2018 NBA offseason

[DJ Fieri]

when did i say they were keepng up with the Warriors?

when someone told me that "the Rockets were on notice" and Dj said he htinks they might fall out of the 2 seed- i said- what?

Ariza is a solid player- but hes 33 and got a 1 year 15M contract for a reason--- and Mbah a Moute barely played against Golden State in the playoffs and got a 1 year 4M contract for a reason----- that and i think those guys were, atbest, the 6th and 7th most important players on the team.

Would i rather have Ariza than not have him? of course----- is he a "key component"? i dont think so at all.

Defense isn't a key component....


Cavs fans knowing what defense is.....LOL.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I disagree on Ariza not being a key component. He was exceptional on the defensive end in that series. Everyone points towards his porous 3-point shooting. But that's more attributed to fatigue if anything. He was the only one that could keep up with Durant on that end (outside of Tucker).

This.

 

[WiggyRuss]

The bold is where your mistake is.

"Put on notice" doesn't mean that it's ending right now. It means that that the end is coming.

The Rockets will fall off, especially if they don't re-sign Capela. Their defense (of all things) was a big part of why they were able to push the Warriors last year. They lost a lot of that when Ariza and Mbah a Moute left.

The addition of Lebron makes the Lakers a much better team than they were last year. The gap between the Lakers, Jaz, Thunder and Rockets is closer than the gap between the Rockets and Warriors and if the Rockets lose Capela, it likely drops them right into the mix with those 3 teams.

"if they lose Capela"

thats not happening though. Who else is gonna sign him? there is no one out there unless he wants to go to the Kings for 19M a year. Atlanta has 22M a year but why they would give him 22M a year right when they are starting their rebuild? That would be simply preposterous.

Believe me- if i thought there was a chance he ended up anywhere but Houston id tell ya- but its 99.999999% unless the Rockets decide they will jsut get rid of him, and even then it would be AFTER this year since he was given a restricted tender.

The dude is an RFA and there are ZERO teams outside of the Rockets that can give him the 25M he wants. The Rockets see this- and say - WOW- you want 25M- but the most cap space ANY team has is 22 and its Atlanta who does not want you- or you could go to the Kings for 19M a year. We both know those arent happening.

There are 2 options here

A. The two sides piss eachother off so much that Capela plays under the restricted tender for 3.5M this year and he loses out on AT LEAST 12M in salary this year---- salary he might or not make up on his next contract.

B. the two sides come together somewhere between Capela's 25 that NO one can pay him but the Rockets with his Bird Rights, or what the Rockets initially offered- 15M

I think itll be a 3 year deal worth between 55 and 65M- but theres no hurry to get it done right now. Both sides KNOW FOR A FACT he will be playing in a Houston uniform on Game 1 of the Season.

 

[LAD]

"if they lose Capela"

thats not happening though. Who else is gonna sign him? there is no one out there unless he wants to go to the Kings for 19M a year. Atlanta has 22M a year but why they would give him 22M a year right when they are starting their rebuild? That would be simply preposterous.

Believe me- if i thought there was a chance he ended up anywhere but Houston id tell ya- but its 99.999999% unless the Rockets decide they will jsut get rid of him, and even then it would be AFTER this year since he was given a restricted tender.

The dude is an RFA and there are ZERO teams outside of the Rockets that can give him the 25M he wants. The Rockets see this- and say - WOW- you want 25M- but the most cap space ANY team has is 22 and its Atlanta who does not want you- or you could go to the Kings for 19M a year. We both know those arent happening.

There are 2 options here

A. The two sides piss eachother off so much that Capela plays under the restricted tender for 3.5M this year and he loses out on AT LEAST 12M in salary this year---- salary he might or not make up on his next contract.

B. the two sides come together somewhere between Capela's 25 that NO one can pay him but the Rockets with his Bird Rights, or what the Rockets initially offered- 15M

I think itll be a 3 year deal worth between 55 and 65M- but theres no hurry to get it done right now. Both sides KNOW FOR A FACT he will be playing in a Houston uniform on Game 1 of the Season.

You also said Cle had the best chances of keeping LBJ...so, er um....

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

You also said Cle had the best chances of keeping LBJ...so, er um....

He also said a guy ranked 267th in defense was an "elite defender"

 

[DJ Fieri]

Dumbass singer Chris Brown arrested again....

 

[bksballer89]

Can someone with ESPN insider post this full article?

Get ready for an unprecedented NBA summer in 2019

 

[DJ Fieri]

You also said Cle had the best chances of keeping LBJ...so, er um....

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I know Liangelo looking at this like....

Damn, LeBron got a sister?




Free-agent guard Damion Lee has reached an agreement with the Golden State Warriors, league sources tell ESPN. Lee, the future brother-in-law of Warriors star Stephen Curry, will sign a two-way contract, sources say. Lee is engaged to Curry’s sister, Sydel.

 

[flyerhawk]

Can someone with ESPN insider post this full article?

Get ready for an unprecedented NBA summer in 2019

I don't normally do this but..

Nearly half the league could hit free agency in 2019. Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports

Ten days into NBA free agency, 36 players have signed true one-year contracts or deals with options that could have them back on the market next year. Only 20 players had signed similar contracts after two weeks last July.

We saw this coming. Anticipating the financial crunch, a striking 20 of 28 players signed up for their 2018-19 player options back in June. Teams made it clear that future flexibility would be paramount after spending sprees the past two summers.

The good news (well, for some): We're set for another unprecedented July in 2019. The cap is projected to rise from $101.8 million to $109 million -- and then reach $116 million in 2020-21. At least 15 teams should have room north of $20 million. And more than 200 free agents will flood the market.

That's right. Almost half the NBA could hit free agency next summer. This summer the number was close to 120.

Will teams learn from 2016 mistakes after writing blank checks -- to the likes of Luol Deng, Chandler Parsons, Timofey Mozgov and Joakim Noah -- that left franchises stuck in mediocrity? Don't be surprised if the summer of short-term contracts carries over until 2020, when the most painful contracts expire.

The All-Stars, and a ripple effect

This 2019 free-agent crop is loaded:

• Kevin Durant (player option)
• Kawhi Leonard (PO)
• Kyrie Irving (PO)
• Klay Thompson
• Al Horford (PO)
• Jimmy Butler (PO)
• Marc Gasol (PO)
• Goran Dragic (PO)
• DeAndre Jordan
• DeMarcus Cousins
• Kristaps Porzingis (restricted)
• Karl-Anthony Towns (R)
• Kemba Walker
• Kevin Love (PO)

Out in Los Angeles, LeBron James will likely have his pick of new All-Star teammates to recruit -- a rare occurrence, since his contending Miami and Cleveland teams were strapped deep into the luxury tax each offseason. Plus, there will be good (and mediocre) teams with money ready to pay the big names.

The market is officially open, and NBA free-agency news is coming in fast. Stay up to date with the latest deals and rumblings.

So it's a good time to be an All-Star ... or a rookie, since the salary scale for first-round picks increased significantly in the latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA). But everyone else -- the 170-plus players making up the middle class of the market, and especially non-max restricted free agents -- could be squeezed out once again.

The quiet July for Marcus Smart and Jabari Parker this year could continue with Terry Rozier, D'Angelo Russell and Kelly Oubre.

This list of teams with cap space is dominated by big-market franchises who will be chasing stars or rebuilding teams likely looking to stay the conservative course.

 

[flyerhawk]

Who will have cap space?

Note: Cap space does not factor in 2019 first-round picks

The big markets

Los Angeles Lakers

Projected room: $25 million

Help is on the way for the Lakers. After landing LeBron this summer, L.A. will be in position to add a second All-NBA free agent. As evident by the one-year contracts of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson and JaVale McGee, the Lakers are positioning themselves to go big-game hunting.

Getting to the max salary slot will come at the expense of Luol Deng, either by trading his then-expiring deal or stretching his $18.8 million contract over three years (starting in 2019-20). Expect the Lakers to have anywhere from $36 million (Deng stretched) to $43 million (Deng traded) next summer.

Philadelphia 76ers

Projected room: $37 million

The window for Philadelphia to use cap space is closing. After going the one-year route once again this offseason and missing on their top target in LeBron James, the Sixers will be in the same position next July.

However, they won't be able to count on rolling over cap space anymore with Ben Simmons and Dario Saric set to hit restricted free agency in 2020. Their $11.5 million in combined 2019-20 salary will be replaced with $35 million in free-agent holds in July 2020, shrinking Philly's cap space to $15 million without factoring in other potential moves.

LA Clippers

Projected room: $29 million

LA is using this season as a bridge to next summer after years in cap purgatory.

With only four guaranteed contracts -- including $30 million combined in Danilo Gallinari and Lou Williams -- the Clips will be in position to add a max player. Their room can increase to $63 million if Tobias Harris does not return and the $12.5 million non-guaranteed contract of Avery Bradley is waived.

• Key free-agent holds: Tobias Harris ($22 million)

New York Knicks

Projected room: $26.5 million

If New York wants to be in a position to sign an All-Star in 2019, franchise cornerstone Kristap Porzingis will need to wait a year for a new contract.

If Porzingis doesn't extend early, the Knicks project to have $26.5 million in room if the rights to Enes Kanter and Mario Hezonja are renounced and Lance Thomas's non-guaranteed $7 million contract is waived. Signing Porzingis to a $158 million rookie extension before November will shrink New York's space to $17 million.

Even waiting on Porzingis' new deal doesn't get the Knicks all the way to max room for Kyrie Irving or Jimmy Butler, though. New York needs to waive Joakim Noah and stretch his $19.3 million contract over three seasons to hit $40 million. (In the unlikely scenario that Noah is traded, cap space jumps to $46 million.) And if the Knicks want to land two max players, they'll need to move the expiring contracts of Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Brooklyn Nets

Projected room: $36 million

Restricted free agency will dictate Brooklyn's cap flexibility.

Removing the cap holds of all their free agents except for D'Angelo Russell, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Spencer Dinwiddie leaves Brooklyn with $36 million in room -- a figure that could shrink if Dinwiddie signs an extension in December when he is eligible. Getting to space for two max salaries is doable but would require trading the $18.5 million Allen Crabbe contract and signing Russell to an annual salary in the $12 million range.

• Key free-agent holds: D'Angelo Russell ($21 million), Spencer Dinwiddie ($1.6 million) and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($7.4 million)

Chicago Bulls

Projected room: $35 million

The $78 million Zach LaVine contract put a small dent in the Bulls' flexibility next summer.

Despite the $19.5 million cap hit, Chicago is still operating from a position of strength with a projected $35 million in room, including five players on first-round rookie contracts. Renouncing Bobby Portis and Cameron Payne would see cap space increase to $53 million.

• Key free-agent holds: Cameron Payne ($9.8 million), Bobby Portis ($7.5 million)

In the mix

New Orleans Pelicans

Projected room: $27 million

This will be the most important summer in franchise history. Anthony Davis is eligible to sign a $235 million super-max extension that would make him the highest-paid player in the NBA and keep him in a Pelicans uniform for the next six seasons.

Here's the latest on another thrilling summer in the NBA:

And after missing out on an opportunity to surround Davis and Jrue Holiday with help in 2016, New Orleans could get close to max space if Julius Randle opts out and the team doesn't bring back Nikola Mirotic.

The Pelicans do have the luxury of using the stretch provision on the $12.8 million expiring contract of Solomon Hill. Waiving Hill would leave New Orleans with $35 million in room.

Dallas Mavericks

Projected room: $55 million

Consider DeAndre Jordan's one-year, $22.9 million contract a placeholder for next summer.

With a projected $55 million in cap space and a foundation of Luka Doncic, Dennis Smith Jr. and Harrison Barnes (if he picks up his option) in place, the Mavericks are expected to take an aggressive approach when it comes to free agency.

If they miss out? Only Doncic and Smith will be under contract in 2020, giving Dallas another chance to surround its promising backcourt with star talent.

Indiana Pacers

Projected room: $56 million

The one-year contracts of Tyreke Evans and Kyle O'Quinn strengthened a bench that now ranks among the league's best and allowed Indiana to keep flexibility for 2019.

Now the Pacers need to decide what to do in rookie extension talks with Myles Turner. Hold off until next summer and Indiana could be working with $56 million in room, including Turner's free-agent hold.

• Key free-agent holds: Myles Turner ($10.2 million)

 

[flyerhawk]

Wild cards

Atlanta Hawks

Projected room: $35 million

Will Atlanta be a willing participant in free agency after taking the past two summers off?

The likely scenario is that the Hawks continue developing their young players -- including Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Omari Spellman, Taurean Prince and John Collins -- and take a conservative approach once again. The Hawks could once again have three first-round picks (their own, Cleveland's top-10-protected pick and Dallas's top-five-protected pick).

With the contracts of Kent Bazemore and Miles Plumlee set to expire after the 2019-20 season, the Hawks could play the waiting game until 2020, when they'll have $60 million in room and a more established product to sell to free agents.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Projected room: $29 million

The Cavaliers join the group of teams with cap flexibility but at the expense of seeing LeBron James in a different uniform.

How the Cavaliers approach free agency next year will impact veterans Kyle Korver, George Hill and JR Smith. The three players combine to earn $50 million but with only $8.2 million guaranteed. Despite now having a clean slate and the possibility of $29 million in room (which could reach $54 million if Kevin Love opts out), the front office in Cleveland would be best served waiting until 2020, when only Collin Sexton and Ante Zizic are under contract.

• Key free-agent holds: Larry Nance Jr. ($6.8 million)

Orlando Magic

Projected room: $25 million

The Magic put themselves in play next summer by using creative math.

Instead of normal raises in Aaron Gordon's new $76 million contract, Orlando decreased the salary for the forward in years 2-4. The savings -- combined with trading Bismack Biyombo for Timofey Mozgov -- leave Orlando with a projected $25 million in cap space.

Phoenix Suns

Projected room: $20 million

Phoenix saw its cap space shrink from $37 million to $20 million when Devin Booker signed a $158 million rookie extension.

Despite the loss in room, the Suns are still in position to add veterans around their young core of Booker, Deandre Ayton, TJ Warren, Mikal Bridges and Josh Jackson.

Sacramento Kings

Projected room: $51 million

Sacramento seems to be the wild card each summer when it comes to cap space. As evident by the $78 million Zach LaVine offer sheet, the question is not if Sacramento is willing to spend money but if its focus is on the right player or position.

The Kings still have $19.5 million in room this summer. The likely scenario is that Sacramento holds off on spending that money and walks into next July with $51 million in room.

• Key free-agent holds: Willie Cauley-Stein ($14.1 million)

San Antonio Spurs

Projected room: TBD

Unsurprisingly, flexibility in San Antonio all depends on Kawhi Leonard.

Moving the All-Star for a package of young players, draft assets and expiring contracts would leave the Spurs with close to $40 million in space. If both sides are able to mend fences (an unlikely scenario) and Leonard returns, San Antonio would have a projected $15 million in room.

• Key free-agent holds: Kawhi Leonard ($32.7 million)

Utah Jazz

Projected room: TBD

The Jazz will be in a similar position next summer that the Pacers faced this year. They have a core group of players -- Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles -- under contract but with the flexibility to either retain the likes of Derrick Favors (non-guaranteed contract) and Ricky Rubio (free agent) or use cap space to find their replacements.

If Rubio is not brought back, Utah projects to have $26 million in room, a number that increases to $42 million without Favors.

• Key free-agent holds: Ricky Rubio ($22.4 million)

Contenders with free agents

Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors

The two top teams in each conference are on the list, but not because of cap flexibility next summer.

With Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson set to be free agents, Boston and Golden State will have a say in how much money is available for the non-All-Star-level free agents.

If all four (and Celtics restricted free agent Terry Rozier) return, players like Khris Middleton, Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris could be rewarded financially by teams that had planned to target any Celtics or Warriors stars.

 

[bksballer89]

So many quality players available next summer and lots of teams in big cities will have money to spend.

Next summer is going to be insane

 

[Bolts]

I feel like the Kings should have a lot of cap space, I know a number of vets on the team who opted into their final contract years and Zbo was a 2 year deal. They will mostly have young players on rookie contracts after this season. Not that they'd have a snowballs chance in hell at any of the top FA's but they could have a solid core building and money to spend. That could change during this offseason though.

Saw that they were in the wild cards with possibly $51 million, damn that's a lot.

 

[msgkings322]

What? Barnes smokes crack now? lol

The correct question is 'Barnes is still smoking crack?'

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

So many quality players available next summer and lots of teams in big cities will have money to spend.

Next summer is going to be insane

If the Clippers decline the Avery Bradley option, we will have 50 million.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Saw Pelinka being interviewed on Spectrum.

He said first day Rondo showed up, he wanted to see the film guy and study the players so he knew their tendencies....

#riphimalluwantbuthesapro

 

[DJ Fieri]

So many quality players available next summer and lots of teams in big cities will have money to spend.

Next summer is going to be insane

Yep.

James is gonna recruit a max player to the Lakers.

 

[msgkings322]

The Warriors think so highly of The Swapster he got his own customized championship ring. It's sweet!

Spoiler

View attachment 182324

He thought that was a real big ass diamond.

 

[DJ Fieri]

If the Clippers decline the Avery Bradley option, we will have 50 million.

I liked your offseason.

No need for the total rebuild you wanted once BG was traded.