2024 NBA Offseason News

[Vermont Green]

However, trades haven't been found for Zach LaVine or Nikola Vucevic to really push the rebuilding efforts forward. In fact, there seems to be no market available for either player.

Trade talks for LaVine haven't gone anywhere, and cap space to absorb LaVine's contract has mostly dried up. The market for Vucevic never really developed in the first place, with teams wary of taking on the veteran center's contract.

LaVine is owed $137.9 million over the next three seasons. Vucevic is on the books for $41.5 million over the next two seasons.

It is surprising they cannot find a market for Vucevic. $20mil a year isn't bad for a starting caliber player. You'd think some team in need of a center would make a move for him.

Memphis. Phoenix. LA Clippers. Golden State.

I think he?s about to fall off the cliff soon. He?s not much of a winning player anymore.

I am sure that is the concern with him.  He will be 34 in Oct. for the start of the season.  He had a very good statistical year for a $20M player.  The only thing that was down was his 3P% at 29% (career 34%).  A slash of 18 pts / 10 rebs in over 34 min/game (the highest min/gm of his career).  Horford for contrast got 9 pts / 6 rebs in 26 min.

Makes me wonder what $20M buys these days in the NBA under the new CBA rules.  Statistically he comps well in the range of Sabonis, Adebayo, Turner, Ayton.  Of course, Adebayo plays much better defense, but based on box score stats, he is in the mix with these guys.  If you consider only pure centers, he might be top 10 at the position.  Isaiah Hartenstein got $30M as a UFA.

There really is no way the Celtics could trade for him right now, even if they wanted to.  White would work in terms of matching contract but he can't be traded until January due to the recent extension.  And I suspect that most would not want to trade White anyway.  But it seems like there could be a team that he could help.

[Moranis]

I was thinking that Vucevic on the Cavs next to Mobley instead of Allen might be a better fit for the Cavs.  Cavs would need more and it would probably need to be a 3 team trade with Allen going somewhere else and pieces going to both Bulls and Cavs. 

On the fly came up with

Cavs - Vucevic, Hawkins
Bulls ‐ Jones
Pelicans - Allen

So Pelicans would be Murray, McCollum, Ingram, Zion, Allen with Murphy, Theis, and a bunch of young guys

Cavs would be Garland, Mitchell, Strus, Mobley, Vucevic with LeVert, Hawkins, Wade, Okoro, Niangp

Bulls get a younger, cheaper, longer signed player for Vucevic. 

[Vermont Green]

I was thinking that Vucevic on the Cavs next to Mobley instead of Allen might be a better fit for the Cavs.  Cavs would need more and it would probably need to be a 3 team trade with Allen going somewhere else and pieces going to both Bulls and Cavs. 

On the fly came up with

Cavs - Vucevic, Hawkins
Bulls ‐ Jones
Pelicans - Allen

So Pelicans would be Murray, McCollum, Ingram, Zion, Allen with Murphy, Theis, and a bunch of young guys

Cavs would be Garland, Mitchell, Strus, Mobley, Vucevic with LeVert, Hawkins, Wade, Okoro, Niangp

Bulls get a younger, cheaper, longer signed player for Vucevic.

I agree with this.  Vucevic would be a good fit for CLE.  They still need a better wing, but he would help them.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I was thinking that Vucevic on the Cavs next to Mobley instead of Allen might be a better fit for the Cavs.  Cavs would need more and it would probably need to be a 3 team trade with Allen going somewhere else and pieces going to both Bulls and Cavs. 

On the fly came up with

Cavs - Vucevic, Hawkins
Bulls ‐ Jones
Pelicans - Allen

So Pelicans would be Murray, McCollum, Ingram, Zion, Allen with Murphy, Theis, and a bunch of young guys

Cavs would be Garland, Mitchell, Strus, Mobley, Vucevic with LeVert, Hawkins, Wade, Okoro, Niangp

Bulls get a younger, cheaper, longer signed player for Vucevic.

I agree with this.  Vucevic would be a good fit for CLE.  They still need a better wing, but he would help them.

I think we need to step back and ask what a "good fit" means. The idea of Vucevic as an offensive center that can stretch the floor makes some sense next to Mobley. But is Vucevic even a starting caliber center for a team trying to make a deep run in the playoffs? Is the actual player better? I think I'd rather have the better player (Allen) even if he is a worse fit.

The best comparison I have is Valanciunas on the Pelicans last year. He was matchup problem they couldn't keep on the court. Then, he signed 3-year 30m contract with the worst team in the NBA - that's not even a MLE. I don't think there was another team bidding for him, which means at best he was probably looking at a tax-payer MLE or a minimum. Vucevic is making over double that.

Vucevic is a negative value contract right now, and a worse player than Allen. The Cavs getting Hawkins back is something, but not enough.

What about to the Spurs for Zach Collins? Just straight up. The Bulls can take a chance on a younger player finally staying healthy. The Spurs get a more reliable veteran that can play some next to Wemby (whereas Collins couldn't really last year).

[Donoghus]

Yahoo Sports

@YahooSports
Patrick Beverley is leaving the NBA to play in Europe next season, he announced on his podcast.

He's expected to sign with Hapoel Tel Aviv BC.

[Neurotic Guy]

Yahoo Sports

@YahooSports
Patrick Beverley is leaving the NBA to play in Europe next season, he announced on his podcast.

He's expected to sign with Hapoel Tel Aviv BC.

What a life.  I realize Beverly?s deeds and temper have likely blacklisted him from the NBA but when your backup plan is making good money to play basketball abroad in Tel Aviv at age 36, that?s a pretty good gig. 36 is old for basketball but it?s YOUNG in life. Idk what his family situation is but when I was 36 what an incredible opportunity it would have been for my wife and young daughters to take a year abroad, make some money, and have the potential for an amazing experience.  Going abroad can be a nightmare too - but can also be an unforgettable and enriching time.

[Moranis]

I was thinking that Vucevic on the Cavs next to Mobley instead of Allen might be a better fit for the Cavs.  Cavs would need more and it would probably need to be a 3 team trade with Allen going somewhere else and pieces going to both Bulls and Cavs. 

On the fly came up with

Cavs - Vucevic, Hawkins
Bulls ‐ Jones
Pelicans - Allen

So Pelicans would be Murray, McCollum, Ingram, Zion, Allen with Murphy, Theis, and a bunch of young guys

Cavs would be Garland, Mitchell, Strus, Mobley, Vucevic with LeVert, Hawkins, Wade, Okoro, Niangp

Bulls get a younger, cheaper, longer signed player for Vucevic.

I agree with this.  Vucevic would be a good fit for CLE.  They still need a better wing, but he would help them.

I think we need to step back and ask what a "good fit" means. The idea of Vucevic as an offensive center that can stretch the floor makes some sense next to Mobley. But is Vucevic even a starting caliber center for a team trying to make a deep run in the playoffs? Is the actual player better? I think I'd rather have the better player (Allen) even if he is a worse fit.

The best comparison I have is Valanciunas on the Pelicans last year. He was matchup problem they couldn't keep on the court. Then, he signed 3-year 30m contract with the worst team in the NBA - that's not even a MLE. I don't think there was another team bidding for him, which means at best he was probably looking at a tax-payer MLE or a minimum. Vucevic is making over double that.

Vucevic is a negative value contract right now, and a worse player than Allen. The Cavs getting Hawkins back is something, but not enough.

What about to the Spurs for Zach Collins? Just straight up. The Bulls can take a chance on a younger player finally staying healthy. The Spurs get a more reliable veteran that can play some next to Wemby (whereas Collins couldn't really last year).

Vucevic played 34 mpg in 76 games last year. He grabbed 10.5 rpg and added 18 ppg. He is a pretty solid passer as well.  Allen is a much better defender, but Vucevic is a much better offensive player.  Mobley took off when Allen wasn't clogging the paint.  The Cavs peak will be based on how good Mobley becomes.  He is the guy they need to build around. 

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I was thinking that Vucevic on the Cavs next to Mobley instead of Allen might be a better fit for the Cavs.  Cavs would need more and it would probably need to be a 3 team trade with Allen going somewhere else and pieces going to both Bulls and Cavs. 

On the fly came up with

Cavs - Vucevic, Hawkins
Bulls ‐ Jones
Pelicans - Allen

So Pelicans would be Murray, McCollum, Ingram, Zion, Allen with Murphy, Theis, and a bunch of young guys

Cavs would be Garland, Mitchell, Strus, Mobley, Vucevic with LeVert, Hawkins, Wade, Okoro, Niangp

Bulls get a younger, cheaper, longer signed player for Vucevic.

I agree with this.  Vucevic would be a good fit for CLE.  They still need a better wing, but he would help them.

I think we need to step back and ask what a "good fit" means. The idea of Vucevic as an offensive center that can stretch the floor makes some sense next to Mobley. But is Vucevic even a starting caliber center for a team trying to make a deep run in the playoffs? Is the actual player better? I think I'd rather have the better player (Allen) even if he is a worse fit.

The best comparison I have is Valanciunas on the Pelicans last year. He was matchup problem they couldn't keep on the court. Then, he signed 3-year 30m contract with the worst team in the NBA - that's not even a MLE. I don't think there was another team bidding for him, which means at best he was probably looking at a tax-payer MLE or a minimum. Vucevic is making over double that.

Vucevic is a negative value contract right now, and a worse player than Allen. The Cavs getting Hawkins back is something, but not enough.

What about to the Spurs for Zach Collins? Just straight up. The Bulls can take a chance on a younger player finally staying healthy. The Spurs get a more reliable veteran that can play some next to Wemby (whereas Collins couldn't really last year).

Vucevic played 34 mpg in 76 games last year. He grabbed 10.5 rpg and added 18 ppg. He is a pretty solid passer as well.  Allen is a much better defender, but Vucevic is a much better offensive player.  Mobley took off when Allen wasn't clogging the paint.  The Cavs peak will be based on how good Mobley becomes.  He is the guy they need to build around.

I'm aware of his stats. But how many seasons in his career has he played for a winning team? The answer is 2 out of 13.

Allen actually averaged as many points per 36 minutes as Vucevic. Vucevic does it with inefficient shooting and ball-stopping postups. Allen does it in the flow of an offense as a great finisher. Allen's assists per 36 were basically the same as Vucevic's last year. I wouldn't use stats to say that Vucevic is a "much" better offensive player. They are different, and the ideal version of Vucevic could be an offensive force, but the actual on-court play is very similar to Allen.

On top of that, Allen is a much, much better defender. Like way better. He is a true rim protector. But Vucevic is a target by opposing teams.

And then there is the age. Vucevic is entering his age 34 season. Allen his age 26 season.

I feel like this board has often over-rated Vucevic, back to the days when we desperately needed big help. He's not a winning basketball player. 

[Roy H.]

James Dolan rips the new media rights proposal, saying that wealthy franchises -- particularly those with regional sports networks and pricey local sponsors -- will be harmed: 

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40571512/knicks-james-dolan-criticizes-nba-revenue-sharing-new-media-deal

[Jiri Welsch]

James Dolan rips the new media rights proposal, saying that wealthy franchises -- particularly those with regional sports networks and pricey local sponsors -- will be harmed: 

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40571512/knicks-james-dolan-criticizes-nba-revenue-sharing-new-media-deal

I read the ESPN article, but not Dolan's actual letter. I agree with him about the absurdity of the league office taking 8% of the revenue share. I disagree about the downfall of RSNs, not because I think he is wrong in theory, but because the media market will continue to shift dramatically in the next decade and RSNs aren't worth prioritizing in a long-term media deal.

[Who]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania

Mavericks say Kyrie Irving has undergone surgery to repair a broken left hand. He sustained the injury earlier this month while training

[Donoghus]

Silver speaking on NBA expansion and new TV deal

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/07/17/nba-expansion-adam-silver?publicationSource=morningbuzz&issue=62265c2c926441d1b9b08243f6a38c8d

LAS VEGAS -- While NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last night that league expansion will be examined in the fall, he admitted for the first time that the league?s owners may have reason to hold off: the dilution of their incoming media rights money.

After ratifying the NBA?s purported $76B media rights deal last night, the league?s 30 owners are set to share the profits 30 ways over 11 years. But if the league expands by two more teams -- and the favorites appear to be Las Vegas and Seattle -- that would mean the media money (which doesn?t arrive until 2026) will have to be shared 32 ways. Considering the two expansion fees are expected to be approximately $4B each, or $8B split among the 30 teams, Silver insinuated that may not make up for spreading the media wealth 32 ways instead of 30. The new media deals total about $6.9B annually.

"I will say it?s a bit more complicated than is suggested sometimes because just think of the new media deals, for example," Silver said. "Once they?re completed, when you bring in new partners, you?re diluting those payments, of course, to teams. Sometimes it seems as if we?re printing money when we expand. Actually, it?s no different than selling equity in any business.

"I think there needs to be a fair amount of modeling at the league office, working with existing owners and really thinking through the long-term prospects, again not just economically but also for the potential of dilution of talent."

[celticinorlando]

Middleton had offseason surgery on both ankles. Man the Bucks got old in a hurry

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Silver speaking on NBA expansion and new TV deal

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/07/17/nba-expansion-adam-silver?publicationSource=morningbuzz&issue=62265c2c926441d1b9b08243f6a38c8d

LAS VEGAS -- While NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last night that league expansion will be examined in the fall, he admitted for the first time that the league?s owners may have reason to hold off: the dilution of their incoming media rights money.

After ratifying the NBA?s purported $76B media rights deal last night, the league?s 30 owners are set to share the profits 30 ways over 11 years. But if the league expands by two more teams -- and the favorites appear to be Las Vegas and Seattle -- that would mean the media money (which doesn?t arrive until 2026) will have to be shared 32 ways. Considering the two expansion fees are expected to be approximately $4B each, or $8B split among the 30 teams, Silver insinuated that may not make up for spreading the media wealth 32 ways instead of 30. The new media deals total about $6.9B annually.

"I will say it?s a bit more complicated than is suggested sometimes because just think of the new media deals, for example," Silver said. "Once they?re completed, when you bring in new partners, you?re diluting those payments, of course, to teams. Sometimes it seems as if we?re printing money when we expand. Actually, it?s no different than selling equity in any business.

"I think there needs to be a fair amount of modeling at the league office, working with existing owners and really thinking through the long-term prospects, again not just economically but also for the potential of dilution of talent."

When I read the first bolded statement, my first thought was, "Don't forget about the dilution of talent," so I was glad to see that Silver mentions that a bit later.

[hpantazo]

Middleton had offseason surgery on both ankles. Man the Bucks got old in a hurry

Ray Allen came back pretty strong after that when he was a Celtic. Maybe we'll see some resurgence from Middleton/