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Saint Cy of JFC

Saint Cy of JFC

Well-Known Member
2022 Award Winner
2025 Award Winner
With the cap tightening and the stricter LT rules, some teams might be able to get bullied out of keeping their restricted free agents.

I dont think this upcoming free agent class is all that great. There are some interesting UFA's, but no real game changers unless you want to get a early to mid 30's vet like Middleton/Harris/Thompson.

I find the following RFA's kind of interesting and will be keeping an eye on them. Keep in mind you usually have to overpay to get these kinds of players. A fair reasonable deal would likely get matched.
  • Isaac Okoro
    • Hasnt had a great career, but is a really good defender and has become a guy who can at least hit a wide open shot. Might be tough to overpay for a defensive specialist, but there is still potential there for his offense to get better.
  • Josh Green
    • I think Green has a lot more potential than he has been able to show. He gets relegated off-ball too much playing next to Luka his entire career, and that might get worse with Kyrie/Luka. He's a talented passer and could be a good "connesctive tissue" type if he's put in an offense where he has more responsibility. Also a good defender, but not quite as good as Okoro. His offensive potential is much closer to being realized though.
  • Patrick Williams
    • Probably the most potential on this list. Bulls supposedly love him, but a huge contract might prevent them from matching. Could have a nice leap this year.
  • Immanuel Quickly
    • I know he has big fans on this board. Would have to big a massive contract if you want him.
  • Jaden McDaniels
    • Would probably have to max him to have a chance. Would be risky given his inconsistency on offense. Elite of the elite on defense and potentially worth it.

Those would be my top 5. There are some others, but they arent really good enough to justify overpaying for a bench role (Deni Avidjia/Obi Toppin/Achiuwa)
 
Quickly - Get him

Toppin - probably would have been a good player to trade for, IND barely gave up anything. Think that ship has sailed as he's won the starting job. They have a little log jam, but ultimately if IND lets him go it's probably because he stinks it up this year. But I like him.

Cole Anthony - underrated guard who has gotten a lot better, but we have too many guards of his type.

Avdija - I think there's actually an opportunity here. He seems sick of the Poole party already. He's not amazing, but good defender that can pass and make good decisions. Shame he can't shoot.

Bey - nice player, but like Toppin probably needed to trade for him

Everyone else I'm either not interested in or don't think we have a chance to get them.
 
Forgot about Okoro, maybe there's a chance to get him with CLE's money situation. I actually think he's underrated. When you compare him Jaden McDaniels or Pat Williams, I don't see the massive difference that seems to be there from public perception.
 
Saint Cy of JFC said:
With the cap tightening and the stricter LT rules, some teams might be able to get bullied out of keeping their restricted free agents.

I dont think this upcoming free agent class is all that great. There are some interesting UFA's, but no real game changers unless you want to get a early to mid 30's vet like Middleton/Harris/Thompson.

I find the following RFA's kind of interesting and will be keeping an eye on them. Keep in mind you usually have to overpay to get these kinds of players. A fair reasonable deal would likely get matched.
  • Isaac Okoro
    • Hasnt had a great career, but is a really good defender and has become a guy who can at least hit a wide open shot. Might be tough to overpay for a defensive specialist, but there is still potential there for his offense to get better.
  • Josh Green
    • I think Green has a lot more potential than he has been able to show. He gets relegated off-ball too much playing next to Luka his entire career, and that might get worse with Kyrie/Luka. He's a talented passer and could be a good "connesctive tissue" type if he's put in an offense where he has more responsibility. Also a good defender, but not quite as good as Okoro. His offensive potential is much closer to being realized though.
  • Patrick Williams
    • Probably the most potential on this list. Bulls supposedly love him, but a huge contract might prevent them from matching. Could have a nice leap this year.
  • Immanuel Quickly
    • I know he has big fans on this board. Would have to big a massive contract if you want him.
  • Jaden McDaniels
    • Would probably have to max him to have a chance. Would be risky given his inconsistency on offense. Elite of the elite on defense and potentially worth it.

Those would be my top 5. There are some others, but they arent really good enough to justify overpaying for a bench role (Deni Avidjia/Obi Toppin/Achiuwa)
Click to expand...

I like Achiuwa
 
KqWIN said:
Forgot about Okoro, maybe there's a chance to get him with CLE's money situation. I actually think he's underrated. When you compare him Jaden McDaniels or Pat Williams, I don't see the massive difference that seems to be there from public perception.
Click to expand...
Have you watched Okoro? McDaniels is a way better defender and shooter… Williams might be more similar but there’s a reason McDaniels extension number will start with a 3 Williams extension would need to start with a 2 and Okoro will dangle into FA.
 
Quickley
Green
Avdija
Bey

Are the most interesting and gettable imo… McDaniels will extend. They won’t play around there. I’ve like Deni for a while… the way to get him is to trade mid season and extend him at a fair number… Quickley is still hanging out there… if they don’t extend you try and work a trade. Bey seems like he’s on fire every time I watch him but I bet he’s worse than I think. Green is good and Dallas is one that has cheaped out before.
 
Saint Cy of JFC said:
As do I, but assuming with re-sign Kelly we don't have much front court room and any rotation player signing is going to be a big vote of no confidence in Hendricks
Click to expand...

We could certainly use Achiuwa this year.

I do feel pretty confident that Hendricks will look rotation level by the end of the year. He just needs to learn how to be effective on defense, on offense he should be fine as a 5th option parked in the corner.
 
KqWIN said:
Forgot about Okoro, maybe there's a chance to get him with CLE's money situation. I actually think he's underrated. When you compare him Jaden McDaniels or Pat Williams, I don't see the massive difference that seems to be there from public perception.
Click to expand...
I think there is a massive difference, but I like Okoro as a rotational wing.
 
Depending on how the season goes… wiz might be willing to move Tyus and Deni… neither is worth a first in their own… but I’d do a first for both. Problem is roster consolidation not roster cluttering is a priority.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
Depending on how the season goes… wiz might be willing to move Tyus and Deni… neither is worth a first in their own… but I’d do a first for both. Problem is roster consolidation not roster cluttering is a priority.
Click to expand...
In a vacuum I like this idea and I think Deni in a new situation is a guy to watch. Not sure he will thrive in the land of chuckers.
 
Saint Cy of JFC said:
I want to like Deni, but he's never shot the ball well and he has no place on this team if he cant.
Click to expand...
Yeah I keep waiting for the shooting… if that did click in though he takes several leaps up imo… his defense is really good and he’s one of those secondary/tertiary ball handler passers that can make a high level offense hum… like I think he’s a solid glue/bench guy right now… if he shoots it well enough he becomes a high level glue guy starter.

The shooting may never come around and that is where you are gambling.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
Have you watched Okoro? McDaniels is a way better defender and shooter… Williams might be more similar but there’s a reason McDaniels extension number will start with a 3 Williams extension would need to start with a 2 and Okoro will dangle into FA.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've watched both a lot. I'm not sure McDaniels is a significantly better defender. Okoro is a really strong defender, never been his issue. Offensively McDaniels is ahead, but he's not exactly a world beater yet. We'll see if that shooting sticks, but IMO he's got to prove it at least one more especially when he's shooting at a lowish volume. Okoro is pretty disastrous overall on offense though. McDaniels is a better player/prospect, but he will probably make double Okoro and I'm not sure the difference between the two represents that. Numbers seem to support this as well. The majority of both players' value comes from defense and I don't think there is some massive gap.

With Okoro, you're probably looking at giving him a contract that's just above the mid level. If you max out McDaniels, I don't even think that gets it done.
 
KqWIN said:
Yes, I've watched both a lot. I'm not sure McDaniels is a significantly better defender. Okoro is a really strong defender, never been his issue. Offensively McDaniels is ahead, but he's not exactly a world beater yet. We'll see if that shooting sticks, but IMO he's got to prove it at least one more especially when he's shooting at a lowish volume. Okoro is pretty disastrous overall on offense though. McDaniels is a better player/prospect, but he will probably make double Okoro and I'm not sure the difference between the two represents that. Numbers seem to support this as well. The majority of both players' value comes from defense and I don't think there is some massive gap.

With Okoro, you're probably looking at giving him a contract that's just above the mid level. If you max out McDaniels, I don't even think that gets it done.
Click to expand...
McDaniels is a much better defender, better shooter, and has showed some juice off the dribble getting into the midrange. He’s longer and just seems to be able to cover anyone from Steph to Luka and all your big wings. I think as a player he is definitely a few tiers higher and I’d take the cap hit to have him over Okoro. Teams don’t guard Okoro… I wouldn’t pay him 15M a year… I’d happily give McDaniels 30M. I’ve watch McDaniels more than Okoro admittedly but Okoro is invisible when I watch. I think there’s a reason Cleveland paid Strus/Niang even though they have the tiny dynamic backcourt that could use a perimeter defender.
 
I am a huge fan of going after quickly. If the jazz dont make a move this season and clear some of the guard log jam I think a sign and trade would be a good idea.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
McDaniels is a much better defender, better shooter, and has showed some juice off the dribble getting into the midrange. He’s longer and just seems to be able to cover anyone from Steph to Luka and all your big wings. I think as a player he is definitely a few tiers higher and I’d take the cap hit to have him over Okoro. Teams don’t guard Okoro… I wouldn’t pay him 15M a year… I’d happily give McDaniels 30M. I’ve watch McDaniels more than Okoro admittedly but Okoro is invisible when I watch. I think there’s a reason Cleveland paid Strus/Niang even though they have the tiny dynamic backcourt that could use a perimeter defender.
Click to expand...

The much better defender part is the part I disagree with. Okoro is fantastic on defense and that is where the bulk of their value comes from. Offensively McDaniels is definitely ahead like I said, but I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves with a <16% usage player. Maybe in time, but when players have a massive spike in their shooting (on lowing volume) I like to see them prove it a little while longer. Even with the very accurate shooting last season I don’t think he was a positive player on offense. Again, numbers back this up but I also haven’t seen anything out of this world from watching McDaniels either. I think the general consensus is one step ahead one McDaniels and Edwards. If they were as good as everyone says they are they would have been a much better team. Maybe they turn into those guys this year. We’ll see.

Either way, McDaniels isn’t even in the picture for us. I think Wolves match a max contract….which is insane to me but that’s how it is these days. Don’t care to discuss him much.
 
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