12-22-2023, 12:02 PM
(12-22-2023, 09:19 AM)surfpuckmd Wrote: I have a moonshot bet on the Magic to win the NBA championship so I'm a Magic fan this year as well as the Mavs. I've watched most of their games..
Goga has been awesome this year. and has been one of the best defensive centers in the NBA.
It's difficult to determine his value but I think he would also also require a first round pick to acquire. Teams like the Pelicans and Thunder really need another center and can casually offer a first plus some additional assets.
Also, I believe if we did trade for him we would only have his early bird rights. My understanding is we would only be able to offer him the league average salary this coming summer which seems to be around $10 million per year. I believe he'd receive offers elsewhere on teams where he could start and make significantly more money.
We'd likely be renting him for just this season. As I don't think we're a contender here, I probably wouldn't offer a first for him.
He would be great as a platoon center here though. He's a better version of Gafford.
Actually the early bird salary for this year is 12 mil (close to the MLE) and will be higher next season. Goga reminds me a lot of DJJ and Exum as guys that signed roughly min contracts and are playing way above that early this season. All three can be re-signed by their own team for roughly the same amount (Goga early, DJJ MLE, Exum early in 2 years) but they are playing so well there is concern they can be retained. My guess is all three will regress at least a little and be retainable by their current teams.