Possible Plan for 2018: keep IT and bring PG.
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Eindhoven
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 5:35 am    Post subject: Possible Plan for 2018: keep IT and bring PG.

Considering the current roster and the possibility of adding Paul George, here's what I think could be a good option.

- Say, Thomas returns to the same level of his 1st year at Boston at least (22.2ppg/6.2apg). I don't see other teams offering him a Max contract - I definitely wouldn't - and maybe $20M/yr should be enough to keep him. Good thing is he would only count $11.9M against our Cap.

- I'm OK re-signing Lopez for a more reasonable contract, say, half of what he makes today. He was not so impressive this year, so I don't see teams going like crazy after him. $11M in a 2+1 deal is fine, maybe a bit too much.

- Re-signing Julius is a priority. It's a total guess how much it would cost, so $15M/yr is as good as any guess. He counts $12.4M against the Cap.

- Sign PG-13 at Max ($30.3M)

- Stretch Deng (5yrs)

-------------

We have a very solid 8-player rotation core:
Points: IT, Ball
Wings: George, Hart, Ingram
Bigs: Lopez, Randle, Kuuuuuz

I don't care who starts, I can see them all playing 26-34mpg. But it gives us a lot of flexibility:
Small Ball: IT, Ball, PG, Ingram (Kuzma), Randle
Very Small Ball: IT, Ball, Hart, PG, Kuzma
Big Ball: Ball, PG, Ingram, Randle, Lopez
Shooting: IT, Hart, PG, Kuzma, Lopez
Lock defense: Ball, Hart, PG, Ingram, Randle (Lopez)
Board and run: Ball, Hart, Ingram, Kuzma, Randle
ISO Party: IT, PG, Ingram, Kuzma, Randle

The point is, Luke can have a very flexible and strong core, while we keep some cap flexibility. I believe it's a strong team that can easily get to a 2nd round in the playoffs. TBH, I only see us as a title contender once Lonzo and Ingram get to their primes and GSW window is closed. Meanwhile, we're back on the fight and within 2-3 years IT and Lopez will be replaced.

---------------

To fill around this core, one legit 7-footer is nice to have, so we have Zubac. We also have space for Bryant to develop. We need a 3rd string PG and I'm fine with Caruso filling that spot. I'd like to have a sharpshooter with no more responsibilities than sinking 3's and I'm willing to give Matt Thomas a chance.

We're at 12 players and we still have our 2 picks on next draft, making it 14. Good news are, if my math is OK, we still have around $3.6M to offer to any FA in the market.

Deng Stretch 7.362.000
George 30.300.000
Randle 12.447.726 (Cap hold)
I.Thomas 11.898.549 (Cap hold)
Lopez 11.000.000
Ball 7.461.160
Ingram 5.757.120
Cavs 1st 1.837.800
Kuzma 1.689.840
Hart 1.655.160
Zubac 1.544.951
Nugs 2nd 1.400.000
Bryant 1.387.242
Caruso 831.311
M.Thomas 831.311
Free Agent 3.595.830
TOTAL 101.000.000
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adtz
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:03 am    Post subject:

I doubt most people in this forum agree with you regarding keeping IT though.

I will wait and see how he perform before comment much but if laker is targeting 2 Max i really doubt IT is part of their plan
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yinoma2001
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:04 am    Post subject:

I don’t think we are keeping IT long term.
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Eindhoven
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:09 am    Post subject:

Sure we have to wait and see, hence the assumption of him returning to, at least, the same level of his 1st year in Boston. TBH, I don't thing the "real IT" is the MVP candidate of last season, but he's neither the hot garbage we saw in Cleveland.

And I don't count him as a Max player, just a very good one we can keep at a very reasonable cap hold, allowing us to keep Julius and Lopez (or another $11M FA).
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unleasHell
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:09 am    Post subject:

Actually, I like this plan just fine...IF Thomas returns to form and FITS in...

Lopez is a decent center a huge upgrade over Zubac!

having a team with PG and Lebron, WITHOUT Lopez and Randle would NOT be very strong in the middle...

It's a good problem to have.

If you were only able to bring in PG and gave IT, Lopez and Randle one year deals, they would have the flexibility of being it the 2019 Free Agent race...
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Last edited by unleasHell on Sat Feb 10, 2018 7:10 am; edited 1 time in total
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:16 am    Post subject:

adtz wrote:
I doubt most people in this forum agree with you regarding keeping IT though.



Mostly because I don't believe he wants to come off the bench and make bench player money the rest of his career based on everything he's said after "Brinks truck".

JC was a good bench player making what many thought was a reasonable contract when he signed it. Two years later he was considered "overpaid" and a hindrance to our free-agency plans.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:16 am    Post subject:

yinoma2001 wrote:
I don’t think we are keeping IT long term.
Soon to be 30yr old 5' 9" defensive liability coming off a major injury, no way you sign him to a long term deal. If he plays well you offer him a big one year deal like KCP and wait for the 2019 FA market.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:20 am    Post subject:

When you see the current version of IT up close, you will be shocked...not in a good way. His explosion and lift is gone, at least when it comes to what is required, given his size, to be a servicable NBA rotation player on a contender. His heart, determination, and work ethic are still there...but when you are nearing 30 and 5'9" with a hip that will NEVER be the same...it is, what it is. I guess anything is possible, but it looks beyond just "playing back into shape". He can't be looked at as anything other than cap space. Getting the cap space and the 1st rounder were the trade benefits. Frye, btw, is a great lockerroom guy and will actually hit a few 3's here and there.
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Eindhoven
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:27 am    Post subject:

We have the luxury of 27 games to watch IT up close. And then, determine his value for the franchise.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:29 am    Post subject:

yinoma2001 wrote:
I don’t think we are keeping IT long term.


I agree, I think he's nothing more than an expiring contract. I hope the Lakers are smart enough to have Isaiah come off the bench and fill Clarkson's role.
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DocK36
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:30 am    Post subject:

bevwenz wrote:
When you see the current version of IT up close, you will be shocked...not in a good way. His explosion and lift is gone, at least when it comes to what is required, given his size, to be a servicable NBA rotation player on a contender. His heart, determination, and work ethic are still there...but when you are nearing 30 and 5'9" with a hip that will NEVER be the same...it is, what it is. I guess anything is possible, but it looks beyond just "playing back into shape". He can't be looked at as anything other than cap space. Getting the cap space and the 1st rounder were the trade benefits. Frye, btw, is a great lockerroom guy and will actually hit a few 3's here and there.
Frye would be a good fit, if only he were a few years younger.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:31 am    Post subject:

Even if Thomas got back to where he was, I wouldn't want him.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:32 am    Post subject:

I can see IT getting a one-year deal as a placeholder for the summer of 2019 when we go after Klay, Kawhi, or Butler.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:38 am    Post subject:

No

We have a pg and don't want a 5'9 sg
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ingle
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:41 am    Post subject:

I'm onboard with a $25m one year deal for IT, or even a longer Lou Williams type deal as long as he shows he's healthy in his time over here. However I don't think he will take a multi-year deal at a discount.

Sure he needs to be hidden on defense but offensively there were few players better than him, he addresses all our weaknesses (no half-court goto guy, no closer, 3 point shooting, free throw shooting) and would take a lot of pressure off our young guys.

If you get the chance to buy low on IT, you do it.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:50 am    Post subject:

yinoma2001 wrote:
I don’t think we are keeping IT long term.



I have to agree. IT will plug the bench, IMO this season but he's a
liability on D. I sure we should be able to find a better solution
@ to help the bench.

Another thing, IT wants to be a starter. I'm sure Lonzo will lead at PG and
we'll see who fills the seat at SG next season (PG?, Ingram?, Hart?, FA?,
etc). Caruso seems to be thriving as an inexpensive backup PG right now.
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ingle
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:00 am    Post subject:

lol at IT "plugging the bench"

He's been starting for the Cavs and Celtics and is heading into free agency. If you think he will be coming off the bench for us you are dreaming. If we do that, IT will end up so toxic that we'll be forced to buy him out.
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yinoma2001
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:02 am    Post subject:

No way I’m catering 1 year to IT. We have a defensive identity now and IT does not meet that.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:04 am    Post subject:

I'd try to bring Frye back tho. Another spacing big for Randle.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:07 am    Post subject:

unleasHell wrote:
Actually, I like this plan just fine...IF Thomas returns to form and FITS in...

Lopez is a decent center a huge upgrade over Zubac!

having a team with PG and Lebron, WITHOUT Lopez and Randle would NOT be very strong in the middle...

It's a good problem to have.

If ypou were only able to bring in PG and gave IT, Lopez and Randle one year deals, they would have the flexibility of being it the 2019 Free Agent race...


I don't see Lopez taking a one-year deal. And the only way Randle takes a one-year deal is if he doesn't get a good offer and takes the qualifying so he can become an unrestricted free agent next year
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:08 am    Post subject:

If the goal is to get Lebron, I don't think we'll see IT here next season.
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yinoma2001
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:08 am    Post subject:

Smoothness101 wrote:
I'd try to bring Frye back tho. Another spacing big for Randle.


Absolutely. But will likely have to be a vets minimum.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:16 am    Post subject:

There are rumors IT's hip is pretty bad. Right now I don't think anybody can guess his market value taking his hip injury into consideration. I would leave that up to our medical doctors. I am interested to see how his attitude is and how he plays down the stretch before talking about commitment.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:20 am    Post subject:

No matter who we keep, they will have to play DEFENSE!!
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King Randle
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:21 am    Post subject:

IT is as good as gone. He's a short, ball dominant point guard and a massive defensive liability. And that's not even bringing up the hip issue.
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