Offseason Thread

[Ilikesports17]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
50s
Free agent forward Nicolas Batum intends to sign a two-year, $11.5 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Deal includes a team option as well as a trade kicker. Batum's agent, Bouna Ndiaye of Comsport, negotiated the contract for the reunion.

Batum is the Clippers version of Al Horford. Seems like a good deal for the Clippers.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

The Lakers are bracing to lose forward Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency to a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets, according to team sources.

- Dan Woike, The Athletic

The journo writes that if DFS leaves, LAL will have more room to chase free agent centers.

Sounds like you are fixing one problem (center) by creating another problem (DFS, two way wing / forward).

Gotta open up some time for Bronny!

[Donoghus]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
50s
Free agent forward Nicolas Batum intends to sign a two-year, $11.5 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Deal includes a team option as well as a trade kicker. Batum's agent, Bouna Ndiaye of Comsport, negotiated the contract for the reunion.

Batum is the Clippers version of Al Horford. Seems like a good deal for the Clippers.

Managed to carve out quite the career for himself.  17 years & going.   Drafted in the same class as the illustrious JR Giddens & Bill Walker.

[Phantom255x]

Apparently Horford is a "top target" for Golden State according to Stein

[perks-a-beast]

Apparently Horford is a "top target" for Golden State according to Stein

I just threw up a lot.

[Birdman]

Apparently Horford is a "top target" for Golden State according to Stein

Dont blame him if he goes there but I?m still thinking New York

[blink]

Apparently Horford is a "top target" for Golden State according to Stein

That is one rumor that would actually make a lot of sense.  I would hate it, but it makes sense.
I def don't want to root for the dubs just because big Al is there.

[Celtics2021]

Apparently Horford is a "top target" for Golden State according to Stein

The most they can offer Al is $5.7 million, which shouldn?t be that hard to match.

[kraidstar]

Would be shocked if he went anywhere besides the Lakers or Warriors.

They can have him. Ayton is a fraud. I've been beating this drum for years. The fact that Portland is buying him out instead of trading him tells you everything you need to know.

[Kuberski33]

I get the impression that Ainge is getting ready to make a major move.

[kraidstar]

A Blazers podcast on Ayton during last season

https://youtu.be/A5_sE1AhyCc?si=R8qm1eLmnHrf2VAe

Fascinating watch. Apparently "Ayton is the guy you want on your team if you're looking to tank."
They also call him an "innings-eater at best" with a toxic attitude. And Apparently their defensive rating was 29th with him on the court, but 4th with their other center.

[blink]

A Blazers podcast on Ayton during last season

https://youtu.be/A5_sE1AhyCc?si=R8qm1eLmnHrf2VAe

Fascinating watch. Apparently "Ayton is the guy you want on your team if you're looking to tank."
They also call him an "innings-eater at best" with a toxic attitude. And Apparently their defensive rating was 29th with him on the court, but 4th with their other center.

I would be most worried about a 'toxic attitude' doing harm, just keep him away from the C's...lol

[tonydelk]

I get the impression that Ainge is getting ready to make a major move.

Or they are tanking next year.  They are freeing up minutes to develop young players.  They didn't trade either guard they just bought them out and released them instead of using their salary to bring players back.

[A Future of Stevens]

This free agency is going to be awful. It seems like alot of teams will probably get real about the 2nd apron with contracts. Also the quality of FA is just incredibly low.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

A Blazers podcast on Ayton during last season

https://youtu.be/A5_sE1AhyCc?si=R8qm1eLmnHrf2VAe

Fascinating watch. Apparently "Ayton is the guy you want on your team if you're looking to tank."
They also call him an "innings-eater at best" with a toxic attitude. And Apparently their defensive rating was 29th with him on the court, but 4th with their other center.

I would be most worried about a 'toxic attitude' doing harm, just keep him away from the C's...lol

I'm not an Ayton apologist. I don't like players that don't play hard and smart.

However, there is a path his career takes from here where he becomes a missing piece for some team. There may be a 25% chance that happens, and a 75% chance his career takes a quick downward turn ala Andrew Bynum or Michael Beasley.

He's probably not a Stevens type of player, but you could argue that the Blazers have been pretty dysfunctional for 3-4 years now. He's not a culture changer, but a culture follower.

The story about him in Phoenix was that Paul was always on him to get the best out of him. Frankly, they did and he was a half-step below dominate on both sides of the court in their championship-losing run.