(07-21-2023, 11:32 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: Interesting tidbits here, including some insight as to why Brown probably wasn’t the fit in Dallas some thought he would’ve been:

https://youtu.be/VpjddAGgwGE

(07-21-2023, 12:18 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Sources are telling me the Atlanta Hawks have a trade package that the Raptors are willing to accept which would land Pascal Siakam with the Hawks.

The reason it’s not done already is because the Hawks are worried that Siakam would not resign with them.

Ongoing situation to keep an eye on

(07-21-2023, 12:40 PM)RGP1981 Wrote: I think the Siakam deal that makes the most sense is...

Siakam to the 76ers, where he can play with his fellow Cameroonian, Embiid.
 - Maxey, Melton, Tobias, Siakam, Embiid

Honeybuns Harden to the Raptors, who need a primary play-maker so bad.
 - Harden, GTJ/Dick, Anunoby, Barnes, Poeltl

(07-21-2023, 12:59 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I DO think Philly plays a role here, however. Their looming cap space and Siakim’s impending free agency, along with Morey’s not too subtle description of what they’re looking for to pair with Embiid SHOULD be the final straw that convinces TOR to trade him NOW. We know they don’t want to supermax him, or these rumors wouldn’t be out there, they’d just give it to him already. They might/might not want to give him the regular max, but at that point they still might lose him for nothing.

(07-21-2023, 12:44 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: I don't see it, given that Harden seems to only want to go to the Clippers. If the Raptors give him a max extension I could see him staying, but would they? Doubt it. He'd then leave for free at the end of the season and the Raptors are worse off. 

Harden doesn't even make them a contender. 

Maybe there is a 3-way there with the Clips. But in that case, why would the Raptors want to facilitate a division rival getting their star player?

(07-21-2023, 01:07 PM)RGP1981 Wrote: I guess the Raptors could try asking for Maxey instead of Harden, since Maxey is a better fit with their time-line.

(07-21-2023, 12:44 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: I don't see it, given that Harden seems to only want to go to the Clippers. If the Raptors give him a max extension I could see him staying, but would they? Doubt it. He'd then leave for free at the end of the season and the Raptors are worse off. 

Harden doesn't even make them a contender. 

Maybe there is a 3-way there with the Clips. But in that case, why would the Raptors want to facilitate a division rival getting their star player?

(07-21-2023, 01:15 PM)F Gump Wrote: The bulk of the issue is about about player commitment, which is why you are willing to trade them in the first place (because he might walk in a year or less), and also why the other team can be hesitant to trade for him at a high price (because he might walk in a year or less).

To the Mavs' credit, they had the cojones to trade for both KP and Kyrie while staring down the barrel of the gun called free agency, without any certainty.

It would be helpful if the rules offered better avenues to extend-and-trade, but alas they do not. If a player wants a healthy raise in that looming free agency, with a reasonable certainty of getting one, they can only do that in an extend-and-stay (for at least 6 months) but no way to replicate that in the extend-and-trade option. 

So if TOR wants to do a trade yielding full market value, it probably requires 1 of 2 possibilities to happen before Aug 8:
(1) TOR steps up to the plate with their own player and does an extension (which increases their own commitment) before trading that player later at the trade deadline (there's a 6 month waiting period if the extension adds more than 2 years and more than 5% raises), or
(2) TOR allows the player to speak with and negotiate a "to be done later" extension "understanding" with the trade partner (not enforceable, but agreed), and then trades the player by Aug 8 so the bigger extension can be done by the trade deadline (6 months later) and avoid free agency.

It must be noted that Harden is not eligible for an extension of any kind. And Siakam can only get the 35% contract if he both qualifies, and waits until the summer, and once he signs he would be no-trade for any reason for a year.

(07-21-2023, 01:15 PM)F Gump Wrote: To the Mavs' credit, they had the cojones to trade for both KP and Kyrie while staring down the barrel of the gun called free agency, without any certainty.

(07-21-2023, 10:36 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1682390872363597827?s=20

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Free agent G Wesley Matthews has agreed on a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN. Matthews, 36, joins the Hawks after two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.

(07-21-2023, 01:47 PM)Mavs2021 Wrote: Took real cojones to be willing to give them far more money than anybody else. That´s like being impressed that they managed to sign Burke and McGee to three year contracts.  
Plus Porzingis was a damn RFA that nobody could or would have signed away to that contract. And Irving´s FA value was probably around 25-30M max, if that  much.

(07-21-2023, 02:05 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1682405747777306627

Kemba Walker signs with AS Monaco.

Couldn´t find a roster spot last season. This is the next logical step if he wants to play for a few more years.

(07-21-2023, 01:54 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: I didn't know that the Hawks were tanking. No wonder Siakam doesn't want to commit to staying there.

---

We all know that the contract they signed Kyrie to was the "don't create a major ongoing locker room problem" price.

(07-21-2023, 06:12 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: We all know???

(07-21-2023, 01:12 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I'm sure they asked, and that would explain why Windhorst has been on his "Philly won't trade Maxey for prime MJ" PR water-carrying tour this summer. 

I don't know what will happen with Siakim, but I'm 99% sure he doesn't get traded to Philly. I agree that Morey probably has his name written in bright red somewhere in his office.

(07-21-2023, 12:59 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I don’t think there’s a Harden/Siakim fit either. It’s logistically inconvenient for these guys to play in TOR, not in a way that would bother any of US when weighed against the chance to earn millions playing a game, but in a way that many NBA players dislike. I can’t see Harden agreeing to play there, and think it’s a total non-starter.

I DO think Philly plays a role here, however. Their looming cap space and Siakim’s impending free agency, along with Morey’s not too subtle description of what they’re looking for to pair with Embiid SHOULD be the final straw that convinces TOR to trade him NOW. We know they don’t want to supermax him, or these rumors wouldn’t be out there, they’d just give it to him already. They might/might not want to give him the regular max, but at that point they still might lose him for nothing.

I hope he agrees to re-sign in ATL, personally, so the Mavs can get Capela.

(07-21-2023, 11:16 PM)Dundalis Wrote: So do I but why in the world would Siakam want to re-sign with a team like the Hawks I have no idea. No way I would if I was him when I could enter FA and potentially go to a better team.