Official 2025-26 NBA Offseason Thread

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by kipgen

At what point do we start to see teams trading players at the peak of their values for multiple high picks + young players instead of offering them gigantic amounts of money

Unless you have a generational guy on your team almost seems better to have more eggs in more baskets instead of trying to work your way around a guy getting paid $60m+

I think that's not very likely given how much the cap is increasing.

A 10% increase for the next 2-3 years means that the guy currently making 30% of your cap is gonna be under 25% to seasons from now. If anything, they are becoming more and more valuable.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by kipgen

At what point do we start to see teams trading players at the peak of their values for multiple high picks + young players instead of offering them gigantic amounts of money

Unless you have a generational guy on your team almost seems better to have more eggs in more baskets instead of trying to work your way around a guy getting paid $60m+

^Yes kipgen! The *key* question about this new CBA. I think we’ll start to see it a lot. Until we reach saturation and other teams don’t want to trade for those guys either. Expansion can’t get here soon enough for that reason.

We already saw it from Indiana with Turner. Warriors and Kuminga too. Those aren’t even max guys. Gone are the days ownership can bail out bad GMs with a checkbook. They have to penny-pinch every deal now because of the hard cap. Mobley on 20% of cap? Love it, where do I sign. Mobley on 35% of cap? Don’t feel great about it.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I think that's not very likely given how much the cap is increasing.

A 10% increase for the next 2-3 years means that the guy currently making 30% of your cap is gonna be under 25% two seasons from now. If anything, they are becoming more and more valuable.

7% next year. Teams that assumed it would be 10% are already in trouble.

[asujbl]

"Are you going to bet on Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and LeBron James? Yes. Do you want to work for 40 years to earn $1 million or get a lottery ticket? Give me the lottery ticket"

��@Gbush91 & @JPeterlin➡️ why #Cavs should pursue LeBron Pt 3

��Listen: go.audacy.com/CQmST1A4HUb

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by JustinVerlander07

It's already happening. Though it's generally sign the guy first, trade him after.

Unless you’re the Mavs.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by asujbl

"Are you going to bet on Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and LeBron James? Yes. Do you want to work for 40 years to earn $1 million or get a lottery ticket? Give me the lottery ticket"

��@Gbush91 & @JPeterlin➡️ why #Cavs should pursue LeBron Pt 3

��Listen: go.audacy.com/CQmST1A4HUb

That would be the only civilized thing LeBron could do to end his career where he started.

I would love to see him dunk on Bronny when they play the lakers.

[ninjacookies]

Surprised nobody's signed P Giddy yet.

He has a very flexible skillset that could help a lot of teams, made decent strides with his outside shot, and plays very solid defense.

[ninjacookies]

My man KD. Never running from the postseason grind.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Surprised nobody's signed Giddey yet.

He has a very flexible skillset that could help a lot of teams, made decent strides with his outside shot, and plays very solid defense.

We were going to disagree eventually. Good run though.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

We were going to disagree eventually. Good run though.

You still have time to rethink this, m8.




Now I don't know if I'd want him on my roster as a championship cog, but my guy played really well last year and was the primary reason why the bulls surged to a play in spot late.

Problem is, looks like he's seeking 150m. Which may be a slight overpay on his market. Then again, look at what c tier dudes are making now.

[JustinVerlander07]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Surprised nobody's signed P Giddy yet.

He has a very flexible skillset that could help a lot of teams, made decent strides with his outside shot, and plays very solid defense.

Total postseason liability. Overthinking this one brother.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Problem is, looks like he's seeking 150m. Which may be a slight overpay on his market.

Therein lies the rub.

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Then again, look at what c tier dudes are making now.

Sorry new CBA, who dis? His best hope is that he’s working with the Chicago Bulls FO.

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Now I don't know if I'd want him on my roster as a championship cog, but my guy played really well last year and was the primary reason why the bulls surged to a play in spot late.

I can’t find it now, but someone wrote about how late-season stats are horrible future indicators because of all the shenanigans that take place across the league. Like starters on bad teams are essentially playing backups/2nd units so they look much better than they are. Bad teams want draft position; good teams use the opportunity to rest. Then start of the following season they’re playing starters again and the numbers plummet. Very dangerous to use late-season stats for new contracts, but it’s the Bulls, so it might just work.

[Dodgerfan74]

Lakers sign Ayton, so they have their center. Reaves will be traded for some veterans, because the Lakers donÂ’t want to give Reaves a max contract. LeBron will be gone next year. Donic wonÂ’t sign an extension and will be gone. Lakers start the rebuild. WalterÂ’s gets new GM.

[JustinVerlander07]

Originally Posted by Dodgerfan74

Lakers sign Ayton, so they have their center. Reaves will be traded for some veterans, because the Lakers donÂ’t want to give Reaves a max contract. LeBron will be gone next year. Donic wonÂ’t sign an extension and will be gone. Lakers start the rebuild. WalterÂ’s gets new GM.

I don't think that Reaves gets a max from anyone but the Lakers would be foolish to let him walk. He's REALLY good. You don't just let really good players walk in the NBA.

[BlueXtreme]

Originally Posted by Dodgerfan74

Lakers sign Ayton, so they have their center. Reaves will be traded for some veterans, because the Lakers donÂ’t want to give Reaves a max contract. LeBron will be gone next year. Donic wonÂ’t sign an extension and will be gone. Lakers start the rebuild. WalterÂ’s gets new GM.

They also signed Jaxson Hayes.. so they clearly still have no idea what they’re doing

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by JustinVerlander07

Total postseason liability. Overthinking this one brother.

This is far.

Originally Posted by Chryghst

I can’t find it now, but someone wrote about how late-season stats are horrible future indicators because of all the shenanigans that take place across the league. Like starters on bad teams are essentially playing backups/2nd units so they look much better than they are. Bad teams want draft position; good teams use the opportunity to rest. Then start of the following season they’re playing starters again and the numbers plummet. Very dangerous to use late-season stats for new contracts, but it’s the Bulls, so it might just work.

Word up. I COULD see him as a fill on a terrible team like the Wizz (similar to 4th year Brogdon) where he automatically becomes a top 2 starter. Because his defense and passing are pretty irrefutable. Almost reminds me of an extremely poor man's Kidd.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Because his defense and passing are pretty irrefutable. Almost reminds me of an extremely poor man's Kidd.

We’ll always have our mutual love of the Hawks. This doesn’t change that.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

We’ll always have our mutual love of the Hawks. This doesn’t change that.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Haha I just don’t think slob wizard is a very good defender.

[ninjacookies]

Had to fire up the VPN for this one.

Originally Posted by Chryghst

slob wizard

Google learnin me something new every day.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Had to fire up the VPN for this one.

Google learnin me something new every day.

Hollinger’s a must follow for this season. He lives in Atlanta.

[wiper]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I think that's not very likely given how much the cap is increasing.

A 10% increase for the next 2-3 years means that the guy currently making 30% of your cap is gonna be under 25% to seasons from now. If anything, they are becoming more and more valuable.

the problem isn’t paying the max to any of the 6-8 true #1’s, it’s having to pay it to #2’s (and #3’s). the thunder should be able to keep the players they draft and they’re 2-3 years away from a revolving door. paying SGA super max is fine, paying him, chet and jalen williams 85% of the cap or whatever is the problem.

the “40% of the cap” contracts don’t kill anyone and everyone would offer them to the players who deserve it. it’s when jalen williams averages 22/5/5 and needs 30% that causes problems.

the cavs probably will have problems building around mobley’s contract, the thunder WILL have problems soon. maybe they haven’t traded all those picks for another all star bc they know they’re gonna need a bench in the near future…

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by wiper

the problem isn’t paying the max to any of the 6-8 true #1’s, it’s having to pay it to #2’s (and #3’s). the thunder should be able to keep the players they draft and they’re 2-3 years away from a revolving door. paying SGA super max is fine, paying him, chet and jalen williams 85% of the cap or whatever is the problem.

the “40% of the cap” contracts don’t kill anyone and everyone would offer them to the players who deserve it. it’s when jalen williams averages 22/5/5 and needs 30% that causes problems.

the cavs probably will have problems building around mobley’s contract, the thunder WILL have problems soon. maybe they haven’t traded all those picks for another all star bc they know they’re gonna need a bench in the near future…

Yep, exactly. Shai signed for 35% of cap. OKC is praying Jdub and Chet don’t both make all-nba or Chet DPOY next season. It’s the difference between 30% cap for both (95% between all 3!) and maximum 25% for both (85% for all 3). 10% of cap is the difference between having Caruso or not, or having Dort or not (both make ~11.5%).

I think that’s exactly why they’ve saved their picks. To consistently have cost-controlled rookie deals to fill out their rotation as ancillary pieces get picked off by the rest of the league, and/or make trades for value contracts. I think ownership will pay the tax for a short window (they did with PG) but the longer they delay that the less punitive repeater penalties will be.

Also, I think sports media does a disservice when they report a new contract as 285million/4years etc rather than 35% of the cap. The $millions is kind of irrelevant.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by wiper

the problem isn’t paying the max to any of the 6-8 true #1’s, it’s having to pay it to #2’s (and #3’s). the thunder should be able to keep the players they draft and they’re 2-3 years away from a revolving door. paying SGA super max is fine, paying him, chet and jalen williams 85% of the cap or whatever is the problem.

the “40% of the cap” contracts don’t kill anyone and everyone would offer them to the players who deserve it. it’s when jalen williams averages 22/5/5 and needs 30% that causes problems.

the cavs probably will have problems building around mobley’s contract, the thunder WILL have problems soon. maybe they haven’t traded all those picks for another all star bc they know they’re gonna need a bench in the near future…

I don't think the problem are paying your #2s that much, it's the #3s (or some of the worst #2).

OKC should continue to contend with SGA and J-Dub taking 65% of the cap. They can try resigning Chet at a discount, if he doesn't want it, they can do a sign and trade to get some rotations players in his place.

More than anything, it's going to be almost impossible to contend without hitting the 1st apron. OKC has been the exception of the rule but it won't be after next season.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

Yep, exactly. Shai signed for 35% of cap. OKC is praying Jdub and Chet don’t both make all-nba or Chet DPOY next season. It’s the difference between 30% cap for both (95% between all 3!) and maximum 25% for both (85% for all 3). 10% of cap is the difference between having Caruso or not, or having Dort or not (both make ~11.5%).

I think that’s exactly why they’ve saved their picks. To consistently have cost-controlled rookie deals to fill out their rotation as ancillary pieces get picked off by the rest of the league, and/or make trades for value contracts. I think ownership will pay the tax for a short window (they did with PG) but the longer they delay that the less punitive repeater penalties will be.

Also, I think sports media does a disservice when they report a new contract as 285million/4years etc rather than 35% of the cap. The $millions is kind of irrelevant.

I think it's a very long shot to think that they both make an All-NBA team.

I wonder what they are gonna do with Chet if he has a slightly better season. Do you wanna pay 40+ a year for a guy who's injury prone and can't make the All-Star game? Look at what happened to Denver.