aren't we assuming the TPE's are this summer's business?
https://hoopshype.com/salaries/players/
Poster said to pay the tax to improve the team, so I assume they meant the deadline.
On another subject, someone in some thread posted a tweet that said JRich would take over at PG if DS were traded. That DS wasn't needed. Maybe he's not needed as a PG, but they still need an 8th rotation player. Or maybe Ime will go with a 7 man roster or they think RL/someone else is ready for that role. Who is the 9th man on this team anyway? After assuming it was Romeo, I went to look up minutes played and he's... 9th. That doesn't necessarily mean he's 9th in the rotation though. He was getting more consistent play earlier in the year when the team wasn't healthy. I'd assume if the C's dumped DS and did nothing else, RL would be the front runner for 8th man.
Also, doesn't GW+DS for DD get the C's under the tax? I don't care for that deal at all. The team would have to make a decision on DD this offseason, and if he plays like crap the rest of the year... ugh. If he rebounds and plays well, he's in line for a pay day. I guess there's a chance to lock him up on the cheap for 4 years but that comes with a gamble. I don't get it from the C's perspective. Like, what does DD get paid? $10-12 mil a year or closer to 16-18? Is DD a player you want to add to the Jaylord core? Does he replace Smart? It's a move that requires some other moves this offseason, at least if they intend to keep DD. It also leaves the C's short a rotation player. He would be a good fit along Jaylord, I'd just hope they could do better than DD.
No clue what this team does, but I have a feeling I'm not going to like it. I'd be content with doing nothing. I'd prefer them to add talent. The C's are playing their best basketball in the last 2 years. I get if they can't/don't want to add more salary, but now is not the time to dump a rotation player for nothing (not related to DD, he is something) The C's are 11-4 over their last 15, 7-1 over their last 8, on a 5 game winning streak and blowing teams off the court.
Season ranks:
1st in 2PFG% against, holding teams to .493, and 2nd in FG% against at .433.
14th in 2PFG% at .528, 20th in FG% at .450.
22nd in 3P% at .340. This has been trending upwards every month.
8th in 3P% against at .341. In another few games, they could be outshooting their opponents from 3.
3rd in rebounds, 2nd in blocks.
Totally weird stat here: 20th in assists at 23.2. 1st in assists against at 21.6. It's weird because often times we'll mention other teams beautiful ball movement and wonder why the C's can't do that.
18th in TO at 14.2. 10th in causing TO at 14.0.
1st in FT% at .817, 21st in FTA. 9th in FTA against.
19th in PPG at 108.1, 4th in PPG against at 104.0.
7th in point differential at 4.1
25th in Strength of Schedule. Is that right? I know there was chatter in early December that the C's remaining schedule from January on would be the easiest in the NBA.
All these numbers confirm the same thing we see on the court. They scream add a PG who can shoot the 3 (preferably one with size and/or is passable on D) I'm not sure that player is available right now. Going with JRich in the meantime is fine, but dumping DS for nothing isn't.
I don't know if all this is a schedule mirage and really bad timing, but I think they are left in a position where they can't subtract players. The only way the team should be subtracting rotation players is if the player returning is at least as good as John Collins.