Scraps?? The Rockets got 4 unprotected first round picks and 4 pick swaps for Harden if I remember correctly. And the Nets have underperformed so they've actually been pretty good picks.
I think just 3 picks. There's only two left. Swaps aren't a big deal as Houston has been bad and looks many years away. Still it was a solid return for Harden. They could've had LaVert and Jared Allen too but gave them to third teams.
Nope it was 4. They got 2021, 2023, 2025, and 2027, all unprotected. https://www.slamonline.com/nba/a-closer-look-at-the-four-team-james-harden-trade/
Check your link again. The years you list are swaps. The rockets also got nets picks for 2022 2024 2026. So only two left.
For Portland specifically, Bamba, but I think Hartenstein is the better player between the two. But if Hartensteins outside shooting is for real, then him.
Hartenstein. I don't want to use the full MLE on either though, give the tax MLE so we aren't hard capped.
Some more Hartenstein nuggets plus this article: https://www.basketballnews.com/stor...iah-hartenstein-is-the-clippers-secret-weapon
The problem with these stats is the majority of those other guys are doing it as starters while Hartenstein is doing it primarily against second units, he averaged less than 20 minutes a night. Looks good, but I dont think its fair to those other guys. He's about as good of a backup that's available though
sure, but I think it’s telling that he’s the only low minute player making the list. Not saying he’s a better defender than gobert or Jaren, but I think he’s a only a tier below them and a definitive tier above Nurk when it comes to defense.
Looking at tax numbers, it just doesn't seem like we're on the same playing field anymore. We were a tax team for a few years but we never paid the kind of tax that some of these contenders are shelling out. In 2021-22: - GSW: 175 mil payroll, 170 mil tax - BKN: 158 mil payroll, 98 mil tax - LAC: 165 mil payroll, 83 mil tax - MIL: 152 mil payroll, 54 mil tax - LAL: 149 mil payroll, 45 mil tax - UTA: 147 mil payroll, 19 mil tax - PHI: 145 mil payroll, 14 mil tax How are we supposed to compete with these teams? In 2019, we had the highest payroll + tax in the league. We had a 131 mil payroll, with a 6 mil tax bill. The numbers these days are just astronomical.
their extensions are kicking in this year. They'll get there. Same with Phoenix if they wanna pay Ayton, and Atlanta once the Young deal kicks in and they pay their yougins.
The tax has become a joke, in terms of keeping the competitive balance fair. It's really working in reverse . I'm not saying it has to be like NASCAR, but c'mon man. 170 mil. over, and basically "no big deal".
