Free Agents to target if we miss out on Hayward (Simmons/Waiters/Johnson/Dedmon)

[Rida]

There are a couple of intriguing Free Agents to look at if we miss out on Hayward. I'm firmly in the no to Blake Griffin Camp because I believe that he's too injury prone and is a terrible fit defensively next to Horford, and doesn't help with the rebounding issue.

For me the top FA's to target are

James Johnson: 2016/17 Earnings: $4,000,000- I think in this economic climate hes commanding north of $12,000,000 a year, I love his toughness and ability to guard multiple positions and contribute across the board. Seems the prototypical Ainge type - (Undersized for his position but an absolute bull dog on both ends of the court)

Dion Waiters 2016/17 Earnings: $4,000,000- Probably looking at the 8M-12M a year range as well, he's basically a more reliable Gerald Green, I've never been a fan of him, but he's instant offense off the bench and solves a big issue

Jonathon Simmons 2016/17 Earnings: $874,636- I'm sure Ainge loves this guy, he has all the tools to be bigger Tony Allen, he has however bounced around a lot and is 27 now, but came through the Developmental league but similar to James Johnson he can guard multiple positions and is an athletic beast. I wonder would his price would be on the open market.

Dwayne Dedmon 2016/17 Earnings: $2,898,000- A young Amir Johnson is the best way to describe him, a defensive Centre that could work well in rotation with Zizic. Would be interesting to see how much he would command on the open market


Who do you like and why?

[Jvalin]

plan A : Hayward

plan B : Millsap

plan C: take a step back
- sign JaMychal Green
- renounce Kelly
- trade IT for Saric/lotto pick
- extend Bradley-Smart
- be patient, build the team through the draft

[Rida]

plan A : Hayward

plan B : Millsap

plan C: take a step back
- sign JaMychal Green
- renounce Kelly
- trade IT for Saric/lotto pick
- extend Bradley-Smart
- be patient, build the team through the draft

No way millsap, paying a guy 40 million as a 37 year old is asking for trouble.

 Ja Mychal Green is restricted and with Randolph and Tony Allen  free agents Memphis is going to match any offer

I would trade Bradley or Smart before trading Isaiah

[Jvalin]

plan A : Hayward

plan B : Millsap

plan C: take a step back
- sign JaMychal Green
- renounce Kelly
- trade IT for Saric/lotto pick
- extend Bradley-Smart
- be patient, build the team through the draft

No way millsap, paying a guy 40 million as a 37 year old is asking for trouble.

 Ja Mychal Green is restricted and with Randolph and Tony Allen  free agents Memphis is going to match any offer

I would trade Bradley or Smart before trading Isaiah

If we sign Millsap on a 3-year max, we 'll have around 80 million in cap space removed from our books in 2020 (Horford-Millsap-Crowder). That's enough cap space to go after a max free agent in 2020 (Anthony Davis has a player option that summer ). In the meantime, the C's remain the 2nd best team in the East while giving extended minutes to Fultz-Brown-Nets 2018 (both in the regular season and more importantly in the playoffs).

Regarding J. Green, the Grizzlies were willing to trade him at the deadline so I'm not that sure they 'll match all offers for him.

[Rida]

 Milsap does nothing for us in short or long term. Even if you can get him for 3 years, which I doubt as other teams will offer him 4 years and the Hawks will probably offer him 5 years. Him and Horford and Isaiah get you nowhere in the East. You are better off preserving cap space for the Summer of 2018 to extend one or two of Isaiah, Smart, Bradley or going after Paul George or another 2018 free agent who has a chance of getting you over Cleveland.

Regarding Green, I don't think they were trying to trade him, the Celtics were seeing if he could be had in a trade, two very different things.

If Hayward is off the board, there is no point in tying the cap to players such as Green and Milsap who will command max or close to max salaries. Green is looking at a raise to over $20 million per year.

Which is why I laid out the alternate path of focusing on guys like Simmon, Waiters, Johnson and Dedmon who are in the $10 million dollars a year range and allow you to resign your existing free agents in the summer of 2018

[gouki88]

A big fan of Simmons and Dedmon, would love for us to be able to get either, preferably both though. Simmons is a long defensive wing with good athleticism, and Dedmon is a legit big man with very solid rebounding ability.
Another guy to go after is JaMychal Green, or perhaps Noel or Ibaka (less likely as they will demand more money).

An exciting offseason for sure.

[Jvalin]

Milsap does nothing for us in short or long term. Even if you can get him for 3 years, which I doubt as other teams will offer him 4 years and the Hawks will probably offer him 5 years. Him and Horford and Isaiah get you nowhere in the East. You are better off preserving cap space for the Summer of 2018 to extend one or two of Isaiah, Smart, Bradley or going after Paul George or another 2018 free agent who has a chance of getting you over Cleveland.

Regarding Green, I don't think they were trying to trade him, the Celtics were seeing if he could be had in a trade, two very different things.

If Hayward is off the board, there is no point in tying the cap to players such as Green and Milsap who will command max or close to max salaries. Green is looking at a raise to over $20 million per year.

Which is why I laid out the alternate path of focusing on guys like Simmon, Waiters, Johnson and Dedmon who are in the $10 million dollars a year range and allow you to resign your existing free agents in the summer of 2018

Millsap makes us clear cut favorites for the 2nd seed in the East. What more do we accomplish with Hayward instead of Millsap? Let's face it, no matter what we do, we can't move the needle past the Cavs.

No way Green signs for 20 million a year. The way I see it, an offer of 12 million (or something like that) will get the job done.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Clear favorites for 2nd in the East is capping out our team to not win a Championship anytime soon

[Rida]

Milsap does nothing for us in short or long term. Even if you can get him for 3 years, which I doubt as other teams will offer him 4 years and the Hawks will probably offer him 5 years. Him and Horford and Isaiah get you nowhere in the East. You are better off preserving cap space for the Summer of 2018 to extend one or two of Isaiah, Smart, Bradley or going after Paul George or another 2018 free agent who has a chance of getting you over Cleveland.

Regarding Green, I don't think they were trying to trade him, the Celtics were seeing if he could be had in a trade, two very different things.

If Hayward is off the board, there is no point in tying the cap to players such as Green and Milsap who will command max or close to max salaries. Green is looking at a raise to over $20 million per year.

Which is why I laid out the alternate path of focusing on guys like Simmon, Waiters, Johnson and Dedmon who are in the $10 million dollars a year range and allow you to resign your existing free agents in the summer of 2018

Millsap makes us clear cut favorites for the 2nd seed in the East. What more do we accomplish with Hayward instead of Millsap? Let's face it, no matter what we do, we can't move the needle past the Cavs.

No way Green signs for 20 million a year. The way I see it, an offer of 12 million (or something like that) will get the job done.

Bleacher report seems to agree with me- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2704610-he-made-how-much-predicting-the-worst-contracts-of-2017-nba-offseason

During a March episode of The Lowe Post podcast, ESPN.com's Zach Lowe said the Memphis Grizzlies genuinely fear JaMychal Green's entry into restricted free agency—as they should. He has transformed into one of their most valuable defenders and one of the NBA's most versatile players.

Tony Allen and Marc Gasol are the only members of the Grizzlies who wrapped the regular season saving more points on defense, according to NBA Math. That Green remains a clear positive while shimmying between more coverages than anyone else on the team cannot be overstated. He sticks with rim-runners, rotates onto pick-and-roll orchestrators, shoots gaps on closeouts and even holds his own in one-on-one situations.

"I've been watching on my iPad before the games just to see everybody's tendencies from the 1 to the 4," he told NBA Math. "I know I'm going to be switching most of the time. I can't just look at my man and know what he's going to do. I've got to look for their entire team."

Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale compared his Green to Draymond Green back in December. He shouldn't have any regrets now. Defensively, in fact, he was dead on: Draymond is the only player in the NBA to defend as many pick-and-roll ball-handler (50), roll-man (45) and isolation (111) possessions.

Green needs to make strides on the offensive end, but he's an easy fit. He doesn't command a significant number of touches and canned 38.2 percent of his threes during the regular season.

It's really hard to make the contract of a 20-something power forward who shoots threes, battles on the glass and switches defensive assignments with ease look bad. But it'll take big-time money for Memphis to think twice about matching offers, so someone's going to try.

At least one team that whiffs on a star will try to offset the strikeout by offering Green the salary of the alpha option he's never been.

Ballpark Contract Prediction: Four years, $76 million

[td450]

I think there is a pretty big gap between James Johnson and these other guys. He fits as a starting power forward, which we badly need. Other than being a mediocre rebounder, he brings a lot to the table.

He can shoot and pass well, and can beat bigger guys off the dribble. He scored almost 13 ppg in 27 minutes. He could really help our defense. He can defend above the rim and also can handle pick and rolls and cover to the 3 point line. He's also got some attitude, which our bigs just don't have. He was as big a reason as any why Miami had that great surge last year.

The only concern is that he really only put it all together partway into last year.

[Jvalin]

Ballpark Contract Prediction: Four years, $76 million

If that's the case, good for him then. I guess time will tell.

Wouldn't give him that kind of money. Assuming J. Green isn't available, I would go after either Taj or Patrick Patterson.

Clear favorites for 2nd in the East is capping out our team to not win a Championship anytime soon

We aren't winning a championship any time soon, no matter what happens in free agency.

[Dannys Chipotle Guy]

^Patrick Peterson on an Amir contract would make some sense.

[Dannys Chipotle Guy]

I like all the options listed except for Waiters (who I also like but think doesnt fit here).

Unfortunately I think Johnson will get overpaid.

Simmons is nice, but again, its tough to find a fit for him. We need power forwards.

Dedmon could be a nice target.

[dreamgreen]

If CP3 goes to the Spurs than Griffen could be a target.

[JBcat]

There are so many of these plan B threads. Haha

I think we need a true big man if we miss out on a max player.  Monroe, Ibaka, and Randolph are 3 names I keep thinking of.  If we want a small ball 4 type Gay or Gallinari could work.