15th Roster Spot

[Roy H.]

Are the options down to Brissett or leaving it open?  Are there any other free agents Brad would consider?

PFs:   https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2024/position/pf/sort/contract_value

SFs:  https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2024/position/sf/sort/contract_value

SGs:  https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2024/position/sg/sort/contract_value

[Who]

Whatever happened to Usman Garuba?

He was a well regarded defensive bench PF a year ago. He has disappeared from all talk since then.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Are the options down to Brissett or leaving it open?  Are there any other free agents Brad would consider?

PFs:   https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2024/position/pf/sort/contract_value

SFs:  https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2024/position/sf/sort/contract_value

SGs:  https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2024/position/sg/sort/contract_value

Okeke has some good upside and everything I've heard about him is that he would fit Stevens' type of man and player. Intelligent. Hard-worker. Heady defender and a good scoring forward.

Both Saric and Gallo could be a good small-ball 5 to have on the roster as a big that can shoot and keep Tatum from getting beaten up inside.

I also liked Garuba coming out of the draft, but haven't paid attention at all to his career. Doesn't look like he's been any good.

[Who]

Could bring back Lamar Stevens to replace Brisset.

[Vermont Green]

Joe Ingles? 

ORL roster is pretty much full and Ingles was not signed.  He is listed at 6 ft - 9 in.  Listed as a SG but I have always seen him as more of a forward.  Career 41% from 3, 43.5% from 3 last season in about 17 min / 2.4 3PA.

I admit that I have not seen him play lately so I am guessing he is pretty plodding at this point.  Maybe more like Mike Muscala who always looked better on paper than on the court?

[Vermont Green]

Jordan Nwora?

What is the deal with him?  Only 25, 6 ft - 8 in, always seemed athletic whenever I saw him play.  Career 37.6% from 3 (the most important box score stat these days it seems).  I can't recall how his defense was.

[stes]

My guess is it stays vacant until March, so that the cap hit is only for the remaining part of the season and not a full one. It makes the tax a tiny bit smaller. Also, they can try to fill the bench need with a two way contract and use it for 50 games, just like they did with Queta last season.

[KeepBigAl]

I really wanted Theis, but with X, Q, and K back - our need may now be another back up wing.

Thus far, Walsh and Peterson have shown no signs they are ready.  If any of Tatum, Brown or Hauser get hurt, things look pretty thin.  I wouldn't be against Stevens on the cheap if Brisset leaves.   Not sure what Svi's plan is but he may be trying to play on every NBA team since his next would already be his 8th after he was drafted in '18.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

My guess is it stays vacant until March, so that the cap hit is only for the remaining part of the season and not a full one. It makes the tax a tiny bit smaller. Also, they can try to fill the bench need with a two way contract and use it for 50 games, just like they did with Queta last season.

This used to be the strategy of contending teams. Problem is that 2nd apron teams are greatly restricted in their ability to sign buyout players (i can't remember the actual rule). If I recall, we couldn't have even signed Olynyk this past season if he was bought out based on his previous contract.

IMO, it's more advantageous now for contenders to grab a vet in the off-season, or use the roster spot to develop another young player hoping you can turn him into a rotation player eventually.

[keevsnick]

The c's kept the 15th spot open last year for tax saving purposes, I imagine they'll do the same thing this year. Leaves open some more minutes for the young guys to get a shot.

[Vermont Green]

My guess is it stays vacant until March, so that the cap hit is only for the remaining part of the season and not a full one. It makes the tax a tiny bit smaller. Also, they can try to fill the bench need with a two way contract and use it for 50 games, just like they did with Queta last season.

This used to be the strategy of contending teams. Problem is that 2nd apron teams are greatly restricted in their ability to sign buyout players (i can't remember the actual rule). If I recall, we couldn't have even signed Olynyk this past season if he was bought out based on his previous contract.

IMO, it's more advantageous now for contenders to grab a vet in the off-season, or use the roster spot to develop another young player hoping you can turn him into a rotation player eventually.

Here is the rule on signing players who have been bought out:

No access to buyout players. If a player's salary at the beginning of a league year is above the non-taxpayer mid-level exception [$12.8M], he cannot sign with a second-apron team if he is waived during that season.

[Roy H.]

The c's kept the 15th spot open last year for tax saving purposes, I imagine they'll do the same thing this year. Leaves open some more minutes for the young guys to get a shot.

I think you're probably right, although I think they'd fill it for the right player.  Last year it was Blake Griffin, who declined.  This year it's reportedly Brissett if he'd like to come back.  I'm curious if there's anybody else.

[celticinorlando]

Leave it vacant and bet on Walsh and Baylor to be contributors this season.

[ozgod]

I would leave it open. It's not like the player filling it will be used anyway, based on how Joe's system works - that player would only be a practice player or during Gino Time. And it gives flexibility if Brad does see someone that he thinks will be of value later on. Filling it with someone who might end up being unused but a fantastic locker room guy and then having to cut that guy later on to accommodate another player would kinda suck for a team big on camaraderie.

[Birdman]

I would wait till buyout time around March..might get a pretty good player..never know what kind of injuries can occur by then