We dont' know because we don't know what Fred's contract will be like. As of TODAY (numbers rounded to closest million) Durant: 55m Sengun: 34m Adams: 14m Jabari: 12m Reed: 11m Amen: 10m Tari: 6m Cam: 4m These are for sure guaranteed contracts. That adds up to 146m, the cap is 154m, luxury tax is 188m. first apron is 196m. second apron 207m (Non tax mid level is 14m, you can't go over the first apron if you use it.) Jock has a 8m Team option and Aaron a 5M one, let's say they decline Jock and keep Aaron, so that's 151m or so and 3 m under the cap, If Scenario A: pick up Fred option of almost 45m, they'll be right around the first apron, and given that they're only at 10 players it probably means they'll be over the first apron unless they move on from one or both of Aaron Holiday and Cam Whitmore. Scenario B: they extend Fred for around say, 25 to 30 m a year for three years: then they probably can use most of the MLE and also fill out the roster, though I assume they probably want to stay under the tax this year still, so I would actually imagine that while they CAN use it, they probably won't, especially since now that you can still use the MLE as a trade exception too, there's not nearly as much of use it or lose it pressure. ( looking at it this way they might actually keep Landale, since there's not much else better to do with the money to be honest and with him and Holiday and the MLE as a trade exception they at least have a little bit of flexibility to trade this year without touching core players. unless they have someone else in mind they like more who's also willing to take a similar contract as Jock.) ( If we assume they manage to stay just under cap this year, next year assuming cap goes up 10% means it'll be about 170m, tax line 195m ish, first apron 210 second apron 220 or so approx, that means they can extend Tari and Jabari assuming it doesn't go over combined 60 m and still be well south of the second apron, I would imagine they wouldn't combine for more than 45-50. but obviously once you also extend Amen you'll be a second apron team unless someone with a big salary is traded)
I'd go the route of re-signing FVV to something like 3 for 80 (starting at 30 and descending with a team option in final year), then pick up both Landale and Holiday options. That puts us right at the edge of the luxury tax while retaining all three of those guys as a big chunk of relatively easy salary to move. Under different circumstances, I'd love to re-sign FVV for far below that, but we need one sizeable contract outside of KD and Sengun that is expendable.
Yeah if they need to make a big trade in the next 3 season it would seem that Fred is the most likely guy as matching salary. I haven't really made a deep dive into the cap mechanics right now and thought it through, but if they waive Jock it seems the only way they can sign someone to a number bigger than the vet min is to use an exception, and this year they only have the MLE (they used the bi-annual last year on Aaron. ) , if they do it that way they'll lose the using MLE as a trade exception option. so given all that, it does seem like as long as Fred's extension is not bigger than we're expecting, Jock might actually be retained if only as a potential trade chip. I assume that plan A is for them to not go into the tax this year, but obviously you give yourself the option that if it looks like you really have a good shot this year and there's someone that really make sense at the deadline you can put in Jock / Aaron / maybe Cam or even Reed / Jabari / Tari if need be to get someone that puts you into the tax but clearly give you a very good shot. A contract like Jock's does offer a lot of flexibility and they can't really replace that right now without sacrificing something else (if they use parts of the MLE to sign someone then they are hard capped at the first apron this year so they can't make any trades that would potentially put them over.)
Dude, Cam Whitemore was just given the keys to play at sg, i doubt hes going anywhere. There probably going to give him huge mins this season, still only 21, 16 mins a game and he avg 10ppg, imagine him getting near 30 mins? This is better than having a 1st rd pick in 2025, as sheppard being here too. Its time to easy him into the starting role, and Sheppard here and there with fred and Durant mentoring these young cats.. But i think they need a backup defensive minded sg now with KD on the roster playing mainly SF, Bruce Bowen jr would be perfect placement at the MLE to replace Dillion Brooks impact.
IMHO need two lineups: Rox 94 (AKA KD-Alpe- shooters): FVV - ??? - KD - Bari - Alpe (could also replace Bari in this lineup) Run & Fun (aggressive defenders who get buckets off of attacking passing lanes): Reed - Amen - Cam - Tari - Aquaman So we're missing an outside shooter who can handle the ball when called for (Ty Jerome?) Posting this in multiple thread
Seems like everyone is comfortable with Sheppard and Whitmore being plugged into the rotation but how sure are we they can be productive? Sure, we have seen flashes from both...but can to they contribute and be consistent for an entire season and playoffs.
There is a lot to be said to not using the full MLE and seeing if they can develop Reed and Cam and keep more cap flexibility.
I lean towards Garland as the most impactful target. White is the more well-rounded, complete option. Garland gives us a longer window, so has lower risk than White or Booker. Even if the Durant experiment does not pan out, a core of Sengun, Amen, Garland, Bari and Reed all in their mid-20s would allow us to contend for a long time. Garland is also good at penetrating and breaking down the defense which is something we currently lack. A package of FVV, Eason and 3 good picks might be enough for the Cavs. FVV is in theory a better fit next to Mitchell. Tari would allow them to play a 5-out offense with Mobley at center without hurting their defense.
One great thing about White is that you can acquire him using the NT-MLE. Seems like the Bulls’ motivation is to free up space to re-sign Giddey. Maybe Cam + a future 1st suffices for them, and it really completes our team
Coby white would be awesome but I think he’s a starter on a lot of teams. Had a breakout season last year. Don’t think he’d want a bench/6th man role
