Trade & FA 2024-25:

[SleepingHero]

Wow, that’s not how I remember it at all. From what I recall, most were adamantly against Ayton, and rightfully so. SleepingHero was into it, and I feel like maybe Dan was, too.

It was pretty much me being the loudest voice for Ayton. I think Dan had some positive things to say about possible Ayton reclamation project based on his past finals performance. 

Dougie also was pretty interested.

But we were definitely the minority. Basically every conversation was about the contract value and what it'd take to get him. 

For the most part I argued it had to be some variation of THJ+Holmes+McGee. I figured all of those contracts were dead money anyways so Ayton was a value. PHX found value in breaking up Ayton into smaller moveable contracts, and Stein said they were interested in THJ+Holmes, but not McGee, which was the hangup. A S/W of McGee plus the Thybulle contract would've put the Mavs over the 1st apron for that season (which didn't make sense at the time). 

I was not interested in sending the #10 pick for Ayton, so in that limited sense I was all for him. 

I am glad they didn't do it and I was wrong.

[Mavs2021]

Nobody knows how Ayton would have done in a winning environment. I wouldn´t want him now, considering what Nico has done with Lively/Gafford, but for the last 13 years Ayton for THJ/Kleber (not the pick) would have been better than all their other glorious ideas from Lamar Odom to De Andre Jordan to Javale McGee. At least Ayton was young and had shown plenty of promise. The jury is obviously out on Phoenix and next season is their whole window imho, but I think they lost every single trade they made since the new owner came on board, including Ayton. 

Also heard Ayton was really good for the Bahamas and there was some shady sh*t going on in the qualifiers final in Spain. Now I wouldn´t trust Windhorst farther than I can throw him, which is not very far, since he believes Messi played for Real Madrid, but when it comes to cheating whether it is doping, naturalization, tax evasion and fraud, flat out bribery or just unsportsmanlike conduct, Spain are the cunt world champions of sports.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
Best available free agents a week into the NBA offseason:

Tyus Jones
Markelle Fultz
Gary Trent Jr.
Isaac Okoro
Lonnie Walker IV
Luke Kennard
Precious Achiuwa
Kyle Lowry
Saddiq Bey
Spencer Dinwiddie
Gordon Hayward
Josh Okogie
Jae Crowder
Marcus Morris
Dennis Smith Jr.
Paul Reed


Still a lot of good names on the board that I expect to find a home for next season.

[michaeltex]

Going back to speculation on whether Morris returns as the 14th guy.

Does it make any sense that he signs a non-guaranteed vet min contract? That would fill the slot but basically leave the salary available for upgrade opportunities or emergencies.

[Dirknows]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
Best available free agents a week into the NBA offseason:

Tyus Jones
Markelle Fultz
Gary Trent Jr.
Isaac Okoro
Lonnie Walker IV
Luke Kennard
Precious Achiuwa
Kyle Lowry
Saddiq Bey
Spencer Dinwiddie
Gordon Hayward
Josh Okogie
Jae Crowder
Marcus Morris
Dennis Smith Jr.
Paul Reed


Still a lot of good names on the board that I expect to find a home for next season.

Lot of guys on that list could be had for relatively cheap as well.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/MikeAScotto/status/1810677372200587422


Knicks interested in Davis Bertans.

[MAVS-SLO]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
Best available free agents a week into the NBA offseason:

Tyus Jones
Markelle Fultz
Gary Trent Jr.
Isaac Okoro
Lonnie Walker IV
Luke Kennard
Precious Achiuwa
Kyle Lowry
Saddiq Bey
Spencer Dinwiddie
Gordon Hayward
Josh Okogie
Jae Crowder
Marcus Morris
Dennis Smith Jr.
Paul Reed


Still a lot of good names on the board that I expect to find a home for next season.

Does someone know the salary cap situation?

I doubt there is many teams who can still offer MLE.

Jones, Fultz, Kennard, Hayward.. 

Really interested to see if the price droped so much that they could sign for our TPE.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
Tyus Jones, the top available free agent point guard, is highly unlikely to return to the Wizards.

Washington is working through sign-and-trade possibilities as they will now prioritize Jordan Poole and Bub Carrington in their backcourt.

A resolution could be reached this week.

[SleepingHero]

Does someone know the salary cap situation?

I doubt there is many teams who can still offer MLE.

Jones, Fultz, Kennard, Hayward.. 

Really interested to see if the price droped so much that they could sign for our TPE.

Only 2 teams have remaining cap space:

1. UTA-34.7 mil
   
2. DET-19.2 mil
   

Teams with their MLE available: 

• BRK (11.4)
  
• CHA (12.8)
  
• HOU (11.6)
  
• IND (7.3)
  
• MEM (11.5)
  
• NOP (7.7)
  
• NYK (4.4, but practically 0)
  
• ORL (12.8) 
  
• POR (9.4) 
  
• SAC (12.6)
  
• SAS (12.8)
  
• TOR (4.4)
  
• UTA (12.8)
  

All teams that are bolded have the full MLE and don't have to worry about the 1st Apron. All other teams you can chop off about 1 mil to stay under that 1st apron.

ATL- 3mil under the 1st apron (can get full MLE if they let Bey walk)
CLE- 5mil under the 1st apron (can get full MLE if they let Okoro walk)
LAC- has 3.3 mil left but are hard capped at the 1st apron
DAL- has 4.2 mil left but are hard capped at the 1st apron
CHI- has 4.2 mil left but are hard capped at the 1st apron
WAS- has 3.3 mil left but are hard capped at the 1st apron


Celtics, Nuggets, Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Suns, and Timberwolves all cannot use the MLE right now due to being over the 2nd apron. 

GSW has used all of their MLE space. 

OKC and PHI have the room exception (7.9) left.

[Jason Terry]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
Tyus Jones, the top available free agent point guard, is highly unlikely to return to the Wizards.

Washington is working through sign-and-trade possibilities as they will now prioritize Jordan Poole and Bub Carrington in their backcourt.

A resolution could be reached this week.

So we have 14. If we replaced a current minimum with 2nd round pick contract singing Ajinca, would that open up like 800k in space? 

Also there’s potential for Mcgee to sign a minimum deal with a team and we get back extra $ 

My thinking is how decent an offer could we make Tyus Jones? 

SnT Jones (3/24) to Mavs

Powell and Hardy to Wizards

Luka/Tyus Jones
Kyrie/Grimes
Klay/Naji
PJ/Maxi
Lively/Gafford 

Would be an elite offense

[michaeltex]

Celtics, Nuggets, Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Suns, and Timberwolves all cannot use the MLE right now due to being over the 2nd apron. 

So these teams have to hope for good health? If a major player (high $) gets hurt they could only make some very restricted trades to get help? Or just join the 2025 Tank-a-thon?

[SleepingHero]

So we have 14. If we replaced a current minimum with 2nd round pick contract singing Ajinca, would that open up like 800k in space? 

Also there’s potential for Mcgee to sign a minimum deal with a team and we get back extra $ 

My thinking is how decent an offer could we make Tyus Jones? 

SnT Jones (3/24) to Mavs

Powell and Hardy to Wizards

Luka/Tyus Jones
Kyrie/Grimes
Klay/Naji
PJ/Maxi
Lively/Gafford 

Would be an elite offense

If Morris is back and Lawson is waived, Mavs have at most 3.1 mil of practical space that can be used.

Powell+Hardy (6,019,669) can open up 9.1 mil of practical space. If Jones is signed at the starting salary you're suggesting and Ajinca is signed via the minimum a 2nd round pick can sign for (1.1 mil), the Mavs could do this. 

But I don't see the appeal for Washington truthfully.

[SleepingHero]

So these teams have to hope for good health? If a major player (high $) gets hurt they could only make some very restricted trades to get help? Or just join the 2025 Tank-a-thon?

Any 2nd apron team cannot sign a player bought out player whose salary was over 12mil. 

They could only make some very restricted trades or sign other vet min guys. 

This is why everyone is trying to avoid the 2nd apron.

[The Jom]

Is Gordon Hayward a minimum player now? I would be so into that. That is a guy with skills and experience. With reduced expectations, he’s gonna make a comeback.

[Jmaciscool]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
Tyus Jones, the top available free agent point guard, is highly unlikely to return to the Wizards.

Washington is working through sign-and-trade possibilities as they will now prioritize Jordan Poole and Bub Carrington in their backcourt.

A resolution could be reached this week.

I'm so glad to root for a team that doesn't have to prioritize Jordan Poole.

[SleepingHero]

@GeraldBourguet
Couple of free agency updates:

Suns are still working on re-signing Josh Okogie. A few teams want him, but PHX is confident they'll be able to keep him. Kyle Lowry is still in play and the two sides are still talking, but he may wind up back in Philly

[F Gump]

So we have 14. If we replaced a current minimum with 2nd round pick contract singing Ajinca, would that open up like 800k in space? 

No. It  would reduce space even more by adding a random unneeded player and his salary to the total. Ajinca is not useful. 

The ongoing calculations don't included any player just filling a slot. 13 are locked in. Its just figuring out space 14, and maybe 15 (but only have to have 14).

So far, Lawson with a NG minimum salary is 14. You could remove Lawson and add a different player in slot 14. Morris is expected to be added. There's talk of yet a different player who could be 14 or 15.

If you had 15 players, it's real tight against the apron which could be a BIG issue later. Also, their roster size the last years has been to keep 14 and leave 1 open most of the year, for development and issues and emergencies.

[Scott41theMavs]

I'm so glad to root for a team that doesn't have to prioritize Jordan Poole.

Sometimes timing is everything. In the 2022 playoffs against the Mavs, Wiggins and Poole were solid gold and an enormous part of Luka and Brunson's trip to Cancun. In 2024, teams can't give them away.

[mvossman]

If Morris is back and Lawson is waived, Mavs have at most 3.1 mil of practical space that can be used.

Powell+Hardy (6,019,669) can open up 9.1 mil of practical space. If Jones is signed at the starting salary you're suggesting and Ajinca is signed via the minimum a 2nd round pick can sign for (1.1 mil), the Mavs could do this. 

But I don't see the appeal for Washington truthfully.

You don't think Hardy would have some value?  Maybe they get better S&T offers, and maybe Jones gets better contract offers, but Hardy would have to be better than nothing.

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
The Detroit Pistons are claiming F/C Paul Reed off free agency waivers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Reed is in the second season of a three-year, $24 million deal, and now BBall Paul joins Detroit.