So I think a majority of us as fans recognize the need for 1) veteran PG (distribute, 3%, defense - who doesn't want that?!?) 2) 3&D wing / SF 3) backup C (defense + 3's) Center Brook Lopez (MIL) UFA I think he stays in MIL Al Horford (BOS) Naz Reid (MN) UFA Thomas Bryant (DEN) UFA I would like to get him as front-court depth. He seems really underutilized recently. Mo Bamba (LAL) Small forward Trey Murphy (NOP) Cam Johnson (BRK) RFA Three horse race: BRK; DET; & HOU IMHO Grant Williams (BOS) RFA Sam Hauser (BOS) - I liked him as a sneaky good trade before Rox drafted Cam Whitmore. Still like him if we move KMJ. Tim Hardaway Jr. (DAL) Patrick Williams (CHI) Jordan Nwora (IND) Jalen McDaniels (PHI) UFA Yuta Watanabe (BRK) Point guard / Lead guard Fred VanVleet (TOR) UFA My gut says TOR or SA... but I have been wrong many, Many, MANY times... lol Tyus Jones (WSH) Monte Morris (WSH) Bones Hyland (LAC) Spencer Dinwiddie (BRK)
I think I would call the Sun's about Ayton! See of Tate, KPJ, Martin and some future 1st or future 1st swaps could get it done. This kind of move keeps us Young and gets our C under contract t for years to come. Front load the crap out of his deal and let the cards fall where they may. Sengun can play splits with him and Jabari
Man I wish we could go out and get Josh Hart. That would be a great start to free agency. Looks like the Knicks aren’t gonna let him hit the market. Shockingly smart for the Knicks.
Naz Reid is a realistic target and he's a young UFA vet. Brook Lopez will be harder. I think the Rockets might be able to get him.
Tate, Kenyon Martin Jr, and Tyty works for Monte Morris on the NBA trade machine. The Wizards have acquired Tyus Jones, making Monte Morris expendible. I think it's a fair trade for both teams.
Random Free agency idea: 3 way trade Atlanta gets Towns KJMartin KPjr Garuba Minnesota gets Dejounte Murray John Collins TyTy Washington Houston gets Mike Conley Clint Capela The why Hawks save $8M, and get out of the contracts of Collins and Capela. Gain a horrid contract back in Towns, but are gambling that he can fit for them at C to combine with Young and their talent. Dejounte is a loss for what they gave up, but they gain some return, and KPjr is a better set shooter, and can play off the ball - can come off the bench at either guard spot. Minnesota fixes their problem of having two highly paid Cs. Towns and Gobert don't work. Collins had a poor season but may bounce back, and often has a bigger game in the playoffs (unlike Towns). Murray provides dynamism next to Edwards, is younger and a wonderful get for them. Tyty is a project. They also save almost $15M - and this allows them to match on Naz Reid (would have been hard to justify matching a 3rd string C to the tune of 12+M per year!! Houston gets their 'other' type of C, and a veteran PG at little to no cost. Neither Capela nor Conley need to be the focal point to be productive. Costs the Rox $23M in cap space (which is something of a bargain to consider signing vets of the calibre of Capela and Conley to that money combined!) Free agency Aim for Cam Johnson at around 25M per year Grant Williams with the remaining 15-16M per year 2 more veterans who have finals experience and can make their contributions without demanding the ball. All 4 acquisitions work to enhance the 'other', and allows us the best possible chance to take a look at what we really have in our top 5 picks. Space MLE still available Roster slots available for Vet Min character guys (DJ Augustin?) Take a flyer on big Sandro Mamukelashvili as 3rd string C. Realistically, Smith would probably play as a 3rd string C next to Williams at PF, so it would be a chance to take a look at a talented big with range and see if he can be developed. Conley / Thompson / Augustin Green / Whitmore / Christopher Sengun / Capela / Mamukelashvili Smith / Williams / Johnson / Eason / Tate Roster spot 15 - see who OKC cuts loose after training camp. They have some sneaky good 3nD guys
Cam will get minutes. And for the rest to be realistic, we would need to get rid of most of KPJ, Tate, Martin, Tate, TyTy, Nix. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that we are trying to trade most of them, but I don’t think that’s realistic. i would keep KPJ as our scoring spark of the bench. And I am not sure Garuba is safe. I would spend most FA money in a C (Lopez) and a PG, that can set up the offense but also can play off the ball. Number one priority should be to identify, which players are worth building around, so our 6 high profile first round picks should each get plenty of room to develop and show their worth. I am all for competing this year, but the primary objective should still be, to compete for a deep play of run in 3 years. So prioritize short term deals in FA.
Exciting that there's so many ways we can go. FVV idea is starting to grow on me. He and Amen can actually even play minutes together. Can't see anyone offering FVV his 4 year max. Can you? I think we can play on his ego. He'll want a big starting salary so he can carry on believing he's an elite underrated superstar. Give him a 2 year max with a 3rd non guaranteed year, and his representation can go out and make it seem like he's doing that because that's what big superstars do to give themselves flexibility. That means in a year he's a $45m expiring and we have picks to attach to him, it's perfect. It's a great summer to have cap space. People don't have too many options.
How bad is Ayton really on defense? Is his reputation on that end mainly a product or not living up to expectations, and he's actually just average and not the defensive stopper he was supposed to be? Or is he literally Christian Wood level bad? I haven't watched him play enough to tell for sure.
Moves Trade for Tyus Jones Sign Grant Williams at 3y/$50m declining contract Sign Mason Plumlee at 1y/$10m Trade for Marcus Morris / Evan Fournier (or other bad expiring contract) into cap space to get draft assets and reach salary floor Get value for Tate/KMJ/Garuba Keep Ty and JC Rotation PG: Jones 26, Amen 22 SG: Green 32, KPJ 16 SF: Williams 20, Whitmore 15, Tari 7, KPJ 6 PF: Jabari 26, Tari 15, Williams 7 C: Sengun 32, Plumlee 12, Jabari 4 Minuter per player Green 32 Sengun 32 Smith 30 Williams 27 Jones 26 Amen 22 Eason 22 KPJ 22 Whitmore 15 Plumlee 12 Ty/JC garbage time / injury replacements Rationale Create a roster that can win 35-37 games now Develop chemistry, winning culture and team identity Give enough playing time to our top talent while allowing this year’s rookies to transition smoothly Construct flexible roster that allows for small ball (Jabari at C), and 3-guard lineups (KPJ at SF) Build more asset value (picks + tradeable contracts) in case a star comes on the trading block Maintain max cap space for 2024, and cap flexibility to add second max player Minimise risk from bad long-term contracts that can hinder future moves
Imo Lopez is a “must” sign The versatility he can provide with any lineup Ime wants to throw out there while providing the defense and floor spacing is something we desperately need. I would put signing Lopez over a PG like FVV on the priority list for sure. Now if we get both which I’m hoping we do then we would have hit this thing out of the park.
If Capela and Murray is on the table, we have to explore that. I also like Tyus and Tre Jones Robert Covington Brook Lopez
I really hope we are trying to work a deal with Atlanta for Murray. They just drafted Bufkin I believe. Yes, he’s on an expiring contract, but wouldn’t it be worth it to have his bird rights and the opportunity to resign him or sign and trade him next year; or preserve cap space for next yr as an expiring? He’s an excellent defensive player and takes very good care of the ball 3:1 assist to turn over ratio. He’s not a great 3-pt shooter but he is a good scorer and facilitator. Outstanding BBall IQ. He’d be a great person for Amen to learn behind. As long as we don’t have to give up too much, it would be worth plugging him in as the starter and depending on what happens with Amen, we’d have a decision point next offseason.
I can't believe we're going to tie up our cap room and cut our young players' minutes for a bunch of vets who will be lucky to get us into the play-in all so Tilman can sell a few more tickets and not many more at that. Does he think that playing .500 ball and Brook Lopez will sell seats? We should be renting out our cap room, collecting more assets, letting our young guys grow, and positioning ourselves to trade for a star or at least be in position to throw the max at someone in the loaded 2025 free agent class.
I just don’t understand the thought of pursuing Lopez or Capella, they’re starters and I don’t understand the thought of bringing Sengun off the bench he deserves to start, if his defense is that horrible they might as well just trade him, if they don’t believe in starting him, I would much rather pursue Ayton than Lopez, and Capela Suns: Myles Turner, McConnell, Tate Rox: Ayton, Indiana 1st Pacers: Sengun, KPJ
I just don’t understand the thought of pursuing Lopez or Capella, they’re starters and I don’t understand the thought of bring Sengun off the bench he deserves to start, if his defense is that horrible they might as well just trade him, if they don’t believe in starting him, I would much rather pursue Ayton than Lopez, and Capela Suns: Myles Turner, McConnell, Tate Rox: Ayton, Indiana 1st Pacers: Sengun, KPJ FVV/Amen/ Tyty Green/Christopher Cam Johnson or Middleton/ Whitmore Smith/ Tari/ KJM Ayton/ Garuba
im one of the people that thinks we can get Sengun 30 and Lopez 28 min. People fixate on the starting role too much; it’s about starters minutes. No doubt in my mind that Sengun and Lopez could work. Not sure about Capela cause neither him or Sengun can stretch the floor. I think we go all in on Lopez. That’s the best compliment to Sengun; they can play 10 min together and Lopez will sit out back-to-backs.
