Bad Contracts for Picks

I agree on Crabbe and especially Turner, who is better at the SF position, but a ball stopper either way. I'd actually love to get Parsons if he could stay healthy. Big if! The player Washington would want to move is Bogdanovic, who they looked as a short term rental. Therefore, Oubre becomes more valuable to them on a rookie contract. Actually, I think we should go after Bogdanovic in free agency. I originally wanted to go after Porter, but from everything I've read in the Washington newspapers, and on line, I think they'll match any offer Porter gets. That means they won't match any offer that Bogdanovic gets. He's an excellent 3 pt shooter, who is also a good defender at not only the SF position, but at SG as well.

Bog's is 30 yr's old, but if we draft a SF, then he'll be a perfect mentor to him.

Well, Manu is an unrestricted free agent, and I believe he's retiring. Parker Leonard, Aldridge, and Gasol are the only big contracts they have, and Gasol has one year left and it's a player option. I suspect that if he's going to play for the Spurs, he'll pick up his option, but if he suspects he's going to be traded, he'll become a free agent. Of course once he picks up his option, he can then be traded, but I don't think the Spurs would do that to him.

So, unless they were willing to part with either Parker or Aldridge, which is their core, I'm not sure how we could help them. Maybe they're willing to let go of Parker if they're sure they can sign Paul.

The decision on Afflalo has to be made on June 23, the day after the draft. So he could be traded prior to that date, such as on draft day for the full value of his current salary, and then that team can immediately buy him out, and only have to pay him 1.5 mil next season, which would count against their cap. In Afflalo's case, it's a small window of opportunity to use his contract to our advantage. If we can find a trade partner. Anyway, that's my understanding of it. I'm sure the Capt will let me know if I'm wrong.

I'm not a mind reader, but I suspect that the 76'ers are done with that approach, and are now into the competing mode. So no, I doubt they would be willing to absorb any contracts. But never say never.

I'm sorry but this is absolutely false. Bogdanovic never has and never will be known as a "good" defender. I watched every Wizards game last season and whenever I saw him get on the court, the opposition would attack him.

Well there is a big difference between taking on overpaid stars and taking on bad contracts. Philly could very well be in position to trade the Spurs and absorb Gasol's contract. The Kings could be the team to take on the remainder of Parker's. Just examples here no real suggestions of specific players just two different types of big contracts that teams like the Spurs may want to shed. Of course my preference is for the Kings to bring back a serviceable player that fits a need but at the end of the day as long as the paper is off the books in 2 years and picks are attached I think this fits the "prospecting" model I'd like to see the team follow. Keep a few solid vets with the right attitude and mindset to help the team grow then bring in as many young prospects as you can. Hope for a a star, look for your solid role players that fit the coaches style and THEN trade to consolidated talent. But right now we are still at step one.. bring in young talent. So yeah taking on a big 2 year contract on guy who can't or doesn't play is not all that bad a plan B if you can't bring back one of mentors you would prefer.

Knicks have reportedly made contact with Portland about taking bad salary for one of its picks

It's going to be a sellers market unfortunately, several teams will be looking at this method

You can't believe a thing you hear around this time of year.

Both Portland AND the Knicks have bad contracts, so who is trying to make a salary dump? Portland is way over the salary cap.

A trade like that will probably need a third team to facilitate a salary dump. So the Kings can get a draft pick from a deal like that.

Yeah, that's true. And in this case it might be well taken, as the Knicks already have at least $75M in contracts for next year and are also reportedly looking for a way out of Noah's big deal. They look every bit as much the part of a Bad Contract Seller as they do a Bad Contract Buyer.

Out of the teams who have cap space I think most of them will take a swing at some FA's including the Nets.

The Nets would seem like the perfect team to take on bad contracts for picks. They have so little future right now and cap space so it would seem they would gladly take any contract that runs 4 years or less as long as they can get some assets back. I can't see them getting FAs that would make a significant difference for them.

That's fine too, let them take the worst of the worst contracts we shouldn't be pursuing those anyways.

Well since Tolliver just got waived so all we got left is Affalo to take a Portland contract for a pic

Well Tolliver got us $6m in space, which is what Portland wants, so we actually gained an asset they would want by waiving him.

Evidently we had till today to make a decision on him. Afflalos date is draft night.

It looks like Moe Harkless may be moved in Portland's salary dump efforts:

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...trade-portland-trail-blazers-first-round-pick

If I were Vlade, I would definitely get on the phone with Portland right now and try to get in that salary dump, before New York can get the trade done.

IMO, if we can get Moe Harkless, a 1st round pick and take either Meyers Leonard or Evan Turner in a salary dump, we would be in a great position. Portland would get out of salary cap hell with one swift trade and we would have 2 or 3 good assets for our cap space.

Do you really want Portland's scraps? That's what Harkless, Leonard & Turner are IMO.

Moe Harkless is a pretty good player and we would get a first round pick for our cap space, which we need to use to get to the salary floor anyways.

So, Yes, Moe Harkless and a first round pick would be pretty good return for our cap space, IMO.

I definitely don't want Turner and wouldn't like to see the Kings get Leonard but a trade of Afflalo for Harkless and either #20 or #26 seems like a no brainer to me.

I would go so far as to take Harkless without a pick attached. At this point his contract is basically at the same level as the MLE and while he's not a star, he's young and at the very least a rotation player at a position of need with a small chance to break out. There's no way Portland even considers dumping him without their tax troubles. Turner I don't want, and you have to sweeten the deal real hard to make me think about it. Crabbe is the same thing. But both of those guys have a contract twice as large as Harkless. If Portland decides they have no chance of moving Turner/Crabbe right now and go for some tax relief by dangling Harkless, I think we have to make it happen, and if winning that sweepstakes means no pick attached, fine by me.

I wonder how possible it might be to move up from 10 to ensure that we get 2 of the guys we feel better about. Phoenix has Knight as a bad contract which I'm sure they'd love to get out of, but I'm not sure they would consider using the 4th to get out of his contract. I think when you include the 10th, 34th, Afflalo's contract, maybe Malachi or Bogdan it might be close, but I'm not great at draft pick valuation. If we could get up where we getting 2 of the Fox, Tatum, Smith, Isaac group we have high potential prospects across our lineup with at least some depth.

Considering how far Portland is over the Luxury Tax (about $16 mil, before rookie contracts) and there are a bunch of teams with cap space to absorb a bad contract, Portland will demand that whoever gets Harkless also takes at least one of their unsavory/bad contracts off their hands (i.e. Turner, Leonard, or Crabee) for Harkless and a 2017 first rounder.

I think Portland needs to move at least 2 big contracts (min. $20 million total) in any deal for Harkless or their picks, to get real Luxury tax relief.

I would take Harkless in a heartbeat, and if you squint hard enough, Crabee or Leonard could have a place in our rotation.

I am good with taking Moe Harkless, Meyers Leonard (or maybe Crabee) and 2017 #20 pick for Afflalo and good Luxury tax relief for Portland.

I think Portland will make the deal with whoever takes back the most unsavory contracts and demands the least in their 2017 1st round picks.

While Phoenix would probably love to get out of Brandon Knight's contract, they are well below the salary cap floor and will need to spend just to hit the floor.

Which is why I can't see Phoenix giving up anything of great value (like swapping #4 for #5) to rid themselves of salary they actually need.

Maybe a swap of Afflalo's (expiring contract) for the Sun's 2nd rounder and Knight would work for both sides, because we need a veteran point guard and Phoenix doesn't give up a high pick in the salary dump.

You're right. I don't know why but I had Booker on a max contract when he's still on his rookie deal. I don't think there's any worth while deal with them now.

Moe Harkless really isn't anything special, otherwise, why would Portland trade him? They all ready got rid of Batum, replaced him with Moe, they still have Aminu who is another defender and occasional three point shooter, but they are really lacking at the SF position. If they were to unload contracts, it would be Leonard, Crabbe & Turner IMO.

I would take Leonard's deal for #20 that seems like a fair price for him right now.

Thats the thing, Harkless is really good and thats why they won't just dump him. He is not the contract to be dumped, he is the asset that you take on another bad contract for. He just turned 24, is under contract for three more years at an absurdly low salary and represents one of the most valueable archetypes in the NBA right now: The 6'8" wing that can switch everything, can hit the three and even play down at the 4 giving your guards space to attack.

James Ham said in his podcast today that he thinks we can get Harkless "For free". He can be such a freakin dork sometimes. Can we get him to follow the Warriors only and get a new guy CSN? I'm thinking Christie and Bobby MAKE IT HAPPEN. Anyways I would be stoked to get Harkless he's immediately our best SF and he seems like the late bloomer type.

I'd use the word "really good" carefully...he is a role player that can hit the three from time to time and play D. 3 & D forward. They are definitely a hot commodity in this era of basketball.