2019/20 Players' Transactions: Breaking News , Trades, Free Agents, And Rumors

That repeater tax is killer. I'd bet money GS won't want to pay it. They'll try to low ball him

 

He'd have to take a looooot less to keep everyone there. Same with Steph. If they each took say 20 million instead of over 30 million, then sure they could keep the band together. They'd really have to swallow cash.

They might do it though. That team seems different up there.

 

This.

We'll see. This summer I predict everything is fine and the band mostly comes back together. They'll probably lose one of Iguodala or Livingston. But money is going to get tighter and tighter. Will they all continue sacrificing their entire career in order to win rings? I'm willing to bet someone won't. Klay is a better player than a 3/4th fiddle. Is he willing to be that in order to win or will he want to make his own name for himself at some point? We'll just have to wait and see.

I was mostly kidding anyway. We're not a good enough team to attract a Klay Thompson right now as it is.

 

He did play well by his standards, but no I'm not interested in him at all either.

 

Here's the full FA list. As players opt out, I'll add in their details. Schemes to follow.

Point Guards/Combo Guards
This year’s crop is actually deeper than last year’s, I believe. Conley’s +6 was the highest among Guards/PGs. This year, there are four players at that level. Curry will get max. Hill will probably get more than JR Smith (14M) and less than Wade (23M). Teague and Holliday have a shot at near max, just given how few good PGs there are available. If I’m looking to upgrade G, I’m looking at two things. First, notice that DA’s post ASB play – with horrendous defense and all – is hard to upgrade on, and he’s going to be better as he matures. Second, look at players like Darren Collison and Patty Mills. If one of them is available on the cheap, that’s the play if you want a PG. But there’s no reason to throw a lot of money at that sort of PG. We could look elsewhere: like Ronnie Price (again) if we need defense and Dion Waiters if he is interested in a lower salary – like less than JC.

Three SDs Up
Stephen Curry +18

Two SDs Up
George Hill +10

One SD Up
Jeff Teague +6
Jrue Holiday +6
Darren Collison 0
Patty Mills 0
D’ANGELO RUSSELL POST ASB -3

Middle of the Pack
Dion Waiters -3
Derrick Rose -4
Deron Williams -4
Jason Terry -5
Beno Udrih -5
D’ANGELO RUSSELL -6
*Michael Carter-Williams -6
JORDAN CLARKSON -9
*Bobby Brown -9
Ty Lawson -9

One SD Down
Raymond Felton -11
Jose Calderon -11
Ronnie Price -11
Brandon Jennings -12
*Trey Burke -12
Randy Foye -12

Two SDs Down (Minimum Contract)
TYLER ENNIS -13
Brian Roberts -14 (was a -9 last season)
Aaron Brooks -16
Norris Cole -17

Wings
The Wing crop isn’t deep with good players, but it offers a bunch of good veteran players. In fact, the top offers much more than it did last season (DeMar DeRozan picked up a max deal at +1). I wouldn’t go long term on any of these players, but a 1+1 with an overpay wouldn’t be terrible if we’re set at all other positions and have some money to spend. Tony Snell wouldn’t be a back depth pickup if he comes cheaper than what I’m projecting.

Two SDs Up (One Year at 20M or multiple at decreasing amounts – 2 at 34, 3 at 42, 4 at 44? – as all are older)
Kyle Korver +3
Andre Iguodala +3
Manu Ginobili +2
JJ Redick +1

One SD Up (One year might start at 18, two at 36, three at 48, four at 56; adjusted down for age)
Matt Barnes -1
Thabo -2
Tony Allen -3
Shaun Livingston -3
Tyreke Evans -3
Tony Snell -3
*Tim Hardaway Jr. -4
*Kentavious Caldwell-Pope -4
*Andre Roberson -4

Middle of the Pack (People overpaid like crazy for these players last year. These are players I’d consider on MLE-type deals, 5-8M per season.)
LUOL DENG -6
Ian Clark -6
Justin Holiday -6
Jodie Meeks -7
Reggie Bullock -9
*Ben McLemore -9
*Jonathan Simmons -10
Vince Carter -10
Dahntay Jones -10
*Shabazz Muhammad -10 (worst defender at his position)
James Jones -10
Anthony Morrow -11

One SD Down (These are Vet Min to Room Exception, 1-4M)
POST ASB BRANDON INGRAM -12*
Shelvin Mack -13
Sasha Vujacic -13 (was a -8 last season)
Patricio Garino -14
Alan Anderson -15
Sergio Rodriguez -15
*Ron Baker -15
Brandon Rush -15
Alex Toupane -15
James Young -16

Two SDs Down
These are Vet Min Players
BRANDON INGRAM -18

Forwards
Given the market, Millsap can write his own ticket, even at age 32.

Three SDs Up
Paul Millsap +13

Two SDs Up
Porter is getting max. The other gents could go in search of a ring. If not, they could be looking at solid paydays. At 30, Johnson could see an incredible deal, approaching 20M per season.
*Otto Porter Jr. +8
David West +8
Amir Johnson +7

One SD Up
There are some excellent players here. Players better suited to SF earned a good deal more money than those who were more PFs last season in this range. If that continues, Johnson, Beasley, Gibson, and Williams could all see huge salaries – in the 15-18M range. The Lakers could add a quality player in Splitter if they want an upgrade on defense. That’s precisely what I’d try to do if I were LA – look at a two year, $19M deal for Tiago.
James Johnson +4
Michael Beasley +3
Taj Gibson +3
Alan Williams +2
Tiago Splitter +2
*Nikola Mirotic +2
Zach Randolph +1
Brandon Bass 0

Middle of the Pack
Note that Randle is in this group, meaning the Lakers are already in decent shape with their current starter. If he continues to improve with age, he could jump into the next higher group by next season, but there are good options available that offer different skillsets – like Ilyasova for shooting, Tucker for defense.
*Joe Ingles -1
Ersan Ilyasova -1
JULIUS RANDLE -2
PJ Tucker -2
*JaMychal Green -2
Christian Wood -4
Jonas Jerebko -5
Kris Humphries -6
Thomas Robinson -6
*Bojan Bogdanovic -6
Udonis Haslem -6
Alex Poythress -6
Dante Cunningham -7
Patrick Patterson -7

One SD Down
If you’re signing one of these players, it’s either for depth or you’re speculating. I steer clear of Green and Metta like the plague. Motiejunas is the only one in the group that offers a good skill – his defense.
*James McAdoo -9
Donatas Motiejunas -9
Omri Casspi -9
Metta -9
Luke Babbitt -10
Adreian Payne -10
Jeff Green -12

Two SDs Down
These are end of the bench players, but Troy Williams isn’t a bad prospect.
*Troy Williams -13
Derrick Williams -16
*Damjan Rudez -17

Center-Eligible
Ibaka will be paid as either the best aging Center-eligible player in the crop or as one of the top five Forwards. He’s going to get a max or near max deal.

Two SD Up
Serge Ibaka +9

One SD Up
Who’d have imagined this? Olynyk is in line for a max deal. He’s right where Dwight Howard was last year – but five years younger. Zaza was at +5 last year, and he’s been even better slotted into a good team. Even if he falls off a bit, he’s an above average center and a good candidate for a short, high-paying deal or a ring chase. Noel is my favorite among the Center prospects, and both he and Plumlee could be in for massive paydays. Their deals should probably start at around 15M.
*Kelly Olynyk +8
Zaza Pachulia +7
*Nerlens Noel +6
*Mason Plumlee +5

Middle of the Pack
Some good, quality vets here. The Lakers could do worse than to invite back Hibbert, but McGee might be a cheaper option and a better fit. Nene continues to be excellent despite his age; he was at only +1 last season, and he found a good role on a good team.
Dewayne Dedmon +4
Nene Hilario +3
*Alex Len +2
Mike Muscala +1
Nick Collison +1
Roy Hibbert +1
Marreese Speights +1
JaVale McGee +1
Cristiano Felicio 0

One SD Down
Center is pretty deep. The Lakers have three just below average bigs. Zubac is likely to improve a good deal next season. He could be into the low average range by next season’s close. Mozgov was at -2 last season, meaning he actually played slightly better this season. Let that sink in.
Jeff Withey -1
TARIK BLACK -1(was -7 last year)
TIMOFEY MOZGOV -1
Joel Anthony -3
IVICA ZUBAC -4

Two SD Down
Probably not worth a contract. Center is deep.
Walter Tavares -7

Four SD Down (Ouch)
Again. Ouch.
Joffrey Lauvergne -12

 

I know we have a draft to sort out, but here are some targets that interest me:

PG
Premium: George Hill on a short deal could pump some life into this team, can shoot, and defend.
Bargain Bin: Jason Terry on a one-year deal could do good things for this team's toughness, but we'd have to look at his face.

WING
Premium: Korver or Redick could hold down the 2-spot for a season while we work on bringing over George.
Middle of the Pack: I'm very curious as to what Tony Snell is going to do on the market.
Bargain Bin: If he's coming cheap, I like Reggie Bullock.

FORWARD
Premium: Millsap could transform this team - with his hard work, shooting, and ability to attract other quality players.
Middle of the Pack: I really am intrigued by Splitter, Mirotic, Ilyasova, and Wood.
Bargain Bin: Motiejunas interests me.

CENTER
Premium: Ibaka and Noel are potential game-changers. Pachulia on a short-term deal is intriguing.
Middle of the Pack: Nene on a two-year, $15M contract could add toughness down low.
Bargain Bin: Hibbert or JaVale for defense - they're possible.

 

I'm happy to give young guys a chance, but I'm not convinced that we have starters at all positions right now. I think you must be open to options if you're going to have a quality team. BTW, I'd also be fine with those bargain bin vets to teach our young guys.

Ball/Jason Terry/Ennis
Russell/Reggie Bullock/Nwaba
Ingram/Brewer/Deng
Randle/Nance/Motiejunas
Mozgov/Black/Zubac

And you could even dump the 28 and Deng, perhaps, for a one-year higher salary guy.