07-19-2025, 03:21 AM
(07-18-2025, 10:25 PM)F Gump Wrote: APPLICATION? What does signing CT mean to them? I see him being retained to be an asset to trade at some point, I guess. (And obviously, to be a trade asset, the contract size is a HUGE part of the value, right?) Is he good enough to mess up their tanking for a 2026 pick? Are they trying hard to find a sign-and-trade taker for him, behind the scenes, so they don't have to be saddled with his salary? Do they HIGHLY care if they lose him? Or is he actually seen as a future star in BKN?
I never got a feeling he is really appreciated in BKN. I remember he had a huge scoring outburst a couple of season ago, when some injuries happened and he suddenly got an opportunity. He answered with several consecutive 40 points game. Yet immediately, when those injured players returned, his minutes were cut drastically. My impression is, they never saw him as a key building block to build around.
I think market is very weak for score first smallish guards with iffy defense this season, as there are (or were) several available. Simons, Beal, Green (Houston to Phoenix), Powell, Poole and McCullom. I think the only team with a real need for such a player was Orlando and they went with Bane. A bit worse players like Anthony and Clarkson were even bought out, because as it seems no one wanted them above vet min. I think Cam Thomas will be forced to sign a similar deal Reaves signed a couple of seasons ago (4 year deal in MLE range). Or perhaps, he receives a higher short term deal. Something, that will give BKN flexibility moving forward, that will be tradeable at any point if they wish. He is probably perfect for their tanking, as he puts up numbers but doesn't really contribute a lot to winning.