Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Winter]

Having said that, if they weren’t looking at other options, they might have announced something like this already, right? I just think that when the dust clears, that option is likely to make the most sense.

That's the odd part. In the past, they've actually told the media they were done. Not hearing anything makes me just a little curious.

[F Gump]

Just to see if understand it correctly: 

1 - you have $3,701,258 Apron1 room, but also using a $1M apron cushion. I assume the later is safety measure for roster legality, but it could be reduced if transactions are settled or you are 100% sure that all numbers add up correctly as a team, right?

2 - As we are hard-capped at apron 1, no exceptions can be used to bypass this number (no Bird rights, TPE, BAE, remaining MLE, Minimum Excpetion etc.)

3 - Minimum salary is between $1,157,153 (0 years experience) and $3,303,771 (10+ years). So could fit 2 minimum salaries into spot 14 and 15, but only guys with limited experience. A 5 year guy ($2,425,403) and a rookie would fit. A 10+ year veteran and a rookie would fit, but reduce the apron cushion significantly (to ~$250k). 2x 5+ year guys would not fit at all.

1 Yes, those are the correct numbers. I use a 1M cushion, which is my guess about how they might be planning. There is no question they have a cushion number, and it is a bit flexible of course.

2 Correct. Nothing - no emergency, no injury, no opportunity -  allows them to go past the Apron, and it's a long season. Yes they can keep a smaller cushion, but I would not be surprised if internally they pencil in even a bigger one. Once you get late in the season, you can use some of the cushion on 10-days or a rest-of-season contract, perhaps on a development player. Or a rest-of-season buyout guy.

3 For our purposes, the minimum salary for apron will be 2-year (ie, player starting his 3rd year) minimum. This is the APRON cap hit for all one-year minimum contracts except a SRP playing his 1st or 2nd year (like Hardy). I have not seen a definitive chart yet for 2024-25, but I have 2,087,519 as my derived number based on the cap. You can't fit two of those into 3.7M of spending room, and if you cut into your cushion to do so you only have a cushion of about 500K. I don't think they would consider that.

[KillerLeft]

1 Yes, those are the correct numbers. I use a 1M cushion, which is my guess about how they might be planning. There is no question they have a cushion number, and it is a bit flexible of course.

2 Correct. Nothing - no emergency, no injury, no opportunity -  allows them to go past the Apron, and it's a long season. Yes they can keep a smaller cushion, but I would not be surprised if internally they pencil in even a bigger one. Once you get late in the season, you can use some of the cushion on 10-days or a rest-of-season contract, perhaps on a development player. Or a rest-of-season buyout guy.

3 For our purposes, the minimum salary for apron will be 2-year (ie, player starting his 3rd year) minimum. This is the APRON cap hit for all one-year minimum contracts except a SRP playing his 1st or 2nd year (like Hardy). I have not seen a definitive chart yet for 2024-25, but I have 2,087,519 as my derived number based on the cap. You can't fit two of those into 3.7M of spending room, and if you cut into your cushion to do so you only have a cushion of about 500K. I don't think they would consider that.

Amazing info here, thanks!

[Deebo]

Why is Spencer not back??? Give me Spencer!!!

[RGP1981]

Why is Spencer not back???  Give me Spencer!!!

Do not want Spencer, Spencer.

[Arioch]

Why is Spencer not back???

Maybe because, given his druthers, Nico doesn't appear terribly interested in mediocre vets. If you're not a Hall-of-Famer who can still play (cf., Kyrie, Klay), it looks like he'd rather go with young guys with potential to grow throughout Luka's extended window.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Charania] Free agent guard Monte Morris plans to sign a deal with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Suns lock in a reliable point guard entering his eighth NBA season. Morris has averaged 10 points, 39% 3-point shooting and 3.8 assists over career.

good pickup for Phoenix

[Kidnova]

Maybe because, given his druthers, Nico doesn't appear terribly interested in mediocre vets. If you're not a Hall-of-Famer who can still play (cf., Kyrie, Klay), it looks like he'd rather go with young guys with potential to grow throughout Luka's extended window.

There's also the fact that Spencer still wants to play significant minutes.  That's not likely an option here.

[dirkfansince1998]

Free agent F/C Moe Wagner is returning to the Orlando Magic on a two-year, $22 million deal, sources tell ESPN. Wagner averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 80 games for the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed.

[KillerLeft]

There's also the fact that Spencer still wants to play significant minutes.  That's not likely an option here.

Yeah, it's probably not even worth thinking about until all the "real" jobs are gone. 

The Lakers might've been his last chance to earn one of those (he was right to go that route, because he ended up playing more there than he would've here) and he performed poorly. So, I suppose there's a chance he IS kind of a Morris type this season for some team.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Warriors are going all-in on Lauri Markkanen, per
@MontePooleNBCS


“Based on what I've heard, the Warriors number one target is now Lauri Markkanen.”

(Via
@957thegame
)

[SleepingHero]

@wojespn
Orlando Magic F Jonathan Isaac has agreed on a five-year, $84 million contract renegotiation and extension, sources tell ESPN.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
DeMar DeRozan has zero interest in taking the MLE for $13M, per
@ChrisBHaynes


Teams like the Lakers and Heat would have to get creative to create cap space or work out a sign-and-trade.

(Via @BleacherReport)

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Sacramento Kings are a ‘dark-horse’ for DeMar DeRozan, per
@MarcJSpears

[Mavs2021]

@TheDunkCentral
The Sacramento Kings are a ‘dark-horse’ for DeMar DeRozan, per
@MarcJSpears

I guess welcome to Chicago Harrison Barnes.

[KillerLeft]

Is there even any cap space left for DeRozan anywhere, or is he down to hopping for a trade Chicago will accept to help him out? I haven't been keeping up with league finances enough to know.

[BigDirk41]

@TheDunkCentral
DeMar DeRozan has zero interest in taking the MLE for $13M, per
@ChrisBHaynes


Teams like the Lakers and Heat would have to get creative to create cap space or work out a sign-and-trade.

(Via @BleacherReport)

He better start to have interest in the MLE. He's running out of options.

[KillerLeft]

He better start to have interest in the MLE. He's running out of options.

Right?

I mean, even that his people are having to leak that to Haynes isn't the best sign, from his perspective. It suggests that teams are calling with MLE offers, thinking they have a chance of getting him for that. They might be right!

[SleepingHero]

Is there even any cap space left for DeRozan anywhere, or is he down to hopping for a trade Chicago will accept to help him out? I haven't been keeping up with league finances enough to know.

Basically only SnT's left if he wants to get to a team of his choosing.

[SleepingHero]

@Ralph_MasonJr
Haynes: Bron is giving FO a week. Lakers have had exploratory talks with Portland on Grant. I project they will make a significant move