Around the NBA - July 2017 Edition

Hello Lamarcus Aldridge!

 

Cry in their basements.

 

Make Meyers Leonard a priority!

 

If the Celtics can land Hayward AND Paul George.... Wow, that'd be impressive.

 

Fun read on madness of agents' roles in free agency: https://theringer.com/nba-free-agency-gossip-rumors-agents-d7eab20473

I love this stuff.

Aaron Mintz owes Neil big after the contracts he gave Crabbe and Leonard. He also reps Paul George.

 

I feel like I have never seen this "owing someone" translate into a gain.

 

Even if it results in nothing more than a PG meeting with our brass, that relationship means something. I'd rather be on good terms with agents instead of taking the Phil Jackson scorched earth approach.

Ed Davis is also represented by Mintz, fwiw.

 

I wonder if there's any way to try to work out a sign and trade for Hayward. The Jazz definitely don't want to lose him for nothing.

The Celts are trying to sign Hayward and trade for George, so it would be hard for them to put together a package for both.

The Heat don't have shit to trade. Not really. Not if they want to stay competitive.

We have some decent assets that we could send them, if he would go for it.

 

@KingSpeed - for the record, Crabbe did not finish in the top 10 in in Sixth Man of the Year voting. In fact he didn't finish at all. There were 13 players who received votes. Crabbe was not one of them.

BNM

 

You think you're having a bad day? You could be Maurice N'Dour:

 

The only way a sign-and-trade could happen, really, is if Portland is the place Hayward wanted to go. Even if Portland had cap space to sign him outright, how likely do you consider it that he'd choose Portland? If he'd prefer to go to Miami or Boston, they can simply sign him outright (Boston, I think, needs to shuffle one or two tradeable players, Miami I believe has ~$35M in cap space).

 

John Sally said on ESPN first take that he thinks Hayward takes his talents to South Beach.

 

We also have to be under the tax apron. Which i believe we aren't close to right now.

In other words, there is absolutely no way in hell it will happen.

Rightfully so. If he signs with boston outright, they have a substantially higher chance of getting to the finals than we do. And you know, his old college coach.

 

The problem is Hayward's already developed and the Blazers like developing youth.

 

Sounds like the sixers are trying to sign Covington to an extension this offseason. I was sort of hoping somehow Simmons was going to take his role and they would make him available in trade talks. Imo he is one of the most underrated players in the league. 24 yr old with elite athleticism, plays great defense, decent 3 pt shooter. Would have loved his fit for us.

Wonder if there is anything we have that would entice them to trade him.

 

Looks like the luxury tax line is gonna be about $122 million. Apron is $4ish million above that.

So after cutting ezeli we are at like $130 million.

So not terribly far off. But still have to unload someone.

 

He finished fourth in DPotY award voting. Combined with competent three-point shooting, he's probably a pretty big part of their core. I'm sure he's not untouchable, but I doubt he's underrated by the 76ers. I don't think Portland has any assets that would approach his value once you take Lillard, McCollum and Nurkic off the table.

 

Despite the difficulties already mentioned, I like what you're thinking! Not something that had been mentioned before! But after seeing it happen with CP3, it's fun to think of scenarios that would work for us.

Neil could sell him on being able to beat his old team - a Division rival - four times a season! If he holds any ill will towards UTH this could be a minor selling point. Also, sell him on how much more it means to play in the West than the East - the East is for pansies. Finally, compare the build of the Blazers (with Hayward) to the Sheed Era Pistons, and the Warriors to the Lakers - beautiful team basketball dismantling the uber-stars of the league! It's a tough sell, but give it a shot!

If we're as close to the apron as mentioned, surely there's a GM that owes Neil a favor and will trade a 2nd for Ed Davis. And then UTH would have to LOVE getting Crabbe/Meyers (!), rather than nothing! (Okay, maybe they wouldn't...but maybe Crabbe/Aminu, and certainly Crabbe/Harkless would get them to sign off.)

 

Yes, that's EXACTLY why we won't go after Gordon Hayward. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact that we are so far over the salary cap the most we can offer him is the taxpayer mid level exception. Come one Neil, work your magic! Earn your paycheck!

What kind off GM are you if you can't convince Hayward to come here for a deal starting at $3.581 million a year when Miami, with all their sunshine, pretty girls and lack of state income tax can offer him a contract starting at $29.7 million a year? Fucking slacker! So what if it rains. So what if our state income tax is 9%. You'd be a great fit next to Dame, C.J., Nurk and Collins and the fans would love you here (well, except for the ones that hate white, American born players).

Not interested? Really? Fuck you loser, I hope you get a really bad sunburn. So bad it peels! Yeah, take that asshole. That's OK, we didn't want you anyway. You're already developed!!!

BNM