I’d like to start off by saying that by no means do I want to lose Monk in FA. But if we do lose Monk in FA, I don’t think it’s the end of the world looking at our cap situation.
If Monk walks in the 2024 off-season, I’d only sign contracts that can expire in the 2025 off-season. I’d also immediately look to trade Huerter and Barnes for contracts that expire in 2025 (while hopefully getting some assets back if possible). That might result in us taking a step back in the 2024-25 season considering Monk, Huerter, and Barnes would no longer be on the roster, but since our 1st will most likely convey to ATL in 2024, we’d at least get to keep this more attractive 2025 1st and add another young, cheap asset to a core of Fox, Sabonis, Murray, Ellis, and Jones.
This would leave us with ~$43-45 mil in cap space during the 2025 off-season (a 0-6 year max would start at $38.8 mil and a 7-9 year max would start at $46.3 mil) to add another significant piece to this core. Ideally, you’re targeting a SF/PF with that cap since your starting lineup could be Fox - Ellis/Jones - Murray - ??? - Sabonis. Below is a list of the SFs and PFs that would be free agents during the 2025 off-season…
- Brandon Ingram (UFA)
- Lauri Markkanen (UFA)
- Jonathan Isaac (UFA)
- Scottie Barnes (RFA)
- Jalen Johnson (RFA)
- Trey Murphy (RFA)
- Franz Wagner (RFA)
- Jonathan Kuminga (RFA)
- Evan Mobley (RFA)
- Matisse Thybulle (PO)
- Jimmy Butler (PO)
- Khris Middleton (PO)
- Jayson Tatum (PO)
- John Collins (PO)
- Dorian Finney-Smith (PO)
- Aaron Gordon (PO)
- Julius Randle (PO)
- Bobby Portis (PO)
- Naz Reid (PO)
That’s a lot of talented forwards to choose from and could be a good way of retooling this team in the off chance that Monk walks.