Likely the first time this has happened with an active player. Had to be cleared with the league office. George can't be compensated, this has to be a volunteer thing and just for a single game. But it's real and it is happening.
People think I hate Dundon and I agree - city council needs to figure it out and get it done.
Now, on the flip side - Blazers can’t come back in 5 years for 600m more when they want to get the entertainment district done. They’re going to have to chip in.
But as far as Moda is concerned? Figure it out Portland. Be more responsible with the money you already have and get the renovation taken care of.
Just in: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two Wizards second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources tell ESPN.
The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to sign French guard Rayan Rupert on a two-way NBA deal, sources tell ESPN. Rupert, a second-round pick in 2023, split last season in Memphis and Portland.
This seems...suboptimal if you're Mitch Johnson on the surface.
If Billy D is happy to Del Harris this thing and be the top flight assistant, that's a heck of a hire. But this looks like hiring you're impending replacement in a lot of ways.
Billy Donovan has agreed to become the lead assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs and head coach Mitch Johnson, sources tell me and @PeteThamel. After 11 seasons as a head coach in Chicago and Oklahoma City, Donovan accepts the position with the Western Conference champions.
The Mavericks have emerged as a suitor for Anfernee Simons, league sources say.
As @JakeLFischer reported yesterday, Golden State and Miami have continued to pursue the free agent scoring guard who finished last season with Chicago.
More NBA from us: https://t.co/OTTFViNtDp
It wasn’t a low cost though - it’s it just what goes out in a trade - its fit, its contract, its versatility.
Like, the Ja deal is exactly that / the outgoing cost was low but the fit is….I’ll be kind and say interesting…which very much sounds like how Dundon wants to operate and I don’t really subscribe to just buying bc the deal is good.
There’s an argument to be made if you hit on those shorted stocks - but there’s also real risk when salaries start getting that high.
@RipCitySquid How are they contending by adding Brown? What does he address? Rudy Gobert is really good - adding him to this team doesn’t fundamentally change the team and he costs a lot going forward - wouldn’t make sense to add him either.
I very much believe Deni’s contract played a part - it has to…if you value him. Adding that salary slot in Brown where he doesn’t really address direct needs (outside of ‘talent’) makes it a really wonky fit that you can’t just say “eh, we’ll figure out the money later” and not have a real process around.
Now, if you added someone - like idk, Evan Mobley - where he’s young enough, versatile enough that it justifies having to make some really hard decisions in a year? Then I could see something like that potentially - but for me, JB doesn’t cross that threshold for this team currently.
@DannyMarang Do you think Deni’s extension played a factor in not going after Brown? You think they are planning on freeing cap space to renegotiate and extend him and not let him get to UFA?
@gadishahak Huh? Aldama fits a direct need for Dallas and doesn’t cost them 60m a year and fits what they’re looking for stylistically. Ticks a lot of boxes that Brown wouldn’t have here.
Need, fit, cost to attain, and cost to retain - all things that didn’t really align with JB.
I’m not mad that they didn’t go get Brown. I didn’t think he made that much sense to begin with - especially not after Ja deal.
Adding that big of a salary slot and not really addressing a ton of needs didn’t make sense to me,