Roster Building From Here - FA and Summer of 2023

[TheStormofWar]

It’s dumb to guess at how many wins we will have next year with the amount of variance our summer could have. It’s weird for Locke to talk about this. 3 firsts and 50m in cap space…

We also should be trying to convey our pick next year. Start waiting until later and you start endangering some pick swaps.

Who on the roster is worse next year? What do we add with our space? Are they rookies any good?

I actually worry a bit about Lauri being gassed towards the backhalf of the next season due to his commits. I know they get plenty of rest, etc, but it's still a concern to me and I hope he finds to time to relax. There's also the possibility of a bit of slump from Kess and Ochai.

I don't have much of a concern about rookies contributing. I don't know that Kessler and Ochai were thought of as "Ainge's guys" when we got them, but they got better significantly from where they started to the end of the season. That gives me a ton of hope that we have a "develop machine" in the place or at least forming. Given that and the FO and Coaching staff getting "their guys" into the fold, we might well in good shape to get the pieces for a long-term contender in place in relatively short order.

I'd be leery of adding any vets to the squad that take away significant playing time away from younger players. Cap flexibility for assets, short term rentals, etc. so we resign our dudes when the time comes.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

If memory serves, word around the campfire was they wanted 3 1st for OG. I'd be hesitant to do that on any potential 1 yr rental (PO in 24/25).

We could do a renegotiate and extend… but I think he’s kind of overpriced. He’d be great to have but I’m not sure why anyone ponies up more than 2 picks… I wasn’t watching closely last night but he was fairly invisible

 

[hgb]

We could do a renegotiate and extend… but I think he’s kind of overpriced. He’d be great to have but I’m not sure why anyone ponies up more than 2 picks… I wasn’t watching closely last night but he was fairly invisible

'25 Cavs, '27 LAL + some protected pick, perhaps. But I'd never pay what they want if he doesn't extend.

 

[Tom349]

We could do a renegotiate and extend… but I think he’s kind of overpriced. He’d be great to have but I’m not sure why anyone ponies up more than 2 picks… I wasn’t watching closely last night but he was fairly invisible

Would he? Im not so sure.

Between OG, Lauri and Kessler Im not sure there is enough playmaking/shot creation from our front court. Defensively got a lot of upside but could be very limited in the half court, would require a dominant scoring guard to work.

 

[fishonjazz]

You’d have to really make sure Lauri is onboard for that kind of process.

I’ll just say I doubt we only win 25 games next year. I’d bet on it that we win more than that.

If that were the vegas number for next season.......... easy money. I will bet the over.

 

[TheStormofWar]

If that were the vegas number for next season.......... easy money. I will bet the over.

Barring significant injury or Ainge going Cocaine Bear on this roster, that's definitely easy dough.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Would he? Im not so sure.

Between OG, Lauri and Kessler Im not sure there is enough playmaking/shot creation from our front court. Defensively got a lot of upside but could be very limited in the half court, would require a dominant scoring guard to work.

He would. He has some mid post creation he has flashed and can shoot and play great defense. We need that. We can find some backcourt creation.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I actually worry a bit about Lauri being gassed towards the backhalf of the next season due to his commits. I know they get plenty of rest, etc, but it's still a concern to me and I hope he finds to time to relax. There's also the possibility of a bit of slump from Kess and Ochai.

I don't have much of a concern about rookies contributing. I don't know that Kessler and Ochai were thought of as "Ainge's guys" when we got them, but they got better significantly from where they started to the end of the season. That gives me a ton of hope that we have a "develop machine" in the place or at least forming. Given that and the FO and Coaching staff getting "their guys" into the fold, we might well in good shape to get the pieces for a long-term contender in place in relatively short order.

I'd be leery of adding any vets to the squad that take away significant playing time away from younger players. Cap flexibility for assets, short term rentals, etc. so we resign our dudes when the time comes.

With the amount of space we have... it will be hard not to add some vets one way or another. Cap rental deals will be sparse and pretty meh.

Ainge is opportunistic... so I think he looks for the next Huerter/Murray type of trade and will also add at least one FA and/or bring back JC. When you are star hunting you have to have a few opportunities/transaction cycles. The opportunity might pop right up or it might take a bit to materialize.

 

[HermanG]

Would he? Im not so sure.

Between OG, Lauri and Kessler Im not sure there is enough playmaking/shot creation from our front court. Defensively got a lot of upside but could be very limited in the half court, would require a dominant scoring guard to work.

You are correct in many ways here. Playmaking would definitely be weaker than with KO and if we wanted to run plays in half-court we would need to run them through guards mainly.

But I think both OG and Lauri can self-create enough that when they have a mismatch they can utilize it... so if our normal ball movement stalls and there is no pure PG on the court they can still pose threats and score with decent efficiency.

 

[Elizah Huge]

Pascal Siakam could potentially be available in the off-season. What are guys thoughts on trading for him?

 

[infection]

Pascal Siakam could potentially be available in the off-season. What are guys thoughts on trading for him?

I think I’m more interested in OG.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Pascal Siakam could potentially be available in the off-season. What are guys thoughts on trading for him?

I think I’m more interested in OG.

Depends on price with both. I wish you could combine the two guys tbh into one super player.

Most of my Raps knowledge I get from Eric Koreen who covers the team. According to him Pascal isn't necessarily the defender we think he is. He's just okay. His timeline is a little further than I'd like. I think he should fetch more in a trade and I'd be leery of the price there.

OG I like but I think people assume he will add a bunch of creation and that is added into his trade value. I think he can do some stuff but you won't want him doing a lot of it. He seems to miss 20 games each year or more. I like him but I think they want an insane price and I wonder if you just pay a much smaller price for DFS instead of OG and end up about the same place.

I would keep an eye on Toronto - Trent, FVV, OG, Pascal... all kinda intriguing in their own way. I could see any of them getting moved or leaving.

 

[Eminence]

Ya know, after thinking about it some more, I'm not really hoping for any big moves in FA. I don't think we can land any of the cream, and I don't want to overpay for the 2nd tier. Sexton/Ochai/Lauri/Olynyk/Kessler and some rookies and I'm pretty happy with that going into next season.

There's a few guys who should be cheaper that I'd like to take a flier on to see if we can secure to a cheapish longer deal - Thybulle and Okogie stand out. Interested in extending THT in a similar way. Jevon Carter has some interest to me at a fairly low price point.

A lot of old Jazz vets I wouldn't mind bringing back if they were interested in visiting Utah again on their journey, though not at big money - Ingles, Niang, Burks in particular. Maybe Crowder? That Phoenix thing seems kind of off-putting, but I don't know the story. Clarkson kind of in this camp.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I’m sold on Austin Reaves at this point. Offer him whatever his max is (I think it’s $24.5 per year) on day one and see if the Lakers match it. If they do, no big deal. Wasn’t meant to be, and the Lakers are locked into a contract that might be hard to trade in a couple of years.

Assuming the Lakers match, I’m looking to add a player through a trade at a discounted price (like how Portland got Jerami Grant last year) or take on somebody’s bad salary to clear out some cap space for a quality asset coming back. I’d prioritize guys that I want over adding just more assets, but I’m open to both options.

Then I use my leftover space to try to add guys like Yuta Watanabe and Troy Brown on cheap(ish) deals and see if they can carve out a spot in the rotation next year. Maybe look at brining over another top Euro guy that’s looking for a buyout.

 

[Jingled]

Pascal Siakam could potentially be available in the off-season. What are guys thoughts on trading for him?

I wonder what the asking price would be? I'm kind of intrigued by the idea of a Markkanen/Siakam/Kessler frontcourt.

 

[KqWIN]

Depends on price with both. I wish you could combine the two guys tbh into one super player.

Most of my Raps knowledge I get from Eric Koreen who covers the team. According to him Pascal isn't necessarily the defender we think he is. He's just okay. His timeline is a little further than I'd like. I think he should fetch more in a trade and I'd be leery of the price there.

OG I like but I think people assume he will add a bunch of creation and that is added into his trade value. I think he can do some stuff but you won't want him doing a lot of it. He seems to miss 20 games each year or more. I like him but I think they want an insane price and I wonder if you just pay a much smaller price for DFS instead of OG and end up about the same place.

I would keep an eye on Toronto - Trent, FVV, OG, Pascal... all kinda intriguing in their own way. I could see any of them getting moved or leaving.

His defense has definitely dropped off since he took on a bigger role on offense. I think he’s a little overextended right now as a 27+ usage player. My question on him is whether or not he’s happy with a slightly smaller role on offense with more effort on defense. A lot of guys don’t like to scale down their usage and do more of the dirty work.

I’ve got my eye on the TOR guys. I think if you can sign FVV or Trent Jr you do it and worry about a perfect team/timeline afterwards. Signing then adds a lot of value to our team.

As a side note, I don’t know if Thad is completely cooked (he’s been playing since the stone ages). But I think he would be a nice vet to have off the bench if he’s got anything left. He has Utah ties IIRC.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

His defense has definitely dropped off since he took on a bigger role on offense. I think he’s a little overextended right now as a 27+ usage player. My question on him is whether or not he’s happy with a slightly smaller role on offense with more effort on defense. A lot of guys don’t like to scale down their usage and do more of the dirty work.

I’ve got my eye on the TOR guys. I think if you can sign FVV or Trent Jr you do it and worry about a perfect team/timeline afterwards. Signing then adds a lot of value to our team.

As a side note, I don’t know if Thad is completely cooked (he’s been playing since the stone ages). But I think he would be a nice vet to have off the bench if he’s got anything left. He has Utah ties IIRC.

I watched Thad play a little this year... he cooked.

I don't know that there is a next "Lauri" but if I was making a list of 10-15 players that could have an unexpected glow up... I'm sure Trent Jr. would be on there. To be clear I don't expect it at all. I think he is fine as is with just some really natural improvement.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Trent Jr would basically be a better version of what we had in Malik, right? Not really upside for him to hit another level?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The idea of Siakim and Lauri is very intriguing to me. Maybe not a perfect fit, but his talent is enough for me to take him over OG.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I’m sold on Austin Reaves at this point. Offer him whatever his max is (I think it’s $24.5 per year) on day one and see if the Lakers match it. If they do, no big deal. Wasn’t meant to be, and the Lakers are locked into a contract that might be hard to trade in a couple of years.

Assuming the Lakers match, I’m looking to add a player through a trade at a discounted price (like how Portland got Jerami Grant last year) or take on somebody’s bad salary to clear out some cap space for a quality asset coming back. I’d prioritize guys that I want over adding just more assets, but I’m open to both options.

Then I use my leftover space to try to add guys like Yuta Watanabe and Troy Brown on cheap(ish) deals and see if they can carve out a spot in the rotation next year. Maybe look at brining over another top Euro guy that’s looking for a buyout.

One thing is that Reaves is an awful man defender. He's solid on team defense so he isnt absolutely wrecking your ability to defend, but the guy is a walking target. I've really noticed that from watching the Lakers the past week or so.