RandomFan

Heh...

LMAO Detroit. You're offseason started off so well in the draft, but then...

Would absolutely LOVE to add Simmons to this roster, even with DJM. That gives us the opportunity to have at least 2 playmakers on the floor at all times between Trae, Simmons, and DJM. It would also give us 2 elite defenders in DJM who can guard 1-3, and Simmons who can guard 1-4; and also two very good defenders who have the potential to grow into elite as well in Hunter who can guard 1-4, and Okongwu who can guard 1-5. Talk about surrounding Trae with some elite defense! But also, it allows us to better mix and match with some of our other backups that are more offensive oriented but defensively deficient (at least so far) such as JJ, Griffin, Huerter if he stays, and Bogi. Offensively it would be more of a challenge, but not at all a black hole like some here seem to think. Trae and Hunter would be your primary outside shooters, but almost everyone would be an elite cutter and the PnR would still be in full effect as long as OO shows a tad more growth in that area: something I think he is perfectly capable of doing. We could also use Simmons as the screener and he's still a load rolling or popping. Sign me up. 100%. I love KD but I'm less than convinced Miami would be much better with KD instead of Bam. Obviously he would transform them offensively, but Bam is the backbone of that team defensively and is virtually irreplaceable for what they do on that end. Their defensive culture would have to take a major shift. And that's not to mention what they would miss with a lot of their offense currently running thru Bam in the high post. Obviously Durant would be an offensive improvement, but would that offset the huge scheme and structure change that would force defensively? I don't know. But if I were Miami I don't think I would make this trade of a 25 year old for only 4 years of Durant. See above, it does make sense. Especially since he's the same age as DJM. Build a core that can stay together for years.

Aww YEAH!!!

This is regarding the Brunson signing.

'Member last year when everyone was joking that players don't want to play with Luka, that he's a bad teammate?

We'll see, but I think the stated goal of the Hawks, at least to several reporters, that they want one of Trae or Murray on the floor at all times is going to prevent that from happening. Because that only happens under the scenario I outlined. At least during the regular season. During the playoffs when starters minutes are extended they will be playing together more minutes.

I think Ayton definitely improves us a lot. I'm also of the opinion that Ayton isn't that far off from Capela defensively though. Plus, Ayton's age makes him a perfect fit for our timeline to be a longterm stalwart next to Trae and Murray. Exactly, 100%. Collins is great, but to get the maximum benefit from his skillset takes a team around him that is very difficult to put together. Since he can't get his own shot he needs a creator on the roster for him, such as Trae. He works best offensively as the screen setter or guy in the paint hanging out in the dunker spot, capitalizing off of others driving the paint and forcing rotations. This is problematic because this is the role most Centers occupy on offense. But because of his size and defensive limitations he can't defend the center position well enough to be a 5. Which means his best basketball would happen if paired with a stretch 5 like Sabonis or an excellent passing 5 like Jokic. Or even an Ayton, although Ayton isn't a perfect fit either. As you said, the issue with John isn't a lack of abilities on his end, it's a lack of meshing those abilities with a roster around him; and the Hawks aren't set up to maximize his abilities, which reduces our return on investment from his contract. It's in his and the Hawks best interests if he can find a better home for his services while returning us something of value.

Think you are way off base here. As I said before, perhaps in another thread, between the 1, 2, and 3 spots we currently have 5 players to eat up 144 total minutes: which translates to an average of 28.8 minutes per game for each player. Those 5 players are Trae, Murray, Bogi, Huerter, and Hunter. We don't need another PG on this roster to get regular minutes unless there is an injury. If Trae and Murray both average about 32 minutes per game in the regular season (a conservative estimate), that would mean Murray playing the PG about 16 minutes per game when Trae rests, with one of Bogi or Huerter as his running mate. Meaning Murray plays about 16 minutes at the 2, leaving 32 minutes at the 2 to be picked up between Bogi and/or Huerter. With Hunter taking an estimated similar 32 minutes at the 3, that leaves another 16 minutes for someone like Heurter. With Trae, Murray, and Hunter on the floor as starters for 32 minutes each, that leaves 48 total backup minutes to split between Bogi and Huerter. And with their salaries you would think they could be counted on for at least 24 minutes per night, right? Now if Sharife proves valuable enough to force his way onto the floor and eat into those minutes, I think we would all love for him to develop that much. But there is zero NEED for another PG on this roster excluding in case of an injury; but we all know Trae and Murray are both unlikely to stay healthy all year, so if Cooper can't be relied upon there are other options. - Increase the minutes to Bogi and Heurter while a PG is injured while also possibly giving a young player more run like Griffin, or JJ at backup 3. - Bring back Lou as insurance -Find a cheap 3rd PG in free agency. One that wont expect regular minutes but can play in an injury emergency.

So it looks like starting out at $30m for a first year salary with 5% decreases per year would come out to around $111.3m over 4 years. I could live with that. Seems that is the only way we could include Capela as the trade piece while paying Ayton less than a max.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/jock-landale-74215/ $1.5m expiring contract.

Yeah, but the question now becomes can we do a frontloaded contract for him where his 1st year salary reaches that threshold, and then a descending scale after that? I assume the answer is yes, but I don't pretend to know for sure.

So it was expected? Interesting. And who can blame KD for not wanting to play with the headcase that is Kyrie? Not me.

So yeah, still seems like we'd have to frontload his contract, if that is at all possible.

Live look at Ressler trying to get to the phone to make a KD deal.

No you don't. You have to have a 3rd PG you trust to be an injury replacement. And who says Sharife as a 3rd PG wouldn't be one they trust. Trae and Murray are both combo or hybrid guards anyway.

So the BYC is a flat rate, not percentage based? If so that definitely helps us.

Trae and Murray should eat up all the PG minutes. Would expect Sharife to be 3rd string.

We now have 2 of the top 3 PnR initiators in the game and people think we are should go away from the PnR game and install a motion offense instead?