Good question. It certainly would make the next 13 days, 8 hours, and 10 minutes more entertaining if we knew.
I hope you're right some of my pessimism is rooted in looking at Orlando's future tax/apron situation. I think Simons at 25-35M/year is too rich for them
Maybe they think they can get a home team discount. If Simons has a great year for them, then he might demand that amount. But if he doesn't, then who else has the cap space to overpay him? I am one of his biggest fans, but even I would not give him more than about 25 million per unless he proves he will start for them.
sure...long term there are some options but the nearly 28M salary of Simons next season is a bit awkward. Or rather, Orlando's tax/apron situation makes things a bit awkward. I'm just doing this from memory but I believe Orlando is schedules for a little over 199M in payroll next season...about 11M over the tax line and 3-4M over the first apron but they have 3 relief valves: the TO's on Moritz Wagner, Gary Harris, and Corey Joseph. The two TO's for Harris and Joseph combine for about 10-11M so waiving those players would put Orlando right around the tax line. Wagner's TO is for 11M, but Magic fans at RealGM are pretty convinced Orlando won't waive him meaning about the cleanest trade would be to agree before the draft to do the deal after July 1. That would be Simons for Isaac, Anthony + 16. Isaac+Anthony have combined salary slightly above Simons so that would make for a legal trade by CBA rules. Orlando fans don't care about Anthony but many like what Isaac brings. Probably would have some who would reject that trade. Not sure that the Orlando front office would though. And their tax/apron situation may make that FO look at the scale 4.5M salary of the 16th pick as good to shed Isaac has a pretty interesting contract that offer an off ramp too
I can see them wanting to hold on to Isaac. I think eliminating the duplication of KCP-Simons makes the most sense for the Magic. Yes, I know KCP is the better defender, but Ant is the better offensive player, or there would be no need for Orlando to trade for him. The duplication is the salary. I would prefer not to take filler back so that the Blazers pick up extra cap space, but if it is the only way to get #16, then maybe they throw in Jet Howard or Black. Their choice. I assume Orlando likes both, but at some point, they need to choose between all their players and the tax.
I think for this to work for Portland, Black or Isaac need to be in the deal mandatory. As well as #16. I think we'd be getting Isaac.
I'll always wonder what Banton might have been if the coaches had put as much time into improving his decision-making and three point shot as they did with Scoot? Of course I don't know that they didn't but I sure never got the impression they did. They got him for nothing and maybe in their eyes that de-valued him, just like when they got Alexander-Walker as a throw-in.
