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Guifus's avatar

New Warriors YT video: Podz being a Valks fanatic https://youtu.be/M3TzNm7gRgI?si=ku9NkG15PXTSrVKu

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

>>>The Hawks are now being more frequently projected by rival teams as the team in pole position — ahead of Detroit — to acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a potential sign-and-trade deal with Minnesota.

The Hawks can comfortably absorb Alexander-Walker into their $25.3 million traded player exception that was created a year ago when Dejounte Murray was shipped to New Orleans. It appears that it would be the Timberwolves this time who create a trade exception in the process.

The Pistons, meanwhile, are strongly expected to focus on signing Caris LeVert away from the Hawks while Sacramento — as we've been reporting for days — is widely expected to come to terms with Detroit's Dennis Schröder on a deal that some are projecting to run for two years and inch toward the $30 million range to become the Kings' starting point guard.

The Pistons, meanwhile, are likewise said to be weighing a run at Miami's Duncan Robinson to potentially fill their sudden need for shooting in addition to the interest in LeVert. Robinson opted Sunday to bypass his $19.9 million player option for next season, but the move was made, sources said, with the expectation that the Heat and Robinson would work together on a new deal or pursue his exit via sign-and-trade.<<<

>>>Sources say that the Kings, furthermore, are believed to be weighing a run at an additional veteran ballhandler such as Russell Westbrook or Malcolm Brogdon even if they succeed in sealing a deal with Schröder.<<<

>>>A two-year deal from Dallas approaching the $12 million range is widely expected for D'Angelo Russell … largely because the whole league knows that the Mavericks can only offer the former All-Star guard a two-year pact that starts at the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception.

Word is that the Mavericks, though, have not abandoned hope of creating roster room for re-signing Dante Exum even if they seal their anticipated deal with the Brooklyn free agent.

Russell would be the Mavericks' 15th and final standard contract once he comes to terms, but the Mavericks are expected to explore the trade market for 2023 first-round pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper in search of a team willing to absorb his contract and potentially open a spot to bring back Exum for additional backcourt depth.<<<

https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-freshest-and-hottest-nba?r=1m9zg&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

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vignette17's avatar

That DLo deal is a shockingly good deal. Especially with their needs given Kyrie is out. DLo/Klay/Flagg/AD/Lively with Washington/Gafford/Christie off the bench is definitely a playoff team to me.

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

To summarize:

Hawks want Alexander-Walker

Pistons want LeVert and Robinson

Kings want Schroder, Westbrook, and/or Brogdon

Mavs want DLo

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Captain Jack's avatar

Breaking: Deandre Ayton is finalizing a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. @ShamsCharania

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belilaugh's avatar

Let some other team take him

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Captain Jack's avatar

I don't mind him as a regular season body if he gets with the program. I can overlook his weaknesses on the court if he doesn't start pouting when he doesn't get his way. That might be a problem. I'm talking myself out of it mid post

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belilaugh's avatar

I'm all for adding him...to the Warrior Esports basketball team.

Hopefully some other team taking him frees up a different center to come to the Warriors instead.

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vignette17's avatar

Color me surprised. He's a rebounding machine, he's 27, he has basically a 0 EPM, he's switchable, he's been a winning player on winning teams. Sure, he can't pass and he might cause spacing issues.

But he's still a very reasonable starter available at a MLE price. Starters just aren't that common on an MLE. I still would take Ty Jerome or something better, but Ayton on an MLE seems like a win to me for the offseason.

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Being's avatar

I think I’m in this line too. If the dubs sign him, I trust their character evaluation enough to like the move. There’s a very real possibility he could just be another Wiggins. Wrong trans - wrong systems

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Nellie's avatar

I’m usually in this ‘bring in talent and make it work’ camp, but I’d be concerned with Ayton because one thing our system really demands of its centers is physicality and screen-setting, and he is famously reluctant to do that.

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

>>>Before anyone asks, the Suns have zero interest in a potential reunion with Deandre Ayton, per a source<<<

https://bsky.app/profile/geraldbourguet.bsky.social/post/3lss5vg566r2k

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SabWrites's avatar

Lol.

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

If the Blazers don't want him, then who will try and get him?

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Captain Jack's avatar

The Blazers didn't want him because his contract was disgusting on top of them already drafting his replacement. Now that he's going to be significantly cheaper there will be tons of team interested in him as a reclamation project

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vignette17's avatar

I would love Ayton on a cheap deal.

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Captain Jack's avatar

I am certainly down with a flyer on Ayton if he can take an affordable deal. I fear he might go to the Lakers though

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Loon Gehrig's avatar

Unfortunately, that sounds realistic. On the bright side, that frees up their previous top target for another team.

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Captain Jack's avatar

They'll certainly double dip I wouldn't be surprised if they end up with both Ayton and Brook Lopez, sigh

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vignette17's avatar

They only have one MLE. Better to only get frustrated if and when it actually happens.

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Chadara's avatar

Interesting comparisons...

https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2025/wnba-nba-comparison/

And of course we can be fans of both GS teams!

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Arash's avatar
20hEdited

This Valkyries team is so much fun to watch!!

Tiffany Hayes is so shifty!! Veronica Burton is so tough and physical with excellent passing chops, her game reminds me of Jason Kidd!! Then there is this Amihere fellow whose recently been exploding into prominence, her game reminds me of a young Giannis.

Just great TV!!

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Loon Gehrig's avatar

By this time tomorrow night, some people will be happy. Some people will be disappointed.

When this prophecy comes true, I will change my name to Loonstradamus.

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Captain Jack's avatar

We already a chef but I might have to call MDJ The Cook after what he's about to do this week

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Loon Gehrig's avatar

"[Stein] Boston Keeping Luke Kornet is looking less and less likely, per Marc Stein. Spurs are eyeing Kornet and could use their full $14.1M MLE to sign him. Boston—just $5M below the second apron—would need to trade Simons ($27M) or Hauser ($10M) to even have a shot."

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

>>>The Spurs' desire to add to its frontline became apparent on the day before the NBA Draft, when I first reported that San Antonio was chasing Kristaps Porzingis before Boston agreed to send the 7-footer to Atlanta.

Now the Spurs, league sources say, are looming as a prominent landing spot for big men on the free agent market as well.

Spurs could use the MLE on Kornet and the BAE on Yabusele to add much needed frontcourt depth behind Wemby<<<

https://marcstein.substack.com/p/more-of-the-nba-free-agency-and-trade

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stickdog's avatar

New and unexpected names:

6'8" Isaiah Mobley (NBA experience): https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mobleis01.html

6'6" Jules Bernard (NBA experience): https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bernaju01.html

6"2 Jaden Shackleford (extensive G-League experience): https://www.basketball-reference.com/gleague/players/s/shackja01d.html

6'8" Ja'Vier Francis: https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/javier-francis-1.html

Back from last season's Summer League injury:

6'10" Marques Bolden (NBA experience): https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/marques-bolden-1.html

Last season Santa Cruz players:

6'8" Blake Hinson

6'8" Donta Scott

6'7" Jackson Rowe (2024-25 two way)

6'5" Taran Armstong (2024-25 two way)

Players who I thought might participate, but who are not on the 19 player roster:

Quentin Post, Braxton Key, Kevin Knox, Pat Spencer, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Gui Santos

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AttilaTheHun's avatar

I can't imagine what Post, Spencer, Trayce, or Gui could gain by playing summer league ball. They're past that point in their careers.

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stickdog's avatar

Spencer could gain a guaranteed contract. TJD could work on hitting his free throws and making his shots at the rim in game situations. Post and Santos could play a couple of games at Chase just as Podz did last season, then hang out with the team in Vegas. And Santos could use a few minutes in which he is expected to be a primary scorer and creator.

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Guifus's avatar

Are they? TJD might want to put the offense he’s presumably been working on to a test in game situations. Post might want to see if his offseason strength training is paying off.

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belilaugh's avatar

Marques Bolden looked so good last summer, that injury was devastating, wonder how he looks now

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Loon Gehrig's avatar

"During the 2023 NBA Summer League, Mobley averaged 17.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks across six games. During the Summer League's championship game, Mobley led the team to a win behind a 28 point and 11 rebound outing."

The next Anthony Randolph!

Seriously, though, 7-3 wingspan. Too bad he never had his brother's talent (he's almost 26 now)

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Loon Gehrig's avatar

"[Charania] Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. intends to sign a five-year, $122 million rookie contract extension, sources tell ESPN. Rockets officials and Smith's agent, Wallace Prather of LIFT Sports Management, negotiated the fully guaranteed deal through 2030-31 season."

So, is JK getting more or less than Jabari?

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stickdog's avatar

Player Comparison: https://craftednba.com/players/comparison?player1=jabari-smith-jr.&player2=jonathan-kuminga

Jabari Smith, Jr. is younger, taller, longer, shoots much better, and is a much better rebounder. He is the more portable and versatile player. He would fit better with the Warriors.

Kuminga is a better passer (albeit still not great), better at getting steals, better at creating his own offense, and much better at getting to the free throw line. He would fit better on a team that needs a high volume scorer who can create his own offense.

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AttilaTheHun's avatar

While JK gets to the line a lot more, he misses a lot higher percentage of FTs than Jabari Smith Jr. Overall, though, he gets more points from the line because he gets so many more attempts.

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Ty's avatar

I don’t think JK should be getting more than that deal, honestly. The market has changed & teams are a lot less likely to overpay.

JK should fire his agent tho, if they are the ones who advised him to refuse 30M/yr. Always lock in the money when you have the chance.

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AttilaTheHun's avatar

Where did you read/hear that JK was ever offered $30M/yr? All I've seen is speculation that he was asking that. The Dubs extended the $7.9M QO, and I doubt they or anyone else has made a larger offer yet. They're not going to bid against themselves; they'll let him test the market, then come to the table.

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Sleepy Freud's avatar

It was widely reported, including by Anthony Slater. I’m sure it was somewhat speculative since you rarely hear exact terms until they’re signed, but Slater is generally quite reliable.

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Mr Teal's avatar

Also, it was before last season, correct?

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Guifus's avatar

Yes

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Sleepy Freud's avatar

Huh, that seems seems … reasonable?

Another data point that makes JK’s (reported) refusal of $30M a year seem delusional.

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dinohealth's avatar

Great stuff, ERIC. Thank you. Would love for you guys to have run getting KLAY BACK through your trade machine...assuming DALLAS is interested, we'd be getting a 15mil guy that would be worth every penny of it...

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Kelly Wheaton's avatar

Have we not learned our lessons about players who don't want to be here? Who want to be THE 🌟, now. (Nothing wrong with that). But the sour🍇 brigade of Poole, Klay and now JK. They are storm clouds 🌀⛈️ dampening the vibe. I prefer to play happy and lose, than have a grumbling and a nasty undercurrent. And if I was coach Kerr he has enough to deal with, without angry chess pieces. I have the ultimate respect for MOSES because he was patient and always stepped up. Not a drama queen on or off court. MDJ said it in the presser looking for people with High BB IQ that fit our system. Ya gotta love and let them go.

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dinohealth's avatar

Lol....shame on you for even putting KLAY in that category after what he has given us in his HOF career....nuff said

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Kelly Wheaton's avatar

I appreciate all he gave and his incredible comeback. He felt disrespected wasn't happy. I wish him the best. But No interest on trying to put that genie back in the bottle. No disrespect intended.

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dinohealth's avatar

Still hurts, huh...irreplaceable....not too late to get him back and become an immediate contender...worth the try methinks....

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AttilaTheHun's avatar

🤣🤣🤣 I about choked laughing when I saw that gif. Perfect! 🤣🤣🤣

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dinohealth's avatar

Lol...I agree, but you can't beat a good...KLAY...down....

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Sleepy Freud's avatar

That horse is alive tho. 😜

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dinohealth's avatar

Lol...You betcha, and after mucho experimentation, we ain't got horse manure at SG that KLAY couldn't beat just by rejoining us and putting up a couple of 3pters in a couple of minutes...

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SabWrites's avatar

Klay's very happy in Dallas. What we should all wish for him is that the Mavs don't screw him over and trade him away.

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dinohealth's avatar

They already did....and, he is an afterthought in their me, me, iso offense...great opportunity for us to let bygones be bygones if we swing it...easiest transition for KERR/TEAM, 2 deadly killer shooter-scorers/perimeter kick-out targets for JIMMY/DRAY, and, instant contenders for next 2 years...

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Chadara's avatar

If he really wanted to play with Luka, they all ready screwed him over.

All the best for Klay as always, and if by some long shot chance he is traded back to the Ws, it will not be just Dinohealth who would enjoy watching play.

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Eric Apricot's avatar

😐

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dinohealth's avatar

Understand...but, it would be great for the TEAM....everybody gets a like from me on this one...was it JOE LACOB that said "to err is human, to forgive DIVINE"...Methinks LACOB has proven his divinity is "lightyears"...

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

-Cleveland Cavaliers declined the $2.55 million team option on Chuma Okeke.

-Memphis Grizzlies have tendered Santi Aldama his one-year, $5.94 million qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent.

-Minnesota Timberwolves declined team options on Luka Garza ($2.35 million) and Josh Minott ($2.19 million) for the 2025-26 season.

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SabWrites's avatar

Bojan Bogdanovic announced his retirement Sunday after 10 NBA seasons with six teams, citing injury.

"Sometimes in life, you don't choose the moment. The moment chooses you," the 6-foot-7 forward wrote in a social media post. "After 14 months of battling a foot injury, two surgeries and countless efforts to get back on the court, the time has come to close a chapter."

Source: ESPN

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Chasing Ring5 💍's avatar

Surely a Top 5 NBA “Bogies”?!

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Sleepy Freud's avatar

Bogut

Muggsy Bogues

Bogdan

Bojan

Keith Bogans

Checks out, at least unless and until Bogoljub Markovic hits it big…

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Chasing Ring5 💍's avatar

Fun Fact: “Bog” in several Slavic languages means “God", e.g., Bogdan = “Given by God”.

Not sure if BobGod or Bogie Cousins (Boogie's lesser known and even lesser talented cousin) counts?

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Nellie's avatar

Where I live it means toilet

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Guifus's avatar

Well Bog damn! That IS a fun fact!

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AttilaTheHun's avatar

Is Bogie Cousins in State Farm commercials with Cliff Paul?

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Sleepy Freud's avatar

Interesting.

So would Bogdan Bogdanović roughly translate to “God Shammgod”? 🤔

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

>>>The Houston Rockets have emerged as a viable free agent landing spot for Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources tell @TheSteinLine and me, after the veteran declined his $15.4 million player option for 2025-26 with the Lakers today.<<<

https://marcstein.substack.com/p/chris-pauls-looming-free-agency-with

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

According to Rockets fans, they said their team is shopping Whitmore and Landale and might replace them with DFS. With DFS on the team, Rockets front court would have: Durant, Thompson, Eason, DFS, and Smith Jr..

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

>>>The Orlando Magic are declining team options on Moe Wagner ($11 million) and Caleb Houstan ($2.1 million), sources tell ESPN. The Magic retain both players' Bird Rights, meaning Orlando could still re-sign them.<<<

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/b315972e5a476

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Roy Hashimoto's avatar

Isn't the NBA minimum for Houstan more than $2.1MM? What happens when your contract turns out to be less than the minimum?

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Eric Apricot's avatar

Yes you can sign a contract that becomes below the minimum. You abide by the contract. A contract only has to be >= the minimum in the year that is it signed.

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AttilaTheHun's avatar

But the Magic declined his option, so doesn't that end the contract and make him UFA? If so, then the vet min applies, no?

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Eric Apricot's avatar

Yes, the vet min applies. I was answering the Q why Houstan had an option for below the minimum (A: that contract obeyed minimum at the time).

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Loon Gehrig's avatar

Which is why JK's contract will hopefully go from probable-over-pay to not-so-bad by the end of it

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AttilaTheHun's avatar

The NBA minimum for a 3-year vet (which Houstan is) = $2.6M. Since the Magic declined his team option, he can be signed in free agency for no less than that.

The Magic have his Bird rights, which means they can re-sign the player for a maximum of five years, with annual raises of up to 8%, even if the team is over the salary cap. Now, that's the most they can offer, it doesn't have to be that much. And it's unrestricted free agency, so he doesn't have to accept the Magic's offer.

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

>>>Bobby Portis intends to sign a three-year, $44 million contract to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, with a player option for 2027-28, sources tell ESPN. Bucks and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports reach a new deal for the sixth man extraordinaire and fan favorite in Milwaukee.<<<

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/972295274b3a8

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Eric Apricot's avatar

The dream is over

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Eric Apricot's avatar

Hang on, the dream is not over

@yossigozlan.bsky.social‬:

[[ Bobby Portis could receive three years, $44 million in an extension before free agency.

If so, those terms could keep him trade-eligible.

This should start him at a similar salary as his $13.5 million player option ]]

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Being's avatar

Doesn’t trading for a recently signed player hard cap the team receiving the player under the first apron? I doubt the dubs do that to themselves.

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DFiB's avatar

That is a very real trade possibility… S&T JK for Portis? Get back a pick too, somehow?

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AttilaTheHun's avatar

I just checked and Portis is only 30 years old. Somehow I thought he was more like 34 or 35. He was a mere prat when he came in the league.

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Loon Gehrig's avatar

mama, there goes that man (one of them anyway)

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

>>>11-time NBA All-Star James Harden is declining his player option (worth $36.35 million) and intends to sign a new two-year, $81.5 million contract to return to the Los Angeles Clippers. The second year has a player option and is partially guaranteed. This deal furthers the strong partnership Harden has forged with the Clippers since he arrived. He receives a well-deserved raise while providing the team with flexibility to add talent in the present and future.<<<

https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3lsrkvmykjs2v

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dinohealth's avatar

Hello KLAY BACK at 15-16m per year for next two years....

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ServantOfLuna's avatar

>>>The Oklahoma City Thunder intend to sign guard Ajay Mitchell to a new three-year contract worth nearly $9 million after declining his 2025-26 team option<<<

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/c2967941b08fb

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