Opinion Request - SI Suggests CJ to Pistons

We don't want Hardaway or any salary attached to him long-term. Unfortunately, he will expire before trade season opens, so the only way to involve him is as a sign-and-trade, which would be dumb for 34 year old. This trade could have worked for us at the deadline. It doesn't work for us now.

Thanks Galactic....I wondered about the sign and trade issue.

I checked with HoopsHype and they indicate his salary has expired with the 24-25 season....which makes him a free agent.

Exactly why does he need to be included ? If Detroit doesn't want him, but does want CJ - as SI suggests - why do we have to take him: because I believe as you do, he was the weakest part of the trade...can definitely help someone like the Lakers who are constantly looking for 3 point help, but doesn't fit here.

Why can the trade just be CJ for Sasser, the 29 1st, and the 27 2nd ? I am sure I am missing something obvious. Your expertise - and those of other board members - would be appreciated.

Thanks again, Galactic !

Don't really know what upside Sasser has but it probably isn't much. His role decreased on a team that got better. That's normally not a good sign.

But a 1st and a 2nd in itself isn't a bad return at this point honestly. Though CJ is honestly one of the most underrated Pelicans that the team has ever had. It's crazy how good he has been relative to how the fans feel about him. He's done nothing but shoot the lights out and be professional his entire time here. I personally will hate to see him go but we need to get something out of him.

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Sorry, may have figured it out...we may have to take back salary. If that is not the reason, please enlighten me.

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That's exactly the reason, they need to send out enough salary to take back CJ. We don't want to pay Hardaway enough to make it work. It may also need to be a multi-year deal to qualify as a sign-and-trade.

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. It may also need to be a multi-year deal to qualify as a sign-and-trade.

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Sign-and-trade contracts must cover either three or four seasons. However, only the first year of the deal needs to be fully guaranteed.



The Pistons have 10 players and $60M to use before the tax.
They are very likely to resign Beasley, Schroder and probably Paul Reed. Those guys aren't going to cost more than maybe $30M to resign.The Pistons are somethign like $17M under the cap. Schroder has a big cap hold so resigning him means they have no cap space. Beasley and Reed are only $9M so they'd have $8M in cap room if they resigned just those two. That would mean they send out $22M roughly to get back CJ.
If they were operating like an over the cap team, which is going to be highly likely, then they have to roughly send out $24.5M in any deal that nets them CJ for the 125% +$100K rule on all trades involving a player making over $19.6M.

I would without a doubt do a S&T for Hardaway Jr, if it netted us a 1st and 2nd and also reduced our salary.
I have no interest in Sasser. He's barely and nba player, if one at all.
A deal for Fonteccio, who's not really any good but makes $8.3M on an expiring deal, and then a S&T of Hardaway in what is essentially a 1 year deal for $16.5M, would make the deal legal for just CJ.
And i would try to get another 2nd or 2 from them.
Getting a 1st and a 2nd or 2 for an expiring CJ would be a smart move for us right now. Both players would good ammo to use at the trade deadline next year, with Olynyk as well, which makes pretty much any type of trade for any player very easy for us to facilitate.

Salaries have to somewhat match in nba trades

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Are you sure they’re going to trade Zion? I hope so but I’m not sure

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I'm confident that even Dumars isn't sure. That's not a decision that's going to get made until after the lottery. There's just too big of a difference between picking 1st and picking 6th. After the lottery, Dumars can start charting a future for the team.

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SI has it significantly hire.

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Hire?