jmmagicfan

Actually, CBSports has him ranked 88, and he isn't showing on either of their first-round only drafts, Sports Illustrated has him going near the end of the 2nd round, and NBAdraft.net doesn't show him at all (because he hasn't declared yet?). His write-ups all say he is a project, as he is very young and hasn't played very long yet.

Or that the trip to Europe was already planned, so they have scheduled interviews around the trip.

The point is that if you want a specific player, you have to either draft them; have a deal in place with the team that drafts right after you; or have very high confidence that he won't be drafted before the team you want to trade with. If you are trying to deal with any of the "next 5 teams behind" you, then you are better off just drafting who you want, because there is too much chance someone else in those 5 teams wants the same guy. For example, in 1993 we wanted Penny Hardaway and Golden State wanted Chris Webber, so we picked him at #1, they picked Penny at #3 and gave us him and a couple future 1st round picks for Webber. We had pretty good intel that Philly was going to pick Shawn Bradley with #2, so we felt okay with drafting for the deal; but if Philly had picked Hardaway instead, we would have ended up with Webber and no deal. Not a bad outcome, but not what you wanted/intended.

You still have the same problem unless the team you are trading with picks right after you, someone else might pick him in between. For example, you pick Bamba with #5, you think you have a deal built with Sacramento to take Young with #7, but then Chicago takes him with #6. Instead of Young plus the asset, now you are "stuck" with Bamba. Not necessarily a bad outcome, but not what you really wanted.

I do like SVG, but I'm not sure how amenable he would be to going back to a coaching only position, after being coach and president of basketball operations; also, not sure about the SVG/Martins relationship. I don't see it happening.

1) I don't think we have the assets to make it happen, and we definitely don't have the cap space. Also, the Batum contract ties up too much future, it's kind of a "shortcut". 2) Not much, since they are already going to be so far over. Also, they are working to convince Lebron to stay, so the influx of talent counts more than expiring? Even more so if he leaves. 3) Why not, if it is more talent? Reddick is a FA, so if they can slot a talented rookie in at #10 (Mikal Bridges?). Also, if that Lakers pick ends up as #2 or #3 it actually goes to Boston, not Philadelphia.

Either way, it does present another possibility for Gordon. I wish we still had 7 days to match. That time frame used to really discourage teams from signing RFA's to an offer sheet. Now that it doesn't tie up your cap space as long it could make a huge difference in the number of RFA's getting offers this off-season. Is it now 72 hours, or did they drop it again?

Are you sure? It looks to me like they only have about $13M if they renounce Stephenson and J Young. I suppose renouncing the Non-Guaranteeds of Collison, Bogdonovic, Poythress, Anigbogu, and Jefferson would get them to about $35M. I can't see a way for them to get to $60M, but $35M is bad enough. Thanks for adding to my worry list!

Wasn't he the primary assistant that worked with Dwight Howard early in his career?

It would be nice, but I doubt it would happen. You usually see that in older players on the downside of their careers, not a 22 year old heading toward his prime. And if his agent let him sign that kind of contract, he should be fired.

Actually, my biggest concern is if Philadelphia doesn't get the Lakers pick, because it goes to the Celtics if it's 2 or 3. Without that cap hold for #10 they can now renounce their exosting free agents and make a run at Gordon. Even if they just renounce Reddick and Johnson, they could still make that run at him, and without a top #10 pick this year, why wouldn't you? Yes, Reddick has had a decent year, but he's 33; Gordon is 22 and more in line with your team's prime.

The only problem with that is the potential for having a disgruntled player on your roster. I don't think Aaron is necessarily that type, but you never know.

For Phoenix I was specifically looking at the Qualifying offer for Alex Len, which they would have to renounce to make room to pursue Gordon.

I guess the biggest question is; if you renounce rights to someone to free up cap space for a run at Gordon (or any RFA), what happens if you don't get him. Can you go back and negotiate with a guy you renounced? Do you just lose the advantages of Bird rights, the extra year, and the higher raises/year; or are you barred from pursuing them at all?

I'm pretty sure Phoenix doesn't have available cap space to offer that. As far as I can tell, even if they renounce Elfrid Payton, they would still only have about $13.2M first year salary to offer. http://www.spotrac.com/nba/phoenix-suns/cap/2018/