The Clippers and Knicks have engaged in “exploratory” discussions about a possible trade involving center Nerlens Noel, league sources Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The Knicks are attempting to clear the cap room necessary to make a serious run at free agent point guard Jalen Brunson and have a surplus of future draft picks to offer a team willing to take on Noel’s contract, which will pay him $9.24MM in 2022/23. Moving Noel would increase their projected cap room to approximately $25MM.
The Clippers, meanwhile, have a trade exception big enough to take on Noel’s contract without sending out any salary and may view him as a solid rotation option at center, especially if free agent big man Isaiah Hartenstein doesn’t remain in Los Angeles.
The Clippers already project to be a taxpayer and would increase their luxury tax bill exponentially by adding another $9MM+ contract to their books, but Steve Ballmer is one of the richest owners in sports, so that may not be a pressing concern. The opportunity to help an Eastern Conference club pry away a key free agent from a Western rival may also provide some extra incentive as the Clippers mull a potential deal.
Here’s more from Scotto on free agency and the trade market:
- Four NBA executives who spoke to Scotto believe that Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons could sign a contract in the four-year, $80MM range, perhaps with incentives that could further increase its value.
- Based on conversations with six league executives, Scotto writes that Warriors center Kevon Looney could command upwards of $9MM per year as a free agent this summer, while guard Gary Payton II could earn $6-7MM annually. Looney is reportedly considered likely to re-sign with Golden State.
- On draft night, the Pistons landed center Jalen Duren with the No. 13 pick after agreeing to a deal involving New York and Charlotte. If they hadn’t been able to reach an agreement for the No. 13 pick and Duren slipped to No. 14, the Pistons had discussed offering multiple picks, including a future first-rounder, to the Cavaliers, says Scotto. It’s unclear if Cleveland would’ve had any interest in such an offer.
Well, if that’s true about Simons, as well as the reports on Brunson (even though he is a better defender than all 3 of them), Poole and Herro are about to get paid a lot more than they probably should
The ranges on Looney and Payton are right in line with what I was guessing, so no surprises there. Like I previously said, Looney took a big discount last time, as he probably could have got about that a few years ago, and now he proved healthy again, so though I’d like to see him stay with GS, I also want to see him get paid b/c he deserves it, and I also think he can make an impact on several teams that could use him at the 5…Should be interesting to see if he takes another big discount to stay in GS
Idk I think Herro and Poole are both better players and deserve more money.
Herro in particular has played well over multiple seasons not just 1 and both Herro and Poole have made the playoffs with their respective teams and been huge contributors.
For me the biggest thing is a proven history. Herro has had multiple seasons, Poole has only had 1 great season in the league but he’s been trained up and developed behind Curry and Klay and the GSW coaching staff I don’t see him regressing but Simons has had 1 good season when Dame missed a lot of time and he was the first scoring option and had a lot of handling opportunities. Out of the 3 I think he’s by far the most likely to regress
I was referring to Brunson, but I see where it seemed like I was saying Simons is better, so my bad on the phrasing. I was saying that if Simons gets that, and Brunson gets what’s rumored, no way Herro and Poole only get $78 million themselves, which is about what I personally think they’re worth. They probably get closer to what Booker got from Phoenix, which was a big overpay, so probably closer to like $110 million
Curious to see what the trigger point is for GSW to walk away from Looney; is it $10M per? $12M per?
Is the luxury tax even a serious thing anymore? So many NBA teams are trying to be the Yankees is comical. When every team is worth billions and you have billionaire owners, who cares about another $20m? Competition doesn’t exist when the only penalty is more money for the NBA coffers.
I think even billionaires have their limits. If GSW resigns both Looney and Payton II their tax bill puts payroll close to $500MM which isn’t chump change even for a billionaire.
It’s also not easy to put your team in a position to even have cap holds and use exceptions where you’re a good enough team to even get to a point where you’re consistently in the repeater tax, plus ignoring the penalties
Sorry, But I wouldn’t pay looney more than 6m per year. Without Steph dude would be Ed Davis 2.0.
The only thing Looney benefits from playing alongside Curry is winning. He doesn’t look to score. Where else do you find a young big that plays so unselfishly, knows the system and impacts the game with his rebounding and ability to guard the perimeter effectively? Those players are all going to cost just as much.
Ed Davis is a good player who never found a fit. No one is asking for Looney to get Tristan Thompson money – that would be a better example for what you’re trying to say.
I’d rather have Hardenstein over Noel. He’s different than Zubac and he improved significantly last year
Knicks getting desperate…
What-ifs: The 14 slot for an unprotected first from Detroit, who traded Grant and will be integrating mistake-prone rookies?— yes!
Oh could the Knix or Hornets have been more stubborn in the trade talks. I suppose Hornets picked Duren for Detroit, prefering for themselves Mark Williams at 13 or, knowing he would still be at 15, there.
Who could Hornets have taken at 13 or 15?
Ogbaji, Griffen, Eason were next picked. Duren then at 14 to Detroit.
Cavs would be in the Wenya stakes ’23.
Possible conspiracy: Charlotte trading the 13 for three seconds and a mid-to-low ’23 first was a stretch considering they prioritized getting FA money after a center. They should have held out to send Detroit some salary instead, which would have hurt their Miles Bridges bid.
I bet they got some assurances from Detroit that they not to bid max on Bridges. Note the word from Detroit was fast post-draft, that they not be bidding on Bridges. Why?— makes sense to bid— some Piston fans were already putting him on their roster.
This will act to supress Bridges’ salary, likely illegal or at least anti-CBA, so their agreement and/or mechanism is kept secret.
All the public will see is Detroit NOT bidding on Bridges, Bridges signing for $20-25mil as predicted and valued, and thus, no upward pressure is made on wages leaguewide.