Weekly Mailbag

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“Why do we need a moratorium? If there wasn’t one it could have spared us the whole DeAndre Jordan debacle. Right?” — Angel

The Jordan situation is an interesting one, but it’s certainly an outlier, and not the norm. But the league may indeed take a look at revamping the system, especially if Mark Cuban and other owners make enough noise about it. But changing things wouldn’t be so simple since the moratorium is part of the collective bargaining agreement, and the NBPA would have to approve any proposed alterations.

As for why there is a moratorium, it technically exists to allow the NBA to finalize its books from the previous season, which in turn determines the salary cap, luxury tax line, etc. It was also implemented with the intent that more teams would be able to bid on players and it would generate a larger open market. Of course, instead of teams reaching early verbal agreements and signing players on July 1st, we now have to wait eight agonizing days for these tentative deals to be finalized. Next year’s moratorium is going to be 11 days, so we’ll have an extended period to cope with next offseason.

So removing the moratorium may have prevented Jordan’s situation, and landed him on the Mavs, but it’s not a given. As someone who covers the NBA, I wish the moratorium would go away just to streamline things, but I also see the value of it for players and teams, though a strong argument can be made that it merely delays the free agent process, rather than improves upon it.

“What do the Mavericks do about a starting center now?” — Tyler

There aren’t a whole lot of options available on the free agent or trade markets right now for Dallas. It’s looking more and more likely that Zaza Pachulia will tip off the season as the starter at the pivot. That’s not great news for the team or its fans. I like Pachulia a lot as an option off the bench, but as a starter in the brutal Western Conference…not so much. When JaVale McGee and Samuel Dalembert are your best free agent options, that’s not a great spot to be in for any team. McGee may indeed be the best fit since he has a much higher upside than Dalembert. But McGee isn’t a great locker room guy, nor has he been able to harness his immense physical gifts thus far in the NBA. So there’s that. Dallas’ best hope right now may be to wait until training camp cuts begin and to pray someone useful gets dropped by another team. I’ll also float out that Dallas should consider trading with the Heat for Chris Andersen. Andersen is certainly on the downside of his career, but he would add defense, hustle, and rebounding to complement Pachulia’s offensive skills. Andersen won’t make the Mavs a contender, but he’d certainly be a decent addition, as well as provide some needed minutes throughout the season.

“Why haven’t the Cavaliers re-signed Matthew Dellavedova yet? And is he worth his asking price?” — Stu

Cleveland reportedly wants to bring back Dellavedova, but are prioritizing negotiations with Tristan Thompson. I think the team is waiting to see how those negotiations shake out before making the final call on Dellavedova. As for his worth, the point guard is reportedly seeking an annual salary of $4MM. While I like the grit and hustle that Dellavedova brings to the court, his overall production isn’t in line with that annual amount in my book. I’d value him at $2MM to $3MM per season at most. But the Cavs have to factor in the luxury tax hit for the point guard, and according to former Nets executive Bobby Marks, the Cavs inking Dellavedova at $4MM per season would actually cost them close to $18MM thanks to the luxury tax hit. There’s no way that he’s worth that amount, which is the likely hold up in getting something resolved between the two sides. I do think the team will end up re-signing Dellavedova, especially since alternative veteran point guard options are drying up rapidly, and would likely cost a similar amount anyway.

“What happens with Ty Lawson in Denver? Does he get dealt or waived?” — Carlos

The Nuggets are in a tough spot here. They appear ready to part ways with the talented guard, but his salary ($12,404,495 in 2015/16 and $13,213,482 the following season) and off the court issues (the veteran was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of DUI, his second DUI-related arrest in six months time) make getting anything of value for Lawson almost impossible right now. Unless a team with a significant amount of cap space is willing to take a chance, there’s almost no way to deal Lawson without taking back some questionable contracts in return. That’s probably not the ideal move to make for a rebuilding Denver squad. The best option may be to hold onto Lawson, hope he is productive, then try to flip him at the trade deadline. But if the team is truly concerned about the effect his attitude is having on the locker room, then waiving Lawson via the stretch provision, or reaching a buyout with him are perhaps the best options on the table right now.

“Why does almost every single multi year deal in the NBA have a player option/opt out? Also, why is it worded “2 year deal with player option after the first year” as an example? As a big baseball/football fan as well, that sounds very weird to me.” —Matt

The rise of the player option is a trend that is directly influenced by the league’s new TV deal, and the salary cap boom that is expected to arrive along with all that extra cash. Players are now anxious to hit the open market during the Summer of 2016, which is the first offseason when that dramatic cap increase is expected to kick in. It’s smart business on the part of the athletes (or more specifically, their agents). They ink a short-term deal, or one they can get out of in quick order thanks to the player option, and they will be able to sign a long-term arrangement next summer. In the case of someone like LeBron James, the player option is also a way to keep the organization on its toes in regards to roster building, not too mention pushing them to venture into, or remain in, luxury tax territory. With the threat of James being able to take his talents elsewhere after a season, you best believe GM David Griffin will go all out to surround LeBron with the best possible supporting cast.

As for the wording…these are in principle two-year deals, since one cannot assume that a player will choose to opt out. But the caveat of the player option is added to relay the full scope of the agreement. I suppose it could be relayed as a “one-year deal with a player option for a second season”, but they both essentially mean the same thing. Each of the three major sports leagues’ contract and salary structures are markedly different, so the terminology will vary across the board. It’s just the easiest way to present the terms of the deal.

That’s all the space I have for this week. Thanks again for all of the submissions, and please keep them coming. See you all back here next Saturday.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“What changed LaMarcus Aldridge‘s mind about potentially playing in San Antonio, and is Dallas the favorite to land him?” — Kyle

The first thing to keep in mind is that Aldridge has never come out an expressly indicated that he wanted to play for a Texas team, which obviously includes San Antonio. So it’s possible that nothing at all has actually changed. But if Aldridge has actually soured on the idea of signing with the Spurs, it likely revolves around the statuses of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. If the two are intending to play for another season it would make it extremely difficult for the Spurs to offer a max contract to Aldridge, which would almost certainly be a deal breaker. And if the duo were to retire, then San Antonio enters a rebuilding phase, regardless of whether or not Kawhi Leonard is re-signed. I don’t think Aldridge is too keen at this point in his career to struggle to make the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference.

The Mavs also have their drawbacks, and quite a bit of the roster is unsettled heading into the 2015/16 campaign. So it’s difficult to label them the favorites, but if Aldridge is determined to return to Texas on his next deal, I’d still give them the edge. Aldridge won’t be trying to replace a legend like Duncan, and the Mavs have a bit more flexibility this summer to revamp their roster than San Antonio does.

“With the Clippers looking to buy their way into the first round of the NBA draft, who should they look to select?” — Richard

The Clippers have a number of needs, and the most pressing is a starting small forward. It’s doubtful that Los Angeles would be able to find such a player at the end of the first round, which is likely where the team would be able to land a pick. If by some miracle a player like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson fell that far, then that would make things easy. But that’s almost assuredly not going to occur. Virginia’s Justin Anderson would also be a prime target, but I’m not so sure the Clippers can acquire a pick high enough to land him.

The team also badly needs to add some depth in the middle even if DeAndre Jordan is re-signed. If he departs, and I do think that he will, then the Clippers will need to land a big in the worst way. The team could take a chance on Robert Upshaw, who has a myriad of red flags, but mid-first round talent. If not Upshaw, then perhaps Dakari Johnson, Christian Wood, or Jordan Mickey could fit the bill at the tail end of the first round, or early in the second.

“Would trading down in the draft really be the best move for the Knicks?”  — Scottie

That depends on the circumstances and how far down the team were to slide in the first round to make a deal. If the team isn’t in love with any of its options with the No. 4 overall pick, and Phil Jackson were able to score a decent return, then it’s something to consider. New York has a myriad of holes that need to be filled, so I can understand the temptation to turn one pick into a few.

But the NBA isn’t like the NFL, and finding value late in the first round or anywhere in the second round is no easy task. If the team could remain in the top eight this year and score a 2016 first-rounder, that might be worth rolling the dice on. But the Knicks need building blocks, not role-players. Trading away a potential star player for a number of lesser pieces won’t excite the fanbase, nor will it turn around the team’s fortunes in any meaningful way. So I say keep the pick and try to strike gold. Praying one of the teams picking ahead of the Knicks passes on Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, or D’Angelo Russell so one slips to No. 4 wouldn’t hurt matters either.

“Which new coach will have the greatest amount of success next season?”  — Andrew

There are different measures of success. But if you are referring simply to winning percentage and playoff success, then I would have to go with Billy Donovan and the Thunder. Any team with Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Serge Ibaka on its roster has a better than average chance of making the playoffs. Health permitting of course. But if Durant can stay on the court next season, then I fully expect OKC to make the playoffs and have the potential to make some noise once it gets there.

Fred Hoiberg should also do well in Chicago with the Bulls, but that is an aging roster that will always play under the looming shadow of an injury ready to strike. The Bulls probably blew their best shot to make it to the NBA Finals this season, which is one of the reasons that Tom Thibodeau got his walking papers. I don’t see the team making huge strides next season, though revamping the offense should make the Bulls more entertaining to watch.

The remainder of the new head coaches enter rebuilding situations, and I don’t think the coaching changes will markedly turn things around for any of those franchises in 2015/16. However, I am excited to see what Alvin Gentry‘s faster paced offense will do for the Pelicans. But that team is still a few players away from being able to contend in the West.

That’s all the space that I have for this week’s column. Thanks for continuing to fill up my inbox with inquiries, and I’ll be back next week with more responses.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“Where do you see Kevin Love playing next season?” — Trey

The situation with Love is certainly going to be an interesting one to watch this offseason.  I don’t see him remaining in Cleveland long-term, nor do I think Love is a good fit for that particular roster. But I’m not quite sure that the split will occur this offseason. Love could decide that exercising his $16,744,218 player option for 2015/16 and waiting until the potential salary cap explosion the following offseason would be his wisest financial move. Plus, Cleveland would likely be considered the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals next season, so one more opportunity to chase a ring could hold some level of appeal for Love.

But if he does indeed decide that he’s had enough playing second-fiddle to LeBron James, I would have to go with the Lakers as Love’s likely landing spot. The team has the cap room to ink both he and Rajon Rondo potentially. And with Kobe Bryant possibly entering his final campaign, the team would be Love’s in a year’s time. The main problem for Love if he departs for a rebuilding team like Los Angeles is one of public perception. He was known as a stat sheet guy who didn’t make his teammates better while in Minnesota. Leaving a team like the Cavs, who will be in contention as long as LeBron remains healthy, would not be a great reflection on Love’s hunger to win as opposed to his need to put up individual numbers. But receiving a max level contract from a major market team in Los Angeles would certainly go a long way toward making Love not care what is said and written about him.

“Do you think it was a good move for the Magic to hire Scott Skiles as coach? If not, who should they have hired?” — Ralph

While I don’t think that Skiles is a bad coach, I’m not a fan of him being paired up with Orlando’s young roster. The team is an offensively challenged one already, and bringing in Skiles, who is a defense first type of guy, seems like a bad idea to me. The Magic also have a very young roster, and Skiles is an extremely demanding coach who tends to wear out his welcome because of his tough as nails approach. I think the hire lacks creativity and boldness on the Magic’s part, which is disappointing.

If Orlando truly wanted a disciplinarian, why not go for Michael Malone instead? He’s also a coach who demands accountability and defensive focus, but is also a bit more progressive offensively than Skiles has shown himself to be. Malone also reportedly had a great relationship with DeMarcus Cousins, who isn’t the easiest player to reach. If Malone could get Boogie on board with his philosophy, the players in Orlando would be a cinch.

If it was me making the call for the Magic, I’d have attempted to think outside the box with this hire. I realize that he just signed his deal with Texas, but Shaka Smart would have been my prime target. Smart is an innovative coach who is climbing up the ranks quickly, and he would mesh well with the Magic’s young roster. If not Smart, then I say they should have gone for John Calipari. Orlando isn’t viewed as a free agent destination, but coach Cal could certainly help change that. He would also match up well with the team’s personnel, though I’m not sure Orlando would have ceded the level of control that Calipari would probably be looking for if he were to make the jump back to the NBA.

“What are the chances that Dwyane Wade leaves Miami this summer?” — Vinnie

This is certainly a story that seemingly came out of nowhere. I get where Wade is coming from here regarding wanting to be paid. He did sacrifice some salary for the team when he re-signed last summer, which the team should take under consideration. But on the other side of the argument, Wade is no longer a player who will play 82 games in a season. He is also not the player he once was, so committing a significant amount of cap space over the next three seasons makes little business sense for the Heat given all the other needs the franchise has to fill.

That said, I don’t think Wade ultimately leaves Miami. He is the face of that franchise and it wouldn’t be great for public relations if the team held out and let him walk away. Especially after the departure of LeBron a year ago left a bitter taste amongst the team’s fanbase. But never say never. I never thought I would see Michael Jordan in a Wizards uniform, nor Patrick Ewing wearing Orlando’s colors. If I had to put a number to it, I’ll say there is a 90% chance that Wade is back in South Beach next season.

“Which teams (if any) are most likely to deal away their first round picks this year?” — Marcus

I do think that there will be a robust trade market for draft picks this year. Whether or not these deals will come to fruition is another story, but there will likely be a lot of chatter regarding picks potentially changing hands. This is mainly because of how the talent in the 2015 draft shakes out. There is a distinct dropoff from the top five or six players to the rest of the field, which could make quite a few teams consider moving up, or dealing away their picks for future assets. The other factor that should stimulate the trade market is the depth of that second tier of players. There isn’t much separation talent-wise between the No. 18 pick and the No. 28 one this year. This reduces the risk of moving down in the draft somewhat, and could also cause a number of teams to try and snag a late first-rounder via trade.

As for what teams are most likely to deal, I would definitely have my eye on the Celtics at No. 28 overall, the Suns at No. 13, and perhaps the Knicks at No. 4 overall. The Celtics have more draft picks than they know what to do with, and there are only so many roster spots to go around. I can easily see Danny Ainge flipping the pick for future assets, or packaged as part of a larger trade. The Suns are loaded with younger players already, and GM Ryan McDonough has indicated that he is more willing to deal his first-rounder than in years past. As for the Knicks…I’m not sure they know what they want to do right now. Dropping to fourth in the lottery was a gut punch to the franchise, and complicates matters for Phil Jackson. If I had to go on record as to which team is the likeliest to deal, I’ll go with the Celtics here.

Thanks for all of the submissions and please keep them coming! That’s going to do it for this week, but I’ll be back next Saturday with some more responses to your inquiries.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“What compensation do you think the Bulls will get in return for coach Tom Thibodeau?” — Robin

This is going to be a very interesting situation to watch. It’s been reported that Thibs wouldn’t walk away from the team, so the Bulls will need to fire or trade him it seems. The problem is that just about everyone in the league knows how tenuous the situation is between the coach and the front office in Chicago. That’s not a position of strength for the franchise to negotiate from. The Bulls will likely begin by asking for a first-rounder, but will almost assuredly have to settle for one or two second round draft picks if they do indeed decide to part ways with Thibodeau.

Another potential roadblock is that the Pelicans are seemingly moving away from pursuing Thibodeau, and are reportedly looking for a lower profile coach who won’t get into a power struggle with GM Dell Demps. That probably eliminates one of the three open slots, and the Nuggets have reportedly been looking to become more of a fast-paced offensive team, which in no way plays to Thibs’ strengths as a coach. This leaves the Magic as the only potential suitor, and if that is indeed the case, then the Bulls will have a more difficult time securing a return for their coach. This vacancy may also soon dry up seeing as Scott Skiles is now reportedly the front-runner for the job. It’s very possible that Thibodeau could return for one more awkward season in Chicago as a result. I find it difficult to believe that the Bulls would fire him outright, and if the desired return isn’t there, then the team could try and make the marriage work for one more campaign. But the best case scenario I see for Chicago is snagging a second round pick or possibly two.

“Now that the Draft lottery is set, who do the Timberwolves take with the No. 1 pick?” — Juan

I’m not sure the team has this answer figured out just yet. The current reports have the team leaning toward Jahlil Okafor, but in my gut I believe that Karl-Anthony Towns is the guy for Minnesota, and even have the mock draft to prove it! Okafor is a heck of a talent, but Towns has way more of an upside, is a better defender, and a superior athlete. The idea of pairing Towns alongside Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, and Ricky Rubio is an intriguing one. The Kentucky big man would also fit better alongside Nikola Pekovic, provided he can recover from his Achilles injury. Selecting Towns would instantly make the Wolves one of the most entertaining teams in the league to watch, though they will still likely end up in the draft lottery next season as well, regardless of who the franchise nabs at No. 1 overall.

“Which potential second-rounder do you see being the best value in this year’s NBA Draft?” — Kyle

I’ll go with former University of Washington center Robert Upshaw, provided he slips into the second round.  If not for his substance abuse issues, I’d peg Upshaw as a mid first-rounder. But teams are reportedly reluctant to give him a fully guaranteed deal because of the risk involved, and since first round picks’ contracts are automatically guaranteed, it could mean a potential steal in the second round for a team willing to take a flier on Upshaw.

I will float one other possibility regarding Upshaw. Since the big man is going to need significant D-League time his rookie season anyway, a team could work out an arrangement similar to the one the Thunder did with 2014 first-rounder Josh Huestis. A franchise could make a deal to select Upshaw in the first round, but not sign him for next season. Upshaw could agree to play in the D-League for the 2015/16 campaign, and if he remains trouble-free, then he can ink his NBA deal the following summer. It could be a win-win for both parties.

“So of course the Knicks failed in the lottery. What do they do with the pick? How likely is Phil [Jackson] to trade the pick?” — Bryan

I feel your pain. I’m sure my neighbors weren’t thrilled with my screaming when the Knicks logo was pulled for pick No. 4 on lottery night. I honestly don’t see Jackson trading this pick, or at least he shouldn’t be looking to deal it away. New York needs some young talent in the worst way, and Jackson can still land an impact player at No. 4. Teams won’t likely be willing to trade a star player for the fourth pick in this draft, which is the only reason to even consider a trade here. Of course, Jackson is still an unknown quantity when it comes to the draft, so all bets are off. But in the end I think he’ll have no choice but to keep the pick and try to work his magic via the free agent market.

As for who the team is likely to select, my current mock draft has Emmanuel Mudiay heading to New York. There is virtually no way that Towns or Okafor will be there at No. 4, and I have D’Angelo Russell coming off the board to the Sixers at No. 3. So unless a team reaches and nabs Kristaps Porzingis much earlier than I believe he should be drafted, Mudiay will be the best player available when the Knicks are on the clock. Justise Winslow and Willie Cauley-Stein are also possibilities here, but I still think Mudiay will be the name called by Adam Silver on draft night for the franchise.

Thanks for all of the submissions and please keep them coming! That’s going to do it for this week, but I’ll be back next Saturday with some more responses to your inquiries.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“I know that Grayson Allen blew up in the final four for Duke and everything, but was he really that highly touted of a prospect coming out of HS, and is he really going to be a lottery pick in 2016?” — Steve A.

Allen wasn’t that highly a ranked prospect entering Duke, with the guard being slotted No. 34 in the RSCI for the freshman class of 2014. So he was projected to be a borderline NBA draft pick when he headed off to college, but as you pointed out, his NCAA tourney performance certainly made him a household name. What’s funny is that he likely wouldn’t have seen the court in March if the team hadn’t have dismissed Rasheed Sulaimon.

As for Allen’s draft prospects, he’s a probable first-rounder if he were to leave school after his sophomore campaign. Allen can certainly shoot it from the outside, which is a skill that is always at a premium around the league. Even more so in today’s NBA. But he also has shown a surprising level of athleticism, which should certainly increase his overall stock. The 2016 NBA draft is being projected as a somewhat weak one overall, so Allen could move up as a result. I’m not ready to label him a lottery pick just yet, nor should most NBA scouts. Allen will have to prove that he was more than just a March wonder, and it remains to be seen what flaws will be exposed when he gets on the court for more than the 9.2 minutes per game he averaged as a freshman. For now, I’ll say he’s a mid-to-late first round prospect who has the opportunity to move up in the rankings as the 2015/16 college season wears on.

“What are the draft prospects for Washington’s Robert Upshaw?” — Paul.

Upshaw is going to be an interesting player to watch on draft night. If he hadn’t been dismissed from school by the Huskies the big man would likely be a lock to go in the middle of the first round, perhaps even higher. His draft combine measurements were rather impressive, and he definitely has the potential to make an impact in the NBA. The big man’s problem is that this year’s draft is loaded with big men, and most come without the character red flags that Upshaw does.

If Upshaw impresses scouts and executives during his pre-draft workouts I can see him going as high as the 12-18 range. Teams will go out on a limb for potential, especially when that potential is encased in a seven foot frame. I like Upshaw’s game, though he’s not going to be NBA-ready his first season. A team that can snag him in the No. 24-30 range should get a steal, but should hand him a D-League jersey immediately since that is where he’ll likely spend the bulk of his rookie campaign.

“Now that Monty Williams has been fired by the Pelicans, who do you see taking over the team next season?“ — John.

I think this is more than likely Tom Thibodeau‘s new job if the Pelicans and Bulls can agree on the compensation. Prior to the end of the season I believed that Thibs would get one more season in Chicago before moving on, but that’s not likely going to be the case now. We’ll know much more next week on this as teams begin to gauge what Chicago wants in return for its coach. Thibodeau has also been mentioned as a candidate to take over the Magic, but the Pelicans are a much better fit for him. I can just imagine Thibs’ head exploding while trying to coach such a young Orlando team on how to play his style of defense.

If not Thibs, I can see New Orleans taking a hard look at Mark Jackson, who would be an interesting fit with the team. Whomever the franchise hires will almost assuredly be the coach the team believes gives them the best chance to retain star big man Anthony Davis. One darkhorse candidate I throw out here is John Calipari. I’m well aware that he’s close to an extension through 2022, but never say never. Eventually he’ll tire of the grind of recruiting and want to erase the sting of his first venture into the NBA. Plus, what better coach to entice Davis to re-sign than his former college one?

“Will the Raptors make a big splash in free agency this offseason?“ — Tim.

If you’re asking me if they will ink a max contract type of free agent, then my answer is probably not. There will certainly be changes in Toronto this offseason, but I think if the franchise is to make a big move it will be via the trade market rather than free agency. Toronto has some cap space to play with this summer with roughly $49,049,074 on the books in guaranteed salary commitments for 2015/16. So the Raptors will likely make a run at a few big name players, but I’m not so sure that max-type free agents see Toronto as a desirable free agent destination. Cold weather teams don’t traditionally do great in this regard, nor are the Raptors seen as a team ready to compete for a championship next season. The higher taxes in Canada also don’t aid the franchise in pursuing free agents. So if you are dreaming of LaMarcus Aldridge or Marc Gasol, I wouldn’t buy a Raptors jersey with either of their names on it just yet. Probably not a real possibility.

That’s all the space I have for this week. As always, thanks for all of the submissions. Please keep them coming! I’ll be back next week with more responses.

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“If both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili return to the Spurs next season, what happens to San Antonio’s chances to land a big name free agent like LaMarcus Aldridge?” — Kelly

Well, the short answer is that it doesn’t help those chances one bit financially. But from a recruitment standpoint it would be a nice selling point for Spurs GM R.C. Buford to have in his pocket when he meets with Aldridge and his representatives. The appeal of playing alongside those two veterans, along with young star Kawhi Leonard, sure sounds better than what most teams would be able to sell Aldridge. And that’s on top of playing in his home state of Texas, which also happens to lack a state income tax, which would mean more of Aldridge’s salary would remain in his possession.

As for the numbers involved, the Spurs have roughly $34,159,326 in guaranteed salary on the books for next season already, not counting Leonard’s cap hold, which will be in the ballpark of $7,235,148. With the 2015/16 salary cap expected to be approximately $67MM, some quick math shows that would leave San Antonio around $25,605,526 to work with. If the team were to offer Aldridge a max contract, which is what it would likely take to reel him in, that would eat up roughly $19MM of that amount. While Duncan and Ginobili are both fantastic team-first guys, the idea of them splitting under $7MM of salary for next season seems like a tremendous flight of fancy to me. Of course, Aldridge could elect to take less, or sign a one-year deal to try and cash in on the expected salary cap jump in 2016. But those are extremely unlikely scenarios as well. So, if both veterans return next season, the Spurs probably can’t land Aldridge, or Marc Gasol, who is also reportedly on the team’s wish list this offseason.

“If the Mavs have to choose between signing DeAndre Jordan and Tyson Chandler this offseason, who should they pick?” — Deacon

This is going to be a difficult call for the Mavs this summer. Chandler is a great team guy who seems to love it in Dallas, and he obviously fits in with the franchise’s culture. Not a small consideration in the wake of how poor a fit Rajon Rondo was after being acquired from Boston. But Chandler, 32, is six years older than Jordan, which is a lifetime when looking at NBA big men. Chandler showed he can still be an asset with his play this season, but his best basketball is most assuredly behind him.

Jordan is currently in his prime, and will be coming off a very solid and highly productive campaign for the Clippers. Replacing Chandler with Jordan would certainly be considered an upgrade, both in the short-term, as well as over the life of a four-year contract, which is almost assuredly what Jordan will be seeking this offseason. The Mavs do need to work on getting younger, and adding a talented big man like Jordan would certainly help this process.

The wildcard here is what other moves the Mavs wish to make this offseason. I haven’t seen any reports on what kind of deal Chandler will be seeking this summer just yet. If he is interested in signing a short deal (one or two years), and would accept a paycut from the $14,846,887 he earned in 2014/15, then Chandler may in fact be the better option. If the team could retain Chandler for another season, then have him off its books in time for the summer of 2016, that may be the wiser move. But if both big men were seeking similar contract terms, then youth will always be the wiser choice.

“Now that Kevin Love is done for the year, what is your assessment of the Cavs/Wolves trade? Which team is the winner?”  — Xavier

I don’t know that this trade can be fairly judged after just one season. Love being out of action for four to six months certainly doesn’t help Cleveland’s side of the ledger here. But if the Cavs won the title with Love in the lineup, then things would certainly be judged differently by many. Hanging banners from the rafters always paints risky roster decisions in a more favorable light.

As for the trade, I thought it was a bad move when the Cavs pulled the trigger on it, and I think the same thing today. Love’s injury aside, Cleveland gave up far too much for a player who has never proven that he is more than a stat sheet filler, and who can leave after this season to boot. Andrew Wiggins is a potential superstar, and I think Cavs fans will really begin to feel the sting of what could have been as he continues to improve and develop.

So if I have to crown a winner right now, then I’ll go with the Wolves on this one. They turned an asset (Love) who was almost assuredly going to be lost after this season to free agency, and netted themselves the Rookie of the Year. Wiggins has the potential to carry a franchise for years to come, and he also fits in well with what Flip Saunders is building in Minnesota. It’s hard to find fault on the Wolves’ side of things. However, if Love re-signs with the Cavs and they win a title or two during his tenure, then I’ll reassess my position.

“You’re on record as being a Knicks fan. What is your opinion of Phil Jackson forcing the triangle offense on the team for better or worse?” — Sammy

I take it that you’re not a fan of the system judging from your tone. That makes two of us. The league has changed quite a bit from when the Bulls and Lakers were winning titles and running that particular offense. Players who are entering the league nowadays are as a whole, less disciplined and experienced than in the past, and with the AAU pipeline emphasizing more of a ball-dominating style of offense, there are simply not enough players who can thrive in such a complex, and unselfish system like the triangle.

But I’ve also never been a fan of teams trying to shoehorn players into a particular system instead of designing one around the strengths of their rosters. Admittedly, the 2014/15 campaign isn’t a great case study in how effective the system can be in New York, considering the Knicks’ roster would have struggled to make the D-League playoffs this past season. But I’m not thrilled with the organization’s seemingly stubborn commitment to sticking with the triangle regardless of who is suiting up for the team next season. Time will tell on this one, but I can’t shake the feeling that Jackson will bolt by year three of his five-year deal, and then the team will have to start from scratch once again, rendering this whole triangle experiment pointless.

That’s all the space I have for this week. As always, I appreciate all of the submissions, and please keep them coming! I’ll be back next week with more responses and opinions.