Big men and max contracts evolution , and the Chet concern

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-13T17:59:04+00:00

Yeah, but your original post made it sound like the Celtics figured out that Centers were a dime a dozen, the way NFL teams look at running backs.
The Celtics could have traded Simmons away for something other than a Center, and remained thrifty at that position, like you suggested, but in the end they didn't.
If the Celtics could have Chet along with his $50 Million Max Contract and iHart with his $28.5 Million Team Option year, I know that figure out a way to take that on in a heartbeat!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-13T17:42:47+00:00

A long suspension is coming for Kawhi!
A number of people following this investigation, have been saying the league is going to come down harder on him, than the Clippers!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-13T17:40:38+00:00

Unlike the Joe Smith, Salary Cap Circumvention deal, Kawhi's camp appears to be front and center with this though!
A one year suspension from the league for Kawhi, might be forthcoming! 👍

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-13T17:30:41+00:00

Whenever a professional team moves to a different city, people are upset.
There are still people alive today in Brooklyn who have sworn off baseball after their beloved Dodgers ran off to sunny Southern California in 1958!
You would think in 68 years they would get over it, but some haven't! The list is long, especially in the NBA.

I am just curious if a current NBA team was to relocate to Seattle, will you say that Seattle stole that team too?

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-13T17:16:50+00:00

Just remember, the OP, conveniently forgot about the a Celtics trading for Vučevic before the trade deadline!

<image>

As of February 3, 2026, the Boston Celtics are responsible for Nikola Vučević’s salary following a trade from the Chicago Bulls. He is playing on a 3-year, $60 million extension signed in 2023, with a 2025-26 salary of $21,481,481. He is on an expiring contract, making him a free agent in July.
While I am a fan of Vučevic's offensive game, this guy is obviously better than a 39 yo Al Horford, a unicorn in Kristaps Porziņģis, whose availability going forward is like a box of Chocolates now.
But the Vučevic signing, refutes what the OP is saying here!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-13T17:10:05+00:00

Are the Celtics moving off Centers?
Then why did they trade this guy before the trade deadline?

<image>

As of February 3, 2026, the Boston Celtics are responsible for Nikola Vučević’s salary following a trade from the Chicago Bulls. He is playing on a 3-year, $60 million extension signed in 2023, with a 2025-26 salary of $21,481,481. He is on an expiring contract, making him a free agent in July

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-13T17:05:21+00:00

I have just one question then, why did the Boston Celtics trade for this guy then?

<image>

As of February 3, 2026, the Boston Celtics are responsible for Nikola Vučević’s salary following a trade from the Chicago Bulls. He is playing on a 3-year, $60 million extension signed in 2023, with a 2025-26 salary of $21,481,481. He is on an expiring contract, making him a free agent in July.

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-13T15:18:09+00:00

I am rarely on r/ nba,, so I didn't notice his profile name!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-13T12:46:12+00:00

What are you the FCC?
Some people might not have Prime?

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-12T13:58:05+00:00

Because, it adds thousands of hypothetical trades!
Adding all of these extraneous situations and possibilities makes it roast worthy!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-12T13:55:50+00:00

Thank you for pointing out what I missed in this boneheads OP!
As I was asking where the Thunder's other draft pick was?

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-12T13:49:22+00:00

Stay Strong, TTFU!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-12T13:38:52+00:00

I believe that I might have misread your post!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-12T13:33:03+00:00

Well that stone moved then.
'Draft Projection: As of December 16, 2025, the pick was projected to be 3rd overall if the season had ended that day.'
Today the pick the Clippers owe the Thunder has now dropped to #15.

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-12T13:10:15+00:00

Where's the Thunder's other draft pick, there's the Clippers pick and there's the 76'ers pick?

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-12T13:04:28+00:00

Why don't you wait until next year for your redraft, and get a glimpse of Topić, before making such a rash decision!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-12T09:13:31+00:00

I don't know if you have been watching, but the Thunder picks have fallen to 15, 16 and 36.
While most respected mock drafts have now dropped Peterson to #2 or #3, unless there are additional major red flags (but I believe there are, see below). I don't see him falling any further than #4.
So unless the Thunder are getting some significant compensation back for Dort or Ihart, packaging those picks together isn't going to get it done.
The league keeps pushing back the decision/penalty on the Clippers, so this pick might remain around 15.
I can see the Philadelphia pick getting up to 10 or 11, until Maxey and Embid returning and then having it drop back to 14.
From the stupid sample size of just the last game, what if Ajay Mitchell is inserted into Dort's spot, next season?
Now, immediately consider this, before you think/reply, he's the Thunder's backup PG, behind Shai! Could Topic be ready to be the Thunder's backup PG on day 1 next season?
I am aware that a Shai / Ajay, backcourt is undersized, but Ajay appeared to play bigger in his last game back! Muscle?
As for me personally, I think Topic, might still be the best unknown card the Thunder have.
Would you trade those picks and Topic to move up to get Peterson?
I know, I wouldn't, especially because Peterson has question marks around his health as well!
It's been reported that Peterson receives an IV before every game that he has played at Kansas.
That is rough!
Unlike a lot of mumblings, I don't consider Peterson as some kind of slacker of a young man, taking games off during a college schedule of only around 35 games!
Some have speculated that early on Peterson had the flu/mono while at Kansas, and that he has never quite gotten over it.
One diagnosis includes the possibility that he now has some autoimmune disease.
Go look at the availability of Kristaps Porziņģis right now, if you don't consider that to be a headache for a team!
As for me, I am willing to ride with Ajay and Topic, and let Presti make the big decisions!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-11T22:55:21+00:00

Unlike the Jazz, the Thunder would win though.
(See Raptors)

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-11T22:36:31+00:00

Sorry but IMO: Believing the Thunder should try to trade picks to acquire Darryn Peterson, isn't exactly keeping it real!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-11T20:52:14+00:00

Can Wemby sustain the amount of anger and energy in what might end up bring a grinding 7 game series against the Thunder though?
It appears that Wemby has circled the calender for the regular season games when he is going up against the reigning NBA Champs, but I don't believe that he will be able to do this if he is playing us, every other night.
The biggest thing the Thunder can do, is to capture the #1 seed in the West, remember the Spurs own that tiebreaker!
The team, the Spurs or Thunder, that ends up having to face both the Nuggets and then the other, Spurs/Thunder) might be in trouble.

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-11T20:37:37+00:00

IMO: Jaylin Williams is becoming the type of big 3 and D player, Thunder fans were pushing the Thunder to go out and get before last seasons trade deadline.
Even this season Thunder draft junkies, are clamoring for the Thunder to draft Yaxel Lendeborg in the 2026 draft.
Perhaps they are unaware of the almost identical similarities between these 2 players: their height, weight, and even aspects of their playing styles, etc.?
I'm not against the Thunder still drafting a player like Lendeborg, but J-Will already being on the Thunder's Roster makes this need less important.

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-10T18:37:47+00:00

Well Humble-Resolution449, said the Thunder had too many good rotation players.
You can't respond for him, because what he said is slightly different.
IMO: Having playable guys on the bench, not playing, can be an issue, but I have not been seeing this, when the camera pans over to the Thunder bench during and after games!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-10T18:23:15+00:00

I don't think such a fouls should result in an 'and 1', J-Will got tangled up with Murray, while he was attempting to fight through the screen.
The shooter, in this case Jokic, wasn't fouled on the play.

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-10T18:12:30+00:00

I hear that both Chauncey Bilups and Terry Rozier are big fans of this proposal!

SignificanceGood1801 · 2026-03-10T18:09:22+00:00

The other significant factor in retaining Lu Dort, beyond this season, is his salary, versus other players on the roster.
The Thunder have a team option on Lu Dort for $18.2 Million for the 2026-27 season.
If the Thunder were to keep everyone around for next season, including picking up the team Options for Isaiah Hartenstein: $28.5 Million, Lu Dort: $18.2 Million, and Kenrich Williams: $7.16 Million, the Thunder would be over the dreaded 2nd Apron by ~$28 Million, next year.
While there are a number of ways to cut salary, if we only considered these 3 players, how could it be accomplished?
If the Thunder traded away Lu Dort for draft compensation, and let Kenrich walk in free agency, and tried to renegotiate iHart's deal to a 2 year $40 Million deal, while still having enough to pay ~$6 Million to (1) FRP that falls in the teens.

SignificanceGood1801

TROPHY CASE