Yes. The salary cap will go up every year, but not like this year, where basically every team had enough caps pace for a max player or two.
The jump in salary cap after next summer will be more in line with normal jumps.
BTW, I. Hope you are right about dmc, but who would have thought durant would jump ship and OKC was in the WCF.
The jump in salary cap after next summer will be more in line with normal jumps.
BTW, I. Hope you are right about dmc, but who would have thought durant would jump ship and OKC was in the WCF.
True, but factor in high taxes and a move to a state with no state income tax could save him money. He could even maximise earnings by signing a two year deal with a player option in the second year, which he could then opt out of and sign a massive long term deal with his chosen team.
More money doesn't always seal the deal. Remember Dwight Howard walked away from more money in LA with the Lakers. Other players have done the same. So we can't bet of that to be honest.
More money doesn't always seal the deal. Remember Dwight Howard walked away from more money in LA with the Lakers. Other players have done the same. So we can't bet of that to be honest.
I didn't see Durant "selling out" and joining the Warriors, but he was always a candidate to leave when you watch their games and see him regularly arguing with Westbrook. A rumor did come out and say there was tension between them that led to Durant's exit. So it wasn't a massive surprise to see him fielding offers, though admittedly I expected a superstar player to join a team and be "the guy" on that team and not become a sidekick.
I don't know how anybody can reasonably believe that he didn't "sell out" or "punk out" or whatever phrase you want to use.
Assuming that KD did have irreparable issues w/ Westbrook or the Thunder front office, the Warriors were far from the only remedy. By choosing to join the franchise that just knocked him out of the playoffs AND already had a roster that recently won a title, 73 games and advanced to the FINALS 2 consecutive years, he's essentially acknowledging that he only has a legitimate chance to win with the very best talent around him. He certainly couldn't get it done with the above average supporting cast OKC put around him.
KD already had me starting to believe that he's no more than an Alex English, Tracy McGrady or Carmelo Anthony. And this decision further cements it for me. He's a fantastic player, as they were. He's won a scoring title, as they did. But he's not a guy that can lead a team -- even a really good one -- to a title. I'm sure those guys could have won titles had they played with what was considered the most talented team in the league at the time.
While I do feel the Warriors and their brand of basketball is vastly overrated from a historical POV and against great teams from different era's, they are without a doubt a stellar team in today's world of 1 and done college players that lacks a wealth of legit post up players and fundamentals in general. Despite losing to the CAVS a few weeks ago, there's a reason all the sportsbooks had the Warriors listed as the overwhelming favorite even before KD made his decision. They have the best collection of players and chemistry in the league right now. KD was well aware of that.
To me, if KD gets his title in this manner, he's proven himself no better than English, McGrady, and Anthony. The only difference between them will be that English didn't join the Lakers or Celtics during the 80's and McGrady and Anthony didn't join the Lakers or Spurs during the 2000's.
Assuming that KD did have irreparable issues w/ Westbrook or the Thunder front office, the Warriors were far from the only remedy. By choosing to join the franchise that just knocked him out of the playoffs AND already had a roster that recently won a title, 73 games and advanced to the FINALS 2 consecutive years, he's essentially acknowledging that he only has a legitimate chance to win with the very best talent around him. He certainly couldn't get it done with the above average supporting cast OKC put around him.
KD already had me starting to believe that he's no more than an Alex English, Tracy McGrady or Carmelo Anthony. And this decision further cements it for me. He's a fantastic player, as they were. He's won a scoring title, as they did. But he's not a guy that can lead a team -- even a really good one -- to a title. I'm sure those guys could have won titles had they played with what was considered the most talented team in the league at the time.
While I do feel the Warriors and their brand of basketball is vastly overrated from a historical POV and against great teams from different era's, they are without a doubt a stellar team in today's world of 1 and done college players that lacks a wealth of legit post up players and fundamentals in general. Despite losing to the CAVS a few weeks ago, there's a reason all the sportsbooks had the Warriors listed as the overwhelming favorite even before KD made his decision. They have the best collection of players and chemistry in the league right now. KD was well aware of that.
To me, if KD gets his title in this manner, he's proven himself no better than English, McGrady, and Anthony. The only difference between them will be that English didn't join the Lakers or Celtics during the 80's and McGrady and Anthony didn't join the Lakers or Spurs during the 2000's.
The problem is that we have shown our hand and therefore have no leverage in trade talks. Additionally which PGs would you realistically target outside of Rubio and Knight? There aren't that many teams with solid PGs who want to move them. I doubt we get a Bledsoe or any of the Boston PGs for a Rudy package. OKC needs a win now type player seeing as they appear against moving OKC and Rudy fits. Payne is a nice player who could grow into a solid starting PG and Roberson is a legit shut down defender.
Anybody know the source of those rumors? I.e. is that just some fan saying, "you know, the Thunder need to replace Durant and the Kings are going defensive..." or was this a media source (with or without credibility)?
Because I was like that fan above and thinking OKC needs Rudy, what do they have, Roberson +...??? myself. But no way I would have guessed we would do a Roberson + Payne move. In fact I don't think its even possible on its own because of salary cap rules (but fuzzy right now where OKC and we sit in the midst of FA madness, but we are near the top).
Thing is, while I had not hit upon Payne, what I had considered was that Waiters could still be signed and traded I think. I have no interest, but the matching money has to come from somewhere.
And if Roberson and Payne were actually somehow legal and we actually did that, it would be a gigantic lay your cards on the table confirmation of our determination to play this like Ewing and his Knicks. one Cuz to do all the scoring, and then a defensive roleplayer palooza everywhere else (Payne is long for a PG with defensive potential, Roberson is obviously a top guy). Now that Wade's gone wonder if Riles would be willing to come to town and join Joerger's staff.
Because I was like that fan above and thinking OKC needs Rudy, what do they have, Roberson +...??? myself. But no way I would have guessed we would do a Roberson + Payne move. In fact I don't think its even possible on its own because of salary cap rules (but fuzzy right now where OKC and we sit in the midst of FA madness, but we are near the top).
Thing is, while I had not hit upon Payne, what I had considered was that Waiters could still be signed and traded I think. I have no interest, but the matching money has to come from somewhere.
And if Roberson and Payne were actually somehow legal and we actually did that, it would be a gigantic lay your cards on the table confirmation of our determination to play this like Ewing and his Knicks. one Cuz to do all the scoring, and then a defensive roleplayer palooza everywhere else (Payne is long for a PG with defensive potential, Roberson is obviously a top guy). Now that Wade's gone wonder if Riles would be willing to come to town and join Joerger's staff.
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Like I said, I didn't expect Durant to sell out and join the team that beat his in the play offs and become a sidekick. I thought if he left OKC he would join somewhere like Miami or Boston and remain "the guy". That didn't happen and he sold out and joined the Warriors as one of Steph Curry's sidekicks. However, maybe he's gone to the Warriors to learn how to become a champion (eg LeBron and Miami, though that was admittedly different because LeBron was the main man on that team) and a year or two from now he'll go home to OKC or perhaps his hometown team Washington and deliver a title. Though I guess in the end he has made a basketball decision to join a team to help him get rings and take some of the burden off him.
Wouldn't mind this if PG was already set, but alas, those are the 2 pieces we need to use to find a starter (or at least a guy capable of 25 MPG to platoon with DC) this year. Roberson is an absolute stud defensively and I do think his offense could see a nice leap getting out of the shadow of Durant/Westy. Payne also showed signs last year, but he's still a ways away from getting the keys to a team for me.
On second thought, maybe I do like this deal quite a bit. Roberson solidies a really nice wing rotation of super role players with Afflalo/Temple/Roberson/Casspi/Barnes that all can play with each other in any combo you want. I think we'd be able to run a lot of small-ball PF too with Casspi and Barnes and still have plenty of wing depth. Payne wouldn't necessarily be holding the clip-board, but he'd fit in nicely as a 20 MPG back-up behind DC for another season. And if all goes well, he can take over the job the following year when DC is up for a contract.
DC || Payne ||
Afflalo || Roberson || Temple || Richardson
Casspi || Barnes || Temple
WCS || Tolliver || Skal
Cousins || Koufos || Papa
Maybe you'd bring Afflalo off the bench as the scoring punch, but I really like the direction that team is taking. It's missing a real second option, but there's finally direction (long defensive role playing shooters) and some really nice future upside pieces (2016 draft, Payne, Roberson, WCS).
What I like most is we'd finally be getting away from the 3 high usage players on offense nonsense and be forced into moving the ball to get quality shots. No more pointless ISO's where everyone's standing around and watching.
On second thought, maybe I do like this deal quite a bit. Roberson solidies a really nice wing rotation of super role players with Afflalo/Temple/Roberson/Casspi/Barnes that all can play with each other in any combo you want. I think we'd be able to run a lot of small-ball PF too with Casspi and Barnes and still have plenty of wing depth. Payne wouldn't necessarily be holding the clip-board, but he'd fit in nicely as a 20 MPG back-up behind DC for another season. And if all goes well, he can take over the job the following year when DC is up for a contract.
DC || Payne ||
Afflalo || Roberson || Temple || Richardson
Casspi || Barnes || Temple
WCS || Tolliver || Skal
Cousins || Koufos || Papa
Maybe you'd bring Afflalo off the bench as the scoring punch, but I really like the direction that team is taking. It's missing a real second option, but there's finally direction (long defensive role playing shooters) and some really nice future upside pieces (2016 draft, Payne, Roberson, WCS).
What I like most is we'd finally be getting away from the 3 high usage players on offense nonsense and be forced into moving the ball to get quality shots. No more pointless ISO's where everyone's standing around and watching.
Anybody know the source of those rumors? I.e. is that just some fan saying, "you know, the Thunder need to replace Durant and the Kings are going defensive..." or was this a media source (with or without credibility)?
Because I was like that fan above and thinking OKC needs Rudy, what do they have, Roberson +...??? myself. But no way I would have guessed we would do a Roberson + Payne move. In fact I don't think its even possible on its own because of salary cap rules (but fuzzy right now where OKC and we sit in the midst of FA madness, but we are near the top).
Thing is, while I had not hit upon Payne, what I had considered was that Waiters could still be signed and traded I think. I have no interest, but the matching money has to come from somewhere.
And if Roberson and Payne were actually somehow legal and we actually did that, it would be a gigantic lay your cards on the table confirmation of our determination to play this like Ewing and his Knicks. one Cuz to do all the scoring, and then a defensive roleplayer palooza everywhere else (Payne is long for a PG with defensive potential, Roberson is obviously a top guy). Now that Wade's gone wonder if Riles would be willing to come to town and join Joerger's staff.
Because I was like that fan above and thinking OKC needs Rudy, what do they have, Roberson +...??? myself. But no way I would have guessed we would do a Roberson + Payne move. In fact I don't think its even possible on its own because of salary cap rules (but fuzzy right now where OKC and we sit in the midst of FA madness, but we are near the top).
Thing is, while I had not hit upon Payne, what I had considered was that Waiters could still be signed and traded I think. I have no interest, but the matching money has to come from somewhere.
And if Roberson and Payne were actually somehow legal and we actually did that, it would be a gigantic lay your cards on the table confirmation of our determination to play this like Ewing and his Knicks. one Cuz to do all the scoring, and then a defensive roleplayer palooza everywhere else (Payne is long for a PG with defensive potential, Roberson is obviously a top guy). Now that Wade's gone wonder if Riles would be willing to come to town and join Joerger's staff.
With the amount of players we currently have under contract, it makes trades interesting. We can't really do 1 for 2 or 1 for 3 type of trades. Thankfully, I think that means there's zero chance we trade Cuz even though there's rumors popping up here and there. I do think it could mean Rudy, Kosta, and Ben could be a package rather than 3 separate deals to get flexible pieces.