2018 NBA offseason thread

Sox and Rocks

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Vaguely on topic: what's the read in Nuggets Nation on Will Barton? He's my #1 MLE binky for the Warriors this offseason, even ahead of Tyreke: 6'-6" wing who does everything well (and has always killed the Warriors). Also seems like a great target for the Celtics — basically, I think the Ws and Cs will be sniffing around all the same players, in free agency and the draft. Do you get the sense he's staying in Denver or moving on?
Barton turned down a 4/42 contract extension before the season started, then had his best year. He's not signing for the MLE. Even if his market tanks and he's only offered MLE's from other clubs, the Nuggets will offer more. They take care of their guys to a fault (see Plumlee last year).

The Nuggets would like to keep Barton.
 

Swedgin

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Barton turned down a 4/42 contract extension before the season started, then had his best year. He's not signing for the MLE. Even if his market tanks and he's only offered MLE's from other clubs, the Nuggets will offer more. They take care of their guys to a fault (see Plumlee last year).

The Nuggets would like to keep Barton.
While they would like to keep Barton, Denver is in tough shape cap-wise. Woj reported this week that they are so desperate to move off of Faried and reduce/avoid the tax that the Nuggets would attach the 14th pick to him/his shitty contract. That is further bad news for non-max free agent's, especially RFA's like Gordon, Smart and Randle. One fewer team with cap space to make an offer.
 

chilidawg

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Barton turned down a 4/42 contract extension before the season started, then had his best year. He's not signing for the MLE. Even if his market tanks and he's only offered MLE's from other clubs, the Nuggets will offer more. They take care of their guys to a fault (see Plumlee last year).

The Nuggets would like to keep Barton.
With Hayward, Tatum, and Brown, it would seem to me that spending elsewhere (bigs, imo) would be a bigger priority for the Celtics.
 

nighthob

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While they would like to keep Barton, Denver is in tough shape cap-wise. Woj reported this week that they are so desperate to move off of Faried and reduce/avoid the tax that the Nuggets would attach the 14th pick to him/his shitty contract. That is further bad news for non-max free agent's, especially RFA's like Gordon, Smart and Randle. One fewer team with cap space to make an offer.
Yeah, if that’s true I could see Brooklyn leaping all over the chance to snag a late lottery pick this year as a preparation for their lottery pick next year. Being able to take a gamble on a Robert Williams, Kevin Knox, Miles Bridges, or Lonnie Walker (I’m not high on him, but I have a friend that swears that he’s this year’s Donovan Mitchell) for the cost of eating Faried’s deal has to seem like manna from heaven.
 

TripleOT

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Once LeBron is 3-6 in the Finals, he has to decide how he wants to cement his legacy. Does he want to spend the next half dozen years as the Man on a team where he has to stand on his head every night to win? Does he want to be paired with a couple of top NBA players and a bunch of ring chasers, with a puncher's chance of dethroning the Warriors?

Or does he want to be a key part of a team like the Celtics, which would be more like his Olympic team experience, playing with tall, athletic, highly shilled, highly motivated teammates, for a top coach and a top organization, where he doesn't have to put up epic performances every night?

If Lebron wants to win, two, three four more championships, there is no better place than Boston. Assuming he and Kyrie can agree to work together again, the best team the Cs could put together would be sending Hayward, Rozier, and picks back to the Cavs. If they can't, sending Kyrie, Yabusele and picks would be the other way to go (or get a third team involved if Kyrie and the Cavs don't want to get together again). I like the Kyrie/LBJ team better, but the Hayward version with no PG, LBJ, GH, JB, JT, and AL, would be the most, and best, switch-able defensive lineup ever put together in this NBA. Either version would be a 68-70 win team.

LeBron can always use going to the Lakers for no compensation to the Cavs as a cudgel to make Cleveland agree to a trade to another destination. I agree with the posters above that the Cavs won't want to take on a lot of money tied up in role players to make a trade for some draft assets, but taking an all star back and draft assets would be more appealing than calling LeBron's bluff and letting him sign with the Lakers.

Are any of these LeBron/Celtics scenarios likely? Not normally, but if LeBron get swept in the Finals, hopefully he will decide to go to the absolute best place that gives him a chance to beat the Warriors.
 

Sox and Rocks

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While they would like to keep Barton, Denver is in tough shape cap-wise. Woj reported this week that they are so desperate to move off of Faried and reduce/avoid the tax that the Nuggets would attach the 14th pick to him/his shitty contract. That is further bad news for non-max free agent's, especially RFA's like Gordon, Smart and Randle. One fewer team with cap space to make an offer.
Faried's contract is shitty, but it's not shitty enough to require attaching a late lotto pick just to dump, especially since it's expiring. The same can be said of Chandler and Arthur. That's a ridiculous proposal from Woj.

My main point, though, is I don't see Barton going for the MLE.
 

Ed Hillel

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How does Ainge match Lebron's salary in trade?
Kyrie and Morris does it. If LeBron wants to increase another 5 million, adding Yabu would do it. Then you throw in the Sacramento pick for Cleveland because those other two are leaving. Kyrie would be hella pissed, and would lose out on millions, but that’s business.

If he wants best shot to beat Golden State, I don’t see an option that beats this.
 
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Sox and Rocks

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Yeah, if that’s true I could see Brooklyn leaping all over the chance to snag a late lottery pick this year as a preparation for their lottery pick next year. Being able to take a gamble on a Robert Williams, Kevin Knox, Miles Bridges, or Lonnie Walker (I’m not high on him, but I have a friend that swears that he’s this year’s Donovan Mitchell) for the cost of eating Faried’s deal has to seem like manna from heaven.
It would be highway robbery for Brooklyn
 

the moops

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Faried's contract is shitty, but it's not shitty enough to require attaching a late lotto pick just to dump, especially since it's expiring. The same can be said of Chandler and Arthur. That's a ridiculous proposal from Woj.

My main point, though, is I don't see Barton going for the MLE.
Nobody is taking Kenneth Faried without a first round pick attached to it. Unless of course you are suggesting that some team would send back shitty money - but then DEN would have no interest in doing that.
 

nighthob

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Faried's contract is shitty, but it's not shitty enough to require attaching a late lotto pick just to dump, especially since it's expiring. The same can be said of Chandler and Arthur. That's a ridiculous proposal from Woj.
The idea is for a smaller market team to put off the luxury tax clock given that Will Barton is going to get the sort of offers that people are dreaming that Smart will.

The question is is the talent downgrade from 14 to a pick in the 20s that much that they’re better off risking the supertax (four years over the LT line in a five year span)? There’s still going to be real talent on the board in the 20s, so I’d probably take the downgrade if I’m Denver.
 

DannyDarwinism

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, or Lonnie Walker (I’m not high on him, but I have a friend that swears that he’s this year’s Donovan Mitchell).
I get it in terms of length, athleticism and shot-making, and like Mitchell, there’s some reason to believe his shot is better than his college numbers indicate, but Mitchell was a pit bull in college and a good decision-maker. He would just destroy dudes in marquee matchups. I went into watching the NC State game eager to check out DSJ and came out praying the Celtics would move up to try to grab Mitchell because he just destroyed DSJ. I saw a couple of Lonnie’s games this year and didn’t see either the competitive fire or the headiness from him. I suppose that doesn’t mean they aren’t there, but they didn’t show in what I saw. After this year’s class, I’m more convinced than ever that a good prospect needs at least one and a great prospect needs both.
 

BaseballJones

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Once LeBron is 3-6 in the Finals, he has to decide how he wants to cement his legacy. Does he want to spend the next half dozen years as the Man on a team where he has to stand on his head every night to win? Does he want to be paired with a couple of top NBA players and a bunch of ring chasers, with a puncher's chance of dethroning the Warriors?

Or does he want to be a key part of a team like the Celtics, which would be more like his Olympic team experience, playing with tall, athletic, highly shilled, highly motivated teammates, for a top coach and a top organization, where he doesn't have to put up epic performances every night?

If Lebron wants to win, two, three four more championships, there is no better place than Boston. Assuming he and Kyrie can agree to work together again, the best team the Cs could put together would be sending Hayward, Rozier, and picks back to the Cavs. If they can't, sending Kyrie, Yabusele and picks would be the other way to go (or get a third team involved if Kyrie and the Cavs don't want to get together again). I like the Kyrie/LBJ team better, but the Hayward version with no PG, LBJ, GH, JB, JT, and AL, would be the most, and best, switch-able defensive lineup ever put together in this NBA. Either version would be a 68-70 win team.

LeBron can always use going to the Lakers for no compensation to the Cavs as a cudgel to make Cleveland agree to a trade to another destination. I agree with the posters above that the Cavs won't want to take on a lot of money tied up in role players to make a trade for some draft assets, but taking an all star back and draft assets would be more appealing than calling LeBron's bluff and letting him sign with the Lakers.

Are any of these LeBron/Celtics scenarios likely? Not normally, but if LeBron get swept in the Finals, hopefully he will decide to go to the absolute best place that gives him a chance to beat the Warriors.
About a 0.002% chance that it happens, but if it did...holy crap. Kyrie, Yabu, Morris, pick for LeBron.

LeBron
Brown
Tatum
Hayward
Horford
Rozier
Semi

Goodness that team would be completely unreal. Can't imagine LeBron could find much of a better situation.

Moreover... he'd screw Kyrie by having him sent back to Cleveland.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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If he really cared about his championship legacy and taking down GS he would just sign here for the MLE.
 

BigSoxFan

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About a 0.002% chance that it happens, but if it did...holy crap. Kyrie, Yabu, Morris, pick for LeBron.

LeBron
Brown
Tatum
Hayward
Horford
Rozier
Semi

Goodness that team would be completely unreal. Can't imagine LeBron could find much of a better situation.

Moreover... he'd screw Kyrie by having him sent back to Cleveland.
And then you trade Horford, Brown, and Memphis pick for AD.

Davis
LeBron
Tatum
Heighwould
Rozier

Get it done, Theo.
 

Sox and Rocks

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Nobody is taking Kenneth Faried without a first round pick attached to it. Unless of course you are suggesting that some team would send back shitty money - but then DEN would have no interest in doing that.
Nighthob (post below yours) has it right: The Nuggets could move down by packaging faried with 14, but not that alone. A team like Atlanta, who had lots of cap room, a top 5 pick and 19, would make sense. Faried and 14, maybe with a 2nd, too, for 19.

Kroenke is cheap, though, despite being a billionaire. The Nuggets can just keep what they have and pay the tax for one year (and a fairly small tax at that), but I'll believe him choosing a more competitive team over saving money when I see it.
 

Swedgin

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Nighthob (post below yours) has it right: The Nuggets could move down by packaging faried with 14, but not that alone. A team like Atlanta, who had lots of cap room, a top 5 pick and 19, would make sense. Faried and 14, maybe with a 2nd, too, for 19.

Kroenke is cheap, though, despite being a billionaire. The Nuggets can just keep what they have and pay the tax for one year (and a fairly small tax at that), but I'll believe him choosing a more competitive team over saving money when I see it.
Atlanta also has #30. The Lakers and Philly would also be in position to do that kind of deal if they got signals that LeBron and/or George were not coming. Would make more sense for LA than Philly, as this is the 76ers one year with space, whereas the Lakers can roll it forward for one more year.
 

Reverend

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If he really cared about his championship legacy and taking down GS he would just sign here for the MLE.
I think he cares about his legacy and championships.

But I don't think he wants to be, at best, another square on one of the Boston banners. Celtic pride is not what he's aiming for, I don't think.
 

LondonSox

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Atlanta also has #30. The Lakers and Philly would also be in position to do that kind of deal if they got signals that LeBron and/or George were not coming. Would make more sense for LA than Philly, as this is the 76ers one year with space, whereas the Lakers can roll it forward for one more year.
The sixers can easily roll cap space over.
Next year nothing changes and Bayless expires they could resign Redick and other 1y deals if needed.
 

Apisith

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LeBron will probably push for a sign and trade, that way he gets a max and a 5 year deal. He’s the best player in the league, signing a 4 year max would be giving up almost $50m, which I doubt he would do since he’ll be nearly retired by then.
 

the moops

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LeBron will probably push for a sign and trade, that way he gets a max and a 5 year deal. He’s the best player in the league, signing a 4 year max would be giving up almost $50m, which I doubt he would do since he’ll be nearly retired by then.
Can no longer sign for the 5th year in a sign and trade
 

Ed Hillel

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LeBron likes having leverage, so I think he probably continues to do his two year deals with opt outs. Maybe if he goes to a place like Boston or Philly, he’s comfortable enough with the setup moving forward, but even with Philly if Embiid goes down again, LeBron might want out.
 

RedOctober3829

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Yeah LeBron won’t sign long term. It will be 1+1’s until he retires so he can keep getting the highest max salary. I’ll echo Ed’s comments in that Boston is the best fit basketball-wise. It would be an amazing group of shooters, shot makers, switchable parts on D, and basketball IQ. Offense aside, imagine a defense with LeBron and Horford anchoring it flanked by super athletic wings who can lock down being coached by Brad.
 

nighthob

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LeBron will probably push for a sign and trade, that way he gets a max and a 5 year deal. He’s the best player in the league, signing a 4 year max would be giving up almost $50m, which I doubt he would do since he’ll be nearly retired by then.
Sign & trade deals are capped at the max a player could receive if they signed with another team outright. There's no more financial advantage to the player (this rule change didn't work out the way the NBA planned, they were attempting to stop Carmelo style forced trades, which they did, to the detriment of teams that used to get something out of those deals).

So now the only reason to be involved in one is to help out the signing team with their cap space. So an LBJ for Covington/Fultz sign & trade is a possibility, as it makes it easier for the Sixers to add more pieces in free agency while allowing the new GM to close the door on the mistakes of the past.
 

DannyDarwinism

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The latest round of NBA stars killing it on social media might be my favorite for its simplicity and sincerity. Giannis documenting his first time eating some of the Americanist of American snacks. And making these cherished food stuffs look comically small in the process. Behold:






He’s too pure for this world.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Crazy that Giannis at 23 has probably 2 more off seasons of huge growth. I think the league has more young talent now than anytime I can remember.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Corndog, Red Kool-Aid, Funyuns.

Methinks Giannis might not be leaping over players to finish dunks anymore.
 

ElUno20

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Question for you savants, with the draft approach, wouldn't a Leonard trade be coming up soon (so the Spurs can select) if they were planning to trade him?
 

the moops

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Round and round they go. If I was a middling franchise like ATL or TOR or DET or whatever, screw the safe route and hiring a retread coach. Be bold and try and find the next Stevens.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Question for you savants, with the draft approach, wouldn't a Leonard trade be coming up soon (so the Spurs can select) if they were planning to trade him?
I expect the opposite simply because other teams are looking to fleece the Spurs so there won't be offers that the Spurs would deem acceptable as a return this early. I feel it will drag out to day of the draft or even further into the summer.
 

nighthob

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Round and round they go. If I was a middling franchise like ATL or TOR or DET or whatever, screw the safe route and hiring a retread coach. Be bold and try and find the next Stevens.
I mean he did a pretty good job with the Raptors. It's not like they were hiring Tim Floyd.
 

DannyDarwinism

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Damn,that's, uh, pretty harsh. Like, a lot of that kinda doesn't seem like just good-natured shit talking between teammates. But who knows with the kids these days and their diss tracks and brand-building.

Meanwhile, Jayson and Semi are (presumably) somewhere supporting each other's growth as basketball players and, more importantly, human beings, through honest communication and positive reinforcement.

Nothing but respect for MY president.

 

BigSoxFan

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After seeing him on Lip Sync Battle, I actually was kind of impressed with Lonzo’s hip hop skills.