Roster Building From Here - FA and Summer of 2023

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I think an MLE type offer would be a solid investment. He will turn 27 this summer and still trending up a bit.

You have to overpay to get him out of Denver probably. Something like 36/3. Maybe that is MLE amount? IDK.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

You have to overpay to get him out of Denver probably. Something like 36/3. Maybe that is MLE amount? IDK.

New MLE starts at 12M... so yes... that is MLE money. I'd probably try and do 4/40-50M to make sure I have all his prime. The cap will rise about 10% a year so in 3-4 years there is a lot of excess value there.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

On Bruce... likely a cap casualty for Denver next year. He has a player option at 6.8M but pushing his salary to 10-12M puts them right at the second tier for tax and they have a ton of commitments. They may try to move Porter Jr. and relieve some pressure but that is no easy task given the injury history and size of his deal.

 

[infection]

Wonder if GS would attach their 2026 pick to Poole to move him for less salary and a few rotation pieces. Like say Sexton and KO for Poole and the 2026 pick unprotected… maybe we take Payton too to save them even more.

I’m just not sure what to think of Pooles season after watching him last year. Which guy is the real Poole and how much did the punch affect him? I don’t think he ever becomes worth his deal but can he make it close enough.

That'd be great. That pick becomes quite valuable. I don't want Poole as a piece on a contending team, but next year we're trying to compete and he's a perfectly fine guy to field a competitive roster that's in the playoffs. People looking at him that way will change the taste from seeing him on a team that's supposedly defending the title. You'll have a year shaved off his deal and with 3 years left, he becomes the salary matching you use to "trade for a star." Hell, maybe the following year when you trader him for a star, it's that GSW pick that's a big part of the asset package.

Especially if you consolidate with sending Sexton out.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

That'd be great. That pick becomes quite valuable. I don't want Poole as a piece on a contending team, but next year we're trying to compete and he's a perfectly fine guy to field a competitive roster that's in the playoffs. People looking at him that way will change the taste from seeing him on a team that's supposedly defending the title. You'll have a year shaved off his deal and with 3 years left, he becomes the salary matching you use to "trade for a star." Hell, maybe the following year when you trader him for a star, it's that GSW pick that's a big part of the asset package.

Especially if you consolidate with sending Sexton out.

I'm not in love with it and a few things I thought about since posting. If the Warriors stay in the second apron territory then the pick could be end of the first round, but not sure when that little wrinkle starts. So that would suck. Would have to look at what the penalty is for super repeaters.

For them I am not sure they'd love getting Sexton... only peels like 10M off of their current issue... but for us it would have to happen. They'd likely prefer just KO. If we found another home for Sexton or they were willing to do it just for Sexton then I'd still kick the tires here.

Poole is young and does better as a starter. Long term I think the issue is he can't be worth his deal next to Klay and Steph. In another setting maybe he gets a little more serious as more is required of him or maybe it goes the other way and he sucks.

Because of the pick uncertainty I'd try to add some swaps in 2027 and 2029... and one way or another if Poole came in Sexton would have to be moved out. Its one that is interesting to me but then I start thinking through the follow up and have some reservations.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I'm not in love with it and a few things I thought about since posting. If the Warriors stay in the second apron territory then the pick could be end of the first round, but not sure when that little wrinkle starts. So that would suck. Would have to look at what the penalty is for super repeaters.

For them I am not sure they'd love getting Sexton... only peels like 10M off of their current issue... but for us it would have to happen. They'd likely prefer just KO. If we found another home for Sexton or they were willing to do it just for Sexton then I'd still kick the tires here.

Poole is young and does better as a starter. Long term I think the issue is he can't be worth his deal next to Klay and Steph. In another setting maybe he gets a little more serious as more is required of him or maybe it goes the other way and he sucks.

Because of the pick uncertainty I'd try to add some swaps in 2027 and 2029... and one way or another if Poole came in Sexton would have to be moved out. Its one that is interesting to me but then I start thinking through the follow up and have some reservations.

May have to be a 2028 pick to avoid the draft second apron issue. Or you do reverse protections on a pick that starts in 2026 and runs to unprotected in 2028.

Here is what I think happens in GS. Either Dray opts out and leaves or opts out and takes like 3-4M less next year but adds 3 years to his deal. They will then offload Payton Jr. for no returning salary but may have to give a little something to do it. Also, Donte will walk. They will try to trade Poole very hard either way but if the returns are really bad they won't overpay to dump him and try to recoup value in season and then move him.

A smaller deal to consider is 28th pick this year for 19th pick and we absorb payton.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I think this upcoming season is going to be a(n) (other) transition season where the Jazz could/should be trying to win but still be looking for opportunities to stock up on future picks specifically. Young players would be fine, too, I’m just thinking that the Jazz should be banking proverbial cash for future moves. The later the picks are owed, the longer the “cash” is liquid. 2nd rounders count, too (which is where it would be easiest to store value since teams would understandably be reluctant to trade 1sts farther out). Protected (fake-ish, even) 1sts also count.

The ways that the Jazz might be positioned to dig out more assets is to cash in on (trade out) players that won’t likely be here in 3+ years (Clarkson S&T or sign and trade mid season, Sexton if you’re not a believer, Olynyk, maybe THT, Dunn could be useful filler in a trade) take on dead (one year) salary, flipping players, otherwise taking a calculated risk in rehabbing a player, or some combination of the above.

This is a long way of saying that acquiring Jordan Poole should be considered. I think he would be relatively easy to rehab value on during the regular season.

Another thought I had this morning is “what is to be learned from the Jalen Brunson signing?” In other words, who are the pending free agents that conventional wisdom says that their recent flashes are not legit? And which of those MIGHT be legit?

 

[kcgar]

Another thought I had this morning is “what is to be learned from the Jaylen Brunson signing?” In other words, who are the pending free agents that conventional wisdom says that their recent flashes are not legit? And which of those MIGHT be legit?

That’s the million $ question. You just never know

 

[KqWIN]

Another thought I had this morning is “what is to be learned from the Jalen Brunson signing?” In other words, who are the pending free agents that conventional wisdom says that their recent flashes are not legit? And which of those MIGHT be legit?

I would just throw out that question to all potential second draft guys. Some times they show it, like Brunson, some times they don't like Lauri. Just off the top of my head without thinking, these are some guys who have some second draft potential and be a star or much improved on their next team:

Quickley - No explanation needed, tough to get
John Collins - If he has 10 working fingers, he is gettable
Reeves - Been amazing as of late, is it real?, FA could be interesting
Rui - Playing super well in the playoffs
Lonzo - If he can walk/play basketball, seems gettable
Simmons - If he wants to play basketball, very gettable
Brooks - already a thread on him
Coby White - Decent player in a toxic situation (Lauri v2?), RFA this summer who is gettable
PJ Washington - See Coby White
Gary Trent Jr - Can he get better?, will hit the FA this summer
Fultz - Actually had a decent season and has improved a lot, ORL might not have room for him
Tyus Jones - He's way better than people know, maybe gettable
Levert - Always overrated IMO but some like him, FA this summer

Anyone else worth mentioning?

 

[NUMBERICA]

I would just throw out that question to all potential second draft guys. Some times they show it, like Brunson, some times they don't like Lauri. Just off the top of my head without thinking, these are some guys who have some second draft potential and be a star or much improved on their next team:

Quickley - No explanation needed, tough to get
John Collins - If he has 10 working fingers, he is gettable
Reeves - Been amazing as of late, is it real?, FA could be interesting
Rui - Playing super well in the playoffs
Lonzo - If he can walk/play basketball, seems gettable
Simmons - If he wants to play basketball, very gettable
Brooks - already a thread on him
Coby White - Decent player in a toxic situation (Lauri v2?), RFA this summer who is gettable
PJ Washington - See Coby White
Gary Trent Jr - Can he get better?, will hit the FA this summer
Fultz - Actually had a decent season and has improved a lot, ORL might not have room for him
Tyus Jones - He's way better than people know, maybe gettable
Levert - Always overrated IMO but some like him, FA this summer

Anyone else worth mentioning?

Decent list. I just wanna again state that I think the rewards on rolling dice on Lonzo (provided the price going out is negligible) could be huge. I will again state that he seems to be the largest single factor separating the Bulls from dark-horse contender and almost woeful dreck.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I would just throw out that question to all potential second draft guys. Some times they show it, like Brunson, some times they don't like Lauri. Just off the top of my head without thinking, these are some guys who have some second draft potential and be a star or much improved on their next team:

Quickley - No explanation needed, tough to get
John Collins - If he has 10 working fingers, he is gettable
Reeves - Been amazing as of late, is it real?, FA could be interesting
Rui - Playing super well in the playoffs
Lonzo - If he can walk/play basketball, seems gettable
Simmons - If he wants to play basketball, very gettable
Brooks - already a thread on him
Coby White - Decent player in a toxic situation (Lauri v2?), RFA this summer who is gettable
PJ Washington - See Coby White
Gary Trent Jr - Can he get better?, will hit the FA this summer
Fultz - Actually had a decent season and has improved a lot, ORL might not have room for him
Tyus Jones - He's way better than people know, maybe gettable
Levert - Always overrated IMO but some like him, FA this summer

Anyone else worth mentioning?

I like a few... I hate a few... I'll add a few

Bruce Brown discussed earlier
Grant Williams - Not playing at all might be more useful as a specialist but I think his price has gone down a bit and might do better in a bigger role. Hardy also very familiar with him.
Derrick Jones Jr. - Youve mentioned him... he is one of my on/off splits guys... does the one block one steal per game thing. Shot seems better... low cost guy to play off the bench. Some how he is 25 years old still.
FVV might fit the description in that he's a guy you give 4/100M or more to and people freak out... then he actually looks better in a more normal basketball situation and you look super smart.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Decent list. I just wanna again state that I think the rewards on rolling dice on Lonzo (provided the price going out is negligible) could be huge. I will again state that he seems to be the largest single factor separating the Bulls from dark-horse contender and almost woeful dreck.

If the cost is "they give us a bunch of ****" then I'd be okay. I just think he's cooked and his contract isn't ideal for creating an upside situation since it has a player option.