NBA Free Agency 2024

[Vermont Green]

Joe Ingles to Minnesota

I am assuming a vet min, 1 year contract, $3.3M?  Did MIN have any other available exemptions?

I guess MIN is a good spot, probably more opportunity than on BOS, I wonder if we were in on him at all?

I didn't see a number.

I saw a journalist note they offered Ingles $7mil a year last summer before he went to Orlando for $11mil a year.

Is the taxpayer MLE only available to teams below the 2nd Apron? Minnesota would be above it, aren't they?

Spotrac is showing MIN over the second apron based on total allocations.  Even their current active cap is over the second apron.  There is often some wrinkle that I am not aware of but I don't think MIN had the TP-MLE available to them.

[celticinorlando]

Alec Burks to the Heat...

I have zero idea what the Heat are doing this offseason. Thinking they can run that roster back without Caleb Martin is just comical.

[Phantom255x]

Alec Burks to the Heat...

I have zero idea what the Heat are doing this offseason. Thinking they can run that roster back without Caleb Martin is just comical.

Riley seems to be using the "our team was hurt last season that's why we lost early" logic, but the thing is I think most people realize their 2023 Finals run was a fluke too but their organization still thinks that's their peak. It's even harder without Martin who was huge for them in the 2023 run especially the ECF.

[footey]

I see Miles Bridges going to the Lakers or the Heat.

[celticinorlando]

Alec Burks to the Heat...

I have zero idea what the Heat are doing this offseason. Thinking they can run that roster back without Caleb Martin is just comical.

Riley seems to be using the "our team was hurt last season that's why we lost early" logic, but the thing is I think most people realize their 2023 Finals run was a fluke too but their organization still thinks that's their peak. It's even harder without Martin who was huge for them in the 2023 run especially the ECF.

Yep. They seem to overvalue a lot of guys on that roster. I don't see them anywhere but in the play in tournament again. They are losing ground to Boston, NY, Philly, Indy, Orlando, Cleveland and still are not as good as the Bucks.

That run to the finals is treated by their fans and franchise as the greatest thing they have done ever and really it was a fluke.

[Phantom255x]

Alec Burks to the Heat...

I have zero idea what the Heat are doing this offseason. Thinking they can run that roster back without Caleb Martin is just comical.

Riley seems to be using the "our team was hurt last season that's why we lost early" logic, but the thing is I think most people realize their 2023 Finals run was a fluke too but their organization still thinks that's their peak. It's even harder without Martin who was huge for them in the 2023 run especially the ECF.

Yep. They seem to overvalue a lot of guys on that roster. I don't see them anywhere but in the play in tournament again. They are losing ground to Boston, NY, Philly, Indy, Orlando, Cleveland and still are not as good as the Bucks.

That run to the finals is treated by their fans and franchise as the greatest thing they have done ever and really it was a fluke.

Right now if I had to rank the East, I would go

1. Boston
2. New York
3. Philadelphia
4. Milwaukee
5. Indiana
6. Orlando
7. Cleveland
8. Miami

And then 9-10 the usual Atlanta and Chicago in some order being the mediocre 9-10 matchup 

I don't think Miami got any better while a handful of other teams in the East certainly did. But the good thing for them is that 11-15 in the East (DET, WAS, BKN, CHA, TOR) is just pure garbage and will continue to be barring some massive change or overachieving. 

[Who]

Alec Burks to the Heat...

I have zero idea what the Heat are doing this offseason. Thinking they can run that roster back without Caleb Martin is just comical.

Riley seems to be using the "our team was hurt last season that's why we lost early" logic, but the thing is I think most people realize their 2023 Finals run was a fluke too but their organization still thinks that's their peak. It's even harder without Martin who was huge for them in the 2023 run especially the ECF.

I like Miami keeping the team together. I don't see any major value in rebuilding. They have Bam Adebayo who they want to spend the rest of his career there. He embodies everything about Heat Culure that they want to maintain moving forward.

I don't see the upside to bottoming out and trying to keep him happy while they do it. Or risk losing him while they bottom out.

Better to keep going. Move towards the day when you have cap space again and retool on the move.

[keevsnick]

Joe Ingles to Minnesota

I am assuming a vet min, 1 year contract, $3.3M?  Did MIN have any other available exemptions?

I guess MIN is a good spot, probably more opportunity than on BOS, I wonder if we were in on him at all?

I didn't see a number.

I saw a journalist note they offered Ingles $7mil a year last summer before he went to Orlando for $11mil a year.

Is the taxpayer MLE only available to teams below the 2nd Apron? Minnesota would be above it, aren't they?

Spotrac is showing MIN over the second apron based on total allocations.  Even their current active cap is over the second apron.  There is often some wrinkle that I am not aware of but I don't think MIN had the TP-MLE available to them.

They have no exceptions besides the vet min.

[Phantom255x]

Alec Burks to the Heat...

I have zero idea what the Heat are doing this offseason. Thinking they can run that roster back without Caleb Martin is just comical.

Riley seems to be using the "our team was hurt last season that's why we lost early" logic, but the thing is I think most people realize their 2023 Finals run was a fluke too but their organization still thinks that's their peak. It's even harder without Martin who was huge for them in the 2023 run especially the ECF.

I like Miami keeping the team together. I don't see any major value in rebuilding. They have Bam Adebayo who they want to spend the rest of his career there. He embodies everything about Heat Culure that they want to maintain moving forward.

I don't see the upside to bottoming out and trying to keep him happy while they do it. Or risk losing him while they bottom out.

Better to keep going. Move towards the day when you have cap space again and retool on the move.

Nah they definitely shouldn't rebuild. It's still a playoff team with Butler and Bam easily. If they could add DeRozan as a very nice 2nd/3rd scorer that'd certainly help too.

I just think they are falling behind from the others in the East who actually made significant additions or in the case of Cleveland, Boston and Milwaukee were already better than Miami.

[celticinorlando]

Alec Burks to the Heat...

I have zero idea what the Heat are doing this offseason. Thinking they can run that roster back without Caleb Martin is just comical.

Riley seems to be using the "our team was hurt last season that's why we lost early" logic, but the thing is I think most people realize their 2023 Finals run was a fluke too but their organization still thinks that's their peak. It's even harder without Martin who was huge for them in the 2023 run especially the ECF.

Yep. They seem to overvalue a lot of guys on that roster. I don't see them anywhere but in the play in tournament again. They are losing ground to Boston, NY, Philly, Indy, Orlando, Cleveland and still are not as good as the Bucks.

That run to the finals is treated by their fans and franchise as the greatest thing they have done ever and really it was a fluke.

Right now if I had to rank the East, I would go

1. Boston
2. New York
3. Philadelphia
4. Milwaukee
5. Indiana
6. Orlando
7. Cleveland
8. Miami

And then 9-10 the usual Atlanta and Chicago in some order being the mediocre 9-10 matchup 

I don't think Miami got any better while a handful of other teams in the East certainly did. But the good thing for them is that 11-15 in the East (DET, WAS, BKN, CHA, TOR) is just pure garbage and will continue to be barring some massive change or overachieving.

It is going to be extemely hard for Miami to not make the playoffs with the teams around them being so bad. But against the other 7 top teams I don't think Miami has a prayer.

If Butler plays a regular season he will be gassed by the playoffs or hurt again. He is just not someone they can count on. We lived through the Rozier experiment. Herro is a defenseless volume shooter. You have the 2 young guys that just seem to be grinders and nothing more.

I like Bam but he has one shot and that the foul line jumper.

Bench is awful...richardson coming off an injury. Burks who is just mid. Robinson. Kevin Love. And the guy the drafted who is going to need some time.

[Who]

I like the Heat squad. They are fun to watch when Jimmy is there.

G: Rozier, J Richardson
G: Herro, D Robinson, A Burks
F: J Butler, Highsmith
F: Jovic, Jaquez
C: Bam, K Love, K Ware, T Bryant

Caleb Martin is likely to leave. They are hoping they can keep Highsmith. I don't think Burks cracks their rotation if Highsmith stays. If he leaves, Burks should take his spot.

Main goal will be to try and get Terry Rozier playing better. He never settled down after joining midseason. See if they can get Rozier & Herro working well together. Or else split them up mid-season or next summer.

I think Jimmy is entering the final year of his deal. He may leave next summer. Miami are worried about giving him a long term deal.

I'd say the main goal is to develop the young guys such as Ware, Jovic and Jaquez. Jaquez is already a key rotation player. Jovic is a borderline rotation player who was forced to start. Ware will probably be a 3rd stringer. They will just want to get him understanding hard work & high effort. Those Heat veterans are the best teachers he can have right now. If he develops into the 3+D center they hope he can be, they have a formidable 1-2 punch at PF-C with Bam & Ware in the years moving forward. Can probably free up a bunch of cap space to build around them.

They are not a contender. Just a good solid playoff team. Limited options to improve in the immediate sense. Probably waiting for cap flexability for their next major push forward.

[Who]

I see Miles Bridges going to the Lakers or the Heat.

Miles Bridges does feel like a good fit in Miami. Herro would be a nice fit in the backcourt alongside LaMelo Ball. That is a swap that could work.

The Herro & Rozier backcourt partnership hasn't worked out. Has hurt their defense more than it added to their offense. They can go back to playing only one small guard in Rozier and play bigger on the wings. Rebuild their defense.

G: Rozier
G: D Robinson
F: J Butler
F: Miles Bridges, Jaquez
C: Bam, K Love

M Bridges add some needed athleticism, transition play & slashing to the basket.

G: LaMelo, Tre Mann, R Jackson
G: Herro, Josh Green
F: Brandon Miller, Cody Martin
F: Grant Williams, Salaun (#6 pick)
C: Mark Williams, N Richards

Herro gives them the off-guard who can pair with LaMelo.

[celticinorlando]

I see Miles Bridges going to the Lakers or the Heat.

Miles Bridges does feel like a good fit in Miami. Herro would be a nice fit in the backcourt alongside LaMelo Ball. That is a swap that could work.

The Herro & Rozier backcourt partnership hasn't worked out. Has hurt their defense more than it added to their offense. They can go back to playing only one small guard in Rozier and play bigger on the wings. Rebuild their defense.

G: Rozier
G: D Robinson
F: J Butler
F: Miles Bridges, Jaquez
C: Bam, K Love

M Bridges add some needed athleticism, transition play & slashing to the basket.

G: LaMelo, Tre Mann, R Jackson
G: Herro, Josh Green
F: Brandon Miller, Cody Martin
F: Grant Williams, Salaun (#6 pick)
C: Mark Williams, N Richards

Herro gives them the off-guard who can pair with LaMelo.

I highly doubt Riley brings in bridges with his baggage.

Heat are easily the worst playoff team in the east.
One injury (which you know is coming) will doom them.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Sixers may waive Paul Reed. Might be a fun pickup with an ax to grind against his old team.

[Who]

The Pelicans are $2.6 million below the luxury tax line after trading for Murray, according to ESPN.

New Orleans is one of two NBA franchises that has never paid the luxury tax.

Crazy. Never paid the luxury tax.

I wonder who the other team is.

On Brandon Ingram's extension

Ingram has one year remaining on his contract. On July 6, he becomes eligible to sign a four-year extension worth $208 million. The Pelicans value Ingram?s talent and his down-to-earth personality, but as The Times-Picayune reported in May, the team does not have a willingness to pay him a contract worth $52 million in average annual value.

That leaves the Pelicans with three options: sign Ingram to an extension at his below maximum-value number; go into the 2024-25 season with Ingram on an expiring contract; or move Ingram elsewhere.

The Pelicans offense without Zion

Zion Williamson hurt his right hamstring in the Pelicans? first game of 2023 and missed the final 45 games of that season.

The offense, which operated at a top-10 level before his injury, was the NBA?s sixth-worst offense after it.

Big difference. The writer was worried about trading Ingram for a non-offensive player like Jarrett Allen. Believes they need a scorer / playmaker for Ingram. That CJ McCollum & Dejounte Murray are not enough. Probably right there.

The New Orleans Pelicans? front office finally got to see what the team looked like when its ?Big 3? shared the court.

Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum were limited to 10 games together in their first two years as teammates. This season, the three of them played 737 minutes together across 43 games. The Pelicans got outscored by 25 points in their minutes.

The Pelicans had a successful regular season, winning 49 games. But that occurred in spite of the fit among their three $30-million-a year players ? not because of it.

Dang, they got outplayed when their Big Three was on the floor? Yikes.

David Griffin said. ?I think certainly any time two of the three were on the court, we won those minutes. When three of them were on the court, we tended not to. That has a lot to do with what we support them with.

?Giving them the ancillary pieces that help them thrive. Knowing now, because we have seen the group enough, I think we will be able to address some of that. But certainly we have to be open to a lot of different things.?

The starting lineup the Pelicans rolled out on opening night in October ? featuring McCollum, Herb Jones, Ingram, Williamson and Valanciunas ? shared the floor for a substantial amount of time this season.

In the unit's 421 minutes together, the Pelicans got outscored by 1.1 points per 100 possessions. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Pelicans? starters were the sixth-worst five-man lineup out of the 28 lineups across the NBA that played at least 500 possessions together.