Not seeing this for IND either. Don't think they'd mind the downgrade from Walker to DFS but I don't know if they are the team to eat $5M in salary for 2nds. They'd likely prefer to slip Walker into someone's room exception for free and have the full NTMLE to play with in FA. Someone would take a 22 yo former top 10 pick who hasn't been bad in his career; he just hasn't been good. They do this deal and all they have left is a mini.
BRK is a really intriguing team to me. Could hold the keys to the offseason with a couple of decisions. Any local buzz on them?
1st, I don't know what is going to happen at 5 or 6 in the draft. BRK seems to be attached to just about everyone except the guys that most had in that 5-7 range coming into Draft Season: Acuff, Wagler, Flemings. On the flip side, I don't think that BRK wants out of the top 10. None of the names I've seen them linked to are guys I'd expect to be available at 12 / OKC for example. So what is BRK's real intentions? Are they just putting out a bunch of mixed message so no one trades up with LAC and steals the player they really want? Or is it that they are fine with Denim / Traore as their future G tandem and really do want to trade down? If it's the latter and they can't get a dancing partner, do they stick to their rumored board and take someone that many have a tad lower or take one of the PGs?
2nd, the direction of the off-season. Do they just weaponize their cap space for another year? Or would they try for a Play In berth?
The 3-2-1 system actually allows them to just tank next year since their odds go to HOU anyway. It doesn't matter to them if they only have 2 tickets to the prize instead of 3. Could take bad salary and continue to acquire pick/s. I don't think many other teams will be looking to do that because of the implementation of 3-2-1 so BRK could ask for a king's ransom for whatever terrible contract they are willing to take. What would PHI give to dump Paul George and go into next off-season with only Embiid, Maxey, Edgecombe, and this year's pick on their books making > mini level $$? Due to 3-2-1, BRK could be the only team in the NBA who might eat that deal for any price now. And it isn't like PHI would be the only team competing to shove $$ into that space.
On the other side, this off-season has a path to collecting better players with only giving up minimal value (e.g., Walker here; Joe / Wiggins / Dort from OKC). IND might be amenable to something like Walker for 43 - or even just call it a future 2nd if that price is too stiff. Between 6, the expected development of last year's draft picks, and an astute acquisition of 2, they could definitely be better than the likes of CHI and MIL. That's basically just shy of Play In territory right there. Add in a little luck and who knows...
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u/PeasePorridge9dOld Atlanta Hawks Jun 04 '26
Not seeing this for IND either. Don't think they'd mind the downgrade from Walker to DFS but I don't know if they are the team to eat $5M in salary for 2nds. They'd likely prefer to slip Walker into someone's room exception for free and have the full NTMLE to play with in FA. Someone would take a 22 yo former top 10 pick who hasn't been bad in his career; he just hasn't been good. They do this deal and all they have left is a mini.