Figure they'll target D'Angelo Russell in the draft? Russell, Noel, Embiid will be an interesting team to watch next year. Maybe they'll use some cap space to sign another impact player. Eventually Saric will join the party... and then whoever they get with the Lakers 1st next year. I could see them in the playoffs in 2 years... maybe as soon as next year given how bad the East is.
I posted somewhere on here fairly recently that I expect Philly to target and go after both Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler this summer. Both are restricted so I don't know if they end up with either, but even if they get just one I think they make the playoffs next year as I too think they add Russell or Mudiay to their big guys (which is why I think Leonard and Butler will be the target). Add the legit wing and that team will be a young team on the rise.
I don't see either of those guys agreeing to go to Philly, especially since they will have their pick of max offer sheets to sign.
I think it's a long shot a top restricted free agent would sign an offer in Boston, it's closer to an impossibility that one of those guys signs with Philly.
Figure they'll target D'Angelo Russell in the draft? Russell, Noel, Embiid will be an interesting team to watch next year. Maybe they'll use some cap space to sign another impact player. Eventually Saric will join the party... and then whoever they get with the Lakers 1st next year. I could see them in the playoffs in 2 years... maybe as soon as next year given how bad the East is.
I could see them target Mudiay, because he's more explosive and could have the higher ceiling, but I think they go with one of those two or Winslow.
This, I really don't understand why one of these guys would consider Philly (and to a lesser extent Boston). In addition to both leaving perennially playoff contenders, it would require them ignoring all other good teams and all other more favorable cities to go play for a team with a bunch of rookies in a cold weather city. Do people seriously see that happening?
I could see Philly as a free agent destination.
Saw the stat earlier today that since the all-star break, they have put up 94.5 points per 100 possessions with Nerlens Noel on the court. That would be the league's best defense. Look at their entire season as a whole (and not just Noel's post-allstar surge or the minutes he's on the court) and they have had a top 11 defense this year. Add Joel Embiid, who should be a formidable big man if he's healthy... and a star prospect through this draft... That's a pretty desirable destination for a young free agent. You know the rim is protected for the next 10+ years. You know there will be plenty of offensive opportunities. Joining a few budding young phenoms might be a good plan.
But sure, it might take another year for everyone to be sold on what Embiid and Mudiay/Russell will bring to the table.
Not only this, but Philly will have room for two full max plus more space. So theoretically they could sign both and still have room left over to fill in the bench.
PG - Russell/Mudiay, Canaan, Smith
SG - Butler, Thompson, Wroten
SF - Leonard, Covington, Grant
PF - Noel, Robinson, Aldemir
C - Embiid, Sims
That doesn't include the OKC or Miami picks (which they might get both this year) and they would still have cap room to add some veterans to the bench.
That might not be a title contender next year, but it is most definitely a playoff team and a team that is clearly on the rise. They would still have Saric and the Lakers pick down the line (and possibly the Miami pick).
I don't think the sell job is that difficult if you can get both Butler and Leonard to buy into playing together, of course I think the Bulls and Spurs match all offers, so it might be a moot point.
If they are going after Butler or Kawai they are going to need to pay their current teams in a sign and trade to not match. That is going to cost some of the picks and prospects you listed earlier. If the young assets you like so much have to be dealt as part of the signing then why would free agents want to sign there?
Chicago has real financial issues and San Antonio isn't exactly a big market. As I said, I expect both teams to match, though I certainly wouldn't put it at a given, especially Chicago (they have 56 million locked up in 5 players next year). Their owner is notoriously cheap, they might not feel giving Butler 20+ million a year works for them. For San An, Manu, Duncan, and Green (though Manu and TD both may retire) are also free agents this summer (they have a few others as well) and they already have like 30 million locked in for Parker, Splitter, and Diaw. San Antonio isn't exactly a huge market. I think Leonard will be their top priority and that they will match, but you just never know what looking at a 20 million dollar a year price tag will do to a team.
And the thing is Philly is so far under the cap they can put the poison pill contract offers out there, making matching more difficult. Again I think they match, but I don't think it is a given in either case.
How bad is Chicago's situation that they can't afford Jimmy Butler a max contract?
Their owner is notoriously frugal -- and has been since the dawn of time, essentially.
I've said this earlier, and haven't really heard anyone chime in. How often does a superstar, or even all star, signed a max free agent contract to sign with a new team that had one of the 5 bottom records in the league?
The Cavs weren't awful last year, but they were below .500 so Lebron going home could perhaps be something close to this. However, I think most would easily agree that this was more about branding and possibly wanting to return to where he grew up instead of really wanting to play with Kyrie, Waiters and Wiggins on a young team on the rise.
I honestly really can't think of many superstars making these kinds of moves. The one example that I could think of was when Stoudamire signed a max contract with the Knicks when they were pretty bad (it was before Melo got there).
For all the rumors we like to float out and get excited about, the fact is, players usually sign with their own teams and the CBA is has been repeatedly tweaked over the years to increase players staying with their own teams. When superstars have changed teams in recent years they have primarily gone to more glamorous markets like Miami (Lebron, Bosh 2x,), New York (Carmelo once forcing trade, second time resigning, Stat), or Houston (Dwight Howard, were reportedly very close with Bosh and got Harden onboard with massive contract).
You do see players that are really nice pieces, but either older or with a few warts on their games, signing with less glamorous franchises. Lance Stephenson, Al Jefferson, Paul Milsap, David West etc, but guys like Leonard coming off a finals NBA, exploding offensively the last few months and an amazing defender? That seems like a lot more desirable a player than what we have seen with Jefferson et al.
Topic: The love affair with Philadelphia (Read 72434 times)