(04-09-2021, 07:25 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Im still so confused. What has THT done at all to deserve a max offer from anyone? Play for the Lakers? Get 3 tweets from Lebron and put up a big game in preaseason?

Dude's splits are 8.4/2.7/2.3 on 45/26.7/83 

Essentially what DFS is putting up except worse. Why are we throwing a max contract at a 10th guy at best?

(04-09-2021, 09:41 PM)Branduil Wrote: a good rim-rolling center like Holmes

(04-09-2021, 09:41 PM)Branduil Wrote: IMO just get Lavine on the Mavs plus a good rim-rolling center like Holmes, and then add 3&D guys like DFS and Maxi around them, plus shooters like THJ off the bench. That's a contender.

(04-09-2021, 01:31 PM)omahen Wrote: Seth for JRich too  Plus we got a pick

(04-09-2021, 05:46 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I’ve been thinking about this some today.  I’m kind of haunted by the idea that Dallas tends to do things we don’t expect.  I talked about Norman Powell in this regard with very little response.  So, he would certainly qualify as someone that no one here is talking about.

But, this post is about THT.  One thing I like strategically is that his max cost is finite.  You can plan around that cost in terms of what you do elsewhere.  For instance, if THJ is to be kept, you can give him his number and ask him to wait until you are done with THT.  You can’t say that if your target is Lonzo or even UFA Norman Powell.  There, you have to deal with where and for how much.  You can’t give Hardaway a firm bid.  With THT, the only question is whether he wants to go to your town.  

I pick Hardaway as the keeper because I think Horton-Tucker more closely replicates what you have with JRich than what you have with Hardaway.  If you let go of rights to JRich and WCS, you can give THJ $14.7mm as the last guy added after you get THT.  That assumes a max $20.7mm offer for THT.  It might not come to that.  It doesn’t have to be Hardaway.  It could be any $14.7mm Free Agent who can hit 3’s.  

1.  But, doesn’t THT’s RFA status risk you losing JRich and other free agents while you wait?  I used to think that, but there are a pretty good number of guys that would take $20.7mm if the THT thing fails.

2.  But, wouldn’t LAL just match any offer?  That is the common wisdom here, but the Lakers have way too many moving parts to make blanket judgements.  Those include Schroeder, Harrell and Caruso plus others in addition to THT.  They could have a huge issue at C if Harrell leaves and Gasol now looking done (they have no rights on Drummond).  They could have a huge issue at PG if Schroeder leaves...especially if the other team isn’t willing to just gift LA a TPE.  Even if everything else goes perfectly, it may take multi-year deals for Schroeder, Harrell and Caruso and that means a huge LT bill for several years to come.

3.  But, is he any good.  Well, that is the $80 million question.  He didn’t have a very good defensive reputation coming out of college, but his statistical profile as a pro with that bulk and his 7’1” wingspan is certainly encouraging.  He can create for himself in ways that JRich can’t.  He makes nice passes occasionally, but has way too many turnovers to call him a playmaker (think Julius Randle prior to this season when his Assist% nearly doubled while his TO% stayed mid-teens).  It all comes down to his shot.  When I watch his highlights, he makes all of them...kidding.  When I watch his highlights, he looks really comfortable shooting the 3’s that go in.  It hasn’t translated to even a tiny bit of consistency.  He is absolutely a projection in this area.

Here’s the thing.  Many of you rejected the 33+ PG’s.  For the most part, you don’t see a path to Lonzo.  I’ve posted that Dallas seems to want a point-of-attack defender to pair with Luka, so that may kill O-only guys like Powell, Monk Dinwiddie and Fournier.  DeRozan and Oladipo probably cost more than $20.7mm and one can’t stay healthy and the other can’t hit a three (OK, neither can hit a three lately).  If you are trying to upgrade JRich while keeping Hardaway AND you have an archetype you are looking for, is Cow right here?  Is THT that guy (or at least might he be soon)?

(04-09-2021, 07:25 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Im still so confused. What has THT done at all to deserve a max offer from anyone? Play for the Lakers? Get 3 tweets from Lebron and put up a big game in preaseason?

Dude's splits are 8.4/2.7/2.3 on 45/26.7/83 

Essentially what DFS is putting up except worse. Why are we throwing a max contract at a 10th guy at best?

(04-10-2021, 12:58 AM)Branduil Wrote: It's quite possible Lavine asks for a trade this offseason, and it would be in Chicago's best interest to oblige. This trade would work:

https://tradenba.com/trades/K-5NobOu-

OKC consolidates its trove of picks and young talent into a player who could fit right in next to SGA, and they still have more picks and Horford's expiring they can use to add more talent next to SGA/Poku/KP. Chicago rebuilds with a bunch of picks and a couple talented young guys- they would likely try to trade Vuc too and at least somewhat cut their losses there. Dallas adds a star wing who should fit perfectly next to Luka and enough cap room to easily add someone like Holmes while still keeping one of THJ/JRich. Would want to try and add a vet PG too to replace Brunson.

Luka / Burke
Lavine / THJ
DFS / Green
Maxi / Melli
Holmes / Young

(04-09-2021, 07:25 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Im still so confused. What has THT done at all to deserve a max offer from anyone? Play for the Lakers? Get 3 tweets from Lebron and put up a big game in preaseason?

Dude's splits are 8.4/2.7/2.3 on 45/26.7/83 

Essentially what DFS is putting up except worse. Why are we throwing a max contract at a 10th guy at best?

(04-09-2021, 10:25 PM)Jason Terry Wrote: THT is rich paul and will likely do whatever lebron wants. If i was an LAL fan, I’d be thinking that THT and Caruso for sure come back on team friendly deals. I probably would pay up for Schroeder if needed. But those 3 would for sure be back. Harrell is probably the guy they let walk. KCP and Gasol are the first guys out in a trade

It’s in theirs and lebrons best interest to keep their own guys. It really doesn’t matter if they cross the tax apron. You don’t really need the exceptions when ring chasers will take the min

(04-10-2021, 05:37 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Sorry, but anyone who would reduce his potential to his current splits just isn’t paying attention.  He’s 20 and he has an NBA body with a 7’1” wingspan and fantastic size.  He’s improved dramatically since going pro.  We no longer have to rely on some random pre-season game to see what he looks like.  Just look at his last 3 games (highlights of the most recent one provided below).  Try to forget what you think you know and just imagine what we would look like if JRich had that kind of offensive game and athleticism.

With all of the injuries, he’s getting 24 minutes in those three games and putting up 16/3.7/2.3 on .599 TS%.  The team is +6.8 when he’s on the floor largely because of the D-Rating of 98.  The Lakers have won two of the three games w/o Lebron and w/o AD.  Sample size too small?  He’s had 19 games of 20-29 minutes this season with very similar numbers 12/3.7/3.2.  The team is +5.6 with a D-Rating of 103 and THT has a TS% of .560...AT 20!!!  BTW, per 36, the box score numbers are 18/5.5/4.8.  Screen for that and you get 20 players.  The non-bigs include names like Luka, Lebron, Mitchell, Curry, Middleton Hayward, Ingram.

You know who isn’t on the list?  Bogdonovic who got $18mm per last off-season, Hield who got $24mm.  Siakam barely misses two criteria.  Booker barely misses two criteria as does DeRozan.  What do every one of these guys on both lists have in common?  They get paid and they aren’t 20.  BTW, this isn’t a MAX contract.  The most THT can get is an average of $20.7.  The structure would keep Dallas under the tax for two more years.  If LA does match, you’ve put them in LT hell for years to come.  I think Cow is right on this.  Jalen and Talen does sound pretty nifty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnhnC0V50Vs

(04-10-2021, 05:37 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Sorry, but anyone who would reduce his potential to his current splits just isn’t paying attention.  He’s 20 and he has an NBA body with a 7’1” wingspan and fantastic size.  He’s improved dramatically since going pro.  We no longer have to rely on some random pre-season game to see what he looks like.  Just look at his last 3 games (highlights of the most recent one provided below).  Try to forget what you think you know and just imagine what we would look like if JRich had that kind of offensive game and athleticism.

With all of the injuries, he’s getting 24 minutes in those three games and putting up 16/3.7/2.3 on .599 TS%.  The team is +6.8 when he’s on the floor largely because of the D-Rating of 98.  The Lakers have won two of the three games w/o Lebron and w/o AD.  Sample size too small?  He’s had 19 games of 20-29 minutes this season with very similar numbers 12/3.7/3.2.  The team is +5.6 with a D-Rating of 103 and THT has a TS% of .560...AT 20!!!  BTW, per 36, the box score numbers are 18/5.5/4.8.  Screen for that and you get 20 players.  The non-bigs include names like Luka, Lebron, Mitchell, Curry, Middleton Hayward, Ingram.

You know who isn’t on the list?  Bogdonovic who got $18mm per last off-season, Hield who got $24mm.  Siakam barely misses two criteria.  Booker barely misses two criteria as does DeRozan.  What do every one of these guys on both lists have in common?  They get paid and they aren’t 20.  BTW, this isn’t a MAX contract.  The most THT can get is an average of $20.7.  The structure would keep Dallas under the tax for two more years.  If LA does match, you’ve put them in LT hell for years to come.  I think Cow is right on this.  Jalen and Talen does sound pretty nifty.

(04-10-2021, 08:46 AM)omahen Wrote: Didn't nearly see THT enough to judge him, but 20 mil per year seems like huge risk for still relatively unproven player, jumping into much bigger role. One thing is certain though - Lakers would certainly be willing to listen to SnT. So why not instead of money whipping them, go for JRich-THT double SnT? I guess everyone could see a benefit there. JRich remains on a contender in an important role, Lakers get proven player they need short term (and can't sign any other way), Mavs get THT at more reasonable salary. I doubt there will be teams waiting in line throwing 20 per offers to him. Something in the range of 10-13 mil per should be more than enough, imho.

Edit: Strike double SnT, Lakers can't afford SnT JRich as they will be way over hard cap. He would have to opt in and then sign extension with Lakers. Not really that unrealistic, imho.

(04-10-2021, 09:00 AM)soog Wrote: I was also thinking trade is a good option here.  The Lakers are facing salary cap issues.  I’d happily help back the bags of any/all of our rookies to help the lakers fill out their bench on the cheap (plus additional value of course) in exchange for THT.