2019 FA and Offseason Mega Thread

[sailfish]

Lakers fans have hopes of them landing him at the trade deadline. My question is, with what? They traded everything for AD. Never going to happen.

They would have to trade some combination of Kuzma, Danny Green, & another piece, like Quinn Cook. One problem for the Lakers is they have no draft picks to trade

 

[sailfish]

That would involve Koby doing something. And with Dan out for a while he’s not doing anything on his own.

I wouldn’t count on the Cavs doing anything, at this point. It seems like they are sitting out free agency & trades. I think we will see some activity during the season, as we did last year .

 

[NMCav]

They would have to trade some combination of Kuzma, Danny Green, & another piece, like Quinn Cook. One problem for the Lakers is they have no draft picks to trade

They could just go deeper in the vault and throw some 27 or later futures OKC's way. Which OKC would be wise to take because LAL with zero assets and LBJ would be long gone, Davis would be in his mid 30s, and no youth coming in because of the Davis trade. Hes also a terrible fit with the Lakers next to Bron and Davis so I kinda hope they do get Westbrook.

 

[TheISHT]

I thought you can only trade picks up to six years out.

 

[dark2332]

I hate the idea of punting on Sexton, and believe he'll be a better player than SGA. But I can't argue against a swap if the Cavs are committed to Garland as the PG of the future.

This is a very interesting topic, exclusively because it gets into so many items—Collin’s work ethic, Collin’s 2nd half and improved shooting, SGA’s defensive versatility, the fact that he refused to workout for Cleveland pre-draft...

As you’re one of the more vocal Sexton supporters, I was curious to gather your thoughts here.

If the Cavs wanted SGA, they simply could’ve drafted him over Sexton last year. They didn’t. A few of us were very high on Shai in the lead-up, but the refusal to workout for Cleveland kind of rubbed me the wrong way on his character. At that point, I really liked the Sexton selection and everything you learned about his character from that moment on only further supported the selection.

Now, SGA’s defensive versatility and offensive game in just 26 mpg on a playoff team—I do think he’s going to be very good and would pair amazingly long-term with Garland. Plus, I can’t imagine now that he’s been traded to Oklahoma City, he’d be against being in Cleveland.

On the other hand, we just saw Sexton evolve into an efficient 22 ppg scorer in the 2nd half of last season and he’s a coach’s dream with his attitude. He’s already been in Utah and Las Vegas voluntarily spending so much time with Garland and the others. You can’t teach that type of personality. You also can’t put a limit on his improvements under some actual coaching.

While I embraced the BPA selection, I have let it be known that I’m skeptical of Garland and Sexton working long term defensively. I’m not at all worried about it for the upcoming season, but eventually, I think we’ll have to make a decision if both players pan out as expected.

If a hypothetical SGA/Sexton swap amounted as part of trade talks to take salary—although I would struggle and hate trading Sexton—I think I’d have to pull the trigger as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has an ability to impact both ends of the floor and form a complementary backcourt in Cleveland for the next decade.

In which case, you aren’t selling low. Rather, it’d be a swap of two promising young players that—potentially—both franchises could win long term.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Given the offer to swap and 5 minutes to decide, what is your answer?

 

[FrontPageNews]

I thought you can only trade picks up to six years out.

6 or 7 but yeah there’s a limit

 

[inliner311]

This is a very interesting topic, exclusively because it gets into so many items—Collin’s work ethic, Collin’s 2nd half and improved shooting, SGA’s defensive versatility, the fact that he refused to workout for Cleveland pre-draft...

As you’re one of the more vocal Sexton supporters, I was curious to gather your thoughts here.

If the Cavs wanted SGA, they simply could’ve drafted him over Sexton last year. They didn’t. A few of us were very high on Shai in the lead-up, but the refusal to workout for Cleveland kind of rubbed me the wrong way on his character. At that point, I really liked the Sexton selection and everything you learned about his character from that moment on only further supported the selection.

Now, SGA’s defensive versatility and offensive game in just 26 mpg on a playoff team—I do think he’s going to be very good and would pair amazingly long-term with Garland. Plus, I can’t imagine now that he’s been traded to Oklahoma City, he’d be against being in Cleveland.

On the other hand, we just saw Sexton evolve into an efficient 22 ppg scorer in the 2nd half of last season and he’s a coach’s dream with his attitude. He’s already been in Utah and Las Vegas voluntarily spending so much time with Garland and the others. You can’t teach that type of personality. You also can’t put a limit on his improvements under some actual coaching.

While I embraced the BPA selection, I have let it be known that I’m skeptical of Garland and Sexton working long term defensively. I’m not at all worried about it for the upcoming season, but eventually, I think we’ll have to make a decision if both players pan out as expected.

If a hypothetical SGA/Sexton swap amounted as part of trade talks to take salary—although I would struggle and hate trading Sexton—I think I’d have to pull the trigger as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has an ability to impact both ends of the floor and form a complementary backcourt in Cleveland for the next decade.

In which case, you aren’t selling low. Rather, it’d be a swap of two promising young players that—potentially—both franchises could win long term.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Given the offer to swap and 5 minutes to decide, what is your answer?

For me I wouldn't even entertain a SGA for Sexton trade. SGA not wanting to work out for the Cavs is real concerning for me. Sexton has done and said everything right since he has been with the Cavs. I wouldn't risk a potential long term piece who seems happy to be with the organization in Sexton for someone seems like would being unhappy in Cleveland in SGA. Garland hasn't even stepped on the floor for the Cavs, it too early to plan to build around him vs Sexton.

Now if we were taking SGA without giving up Sexton as part of a Love trade or something bigger, I'd be fine with that. If SGA ends up unhappy we can move on from him and we don't lose Sexton in the process or set our team back.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

What are your thoughts on the matter? Given the offer to swap and 5 minutes to decide, what is your answer?

My answer is that I couldn't make that decision in five minutes, so if pressed, I'd say "no".. I just don't know enough right now about either Garland or SGA, or even about Sexton for that matter.

The season ended for Sexton in mid-April. I really want to know what he's done in the 3 months since then. Has he hit the weight room? Spent time in the gym? I have this weird sense that Sexton is going to mature significantly physically, and become a significantly better defender. I think his work ethic will inexorably drive him in that direction. But...I just don't know right now because I don't know what he's done in the offseason. I'd feel a lot more confident after seeing him play just in the preseason simply because I want to gauge the rate at which he is improving.

I also haven't watched enough of Garland (and if we're being honest, nobody here really has...) to gauge his long-term viability as a PG rather than a hot-shooting but undersized SG. No idea, at all, of how he could project defensively. And I've seen SGA play exactly 1 time. So I'd really be trading names more than players with which I am truly familiar.

But I will say this - if the Cavs' have decided that Garland is going to be primarily a PG, and Sexton an SG, I'd do that deal anyway simply because of the physical profiles of Sexton and SGA. I just don't think Sexton's ceiling as a contributor is as a shooting guard.

 

[I'mWithDan]

I hate the idea of punting on Sexton, and believe he'll be a better player than SGA. But I can't argue against a swap if the Cavs are committed to Garland as the PG of the future.

What is the point of adding JR? Is it us dumping the guaranteed portion of his salary, or us giving OKC another asset to move?

OKC would just add salary to get off the books.

At least that is my impression, that acquiring SGA would require something additional.....and they seem to be motivated by trimming their tax bill. Maybe OKC likes Sexton enough for a straight swap.

I don’t love trading Collin, it’s just more of a roster fit thing. SGA just makes more sense as a pair to Garland, if that is the guy who is going to be our horse moving forward.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

OKC would just add salary to get off the books.

At least that is my impression, that acquiring SGA would require something additional.....and they seem to be motivated by trimming their tax bill. Maybe OKC likes Sexton enough for a straight swap.

I don’t love trading Collin, it’s just more of a roster fit thing. SGA just makes more sense as a pair to Garland, if that is the guy who is going to be our horse moving forward.

I agree...I just think it's a hell of a thing to anoint a rookie as your PG before he's played a minute of NBA ball, and barely any ball in college.

I'd prefer to keep them both for half the season or so to at least figure out what you have before you move one of them. But if we were going to move one or the other before the season even begins, I'd prefer to keep Sexton.

 

[inliner311]

OKC would just add salary to get off the books.

At least that is my impression, that acquiring SGA would require something additional.....and they seem to be motivated by trimming their tax bill. Maybe OKC likes Sexton enough for a straight swap.

I don’t love trading Collin, it’s just more of a roster fit thing. SGA just makes more sense as a pair to Garland, if that is the guy who is going to be our horse moving forward.

I think it's almost a moot point to be talking about OKC wanting to clear salary with JRs contract. I think OKC is moving one of two directions, either get rid of Westbrook then rebuild or build around Westbrook.

If they get rid of Westbrook they might be able to attach a player to then get them under the luxury tax. If they build around Westbrook, I don't think the luxury tax payment is really an issue. They already cleared half of it away with the PG13 trade. They can clear some of it with a bigger trade and they probably want to change alot of the roster if they want to build around Westbrook.

I think realistic options for getting SGA is hoping that OKC decides to build around Westbrook and we trade TT and Love for some package with SGA in it.

 

[inliner311]

I agree...I just think it's a hell of a thing to anoint a rookie as your PG before he's played a minute of NBA ball, and barely any ball in college.

I'd prefer to keep them both for half the season or so to at least figure out what you have before you move one of them. But if we were going to move one or the other before the season even begins, I'd prefer to keep Sexton.

Especially a rookie that played so little college ball. I've said this in other threads, I think even Griff made a bad choice to build out so much around Zion before he even set foot on the court. There is such a jump that every rookie has to make and somethings they were good at college might not translate. I think every team needs a feeling out period with rookies.

Really no assessments should really be made till the light comes on for Garland or any of the other rookies. It took Sexton and Cedi a decent amount of the season for the light to come on for them and even now I think both still have a fair amount to grow going forward.

 

[Dr. Claw]

on the Westbrook topic. Absolutely not, and I'm actually a fan of his. But now it's a tough spot for him to be in. The Cavs in current state (IMO) are in no hurry to make a playoff push, there's too many question marks on this roster. The same is true for the Knicks, even more.

I think Miami, if they can make the money work, is the best option for him right now. If he leaves.

One thing to be said about this offseason. Though it is nice to see the "unloved" teams in big markets (Clips, Nets) benefit from free agency from a change, it's still the big markets benefitting. It's clear that trading someone somewhere and selling them on "the team" isn't really going to be something you can rely on. Kyrie and Kawhi can attest to this. The best bet if you don't play for one of the "establishment franchises" is to Spurs it out (rare) or do what the Jazz is doing (similar, but also rare). I wonder if the league adjusts to this somehow. Or if there's gonna be more Phoenix Suns-type teams out there.

 

[Green Lantern]

For me I wouldn't even entertain a SGA for Sexton trade. SGA not wanting to work out for the Cavs is real concerning for me. Sexton has done and said everything right since he has been with the Cavs. I wouldn't risk a potential long term piece who seems happy to be with the organization in Sexton for someone seems like would being unhappy in Cleveland in SGA. Garland hasn't even stepped on the floor for the Cavs, it too early to plan to build around him vs Sexton.

Now if we were taking SGA without giving up Sexton as part of a Love trade or something bigger, I'd be fine with that. If SGA ends up unhappy we can move on from him and we don't lose Sexton in the process or set our team back.

I don't believe Koby would entertain a Sexton trade at this point.
Something tells me the Cavs don't want to deal him as of yet.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Especially a rookie that played so little college ball. I've said this in other threads, I think even Griff made a bad choice to build out so much around Zion before he even set foot on the court. There is such a jump that every rookie has to make and somethings they were good at college might not translate. I think every team needs a feeling out period with rookies.

Really no assessments should really be made till the light comes on for Garland or any of the other rookies. It took Sexton and Cedi a decent amount of the season for the light to come on for them and even now I think both still have a fair amount to grow going forward.

The reason I'd keep Sexton over Garland at this point is simply because I've seen Sexton play. He shot 40% from 3 in the NBA as a rookie -- which is no small feat. And I saw significant improvement in the rest of his game during the season. So, I've seen enough to say "I think he's going to make it."

Garland...no freaking clue. Maybe he'll be much better. But I'll take the bird in the hand.