AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

@ShamsCharania
Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award, becoming the 14th player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs, multiple sources tell ESPN.

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/2056011465950147051


Was there any doubt?  It was a foregone conclusion.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I imagine their two offseason objectives are to

1.  get a PG
2.  get Julius Randle off the team

They need a CP3 type player.  I would be surprised if they didn't trade for a veteran PG.

[Krawczynski] The Timberwolves feel good about the core of Edwards, McDaniels, Reid and Joan Beringer going forward. The pathway to significant playing time for Beringer likely resides in breaking up the three-man big rotation of Gobert, Randle and Reid.

That's the MIN reporter I believe.

Randle was a total no-show this series. 3 pts in game six?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7284658...prospects/


What should the Wizards do with the number 1 pick?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7283401...xecutives/


Most NBA executives feel lottery reform will backfire.

[CooPerFan]

@ShamsCharania
Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award, becoming the 14th player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs, multiple sources tell ESPN.

Wemby only got 5 first place votes after all the crying, begging, stat padding and campaigning he did. Lmao

[dirkfansince1998]

Pistons offseason is going to be interesting. Playoffs exposed their limitations in the half court. Culmulating in todays meltdown.
One of the few teams with capspace. They need more creation and shooting. Need to figure out what they are going to do with Jalen Duren. Resign or replace Tobias Harris.

[F Gump]

Pistons offseason is going to be interesting. Playoffs exposed their limitations in the half court. Culmulating in todays meltdown.

One of the few teams with capspace. They need more creation and shooting. Need to figure out what they are going to do with Jalen Duren. Resign or replace Tobias Harris.

" One of the few teams with capspace"  --- True in theory... but in reality, they won't have any. 

On paper, they can open up 24M-ish in cap room. BUT TO DO SO - they would have to renounce Bird rights to resign Duren and Harris. They can't replace that talent with 24M spent in free agency. AND they won't want to go down that road, ditching 2 starters after they get good. Their fans would revolt.

In fact, it's highly likely that they are in a bit of a payroll crunch as they game plan for the summer. How much do they have to pay Duren and Harris to keep them? Just spitballing, let's conservatively pencil in Duren at $33M (his max is $41M and he will prob try to get it) and Harris at 20M (he was just paid 26M and probably won't want to take less) and they are under the tax line but don't really have room for full MLE.

I would guess they are a team who looks for a helpful trade, as their summer route. Or maybe they just target internal growth after reupping Duren and Harris. They have a lot of player who should still have room to grow.

I wonder it they might be a candidate to "sell" their FRP (#21) so they don't have to pay that salary.

[Knutsen]

" One of the few teams with capspace"  --- True in theory... but in reality, they won't have any. 

On paper, they can open up 24M-ish in cap room. BUT TO DO SO - they would have to renounce Bird rights to resign Duren and Harris. They can't replace that talent with 24M spent in free agency. AND they won't want to go down that road, ditching 2 starters after they get good. Their fans would revolt.

In fact, it's highly likely that they are in a bit of a payroll crunch as they game plan for the summer. How much do they have to pay Duren and Harris to keep them? Just spitballing, let's conservatively pencil in Duren at $33M (his max is $41M and he will prob try to get it) and Harris at 20M (he was just paid 26M and probably won't want to take less) and they are under the tax line but don't really have room for full MLE.

I would guess they are a team who looks for a helpful trade, as their summer route. Or maybe they just target internal growth after reupping Duren and Harris. They have a lot of player who should still have room to grow.

I wonder it they might be a candidate to "sell" their FRP (#21) so they don't have to pay that salary.

They are in an interesting situation for sure - dominated the regular season, then got exposed by the Magic as an 8 seed and would have gone out if not for Franz Wagners injury, then got exposed by Cleveland again, after at least fighting back and making it to game 7 at home.

So what does this team need? For sure killer instinct, veteran leadership, a proven performer in the playoffs and skills that are sustainable in the postseason like shooting, creating off the dribble and winning one on one matchups - because outworking and overpowering the opponents isn’t enough anymore.

How would a completely recovered Kyrie change their playoff potential? 

Could he be enough to take them to the finals, bringing most of the things in abundance they were clearly missing?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Pistons offseason is going to be interesting. Playoffs exposed their limitations in the half court. Culmulating in todays meltdown.
One of the few teams with capspace. They need more creation and shooting. Need to figure out what they are going to do with Jalen Duren. Resign or replace Tobias Harris.

They need to move on from Harris. He played well and was the secondary scorer they needed for about 3 or 4 games, then fell off a cliff the last 3. His deal comes off the books, so they need a younger, more consistent scorer and another shot creator to take pressure off Cade, who was clearly worn down at the end. I wouldn't give up on Duren unless someone offers them a deal they can't refuse (probably doubtful), but I also wouldn't max him out either. He's just 22 and has the size, strength, and athleticism at the center position. He needs to develop an offensive game. They're a young team that has improved a lot from just 2 years ago. Now we'll see what adjustments Langdon makes this off-season.

[Chicagojk]

They need to move on from Harris. He played well and was the secondary scorer they needed for about 3 or 4 games, then fell off a cliff the last 3. His deal comes off the books, so they need a younger, more consistent scorer and another shot creator to take pressure off Cade, who was clearly worn down at the end. I wouldn't give up on Duren unless someone offers them a deal they can't refuse (probably doubtful), but I also wouldn't max him out either. He's just 22 and has the size, strength, and athleticism at the center position. He needs to develop an offensive game. They're a young team that has improved a lot from just 2 years ago. Now we'll see what adjustments Langdon makes this off-season.

I would like to say this will become a learning experience, but I am not sure if that is the case.  Cade is awesome. Frankly, I did not watch Detroit much in the playoffs to know why Duren struggled.    I agree on Harris.  It will be interesting to see if his money train stops.   Good player and good teammate, but he consistently is overpaid and expectations for him are not real.

Outside of these, you have a lot of spares.   Maybe that is harsh.   They have two recent top 10 picks in Thompson and Holland.   Thompson gets a lot of playing time and despite impacting games in several ways, he has trouble scoring more than 10 points a game.  That is a problem.  Holland could not even get on the court.   That is not an ideal way for production of two top 10 picks.  Thompson is obviously much further ahead than Holland.   Add in the miss on Jaden Ivey and they may have not taken advantage very well for being bad for so long.    Ivey off the court issues and injuries are the big reasons for his miss.  

Plan #1 needs to find Cade a running mate.  They need a Kyrie to their Luka.   If they do, everyone else can drop down a level.  That could help.  Maybe not put them in real contender status but it will help.   Cade needs time to rest on the floor.   Right now, most things go thru him.  

For such a promising season and fun story, they already look to be in a stage where they might be boxed in if they don't make some really smart moves.

[Winter]

I would like to say this will become a learning experience, but I am not sure if that is the case.  Cade is awesome. Frankly, I did not watch Detroit much in the playoffs to know why Duren struggled.    I agree on Harris.  It will be interesting to see if his money train stops.   Good player and good teammate, but he consistently is overpaid and expectations for him are not real.

Outside of these, you have a lot of spares.   Maybe that is harsh.   They have two recent top 10 picks in Thompson and Holland.   Thompson gets a lot of playing time and despite impacting games in several ways, he has trouble scoring more than 10 points a game.  That is a problem.  Holland could not even get on the court.   That is not an ideal way for production of two top 10 picks.  Thompson is obviously much further ahead than Holland.   Add in the miss on Jaden Ivey and they may have not taken advantage very well for being bad for so long.    Ivey off the court issues and injuries are the big reasons for his miss.  

Plan #1 needs to find Cade a running mate.  They need a Kyrie to their Luka.   If they do, everyone else can drop down a level.  That could help.  Maybe not put them in real contender status but it will help.   Cade needs time to rest on the floor.   Right now, most things go thru him.  

For such a promising season and fun story, they already look to be in a stage where they might be boxed in if they don't make some really smart moves.

Good analysis. I have to think though if Cleveland had lost that game, the conversation we'd be having now about them would be much worse.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I would like to say this will become a learning experience, but I am not sure if that is the case.  Cade is awesome. Frankly, I did not watch Detroit much in the playoffs to know why Duren struggled.    I agree on Harris.  It will be interesting to see if his money train stops.   Good player and good teammate, but he consistently is overpaid and expectations for him are not real.

Outside of these, you have a lot of spares.   Maybe that is harsh.   They have two recent top 10 picks in Thompson and Holland.   Thompson gets a lot of playing time and despite impacting games in several ways, he has trouble scoring more than 10 points a game.  That is a problem.  Holland could not even get on the court.   That is not an ideal way for production of two top 10 picks.  Thompson is obviously much further ahead than Holland.   Add in the miss on Jaden Ivey and they may have not taken advantage very well for being bad for so long.    Ivey off the court issues and injuries are the big reasons for his miss.  

Plan #1 needs to find Cade a running mate.  They need a Kyrie to their Luka.   If they do, everyone else can drop down a level.  That could help.  Maybe not put them in real contender status but it will help.   Cade needs time to rest on the floor.   Right now, most things go thru him.  

For such a promising season and fun story, they already look to be in a stage where they might be boxed in if they don't make some really smart moves.

Correct on all points. Trajan Langdon has to start earning his money.  Those 3 straight years of having the No. 5 pick produced only 1 gem in Thompson, who is a menace on defense but very limited on offense. Ivey was a bust, and Holland didn't play much until garbage time.

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: The New Orleans Pelicans are hiring Jamahl Mosley as the franchise's new head coach on a five-year contract, sources tell ESPN. Mosley accepts the Pelicans job after five seasons in Orlando where he guided the Magic to three consecutive playoff berths.

[JamesConway816]

I dont know much about the Pistons but their whole situation screams Kyrie to me. He would fit like a glove there.

Kyrie for #21 and another unprotected 1st would be sweet. Hed be on a good team and the Mavs would have some more ammunition down the line. I think that is close in terms of value to a lottery pick (Id still prefer that but who knows what is even on the table). Maybe you can get a young player or two from them as well to match salaries who can turn into someting.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/MrBuckBuckNBA/status/2056218544656761319


Atkinson on avoiding Ausar Thompson.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Mosley didn't stay unemployed long. A five year deal too. They must have wanted badly.

[Smitty]

I dont know much about the Pistons but their whole situation screams Kyrie to me. He would fit like a glove there.

Kyrie for #21 and another unprotected 1st would be sweet. Hed be on a good team and the Mavs would have some more ammunition down the line. I think that is close in terms of value to a lottery pick (Id still prefer that but who knows what is even on the table). Maybe you can get a young player or two from them as well to match salaries who can turn into someting.

Looking at their roster, the salary match for Kyrie this summer is probably:

Duncan Robinson
Caris LeVert
Ron Holland

It can be Isiah Stewart instead of Robinson or LeVert.


Meh! Pick 21 and a future first doesn't move me....

[mvossman]

Looking at their roster, the salary match for Kyrie this summer is probably:

Duncan Robinson
Caris LeVert
Ron Holland

It can be Isiah Stewart instead of Robinson or LeVert.


Meh! Pick 21 and a future first doesn't move me....

They probably want to keep Robinson, and he does not make sense for Mavs long term plans, so replace him with Stewart.  I have some interest in Stewart and Holland (Levert is dead money).  Those two plus 21 plus unprotected first is maybe ballpark of what you could get.  Personally I wouldn't hate it, but I could see why others would.

[dirkfansince1998]

https://x.com/the_det_times/status/2055845814858084426

REPORT: The Pistons are expected to try and look to trade for Lauri Markkanen or Trey Murphy III this summer, per Shams Charania on ESPN.

[cow]

Mosley didn't stay unemployed long. A five year deal too. They must have wanted badly.

Really didn't think he'd get another HC gig, but good for him.