bLACKpANTHER

that's the question Mitch has to deal with.. Miles and Terry hit the FA market next year.. Miles seems like he's in order for a decent payday next year but nowhere near the max.. Terry will be very expensive - and with us just investing a lottery 1st round pick into Bouknight - it seems like the writing is on the wall.. sadly , we might have to flip him at the trade deadline this year to make sure we get something back from him..

negotiations would have started around $7-8m a year with us and probably ended around $10m.. LA gets him for under $2m.. smgdh the league is messed up and the deck is stacked against the smaller markets

PG: Ball - ??? - ??? SG: Rozier - Bouknight - Martin1 SF: Hayward - Bridges - Martin2 PF: Washington - McDaniels - Thor C : Plumlee - Kai - Vern - Richards GREEN = good, BLUE = decent, YELLOW = unproven, GREY = low expectation Weird thing from last year is we now have bodies to throw in the front court and see what sticks.. I am concerned with our backcourt right now.. I heard that the Graham S&T might still be massaged with NO and CHI and we could end up walking away with Coby White.. not sure, but we obviously need a backup PG.. even if we bring back Wanamaker on a vet min deal for our 3rd PG slot - it would calm me down.. I'm looking at Schroder, Monk, Reggie Jackson maybe even Elfred Payton or Ish Smith.. ugh

I love Terry.. but now the addition of Bouknight as the heir apparent to the SG position makes Terry's days numbered.. I hope we don't just let Terry walk next year and we might have to get something for him at the trade deadline.. package Rozier and Plumlee for another quality bench Big with a 1st round pick from someone..?

we would have had to extend the qualifying offer to him to make him restricted.. we didn't - in which case - he walks because we put the qualifying offer on Graham - A) we can match any offer he is given by another team.. B) if no one offers him anything - he can play under that number and become a UFA next year.. C) we can also work on a long-term deal with him and his agent to lock him in and he never becomes a UFA.. Option C is the likely scenario - we just gotta figure out what the numbers and years are.. someone could come in a throw him a BAG $$$ but they would have to offer him something over $15m a year for us to start thinking about letting him walk and not matching - but I don't think teams have that type of space this year to offer a backup PG that type of coin..

I agree with a lot of what @AppHeel said.. however, I think Kai will get a good amount of bench minutes this year.. he is raw and will have to develop but I just don't think Plumlee/Carey/Richards will be getting the bulk of our center minutes.. maybe PJ gets some run in our small-ball lineup but well see.. if we do get a FA center that wud change things to expand on Bouknight - I 100% agree about the long-term fit next to Ball.. Bouknight brings everything that Monk brought to the table [shooting + finishing at the rim] but he also brings the sizes and defensive ability that kept Monk from becoming our starting SG.. Monk had improved but still would have lapses.. I hope we bring back Graham too.. $10m a year for 3-4 years sounds about right Terry for Myles Turner is interesting.. IF Bouknight is the heir apparent to Rozier - then we should flip him for an asset - but I wouldn't do it until mid-season when his value should be sky high..

I want Isaiah Todd with #37..

PG- Ball - [Graham] SG- Rozier - Bouknight SF- Hayward - Bridges - Martin twins PF- Washington - McD C- [Free Agent] - Kai - Plumlee I still need a FA center and Graham resigned.. can we do both with $13m?

Jalen going to ATL.. we get Kai per Shams & Woj

here comes Kai....

Scenario 1) - We package Monk (sign&trade) + #11 to the Pacers = Myles Turner Scenario 2) - We draft one of the 2nd tier guys at #11 Scenario 3) - I think if none of the "2nd tier" guys we are targeting aren't there = we trade down with OKC for #16 + #18 and pick up two of the "3rd tier" guys.. Kai Jones + Cam Thomas

per Jake Fisher @ Bleacher Report https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2021/07/27/fischer-hornets-thunder-have-trade-discussions-to-swap-picks/

Zeller looks like he wants to go to a contender in a backup role:

LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I avoided this subject and was in the wait and see mode.. but when he showed up on Graham's IG feed - I started giving it some thought.. now that it seems he will be on the preseason roster (and eventual reg season roster) - I started looking to see if he can be an actual contributor.. can he be better than a Martin twin? maybe.. i don't know.. but I tend to come at this topic with the expectation that Gelo will not be a big-time contributor and at best = a microwave off the bench (the Monk role).. with that said, I look a Giannis and his brother Thanasis getting a contract on the Bucks - but really providing nothing other than 6 fouls.. So if giving a few $$ to a star's family member keep the star in your small market team - then that's something you gotta do.. but Thanasis seems to accept his role as end of the bench guy - I hope Gelo would accept that if things don't pan out and he has to take a backseat to his younger bro..

I've always thought Zeller would be perfect off the bench if we had a starting calibre center.. sadly - we have only had that once with Big Al.. Zeller on a team friendly deal - that allows him to retire a Hornet - would be a really good fit for our 2nd unit: PG: Graham (resign) SG: MOODY (draft) SF: Bridges PF: McDaniels C: Zeller

There are a handful of options out there - but none that will really move the needle for potential of this team.. The few that I wouldn't be mad at are: + Nerlens Noel - He was in the same draft as Zeller. Not an offensive force but a better shot blocker and rebounder. Hustle player that can be an upgrade from last season. + Daniel Theis - Solid player that can pass out of the post and knows where to be. Not a shot blocker but a solid defender. + Robin Lopez - Maybe the best of the cheap bunch. Good post moves and decent defender. Hard worker. - Alex Len - Very similar to Zeller. About average post moves and average defender. Not a lot of rim protection. - Zeller - we all know the deal... If we can't get Holmes or somehow pry Jarrett Allen away from the Cavs - trading for Turner becomes and option but I think we would have to give up too much (Hayward or Terry) resulting in a net-zero trade for us..

At work I'm like: Inside I'm like:

100% agree - this coaching staff isn't so Vet reliable as the last admin.. he had every opportunity with Rhule & Co. but wasn't able to make an impact..

1- Jaycee Horn compared to Josh Norman? 2- Are Shi Smith/Marshall showing ability to contribute this year? 3- Tremble a pass catching threat or just a Armah replacement? 4- Burns/Brown/YGM/Reddick looking Top 10? Top 5? 5- Can Chuba spell Cmac from carrying to much of the load?

Bridges, Pj and Quickly all tested positive and are out due to protocol

where did you get those percentages?