05-24-2026, 01:42 PM
Maximizing Flagg’s cheap years:
If Cooper were a free agent today, what contract would he earn? Do you anticipate his play during the 2026-2027 season would be worth $40m? $50m?
I don’t have to squint too hard to see a $50m player. So you could say we’re getting a $35m discount this year, and probably at least that amount over the remaining two years of his contract.
How does a good GM deal with this narrow window of opportunity? In the old days, he’d just overpay. But the rules make it much more difficult now.
A couple of observations:
1. Winning now is probably easier than winning later.
2. Since drafted players (on “Flagg’s timeline”) generally don’t help you win now, their value is less.
This doesn’t mean the GM should ignore the future, but I’d argue it tilts the balance towards mature, productive veterans.
All this talk of trading Naji, PJ, Gafford, and Kyrie seems counter to winning now.
We shall see.
If Cooper were a free agent today, what contract would he earn? Do you anticipate his play during the 2026-2027 season would be worth $40m? $50m?
I don’t have to squint too hard to see a $50m player. So you could say we’re getting a $35m discount this year, and probably at least that amount over the remaining two years of his contract.
How does a good GM deal with this narrow window of opportunity? In the old days, he’d just overpay. But the rules make it much more difficult now.
A couple of observations:
1. Winning now is probably easier than winning later.
2. Since drafted players (on “Flagg’s timeline”) generally don’t help you win now, their value is less.
This doesn’t mean the GM should ignore the future, but I’d argue it tilts the balance towards mature, productive veterans.
All this talk of trading Naji, PJ, Gafford, and Kyrie seems counter to winning now.
We shall see.