Around the NBA - July 2017 Edition

2nd round pick

 

Former Utah Jazz star Gordon Hayward has agreed to a four-year, $128 million deal to join the Boston Celtics. Soon, more dominoes will fall.

More likely than not, Boston will trade one of the surplus small forwards on their roster who would have significantly less playing time with the Celtics next season. In fact, one team who could desperately use a small forward now is the Jazz.

Jae Crowder, who has been a starter for Boston over the last two seasons, could take over at small forward for Utah with Hayward now on the Celtics.

Bobby Marks explained why Boston will have so much work to do to make the signing adjust to the NBA’s salary cap (via ESPN):

The Celtics would have to pull the qualifying offer on Kelly Olynyk, renounce free agents Jonas Jerebko, James Young, Gerald Green and waive the contracts of Jordan Mickey and Demetrius Jackson (or trade). The Celtics would be left with $27.6M in room and likely need to move the contract of Jae Crowder, Terry Rozier or Marcus Smart.

Of course, teams around the league are aware the Boston front office has more work to do and will reach out about potential trade options.

While the front office values Rozier, other players are likely on the way out to make room for the new Celtics superstar.

 

Can someone help me understand why we signed CJ to the max with 7.5% annual raises instead of just letting some team sign him as a RFA? Like Porter?

 

That's an incredible value. Patrick Patterson is a really nice 3&D power forward--the Thunder look really, really good now. At least, as far as their starting lineup goes.

 

The Hayward signing is a really bad day for small market teams.

• Small market teams tend to build through the draft because of the cheaper contracts, but primarily because FA is not really available to them.
• This requires patience by the team and the fan base.
• Utah, for example, drafted Gobert (draft night trade), Lyles, Exum, Hood, Hayward, Burkes, acquired Favors in his 2nd year.... These guys are good, and mostly still with the team.
• They drafted smart, held onto their guys, and made themselves into a top team in the brutal Western Conference. They did it right.

But, this signing damages them significantly. A white dude who can actually play leaves Utah.... for a large market team, no less.

Big market teams have won a large majority of NBA championships since 1980 - take out Tim Duncan teams, and it becomes a vast majority.

So, what's the recipe for small market teams? Honestly, there has to be a lot of luck involved. But, the first step is to have players that want
to stay with your small market team, which is really why Dame, and CJ for that matter, will not be traded.

Hopefully, for Utah, they and Boston will agree to a sign and trade. If they can get, say Smart+Crowder, they'll have a chance to stay near the top of the WC.

 

Is Boston bigger than the whole state of Utah?

 

Because we could? Is this a legitimate question? You lock up your players as soon as possible.

 

He would have been locked up regardless, but it cost the Blazers like 10m over 4 years

 

CJ was going to get a max deal. What else do you need?

 

Yes i understand, but getting a max deal from another team would still be less than getting it from the blazers

 

not sure what you're on about here

 

And making your star players go out and get max offer sheets instead of just paying them works for places like Portland.. or Utah

 

Word, that is exactly what they did with Hayward.

 

Hi.

 

Hi.

 

Your question was answered by other folks (and yourself) so I was just being friendly.

 

Friendship, achieved.

 

Na, they were offering much less, when they were in discussions for contract extensions

 

They told him to go get what he could. He got a max, they knew he might get a max. They would have had him for an extra year if they didn't play games.