Trading Pick

I think there is a good chance that could happen. The Knicks or Warriors should be looking into it. The Knicks screwed up on getting Westbrook by signing 47 PF’s instead. They might still go for Chris Paul tho, so maybe a package of DSJ, Pick 27, Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, Kevin Knox? Idk. I feel like the sweet spot in this draft is around 6-13. 1-13 seem to be on a somewhat even level in my opinion with some slight separation.

It is possible that by collecting a ton of guys on non-guaranteed deals for next year, the Knicks could possibly benefit mightily when the league restarts. The salary cap is going to go down considerably in a climate where few teams have a ton of flexibility, and there figures to be a strong desire from owners to get under the luxury tax. They have Payton and Ellington each guaranteed for only $1 million of the contracted $8 million. Reggie Bullock is guaranteed $1 million of a contracted $4.2 million. Taj Gibson has $1 million guaranteed on a contracted $9.45 million. Bobby Portis has a $15 million team option that could presumably be dealt after the season and prior to the start of the next league year (with covid-19, one has to assume all the normal dates for when options are picked up will be altered). It only took a global pandemic that has flipped the world on its head for the free agent haul of the Knicks to possibly help improve the Knicks.

The Knicks, Hornets, Hawks, and Pistons (the latter two with what will likely be considerable cap space even if it goes down $10-12 million) due to expiring contracts have the opportunity to jump start their rebuilding by utilizing cap pressures and tax fears that were prevalent in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse and less so recently. Golden State has $150 million payroll and brand new arena that might be empty in 2021. Boston, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee have big payrolls and two of them have multiple 1st round picks. The Bucks probably can’t make a business decision on shedding a pick and contract (say George Hill or Ersan Ilyasova) for one of the Knicks non-guaranteed deals given that they need Giannis to extend and won’t rock the boat, but Boston might pair a pick with Kanter to get a non-guaranteed Knick. They might also have to consider dealing Brown for a high lottery pick and cap savings. Philadelphia doesn’t have a great mix, and their flexibility only goes down once the extension of Simmons kicks in.

I am all in on that. What do you think a team like my Cavs could get for 1, 2, or 3? Would love to connect Love’s contract to the deal as well.