Offseason Thread

[Who]

Austin Reaves has formally declined a max contract extension offer from the Los Angeles Lakers that would have paid him $89.2 million over four seasons. Reaves signed a four-year, $54 million contract with the Lakers in 2023, which was the max deal the Lakers could offer at that time.

Rivers can become a free agent in 2026 and command a contract at a significantly higher amount than his current max.

[Who]

I was interested in the Utah Jazz roster after drafting Ace Bailey. I see some people have high expectations for him so I was wondering what type of role he might play next year for the Jazz. I do not think he starts.

G: Keyontae George, Isaiah Collier, W Clayton Jr
G: C Sexton, J Clarkson
F: L Markkanen, Ace Bailey, B Sensabough
F: John Collins, Taylor Hendricks
C: W Kessler, K Filipkowski

Others: Cody Williams (SF), Juzang (SG/SF)

I see Ace Bailey more as a SF in the NBA than a SG but given how crowded that backcourt is and with mostly small guards it will be hard to find minutes for him there.

Markkanen and John Collins are both likely to out-perform Ace Bailey at forward. That leaves as a backup forward. He will be competing for playing time with other recent lottery picks Taylor Hendricks and Cody Williams. Ace Bailey should be able to beat them out. Cody Williams was a disaster as a rookie. Taylor Hendricks continues to have injury issues. Brice Sensabough could challenge Ace Bailey but that would be a bad sign for Ace Bailey.

Kessler got 30mpg last year with Filipkowski getting 21mpg. I thought there might be more center minutes available with John Collins playing the five alongside Markkanen & Ace Bailey at forward. But maybe there aren't many minutes available for that option.

I think Ace Bailey will have a quiet rookie season.

Utah should have more depth this year. More balance too. Ace Bailey gives them a legit SF. Taylor Hendricks to return from injury will give them another forward. So hopefully not as unbalanced as last year. Even with balance though, they still have lot of green players. Raw young talent. Guys not ready to win. Still have the look of a 20-25 win team.

[perks-a-beast]

Austin Reaves has formally declined a max contract extension offer from the Los Angeles Lakers that would have paid him $89.2 million over four seasons. Reaves signed a four-year, $54 million contract with the Lakers in 2023, which was the max deal the Lakers could offer at that time.

Rivers can become a free agent in 2026 and command a contract at a significantly higher amount than his current max.

He was right to turn that down. I?m sure someone will give him $150 mil next year.

I wonder if the Lakers will look to trade him now.

[Who]

"We have big positive news potentially coming here for the Suns," reported ESPN's Brian Windhorst on Friday's episode of Get Up. "Devin Booker is in position to sign a two-year, $150 million extension, which would smash all existing records?at least for the moment?on a per-year annual salary: $75 million a year. He is expected to get that offer and to sign it. The Suns have some work to do on this roster, but Booker has been highly engaged with them this offseason on their coaching search and their Kevin Durant trade."

$150mil for 2 years. Wow.

$75mil a season.

[slamtheking]

"We have big positive news potentially coming here for the Suns," reported ESPN's Brian Windhorst on Friday's episode of Get Up. "Devin Booker is in position to sign a two-year, $150 million extension, which would smash all existing records?at least for the moment?on a per-year annual salary: $75 million a year. He is expected to get that offer and to sign it. The Suns have some work to do on this roster, but Booker has been highly engaged with them this offseason on their coaching search and their Kevin Durant trade."

$150mil for 2 years. Wow.

$75mil a season.

ridiculous $ for a player not even sniffing an MVP consideration and can't get his team to a play-in game.  and people were complaining about what Jaylen was offered.  he's a relative bargain and an ECF and Finals MVP

[Chief]

These contracts dont really work with the current nba salary cap and apron system.

[Vermont Green]

Austin Reaves has formally declined a max contract extension offer from the Los Angeles Lakers that would have paid him $89.2 million over four seasons. Reaves signed a four-year, $54 million contract with the Lakers in 2023, which was the max deal the Lakers could offer at that time.

Rivers Reaves (?) can become a free agent in 2026 and command a contract at a significantly higher amount than his current max.

So Reaves turned down about $22.5M annual?  Wow.  What do people see Reaves as?  Better than Simons?  As good as Derrick White?  How compared to say Herro?  A core rotation, "big 3" type player or a supporting cast player?  Reaves' 2024-25 stats are similar to Simons' but Simons has done it for several seasons, not just 1 season.

He put up about 20 points, 6 assists, 4 rebs with pretty good efficiency last season.  This feels like his ceiling but if he can produce that consistently moving forward, I guess that is a solid #3 guy on a good team.

[blink]

"We have big positive news potentially coming here for the Suns," reported ESPN's Brian Windhorst on Friday's episode of Get Up. "Devin Booker is in position to sign a two-year, $150 million extension, which would smash all existing records?at least for the moment?on a per-year annual salary: $75 million a year. He is expected to get that offer and to sign it. The Suns have some work to do on this roster, but Booker has been highly engaged with them this offseason on their coaching search and their Kevin Durant trade."

$150mil for 2 years. Wow.

$75mil a season.

ridiculous $ for a player not even sniffing an MVP consideration and can't get his team to a play-in game.  and people were complaining about what Jaylen was offered.  he's a relative bargain and an ECF and Finals MVP

exactly.  the people complaining about giving that contract to Jaylen were always over-reacting a bit.  but I  mean we have people on this site who think we should dump JB for draft picks.   JT and JB in general don't get the respect they probably deserve.  Maybe that is only winning 1 title so far?  I dunno for sure.

In another year or two, both JT / JB contacts will not been seen as over the moon anymore at all.

[jambr380]

"We have big positive news potentially coming here for the Suns," reported ESPN's Brian Windhorst on Friday's episode of Get Up. "Devin Booker is in position to sign a two-year, $150 million extension, which would smash all existing records?at least for the moment?on a per-year annual salary: $75 million a year. He is expected to get that offer and to sign it. The Suns have some work to do on this roster, but Booker has been highly engaged with them this offseason on their coaching search and their Kevin Durant trade."

$150mil for 2 years. Wow.

$75mil a season.

ridiculous $ for a player not even sniffing an MVP consideration and can't get his team to a play-in game.  and people were complaining about what Jaylen was offered.  he's a relative bargain and an ECF and Finals MVP

exactly.  the people complaining about giving that contract to Jaylen were always over-reacting a bit.  but I  mean we have people on this site who think we should dump JB for draft picks.   JT and JB in general don't get the respect they probably deserve.  Maybe that is only winning 1 title so far?  I dunno for sure.

In another year or two, both JT / JB contacts will not been seen as over the moon anymore at all.

Booker has 3 more years left on his current contract and Jaylen has 4. They both make exactly the same money over the next 3 years.

Next year, we could be reading about the Celtics extending Jaylen at an even higher number than 2yrs/$150M, since the cap will be higher in 30-31 than in 29-30 (the end Booker's extension)