These are the players ESPN says we could potentially afford with the MLE:
Gabe Vincent, Russell Westbrook, Coby White (restricted), Tre Jones (restricted), Ayo Dosunmu (restricted), Talen Horton-Tucker (player option), Dennis Schroder, Patrick Beverley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (restricted), Dennis Smith Jr., Alec Burks (team option), Seth Curry, Max Strus, Donte DiVincenzo (player option), Cam Reddish (restricted), Josh Richardson, Lonnie Walker IV, Malik Beasley (team option), Hamidou Diallo, Matisse Thybulle (restricted), Kelly Oubre Jr., Joe Ingles, Naji Marshall (team option), Georges Niang, Christian Wood, Trey Lyles, Paul Reed (restricted), Jalen McDaniels, Xavier Tillman (team option), Jaxson Hayes (restricted) and Mason Plumlee
Of that list, I pick Gabe Vincent or Lonnie Walker IV
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/37910163/nba-free-agency-2023-which-teams-cap-space
by RanLearns
9 Comments
I know we need a 3 more than another guard, and I’m hopeful that Rubio will be able to come back stronger after another offseason, but these two guys showed up in key playoff moments and we can use another scorer to be the first one off the bench when either Garland or Mitchell take a break
Just like Mobley and Allen know they need to hit the weight room in the off-season, Okoro and Stevens know they need to hone in the three ball, and I’m sure LeVert has his improvement plan from the coaching staff, so hopefully they will all come back sharper at the 3 regardless of who is in the starting lineup on opening night
Wings thats can shoot! Need that spacing especially since it looks like Mobley’s stretch big abilities may take a while to develop. Of our current wings (Okoro, Osman, Stevens) only Osman can shoot and he’s incredibly streaky.
I’d take a look at Seth Curry, McDaniels, Niang, Vincent, etc., even if we’re sacrificing a little defense.
Neither we need a forward not a 6’3-6’4 guard
From that list without looking into everyone I’d say give me McDaniels, I want Grant Williams tho I don’t care that this sub hates on him after the “ima make ‘em both” and Jimmy butler things. He’s a 4 that at times can play the 3 and even small ball center. Hits open 3s and is a tough competitor(for better or worse lol), and is known as one of the better Giannis defenders.
It’s Grant Williams. That’s the only answer.
Some of these guys (Coby White, Strus, Grant Williams, probably Wood and Oubre) are going to go for more than the MLE.
Some of them are going to go for less, so there is also the option of splitting it. I think we could probably add Yuta Watanabe (not on here but should be) for like $4mm and take a flier on Cam Reddish for $8mm just as an example.
Or Jalen McDaniels for the full MLE and Watanabe with the BAE. That would give us some size and versatility at the 3/4 spot.
I really don’t see how we come out of FA with the starting 3 we want. But we can add shooting. If Burks for some reason is available he’d be nice but DET is gonna exercise that option. DiVincenzo and Beasley are both guards with okay size that shoot a lot of 3s.
Miles bridges?
Westbrook obviously. Because we need more guys who can’t shoot to fully imitate a 90’s offense. One step closer.
A guy like Grant Williams is attainable if we salary dump some guys, the FO just had to decide if it’s worth it.
We’re currently 9 million under the cap, not including LeVert’s cap hold (maybe less since I’m not accounting for cap holds for unfilled roster spots). If we renounce his bird rights and salary dump one of Osman/Rubio/Wade, we’ll have about $15M in space, which might be just enough. If we instead salary dump Okoro (and maybe get a few seconds back) we would have closer to $18M, which I think gets the job done.
So basically, would you rather have:
1. (Grant + a couple second round picks) – (Okoro + LeVert + MLE guy)
2. Grant – (Osman + Wade + LeVert + MLE guy)
3. Keep all our guys including LeVert + MLE guy
If the FO expects LeVert to walk or doesn’t have a solid plan for the MLE, I’d pull the trigger on 1 or 2. If they are confident they can keep LeVert and add a Strus type with the MLE, that makes the choice a bit tougher.
Burks, NAW, Struss, Dante Divencenzo, Beasley, Oubre , ingles and Niang are all super interesting. Shooting is the priority