Offseason Thread

[Who]

More analysis of that Skinny Luka game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4XErC7L-vg

I did not realize Luka lost 31lbs this summer. That is a huge amount. I am guessing he was probably around 270lbs down to 240lbs now. I haven't seen specific figures. Does anyone know?

I like that guy's channel. He does good analysis.

[Celtics4ever]

His backing down guys and bumping them off him ability is going to vanish.

[Donoghus]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
7m
The Miami Heat have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

[SHAQATTACK]

Skinny Luca = skinny Elvis 

[Who]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
7m
The Miami Heat have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

Useful player. Loss for Miami.

I presume it is a cap saving move.

I looked it up. Small contract at $5.6mil. Final year of his deal. Miami was on $187.57 million team salary. Right around the luxury tax level. Gives them some more wiggle room for another move. Another site had Miami at $189 million team salary so just above the luxury tax with this trade getting them below the tax. That would make more sense gien this move.

Miami Depth Chart

G: T Herro, Davion Mitchell, T Rozier
G: Norm Powell, K Jakucionis
F: Andrew Wiggins, P Larsson, S Fontecchio
F: Bam Adebayo, N Jovic, J Jaquez
C: K Ware, (Bam)

So opens up more playing time for Larsson, Fontecchio and maybe Jaquez.

Brooklyn Nets Roster

My best guess

G: Terrance Mann, Ben Saraf, N Traore
G: Cam Thomas, Drake Powell
F: Jalen Wilson, Egor Demin, H Highsmith
F: Michael Porter Jr, Ziaire Williams, Noah Clowney
C: Nic Claxton, Dayron Sharpe, D Wolf, D Timme

Not sure where Highsmith fits in. Maybe they go smaller and drop Ziaire Williams from the rotation. Or maybe they play Egor Demin at guard rather than forward. Either would open up playing time for Highsmith. Or perhaps Highsmith will just be an end of bench guy.

Some talk of Danny Wolf playing PF minutes in a twin tower alignment. So a lot of different ways that Brooklyn rotation could play out. Maybe they start either of the rookie PGs (Saraf, Traore) and play T Mann at SG. I don't know.

[Donoghus]

Bobby Marks
@BobbyMarks42
?
13m
The Heat are now $4M below the luxury tax and $9.5M below the first apron hard cap.

11 guaranteed contracts
2 partials (Rozier/Larsson)

They will create a $5.6M trade exception.

Miami has 1 future 2nd (2027) now available.

[Who]

Amir Coffey and the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a one-year deal.

Coffey went undrafted in 2019 and spent the first six seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. During the 2024-25 season, Coffey averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 24.3 minutes over 72 games.

Coffey is a career 38.4 percent three-point shooter and shot 40.9 percent last season.

Nice pickup for the Bucks. I think Coffey can take the backup SF slot behind Kyle Kuzma.

G - Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr, Cole Anthony
G - Gary Trent Jr, AJ Green
F - Kyle Kuzma, Amir Coffey, Andre Jackson Jr
F - Giannis, Taureen Prince
C - Myles Turner, B Portis, Jericho Sims

That looks like a 46-50 win team if Giannis can stay healthy. Or a 20-25 win team without Giannis.

I like that frontcourt both their starters & reserves. Nice athleticism. Lots of three point shooting in their guards, forwards and bigs outside of Giannis and Kuzma. Point Giannis here we go. 30ppg 10rpg 8apg with 60% FG. Giannis will have a strong MVP campaign.

[Who]

Never heard of this guy

The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to sign restricted free agent N'Faly Dante to a two-year, $4.5 million offer sheet.

The Houston Rockets will have 48 hours to match the offer sheet from the point when it is officially signed. Dante spent last season on a two-way contract with the Rockets, who tendered him a two-way qualifying offer ahead of this offseason.

Dante appeared in only six NBA games but excelled for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G League. In 42 G League games, the 6-foot-11 center averaged 15 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Dante shot 74.4% from the field as a rookie for the Vipers last season.

The Rockets do not have room under their first-apron hard cap to match Dante's offer sheet from the Hawks. Houston would need to make another move to free up space to match the offer sheet from Atlanta.

The Hawks have been looking for additional depth at the center position. Dante will join a rotation that includes Onyeka Okongwu, newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis and second-year player Mouhamed Gueye.

Why did he go undrafted? Legit size. So-so athleticism. Good NCAA numbers with Oregon. 17ppg 9rpg 2bpg as a senior. Old prospect.

N'Faly Dante (Oregon) played Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton) in the 2024 NCAA tournament. Dante played 48 minutes and had 28 points and 20 rebounds on 12-20 FGA againt Kalkbrenner. Dante also had 3 assists 2 blocks 2 steals. Kalkbrenner had 19 points 14 rebounds 5 blocks 2 steals 1 assist in 50 minutes on 7-10 FGA 4-4 FTA. Scheierman was also on that Creighton team. They won by 13pts in 2OT. They outscored them 15-3 in that 2nd OT.

Some highlights of his NCAA tourney run

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8DUxOUjTz4

He looks solid going against Kalkbrenner.

The 6-11, 260lbs center is 22 years old, and fifth year senior, largely due to missing 2020 with a serious knee injury. Despite being slightly older, he's got excellent measurables - 6-11 with a 7-6 wingspan, and a 9-5 standing reach. He's described as a high motor, physical, center who isn?t afraid to get his hands dirty in the paint.

He was all first team PAC-12 in 2023, 2024, All PAC-12 Tournament in 2024, and 2023-24 All Defense PAC-12, and the 2024 PAC-12 tournament MVP.

Seems to be some injury concerns during his NCAA career. 12 games as a freshman. 6 games as a sophomore due to injury. Then back to back 32/31 game seasons. 22 games his final year as a senior.

[Roy H.]

Kristaps Porzingis led Latvia with a team-high 20 points along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists, while Davis Bertans weighed in with four triples in his 16 points. Rihards Lomazs and Dairis Bertans added 12 points apiece.

Fully expecting a 23/9 season from KP where he's healthy for 70 games and the playoffs.

[Neurotic Guy]

Kristaps Porzingis led Latvia with a team-high 20 points along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists, while Davis Bertans weighed in with four triples in his 16 points. Rihards Lomazs and Dairis Bertans added 12 points apiece.

Fully expecting a 23/9 season from KP where he's healthy for 70 games and the playoffs.

I?m not a betting person but I?d bet my house he doesn?t play 70 games plus playoffs.