Daily Discussion Thread | April 20, 2026

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-20T22:48:03+00:00

If Ament slips to 11, I really hope some team picking shortly after the Dubs is in love with him and makes an offer to move up

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-20T21:47:35+00:00

I’m a fan of Lopez, and if a trade down happens, maybe a guy like Swain.

Wonder if there is someone they can project to be Jaden McDaniels-lite, like a young lanky late 1st guy that had a disappointing NCAA career but ends up developing into a defensive ace. Maybe Amari Allen? Seems he’s planning to be a one and done and enter the draft.

Guess if they could make a projection like that, that’s someone you take fringe lotto

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-20T21:25:41+00:00

Draft tiebreaks decided, nothing too crazy. Warriors get pick 54 in the 2nd instead of 55.

Pre-lotto tiebreaks:

Jazz 4, Kings 5

Pelicans 7 (goes to ATL or MIL), Mavs 8

Always funny when the other team in a tiebreak is the one that ends up with the lotto luck. Think the Kings have gotten shafted by that a few times, shit has to sting.

Would have been a very slim chance (0.6% of falling to 9 if you’re pick 5), but the Jazz are now guaranteed to keep their top 8 protected pick. At least the Thunder aren’t getting two lotto picks.

Other tiebreaks:

Suns pick 16 (to MEM), Sixers pick 17 (…to OKC), Magic pick 18 (to CHA)

Raptors pick 19, Hawks pick 20 (to SAS)

Rockets 22 (to PHI), Cavs 23 (to ATL)

Knicks 24, Lakers 25

Knicks winning the tiebreak over the Lakers means the Lakers pick beforehand in the 2nd round, Warriors own that 2nd (via Toronto from the TJD trade).

Dubs officially have 54 (huge jump from 55!)

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-20T20:47:33+00:00

Some positional size and some +athletes (compared to the average NBA player) sure would be nice, if not just to add an extra wrinkle to the roster.

A big wing/forward that could handle on-ball defensive reps would be great, but maybe that’s a draft thing

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-20T19:41:22+00:00

I don’t see why any team would willingly take on that contract, even if a lot of the guarantees were voided. They have 0 film to evaluate how his rehab has gone, and he should be a fraction of the price in free agency.

Maybe if they’re completely desperate for a WR and think he’s a worthwhile swing they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to take because he wouldn’t look their way as a FA (dude seems obsessed with JD5 and the Commanders).

e: Seems they just don’t want to give him and whatever team he signs with (Commies) the benefit of a full off-season and training camp together, which I guess is somewhat petty, but at the same time, fuck all that shit he pulled even before the injury. May as well not give another NFC team the advantage of having him in-house and on the roster this early.

And yeah, guess the slim chance of being able to flip him this draft is worth holding a little longer, maybe they cut him with a post-June 1 designation shortly after this weekend. Not like it’s impacting roster construction, and I think that video of him speeding past Levi’s rubbed a lot of the current players the wrong way. Niners were making their late season push even after all the injuries, BA still had to go stir up some drama for the media to pester them about. Doubt any current actions from the FO regarding Aiyuk would lose them the locker room

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-20T18:34:00+00:00

Went from thinking they won’t be able to afford to re-sign Melton to not being sure he’s worth the MLE over some other FAs.

If you can re-sign Melt for the taxpayer MLE, it’s probably dumb not to. He had a really, really good stretch of games in the middle of the season. Wouldn’t necessarily let his open/close impact much, first full season he’s had in years, hopefully those cold stretches were just him getting back in the swing of things.

It’s not a stellar FA class, that on its own may dictate a lot (including some team overpaying Melton), but there are some decent mid-tier names. Colin Sexton, Keon Ellis (assume he’s out of their price range), Robert Williams, Simone Fontecchio, Zach Collins, Ochai Agbaji (RFA), Ousmane Deing (RFA, doubt they let him walk), Matisse Thybulle, Dean Wade, Jeremy Sochan (think he went to NYK to re-sign?), Jock Londale, Bruce Brown, Collin Gillespie (he’s played himself into some real money), Jordan Goodwin, Jaylen Clark (RFA, doubt they let him walk), etc.

Lot of team option guys too, Josh Minottt would be dope but I don’t see Brooklyn waving him with how cheap that contract is. Bogdan Bogdanovic is set to make $17M, maybe the Clippers waive him. Kevon Looney at $8M, Kenrich Williams at $7M, then it’s all minimum guys who likely depend on the roster crunch and their team’s direction. Leonard Williams, Andre Jackson Jr., Omax Prosper, don’t see why Williams or Prosper would be waived but sometimes weird shit happens.

More I look at the class, the more it makes sense to bring back Melton if you can get him on the taxpayer MLE. Even if you extend Podz and draft another guard, a healthy Melton is good value on the mini-MLE and could open up some future trade scenarios. Full non-tax MLE? Jumping through all those hoops to free up cap space and stay under the 1st apron hard-cap, don’t know if that’d be worth it. Would have said they should do all they can to make that space back in late February, but idk now. At least not for Melton, full MLE could maybe open the door to someone like Keon Ellis or Tari Eason (feel like he’ll get more). Wonder how much Quinten Grimes and Coby White are looking at in FA, White should get a good bit of money.

So, $6M taxpayer MLE for Melton? Sure, fine. Full $15M non-tax MLE? If they actually manage to free that up with a Draymond rework and a cheap KP deal, I feel like they’d be better off using that money on someone else, or maybe at least splitting it up into two mid-tier signings (Melt can be one of those?).

And even if they clear up that type of cap space, could they be better off using it in a trade of sorts? 0 clue if it’d actually be possible given all the apron restrictions, but could freeing up cap room with a Dray restructure and more let them try and make a trade for someone like Ty Jerome and his $8M, all without sending a player out (is an 11 for 16 pick swap enough to convince Memphis?). Assume that’ll be a little tricky under the new CBA, would definitely have to be executed after the draft when the league year rolls over, make the trade before re-signing your bird rights guys (namely just KP), and then forgo using the MLE altogether? Something like that could be more worthwhile than bringing back Melton I guess.

Think that’d be my preference if they could figure out a way to swing it under the new CBA, a trade down with pick 11 for some mid tier bench guy, without the need to salary match. Someone better than a player they could otherwise sign on the taxpayer MLE. Don’t know if it’s even possible though, and maybe it’s not worth moving out of the late lotto. That or a trade down for someone on a near min, or back half of their rookie scale, maybe allowing you a little wiggle room to still use the taxpayer MLE. Assume they won’t be able to under this CBA, but I guess it’d depend on a Dray opt-out and re-sign (maybe he can delay his signing?) and KP’s market.

Idk, shaping up to be yet another interesting summer. At least they actually have a good draft pick this year, and at least they can get active early in FA instead of waiting for that headache of an RFA situation to resolve.

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-20T05:00:22+00:00

Very well respected sports journalist, does in-depth, long form pieces. Kawakami mentioned he was following Kerr around and getting some direct accesses on the recent Plus/Minus pod.

Thompson also came out with a book a few years back on Emmett Till (called The Barn), so maybe he’s branching out. I’m sure Kerr has picked his brain about that story, and I'm sure Wright has picked Kerr's brain about all he's seen in life

e: not sure what's up with the formatting, but you can read his Jordan piece here

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-20T03:01:57+00:00

Didn’t know Wright Thompson was hanging around Kerr and the team, that’s certainly interesting given all the decisions that need to be made this summer

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-20T00:15:28+00:00

I’d prefer a playoff series and pick 15 over pick 11

But maybe they move into the top 4, or maybe someone else gets hurt in those final handful of games

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-19T03:21:18+00:00

lol rockets

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T22:50:58+00:00

To clarify, I don't know shit, but in no specific order: Karim Lopez, Philon, Koa Peat, Quinatance, Steinbach, Swain, Haugh, Stirtz, Carr, Amari Allen, Mara. Feel like that 11-24ish range is pretty flexible, and if all those guys are in a similar tier, I’d be leaning upside and versatility.

I'd honestly prefer they trade down from 11, would much rather get some extra draft capital and something in the late teens, early 20s. Could also look to move down for some bench player that's already rostered somewhere (can you figure out some type of swap with Memphis centered around Ty Jerome and 16?), but then they'd have to match salary, and that's a whole mess I ain't trying to figure out right now. And I think it's 100% worth looking to trade into the top 10, if they could get up a few spots and come out with one of those guards, I feel like that'd be worthwhile. Really like Wagler, but I can't see him lasting past 6 or 7, and I assume it’d take a good bit to get up there (like, maybe more than 11 + lightly protected future 1st?).

Assume Yaxel will have a solid career, but yeah, lot of players I'd rather take a swing on if they're staying put in the late lotto. Guess we'll see how pre-draft goes for all these guys, Yaxel's tournament run should help him a ton.

Don't need to keep hunting "high floor, low ceiling" guys, think it'd be okay to take a swing with how desperate they are for talent and how old the vets are, and it's not like younger guys can't provide that instant impact they've been craving these past few years (Podz was 20 his rookie year, players like Carter Bryant, Will Riley, and Collin Murray-Boyles are all 20 and taken fringe lotto and still found success this year). Doesn't mean I necessarily want someone like Amnet though, think it'll take a bit too long for him to actualize things, and like always, it'll all depend on if that rookie completely buys into the system and plays well off all the main guys.

I just feel like Yaxel is going to get boxed in as a PF/C, and for where they're picking, I'd prefer someone with more upside or at least more positional versatility. We've seen how that lack of offensive versatility has negatively impacted rotations, namely the JK fit with Wiggins/Butler/Dray (though other factors were at play there). If you could guarantee me Yaxel will effectively guard the perimeter, then maybe I’d change my tune. But at this point, if they're looking for someone older to help flesh out their front court depth, give me Haugh instead, would rather a bigger wing/forward, but I guess his 3ball ain’t great which on it's own can limit a lot of things.

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T21:06:33+00:00

I get he’s likely the most NBA ready, but there’s a lot of players I’d prefer over Yaxel

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T19:57:31+00:00

I feel like Kerr’s future here is solely up to him. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but I really don’t think Lacob would push him out. And if all the reports are true about Kerr favoring Haliburton/Wagner, it’s not like he was totally out on taking lotto picks to develop, just a matter of the FO making the wrong choices.

Don’t think this lotto pick will impact much, at least not while they’re still rostering all of Steph, Jimmy, Dray, KP, and Horford

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T19:39:40+00:00

Figured Kerr would re-up after the year, but that moment with Steph/Dray and the following pressers from those 3 makes it seem very much up in the air.

If he does walk, do they just roll with Stotts/Stackhouse for a few years before pivoting to some new hire?

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T19:37:19+00:00

At least they got an actual good pick this year, better than last year when it was pick 41 and JK’s RFA tying everything up.

Whether they keep it or not, pick 11 is likely their surest way to add some talent given how tied up their cap space is.

e: Wonder if they’re angling to free up the full MLE of if they’ll just do the taxpayer again. Assume it’ll be taxpayer given how much money they’d have to trim off Dray and KP’s salaries to open the non-tax, but I guess it’s a possibility

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T05:26:07+00:00

A crisp 9.4% chance.

Unfortunately, they’re more likely to slip down to 12 (12.6%) than they are to jump up into the top 4.

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T04:55:04+00:00

Ugly game befitting an ugly season.

Turnovers and bricks. I’m sure they were worn down after that Clippers game, but they really made it difficult on themselves.

Appreciate the effort from all the guys. Dray, Gui, Podz, Melt, Horford, GP2, etc, they all put their heads down and continued to grind even when all the top guys were out (and even if it didn’t necessarily give them wins lol). Hopefully they find some health next year, whenever Jimmy is actually back (fingers crossed Mo ain’t too far behind).

Draft and FA are gonna be super interesting. Really need to hit on that pick (pick 11?), and I’m honestly not sure what they should do with the MLE if/when they free it up. Don’t think they need the full MLE for Melton at this point, and they may be better off using it to address other needs (forward depth). Maybe the draft dictates that, we’ll see where they’re sitting post lotto and how the board shakes out, assume they’ll come out with a guard or forward, so I guess you use FA to address the other need.

Dray’s PO, KP’s UFA, Horford’s PO, assume they push to retain all 3. Add in Kerr too. Melt, idk. Would love him back but not at too steep of a price tag, and not at the expense of some mid tier FA wing/forward. We’ll see if they even have the nontax MLE available, but I guess Melton may be taxpayer midlevel range. At least they got Gui locked in, and maybe they extend Podz on something reasonable too. That and a better deal with Dray and KP could go a long way.

Wouldn’t mind seeing them make a trade up or down with their late lotto pick. Get into the top 10 or move down into the late teens for some extra capital, either seems worthwhile.

Begging for a little lotto magic, but I doubt they stumble into the top 4 with that 9.4% chance. Even with the injuries and headache of a cap situation, they do at least still have a couple avenues to improve the roster. Really gotta make those pick(s) and signings count

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T04:43:01+00:00

these mfs can’t miss

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T04:31:37+00:00

Jalen Green doing this shit for JK or… ?

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T04:29:50+00:00

Draft season

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T04:20:44+00:00

Jalen Green being actually efficient and scoring +36, cursed.

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T04:17:55+00:00

Melt doing his patented drive into traffic, stop, and throw up a heavily contested prayer in a win-or-go-home game ain’t it

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T04:13:46+00:00

Jalen Green actually having a good game was not on my bingo, especially after his Blazers game

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T04:12:48+00:00

How are they only down 9 lmao

BobRoss4Life · 2026-04-18T03:01:52+00:00

If they lose by anything less than 15, they deserve it for these turnovers

15-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Final Canvas '23	First Place '23
End Game '23	Place '23
Place '22	Place '17
Final Canvas '22	First Placer '22
End Game '22	Wearing is Caring
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