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Financial Situation Pre Moves:
Total Salary: $146,950,799
Cap Space: $7,649,201
1st Apron: $48,949,201
2nd Apron: 60,849,201
Pre Draft Trades:
Trade 1:
Atlanta Hawks Receive:
Mark Williams
Charlotte Hornets Receive:
Kobe Bufkin, Vit Krejci, 15th pick, 22nd pick + 2027, 2029, 2031 CLE SRP
Pre Draft Moves:
Accept Dyson Daniels T0
Accept Kobe Bufkin T0
Decline Dominic Barlow T0
Draft Order:
2025 NBA Draft - 1st Round Order:
Brooklyn
New Orleans
Utah
Washington
Philadelphia
San Antonio
Toronto
Charlotte
Houston (via PHX)
Portland
Miami
Dallas
Chicago
San Antonio (via ATL)
Atlanta (via SAC) -> Charlotte
Orlando
Minnesota (via DET)
Miami (via GS)
Washington (via MEM)
Brooklyn (via MIL)
Utah (via MIN)
Atlanta (via LAL) -> Charlotte
Indiana
Orlando (via DEN)
Oklahoma City
Brooklyn (via NY)
Brooklyn (via HOU)
Boston
Phoenix (via CLE)
LA Clippers (via OKC)
Draft Selections:
No picks in the 2025 Draft
Post Draft Trades:
Trade 1:
Atlanta Hawks Receive:
Paul George, 2028 LAC Frp, 2029 Best Of LAC/PHI Frp, 2028 GSW Srp
Philadelphia Sixers Receive:
Terrance Mann, Geroges Niang
Trade 2:
Atlanta Hawks Receive:
Brandon Clarke, 2027 ATL Frp Back
Memphis Grizzlies Receive:
Mohammed Gueye, Clint Capela S&T (3Y/$32M)
Free Agency Moves:
Sign Jericho Sims - $2.4M/1Y (Min)
Sign Javal Mcgee - $3.6M/1Y (Min)
Sign Cam Payne - $3.6M/1Y (Min)
Sign Dink Pate - (Two Way)
Resign Garrison Matthews - $8.6M/3Y (First year Guaranteed)
Financial Situation Post Moves:
Total Salary: $194,500,799
Cap Space: -$39,900,799
1st Apron: $1,399,201
2nd Apron: $13,299,201
Team Depth Chart:
Pg: Trae Young, Cam Payne
Sg: Dyson Daniels, Garrison Matthews, Dink Pate
Sf: Zaccharie Risacher, Paul George
Pf: Jalen Johnson, Brandon Clarke, Jericho Sims
C: Mark Williams, Onyeka Okungwu, Javal McGee
Reasonings:
Hornets:
At this year's trade deadline the Hornets were actively looking for deals to trade away Mark Williams. Did that make sense? No. But it was something that was in their goals to do so. In fact they had a fully legal agreed deal sending him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Knecht and a future first. Now that deal doesn't really make sense as the are a team who already has enough scorers. This deal gets the a draft pick that is one selection outside of the lottery, the Laker 22nd pick getting them 2 valuable firsts this year alongside their own 8th pick. They also gain Kobe Bufkin who has been a solid player in his own right and Mohammed Gueye as someone they can try and see if anything works out with him. The move to trade Mark in my opinion was to avoid paying him a lot long term. In the deal they also get the rights to all three future Cavs secound round picks in 2027, 2029 and 2031. Overall I think it's a small move that is better than what they had originally agreed on for Knecht.
Grizzlies:
Memphis could have quite easily just signed Clint Capela with the MLE, is probably what a lot of you are thinking. However, this allows them to keep it and target a wing like Caris LeVert. Brandon Clarke has also been in trade rumors as he was early in the season considered as a trade candidate for the Milwaukee Bucks before being linked with numerous other teams including the #1 Seed in the east the Cleveland Cavaliers. Clarke is a big and roll big who could be considered as being slightly undersized and has unfortunately had an injury plagued career so far. His value no is neither seemingly positive nor negative however he is considered a surplus to needs at Memphis. Memphis trade him and return the Hawks second round pick in the deal for a proven veteran in Clint Capela. In my opinion this is one of the best moves they can do this off-season.
76ers:
Oh boy where do I start. The Process. Well it is inevitably the end of the so called process. And this deal confirms it. I never understood why Darryl Morley was rated so highly as a GM. In my eyes he never made any smart moves. The contract given to Paul George is not only considered as the worst contract in the NBA currently but it is also up their as the worst contract in all of sports history. In fact here is what I suggested to do instead of giving Paul George that awful max. In this Hawks trade I not only managed to get them off the Paul George contract, but I had also saved them 30 Mil in cap this season, by not only putting them under the 1st Apron but also under the luxury threshold. And even tho this may not sound like much they also end up $5 Million in cap space. They would buy out Georges Niang or even reroute him to a third team for maybe a second or two. In the end, I think it's time they call it quits and finally end the process.
Hawks:
Time and Time again this Atlanta Hawks Organization have failed Trae Young, but they have been given one last chance to make things right. They were blessed with the First overall pick in the draft last year and were forced to acquire Risacher, as other prospects were unwilling to head to the horrid city of Atlanta. The Hawks are out their in the playoffs fighting for their lives as if they don't make the playoffs their lottery pick will head to San Antonio. And even under these dire circumstances the only player out their seemingly doing anything is still Trae Young. First and foremost this deal acquires Mark Williams. The perfect lob partner alongside Trae Young who can scuffle around and body opposing players on the defense. His fit is immaculate, the problem comes when we talk about his health. He had an agreed deal to head to Los Angeles yet it fell through due to him failing the physical and being unhealthy overall this season. If the Hawks would really be looking to put up a fight this would be a problem however he is still young with time to grow and mature physically under a new Atlanta training regime. One other deal that is important is the Paul George deal. You would be wondering why would the Hawks take on Paul George's nightmare contract? Well not only do they get Paul George who is a proven veteran who has been held back by injury concerns. They get a podcasting partner for Trae. Of course I'm just joking, but it is crucial to note that off court plays a huge role in how teams go through stuff for the season. But the real reason for the deal is the 2 LAC frps. In the years of 2028 and 2029 it is expected that the Beard would be enjoying some LA Club and the Claw would be out in some Nevada Farm reading a newspaper. Simply the Clippers would be shit. These picks have the potential of on not only being in the lottery, but being extremely high. Even as high as a top 4 pick. Well you would ask why would Philly give up 2 top 4 picks to get off Paul George's contract and I would quite literally tell you I have no clue but they're GM's Darryl Morley and that's Paul George's shitty contract. Atlanta also get a bonus kicker with the GSW Srp like a cherry on top. Finally we get to a minor deal (Drake!!!) that has Capela getting S&T to Memphis for Clarke and their SRP back. There isn't much to explain other than why would they not do this deal since Capela could just walk in FA and Clarke is a great P&R big? (Should we use the term mid for undersized bigs?) with Trae Young. They also pick up McGee and Payne on vet min deal and Sims who imo is intresting on a min and they (Ik you'll love this cheese) also resign Garrison Matthews and get Dink Pate on a two way. All those moves are pretty self explanatory imo but if you'd like to know more just ask in the comments (I will not reply)
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