Bankingitbig

I think there is a huge difference from actively tanking and just rebuilding/retooling. First of all, I don't envision Bud ever actively tanking. I don't classify letting Millsap go and possibly trading Howard for assets as tanking. I just see it as not crippling the future for a team that you know has no shot of being a contender.

On the Spurs: No to Simmons. I think he gets paid a little too much for a guy that has problems shooting. Also, I am always skeptical of taking players that perform well on a team like the Spurs because their play probably had a lot to do with the system and coaching. Plus Bembry and Simmons are pretty similar (granted Simmons is better right now, but we don't need both). I would like Patty Mills as he would be a good vet to backup Dennis and push him. Plus we could really use his three point shooting. That said, I don't think we will be able to afford to pay him what he will command to be our backup. Gasol - no and it is likely that he takes that player option and isn't a free agent. Dedmon not a bad option as a backup and someone I would pay attention to. On the Raptors: Ibaka - actually think he would be a decent fit next to Howard, but man would we miss Millsap's playmaking. Only way Ibaka is an option is if we lose Sap obviously, and if that is the case I would rather retool a bit without giving large contracts to players like Ibaka. Patterson - Would rather have Muscala, but would be ok with him as a backup and at a reasonable price. No to Lowry and Tucker.

Saw hawksfanatic say that his new agent will be his 4th since February 2016. He probably still thinks he should be getting superstar endorsements or something, which isn't happening. Who knows...

I can see MIN and DEN throwing him the max ($152mm/4years). We are the only team that can offer the $207mm/5years, but I doubt we offer that similar to how we didn't offer Horford the full Bird rights max. There is no way Paul takes any deal less than 4 years given his age. If we don't make any major moves, then I hope we take a pass on him even though I am a big fan of his game.

This was your reply to the Bembry, Baze, 2017 1st (19th), 2018 Minny pick (1-14 protected), and Cavs 2019 pick (1-10) protected for Butler trade... Like I said, that trade doesn't handicap the future at all as you would still have the 2017 #31 pick and our own 2018 and 2019 first round picks. Even if it was THJ, Prince and 3sts, I don't think your future is completely handicapped like how BKN is right now, but I would definitely not want to include Prince that deal.

The original offer that you objected to was 2017 first (#19 pick), 2018 MIN first, 2019 Cavs first, Bembry and Baze. I don't see how keeping Prince, keeping the 2017 #31 pick, keeping our 2018 first and keeping our 2019 first handicaps our future at all. Even if it was four picks, then we would still have our 2018 first because of the Stepien Rule and the 2017 #31 pick and would lose our 2019 first. We have so many picks right now from 2017-2019 that we won't have enough playing time to develop those players along with playing our proven vets. And unfortunately they are all likely to be non lottery picks.

Still have Jeff Peterson and would imagine that a new GM would likely want to choose his own assistant.

Covington has a team option for next season. Would love to have him on our team despite the fact that he plays the same spot as Prince, but there is no way that the 76ers don't exercise that team option.

What is more important to the success of a team: the talent level of the players on the roster or the structure of the organization (coaches, development training, team chemistry built by the organization, etc.)?

Become arguably one of the top-5 two way wings in the league on one of the best contracts with two more seasons left on it. How does three late first round crapshoot picks deserve so much value? Bembry hasn't done much to deserve too much value and watching how teams defend players that can't shoot in the playoffs certainly doesn't help his value. Then factor in trying to offset the negative that Baze provides.

Funny how everyone has different opinions on draft picks and trades. I was actually thinking there is no way the Bulls would listen to that offer (Bembry, Baze, 2017 1st (19th), 2018 Minny pick (1-14 protected), and Cavs 2019 pick (1-10) protected for Butler). Three late first round picks, a negative in Baze and an unproven rookie that can't shoot for one of the younger all-stars in the league that plays one of the highest demanded positions? I would laugh at that offer and hang up the phone if I was Garpax. Would do that deal in a heartbeat if I was the Hawks.

Toronto would likely trade Valanciunas to save cap space in order to sign Ibaka and Lowry. Trailblazers are already way over the luxury tax and that would put them another $10M over plus I think they are decently happy with Nurkic. Would love either of those options, but I think we are stuck with Howard unless we throw in sweeteners (first round picks), which I don't think is worth it. Fortunately it's only two more years and his production isn't that bad. Just need to figure out chemistry with him. If we can't trade Howard or Baze and we resign Millsap, then I think that is likely going to be it for our offseason (except for the MLE). Don't see us resigning Ilyasova or THJ in that case, but I think we would still try and resign Muscala. Just hope that Prince and Bembry progress and we make solid selections this year.

Trading your three top starters and your 6th man (Pierce, Garnett and Terry) for largely draft picks has rebuild written all over it to me. The Jae Crowder trade was to get a first round pick and dump Rondo, which is mostly rebuilding in nature. Then later trading Jeff Green, who was averaging the most minutes at the time when they were in the playoff race, to get another 1st round pick. Like I said, their front office was in full rebuild mode going mostly for draft picks. You could even argue hiring the young, no NBA experience Brad Stevens was a rebuilding move. They made a great decision in signing IT. No one expected Stevens and IT to be as good as they have been, which allowed them to go from the 4th worst team in the NBA to barely making the playoffs the next year. Obviously the team as a whole didn't tank, but the front office definitely rebuilt. For perspective, people would have argued that the Hawks were rebuilding if they would have traded Millsap.

Think it is a bit too early to call Jaylen Brown a crappy pick. Not many players that I would put ahead of him from that 2016 draft and would likely still have him at or near #3. Celtics definitely bottomed out from a front office point of view and did not retool. They just got lucky that the Nets had a stupid owner that was trying to win no matter what without thinking about the future. They were the 4th worst team in the league following that trade. It looks more like a retool now because no one could have truly predicted (even their front office) how good Brad Stevens and Isaiah Thomas would be.

Bud is a part of that #DS17 FlexGang... Needs to get a gold chrome whip

JaMychal Green is very intriguing to me if we decide to part with Millsap. He is starting to take and make three pointers, but the sample size isn't that great since he doesn't take many shot attempts and his offense is somewhat lacking otherwise. He's a lesser Draymond Green (though not near the playmaker). Great defender and pretty versatile. I think he is in for a big payday and I just don't know if he is worth the $ for us because I don't see him complementing Howard that well, but I am a fan of his.

Not a fan of anyone on the Warriors or Rockets. Think Zaza continues to ring chase. We need shooting and Iggy/Livingston don't provide that plus I don't think they will come that cheaply. Clark is interesting as we could use his shooting, but it isn't that amazing especially when you consider his lack of defense.

If we resign Millsap and THJ, we will likely be quite a bit above the salary cap. Should be interesting to see if Ressler is willing to do that, but with the current makeup of the team, I am just not seeing it. We could of course dump other contracts though, but who knows.

Where are you getting this $37-40mm in cap space? Schröder at $15.5mm and Baze at $16.9mm next season vs. Melo at $26.2mm and Lee at $11.7mm. So we take on $5.5mm in cap (closer to ~$3.6mm if you include the $31 pick). We don't have $37-40mm in cap space if you don't renounce Millsap's cap hold. We have literally zero cap space if you keep Millsap's cap hold and account for incomplete roster charges. No way we can afford anyone unless we renounce Millsap's cap hold, which likely isn't going to happen if we believe what Ressler says (though so far his word hasn't been very true).

Our offense can't afford to have Bembry starting. He's better served as being the playmaker on the 2nd unit with shooters around him.

Not a fan of Gallo. Think he is a bit overrated and injury prone. Don't want Plumlee or Hibbert obviously. KCP vs. THJ is interesting. KCP is one of the better perimeter defenders in the league, but his three point shooting is slightly below average. Given our weak offense, we could use THJ's offensive abilities (excluding his playoff performance). I actually think THJ could turn out to be the better value play given that KCP will likely get a max or near max contract and I still think THJ has more potential than KCP. Fan of Baynes, but not sure he will be worth the price for a 16 mpg backup big. I would also prefer to get younger not go after 30+ year olds. No to Udrih. Bullock is interesting as we need shooters, but I don't really have an opinion on him either way.

No to all from the Mavs. I like Noel, but we can't afford him and his injuries scare me. Liggins has no offense. Yogi isn't the backup PG we need, especially if we are already giving $ to Delaney.

My take is that Ressler only wants to be involved to ensure that we retain Millsap and then will hand the keys to a new GM. Let's hope that's it.

Definitely thought about Baze in terms of the unaccountability part. I thought the source was particularly talking about THJ in guarding Beal in terms of THJ having no business trying to guard him.