04-30-2024, 12:35 PM
(04-30-2024, 11:09 AM)mvossman Wrote: DeRozan will cost a lot more than that. He scored 24 a game on good efficiency and can create for himself and others. As you mentioned he is on a really good contract. He also played 38 minutes a game and only missed 3, so there is no sign of wearing down yet. I think he costs at least a first and probably more.
I´m really curious to see how teams adjust to the new salary cap realities with regards to these veteran players. You won´t see massive multi-year contracts for players 33+ years old anymore. Maybe if it is a legacy deal and even those I expect to stay in the $20-25M range. Klay Thompson will be an interesting case for that. DeRozan is another. He will have to ask himself whether he wants that little extra money or use his remaining years to contend for a title. To be fair he´s been very healthy and still performing at a high level, but that can turn quickly and you become a CP3, where teams just move you around as dead salary.
I´m probably the biggest DeRozan fan around, but if we weren´t so short on assets, I´d look elsewhere due to his age. I think as an UFA he has a significant amount of leverage to force the Bulls hand into a cheapish S&T.
I´m really trying to find the next Washington or Gafford. Value contracts. Great age. Give Washington another 12 months of All-NBA defense and you can probably flip him for multiple first round picks, if you wanted to. DeRozan is a dead asset.
I just have a hard time identifying those players now. I plead my case for Randle, Markkanen, Washington in free agency.
On paper Lavine would be perfect fit here as the 3rd scorer. I would not even be concerned about his salary (if we found a way), cause the cap will probably explode again with the Amazon deal looming. We can account for his defensive shortcomings. Afterall we are the best defense in the league now.
It´s his knees that scare the living Porzingis out of me.
Nickail Alexander-Walker (12 months left on his contract) and Anfernee Simons (24 months left) are the two names I keep coming back to. Simons is probably more of a target for next season, but it can´t hurt to lay the groundwork right now. Talk to his agent and the Blazers, register your interest. In 12 months we have more assets to trade, he´s on an expiring contract and probably even more tired of losing. Problem is can you wait that long for him with the Luka timebomb ticking? He´s a perfect target. Same age as Luka. Has shown he can be a #1 scorer. Can shoot, can attack. Blistering fast.
Gary Trent Jr. is probably very available and could be that 3pt flamethrower for us. THJ + Powell + minor asset? He´d be a possible THJ repacement. His teammate Jordan Nwora is probably a more realistic target, cheaper too.
If we could turn THJ + Powell + 2nd round picks into GTJ + Nwora, it´s probably a good summer. If we turn it into Simons and Nwora, while retaining DJJ, I think that´s the moment we have arrived as a championship roster.
Doncic/Simons/Exum
Irving/Green/Hardy
DJJ/Nwora/X
Washington/Kleber/Omax
Gafford/Lively/X
At that point your asset locker is empty, but you also have a core that can play together for the next 5-7 years with th exception of Kyrie and Kleber. Would be amazing to pull this roster transformation off, considering how hopeless our future (outside of Luka) was just 10 months ago. The tank changed everything.
