Deleterious

We're on vacation. But I had to pop in to comment on this 

It makes me smile knowing those awful Laker fans now have to deal with a Kushner as their owner. 

Really shocked to see Zion on this list.

Act shocked

This was done to bring in KCP and stay under the 1st apron.  They used the MLE this summer so that hard caps them at the first apron.

1 hour ago, Betrayer said:

If the offensive system allows this to happen, then we need a new coach if we're going to win in the playoffs.

But we both know that already.

I used to think that before seeing how inept he was in the playoffs on offense.  At some point you need to take responsibility for yourself and get a jump shot, learn to attack the space when guys lay off and don't guard you.  Especially if you are going to ask for $30 million a year.

If they pay $30 millipn per year to have Ausar Thompson's defender stand in the paint the entire playoffs.  Well, they deserve what they get at that point.

5 minutes ago, NYLion said:

There's no way Ausar is getting as little as 4 years $80m. He's going to get 4 years $100m at minimum when you take the Daniels comp into account with cap inflation, I think we just need to accept that. Finishing 2nd in DPOY voting and being arguably the biggest disruptor in the league full court is a big feather in his cap regardless of the offense he puts up.

You also said someone would give Duren a huge contract.  

The cap went up 6.5% from the time Daniels signed an extension until now.  Going up to an AAV of $22 million is a 10% bump.

Daniels finsihed 2nd in DPOY in his third year.  Thompson only finished 3rd.  Daniels was his equal on defense but better on offense.  That  is why Thompson should be paid less.  

Ausar is no different than any other NBA player, his value depends on what he makes.

They should offer 4/$80 million this summer.  I said it a few weeks ago, Dyson Daniels is the comp for Ausar.  Daniels signed a 4/$100 million extension after his third year, but he was a much better player than Ausar after 3 years.

Daniels was 2nd in DPOY voting that year while making 1st team all defense, similar to Thompson.  But his stocks were 3.7 compared to Thompson at 2.9.  But where he absolutely killed Thompson was on offense.  14 PPG compared to 9.9.  4.4 assists compared to 3.1.  6.8 rebounds compared to 5.7.  He also took 3 3PTA'S per game and made 34% of them, compared to 0.3 attempts per game for Thompson while only making 25%.  

You can't pay him more than Daniels.  If you want to bump it to 4/$88 to account for the cap going up, thats fine.  But if he wants anything more he needs to go show me he can do something on offense next year and we'll talk next summer when he's a restricted free agent.  

Denver isn't being realistic with Watson.

They offered him $14 million per year, which tells you they don't think much of him.  But in a trade, they were asking for 2 firsts and 2 swaps.  That isn't the draft capital that a $14 million a year guy returns.  If you get a heavily protected first you are doing good.

35 minutes ago, buddha said:

sam today: 3/130

also threw out the duren for trey murphy trade scenario.  

That is what I'm talking about.  Any 3 year deal has to be north of $40 million per.  

21 minutes ago, 4hzglory said:

While I get what you're saying, if the Pistons aren't willing to budge from the $32 mil/yr, Duren has the option of shorter term at that AAV or the QO.  If he gets a 25% deal next year, by the end of year 3, it's within $2 mil of the same number.  If he gets anything less than a max next year, the 3 year $32 mil AAV deal is significantly more than taking the QO and he is a FA after his age 25 season with the shot to try again. 

If the Pistons offered him 3 years at $40 I think he would have jumped all over it by now as well he should, but they aren't, nor should they IMO.   

The rumors I saw from Detroit were 5 years.  Do we have any credible sources linking Detroit to a 3-year offer?  If Detroit hasn't offered it, Duren can't sign it.  

If I'm Duren's agent.  I'm pretty happy seeing that list Smith posted on Twitter.  Quite a few poorly run teams that A) have cap space well above the rumored $32 million AAV Detroit is offering and B) need centers. 

Nets, Bucks, and the Clippers all need a center next year.  Bulls, Hawks, and Grizzlies all could use an upgrade.  

11 minutes ago, 4hzglory said:

But if you just go out 3 years like Buddha suggested, the difference is 1.575 mil over the 3 years.  Do you forego that security for the hope someone will give you 25% of the cap after next year, or do you take the 3 year guaranteed deal and then have the opportunity for the big payday when he will be coming off his age 25 season.

Oh, you still gamble if its only 3/$90 million.  We haven't heard anything about 3 years being on the table.  But if it is, I want $40 million+ a year if I'm Duren. A shorter deal means more money, not less.  

They also could just negotiate a one-year deal for more money than the QO.  Give him like $25 million to play next year.  Duren would do it because it's more money.  Detroit might consider it to appease Duren and keep open the possibility of him returning next summer.

Being a 1-year deal means he still gets the no-trade clause.  But you could ask him for a list of teams he would approve a trade to.  Having him at $25 million allows Detroit to bring back a larger contract than if he was at $9 million.  Other teams might be interested because his Bird rights would transfer to them, and they could go over the cap next summer to sign him.

19 minutes ago, buddha said:

that would be monumentally stupid...so given who his agent is, he just might do it.

take the short term deal at $30m plus then try again in three years.  one year at $9m is throwing away so much money you will never get back.

It depends.  If he thinks he can get a 25% max contract from another team next summer, the QO is a better financial decision.  If he can get that or not remains to be seen.  But professional athletes rarely lack confidence.

You also have to consider he just wants out of Detroit.  They are about to extend another player who negatively impacts Duren's playing style.  

That could actually be good for Denver. Someone said his QO is about $6.5 million, so it would save them on luxury tax payments quite a bit.

His agent is using that last little bit of leverage that he has.

2 hours ago, buddha said:

where else is there to go?  the league wants vegas and seattle open for expansion teams.

san antonio isnt going to let him move to austin.  memphis will put a block on nashville.  where else is there to go?  kansas city?  cincinnati?  pittsburgh????    jacksonville?

The NBA has a 75-mile relocation/expansion rule, so all those cities would work. I'd still stay away from Austin though, since you've got 3 existing teams within 180 miles.

Wait, doesn't he own the Nashville NHL team? That seems like the most logical move for him. Similar market size, but he could share an arena with his hockey team.

If I ran the league, I'd never let a team move just because of stadium issues. I'd ask them to work it out with the local municipality or pay for it themselves. The only reason I'd let a team relocate is if the fan base is straight up apathetic, and that's definitely not the case in Portland. No way I'm letting a team walk away from a good fan base like that. They did it in Seattle and it was a huge mistake.

$600 million is a non-starter?

Translation: I'm moving this team no matter what.

Rumors of LeBron living in NYC and commuting to Philly via helicopter.

The Knicks winning really screwed up his plans.  He wanted to live in a penthouse on Billionaires Row and lead the Knicks to their first title since the Nixon administration.  

They are over the luxury tax and still spending?  You love seeing that as a Thunder fan.  That $6 million-a-year contract will cost them $25-$30 million total per year after luxury tax payments are tacked on.