2023-24 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

The following teams are projected to have cap space this offseason:
Detroit Pistons - $72,920,409
Philadelphia 76ers - $58,384,406
Utah Jazz - $44,020,423
Oklahoma City Thunder - $39,045,529
San Antonio Spurs - $34,402,118
Orlando Magic - $20,827,400
Charlotte Hornets - $12,682,112

The free agent pool this summer isn't very good, with Tyrese Maxey (restricted), Paul George, Lebron, Harden, and Demar DeRozen headlining the free agency class.

Having said that, I'm thinking about this in the context of D'Angelo Russell's likely free agency. Of the teams with cap space, I can only see Orlando being a viable option for him because they have a need for a point guard and they can offer approximately $20mil/season. Maybe San Antonio takes a chance on D'Lo and Popovich can turn him into a capable defender.

How this impacts the Lakers is that the Lakers could try to re-sign D'Lo with his bird rights, which I'm not against. He's been good in the regular season and it would be better just to keep him and continue to try to trade him down the road instead of letting him walk away for nothing. The Lakers could also try to do a extend and trade before D'Lo opts out to help him get to a preferred team that doesn't have the cap space, at least we would be able to try to get something back in return.

The dilemma is I really don't see too many teams having a major need for D'Lo that they are willing to pay him the $25+ mil/season he wants.

 

The Lakers need a third player who can consistently make shots (preferably a guard for balance) Joker,Murray and Porter are reliable shot makers.The player doesn’t have to be “star” just reliable.

 

the problem is that these types of players suddenly become unreliable shooters as soon as they join the lakers

 

Rob is obviously choosing the wrong type players then

 

Dlo, Lebron, and Rui shot career highs last season. KCP and Danny Green also shot well as Lakers. Also, other teams come into our arena and torch us from three. So did quite a few others that I didn't mention. The 3-pt thing with the Lakers is exaggerated and overblown.

 

none of those guys are 3 pt specialists. it's the guys who are specifically brought in to make 3s who suddenly forget how to shoot once they join the team. and danny green's 3 pt% drastically sank in his one season here

its not overblown at all

 

LMAO
We found our 3 points specialists
The Los Angeles Lakers paid the most money to fans who won their in-arena contests. The Lakers gifted $100,000 multiple times to select fans who made half-court shots. The Lakers also awarded $75,000 and $95,000 after making half-court shots. No other team in the NBA conducted a promotion of at least $75,000.

The Oklahoma City Thunder came in behind the Lakers for the most prize money given to fans. The Thunder awarded $20,000 to four fans who made a half-court shot. The Portland Trail Blazers awarded $50,000 to a fan who made a full-court golf putt.

The monetary values typically ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 for teams that awarded fans prize money. Most of these contests were half-court shots.

 

Still a yes to Murray and f*** no to Trae.

 

Guards guards guards gawddamed guards

Get us a BIG man. JHS will be the BOMB next year.

 

My goals are:
1) canned Ham
2) turn 1-2 of our top 7 players into 1-2 two way players. Most likely targets to replace would be DLO and Rui.
3) Size. Legit backup who's 250lbs and can play and contribute for 20-24 minutes when needed.

If Rob had Mitch's wand and could nab Lue, Murray, Grant, and Hartenstein we'd check every box. Realistically we lack the assets to pull that off. But that's the kind of moves I'm looking for. Two way Forward and Guard who aren't getting played off the court. Big man who can get physical, rebounds, defends, and does the little things.

 

Does Murray guard anyone more? Honestly Bogdonavic seems like a better player to add then either of their PGs.

I hate the man with a passion but if Draymond Green shoots the 3 ball like he did this year: he would actually be an incredible fit on the Lakers. He basically solves the defense and rebounding problems. OTOH I hate him, he's insane and will get himself suspended for being a j******, and his 3 point shot will likely disappear as soon as he puts on a Laker uniform

 

I think you'd see what we saw with Dinwiddie at a much higher multiplier on both sides.

If we had Phil Jackson and if he made the MLE, sure. But neither of those are true.

 

After the New Orleans Pelicans failed to win a playoff round for the sixth consecutive season, team executive David Griffin said the time has come for changes.

Griffin, New Orleans’ executive vice president of basketball operations, told reporters Tuesday that he was disappointed to be speaking with them rather than continuing to contend for a title after the team’s 49-win season. He added that the season “would’ve led you to believe we’d be playing deep into the summer.”

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At the end of a two-minute answer, Griffin said the Western Conference will only continue to improve, and his team needs to do the same.

“Whereas in the past we’ve always erred on the side of continuity, and our takeaway has been, ‘Let’s see this group healthy,’ I think we’ve seen it enough,” he said. “I want to be really, really clear: This is not going to be a summer of complacency. It’s time to get better.”



That health fueled New Orleans to its second-most regular-season wins in franchise history and yet did them in at the worst time. In the team’s first Play-In Tournament game, star Zion Williamson was injured with three minutes left to play against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Williamson, who scored a game-high 40 points, never returned from what was later deemed a right hamstring injury. Although the Pelicans won their ensuing game against the Sacramento Kings to make the playoffs, Williamson’s hamstring kept him out against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the Pelicans.

“Unfortunately we continue to have injury issues and certainly had a big one at the wrong time,” Griffin said, later calling Williamson’s injury “super demoralizing.”

He also praised Williamson’s season where the young star played a career-high 70 games.

“I think you saw so much evolution in his game that came from the evolution (of) his body and the work he put in,” Griffin said. “We’re really excited about where Zion is and where he intends to go.”



Despite the frustrating end, Griffin pointed to stretches of the season when the Pelicans looked like one of the best teams in the league, specifically mentioning that they had the best road record in the NBA and the sixth-best net rating.

If Griffin does intend to improve New Orleans’ roster through trades, such an avenue could involve a deal sending out Brandon Ingram, who is entering the final year of his contract in 2024-25. The All-Star forward averaged 20.8 points per game in the regular season but failed to score 20 points in any of the team’s postseason games.

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The Pelicans also have three first-round draft picks this offseason, plus two in 2025.

Forward Larry Nance Jr., who Griffin acquired in a 2018 trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, said he’s never been on a team when a general manager or executive promised such change outright but added that he isn’t surprised to hear Griffin’s comments.

“I read it. We all are going to. We’re all pawns at the end of the day, this is a business,” Nance said. “The people at the top are going to shuffle their pieces and go again. Everybody in the locker room understands that situations are temporary. This is all a business.”

Required reading

• Pelicans on verge of being swept as offense, stars continue to crater on playoff stage
• Pelicans need more from Brandon Ingram to upset Thunder. How can they get him going?

(Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

 

The New York Knicks will be without a key bench player for the remainder of the playoffs, as forward Bojan Bogdanović will undergo season-ending surgeries to repair foot and wrist injuries, league sources said Tuesday.

Bogdanović sustained a foot injury in Sunday’s Game 4 win over the Philadelphia 76ers and has been dealing with a lingering wrist issue.

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He’s played a key scoring role off the Knicks bench since joining New York in a deadline-day trade from Detroit, averaging 10.4 points per game through the regular season with the Knicks.

Through four postseason games, Bogdanović has averaged six points, three rebounds and one assist per game as the Knicks lead their first-round series against the 76ers 3-1. New York hosts Game 5 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.


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How does this affect the Knicks?
The Knicks traded for Bogdanović to be a potent scorer off the bench. Through a few playoff games, he looked like that. The veteran sharpshooter nailed crucial 3s in each of the first two games, both wins, of the Knicks’ first-round series. Now, New York will miss that spark off the bench. — Fred Katz, Knicks staff writer

Who steps up in Bogdanović’s place?
The Knicks have a few options. If Mitchell Robinson returns from a sprained ankle, they could keep Precious Achiuwa, who had filled in for Robinson, in their rotation. Achiuwa was one of the group’s top defenders during a Game 4 win, but coach Tom Thibodeau would have to figure out the spacing concerns that would come with placing Achiuwa and Robinson, two non-shooters, next to each other.

In an ideal world, Alec Burks would re-enter the rotation, which would give the Knicks the scoring punch they will lose with Bogdanović’s season-ending surgery. But Burks seriously struggled after coming over in the same trade that brought Bogdanović to New York, shooting only 31 percent from the field and 23 games with the Knicks. Eventually, he fell out of favor with Thibodeau and hasn’t returned to regular playing time since. — Katz

Required reading

• NBA Playoffs expert picks, odds for Tuesday: 76ers at Knicks, Magic at Cavs, Pacers at Bucks

(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

 

Sucks for Bogdanovic but he hasn't really fit in with the Knicks like I thought he would. The Knicks are running out of bodies but they're playing with house money right now, next year there will be a ton of hype and accordingly more expectations. I do hope they make an all-in move to contend next year, I'd love to see them smack the C Bags.

 

They can't really do much this summer.

 

That team had absolutely zero chemistry. For all the off court stuff, Lakers for example after the Westbrook trade actually have fun on the court.
Phoenix reminds me of the pre-Westbrook Lakers were the cheering and high fives all seemed perfunctory.

 

It's insane to me just how much Durant has screwed up his career (obviously he's still made a ton of money). He was originally beloved in OKC as the anti-LeBron who was humble and happy in the small market. Then he leaves for the Warriors and somehow was surprised when no one gave him any credit for winning those two titles, which is unfathomable to me. Then he decides to go be the man again somewhere, great, but instead of just going to the Knicks he and Kyrie galaxy brain it and go to a Nets team that no one cares about. Never mind him hitching his wagon to Kyrie in the first place. Once that blows up he demands a trade to the Suns and they immediately lock themselves into this redundant Big 3 of on-ball scorers that don't shoot enough threes.

 

Does anyone know if the Lakers would be a team with cap space if both Lebron, DLo, Wood, Reddish Hayes and opted out of their player options?

If they all opted out it looks like the Lakers would have about $100 mill on the books with the salary cap being at $141mil. What would the cap gold be for Lebron to retain his bird rights?

I don’t know if this would work under the salary cap rules but my semi-realistic dream offseason would be to:
- Trade Rui, Vincent, JHS and multiple Picks for DeJaunte Murray
- Sign Klay Thompson where he gets $25 mil/season
- Re-sign Lebron for a 3 year deal (3rd year being a player option)
- Split the MLE between Mason Plumlee and De’Anthiny Melton
- Cedi Osman, Lonnie Walker, Gordon Hayward for the vet minimum
-
Our depth chart would look like:
Murray/Melton/
Reaves/Walker/Christie
Klay/Osman/Hayward
Lebron/Vando
AD/Plumlee

I think that team could be a lot better than what we have now. Murray and Melton are both good point of attack defenders. The return of Lonnie Walker gives us an athletic wing who can get hot. Klay is still a capable 3 point threat that will make people pay on double teams, we get some size with Plumlee.


Oh yeah, fire Ham and bring in the best coaching candidate on the market. There’s bound to be a few coaches who will be let go in the next few months, but no more of these first time head coaches. Budinhozer and Ty Lue have championship experience and are actually good at coaching and making adjustments. I would start with those two