OT: NBA Offseason

[Dogdeacon]

Embiid: $27.3
Harris: $36
Richardson: $10.3
Horford: $27
Ben Simmons: $8.1
Zhaire Smith: $3.1
Thybulle: $2.6
Bolden: $1.8

That is $116.2 million of salary against a cap of $109 million and there are only 8 players.

Wow that Harris $ stands out. Harris didn't want the ball in games 6/7 crunch playoff time, he's the 4th best guy (I will hear arguments for Harris > Simmons) making the most coin.
Big year for Simmons, he HAS to learn to make and take jumpers. If I'm Elton, I say show me some J's and I'll show you the money.

 

[Walker11]

EC rankings
Assuming kawhi leaves for LA

1. Bucks
2. Celtics
3. Sixers
4. Pacers
5. Nets
6. Magic
7. Pistons
8. Heat

-I think Toronto takes a significant nosedive without Kawhi. With him, they are top 4 in the east. Without him, they’ll be right on par with about 5 teams vying for the 7/8 seed.
-The Bucks still have the best player in the conference. Signing Middleton to max money and letting Brogdon go is a mistake, imo. Should’ve gone the other way.
-The Celtics should look more like the team that went to the ECF twice. Kemba fits Stevens’ system better. Most overlooked storyline is that Hayward should be back to 100%, in theory. It took PG13 a whole year after he got back from that injury to be himself, and now he was in MVP conversation. Hayward will be much closer to the Utah Hayward than the 2018-19 Hayward. Losing Horford is a blow though. Lets see if they can get Capela without giving up Smart.
-Sixers still can’t shoot but they’ve upgraded experience and talent with Horford.
-If Oladipo didn’t have such a terrible injury, I’d prob put the Pacers higher. I really like what they’ve done, adding Brogdon especially, and J Lamb to Oladipo and Turner.
-KD prob won’t be around next season and even if he’s back at some point, likely won’t be the same player. Kyrie, Levert, Dinwiddie, DJordan and co should be good enough for like the 5 seed.
-Magic, Pistons, Wizards, Raptors, Heat should all be solid. Everyone after that is either too young or garbage.
-Pistons and Wizards could be surprise teams but it’s hard to see them above 5-6 teams in the East, at least.

This strikes me as a ludicrous post having the Celtics above the Sixers and omitting the Raptors. Weren't they like 16-4 without Kawhi last year?

I have the Bucks and Sixers on top, with the Raptors, Celtics, Pacers and the Nets in the second tier. And I think Kawhi starts on a 1 + 1 anyways. With him, they are #1 a or b in the East, not top 4.

 

[Lefty2one]

Boston doesn't even have a starting center yet; how are they better than Philly? lol

 

[nelsonmuntz]

This strikes me as a ludicrous post having the Celtics above the Sixers and omitting the Raptors. Weren't they like 16-4 without Kawhi last year?

I have the Bucks and Sixers on top, with the Raptors, Celtics, Pacers and the Nets in the second tier. And I think Kawhi starts on a 1 + 1 anyways. With him, they are #1 a or b in the East, not top 4.

I am going to wait a couple of days before making any more projections for next season. It seems like rosters are being made up on the fly. Goran Dragic was going to Dallas as a salary dump, until Kelly Olynyk was the salary dump instead. Those are two productive players that could be the difference of 5 wins in a season, and Miami was making it up on the fly.

I will make one prediction. There will be some colossal screwups in the next few days.

 

[Walker11]

I am going to wait a couple of days before making any more projections for next season. It seems like rosters are being made up on the fly. Goran Dragic was going to Dallas as a salary dump, until Kelly Olynyk was the salary dump instead. Those are two productive players that could be the difference of 5 wins in a season, and Miami was making it up on the fly.

I will make one prediction. There will be some colossal screwups in the next few days.

Nothing really matters until we know where Kawhi goes. He has 3 options. 2 of the teams would be the favorites and the last would be right in the mix.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Nothing really matters until we know where Kawhi goes. He has 3 options. 2 of the teams would be the favorites and the last would be right in the mix.

Raptors NBA Free Agency Preview: How Toronto Could Re-Sign Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard's 28th birthday is on June 29. A day later, the two-time NBA Finals MVP can officially go on the open market. What happens after that is anyone's guess.

www.forbes.com

The Raptors are another team that seems to make decisions irrespective of salary cap concerns. They are at the cap already without Kawhi or Danny Green being resigned. They apparently have no problem paying luxury tax, which makes things a little easier.

That said, the Raptors are not a lock to win the East even with Kawhi back. They were a buzzer beater away from losing to Philadelphia this spring, and the Bucks did have a 2-0 lead on Toronto in the conference finals.

I have lots of issues with the Lakers' offseason plan, so I am not willing to designate them a favorite even if they get Kawhi.

 

[bazz&boujee]

Wow that Harris $ stands out. Harris didn't want the ball in games 6/7 crunch playoff time, he's the 4th best guy (I will hear arguments for Harris > Simmons) making the most coin.
Big year for Simmons, he HAS to learn to make and take jumpers. If I'm Elton, I say show me some J's and I'll show you the money.

horford is not better than tobias and tobias is not better than simmons. neither of those things are close.

 

[Walker11]

Raptors NBA Free Agency Preview: How Toronto Could Re-Sign Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard's 28th birthday is on June 29. A day later, the two-time NBA Finals MVP can officially go on the open market. What happens after that is anyone's guess.

www.forbes.com

The Raptors are another team that seems to make decisions irrespective of salary cap concerns. They are at the cap already without Kawhi or Danny Green being resigned. They apparently have no problem paying luxury tax, which makes things a little easier.

That said, the Raptors are not a lock to win the East even with Kawhi back. They were a buzzer beater away from losing to Philadelphia this spring, and the Bucks did have a 2-0 lead on Toronto in the conference finals.

I have lots of issues with the Lakers' offseason plan, so I am not willing to designate them a favorite even if they get Kawhi.

It's almost impossible to win big if you aren't willing to go into the tax. Favorite doesn't mean a lock. I look forward to next season because there are no locks in either conference. If Pelinka can get Kawhi and miraculously fill out the roster with good role players they are a lock. I just don't see that happening.

 

[johnhuskies95]

This strikes me as a ludicrous post having the Celtics above the Sixers and omitting the Raptors. Weren't they like 16-4 without Kawhi last year?

I have the Bucks and Sixers on top, with the Raptors, Celtics, Pacers and the Nets in the second tier. And I think Kawhi starts on a 1 + 1 anyways. With him, they are #1 a or b in the East, not top 4.

I thought that this past year would cool the Celtics homers off a little bit, but I guess not. Much easier to just blame Kyrie for everything and rev the hype train up again.

 

[auror]

My god this league is mayhem

 

[auror]

Celtics need to pick up a big man in the next 24 hours before they are all off the table.

I think the opposite. Wait for the dust to settle, get a steal in the end. Big is the one position that there are more bodies than roster spots every year in the NBA. Like they did previously with Baynes and Theis, like the Bucks did with Lopez last year.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

It's almost impossible to win big if you aren't willing to go into the tax. Favorite doesn't mean a lock. I look forward to next season because there are no locks in either conference. If Pelinka can get Kawhi and miraculously fill out the roster with good role players they are a lock. I just don't see that happening.

NBA Free Agency 2019: As Lakers wait for Kawhi Leonard, D'Angelo Russell among backups falling off board

This is the timing aspect of free agency, and it's no joke

www.cbssports.com

I think the Lakers have completely screwed up this offseason. Kawhi would be a rescue, but would leave them only $19 million of cap space to sign 8 more players. I can't imagine what that roster will look like.

I don't remember what the rules are on the soft cap. They can only go over the soft cap if they are re-signing existing players or using it for specific exemptions (like the MLE), right? I didn't think I ever would need to know this stuff as a fan. This is the wildest offseason that I can remember.

 

[UConnStats]

Shabazz and DLo to Golden State.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

Boston doesn't even have a starting center yet; how are they better than Philly? lol

I’ll take Brad Stevens, Kemba, Brown, Smart Tatum, Hayward + plug in any average/serviceable big men to go with Robert Williams over a team with no shooters and a center who can’t stay healthy.
I’ll especially take them over the course of an 82 game season to finish higher in the standings and gather more wins.
Maybe I’m understating the value of Horford but even still, I’d pick Boston.

 

[auror]

Shabazz and DLo to Golden State.

Warriors need Bazz's tiny contract since they are close to hard-capping themselves.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

My god this league is mayhem

This doesn't surprise me. Nets need to dump a contract.

 

[auror]

I assume that's one draft pick and he's outlining the protections, but a bit vague wording.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

This strikes me as a ludicrous post having the Celtics above the Sixers and omitting the Raptors. Weren't they like 16-4 without Kawhi last year?

I have the Bucks and Sixers on top, with the Raptors, Celtics, Pacers and the Nets in the second tier. And I think Kawhi starts on a 1 + 1 anyways. With him, they are #1 a or b in the East, not top 4.

Yeah, Raptors are a bit of a wild card. I just think the Bucks, Sixers, Celtics, Pacers, Nets will win more regular season games against a defending champion losing their best player and having a target on their back.
Therefore I see them really anywhere between 6 seed and missing playoffs.

 

[UConnStats]

Warriors need Bazz's tiny contract since they are close to hard-capping themselves.

Yeah I was going to say with how thin they are, he should actually see a good amount of time this year. And in an offensive that works well for his play style.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

This doesn't surprise me. Nets need to dump a contract.

The Warriors signing a player to a max contract to backup Steph Curry doesn't surprise you?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The Warriors signing a player to a max contract to backup Steph Curry doesn't surprise you?

Russell isn't backing up Curry next year. Russell will be playing next to Curry. Who knows about the year after that?

Teams aren't thinking that far ahead. They are just trying to add a player or two tonight while staying away from the luxury tax. Honestly, if you are a GM with $20 million of cap space, just sit tight and other GM's will be calling you to just give players away. That was basically what Miami was doing tonight.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Just going on the record: Tonight was more fun and entertaining as a fan than all the NBA Drafts I have watched, combined.

 

[auror]

Just going on the record: Tonight was more fun and entertaining as a fan than all the NBA Drafts I have watched, combined.

It felt like a draft night. Switching from midnight to 6pm was overdue, but it delivered.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

It felt like a draft night. Switching from midnight to 6pm was overdue, but it delivered.

But the stakes tonight were so much higher than a draft. Hardcore NBA fans know the numbers: only about 3-4 of the first round picks will ever play in an all-star game, and maybe half of the first round will every become regular starters. A lot of what you are watching on draft night is the high point of those kids' NBA career.

Tonight was so much more consequential. Two of the Top 5 players in the NBA switched teams tonight. I bet over 20 players that started most of their team's games last year have switched teams in free agency. The Bucks had the best record in the NBA last season, and they went into tonight with THREE of their Top 8 players under contract. The Bucks' night could have ranged from being the front runner in the East for next year, to beginning a complete rebuild.

The Utah Jazz may be the favorite in the West when the season starts, and while Conley joined a few days ago, there were still several moves today that made that happen. We are talking about Utah. I am still digesting the insanity that Philly engaged in just in the last two hours.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The Warriors signing a player to a max contract to backup Steph Curry doesn't surprise you?

Memphis just picked up three first round draft picks because...who the knows why that happened? It seems like someone will regret that trade at some point.