Deleterious

They wanted Reid and now Aldama, so it sounds like they really want a big that can shoot. Problem is, he is pretty soft. Not physical at all and he is a bad defender. Slow feet, can't guard the post or the perimeter. But he shot it well last year for a big, so people forget about the rest of his game. Even worse, he was bad playing next to a good defender in JJJ. Normally, a guy like that will make you look a little better.

So free agency has sorta kinda already started. Once the finals ended teams were allowed to start negotiating with any free agent that ended the season on their roster. At 6PM June 30th (Monday), teams are allowed to start negotiating with all free agents. But nobody can sign yet. July 1st - July 5th all rosters are frozen. No trades, cant sign anyone (Maybe your draft picks), etc. They use this time to collect the financials from last season and set the new salary cap. The cap is 51% of last years basketball related income. July 6th - This officially starts the new 2025-26 season. Teams can now sign free agents and make trades. Some of the trades announced the past week or so will now be completed. They changed restricted free agency a few years ago. I think now, when a restricted free agent signs an offer sheet with another team, his original team has two days to match it. Once a player signs an offer sheet, he can no longer be signed and traded. The old rules let players sign the offer sheet, then a S&T could be negotiated. Restricted free agents can be signed and traded, but it has to be negotiated before the offer sheet is signed. July 1st is when extensions can start for guys coming off of rookie contracts. Ivey and Duren are the only two Pistons players eligible for this. They can sign an extension up to the first regular season game. The leagues first game, not necessary the Pistons. If they don't sign an extension by then, they can no longer sign one and will enter restricted free agency next summer. October 31st - Teams have until Halloween to exercise team options for guys on rookie deals. This would be Holland, Sasser, and Thompson. Rookie contracts are 2 years guaranteed with team options for years 3 and 4. If an option is not picked up the player is a free agent next summer. June 29th, 2026 - Qualifying offers have to be offered to guys on rookie deals entering free agency next summer. So Duren and Ivey. Actually, Smith and Harper too. It's a 1-year offer at a price determined by the previous seasons salary. If a team doesn't offer it, the player enters free agency next summer as an unrestricted free agent instead of restricted. If a team/player can not negotiate a new contract next summer, the player can sign the QO, play the 1 season under it, and becomes an unrestricted free agent the next summer. There is a 36% chance I just made all of this up.

Seems expensive

Doubt Cleveland is counting on much from Ball. Ball has one year left, where Okoro has two. This is to keep them out of the 2nd apron next summer.

Looks like they can still keep him, but it puts them in the 2nd apron. I think they would want to avoid that, so they would probably let him go.

I know some were interested in him.

These guys are going to end up hurting someone.

They are going to regret that pick.

S04 of The Bear was better than S03, but still bad. I wont say much else just yet because it just came out.

I think so. He is very comparable to Desomnd Bane and Bane will make $160 million the next 4 years.

Post-Draft 2025 Cap Space and Spending Power Projections He says Brooklyn is the only team we are certain will have cap space. Just over $37 million. Pistons are in the next group with only Memphis.

Loans on commercial property are different than homes. 10 year term on 30 year amortization. Which means at 10 years you have a balloon payment on the balance or refinance it. I wonder if some of his property is coming up on that. Lower interest rates would save him some money.

He played 5 seasons and will turn 24 in December.

What Sam Vecenie said about Lanier in his draft guide.