Smart move by Memphis. They figured out they don’t have the head of the horse and couldn’t get it without high lottery picks…. So they are maximizing assets.
I most definitely would NOT make that assumption. Unless they plan on packaging the draft picks in a trade over the next week, this signals the Grizzlies are taking a step back from competing in the Western Conference. We just don't know yet and must wait on their second move (if there is one).
I just figured they need to pay someone for salary minimum purposes and keep Morant somewhat committed.
I think the Rockets should try to make a move for the 26 PHO pick from Grizzlies. 10th pick seems like an overpay, but we would have all the leverage w Pho if we had the ability to offer them successive picks. They could tank for 2 years and actually rebuild. Rebuilding has to look attractive now to any team based on last year. It wasn't long ago that OKC, Cavs, Rockets, were battling for 1st pick, and now all in top 5 regular season teams. Every trade proposal to Phoenix looks better to them with successive picks, instead of 2027 pick and 10th in a weak draft. I'm skeptical abt Durant, but this could help acquire him cheaper if that's Stone's move. Also, I think sending Green or Whitmore to MEM makes sense for them.
I may be worse on the Magic side than I should be. The Magic are in the East and this gives them short-term help. Overall, I am more concerned with Memphis long-term.
The East is seemingly wide open now so I actually respect this move by Orlando. It's an overpay because having those picks all unprotected for a player of Bane's caliber is nuts, but Bane is only 26 years old and kind of fits in perfectly for them. Why not take their swing now that Boston is without Tatum for next season?
Well, yes, it is a Deja vu, and then if they feel they have another Morant, this time less eccentric, again, they trade for the picks to draft Bane. The confusion is why they got rid of Jenkins during the season if they could have traded players first. If memory serves me correctly, Memphis did give up something for Smart and this is just another move to correct that.
With Paolo, Franz, Suggs and Bane their contracts account for 92% of cap space when Paolo gets the max. With a super max, they will count for 97% of cap space. Talking about all in lol. (My take is that it’s probably not going to end well for Orlando (not a fan of Paolo’s impact) but I get why they do it. )
The F them picks people need to reckon with the second apron hard cap in the CBA. The dumb teams are going to find out the hard way that throwing them out like Harden throwing $ bills at the the Spearmint Rhino is a dead end, too. Good trade for Memphis. They don't have to trade their other core players now.
Nah dude is injured like 70% of the time. Also he shoots the same percentage from three as Jalen Green. We would be better of making a run for JJJ
I’m glade Stone understands not to overpay for nice but not perfect things. If this is the cost of doing business then we shouldn’t be doing business.
I'll give teams a discount because I'm a good guy. We will accept only 4 first rounds picks for Jalen.
Yeah, probably. They are stuck on the treadmill. One potential trip to the ECF is more than what they had before. Players don't want to go to Orlando, either in free agency or via trade. Banchero and Wagner are very good but not great players so Orlando can neither tank nor contend. Their picks would have been in the 14 to 20 range for the foreseeable future. What are they supposed to do? Their only route to a ring might be trading Banchero away and tanking again with the extra draft assets but that's a huge risk too and a super hard sell for the fans.
