Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[F Gump]

30 million for a guy like that is going to be a no from other nba teams.

This reality is not just applicable to 30M level players. Its the way a Hard Cap World works at every level and we are seeing that at play. Harsh but real. 

Grant got that deal because the "market" said so. POR listened to the market. Mistake. 

I think that sort of choice (but made differently) was why Turner.ended up in MIL. Looks to me like the Pacers decided that in the bigger picture, Turner is simply NOT a 25M player. If he gets that from someone else, so be it, as they need to pay a whole team, and every salary has a ripple effect on the rest of your roster -- with a limit on total spending to deal with. MIL was willing to overpay (imo) and off he goes. But in the long run, who actually did a better job at building their roster?

Roster-building is no longer about having cap room or exceptions today and outbidding other teams. A player has to be able to play for you at a level that is proportionate to his contract, or else you better not bother. And there may be bargains to be had if you pick your spots and are patient.

See Martin, C. and Hardy, J.