FA Day 1 Grades
FA Day 1 Grades
No one's done this yet! Y'all know the drill
2018 181 Rockets Sign C Eddy Curry for $15,000,000 over one year.
Grade: A
Eddy comes back home with his tail between his legs and $15 million smackeroos in his bank account. Nice signing for Nolan to devalue his pick a bit and give himself a better chance of making the playoffs out West, though it’s still unlikely - and he’ll probably fetch about the same price at the deadline as he would right now as a playoff mercenary.
2018 181 Spurs Sign SF Michael Beasley for $83,125,000 over 4 years.
Grade: B+
Jordo had to retain Beasley at all costs with Dahntay Jones on the verge of retirement and no FRPs for the next couple seasons. This should probably get a better grade than B+ because I personally had S+T bids in on my behalf for Beas at a very similar price point (just fewer years), so this is close to the minimum that Jordo needed to expend to retain him, but at the same time I think there’s a good chance that Beas doesn’t live up to the back end of this contract as soon as next season, so B+ it is.
2018 181 Trail Blazers Sign SG Tim Hardaway Jr. for $57,500,000 over 4 years.
Grade: C+
I don’t love this deal but I’m open to being proven wrong! The Blazers have their pick for the next two seasons before forfeiting it in 2021, right as Rashad McCants comes off the books. But this seems like a move that will solidify the Blazers in the middle of the pack and devalue Blazers picks just enough over the next two years while not really adding any upside potential given THJ’s all-offense no-defense profile - and the contract is big enough that I don’t think anyone is going to pay any value to trade for THJ almost regardless of his offensive output based on his C- defense, D+ rebounding, and TO issues (similar to how I couldn’t ever move OJ Mayo on a similarly sized deal). This feels like a bit of a rushed process - would have preferred to see the Blazers tank for one or two more years, have another couple shots at the lotto, and then flip the switch by trading their picks and their Jazz picks for studs that come available.
2018 181 SuperSonics Sign SF Julius Randle for $93,750,000 over 6 years.
Grade: B-
Randle was not too bad last season, and Nick already frontloaded the contract which makes it far more palatable. But similar to the Blazers, I think this is a year or two early for the Supersonics, who have been plagued by lotto misfortune for a few years. This deal and the frontloading means that the Sonics forfeit cap for the next two seasons, and Randle’s recent step forward into usefulness will mean that this team will have a hard time tanking, but this move puts a ton of pressure on Jalen Brunson to be the answer in Seattle. If the experiment fails, though, I’m sure Nick will have no shortage of offers from Knicks fans trying to get their hands on the BrunsonBurner.
2018 181 Pistons Sign SG Jordan Clarkson for $23,500,000 over 5 years.
Grade: B
I’m not sure if RB should be giving out 5 year deals to anyone given the current situation (it may be more prudent to retain cap space to try to land a big free agent), but given the amount of money owed on the cap sheet (cap space is a lost cause for the next several seasons), this deal can’t be TOO bad. Clarkson looks like a worse-but-more-TO-efficient version of THJ, with good-not-great shooting and volume and decent steal:TO ratio, but the C-/C- defense / rebounding is a tough pill to swallow. It’s certainly a fine flyer for RB to take in the hopes that Clarkson takes a step forward in TC.
2018 181 Timberwolves Sign SF Marcus Morris for $10,250,000 over 2 years.
Grade: A-
Think Pankin did well to retain Morris on a short, low AAV deal that helps him retain his flexibility as Harden and Towns get ready to hit the Free Agency market next season. Marcus Morris is basically the Mario of SLN - kinda just above average at everything but not great or bad at anything. He’s certainly worth $5.1m per year for two years as the Wolves continue to vie for a Midwest division title.
2018 181 Raptors Sign PF Aaron Gordon for $101,775,108 over 7 years.
Grade: B
This grade is more a reflection of my thinking towards RFA in general. I wonder if anyone else in the league even put in a bid on Gordon - I feel like teams with space don’t want to run the risk of their space being eaten up by an RFA guy and would rather bid on guys that could command draft capital on the trade market vs. get the RP bonus for signing an RFA guy. And given that Jwoo RFA’d Gordon, I would have taken this opportunity to try to get him on a crazy good deal vs. one that’s like slightly better than a rookie max. Don’t get me wrong, I think Gordon is worth this contract (though I’d like to see a bit more shooting efficiency if he’s gonna score almost 20 a game), but I don’t think the difference between rookie max on 5% increase vs rookie max on 10% increase is worth the opportunity to get him on a Tony Parker type deal.
2018 181 Raptors Sign SG Gary Harris for $33,701,172 over 4 years.
Grade: A-
Nice deal for Gary Harris who put forward his best season last year. The Raptors will be at an interesting inflection point next offseason, when both Brandon Jennings and Yaroslav get off their respective deals and Jwoo has about $60m in cap accounted for already. If Yaro has another year like his 2017, he’ll certainly command a bag from someone, so this Gary Harris deal is a nice insurance policy against Jwoo’s backcourt being pillaged next offseason.
2018 181 Suns Sign PG Michael Carter-Williams for $4,500,000 over one year.
Grade: A
Love this dart throw for Tyler - low-risk investment to get two bites at the PG apple while he has the most fearsome frontcourt in the league.
2018 181 Jazz Sign PG Darren Collison for $4,500,000 over one year.
Grade: A
Jazz need a point guard, and Collison is certainly worth a flyer - I don’t think he’s good enough to lead the Jazz to the promised land, but he’s probably the best the Jazz could get from this FA group.
2018 181 Clippers Sign SF Jerami Grant for $16,550,000 over 3 years.
Grade: A-
Don’t mind Jerami on this number and makes sense for the Clippers to retain their young talent, and nothing wrong with committing to 3 years at a small number to see if he has some potential left in the tank.
2018 181 Bulls Sign C Jason Thompson for $12,000,000 over 2 years.
Grade: B-
Meh. He was kinda ass last season but we needed bigs in a bad way and only had about $6m in cap to play with. Had acoupl eoffers out to other players that I would have preferred, but think Thompson is a fine consolation prize as a 3rd or 4th big, depending on if I can get swing another move to bolster the frontcourt.
2018 181 Jazz Sign PG Avery Bradley for $1,400,000 over one year.
Grade: B
Don’t mind another dart throw at PG for the Jazz, but I don’t think anyone projects Bradley to play a significant role in SLN anytime soon.
2018 181 Warriors Sign SF Jabari Parker for $120,312,500 over 7 years.
Grade: B
Jabari has been a great development story out of Golden State, and put in an awesome statistical season last year (mostly at PF) - plus he’s sitting at A potential. I do wonder if Clint could have gotten him back for less than the absolute max (7 years 12.5% increases). I don’t blame Clint at all for making sure he retained him, but I don’t think you can call this a “good contract” either - at least not yet.
2018 181 Jazz Sign C Nenê for $6,000,000 over one year.
Grade: filler
2018 181 Pacers Sign C Willy Hernangomez for $2,500,000 over one year.
Grade: filler? I actually don’t know cuz he had like a million waiver claims on him
2018 181 Hornets Sign SG Bogdan Bogdanovic for $30,000,000 over 5 years.
Grade: B+
Important for Jack to resign someone who he can use the Defense camp on, and Bogdan will be the lucky winner. This deal is fine - Bogdan seems to have the “efficiency but no volume” affliction that has plagued many before him, but if he has any potential left in the tank he’ll be well worth that deal. I think I generally prefer shorter deals for guys as unproven as Bogdan though, to retain some flexibility.
2018 181 76ers Sign SF Trevor Ariza for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: B+
Meh
2018 181 Pistons Sign C Hasheem Thabeet for $9,400,000 over 2 years.
Grade: B
I remember wanting Thabeet so badly when he was on his rookie deal. Those feelings are but a distant memory now
2018 181 76ers Sign PF Amir Johnson for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: B+
Amir Johnson weirdly not bad even though I feel like he’s been a leftover FA the last bunch of years. The more you know!
2018 181 Jazz Sign C Dakari Johnson for $1,000,000 over one year.
Grade: Filler
2018 181 Jazz Sign PG Raul Lopez for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: How is he still in the league?!?! Mijo Raul!
2018 181 Hawks Sign C Kendrick Perkins for $9,600,000 over one year.
Grade: A
I’m a big fan of the big 1 year deals, love this one for the Hawks. They needed to retain Perk to run back the Hawks team that led the Central at times last season. Mission accomplished
2018 181 Knicks Sign C Johan Petro for $4,600,000 over one year.
Grade: A
Nav is so lucky Thompson saw my offer before Petro did, cuz Petro was about to come play for the other team - much like we suspected Dylan Petro was all throughout college
2018 181 Pacers Sign C Emeka Okafor for $2,562,000 over 2 years.
Grade: A
Perfect execution for Tonger as he tried to extend his competition window - he staves off any would-be LLE poachers with this 2 year deal.
2018 181 Jazz Sign C Lavoy Allen for $3,000,000 over one year.
Grade: Filler
2018 181 Rockets Sign C Eddy Curry for $15,000,000 over one year.
Grade: A
Eddy comes back home with his tail between his legs and $15 million smackeroos in his bank account. Nice signing for Nolan to devalue his pick a bit and give himself a better chance of making the playoffs out West, though it’s still unlikely - and he’ll probably fetch about the same price at the deadline as he would right now as a playoff mercenary.
2018 181 Spurs Sign SF Michael Beasley for $83,125,000 over 4 years.
Grade: B+
Jordo had to retain Beasley at all costs with Dahntay Jones on the verge of retirement and no FRPs for the next couple seasons. This should probably get a better grade than B+ because I personally had S+T bids in on my behalf for Beas at a very similar price point (just fewer years), so this is close to the minimum that Jordo needed to expend to retain him, but at the same time I think there’s a good chance that Beas doesn’t live up to the back end of this contract as soon as next season, so B+ it is.
2018 181 Trail Blazers Sign SG Tim Hardaway Jr. for $57,500,000 over 4 years.
Grade: C+
I don’t love this deal but I’m open to being proven wrong! The Blazers have their pick for the next two seasons before forfeiting it in 2021, right as Rashad McCants comes off the books. But this seems like a move that will solidify the Blazers in the middle of the pack and devalue Blazers picks just enough over the next two years while not really adding any upside potential given THJ’s all-offense no-defense profile - and the contract is big enough that I don’t think anyone is going to pay any value to trade for THJ almost regardless of his offensive output based on his C- defense, D+ rebounding, and TO issues (similar to how I couldn’t ever move OJ Mayo on a similarly sized deal). This feels like a bit of a rushed process - would have preferred to see the Blazers tank for one or two more years, have another couple shots at the lotto, and then flip the switch by trading their picks and their Jazz picks for studs that come available.
2018 181 SuperSonics Sign SF Julius Randle for $93,750,000 over 6 years.
Grade: B-
Randle was not too bad last season, and Nick already frontloaded the contract which makes it far more palatable. But similar to the Blazers, I think this is a year or two early for the Supersonics, who have been plagued by lotto misfortune for a few years. This deal and the frontloading means that the Sonics forfeit cap for the next two seasons, and Randle’s recent step forward into usefulness will mean that this team will have a hard time tanking, but this move puts a ton of pressure on Jalen Brunson to be the answer in Seattle. If the experiment fails, though, I’m sure Nick will have no shortage of offers from Knicks fans trying to get their hands on the BrunsonBurner.
2018 181 Pistons Sign SG Jordan Clarkson for $23,500,000 over 5 years.
Grade: B
I’m not sure if RB should be giving out 5 year deals to anyone given the current situation (it may be more prudent to retain cap space to try to land a big free agent), but given the amount of money owed on the cap sheet (cap space is a lost cause for the next several seasons), this deal can’t be TOO bad. Clarkson looks like a worse-but-more-TO-efficient version of THJ, with good-not-great shooting and volume and decent steal:TO ratio, but the C-/C- defense / rebounding is a tough pill to swallow. It’s certainly a fine flyer for RB to take in the hopes that Clarkson takes a step forward in TC.
2018 181 Timberwolves Sign SF Marcus Morris for $10,250,000 over 2 years.
Grade: A-
Think Pankin did well to retain Morris on a short, low AAV deal that helps him retain his flexibility as Harden and Towns get ready to hit the Free Agency market next season. Marcus Morris is basically the Mario of SLN - kinda just above average at everything but not great or bad at anything. He’s certainly worth $5.1m per year for two years as the Wolves continue to vie for a Midwest division title.
2018 181 Raptors Sign PF Aaron Gordon for $101,775,108 over 7 years.
Grade: B
This grade is more a reflection of my thinking towards RFA in general. I wonder if anyone else in the league even put in a bid on Gordon - I feel like teams with space don’t want to run the risk of their space being eaten up by an RFA guy and would rather bid on guys that could command draft capital on the trade market vs. get the RP bonus for signing an RFA guy. And given that Jwoo RFA’d Gordon, I would have taken this opportunity to try to get him on a crazy good deal vs. one that’s like slightly better than a rookie max. Don’t get me wrong, I think Gordon is worth this contract (though I’d like to see a bit more shooting efficiency if he’s gonna score almost 20 a game), but I don’t think the difference between rookie max on 5% increase vs rookie max on 10% increase is worth the opportunity to get him on a Tony Parker type deal.
2018 181 Raptors Sign SG Gary Harris for $33,701,172 over 4 years.
Grade: A-
Nice deal for Gary Harris who put forward his best season last year. The Raptors will be at an interesting inflection point next offseason, when both Brandon Jennings and Yaroslav get off their respective deals and Jwoo has about $60m in cap accounted for already. If Yaro has another year like his 2017, he’ll certainly command a bag from someone, so this Gary Harris deal is a nice insurance policy against Jwoo’s backcourt being pillaged next offseason.
2018 181 Suns Sign PG Michael Carter-Williams for $4,500,000 over one year.
Grade: A
Love this dart throw for Tyler - low-risk investment to get two bites at the PG apple while he has the most fearsome frontcourt in the league.
2018 181 Jazz Sign PG Darren Collison for $4,500,000 over one year.
Grade: A
Jazz need a point guard, and Collison is certainly worth a flyer - I don’t think he’s good enough to lead the Jazz to the promised land, but he’s probably the best the Jazz could get from this FA group.
2018 181 Clippers Sign SF Jerami Grant for $16,550,000 over 3 years.
Grade: A-
Don’t mind Jerami on this number and makes sense for the Clippers to retain their young talent, and nothing wrong with committing to 3 years at a small number to see if he has some potential left in the tank.
2018 181 Bulls Sign C Jason Thompson for $12,000,000 over 2 years.
Grade: B-
Meh. He was kinda ass last season but we needed bigs in a bad way and only had about $6m in cap to play with. Had acoupl eoffers out to other players that I would have preferred, but think Thompson is a fine consolation prize as a 3rd or 4th big, depending on if I can get swing another move to bolster the frontcourt.
2018 181 Jazz Sign PG Avery Bradley for $1,400,000 over one year.
Grade: B
Don’t mind another dart throw at PG for the Jazz, but I don’t think anyone projects Bradley to play a significant role in SLN anytime soon.
2018 181 Warriors Sign SF Jabari Parker for $120,312,500 over 7 years.
Grade: B
Jabari has been a great development story out of Golden State, and put in an awesome statistical season last year (mostly at PF) - plus he’s sitting at A potential. I do wonder if Clint could have gotten him back for less than the absolute max (7 years 12.5% increases). I don’t blame Clint at all for making sure he retained him, but I don’t think you can call this a “good contract” either - at least not yet.
2018 181 Jazz Sign C Nenê for $6,000,000 over one year.
Grade: filler
2018 181 Pacers Sign C Willy Hernangomez for $2,500,000 over one year.
Grade: filler? I actually don’t know cuz he had like a million waiver claims on him
2018 181 Hornets Sign SG Bogdan Bogdanovic for $30,000,000 over 5 years.
Grade: B+
Important for Jack to resign someone who he can use the Defense camp on, and Bogdan will be the lucky winner. This deal is fine - Bogdan seems to have the “efficiency but no volume” affliction that has plagued many before him, but if he has any potential left in the tank he’ll be well worth that deal. I think I generally prefer shorter deals for guys as unproven as Bogdan though, to retain some flexibility.
2018 181 76ers Sign SF Trevor Ariza for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: B+
Meh
2018 181 Pistons Sign C Hasheem Thabeet for $9,400,000 over 2 years.
Grade: B
I remember wanting Thabeet so badly when he was on his rookie deal. Those feelings are but a distant memory now
2018 181 76ers Sign PF Amir Johnson for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: B+
Amir Johnson weirdly not bad even though I feel like he’s been a leftover FA the last bunch of years. The more you know!
2018 181 Jazz Sign C Dakari Johnson for $1,000,000 over one year.
Grade: Filler
2018 181 Jazz Sign PG Raul Lopez for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: How is he still in the league?!?! Mijo Raul!
2018 181 Hawks Sign C Kendrick Perkins for $9,600,000 over one year.
Grade: A
I’m a big fan of the big 1 year deals, love this one for the Hawks. They needed to retain Perk to run back the Hawks team that led the Central at times last season. Mission accomplished
2018 181 Knicks Sign C Johan Petro for $4,600,000 over one year.
Grade: A
Nav is so lucky Thompson saw my offer before Petro did, cuz Petro was about to come play for the other team - much like we suspected Dylan Petro was all throughout college
2018 181 Pacers Sign C Emeka Okafor for $2,562,000 over 2 years.
Grade: A
Perfect execution for Tonger as he tried to extend his competition window - he staves off any would-be LLE poachers with this 2 year deal.
2018 181 Jazz Sign C Lavoy Allen for $3,000,000 over one year.
Grade: Filler
FA Day 1 Grades
so let me get this straight. Everyone complains how shitty the league is when theres so many tankers every year, but then when a tanking team signs a guy for free, its a bad decision cuz they cant continue tanking and also forfeit cap so they cant sign another guy who will def be in the same tier as the guy they just signed?
FA Day 1 Grades
The old Matt would give me an F!!
Promos:
Just the Tip-Off Opening Night- 10/31
Raw Dog with Gradey - Half Off Hot Dogs - 11/7
Go Balls Deep - Mini Basektball Giveaway- 12/24
No Pull Out Night - Gradey Plays 48 Minutes - 1/19
Wet Dick Night - Free Pepsi- 2/14
Load Management 3/4
Just the Tip-Off Opening Night- 10/31
Raw Dog with Gradey - Half Off Hot Dogs - 11/7
Go Balls Deep - Mini Basektball Giveaway- 12/24
No Pull Out Night - Gradey Plays 48 Minutes - 1/19
Wet Dick Night - Free Pepsi- 2/14
Load Management 3/4
FA Day 1 Grades
I have not made that complaint, nor did you sign him for free - it cost you cap space and potentially a few slots in the predraft lotto next season. I didn't even call it a bad decision - I'd call it suboptimal if you're trying to build a championship contender.SoNicks wrote: September 12th, 2024, 2:35 pm so let me get this straight. Everyone complains how shitty the league is when theres so many tankers every year, but then when a tanking team signs a guy for free, its a bad decision cuz they cant continue tanking and also forfeit cap so they cant sign another guy who will def be in the same tier as the guy they just signed?
Also next year's potential FAs include Derrick Rose, James Harden, D'Angelo Russell, Steph Curry, Rudy Gay, Devin Booker, Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook, Yaroslav Korolev, Myles Turner, and Kristaps Porzingis (haven't even looked at the bigs yet).
FA Day 1 Grades
maybe you SHOULD make that complaint cuz tanking does nothing to help the league be more fun. lets put that list in freezing cold takes cuz DLO Turner and Booker already gone and if were talking about building a championship contender with a bunch of rookie contracts, how in the world is Old man melo or DRose on a super max at 31 or Russ or rudy gay gonna help anyone. theyll be supermaxed cuz the only statistically probable way for a FA signing to go else where is to sign a premium. meaning theyll be on a worse contract than Randle and even more unmovable.Matt wrote: September 12th, 2024, 2:47 pmI have not made that complaint, nor did you sign him for free - it cost you cap space and potentially a few slots in the predraft lotto next season. I didn't even call it a bad decision - I'd call it suboptimal if you're trying to build a championship contender.SoNicks wrote: September 12th, 2024, 2:35 pm so let me get this straight. Everyone complains how shitty the league is when theres so many tankers every year, but then when a tanking team signs a guy for free, its a bad decision cuz they cant continue tanking and also forfeit cap so they cant sign another guy who will def be in the same tier as the guy they just signed?
Also next year's potential FAs include Derrick Rose, James Harden, D'Angelo Russell, Steph Curry, Rudy Gay, Devin Booker, Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook, Yaroslav Korolev, Myles Turner, and Kristaps Porzingis (haven't even looked at the bigs yet).
statistically 50% at minimum of those guys wont even hit the open market and i bet another 4/5 get resigned by their team . that leaves 1-2 guys getting overpayed and signed by a tanking team for "too much money and its gonna hurt their tank and their chance to sign the next years guys"
FA Day 1 Grades
bruh haha also it was for FREEEEEE. i didnt have him last year and now i do. it didnt cost me anything. thats the definition of Free. Your gonna have to spend RP and FRPs to get a guys to surround luka. thats a fact.
FA Day 1 Grades
Never seen such anger from a B- in my lifeSoNicks wrote: September 12th, 2024, 3:25 pm bruh haha also it was for FREEEEEE. i didnt have him last year and now i do. it didnt cost me anything. thats the definition of Free. Your gonna have to spend RP and FRPs to get a guys to surround luka. thats a fact.
FA Day 1 Grades
Hey i was always happy for my B- in school! it was his reasoning that suckedTyler wrote: September 12th, 2024, 3:27 pmNever seen such anger from a B- in my lifeSoNicks wrote: September 12th, 2024, 3:25 pm bruh haha also it was for FREEEEEE. i didnt have him last year and now i do. it didnt cost me anything. thats the definition of Free. Your gonna have to spend RP and FRPs to get a guys to surround luka. thats a fact.
FA Day 1 Grades
I’m just chiming in to say everyone can back the fuck off Devin Booker. He’s mine and I let Julius flee like a traitor so Devin can fly and will definitely get tagged if he doesn’t offer
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