(07-28-2021, 01:08 PM)VintagePejav2 Wrote: [ -> ]What is the realistic better option? Collins is not available - and I’m still stunned you’re so into Collins. Collins is a short-armed 4/5 who can’t create his own shot, yet you want to give the guy a max contract. The Hawks got better when he was less of a focus in their offense. Unreal. Conley is likely not available. They can’t pay Holmes unless they dump KP, and they can’t dump KP because they gave the guy a 5-year max with no injury protections. What exactly is the better option here? They can’t keep kicking the can down the road for the perfect deals because they’re not going to happen, ever.
Don't really agree with this other than he may not be available. Collins is a hyper efficient player that fits with many lineups, very close to the 1st ever 60/40/80 season. Showed very good defense on the perimeter and in the post. His max is around the same price as Lowry getting 3/90 as well except there's an extra year.
Hawks got better because they got Capela for rim protection and their young guys got better. They were starting like ... Bruno Fernando or something I think in 2019? Collins can score in the post over small guys on switches. He has room for improvement there too. His ball handling sucks, but that's fine. You don't need a max player to be a secondary ball handler for you. Brunson could do the job fine, his problem is he's getting destroyed on defense. The Game 3 Clippers Q1 comeback is mostly due to switching Kawhi onto Brunson. Brunson's offense throughout the series was more than sufficient though. He can't play next to Luka due to his defense, but he would be enough as the secondary ball handler if he could play.
The offense should be fine with Luka on the bench with any random pick and roll ball handler with Collins, so he still has an impact. The guy next to Luka can run a few plays to give Luka a breather off ball if they can run the pnr with Collins/whatever big as well. The secondary ball handler just needs to not be a huge negative on defense like Brunson is. Don't think you need to overpay for an amazing primary playmaker, Reggie Jackson is a shitty pure pg combo guard that could do the job, or Dragic. If you had both Reggie Jackson & Dragic, while Luka is on the bench, you could have them both out there for some flow offense and those guys shouldn't break the bank.
May all be moot though if Atl just matches whatever though. I think Nance or maybe Bagley could be decent fallback options. Bagley needs a lot of coaching on defense though, his bbiq is horrible.
(07-28-2021, 01:40 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]And a 2nd round exit with Lowry is going to move those data points for Luka? Doubtful.
For once, I'm with you. Luka isn't Dirk or Giannis. I am not sure I agree with your timetable but I'm not that far of either.
I like Luka, but I think we keep saying this "he's not Dirk or Giannis" over and over, because we see the most of the players in the NBA aren't like them...but everything that I've ever seen from Luka tells me that he's loyal, stubborn, does things his way and isn't worried about personal acclaim, personal awards, or worried about making money (as in, he KNOWS he's getting paid).
It wouldn't surprise me, especially with him experiencing that last year of Dirk and the reputation and organic, one of a kind celebrations he received throughout the season. Not one bit of surprise.
(07-28-2021, 02:54 PM)TXBamanut Wrote: [ -> ]I like Luka, but I think we keep saying this "he's not Dirk or Giannis" over and over, because we see the most of the players in the NBA aren't like them...but everything that I've ever seen from Luka tells me that he's loyal, stubborn, does things his way and isn't worried about personal acclaim, personal awards, or worried about making money (as in, he KNOWS he's getting paid).
It wouldn't surprise me, especially with him experiencing that last year of Dirk and the reputation and organic, one of a kind celebrations he received throughout the season. Not one bit of surprise.
That's what I'm gathering as well. I think Giannis had to have made a big impact on him as well.
(07-28-2021, 02:54 PM)TXBamanut Wrote: [ -> ]I like Luka, but I think we keep saying this "he's not Dirk or Giannis" over and over, because we see the most of the players in the NBA aren't like them...but everything that I've ever seen from Luka tells me that he's loyal, stubborn, does things his way and isn't worried about personal acclaim, personal awards, or worried about making money (as in, he KNOWS he's getting paid).
It wouldn't surprise me, especially with him experiencing that last year of Dirk and the reputation and organic, one of a kind celebrations he received throughout the season. Not one bit of surprise.
I hope you are right. But going from Dirk's loyalty to another star with Dirk-like loyalty just seems against the odds. Either way, we need to improve our team building.
(07-28-2021, 02:57 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]I hope you are right. But going from Dirk's loyalty to another star with Dirk-like loyalty just seems against the odds. Either way, we need to improve our team building.
Dirk was ridiculously, even irrationally, loyal, but I don't think we need to presume a binary choice where Luka is either that loyal or 'like everybody else' and out of here at his first opportunity if he doesn't get a ring next year. If, by the end of his rookie extension, the best Dallas has managed to give him is 3 years of declining Kyle Lowery, then Dirk would probably stay, but I don't think anyone else would blame Luka for moving on. Giannis certainly let his camp float the idea that if Milwaukee didn't take steps he would consider leaving--but they took a swing and he signed and the rest is history--I don't think it's a particular stretch to think Luka might be that loyal.
(Though yes, that still means we need to improve our team-building, though it speaks to which philosophy that team-building should be following)
(Also, did anyone else notice that on the list of international players who won Finals MVP, every one of them did it with their original team?)
(07-28-2021, 03:34 PM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]https://twitter.com/HoopAnalysisNet/stat...6842361857
So Turner to Cha, Gordon to Indy, Cha draft assets to Houston and Indy. I would guess Lamb and A.Holiday to Houston from Indy.
Even more reason to think Holmes is going back to Sac when the Hornets are working on a Turner trade. I’m still trying to figure out how Eric Gordon has positive value with that contract and his injury history and decline in play.
(07-28-2021, 01:24 PM)VintagePejav2 Wrote: [ -> ]Okay, be specific - who and at what $ figures? Do you know if they would actually accept that?
Obviously we don't know exact figures, but there are not that many teams with more than MLE cap space and a fair number of names out there. At some point it becomes a long list of guys battling for MLE money. Some potential guys at that level:
Reggie Jackson
Doug McDermott
Nic Batum
Danny Green
Alex Caruso
Nerlens Noel
Serge Ibaka
Goran Dragic
Bobby Portis
Lauri Markkanen
Reggie Bullock
A few of these guys may go well over the MLE but most of them will probably be at that level. As an example, I would be perfectly happy with McDermott/Green/Caruso offseason. If JRich opts in, worst case he is one of the three, but there is also the potential to trade him for somebody you can spend up to a little over 16 for (Dinwiddie or Graham).
Reggie Jackson has early bird rights with the Clippers, so he can get MLE money from them. Definitely won't leave that situation for the MLE. They may just be running it back with their squad with hopes of getting Kawhi back as they go into the playoffs though so he may just be unavailable period. Maybe just lose Batum.
(07-28-2021, 04:12 PM)Jakeospikez Wrote: [ -> ]Reggie Jackson has early bird rights with the Clippers, so he can get MLE money from them. Definitely won't leave that situation for the MLE. They may just be running it back with their squad with hopes of getting Kawhi back as they go into the playoffs though so he may just be unavailable period. Maybe just lose Batum.
Steal him at a slightly higher price.
(07-28-2021, 01:47 PM)JamesConway Wrote: [ -> ]This. I’d prefer other options as well but Lowry is worlds better than any of the FAs we’ve ever signed. For once we’d have a veteran who can actually lead not only in the locker room but also by example on the court. I’m in. Its a bit of a hail mary attempt once again but it’s not like Nico has inherited a bunch of valuable draft picks or highly coveted young players to wheel and deal. The pressure is already on the organization thanks to years of pathetic roster building and player development by Rick, Donnie and Cuban.
Lowry + Hardaway while still having the
MLE & BAE would already be a big step into the right direction.
Heck last year they couldn’t even find someone for the MLE so they pissed it away for WCS and Burke...
We’re pretty much at rock bottom with the roster outside of Luka. This isn’t an easy or quick fix kind of thing. But Lowry would help us a lot right away.
Quick comment on last years MLE. Part of the reason we struggled to get an impact player with the MLE is that we wanted to spend some of it on Terry. Because he was a second round player, I think you need to spend some actual cap (or in this case exception) to make his contract 3 or 4 years so that he becomes restricted after three years. I realize this last season was not encouraging, but they were betting on him being good enough in 3 years to get value out of him being restricted.
(07-28-2021, 05:05 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]Joe Ingles is really good at basketball and a glue guy for Utah. Kyle Kuzma has stupid hair. I hate that idea for Utah.
This. If I had to ask a random NBA fan what Kuzma´s strengths are he probably wouldn´t have a clue. He used to be a inefficient volume chucker on a mediocre team. Now he is just all around below average.
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