07-16-2025, 05:31 PM
(07-16-2025, 04:38 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Is there a number at which Kuminga goes to Chicago, PJ goes to GSW and Coby White comes to Dallas. Something like $20mm keeps the Chicago part of this within the $7.5mm rule. Dallas drops about $1.2mm further below the second apron.
GSW just needs too many bodies to reserve the Full MLE while taking back someone like PJ. I've seen speculation that Horford would take the smaller MLE and Melton would take a minimum. So, that part works. I could easily see PJ being someone the Warriors would be interested in.
I doubt Melton would be satisfied with min. Not sure what would be stopping him from signing that by now and get done with it. Based on reported interest from Lakers, I would assume Lakers are offering him more than vet min. I could also see Lakers offering a starting role to him (replacing Hachimura in the starting line-up). GSW might also be offering the starting role to him, in front of Moody, Podziemski or Hield.
Melton is really interesting. There were very strong (reliable like Stein and similar) rumors at FA start, that there is strong mutual interest between him and Lakers. But that cooled off after some days. Perhaps they were willing to discuss the remaining part of MLE, which was given to Ayton later. Perhaps the Ayton thing materialized and they couldn't get a decent trade for a center, so they decided to go this way. That could indicate that Melton is at least hoping for more than vet min that could remain to GSW after the other moves.
GSW also has Payton II - he was paid 9 mil last season. GSW could give him more than vet min, if other moves put them over the first apron (no MLE to use). I doubt Payton could get much more than vet min on the remaining market. So he might also be waiting for Kuminga.
The rest of vet min signings they will do likely depend on pieces they will get with other moves and remaining needs they will have.
P.S.: Seems to me Chicago wants to keep White. There were rumors of Vucevic being offered in the SnT for Kuminga. GSW could very much use a guy like Vucevic, but they don't look that interested anymore.