2024 NBA Off-Season Thread (FA, Trades, Extensions, Rumors)

[Arguendo]

Keith Smith reporting (on his YouTube show) rumors that Brunson might sign an early extension next week, would mean Brunson is leaving something like $80mil on the table versus waiting for a max extension.

Can’t remember which podcast I heard it on, likely Simmons/Russillo but someone with actual connections, they said Brunson pushed hard for this, with the understanding that he & Bridges (maybe all the Nova guys) were fully willing & committed to take less to play together & keep it together next pay rd, partly bc good friends (those 2 are supposed to be BFFs) & partly bc if they ring in NYC they can all make a significant portion of that back in marketing deals & gigs.
Id assumed this was part of the calculus for NYC giving up that much.
If you ring, you’ve got deals for life. Guarantee Walt Frazier is living off that exact situation.

[Pauleta14]

^ I may just be triggered but I listen to the hoop collective every week and Tim Bontemps NEVER says anything positive about the spurs, matter fact he always talked Chet > Wemby for almost the entire season

So much that the 2 co-hosts made fun of him

He loves playing the sceptic role

[PhantomDashCam]

I don't see how any rational person would prefer Bassey to Reed.

FWIW:

A few die hard Philly fans I speak with had been clamouring for Reed to be given time, role etc due to his performances in the G League, for seemingly years,
The problem was though, when granted it, Reed could not understand basic plays and sets that they would run on both ends, finding himself constantly out of position or a step late.
By the end of his tenure, they were thankful that he was gone.

[Deano]

Pretty close although Castle will backup CP3 before Tre. We didn't take him at 4 to play him at SG.

[benefactor]

Lol, who's that last guy, he sounds like an idiot.

Says the guy that always sounds like an idiot

[tonight...you]

30-35 wins is where I'd put us. If Vegas set the O/U at 33.5, I'd have a hard time picking a side.

If CP3 and Barnes start in place of Tre and Champ it will mean that we replaced two guys who have no business starting with two guys who are barely passable starters. Yeah it's an improvement, but not by too much. The benefit of CP3 and Barnes will come not necessarily from immediate on the court play, but in the long-term from the mentorship and leadership they provide.

I can understand where you're coming from, but I disagree in that less ignorant chaos on the floor and more intelligent structure from the wisdom of CP3 and the experience of Barnes from going through his many battles on the field will be immensely useful and effective from the get-go.

JMO

[exstatic]

So much that the 2 co-hosts made fun of him

He loves playing the sceptic role

He probably has half a dozen accounts here.

[SpursFan86]

Bontemps is insufferable His larger point that going from 22 to 42 wins will be extremely tough is totally valid, but acting like CP3/Barnes are meaningless additions is ridiculous.

Anyone who watched the Spurs last year could see how much their inexperience hurt them…even if CP3/Barnes decline further their leadership will be huge. Throw in the natural improvement of the young guys on the roster + not needing half the year to learn how to play with Victor…this team isn’t going to be close to a 22-win team again.

Barring injuries, I think the reasonable range is 30-38 wins. Anything below that would be pretty disappointing, and anything above that would be exceeding expectations. 42+ is where you get into super unrealistic outcomes IMO, but I don’t think 38-40 wins is THAT crazy.

[Mr. Body]

Bontemps is insufferable His larger point that going from 22 to 42 wins is totally valid, but acting like CP3/Barnes are meaningless additions is ridiculous.

Anyone who watched the Spurs last year could see how much their inexperience hurt them…even if CP3/Barnes decline further their leadership will be huge. Throw in the natural improvement of the young guys on the roster + not needing half the year to learn how to play with Victor…this team isn’t going to be close to a 22-win team again.

Barring injuries, I think the reasonable range is 30-38 wins. Anything below that would be pretty disappointing, and anything above that would be exceeding expectations. 42+ is where you get into super unrealistic outcomes IMO, but I don’t think 38-40 wins is THAT crazy.

He was suggesting that the Spurs added those veterans to trick Wembanyama into thinking they were trying to improve but weren't. This is why ESPN is garbage. No legitimately sapient person could say this, but they have to do the "spew idiocy to draw clicks and eyeballs" thing. It's why ESPN is really failing.

[BacktoBasics]

He was suggesting that the Spurs added those veterans to trick Wembanyama into thinking they were trying to improve but weren't. This is why ESPN is garbage. No legitimately sapient person could say this, but they have to do the "spew idiocy to draw clicks and eyeballs" thing. It's why ESPN is really failing.

I definitely view the moves as placeholders and a means to an end. Before I get into the weeds I support the moves. Both players fill out the roster and gives the team a more well rounded look. It’s important that we improve, yes for Wemby but neither of these players propel us to deep playoff contention.

They will bring us to probably somewhere near .500, give our youth some leadership and bring some cohesiveness to the roster. If we have a good season it’ll be because our youth was able to improve vs. being forced out of position (experiment etc).

We need to buy some time. Especially this year. Castle isn’t the answer but he could play a big role. Sochan and Vassell need a legitimate pg so they can work within their actual roles. With Paul holding down the pg spot with Tre we should finally get a real look at Sochan and Branham. They likely won’t be asked to do things outside of what they best bring to the roster.

Buying a year was a smart move. Gets us to the next draft and closer to next seasons moves.

[DAF86]

DAF86 do we bring him home?

Bertans and Poku, both.

[DAF86]

Wasn't DAF86 in love with Poku as well?

we have 2 roster spots

It's all going according to the plan.

[Mr. Body]

I definitely view the moves as placeholders and a means to an end. Before I get into the weeds I support the moves. Both players fill out the roster and gives the team a more well rounded look. It’s important that we improve, yes for Wemby but neither of these players propel us to deep playoff contention.

They will bring us to probably somewhere near .500, give our youth some leadership and bring some cohesiveness to the roster. If we have a good season it’ll be because our youth was able to improve vs. being forced out of position (experiment etc).

We need to buy some time. Especially this year. Castle isn’t the answer but he could play a big role. Sochan and Vassell need a legitimate pg so they can work within their actual roles. With Paul holding down the pg spot with Tre we should finally get a real look at Sochan and Branham. They likely won’t be asked to do things outside of what they best bring to the roster.

Buying a year was a smart move. Gets us to the next draft and closer to next seasons moves.

They're placeholders, giving structure, helping the younger guys settle in and concentrate on their own work, etc. What the pickups aren't, and it's unbelievable that a grown person could reasonably say this, a way of tricking Wembanyama into thinking the team is doing something.

We just need to push ESPN into a barrel of burning tar and get it over with.

[DAF86]

For real now, I lost track of both, Poku IDGF, but I refuse to believe Bertans has fallen so much that he can't give you good 15 minutes of floor spacing.

[Arguendo]

Bontemps is insufferable His larger point that going from 22 to 42 wins will be extremely tough is totally valid, but acting like CP3/Barnes are meaningless additions is ridiculous.

Yeah, outside of Woj if they’re paid by ESPN they’re not worth taking seriously. They started 5-25 with Sochan & bran PG experiments, Jones took over 1/4 & they went 17-35= 27 win pace. Post AS which I think is better considering the amount of 20 y/o, an actual PG & set roles, they were playing .400 ball= 33 win pace.
Hard to see less than 27 wins running everything back, with the additions they’re a 33win team, with maybe 38upside barring something crazy.

[DAF86]

I don't disagree with Windhorst and the other guy, tbh. I don't think CP3 and Barnes move the needle much, if anything at all. If the Spurs improve to mediocre this next season it will be all because of the growth of Wemby, Vassell, Sochan and Tre.

[Arguendo]

I don't disagree with Windhorst and the other guy, tbh. I don't think CP3 and Barnes move the needle much, if anything at all. If the Spurs improve to mediocre this next season it will be all because of the growth of Wemby, Vassell, Sochan and Tre.

Multiple things can be true, who’s measuring & which gauge?
Going from 22 to 33 is 6th worst to 9th worst= not a needle move league wide…but for Spurs plus 50% yr/yr is big. For development, those guys=temporary structural support, I’d be surprised if it’s not a huge needle move for a few guys, same for learning how to be a pro/communicate/position/vet tricks that’s another huge needle jump for a few guys.

But from league wide perspective they’re still a mid lottery team, gauge looks the same.
& for those young guys, that growth becomes much easier due to intangibles, not on court production.
Chef can do a lot more finishing with quality Sous chefs & recipes, CP3 & Barnes are doing the prep, training future sous chefs, & bringing in 30yrs of tested recipes.

[TD 21]

Reed will more than likely end up in a situation where he's the clear primary backup.

I'm sure Knicks or Pelicans would want him. They desperately need a cheap big.

The Knicks need someone more proven/durable than Bassey to play behind injury prone Robinson and in front of Sims. The Pelicans need a starter in front of Theis and Missi.

If CP3 and Barnes start in place of Tre and Champ it will mean that we replaced two guys who have no business starting with two guys who are barely passable starters.

It's the trickle down effect, where two replacement players (Branham and Wesley) get slotted into more appropriate roles of spot minutes and deep bench.

Bontemps is insufferable His larger point that going from 22 to 42 wins will be extremely tough is totally valid, but acting like CP3/Barnes are meaningless additions is ridiculous.

He's a disgrace. From the annoying voice to the overbearing arrogance, constant interrupting and overt biases (we get it, he hates the Lakers and Spurs and is in bed with the Warriors and Craptors), he should be fired.

[Seventyniner]

30-35 wins is where I'd put us. If Vegas set the O/U at 33.5, I'd have a hard time picking a side.

If CP3 and Barnes start in place of Tre and Champ it will mean that we replaced two guys who have no business starting with two guys who are barely passable starters. Yeah it's an improvement, but not by too much. The benefit of CP3 and Barnes will come not necessarily from immediate on the court play, but in the long-term from the mentorship and leadership they provide.

I might have said this elsewhere, but I expect the bulk of the value that Paul and Barnes provide to the team will be off the court. Training camp, practice, road trips, etc.

[poopbox]

Bontemps has the hairline of a man who has given up all hope and only lives to make other people lives miserable

[Spurs Brazil]

[Pauleta14]

Bontemps is insufferable

I genuinely find sceptics useful pains in the ass but this one... wtf

He spent 2/3 of last season getting mad at the idea that Wemby could be ROY then got nervous anytime Windy alluded to Vic being MAYBE more deserving than Gobert for DPOY

He's not stupid but he loves to outsmart himself and ends up stuck with his own narratives. He lacks intellectual "flexibility"

[Manu&Duncan fan]

This!

[ace3g]

[ace3g]

Michael Scotto MikeAScotto
The New York Knicks are among the teams who’ve expressed interest in signing free agent Davis Bertans, league sources told Hoopshype
. Bertans has shot 39.6% from 3-point range in his career and played for Latvia in the FIBA Olympics Qualifying Tournament.