The Kyrie Irving free agency thread(to sign 4yr/$141M w/Nets page 105)

[gpap]

I still envision a scenario where Kyrie comes back.

If we get Davis and dump Hayward's contract (let's say to Cleveland for expiring contracts, as was rumored) and then package the expiring contracts of JR Smith, Jordan Clarkson or Brandon Knight along with Tatum and Brown for Davis, we could end up with:

Kyrie/Smart/Morris/Horford/Davis

Horford restructures his deal

Going into 2020, our cap space looks alot better.

We'd be able to keep Kyrie, Davis and perhaps add another all-star.

I would even entertain offering Kyrie a 1+1 deal to make this work.

So you would rather have Smart and Morris starting than Brown and Hayward? I don't get that. Brown and Hayward will be much better players next year than Smart and Morris, IMO, and are younger with chances of getting better(Brown through development, Hayward from healing).

Would I? Not necessarily. I am just getting into the mind of Kyrie and what team he would prefer to play with.
From following the team throughout the season, I made a few observations. Kyrie seemed to have a good relationship with Smart (who defended Kyrie in his post-season interview) and Marcus Morris. On the flip side, his relationship with Brown and Hayward didn't seem all that great. That image of Kyrie getting ticked at Hayward in the Orlando game for botching the final play and Brown taking exception to Kyrie calling out the young guys.

[Sketch5]

I still envision a scenario where Kyrie comes back.

If we get Davis and dump Hayward's contract (let's say to Cleveland for expiring contracts, as was rumored) and then package the expiring contracts of JR Smith, Jordan Clarkson or Brandon Knight along with Tatum and Brown for Davis, we could end up with:

Kyrie/Smart/Morris/Horford/Davis

Horford restructures his deal

Going into 2020, our cap space looks alot better.

We'd be able to keep Kyrie, Davis and perhaps add another all-star.

I would even entertain offering Kyrie a 1+1 deal to make this work.

So you would rather have Smart and Morris starting than Brown and Hayward? I don't get that. Brown and Hayward will be much better players next year than Smart and Morris, IMO, and are younger with chances of getting better(Brown through development, Hayward from healing).

I agree. Keeping Brown and Hayward are better than keeping SMart and Morris. I love Smart, but he's needed in the Davis trade because of his contract.

Too many people want to ditch Hayward expecting him to be back to normal this season. The second surgery back him up a few weeks. Plus the guy was rehabbing during the season, you add that to him just having to work to get back onto the court, I'm sure he was getting warn out physically and mentally.

Hayward also has to relearn his body, he's not going to be the same, so learning what he can and can't do is something he really didn't have time for. When he played he looked good on the most part, he was getting by people and playing good D. Like some one I talked to today said, when he's only getting 5 to 10 shots, it's going to look bad. So thats some on his for not being aggressive, but also on Irving and Stevens. 

Also could see Hayward running the point if they lose Irving and don't replace him with a PG like Rubio(who I think would be really good in Stevens offense).

[gpap]

I still envision a scenario where Kyrie comes back.

If we get Davis and dump Hayward's contract (let's say to Cleveland for expiring contracts, as was rumored) and then package the expiring contracts of JR Smith, Jordan Clarkson or Brandon Knight along with Tatum and Brown for Davis, we could end up with:

Kyrie/Smart/Morris/Horford/Davis

Horford restructures his deal

Going into 2020, our cap space looks alot better.

We'd be able to keep Kyrie, Davis and perhaps add another all-star.

I would even entertain offering Kyrie a 1+1 deal to make this work.

So you would rather have Smart and Morris starting than Brown and Hayward? I don't get that. Brown and Hayward will be much better players next year than Smart and Morris, IMO, and are younger with chances of getting better(Brown through development, Hayward from healing).

I agree. Keeping Brown and Hayward are better than keeping SMart and Morris. I love Smart, but he's needed in the Davis trade because of his contract.

Too many people want to ditch Hayward expecting him to be back to normal this season. The second surgery back him up a few weeks. Plus the guy was rehabbing during the season, you add that to him just having to work to get back onto the court, I'm sure he was getting warn out physically and mentally.

Hayward also has to relearn his body, he's not going to be the same, so learning what he can and can't do is something he really didn't have time for. When he played he looked good on the most part, he was getting by people and playing good D. Like some one I talked to today said, when he's only getting 5 to 10 shots, it's going to look bad. So thats some on his for not being aggressive, but also on Irving and Stevens. 

Also could see Hayward running the point if they lose Irving and don't replace him with a PG like Rubio(who I think would be really good in Stevens offense).

I'll be honest, I don't think there's much of a drop-off from Hayward/Brown to Smart/Morris. Just sayin'

You said it yourself, Hayward may not be the same again and he's set to make $32 million next season and has a $34 million player option the year after that.

[Silky]

I still envision a scenario where Kyrie comes back.

If we get Davis and dump Hayward's contract (let's say to Cleveland for expiring contracts, as was rumored) and then package the expiring contracts of JR Smith, Jordan Clarkson or Brandon Knight along with Tatum and Brown for Davis, we could end up with:

Kyrie/Smart/Morris/Horford/Davis

Horford restructures his deal

Going into 2020, our cap space looks alot better.

We'd be able to keep Kyrie, Davis and perhaps add another all-star.

I would even entertain offering Kyrie a 1+1 deal to make this work.

So you would rather have Smart and Morris starting than Brown and Hayward? I don't get that. Brown and Hayward will be much better players next year than Smart and Morris, IMO, and are younger with chances of getting better(Brown through development, Hayward from healing).

I agree. Keeping Brown and Hayward are better than keeping SMart and Morris. I love Smart, but he's needed in the Davis trade because of his contract.

Too many people want to ditch Hayward expecting him to be back to normal this season. The second surgery back him up a few weeks. Plus the guy was rehabbing during the season, you add that to him just having to work to get back onto the court, I'm sure he was getting warn out physically and mentally.

Hayward also has to relearn his body, he's not going to be the same, so learning what he can and can't do is something he really didn't have time for. When he played he looked good on the most part, he was getting by people and playing good D. Like some one I talked to today said, when he's only getting 5 to 10 shots, it's going to look bad. So thats some on his for not being aggressive, but also on Irving and Stevens. 

Also could see Hayward running the point if they lose Irving and don't replace him with a PG like Rubio(who I think would be really good in Stevens offense).

I'll be honest, I don't think there's much of a drop-off from Hayward/Brown to Smart/Morris. Just sayin'

You said it yourself, Hayward may not be the same again and he's set to make $32 million next season and has a $34 million player option the year after that.

I am ok with moving Hayward to get davis.

But in no way do I ever not pick briwn of morris.

Not a dang chance.

Ever

[SparzWizard]

This feels like perhaps the Cs’ best hope to keep super-team dream alive:
1) Raps win
2) Cs agree to AD trade before draft
3) KD stays in GS on short-term contract bc now it’s been shown that they need him
4) Cs convince Kyrie to sign short-term deal & just give it a shot w/AD

[nickagneta]

This feels like perhaps the Cs’ best hope to keep super-team dream alive:
1) Raps win
2) Cs agree to AD trade before draft
3) KD stays in GS on short-term contract bc now it’s been shown that they need him
4) Cs convince Kyrie to sign short-term deal & just give it a shot w/AD

I am missing the logic in a GSW loss making Durant want to return there. I could see where he might decide to return to max out his money or because he thinks it's his best chance to win, but so no reason why a Warrior loss makes him incentivized to stay there.

[Jiri Welsch]

This feels like perhaps the Cs’ best hope to keep super-team dream alive:
1) Raps win
2) Cs agree to AD trade before draft
3) KD stays in GS on short-term contract bc now it’s been shown that they need him
4) Cs convince Kyrie to sign short-term deal & just give it a shot w/AD

I am missing the logic in a GSW loss making Durant want to return there. I could see where he might decide to return to max out his money or because he thinks it's his best chance to win, but so no reason why a Warrior loss makes him incentivized to stay there.

I think one of the talking heads on ESPN (Stephen A.) said something like this. I guess the rationale would be that he might not be perceived as a front-runner anymore?

[nickagneta]

This feels like perhaps the Cs’ best hope to keep super-team dream alive:
1) Raps win
2) Cs agree to AD trade before draft
3) KD stays in GS on short-term contract bc now it’s been shown that they need him
4) Cs convince Kyrie to sign short-term deal & just give it a shot w/AD

I am missing the logic in a GSW loss making Durant want to return there. I could see where he might decide to return to max out his money or because he thinks it's his best chance to win, but so no reason why a Warrior loss makes him incentivized to stay there.

I think one of the talking heads on ESPN (Stephen A.) said something like this. I guess the rationale would be that he might not be perceived as a front-runner anymore?

That is some seriously weak reasoning. I don't know that changing his feelings trumps getting away from Draymond, wanting to be closer to his non-basketball hub of business operations, wanting to play with certain other stars not on Warriors and/or wanting to revive a grand old franchise and win one in Madison Square Garden and become a NY sports god.

[gpap]

Ultimately, I think Ainge should stick with the game plan....pair up Kyrie and Davis.

Just get it done.

[Roy H.]

Ultimately, I think Ainge should stick with the game plan....pair up Kyrie and Davis.

Just get it done.

I think it's out of Danny's hands. 

[gpap]

Ultimately, I think Ainge should stick with the game plan....pair up Kyrie and Davis.

Just get it done.

I think it's out of Danny's hands.

I know Kyrie is the master of his own destiny.

But I think there's a certain pitch Ainge can make to convince him to come back.

[Roy H.]

Ultimately, I think Ainge should stick with the game plan....pair up Kyrie and Davis.

Just get it done.

I think it's out of Danny's hands.

I know Kyrie is the master of his own destiny.

But I think there's a certain pitch Ainge can make to convince him to come back.

What would that pitch look like, do you think?

[gpap]

Ultimately, I think Ainge should stick with the game plan....pair up Kyrie and Davis.

Just get it done.

I think it's out of Danny's hands.

I know Kyrie is the master of his own destiny.

But I think there's a certain pitch Ainge can make to convince him to come back.

What would that pitch look like, do you think?

Something along the lines of getting AD and asking him what other player he'd like to play with.

Then either tying to acquire that player or at least assuring him that he'll do his very best to continue to build the team around him and getting the best talent possible. And also assuring him that the team will have more clearly defined roles unlike this past season.

And a five-year max contract doesn't exactly hurt either.

[gpap]

This feels like perhaps the Cs’ best hope to keep super-team dream alive:
1) Raps win
2) Cs agree to AD trade before draft
3) KD stays in GS on short-term contract bc now it’s been shown that they need him
4) Cs convince Kyrie to sign short-term deal & just give it a shot w/AD

I've thought about this too. Although Ainge could offer Kyrie a max deal (unlike other teams), he could potentially entice Kyrie just as much with a 1+1 offer with AD on board and see how things go.

Definitely risky but a chance that's worth taking (IMO.)

What helps the Celts in this regard is the hope that by next summer, all potential landing spots for both guys will have already tied up their cap space with other free agents.

[SparzWizard]

This feels like perhaps the Cs’ best hope to keep super-team dream alive:
1) Raps win
2) Cs agree to AD trade before draft
3) KD stays in GS on short-term contract bc now it’s been shown that they need him
4) Cs convince Kyrie to sign short-term deal & just give it a shot w/AD

I've thought about this too. Although Ainge could offer Kyrie a max deal (unlike other teams), he could potentially entice Kyrie just as much with a 1+1 offer with AD on board and see how things go.

Definitely risky but a chance that's worth taking (IMO.)

What helps the Celts in this regard is the hope that by next summer, all potential landing spots for both guys will have already tied up their cap space with other free agents.

Risky or not this team's been on an 11-year drought and if they don't cash in they're never going to win chips. Wait for free agent/available star A, B, C and they don't end up becoming Boston Celtics. I get that patience is a virtue but I'm sure we've all been patient for the last 11 years. It's cutting thin for me. Need to step in and make moves left and right.