Kyle Kuzma

[Csfan1984]

Okay player but get him mucks up salary cap space. Have to stay flexibe for 2022 and 2023 FA.

[tstorey_97]

Don't we have an "iffy power forward" who "might work out" with Parker?

[tonydelk]

Okay player but get him mucks up salary cap space. Have to stay flexibe for 2022 and 2023 FA.

Totally agree.  No long term deals this year.  Just 1yr deals only.  No Fournier.  Hopefully deal Thompson for another expiring or a pick. If Harrell opts in with lakers.  Trade Thompson and a 2nd for Harrell and a 1st.  Useful bench big who can score. 

[bogg]

I just don't see the team intentionally punting on next season, particularly after the way this past year went.

[Ogaju]

I just don't see the team intentionally punting on next season, particularly after the way this past year went.

It won’t be intentional. It’s just going to take more than a couple of seasons to fix the issues with the team.

[bogg]

I just don't see the team intentionally punting on next season, particularly after the way this past year went.

It won’t be intentional. It’s just going to take more than a couple of seasons to fix the issues with the team.

Letting Fournier walk, possibly unloading Smart for a draft pick, and limiting yourself to small-money guys who'll take one-year deals is definitely punting on the season on purpose.

[gouki88]

I just don't see the team intentionally punting on next season, particularly after the way this past year went.

It won’t be intentional. It’s just going to take more than a couple of seasons to fix the issues with the team.

Letting Fournier walk, possibly unloading Smart for a draft pick, and limiting yourself to small-money guys who'll take one-year deals is definitely punting on the season on purpose.

I don't think unloading Smart for a draft pick really fits into that, given he's an upcoming free agent. I also think throwing a 1 year $25m contract at Fournier can be a way to both maximise cap flexibility after next season while playing good ball next year. Not sure if he'd agree, but a showcase year here could earn him a Bertans-like contract next summer.

[bogg]

I don't think unloading Smart for a draft pick really fits into that, given he's an upcoming free agent.

I mean, you can let him hit unrestricted free agency in a year with the knowledge that you don't intend for him to return, but that's a good way to make sure you get the worst version of Smart all this coming season, incentivized to hunt points and protect his body.

I also think throwing a 1 year $25m contract at Fournier can be a way to both maximise cap flexibility after next season while playing good ball next year. Not sure if he'd agree, but a showcase year here could earn him a Bertans-like contract next summer.

Fournier's in line to get something very similar to Bertans' $16ish million per already. Getting him to agree to a one-year deal at half or less of the guaranteed money he's in line to get over a three or four year deal is easier said than done. If we assume that Stevens gets him to agree to something in the realm of $25-27 million per on a 1+1 though (and I think he takes the 50-60 over 3 or 4 from someone else, for the record), you've shot most of your "useful veteran" tax budget doing that. Instead of flipping Thompson for another contributor, using one or more of the TPEs, and/or using the MLE you're in cost-cutting mode.

Given that the cap space route involves letting Smart, Fournier, and Horford go and handcuffs your ability to otherwise improve the team, I highly doubt that it's the route the team chooses over the coming year. Maintaining trade flexibility with some mid-sized contracts attached to playable players offers a similar long-term upside while improving the team's immediate outlook.

Taking Beal for granted is an excellent way to get outmaneuvered by GS/Philly/etc and poison your own locker room in the process.

[BruceBanner18]

I don't think unloading Smart for a draft pick really fits into that, given he's an upcoming free agent.

I mean, you can let him hit unrestricted free agency in a year with the knowledge that you don't intend for him to return, but that's a good way to make sure you get the worst version of Smart all this coming season, incentivized to hunt points and protect his body.

I also think throwing a 1 year $25m contract at Fournier can be a way to both maximise cap flexibility after next season while playing good ball next year. Not sure if he'd agree, but a showcase year here could earn him a Bertans-like contract next summer.

Fournier's in line to get something very similar to Bertans' $16ish million per already. Getting him to agree to a one-year deal at half or less of the guaranteed money he's in line to get over a three or four year deal is easier said than done. If we assume that Stevens gets him to agree to something in the realm of $25-27 million per on a 1+1 though (and I think he takes the 50-60 over 3 or 4 from someone else, for the record), you've shot most of your "useful veteran" tax budget doing that. Instead of flipping Thompson for another contributor, using one or more of the TPEs, and/or using the MLE you're in cost-cutting mode.

Given that the cap space route involves letting Smart, Fournier, and Horford go and handcuffs your ability to otherwise improve the team, I highly doubt that it's the route the team chooses over the coming year. Maintaining trade flexibility with some mid-sized contracts attached to playable players offers a similar long-term upside while improving the team's immediate outlook.

Taking Beal for granted is an excellent way to get outmaneuvered by GS/Philly/etc and poison your own locker room in the process.

There is a real possibility that the plan was already in motion when they traded for Fournier and Horford. The tpe for an expiring and the quick trade giving up a pick when there is potentially some value for Kemba...but maybe Brad wanted a non guaranteed contract next summer. Even the Parker signing.

I don't think it's totally punting though. Nesmith, Williams, Pritchard, Langford even Grant all get a meaningful chance at the rotation. Could be a fun season of they are going this route... Which it appears they may be

[bogg]

There is a real possibility that the plan was already in motion when they traded for Fournier and Horford. The tpe for an expiring and the quick trade giving up a pick when there is potentially some value for Kemba...but maybe Brad wanted a non guaranteed contract next summer. Even the Parker signing.

I don't think it's totally punting though. Nesmith, Williams, Pritchard, Langford even Grant all get a meaningful chance at the rotation. Could be a fun season of they are going this route... Which it appears they may be

I highly doubt that the last few months have been setting up for a total non-Jays reset next summer, but the proof will be in what Brad does over the next month or two. My suspicion is that the Kemba-Horford trade had far more to do with the everyday availability of the two parties and freeing up extra room to spend with the tax budget than it was about 2022 cap space.

Boston has two years left before they need to either get Jaylen to extend or make some real tough decisions about him. I don't think they're going to light one of those two years on fire and gamble everything on 22-23 coming up roses.

[liam]

There is a real possibility that the plan was already in motion when they traded for Fournier and Horford. The tpe for an expiring and the quick trade giving up a pick when there is potentially some value for Kemba...but maybe Brad wanted a non guaranteed contract next summer. Even the Parker signing.

I don't think it's totally punting though. Nesmith, Williams, Pritchard, Langford even Grant all get a meaningful chance at the rotation. Could be a fun season of they are going this route... Which it appears they may be

I highly doubt that the last few months have been setting up for a total non-Jays reset next summer, but the proof will be in what Brad does over the next month or two. My suspicion is that the Kemba-Horford trade had far more to do with the everyday availability of the two parties and freeing up extra room to spend with the tax budget than it was about 2022 cap space.

Boston has two years left before they need to either get Jaylen to extend or make some real tough decisions about him. I don't think they're going to light one of those two years on fire and gamble everything on 22-23 coming up roses.

I gree the time is now!!!

[droopdog7]

Not trying to be a hater but I don't want Kuzma.  He needs to be a high usage guy to really excel and if he's not, he brings nothing else to the table at all.

[Vermont Green]

This tread has devolved into several tangents but someone said we should not trade for Kuzma and we should not sign Fournier or anyone else.  This approach doesn't make sense to me.  I don't think we would be enough under the cap with Tatum and Brown on the books anyway to have room to sign anyone substantial so to me, we need to lock in the salary for Fournier even if we then use him to help in a future sign and trade deal (or just trade) which essentially allows us to sign a FA.

So how about sign Fournier to $16M and trade him for Kuzma at $13M.  I think I prefer just to sign Fournier and play him next season.  If an opportunity for a sign and trade comes up next year or later, fine, Fournier gives us some "over the cap" salary to send out.

As to Kuzma, I like the idea of him, a young, skilled player who can play legit PF but it does appear that he is an underachiever.  Too bad.  I guess if he had been better, he wouldn't potentially be on the trade market.