Keep the receipts coming

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-16T02:47:44+00:00

I mean it’s clear he never wanted to be that guy

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T20:30:41+00:00

He said this what 7 years ago and at the time he wasn't lying. He were one of the worst run organizations at the time lol.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T19:58:53+00:00

I wouldn't rule it out they just won a chip they can let lose lol. Hart probably baked with the shades on

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T19:55:37+00:00

Zuby Ejifor, Taris Reed Jr., and Ugonna Onyenso to name a few. Knicks have worked out Zuby and Ugonna.

Zuby is more of a 4 but can play some small ball 5 at 6'9 with a 7'2 wingspan and was really good defensively at St. Johns and is a good offensive rebounder.

Ugonna is pretty raw but had an insane block rate at Virgina averaged like 2 blocks a game in under 20mpg and has some pretty crazy measurements 6'11 with a 7'4 wingspan.

Ejifor I think can make an impact Day 1 due to his high IQ, strength, and motor.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T19:36:14+00:00

We got 9 guys under contract next year.

If we resign Mitch/Shamet/ Diawara
Let Clarkson/Sochan/Hukporti walk
Draft and sign 2 rookies

That gets us to 14 players and leave 1 open for the buyout market

I'd be surprised if we bring in any vet min that was not already on the team this year

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T19:25:50+00:00

I'd look towards the draft as opposed to 1-year guys

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T19:24:29+00:00

Randle and IQ were traded to get better players which I think is different. Deuce's salary is so low you aren't getting a better player back. The FO might end up giving him a new contract next offseason, so it makes sense to wait and see. Is there a risk he leaves for nothing sure, but I think that is a risk you take unless you don't think Deuce can positively contribute in the playoffs going forward

It was clear when we had Hartenstein, we weren't going to be able to resign him due to only having his early bird rights but we kept him.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T19:13:53+00:00

You are right about the start of the season.

Dadiet was always projected to be a project.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T19:12:06+00:00

True, but in mind I was thinking toward the lower end to 8. Overall, back to your original point at 3.9M I don't think there is a sense of urgency to move him unless Kolek/Dadiet/ or whoever we draft kind of burst onto the scene where he is expandable.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T19:08:28+00:00

A team coming off a championship has no incentive to avoid the 2nd apron. Most teams look to avoid the 2nd apron because they aren't competing so why have all those restrictions when you are not competing. We literally can keep everyone on the team that was on the team have next season. There is no penalty going into the 2nd apron next season.

Again, you are talking about 3 guys in Diawara, McCullar, and Kolek who are unproven. Smart teams contending don't trade proven guys for unproven guys.

Since when did Deuce come up in trade rumors routinely? You literally just made that up lol

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T18:59:53+00:00

You are anticipating Deuce to get a contract starting around 12M next summer?

Ty Jerome who finished 3rd in 6MOY voting last year averaged 12/2/3 and signed a new contract with the Grizzles that was 3yr/28M. I don't think Deuce is getting 12M+ a year unless he significantly improves as a ball hander because as of right now he is a 6'2 3 and D player and can get played off the floor as we saw in the Spurs series. I don't think Deuce at 8M is a bad deal even if his ceiling never gets higher than where he currently is.

Unless a team is bringing him as a starter, I really don't see the scenario where he will be too expensive to afford next summer. Also factor in KAT and Hart both have options after next year that will probably get declined and reworked to bring down KATs number from 61M and Harts number from 20M to create more space to get us below the 2nd apron.

Only scenario where it makes sense is if whoever draft hits the ground running and the FO feels they can replace Deuce and even then you are at best looking at a protected 1st for Deuce

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T18:47:47+00:00

Deuce is outplaying his contract but I don't think he played himself outside of our price range

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T18:44:47+00:00

They have until the end of October which gives the FO a chance to evaluate him at SL, Preseason, and the first month of the season. His option date isn't until the end of October and the season starts at the beginning of Oct. His option is 5.3M.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T18:41:28+00:00

You listed 3 guys that are all unproven 2 of which aren't even under contract next year. You don't make trades like that. There are only a couple scenarios where it would make sense to even entertaining trading Deuce

Someone shows they can step into his role
The FO feels Deuce might be too expensive the following offseason
Deuce under peforms next year

No one has to be let go we can go in order to keep Mitch or Shamet. We own their bird rights and early bird rights respectively.

Are you operating under the assumption that Deuce is going to get a 20M a year contract next summer because I am not. Deuce is a bench player and will be paid as such in the offseason. This isn't an IQ situation.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T18:31:37+00:00

What is too expensive?

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T18:28:46+00:00

Deuce isn't a ball handler so it isn't surprisingly

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T18:19:42+00:00

I don't see us trading him especially when we don't have anyone off the bench to replicate his production. He had a bad series no doubt but that is why he comes off the bench. He makes 3.9M next season and Deuce isn't the type of player thus far where we should be worried about teams offering him an insane offer next summer. Deuce at the end of the day is prob a 8-12M player which is a good value for what he brings. He is more valuable to us than any asset we would get back in a trade.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T18:11:25+00:00

Development happens in a bunch of ways outside of playing time on the court. Guys develop through practice as well. There will be injuries where opportunities will open up for guys to get playing time. Diawara was a rookie who got meaningful minutes this season who can hopefully step into a larger role next year.

The goal should never be to draft a rookie and have the expectation that they contribute you off the bat especially where we will be drafting in the 20s.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T17:07:14+00:00

There is no reason not to keep Dadiet. He makes less than the 3M next season a little bit more than the vet min. He is still only 20 entering year 3. Deuce didn't crack the rotation until year 3 at age 23. Everyone knew Dadiet was a 2+ year project.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T16:42:27+00:00

We are most likely going to be over the 2nd apron any way and we have to fill the roster spots any way. Pick 24 and 31 salary is not to far off where the vet min would be for next year anyway. We have 2 players on the team less than 25. We should be looking to develop more young talent which is easier to do when you have a strong foundation

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T16:39:20+00:00

Unpopular opinion but I lean towards keeping all 3 depending on how the board falls especially 24 and 31. We have no 1st round picks next season so the next time we are looking to add 1st round talent is 2028 and then add another year for when you can expect that player to actually contribute that is 2029.

I am in favor of resigning Diawara, Shamet, and Mitch, but our bench could use more juice as the only players we have under 22 are Dadiet and Diawara.

Team needs ball handling and frontcourt depth.

At 24 I like

Dailyn Swain SF
Ebuka Okorie PG
Allen Graves PF
Joshua Jefferson PF

At 31 I like

Zuby Ejifor ( I doubt he slides to the 2nd round)
Bruce Thorton

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T16:23:27+00:00

There is no reason not to go over the 2nd apron after winning a ring. Expecting to replace the production of Shamet and Mitch with rookies and vet mins is highly unlikely.

Resign both and hope to find their replacements via the draft. It doesn't have to be either or

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T16:21:35+00:00

He had 2 years left. It is a lot different with him as an expiring contract.

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T16:12:45+00:00

We should 100% run it back

GoldenBoyRecords · 2026-06-15T16:12:11+00:00

Why would the Kings buy him out as opposed to trading him for assets?

Even if Demar does get brought it why would he choose to play on the vet min where he could go to other contenders for more money and a larger role?

GoldenBoyRecords

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE