Trade & FA 2024-25:

[KillerLeft]

I feel like he had an established role in his second year as a starting 3&D player on a playoff team. Thibs was upset that he didn’t play hurt enough in playoffs and his third season went to shit as a result.

Yeah, it's a small sample size, but Grimes had a much more established role that season than Josh Green has ever had. Grimes was one of the drivers of that team's success, to the extent it succeeded.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4063...ion-pacers


Nembhard and Pacers agree to a 3yr/59M extension.

[DallasMaverick]

Right up there with KAT!

[KillerLeft]

Right up there with KAT!

Goodness gracious, Kuzma is a tool.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/wojespn/status/1816174675476767038


Orlando Robinson signs a 1 yr deal with Sacramento.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1816157050646225098


Starting in 25-26, teams that are repeater tax teams, will get penalized
at a higher rate.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Right up there with KAT!

LMAO He has to be trolling.

[F Gump]

https://x.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1816157050646225098


Starting in 25-26, teams that are repeater tax teams, will get penalized
at a higher rate.

Next year the real teeth of the tax begins at the $10M-above-the-line point, and it's harsher with repeater status. (That's GS, LAL, LAC, MIL)

Under that, and it's only $1.25 (or less) if you aren't a repeater. That's at Apron 1 or a bit higher.

The repeater add-on is now $2.00 tax for every taxable dollar, in addition to the regular tax.

Over $10M above the tax line and it is expensive. From there the next dollar is taxed $3.50 for non-repeater, and $5.50 for a repeater. Or more as you get to another bracket. It piles on. It gets very expensive very quickly. By the time you get to Apron 2-ish, you're at the point where each additional dollar in salary costs a tax of $5.25 or $7.25 per dollar, depending on repeater or not. It's nasty. Adding a single minimum salary player at that point would cost a repeater team about $19M in real dollars.

[Jym]

Next year the real teeth of the tax begins at the $10M-above-the-line point, and it's harsher with repeater status. (That's GS, LAL, LAC, MIL)

Under that, and it's only $1.25 (or less) if you aren't a repeater. That's at Apron 1 or a bit higher.

The repeater add-on is now $2.00 tax for every taxable dollar, in addition to the regular tax.

Over $10M above the tax line and it is expensive. From there the next dollar is taxed $3.50 for non-repeater, and $5.50 for a repeater. Or more as you get to another bracket. It piles on. It gets very expensive very quickly. By the time you get to Apron 2-ish, you're at the point where each additional dollar in salary costs a tax of $5.25 or $7.25 per dollar, depending on repeater or not. It's nasty. Adding a single minimum salary player at that point would cost a repeater team about $19M in real dollars.

That Celtics team is going to get blown into bits in a couple years

[mvossman]

That's Celtics team is going to get blown into bits in a couple years

I think the easy answer for them is to ditch KP.  They went through most of the playoffs without him, and it didn't seem to matter.  Shaving that 30 mil will save them a ton of money.

[SleepingHero]

I think the easy answer for them is to ditch KP.  They went through most of the playoffs without him, and it didn't seem to matter.  Shaving that 30 mil will save them a ton of money.

With the amount of $$ they're handing out, they're going to have to ditch KP+Jrue+White at this rate. 

Problem is, we've already seen how hesitant teams are at accepting Zach Lavine's contract at 40mil with his glass knees. What team is going to be that excited for KP at 30+mil? Even if he's expiring. 

I'm not saying it's impossible for Boston to move on but it'll be tough.

Either way, of all the 2nd apron teams, they are the only ones I think it's 100% worth it for them to be there long term.

[omahen]

I think the easy answer for them is to ditch KP.  They went through most of the playoffs without him, and it didn't seem to matter.  Shaving that 30 mil will save them a ton of money.

That could be true. But in addition to that, they will also need to find an adequate replacement for Horford with minimum salary added to the budget. Here is where the challenge will be. Might be easier to replace one of the guards/wings with a cheaper version and keep KP.

[Chicagojk]

Boston will have some tough choices to make. Although they will have basically the same team this year and maybe next year (Horford being a ? mark the following season). If healthy, they are going to be very difficult to beat.

Stevens and that front office has made A plus move after A plus move. Plus, they have Tatum and Brown still in their 20's so that is a great place to be even if they need to move some of the supporting players around. They are in a really good spot. Just need to swallow hard with some tax payments. So maybe KP and Jrue move on eventually, but they still have picks available and could find a similar younger, cheaper player to do 80% what KP and Jrue do. With Tatum and Brown in their primes, that may be good enough.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

That Celtics team is going to get blown into bits in a couple years

Their title contention window is still open though for those next couple of years.  If they can get another chip within that span, I'd say it's well worth it.

[mvossman]

That could be true. But in addition to that, they will also need to find an adequate replacement for Horford with minimum salary added to the budget. Here is where the challenge will be. Might be easier to replace one of the guards/wings with a cheaper version and keep KP.

This is their biggest issue, Horford is getting very old and KP can't stay healthy.  I'm not sure holding onto KP and watching him sit during the playoffs is going to be their best option.

[mvossman]

With the amount of $$ they're handing out, they're going to have to ditch KP+Jrue+White at this rate. 

Problem is, we've already seen how hesitant teams are at accepting Zach Lavine's contract at 40mil with his glass knees. What team is going to be that excited for KP at 30+mil? Even if he's expiring. 

I'm not saying it's impossible for Boston to move on but it'll be tough.

Either way, of all the 2nd apron teams, they are the only ones I think it's 100% worth it for them to be there long term.

According to that article, shaving 25 mil would greatly reduce the tax hit.  KP + Horford is 40 mil.  They need to find a quality 5 out center for 10 to 15 mil and ride with it. But I agree that ditching KP contract may be painful.

[Chicagojk]

The Markannan thing is really interesting. Utah is sort of stuck. Lauri is really good, but he is about to get the max. They really haven't hit on their young players yet. They might prove to be good, but they are young and not ready. Utah is in danger of being that 10th worst team the league. That is not the place Ainge wants to be...especially with the next two drafts looking strong up top.

He is looking for a Mikal Bridges type trade and he should because Lauri is the better player imo. The problem is there may not be a team that is offering that package. The Knicks did because they viewed this as their finishing move and was willing to pay the NY tax.

The Spurs are the sleeper here. The problem is most of their moves this offseason have been about being patient and not going for the big move know. I think they could have the best offer. GS offer would be tricky. I am not sure how good of a job Dunleavy will do in GS. I like some of his moves since he took over though. Unprotected GS picks are enticing, but Ainge will want much more. Podz looked really good last year and Kuminga is still just 22. The issue with Kuminga is he saw the Franz Wagner and Scottie Barnes Contracts and he is going to expect something close to that very soon.

There is always a hidden team....i am just having trouble seeing who that could be. Miami doesn't have enough. Would a bad team like Charlotte decide to go in? I don't think so. I just have trouble finding a team who will provide a strong (overpay?) offer....you know Ainge will hold on to him until he gets what he wants. The extension and the upcoming draft classes puts some pressure on him though.

[DallasMaverick]

So, if you’re a GM with a player who’s at the end of their cheap deal, but is now looking for their big (maybe max) payday, but you have a different opinion of the player’s value, what do you do?

Guys like Markkanen or Kuminga or Franz Wagner or Quickley. Good, solid young players, but if you give them max contracts it’s hard to build a championship team. But they are real assets, and it’s painful to let them walk for nothing.

Trade them to a team that IS willing to pay them an overpriced deal, maybe in a S&T for a more appropriately priced player plus draft capital?

Just bite the bullet and overpay, hoping they turn into a superstar?

It seems like a lot of teams are currently having to just keep players with bad contracts, whereas in years past they could pawn them off more easily.

[SleepingHero]

The Markannan thing is really interesting.  Utah is sort of stuck.  Lauri is really good, but he is about to get the max.  They really haven't hit on their young players yet.  They might prove to be good, but they are young and not ready.  Utah is in danger of being that 10th worst team the league.  That is not the place Ainge wants to be...especially with the next two drafts looking strong up top.

He is looking for a Mikal Bridges type trade and he should because Lauri is the better player imo.  The problem is there may not be a team that is offering that package.  The Knicks did because they viewed this as their finishing move and was willing to pay the NY tax. 

The Spurs are the sleeper here.  The problem is most of their moves this offseason have been about being patient and not going for the big move know.  I think they could have the best offer.  GS offer would be tricky.  I am not sure how good of a job Dunleavy will do in GS.  I like some of his moves since he took over though.  Unprotected GS picks are enticing, but Ainge will want much more.  Podz looked really good last year and Kuminga is still just 22.  The issue with Kuminga is he saw the Franz Wagner and Scottie Barnes Contracts and he is going to expect something close to that very soon.   

There is always a hidden team....i am just having trouble seeing who that could be.  Miami doesn't have enough.  Would a bad team like Charlotte decide to go in?  I don't think so.  I just have trouble finding a team who will provide a strong (overpay?) offer....you know Ainge will hold on to him until he gets what he wants.  The extension and the upcoming draft classes puts some pressure on him though.

I was hoping it'd be some team in the East but that entire conference is so weak I can't see it happening.

The driver seat has to be GSW as they have the perfect mix of young assets and desperation. Spurs would be a little unfair as Lauri+Wemby would be such a scary sight to see every night. 

I know ATL was interested in KAT not too long ago, would they be interested in Lauri? Spurs have their picks so they have no incentive to tank. They have Jalen Johnson (unlikely to be traded as they said he was untouchable), Hunter, and Risacher. 


The thing is, Ainge shouldn't be in a rush to trade Lauri. Lauri on an extended contract is more valuable next summer than Lauri right now.

[Chicagojk]

So, if you’re a GM with a player who’s at the end of their cheap deal, but is now looking for their big (maybe max) payday, but you have a different opinion of the player’s value, what do you do?

Guys like Markkanen or Kuminga or Franz Wagner or Quickley. Good, solid young players, but if you give them max contracts it’s hard to build a championship team. But they are real assets, and it’s painful to let them walk for nothing.

Trade them to a team that IS willing to pay them an overpriced deal, maybe in a S&T for a more appropriately priced player plus draft capital?

Just bite the bullet and overpay, hoping they turn into a superstar?

It seems like a lot of teams are currently having to just keep players with bad contracts, whereas in years past they could pawn them off more easily.

They are tricky decisions.   Some of the max offers for the younger players surprised me.   While the calculus of the new cap has changed, I think most teams will bite the bullet.  Even if they plateau, they still should keep their value due to their ages.  Injuries could change that.

The second and third contracts as players approach 30 is going to be real interesting.  The Jerami Grant or Karl Anthony Towns of the world are where things may get real interesting.  Dallas may have a similar tricky negotiation if Kyrie is looking for a high contract next summer.   The extensions near or at 30 are where things can get real messy if that player does not live up to that contract.