NBA 2019-2020 (I’m not your fwend buddy!)

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Steven Adams, Andre Roberson and Dennis Schroeder are "all very available at the moment," according to Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated.

The Thunder are looking at a massive luxury tax bill next season, so they will look to dump some salary. Obviously, Adams is clearly the most valuable piece, but he's essential to the OKC defense and trading him would likely hurt them in the standings. It'll be tougher to dump Schroder and Roberson, especially after the Hawks and Nets set a fairly high price with the Allen Crabbe salary dump this month.

SOURCE: Jake Fischer on Twitter

[Kingspoint]

That was also before LeBron decided to take his talents to Hollywood and they added a young superstar big entering his prime. And they are likely not done.

It also remains to be seen what retooling the Rockets and Nuggets do. I would say the Blazers as well, but they are the Raptors pre-LeBron (Sorry Kingspoint)

They faced the Warriors with less than half their roster. They beat a full Nuggets Roster on their floor with 2/3rd's of their roster. They beat OKC with 3/4th's of their roster. They get better every season. They will get better again.

[Kingspoint]

As things appear at the moment:

Western Conference:

1. DEN
2. POR
3. UTA
4. LAC
5. HOU
6. SAS
7. GSW
8. OKC

[Revering4Blue]

I like it but i'll be shocked if White goes before Garland

In isolation, so will I. For various factors, I envision White as the preferred choice there, and can't envision a realistic trade-down scenario in which White is still available. I'm not sure Phoenix, for example, would be willing to surrender assets to move up for Garland, as they'd likely "settle" on White for themselves.

[Revering4Blue]

Don't know that I buy that. Nets just cleared cap space. They're not sitting pat. Even if it's not KD, it's Kyrie + somebody. Wonder if sign-and-trade might be on the table?

I'd be inclined to retain DLo and heavily pursue Tobias Harris were I Sean Marks.

[WVRed]

As things appear at the moment:

Western Conference:

1. DEN
2. POR
3. UTA
4. LAC
5. HOU
6. SAS
7. GSW
8. OKC

No Lake Show?

[BuckeyeRed27]

No Lake Show?

They only have 5 players under contract

[BuckeyeRed27]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Steven Adams, Andre Roberson and Dennis Schroeder are "all very available at the moment," according to Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated.

The Thunder are looking at a massive luxury tax bill next season, so they will look to dump some salary. Obviously, Adams is clearly the most valuable piece, but he's essential to the OKC defense and trading him would likely hurt them in the standings. It'll be tougher to dump Schroder and Roberson, especially after the Hawks and Nets set a fairly high price with the Allen Crabbe salary dump this month.

SOURCE: Jake Fischer on Twitter

This seems like the JR Smith trade

[Kingspoint]

No Lake Show?

Subject to change if they can improve the roster.

[Kingspoint]

The Knicks are “extremely open” to trading 2017 first-round pick Frank Ntilikina, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post:

With Thursday’s draft night approaching, Ntilikina could still be on the move as the Knicks are extremely open to trading him for another draft pick – either a late first-rounder or second-rounder.

Part of the reason the Knicks are listening is Ntilikina, as the eighth pick in the 2017 draft, will make $5 million next season.

[Kingspoint]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

The Timberwolves have been "aggressive" about moving up in the draft and they're among the teams inquiring about New Orleans' No. 4 pick.

The Wolves have picks Nos. 11 and 43 in the draft, but it sounds like they're eager to move higher in the lottery. Team president Gersson Rosas dismissed the rumor that they'd made a promise to Gonzaga PF Rui Hachimura, and the report of an "aggressive" stance isn't surprising -- Rosas said he's on Tuesday that he's spoken to every team in the league. He also espoused patience with whatever moves the Wolves make on Thursday, saying, "We look at the draft as a three or four-year process."

SOURCE: Marc Stein on Twitter

[M2]

Subject to change if they can improve the roster.

I'm told basketball teams customarily have guards on their roster.

[Kingspoint]

Well, there's one Wing shooter added, though not a Starter. He joins Brown and Kennard as depth. They even picked up a nice pick that could be used to move up a little in the draft.

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

Tony Snell will be traded to the Pistons in a deal sending Jon Leuer to Milwaukee.

The Bucks were looking for ways to clear cap space, and this is a step in the right direction. Snell is owed $11.4 million this season with a $12.1 million player option in 2020-21, whereas Leuer will earn $9.5 million in the final year of his deal. Snell gives Detroit some much-needed wing depth and he could earn solid minutes, but projects as nothing more than a 3-point specialist.

SOURCE: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter

[dubc47834]

I'm told basketball teams customarily have guards on their roster.

All rules go out the door when the team is ran by Lebron James!

[Rojo Rijo]

From Rotoworld with Rotoworld comments:

The Timberwolves have been "aggressive" about moving up in the draft and they're among the teams inquiring about New Orleans' No. 4 pick.

The Wolves have picks Nos. 11 and 43 in the draft, but it sounds like they're eager to move higher in the lottery. Team president Gersson Rosas dismissed the rumor that they'd made a promise to Gonzaga PF Rui Hachimura, and the report of an "aggressive" stance isn't surprising -- Rosas said he's on Tuesday that he's spoken to every team in the league. He also espoused patience with whatever moves the Wolves make on Thursday, saying, "We look at the draft as a three or four-year process."

SOURCE: Marc Stein on Twitter

Crazy, out of my mind deal here but New Orleans could provide Minnesota a get out of jail card here if the Wolves were willing to pay the price. Based on how Minnesota doesn't seem capable of ever putting together a winning squad and the potential that a certain overpaid player still possesses at age 24 I'd see if they would bite on this deal..

Minnesota receives - #4 pick, Solomon Hill (13.3 mil expiring), E'Twuan Moore (8.6 mil expiring)
New Orleans receives - Andrew Wiggins (4/$122 mil), #11 pick, and Minnesota 2020 1st round pick (top 3 protected, unprotected in 2021).

That would put New Orleans around 87 million for the '19/'20 season with the following roster:
Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Andrew Wiggins, Josh Hart, Zion Williamson, #11 pick, Jahlil Okafor etc.
I'd probably look to move Lonzo for more draft capital as well.

New Orleans would have the following draft capital
#11 pick in 2019 draft (Wolves)
2019 2nd (Nuggets)
2020 1st (top 3 protected, unprotected in 2021) (Wolves)
2020 2nd (Bucks)
2020 2nd (Wizards)
2021 1st (protected 9-30 (only conveys to Pels if top 8, will be unprotected in 2022) (Lakers)
2021 2nd (Wizards)
2023 right to swap 1sts with LA (Lakers)
2023 2nd (Wizards)
2024 unprotected 1st (Lakers)
2025 right to swap 1sts with LA (Lakers)

Griffin would have to be salivating at that amount of draft capital to build around Zion. Trade Lonzo (?) and he could add even more. Maybe Phoenix would be open to a deal. Adding Wiggins could hurt but maybe a change of scenery gets him going and its unlikely that New Orleans is hampered by his contract in the first few years as its unlikely they'll be competing with the elite of the West for the next few years.

Minnesota would also kick start their efforts by pairing a young star with Towns (Garland?) while waiting to get some of their less appealing contracts off the books (Teague 19 million expiring this year, Deing 16/17 expiring after two years, Covington 11/12/13 expiring a year after that). They'd be (likely) sacrificing their 2020 pick but that's more than worth it to rid themselves of Wiggins contract.

Ultimately the deal would give New Orleans even more draft firepower in the future to build around Zion and give them a chance to see if Wiggins is salvageable. He's still got loads of potential and isn't likely to be a character concern around a young team. His deal is heavy but its one New Orleans can stomach while the new guys (Zion and those who are drafted after him) play out rookie contracts. Minnesota would get a new young star and more immediate cap relief after Moore and Hill are off the books.