2024-25 NBA Thread

[Jockey]

BOGOLJUB is a steal. 

Actually, he might be. I see shades of Toni Kukoc there as he matures.

[Shaka Shart]

Trying to figure out Portland's offseason strategy here between the Jrue trade and their draft choice.

They were a solid team down the stretch last year as some of their young talent was performing well. But since their team is up for sale, it is hard for me not to wonder if their Jrue acquisition and drafting of the Chinese player as trying to gin up interest and valuation in both shooting for a play in spot, as well as international fanbase.

 

[Jockey]

Trying to figure out Portland's offseason strategy here between the Jrue trade and their draft choice.

They were a solid team down the stretch last year as some of their young talent was performing well. But since their team is up for sale, it is hard for me not to wonder if their Jrue acquisition and drafting of the Chinese player as trying to gin up interest and valuation in both shooting for a play in spot, as well as international fanbase.

 

They had one of the better defenses in the league last year and appear to be doubling down on it. Don't really know if that is a good strategy or not.

Also, they may think Scoot Henderson is the future and want a mentor like Holiday.

I guess playing in the Western Conference means you have to try something? 

[tower912]

Seeing Kam drafted is great.  Seeing  all of the players who weren't drafted is equally interesting.

[Billy Hoyle]

This Malik Beasley situation is going to be interesting and the Pistons are likely going to have to adjust their entire FA strategy now. This video isn't a good look for him:

https://x.com/HaterReport_/status/1939503160705663193

[wadesworld]

Don't love the Taurean Prince deal but it's so small it doesn't matter much. Otherwise so far it's been all good deals.

[cheebs09]

To sign those three guys and still have the MLE is pretty amazing.

[Billy Hoyle]

Myles Turner to the Bucks. 4 years, $107 million.

[wadesworld]

Well damn.  Gotta hand it to Horst.  Have hated much of what he's done for years now, but this offseason couldn't be off to a better start.  Now try to get as many 3 and D wing defenders as you can with what's left on vet min contracts and see if any hit.

[Uncle Rico]

Well damn.  Gotta hand it to Horst.  Have hated much of what he's done for years now, but this offseason couldn't be off to a better start.  Now try to get as many 3 and D wing defenders as you can with what's left on vet min contracts and see if any hit.

This is a stunner.  Put the Giannis rumors to rest for this summer anyway.

That sound you hear is wailing from the greater Mequon area

[The Sultan]

Waiving Dame and spreading the charge out over five seasons. I didn't know that was possible.

Anyway, that's way better than I thought they would do this off season.

[wadesworld]

Waiving Dame and spreading the charge out over five seasons. I didn't know that was possible.

Anyway, that's way better than I thought they would do this off season.

Yeah, I don't know what to think about waiving Dame and stretching him.  I mean, it allowed us to get Turner on a 4 year deal so that's good.  But I would've liked to have seen if we could've got anything for him after he returns and is on an expiring contract.

[The Sultan]

Yeah, I don't know what to think about waiving Dame and stretching him.  I mean, it allowed us to get Turner on a 4 year deal so that's good.  But I would've liked to have seen if we could've got anything for him after he returns and is on an expiring contract.

My guess is that they had to do something to show Giannis they are still trying to be competitive.

[Jockey]

Hopefully, this move will drive Mugs over the edge and he will go into seclusion.

After Lopez signed in LA, I figured a move was coming, but this is way better than I expected.

[wadesworld]

So I guess the way to look at it is you're paying $50M/year to have Myles Turner on your team?

[The Sultan]

Hey, the Bucks can trade Pat C. and Kuzma to Portland for Jrue.

[cheebs09]

My guess is that they had to do something to show Giannis they are still trying to be competitive.

Yeah, I think you kick the can down the road to maximize Gianni's' prime years. Especially with the East opening up due to injuries.

Plus, with the cap rising in the future, it will be less of a percentage of the cap.

Bummer Dame didn't work. It will be interesting to see if they still have the MLE or make a trade with Kuzma/Pat. The 31 first probably got a little more valuable now.

[JWags85]

Waiving Dame and spreading the charge out over five seasons. I didn't know that was possible.

Anyway, that's way better than I thought they would do this off season.

Yea the stretch provision isn't used that much cause normally you waive dudes that don't make all that much or if its a bigger contract, you try to trade them like you see with expiring deals all the time.  I think Dame was uniquely a candidate cause nobody is gonna take the $50MM hit this year for someone who isn't playing, otherwise they would have tried to trade him and had trouble doing so.

So I guess the way to look at it is you're paying $50M/year to have Myles Turner on your team?

Well what was Dame's cap hit, like $56MM? Turner is like $25MM the next 2 years before it scales up a bit.

So you're getting Turner and an extra $9-10MM in space the next 2 years.  Then who knows where the cap goes after that.

But love this.  They basically swapped Lopez for the same type of player but younger and more offensively effective right now while still being a plus defender who protects the rim.

[GB Warrior]

So I guess the way to look at it is you're paying $50M/year to have Myles Turner on your team?

That's certainly a reading of it. Same was going to cost $50M+ to sit out this year and have negative contract value next year coming off injury. So either you're paralyzed by uncertainty of what you're getting while he sits on your books, you attach your most precious assets to get him fully off the books while taking that salary back for 'something' or you do exactly what they did.

It won't result in a championship but it's better than the alternative imo

[wadesworld]

Mark Spears reporting Dame was considering declining next year's player option.  Would've been absurd for him to do that, but if that would've happened it would've been a huge gift to the Bucks.  They would've had tons of money to play with, plus 3 picks to trade, next offseason.

[wadesworld]

Also, I won't pretend I know this is true, but I saw some Tweets before Dame being waive got reported that the Bucks could simply waive and stretch Pat's contract and it would create enough room for Turner's deal.  So they could've paid $1.8M/year for the next 5 years for Pat to go away, but chose to light Dame's $22.5M/year for the next 5 years (aka the rest of Giannis's prime) to go away instead?

[Its DJOver]

I cannot keep up.  Pat's gone, Sims back, Harris in.  Someone update the scholarship table.

[tower912]

Bucks hitting the portal hard.

[JWags85]

Mark Spears reporting Dame was considering declining next year's player option.  Would've been absurd for him to do that, but if that would've happened it would've been a huge gift to the Bucks.  They would've had tons of money to play with, plus 3 picks to trade, next offseason.

Yea, no offense but I don't buy that for a second.  Sounds like convenient positive PR aimed at finding his next destination.  He would be 36 coming off a severe injury and would be lucky to get $56 over 2-3 years at that point, much less that for a year.  I get missing his family or whatnot, but $56MM buys a lot of flights to visit.

[MuggsyB]

Wow.  I didn't see that Bucks move at all. Turner was very solid until he was a complete no show in the NBA Finals.  I still think it was a good move.  They had to get an additional big.