re: The Official NBA Free Agency/Offseason Thread Update: MITCHELL TO CLE

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I think we're even closer than your expectation, because I assume that Zion will hit the escalator.

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yeah i didn't even factor that in.

Makes it clear that Jax/Kira aren't on the team next year, and DG needs to get moved as well.

We just can't take on someone with 2+ years making DG like money or more, especially if Zion makes all-nba, which if he plays 60+ games, and we win 50 games, he's probably going to make one of them.

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Sure thing, Jan.

Planting the seed for when nobody wants him and he has to make that walk of shame back to the Nets.

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Assuming this isn't just Nets posturing and is a legit about face by Kyrie, it's even better than that. He has unintentionally sowed seeds of destruction within the Lakers.

Lebron is probably pissed. And for about 20 minutes they thought they could get rid of Russ and now they might be stuck with him again. That will probably be as awkward as Russ and LeBron avoiding each other while in the same arena at Summer League.

The expectation is for the tax to be at $161M next year.
If i had to guess, it'll come in higher than that as they almost always underestimate it.

What Nance signs for, if Zion makes all-NBA, and where that 1st round pick is at all makes a big difference.

With that assumption of $158M and 2 roster spots open, if Kira plays really well, enough to replace DG, then i could see us keeping him if the tax ends up being closer to $164M. Hell all he really needs to do is knock down open 3's at a nice rate and play good defense and he'd bring more than DG does to the table. But he also needs to prove that he's worth more than what a near minimum contract guy can bring to the table for us, b/c if he isn't, then there's no point in keeping him.



but i still say DG needs to be traded now, or at the deadline, with Jax preferably, and for an expiring contract. There are teams like the Spurs who have plenty of room to absorb contracts right now. If we wait until next offseason, teams will know we are more desperate to make those dumps to get out of the tax. Right now it's more of we'd like to move them, but it's not a big deal if we dont' just yet. Next offseason it's more of a we have to move them now.

Kira or Jax? They are considered positive resources for the moment since they are still under rookie deals and aren’t total arse for the money they are making.

Graham? That’s more of an issue. Graham’s a negative because he has two guaranteed years and a partially guaranteed year left.


Packaging Jax with Graham potentially brings us back a supporting piece either on an expiring contract or a two year deal, like Josh Richardson (expiring) or Doug McBuckets (two years) from the Spurs.

Absent another injury, Zion is almost certainly going to make an all-NBA team. We should plan on that, which yes, likely means that we'll have to pay some tax next season.

Which is why we need to finish at least in the top 4 in the West (either in regular season record or in the playoffs). If we don't, it's going to be tough for Griffin to ask Mrs. Benson to pay tax.

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Which is why we need to finish at least in the top 4 in the West (either in regular season record or in the playoffs). If we don't, it's going to be tough for Griffin to ask Mrs. Benson to pay tax.

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I think we should try to avoid paying the tax next offseason too, seems like we should be able to do that (essentially by getting off of Graham and either Jax or Kira). We'd most assuredly have to pay the tax in the following season with CJ's extension, and Herb's new contract. Obviously not the end of the world if we have to pay it in the 23-24 season, but it's best to hold off as long as we can.

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As long as Graham has to play on the other side of the court, he is a negative player.

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We're going to have to play Graham in lineups that will allow him to be successful if we want to trade him. The 2nd half of the SVG season after Zion had played his way into shape, the Pels bench units with him were crushing other bench units. Those bench units usually had Kira, who was a bad defender outside of passing lane steals. So I'm not worried about Graham's defense being so bad he'll drag down a bench unit run by Point Zion.

Current rumor is that Utah is going to offer Colin Sexton and that they are offering the Cavs Mike Conley as part of a sign and trade for him.

I think Cleveland is going to ask for dinner before they even consider that trade since they like a good dinner before they get fricked.

Conley is making a ton of money and had about $34m guaranteed, including about $20m or so this season.

Taking on $40m of contract you don’t necessarily want for a guy who is a backup to you seems very stupid.