bLACKpANTHER

I think the Turner/Holmes type of deals we are walking away from but the McGee/Whiteside type of deals should still get done.. a 2nd rounder for McGee needs to happen unless someone else comes in and gives something more

Cleveland is also hopeful to move veteran center JaVale McGee in a trade that would net a second-round pick in return, league sources told HoopsHype. – via Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype I hope we can get Holmes or Turner without sending too much away.. but if they want too much, McGee for a 2nd is a no brainer.. In Mitch I Trust

Proven Upgrade: Myles Turner, IND - 24 yrs old - $18m (3yrs) Richaun Holmes, SAC - 27 yrs old - $5m (1yr) Andre Drummond, CLE - 27 yrs old - $28.8m (1yr) Nikola Vucevic, ORL - 30 yrs old - $26m (3yrs) We have been linked to be interested in all of these guys but their teams are not willing to simply give them away. We would have to send back at least one 1st round pick + a few of our young-core players (Monk, Bridges, PJ, Graham).. the asking price is too much to be honest. Maybe we can get Drummond but his price tag is huge for a 1 year rental. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Short-Term Vet Help: JaValee McGee, CLE - 33 yrs old - $4.2m (1yr) Ed Davis, MIN - 31 yrs old - $5m (1yr) Hassan Whiteside, SAC - 31 yrs old - $1.6m (1yr) I'm sure all these guys could help our rebounding numbers and/or defend the paint. I have to imagine we wouldn't have to give up much more than a 2nd round pick. Our available open roster spot is where this could be of great use. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Roll of the Dice: Mo Bamba, ORL - 22 yrs old - $5.8m (2yrs) Wendell Carter Jr., CHI - 21 yrs old - $5.4m (2yrs) Montrez Harrell - 27 yrs old - $9.2m (2yrs) Marvin Bagley, SAC - 22 yrs old - $9m (2yrs) JaBari Parker, SAC - 26 yrs old - $6.5m (1yr) These players are somewhere in between. They could be great fits but could be someone we run out of town at the end of their contracts. Good thing is - they are really short term and not too pricey. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow.. is the season a wash now? Do we tank for better draft pick or still try to win? Do we try and make a trade anymore?

guys that are bought out will be jumping to title contenders.. not 5-10 seed teams (which we are).. I know this season has been exciting for a lot of us - but don't get it twisted - we are not an attractive FA destination.. not to mention the FA big men this offseason won't move the needles for us.. the expiring $15m (Zeller) in salary dollars is worth more to small-market teams on the Trade Market than the FA Market.. we just have to make smart trades that don't disrupt the long-term success of the organization.. either you use the $15m now OR reinvest to lockup Monk/Graham.. if we use it to lockup Monk, we still have a huge hole in the middle of the defense I say we flip Zeller now for someone like Myles Turner, let Graham walk and do our best to keep Monk.. if he cashes in with someone else - so be it.. Ball - Terry - Hayward - PJ - Turner = top 4 seed in East next year

The question is - do we want to use Zeller's $13m to address the center position now or in the offseason? I can't stand him anymore.. JB sat him in the 1st half for the rest of the game because he was atrocious.. LA kept switching him onto LeBron and he was bbq chicken .. I think we gotta make something happen..

Zeller + Cody Martin + 1st Rnd pick = Turner if they want more - hang up the phone..

I have also been disappointed in PJ this year but when you look at the salary cap and production between the two players - this is an easy No Way for me. Their not that big off a difference and we get to keep PJ on his rookie deal for a few more years while we figure out Terry/Monk/Miles contracts.. and also let Batum's $9m come off the books.. Hawks offered a contract extension to Collins over $90m and he turned it down. Occording to Windhorst - Collins "was seeking something at or near the MAX and he stuck to his guns."

Untouchables: Ball - Hayward - Rozier Need a solid player in return (but don't want to trade): Bridges - Monk - PJ Available: Zeller - Graham Fodder: Biz - Martin twins - McDaniels Sweeten the Pot: 1st Rnd pick - Two 2nd Rnd picks- Carey - Richards

When Boston still had Hayward - they were working on a sign and trade with the Pacers to acquire Turner.. he is on a 3 yr $18m, similar to Terry's contract.. Pacers wanted to move him because they thought he conflicts with Sabonis.. Boston got greedy and wanted Turner and Oladipo.. instead they lost Hayward to us.. Turner leads the league in blocks and is a good defender.. 6'11 center that is actually a good FT shooter and can knock down a 3pt shot if needed (shoots around .350 for his career).. would be costly to acquire.. doubt we can make it happen without giving up too much

Ersan Ilyasova signs with Jazz for vet minimum.. with our open roster spot - i thought he was a guy who could come in and give us a few quality minutes for cheap.. but nevermind

All accounts are that Rockets will have a fire-sale at the deadline.. hmm Detroit has made everyone available (Plumlee, pls).. There are rumors about the Knicks being interested in Terry Rozier. We'd have to get a king's ransom back for him = Robinson + Barrett ^^ I'd like to imagine the Founier rumor is Hornets just doing their homework on if we do end up trading Rozier that we could get another decent SG out there somewhere.. Even if we end up trading Graham - I can't imagine going after Fournier if we have Ball, Roz & Monk

Richards seems to have more of a knack to be a defensive/rim protector + a 3pt shot to stretch the floor..

Love them too - but I need the "hot-diddly-do" and "[Malik Monk] - how. do. you. do" to be used at a minimum and add in some alternative exclamations.. My fav is "Miles BrAAAdges!!! " after a monster jam..

light em up

Monk will DEF cost more than $5m.. his qualifying offer is $7.3m alone.. But with the way he has been playing - I assume someone will try to scoop him up with a better offer.. Malik Beasley got a deal of 4yrs $60m ($15m avg) last year and they have about the same stats.. if we want to keep Monk, we might have to give him a 4 year $48-$50m deal.. keep in mind Terry and Bridges will be coming up the year after.. and Batum's $9m we stretched for 2 more years .. If we hold still at trade deadline and don't make any moves: Cody + Biz + Graham = $20.6m in cap space at end of year Do we want to retain Monk for $12m-$13m of our space and take the remaining $7m and find a big man?

I doubted that statement and looked at the FA big men pool next year.. the market looks open but most are restricted, meaning we will have to throw a bag of $$$ and hope the other team won't match. The remaining FA big men won't really move the needle for us but I bolded a few options that could be had at a decent price: Andre Drummond John Collins (restricted) – $$$ Lamarcus Aldridge Harrell (Player Option) Ibaka (Player Option) Jarrett Allen (restriced) – $$$ Tristan Thompson (Player Option) Lauri Markkanen (restriced) – $$$ PJ Tucker Paul Millsap Richaun Holmes Hasan Whiteside Mitchell Robison (Team Option) Cody Zeller Enes Kanter Kelly Olynyk Bobby Portis (Player Option) Nerlens Noel JaVale McGee Dwight Howard Boban – U RANG!!! Zach Collins (restriced) – $$$

https://theathletic.com/2425373/2021/03/04/nba-trade-news-rumors-blake-griffin-p-j-tucker-andre-drummond-shams/ I can't read the article but Shams is quoted saying we have inquired about Vucevic.. he has 3 years of his $26m deal left.. that is a solid deal but not cheap.. we would really have to question what we would give up.. Ball, Hayward & Rozier are the untouchables on our roster - right? Bridges, Monk, PJ and Graham are the ones you DON'T want to include in a trade unless the right deal comes along. Zeller is really the only 'large' contract of value. Also, I would have never thought about adding our 1st round pick in any deal until the past month. For a player of Vucevic's caliber, we would most certainly have to include it. Would you be willing to give up Zeller, PJ & Martin + (Top 10 protected) 1st round pick = Vucevic ?? If not, here are some more affordable Big Men I'm interested in are: Whiteside, SAC: $1.6 - 1 yr McGee, CLE: $4.2 - 1 yr Plumplee, DET: $8 - 3 yr Ed Davis, MIN: $5 - 1 yr

huh? I'm sure they turned it down so they can chill out and rest + not risk being exposed. Just think, If there is some sort of 'outbreak' at the AllStar event - all the best players from every team will be put into protocol and we will have a few weeks of a star-less league.

Ball was invited to compete in the Skills Challenge and Bridges in the Dunk Contest. Both declined offers (as well as Anthony Edwards and Jaylen Brown) https://sports.yahoo.com/how-zion-williamson-can-provided-a-necessary-jolt-leading-up-to-sundays-all-star-game-174843965.html?ncid=twitter_yahoosport_dw14wrbb51g

Both Hayward and Zeller are DOUBTFUL and Graham is OUT. per Bonnell

back-to-back tonight @ Portland.. I hope Zeller and/or Hayward plays.. if we can grab this one and then close out with a W against MIN we will be sitting pretty at the AllStar break..

I was excited to see the 2nd half of the schedule come out until I saw as soon as we come home from this West Coast road trip - we go right back out West to play @ DEN, LAL, LAC, SA, HOU... I mean c'mon.. We really need to buckle down in March and beat the teams we need to beat.. 5 must wins (SAC x2, MIN, DET & HOU) and 8 tough squads (try and grab 2-3 games).. if we can tread water through March and stay around .500 - we should be in good/great position through rest of season

[truth hurts ]

Better at rebounding and protecting the rim than ANYone on our roster and on a 1 year deal - so we wouldn't be mortgaging anything important..