Deleterious

If you challenge and they can't tell from watching 10 seconds of replays, just go with the call on the floor.

Guys like Trae Young and Ja should watch Jenkins play defense. You don't have to be 6'6 to play respectable defense.

Sometimesi think LeVert just does stuff to see if JB will bench him or not.

I also think Gores will pay the tax, but only for a year or two. It's not sustainable for much longer than that

Not a fan of burning a challenge 2 minutes into the game on a possession change. Even if you win it costs you a challenge and only have 1 left the rest of the game.

I would pay Ausar before Duren, but I wouldn't give him a max deal either. But a wing defender is much more valuable that a center that can't shoot. Ausar can guard the other teams best offensive player about 95% of the time. I think people really sleep on that skill. He can guard Jalen Brunson to Luka and everyone in-between. The few guys he can't guard are Victor or Jokic. But other than SA and Denver, Ausar will guard every other title contenders best offensive player.

Orlando is a great lesson on staying out of the apron. Next season with only 11 guys under contract, they are already in the 1st apron. By the time they fill out their roster they might flirt with the 2nd apron. They will be a first time taxpayer. All while being what? Maybe the 5th best team in the east? You basically have 2 maybe 3 years at that point before you have to break the team up and get back under the tax line. That Bane trade will go down as one of the dumbest trades of all time. Nothing against him, he is a nice player. But he isn't the player you trade away all your future draft capital for while putting yourself into the apron/tax area. If you do, you have to be making deep playoff runs every season or its a waste.

Something I didn't mention in that post. If the only move Detroit makes this summer is maxing Duren, they will be at $177 million in salary, or $11 million over the projected salary cap. So if you want to spend the $16 million MLE on a free agent you're at $193 million. Want to keep Harris? Lets just toss out $10 million to keep him next year, which might be low. But now you're at $203 million. You want to keep Green? Lets say another $7 million for him. You are now at $210 million and that is where the 1st apron starts.

Interesting to see San Antonio having Victor guard Hart. They are letting 6'6" Stephon Castle guard KAT.

It will be an interesting summer for sure. No cap space really, so it will just be the MLE most likely which is about $16 million. Duren - I hope they at least let the market dictate he gets a max. If they just give him one on July 1st, that will be dumb. Plus, if he signs an offer sheet it will only be for 4 years instead of 5 and 5% annual raises instead of 8%. So you save a bit. Thompson - Can they get a team friendly extension? What does that look like? $30 million per? I doubt his agent lets him sign that, but who knows. Robinson - They can keep him for $15 million next year. They can also pay him $2 million and cut him. Even better would be moving him to a team looking to cut salary. They could instantly save $13 million by trading for Robinson. Problem is, do they have something to trade us that we want. Green - Free agent and we only have his early Bird rights which means we are limited on what we can offer. If you go over that limit you have to use cap space to sign him. Huerter - Bye Harris - Defense isn't good, cant shoot, old. I don't see why he comes back but if he does it has to be cheap and as a backup. Jenkins - They can bring him back for $4 million or cut him for nothing. Depends on his playoff performance most likely. But honestly, they don't have money to replace him so he might come back by default. Reed - He has a deal for just over $5 million but none of it is guaranteed. So they can cut him for nothing. Klintman - His year is not guaranteed either. So they could cut him for nothing if they want/need to. Their needs: Starting PF and backup PF. Shooting. Secondary ball handler even if Jenkins has a good playoff. A big that can shoot, maybe. They are getting expensive, and hopefully they can find a way to stay out of the 1st apron for one more season.

We talk about how they will have to buck trends to win. They are still a team that has not won a playoff series in almost 20 years. They are not giving out max contracts to Cade's friends. That will have zero to do with anything.

He had a steal on 4 consecutive possessions.

Yep. The new CBA rules pretty much dictate a max type player has to be able to create for himself and/or others. There are multiple bigs that can shoot and play defense that I still wouldn't max. I was really hesitant about JJJ and his max contract. I wouldn't have maxed Chet. Both of those guys can shoot three's and are both good defenders. Bam is the same way and I wouldn't max him. Gafford would have been a nice get. He was also rumored to be available for a 1st and he would have fit into the TPE before they blew it on Soric. For the next 3 seasons he makes about $18 million per year. Centers are basically the running backs of the NBA. Don't pay them.

Duren would look great in a Bulls uniform

Ausar with 36 minutes. I wonder if that is his highest minute total of his career.

Stew's first game back is Tuesday when they play in Cleveland.

Cava favs are confused. Usually it's Mitchell pissing away a win

Robinson fouls out. Sasser brought in and immediately gets his pocket picked.

Neither team wants to win this

Hot potato!

Cleveland trying to give this away