(07-10-2025, 09:48 AM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: His defense of last year's training staff is just eldritch.

(07-10-2025, 06:47 PM)Smitty Wrote: New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones has agreed to a three-year, $68 million contract extension with the franchise, Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller of @PrioritySports told ESPN. Jones now has a total five years and $97M on his Pelicans deal – with player option in 2029-30.

(07-10-2025, 06:50 PM)Smitty Wrote: Less than $20M AAV for 5 years. Good deal for arguably the best on-ball defender in the league.

(07-10-2025, 08:07 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: Wasn’t that Thybulle?

(07-11-2025, 09:25 AM)omahen Wrote: Since FA has come to a complete standstill, here is a theoretical LeBron to GSW (although I still believe he will play this season for Lakers). Lakers are hard capped at the first apron and very close to it, so they can't take back much more salaries than sending out. GSW is not hardcapped, but they can't take back more salaries, as that would also hard cap them at first apron. It wouldn't make much sense for anyone if any of Butler, Curry or Draymond are included, so the solution would be in Lakers taking back SnT players Kuminga and Payton, which could both be interesting for them. At least one of Moody or Hield would also need to be included for salary matching. GSW would be left very thin, as they could only take vet min to fill rest of team.

Lakers: Kuminga at 30 mil prove it deal (further years not guaranteed or team option), Payton at 10 mil prove it deal (further years not guaranteed or team option), Moody - that is 51 mil of salary, so modify around the edges to make the deal work. GSW adds whatever draft capital they negotiate
GSW: LeBron

GSW would be in the second apron with some have a very old and shallow team, but perhaps strong enough for that final push for the title. Lakers would get someting for LeBron without really hurting their flexibility going forward for post LeBron era.

GSW team before vet min:
C: Jackson Davies, Post
PF: LeBron, Draymond (also small ball center)
SF: Butler, Santos, Rowe
SG: Podziemski, Hield
PG: Curry

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25225090-lebron-james-trade-reportedly-reconsidered-warriors-after-rich-pauls-statement

(07-11-2025, 11:06 AM)F Gump Wrote: The trade match wouldn't work, as Kuminga would only count 15M in outgoing salary ("base year" is the old term used).

But it's a bigger issue than that. There is NO scenario in which you could have all 4 of Curry, Butler, DG, and LBJ on GS roster because of the total salary violating hard cap rules. It's literally impossible to do.

(07-11-2025, 11:57 AM)omahen Wrote: Interesting how FA completely stopped. Looks like a bunch of score first guards are rumored to be on the market, but not many takers for them.

GSW didn't do a single thing yet and they only have 9 players under contract and I think 3 of those are not guaranteed. Kuminga is obviously a deal that can change their calculations a lot depending if they keep him or how much salary they would take back, but really strange every move is just waiting.

Everyone thought Beal is a done deal for Clippers, but nothing on that front either, even after Phoenix said that he will be bought out once he has his next team.  That would make one think that Clippers might not be his preffered choice afterall.

Boston is still rumored to be exploring Simons market.

Nets still have close to 20 mil of cap space to trade and still in negotiations with Cam Thomas.

Charlotte is still trying to trade Okogie or they will probably need to release him to get down to 15 roster spots.

Chicago still negotiating with Giddey, one of four main restricted FA negotiations that will likely take time (Giddey, Grimes, Thomas and Kuminga).

Memphis still has all of their transactions pending and I think they can't finish them until they reduce their payrol (dump Anthony?).

Knicks only have 12 players under contract (Hukporti not guaranteed) and they are only a couple of mil under the second apron.

Philly still negotiating with Grimes.

Sacramento really didn't do anything other than trading Valanciunas? Toronto really didn't do anything?

Washington has 18 players under contract, although 3 of them are not guaranteed. Will they cut those three all buy out Smart, Middleton and McCollum?

(07-11-2025, 12:20 PM)F Gump Wrote: "GSW didn't do a single thing yet and they only have 9 players under contract and I think 3 of those are not guaranteed."

I noticed that too in looking at the LBJ idea, and thought it odd, and started to mention it. But as I added up the salaries, it may be nothing more than GS is sorta "broke" (cap-wise) when you look more closely.

They have about 170.5M on the books for those 9 players, well below the tax line. But if you add in money for Payton (he was paid 9M last season, so pencil him in for that) and add 4 at the minimum (another 9M+) then if they give Kuminga the last slot at 20M - or equivalent salary coming back in a sign-and-trade - it lands them at A2 line, which is the defacto spending limit for teams (with very few exceptions).

I'm not suggesting they have to do those things at those numbers, but they are probably feeling restricted in what they can do.

(07-11-2025, 12:33 PM)omahen Wrote: So there is no way GSW could use a full MLE. They were heavily rumored for Horford and Melton, but that would only be possible if one of them comes at the min. Might be, none of them is enthusiastic about that

(07-11-2025, 12:35 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I wonder if one or both has already agreed (I assume Horford has), but the money they've been promised is somehow contingent on sending Kuminga somewhere. That could explain the holdup.

(07-11-2025, 12:40 PM)omahen Wrote: Lakers were also rumored for both of them, but they can offer most of BAE, I think. Full, if they reduce salaries what I think they will do with a trade. Based on that seems like a reach GSW would be able to get both. It is also possible that Horford retires

(07-11-2025, 12:50 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: That's what I mean though..."with a trade." 

You're obviously getting more Lakers-facing reporting than most of us, but the national tone on Horford (including reporting for Celtics fans, at least from what I've seen) is that Horford to GSW is a done deal, basically (no idea about Melton). My thought was that maybe they have to move Kuminga in a way that lowers payroll to make the deal they've agree to with Horford possible (I'm not the best at the cap stuff, especially right now, so it's just a thought)? 

Then again, the Melton talk is newish, so maybe that has started because Horford finally turned them down and the issue is how much money they have to offer, as you say. 

Either way, when all FA activity stops like this, it's usually an indicator that a domino or two haven't fallen yet, and which way they fall will affect how teams and FA's respond. Kuminga (and the other RFA guys) are kind of the most likely to be gumming up the works right now, I think.

(07-11-2025, 12:35 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I wonder if one or both has already agreed (I assume Horford has), but the money they've been promised is somehow contingent on sending Kuminga somewhere. That could explain the holdup.