player (be it Ben, Sabonis or Collins) by trading a bunch of "okay" role players.

If they want to make a big move. It's going to have to involve Fox, or Haliburton or like 3 1st round picks. Hield and Barnes have been on the block for at least 2 years. That ain't cutting it, regardless of which specific young "all-star-ish" player they want.

Kings will probably make a move this trade deadline but they can wait this offseason...they are at best a play in team right now and even that is unlikely.

Actually would be smart if they get a high pick and make more significant moves this offseason.

[Kilo]

It's all posturing my dudes. TDL is two weeks out, and negotiators love hard deadlines.

[Scoot McGroot]

I mean, this has been weird. He’s been working out at the Heat facility, too.

Read on Twitter

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[Texas Chuck]

You think the league would have a rule preventing him from working out at another team's facility. But I don't imagine he's a Raptor 2 days after the deadline. They either find a trade or they will set him free.

[K_chile22]

You think the league would have a rule preventing him from working out at another team's facility. But I don't imagine he's a Raptor 2 days after the deadline. They either find a trade or they will set him free.

Yeah I don't think the Raptors care so they won't press the issue, but his behavior is so weird. He's a bench PG/fringe starter making $19M and thinking it's beneath him to play on a team in playoff contention

[Texas Chuck]

You think the league would have a rule preventing him from working out at another team's facility. But I don't imagine he's a Raptor 2 days after the deadline. They either find a trade or they will set him free.

Yeah I don't think the Raptors care so they won't press the issue, but his behavior is so weird. He's a bench PG/fringe starter making $19M and thinking it's beneath him to play on a team in playoff contention

I have to wonder if the Raptors promised him that if they couldn't flip him in a trade that they would buy him out--ie the Reddick--because Dragic public comments certainly suggested that. If that's the case, he's not really the bad guy here imo.

[K_chile22]

You think the league would have a rule preventing him from working out at another team's facility. But I don't imagine he's a Raptor 2 days after the deadline. They either find a trade or they will set him free.

Yeah I don't think the Raptors care so they won't press the issue, but his behavior is so weird. He's a bench PG/fringe starter making $19M and thinking it's beneath him to play on a team in playoff contention

I have to wonder if the Raptors promised him that if they couldn't flip him in a trade that they would buy him out--ie the Reddick--because Dragic public comments certainly suggested that. If that's the case, he's not really the bad guy here imo.

Maybe I'm taking things out of context but his comments about having "higher ambitions" than Toronto right after the trade factor into how weird I feel about it

[Texas Chuck]

Yeah I don't think the Raptors care so they won't press the issue, but his behavior is so weird. He's a bench PG/fringe starter making $19M and thinking it's beneath him to play on a team in playoff contention

I have to wonder if the Raptors promised him that if they couldn't flip him in a trade that they would buy him out--ie the Reddick--because Dragic public comments certainly suggested that. If that's the case, he's not really the bad guy here imo.

Maybe I'm taking things out of context but his comments about having "higher ambitions" than Toronto right after the trade factor into how weird I feel about it

I mean he was leaving a team that had been to the Finals just a year prior and was clearly gearing up to make another run and Toronto was coming off a terrible year that had them picking high in the lottery and was dealing the guy who was probably still their best player. I don't think he was being insulting or anything. That's where those teams were. There were big question marks around Siakam who was hurt, nobody expected this much from Barnes, and FVV as the lead perimeter guy was a mystery. And while they believed in GTJ, he was still somewhat unproven.

Now Dragic has had issues before--we saw his Suns tenure end poorly so this could just be him being a diva, but he sure came across like a guy who knew he wasn't remaining a Raptor until then suddenly he was. IDK. Just I read it differently.

And obviously I'm not one of those bothered by players requesting trades or buyouts. I get that even highly compensated people sometimes don't want to work where they are and its not that unreasonable to try and change that if you can. Those more troubled by this and who think it ruins the league every year will have a different view. Not sure where you fall on that.

[Scoot McGroot]

You think the league would have a rule preventing him from working out at another team's facility. But I don't imagine he's a Raptor 2 days after the deadline. They either find a trade or they will set him free.

Yeah I don't think the Raptors care so they won't press the issue, but his behavior is so weird. He's a bench PG/fringe starter making $19M and thinking it's beneath him to play on a team in playoff contention

I have to wonder if the Raptors promised him that if they couldn't flip him in a trade that they would buy him out--ie the Reddick--because Dragic public comments certainly suggested that. If that's the case, he's not really the bad guy here imo.

Even then, if they can’t flip him and buy him out, he can’t sign with the Heat.

It’s ok if he’s bought out. It seems that Toronto is ok with him not playing and just using him as salary matching. It’s ok that he’s physically in Miami. It’s still really weird that he’s been working out at the Heat team facility rather than any other gym.

[eminence]

Trying to bolster the Utah defense, is there a deal with Dallas for DFS with any of Ingles/Clarkson/maybe Bojan that works and can be balanced with 2nds? Using OKC and the Dallas TPE to make salaries work. Something like this:

DAL In: Ingles/Favors
DAL Out: Powell/DFS

OKC In: Powell
OKC Out: Favors

Utah In: DFS
Utah Out: Ingles

Likely some minor value needs to go to OKC, but where is Dallas at? Are they interested in any of the Utah guys in the range of them +2nds/fringe prospect for DFS or no?

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Yeah I don't think the Raptors care so they won't press the issue, but his behavior is so weird. He's a bench PG/fringe starter making $19M and thinking it's beneath him to play on a team in playoff contention

I have to wonder if the Raptors promised him that if they couldn't flip him in a trade that they would buy him out--ie the Reddick--because Dragic public comments certainly suggested that. If that's the case, he's not really the bad guy here imo.

Maybe I'm taking things out of context but his comments about having "higher ambitions" than Toronto right after the trade factor into how weird I feel about it

He signed a contract with the heat not the raptors though. Raptors traded for his expiring knowing he didn’t wanna play for them.

Understandable not wanting to risk your last few healthy seasons on a non contender. It’s a business logic goes both ways. All parties doing what’s best for them.

[Ell Curry]

You think the league would have a rule preventing him from working out at another team's facility. But I don't imagine he's a Raptor 2 days after the deadline. They either find a trade or they will set him free.

If he gives back a million or 2 to get bought out and join the Heat we can stay under the tax (we're 270K under right now) and offer a bought out guard actual playing time off the bench, though I guess the Lakers can offer a starting spot. Doesn't look like a strong year for buyout candidate guards though.

We can take on a few million in bad 2022-23 money and still bring back Boucher and use the MLE and sneak under the tax, so I could see Dragic bought out if the Wolves want cap space (they can get to 20) and will give up Malik Beasley to do it, or a similar move from another team looking to shed 22-23 money like Bledsoe's 3.9M guarantee if they'll throw in a 2nd rounder or something like that.

[Commodor]

My bored attempt at a super trade:
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ybvjslh7

POR Out: Lillard, McCollum
POR In: Maxey, Thybulle, THT, Muscala, Harris, Favors, LA 27’, 2x 1sts from PHI, 4x 1sts from OKC.
Portland accepts reality and clears the decks. Harris, Covington, Nurk & possibly Powell are moved in follow up moves which i’m happy to hypothesize if anyone cares. Favors bought out. Build around Simons, Maxey, Thybulle + a treasure chest of picks and if THT & Muscala stick so much the better.

LAL out: Nunn, Ariza, THT, Jordan, Ellington, Bazemore, doumbouya, 27’ 1st
LAL in: McCollum
LAL sends out their worthless vets and a good pick and get some extremely needed spacing. Huge risk but Lebron only lasts so long.

PHI out: Harris, Simmons, Maxey, Thybulle, 2x 1sts
PHI In: Lillard, Nunn, Ariza
PHI gets Lillard and moves Harris’ contract. What else to say.

OKC out: Favors, Muscala, 4x 1sts
OKC in: Ben Simmons, bazemore, doumbouya, Jordan, Ellington
OKC cashes in and cuts the vets to build around SGA-Dort-Giddey-Simmons.

[Ell Curry]

You think the league would have a rule preventing him from working out at another team's facility. But I don't imagine he's a Raptor 2 days after the deadline. They either find a trade or they will set him free.

Yeah I don't think the Raptors care so they won't press the issue, but his behavior is so weird. He's a bench PG/fringe starter making $19M and thinking it's beneath him to play on a team in playoff contention

I have to wonder if the Raptors promised him that if they couldn't flip him in a trade that they would buy him out--ie the Reddick--because Dragic public comments certainly suggested that. If that's the case, he's not really the bad guy here imo.

I think this is probably what happened but what's weird is that we really need a combo guard type who can stick a 3 and our defensive system should suit a slower, older guard with decent size who can evaluate rotations okay but isn't up for guarding fast PGs on an island anymore. So basketball wise it seems like a good fit.

[Norm2953]

My bored attempt at a super trade:
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ybvjslh7

POR Out: Lillard, McCollum
POR In: Maxey, Thybulle, THT, Muscala, Harris, Favors, LA 27’, 2x 1sts from PHI, 4x 1sts from OKC.
Portland accepts reality and clears the decks. Harris, Covington, Nurk & possibly Powell are moved in follow up moves which i’m happy to hypothesize if anyone cares. Favors bought out. Build around Simons, Maxey, Thybulle + a treasure chest of picks and if THT & Muscala stick so much the better.

LAL out: Nunn, Ariza, THT, Jordan, Ellington, Bazemore, doumbouya, 27’ 1st
LAL in: McCollum
LAL sends out their worthless vets and a good pick and get some extremely needed spacing. Huge risk but Lebron only lasts so long.

PHI out: Harris, Simmons, Maxey, Thybulle, 2x 1sts
PHI In: Lillard, Nunn, Ariza
PHI gets Lillard and moves Harris’ contract. What else to say.

OKC out: Favors, Muscala, 4x 1sts
OKC in: Ben Simmons, bazemore, doumbouya, Jordan, Ellington
OKC cashes in and cuts the vets to build around SGA-Dort-Giddey-Simmons.

C'mon now, its too late in the season for Portland to blatantly tank and get themselves a top 3 pick in the 2022 draft.
For one thing, why would they need Maxey when they have Simons?

[gambitx777]

DM is insane , how does Elton brand allow this to go on. How does ownership? Like all the reports suggest fair offerers have been madenand rejected. All the asking prices we have heard of from DM are absolutely bat **** crazy . I heard he asked for Collins, brings and 3 first round picks. .........WTF .

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[Kilo]

Ben Simmons is a elite player and he wants 100 cents on the dollar. If Ben did not hold out and demand a trade and was playing this year these packages offered would probably feel light. Of course he is sitting out and it is in part because of Rivers and Embiid so the team is partly responsible for the lowering of trade value and Morey needs to accept that.

FWIW though, I think Simmons goes Beastmode when he returns.

[Texas Chuck]

Trying to bolster the Utah defense, is there a deal with Dallas for DFS with any of Ingles/Clarkson/maybe Bojan that works and can be balanced with 2nds? Using OKC and the Dallas TPE to make salaries work. Something like this:

DAL In: Ingles/Favors
DAL Out: Powell/DFS

OKC In: Powell
OKC Out: Favors

Utah In: DFS
Utah Out: Ingles

Likely some minor value needs to go to OKC, but where is Dallas at? Are they interested in any of the Utah guys in the range of them +2nds/fringe prospect for DFS or no?

I have Dallas downgrading twice here and burning the TPE. And DFS is a player they almost certainly want to re-sign to a multiyear deal. That probably isn't the case with Ingles.

I wouldn't make this swap for 2nds.

[Scoot McGroot]

DM is insane , how does Elton brand allow this to go on. How does ownership? Like all the reports suggest fair offerers have been madenand rejected. All the asking prices we have heard of from DM are absolutely bat **** crazy . I heard he asked for Collins, brings and 3 first round picks. .........WTF .

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Elton Brand works under Morey. He can’t do anything without Morey’s ok.

I would also assume that we haven’t heard any accurately reported offers, from either side.

[Scoot McGroot]

You think the league would have a rule preventing him from working out at another team's facility. But I don't imagine he's a Raptor 2 days after the deadline. They either find a trade or they will set him free.

If he gives back a million or 2 to get bought out and join the Heat we can stay under the tax (we're 270K under right now) and offer a bought out guard actual playing time off the bench, though I guess the Lakers can offer a starting spot. Doesn't look like a strong year for buyout candidate guards though.

We can take on a few million in bad 2022-23 money and still bring back Boucher and use the MLE and sneak under the tax, so I could see Dragic bought out if the Wolves want cap space (they can get to 20) and will give up Malik Beasley to do it, or a similar move from another team looking to shed 22-23 money like Bledsoe's 3.9M guarantee if they'll throw in a 2nd rounder or something like that.

If Toronto buys him out, he legally cannot re sign with the Heat since they were the last team to trade him away. He would have to be dealt by Toronto to some other team, and then get bought out there in order to potentially return to Miami.