I think this is part of the reason why Bridges has so much trade value. He's locked in for 3 more years at < 25 mil. Feel like Ant should have value as well for that reason. Think he can be the #3 on a solid team with a great contract.
I'd say it comes down to Jody willing to eat some tax for a few seasons if the Blazers are a contender. It always seemed that Paul Allen would green light that if needed - I'm not as sure about Jody/Vulcan. Next year salaries don't really matter much IMO - contracts need to be close in trades, Brown or others wont have a new huge contract yet, etc. So its really the years after that. So Dame would only have 3 years on his contract from then until summer 2027. Grant contract would only have one additional season beyond that if he signs for the full 5 years this summer. Sharpe would be in the first year of his extension. Brown on a 5 year deal next summer will have two more seasons beyond Dame's, but should still be in his prime longer than the other two. So I think the Blazers could pay these huge contracts for that big 3 the next few years, and if they contend then is great it was worth it. If not then Summer of 2026 or 2027 we could start breaking up this group and doing a 2-3 year retool around Sharpe. So yes the salaries are certainly something to be careful with - but I think the team still has options if they go forward with it. It could also make picks like the #23 this year and other late first or second rounders more valuable - the Blazers could use those picks to try to fill out the end of their rotation with cheaper role players. The question is will ownership eat some tax and still pay for these final couple role players that are needed to contend?
Restrictions are next year starting in summer 2024. So yes there is especially the 2nd apron to be concerned about. I'd say Blazers could eventually dip into it for a year or two if needed up to 2027, yes it would limit MLE and trades, but if the roster is good they could keep it together for a couple years and then after that duck out of the tax so their pick doesn't go to the end of the first round. Keep in mind we're talking about these ~$50 million per year max contract, but the cap and the luxury tax aprons will both increase as well. It actually might help that Dame is already locked up so his contract won't be increasing even more. So I think the Blazers can navigate the new restrictions with a DameBrownGrant contracts - but yes its certainly something to consider. The question to me is will Jody eat ~$100 million of luxury tax if thats the difference to contend for a couple years? If she won't do that at all - the team should be more likely to keep the #3 pick and not do a Brown trade. Also the team should consider not giving Grant as much even if it risks him leaving.
Oh, I'm not complaining about the amount they'd be making (I know you're not necessarily saying I did), just that if I could get someone who is younger and a better defender for half the money, costing them fewer assets and probably fits the role better, I'd rather have him.
Well I guess Thybulle matches most of that criteria - but he sucks offensively. Maybe Dillon Brooks could fit much of that criteria and be added with only his contract cost in free agency. If you want someone who has those traits with great offense, its going to be extremely difficult if not impossible to get them. Sounds like a player worth way more than Dame or Brown. Its probably much more likely to get that player just using the #3 pick and hope the player pans out. Which as the #3 pick is an allstar more often than not is a realistic legit chance. Or take as many swings with #23 and others picks as the team can to hit a couple. Brown is going to cost a lot in trade and a lot in salary - so even like Dame, he'll never be one of the most valuable players in the league.
Just to be clear as I don't think it get corrected later here, but Mikal Bridges is older (by like two months) than Jaylen Brown. Bridges seems younger perhaps given his time in the NBA and certainly has less NBA miles if that matters, but Brown is actually the younger player.
I doubt he would... but if you are Boston, is making that offer something you want to do? FWIW, I do think they end up making that offer, and I do think Brown takes that deal. I know we have a few (PDX) locals with sources saying Brown wants out, but I don't think he turns down that money.
Blazers can't pay him for more than one season in a Extend&T around the draft. That won't happen. And if they trade for him they couldn't extend him for 6 months. Portland would not be getting any assurance in the trade; he might walk. He'd almost certainly become UFA. But then the Blazers could sign him for a 5 year deal at max by the way, for the math-heads....the Player's Union conceded to smoothing in the new CBA. So when the new media deals are signed in 2025, there will not be a giant spike in the cap like there was in 2016. So if Brown signs and albatross deal in 2024, it won't look better in 2026
Sounds like an impending laughingstock like the meme. Thought has to be put into the actual construction of the roster. Don't need five 6'6-6'8 wing players. Maybe throw in some actual rebounders and role players 6'9 plus.
if Portland trades for him they would be able to give him that exact contract 13 months form now. It would be stupid, but yeah, the Blaazers could do that
IIRC, there was an 'option' year or two left on the current CBA but the new CBA cancelled the option year(s)
this is a little hard to read; if you go to their site you can have better graphics comparing Brown and Siakam. https://craftednba.com/players/comparison JAYLEN BROWN (25) Stat Value Percentile TS% 58.1% 54 SQ 57 49 FTr 24.9% 55 3PAr 35.2% 39 ORB 47 cTOV 9.1% 43 Load 43.9 89 Creation 6.5 86 Portability 4.6 45 Passer Rating 3.7 40 CraftedOPM 1.5 88 Deflections 2 51 raDTOV -0.37 22 DRB 69 Rim Defense -4.4% 77 Rim Frequency 37.8% 47 BLKpct 0.9 30 Versatility 93 93 rPF -0.36 69 CraftedDPM 0.1 57 PASCAL SIAKAM (27) Stat Value Percentile TS% 56.5% 42 SQ 50 35 FTr 36.1% 82 3PAr 21.9% 20 ORB 66 cTOV 6.7% 81 Load 47.6 92 Creation 8 90 Portability 6.4 82 Passer Rating 6.9 83 CraftedOPM 2.2 92 Deflections 2.1 57 raDTOV -0.11 40 DRB 79 Rim Defense 0.9% 38 Rim Frequency 40.1% 63 BLKpct 1.3 51 Versatility 88 88 rPF 0.16 47 CraftedDPM 0.4 65
He seemed to do quite well one on one with Butler, but some of his advanced stats not so good. I wish I had focused in on him during the playoffs.
Bridges is fairly young at 26 but the Nets are far more likely to be interested in Ant + #3 and maybe throw in NYK's pick? I think I do that for Bridges. Simons is 3 years younger than Bridges who will be 27 and in his prime going into the fall. Simons is still peaking and with unlimited shots could be unreal. He also is a player who is amazing to watch (especially when hot) who could get butts in seats WITHOUT winning which is what you want if you're a rebuilding Nets. Add in the #3 (Miller, Scoot or Thompson) and the Knicks pick and you have a young core to work around. The big issues for the Nets is offloading Simmons. I think they might be able to get a 1st out of him if they are lucky and find the right suitor. Likely in exchange for a salary dump attached to the pick. The Nets with 4 first round picks (two from Blazers, their ownm and one for Simmons) and Simons to build around could get a decent team in about 3 years. If they keep Bridges they will get poor picks and be mired in stagnation especially if Simmons shows up for significant parts of the Regular season and they can't offload him. I think we should target Bridges for our SF, but if not I think Brown is a decent choice. I'm not super interested in Siakam to be honest but he's not the worst idea I just would be far less interested in trading the #3 for him, plus Ujiri is one of the greediest GM's short of only Daryl Morey for having that "I MUST bend the other guy over the barrel or there is no trade" attitude. I'm not keen on dealing with him for that reason.
Good correction you are right - for some reason I had it in my head that Mikal Bridges was two years younger, maybe I was looking at the wrong Bridges.