I like the idea of bringing in Lopez. Would have really liked Naz Reid. I think another center we can probably poach from Charlotte is PJ Washington. I'd like his fit on the roster and I think his upside is still pretty high. Good floor spacer but he's not exactly a vet or coming from a winning culture. I think Mason Plumlee would be an amazing signing at the right price. Lets say we get to our floor by signing Harden or pulling off a crazy trade for Ja Morant. There could be a lot of bargain deals out there. Derrick Rose could be a nice vet addition. Corey Joseph would be an underrated vet guard signing. Ish Smith could be a good cheap vet. I'd be happy if the Rockets somehow go Aaron Holiday or Josh Okogie on a bargain contract. Dennis Smith JR would be amazing at the right price. Dennis Schroder coming back would be cool too. We can probably get a look at Thomas Bryant for very cheap. I think Caris LeVert is interesting depending on his price tag. Justice Winslow had a great stretch toward the end of last season for Portland. He could be had for cheap. I might give Drummond a look if he opts out. Seth Curry would be a good fit. JaMychal Green could be a good bargain. I'd at least gauge the price tag on Coby White and Jaxson Hayes maybe you can get one of those guys on a bargain deal.
Liked for Thomas Bryant rec. I wouldn't be mad at some 1 year, $20M+ contracts to reclaim space for 2024's better FA / trade market. Also gotta think Harden is staying in Philly at this point and Ja is staying in Memphis (esp. after trading Tyus). Moreover, if we're getting a big man from Charlotte, I would be after Nick Richards (or... don't @ me... Kai Jones).
I like Nick Richards and Kai but we’d have to give assets for them. PJ Washington is an RFA and I doubt Charlotte would be hell bent on keeping him with all of the 5s on their roster.
We can talk about his size by all means but he’s played a majority of his minutes at center since 2021. Last year was his first year as primarily a 4 but I don’t see the fit there long term.
Houston In: Tyler Herro Miami In: Dame Lillard and Tate Portland In: KJ Martin, Nikola Jović, 2026 Miami 1st, 2027 Miami Swap, 2028 Miami 1st, 2024 BRK 1st and 2025 BRK Swap and a heavy TPE
He’s played 72% of his career minutes at PF according to basketball reference He’s 6’7 (6’6.5 pre draft measurement) 230 and has a sub 10% rebounding rate, is an adequate volume 3PT shooter He may be a mediocre perimeter defender, but that doesn’t make him a C. Hornets have had very weak C play lending them to go small ball with him, but to me he’s a bonafide PF
My final pre-free agency, realistic plan. Takes into account the creative contracts that Stone loves, maximizing flexibility by paying high upfront sticker prices using our space, while leveraging incentives, descending contract structures and non-guarantees: 1. Sign Brook Lopez to frontloaded $54M/2; 15% of salary in team performance unlikely bonuses; 15% of salary in individual availability likely bonuses; if he turns into a pumpkin and the team remains terrible Lopez is only $18M guaranteed in year 2 2. Sign Fred VanVleet to frontloaded $144M/4, only $10M guaranteed year 4; 15% of salary in team performance unlikely bonuses; 15% of salary in individual availability likely bonus; if he turns into a pumpkin and the team remains terrible FVV is only $24M guaranteed year 3 and $10M guaranteed year 4 3. Sign and trade Dillon Brooks + 2 SRP's to Houston for Jae'Sean Tate + Josh Christopher; Dillon Brooks signs for frontloaded $47M/3, with 15% team performance unlikely bonuses; 3rd year is only $13M guaranteed 4. Sign Joe Ingles to 2 year R-MLE with second year team option 5. Trade KJ Martin to Washington for Mike Muscala and 4 future srp's Starters FVV Jalen Brooks Jabari Sengun / Lopez Rotation Amen KPJ Ingles / Whitmore Tari Lopez / Sengun Deep Bench Whitmore / Ingles TyTy Garuba Muscala FVV, Brooks, and Lopez give us the offensive and defensive infrastructure to play competitive basketball every night -- absolutely necessary for our young guys to develop. Ime has his multi-faceted frontline, with Lopez definitely starting in many matchups. Amen can play on a 5 out second unit. Whitmore has the opportunity to beat out Ingles for regular rotation minutes year 1. All veterans signed to highly movable contracts.
To the Jazz? That's a weird one. They already have Kessler and Olynyk, don't they? Maybe they're looking to move on from Kelly? Could be a good pickup for us.
Presumably, the Rockets could have pulled off a similar move with Tate. I wouldn’t be opposed to moving Tate for an overpaid vet as a use of cap space.
I appreciate the thought given to this, but #3 is a non-starter in my book. But I can still appreciate the thought.
i thought about Kelly as a possible acquisition. He played some of his best ball here - but it was under Silas. So my thought was that was keeping the FO from trying to acquire him. But we shall see...
It's not my choice, but it's at least 90% likely to happen from all the reporting, vegas odds, insinuations etc. Most likely the deal has been done for a while, so any realistic offseason plan has to include it. Doing it as a S&T lets us use even more cap space to frontload contracts for our other signings.
He facilitated the offense better than anybody the last threes of this rebuild. He made it fun to watch Houston again after dubious 20 game losing streak. When he and Theiss signed basically the same price tag, I was mad we didn’t jsut resign him instead,
Preach, bro man! PREACH! When he signed with Detroit, I was especially upset (another not so good team). (He is from Toronto area so close to DET, but still....)
Bleacher Report proposed this KPJ trade: Rockets get: Ben Simmons, 2027 1st, 2026 & 2028 2nd. Nets get: KPJ For reference, Simmons' contract is $38 million for this year and then $40 million for next year.
