** Official 2024 Make or Break Offseason Thread **

[Kolkmania]

Option 1: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for Markkanen; the fillers become part of the rotation.

Option 2: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for KD.

Option 3A: Sign Siakam to a $42M contract, use around $18M cap space, and picks for upgrades and depth like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3B: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Brandon Ingram, then use the remaining $20+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3C: Sign Paul George to a $50+M contract, use the little remaining cap, and trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for depth upgrade.

Option 4: Exhaust all cap and picks for Butler

The problem with the sign big FA scenario's is that you have to renounce all the players on the roster to acquire the necessary cap space. We would have the picks to get one or two solid depth pieces, but we don't have the matching salary.

Unless there's a very creative path that I haven't heard of, It's going to be 3 "stars" and vet min, exception players to fill out the roster. Which for me, would be a terrible option.

[Sportfan73]

Option 1: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for Markkanen; the fillers become part of the rotation.

Option 2: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for KD.

Option 3A: Sign Siakam to a $42M contract, use around $18M cap space, and picks for upgrades and depth like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3B: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Brandon Ingram, then use the remaining $20+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3C: Sign Paul George to a $50+M contract, use the little remaining cap, and trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for depth upgrade.

Option 4: Exhaust all cap and picks for Butler

The problem with the sign big FA scenario's is that you have to renounce all the players on the roster to acquire the necessary cap space. We would have the picks to get one or two solid depth pieces, but we don't have the matching salary.

Unless there's a very creative path that I haven't heard of, It's going to be 3 "stars" and vet min, exception players to fill out the roster. Which for me, would be a terrible option.

Joel 51.4
Jimmy 48.7
Maxey 13m cap hold
9 rookie min cap holds 10.44 (1.16x9)

Leaves us with 17.5m in cap space that can be used prior to handing out any vet mins. Then they will be able to use the room exception (8.3m) as well after going over the cap

[Kolkmania]

Ingram is somewhat interesting, since it makes sense that the Pelicans might be inclined to move him due to Herb and Murphy being better fits with Zion.
However, Ingram would need to revert back to his Duke/early Pelicans days in which he shoots close to 10 3PA per 100 possessions instead of the Tobias Harris impression of the past couple of years. Obviously would need to accept a tertiary role, with the corresponding defensive and rebouding tasks.

Markannen would be fantastic, but no idea what the Jazz are doing.

Duo of Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson are also a viable option now that Bridges is correctly valued as a great 3&D wing instead of the primary creator. Perhaps a S&T with Harris to keep them afloat, develop their young guys and get draft picks to properly rebuild. But think they'll try to wait for Mitchell in 2025.

[76ciology]

Option 1: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for Markkanen; the fillers become part of the rotation.

Option 2: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for KD.

Option 3A: Sign Siakam to a $42M contract, use around $18M cap space, and picks for upgrades and depth like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3B: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Brandon Ingram, then use the remaining $20+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3C: Sign Paul George to a $50+M contract, use the little remaining cap, and trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for depth upgrade.

Option 4: Exhaust all cap and picks for Butler

Butler won’t cost more than 2 firsts at the most. He’s 35 and wanting an extension

I overlooked the Butler scenario.

So, for Jimmy, we would have to absorb his $50M contract, leaving us with around $10M in cap space. Then, I think trading 2 1st-round picks and a swap would be sufficient.

A possible lineup could be:

Maxey Jimmy Butler Kelly Oubre Jalen Smith Joel Embiid

[76ciology]

Option 1: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for Markkanen; the fillers become part of the rotation.

Option 2: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for KD.

Option 3A: Sign Siakam to a $42M contract, use around $18M cap space, and picks for upgrades and depth like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3B: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Brandon Ingram, then use the remaining $20+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3C: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Jimmy Butler, then use the remaining $10+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Jalen Smith, Bey or Hartenstein.

Option 3D: Sign Paul George to a $50+M contract, use the little remaining cap, and trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for depth upgrade.

Updated

[Kolkmania]

Option 1: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for Markkanen; the fillers become part of the rotation.

Option 2: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for KD.

Option 3A: Sign Siakam to a $42M contract, use around $18M cap space, and picks for upgrades and depth like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3B: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Brandon Ingram, then use the remaining $20+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3C: Sign Paul George to a $50+M contract, use the little remaining cap, and trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for depth upgrade.

Option 4: Exhaust all cap and picks for Butler

The problem with the sign big FA scenario's is that you have to renounce all the players on the roster to acquire the necessary cap space. We would have the picks to get one or two solid depth pieces, but we don't have the matching salary.

Unless there's a very creative path that I haven't heard of, It's going to be 3 "stars" and vet min, exception players to fill out the roster. Which for me, would be a terrible option.

Joel 51.4
Jimmy 48.7
Maxey 13m cap hold
9 rookie min cap holds 10.44 (1.16x9)

Leaves us with 17.5m in cap space that can be used prior to handing out any vet mins. Then they will be able to use the room exception (8.3m) as well after going over the cap

17.5m cap space is roughly 12.5% of the cap next year. That's nowhere near enough to sign three quality rotation players imo, free agency is not a typical place where you get proper value deals. Certainly not for players that are immediately ready to contribute on both ends of the court in the PO (and complement Embiid and Maxey).

Typically that process takes years,

[Stanford]

Can't think of anything more embarrassing than trading for Jimmy Butler.

[eyeatoma]

Can't think of anything more embarrassing than trading for Jimmy Butler.

Worst part is that it's admitting we were wrong, and we could have won a chip if we had him. So lame!

[sixers hoops]

They don’t need to renounce him because his back is hurt or because they planned poorly, they would renounce his rights because they don’t need them to eventually re-sign him.

Just because they can sign him using cap space doesn't mean that is the right move.

He is going to get paid less than his cap hold.

I know, I said this in my OP.

However, they are going to renounce him, sign the big free agent

They can sign the big free agent without renouncing him. The largest FA contract is PG13 at $49.4 million. They can get to that number without renouncing Melton, and instead signing him to a new contract via Bird Rights to something less than his cap hold (like we both agree will be the case). Embiid+Maxey+Oubre+Council+16+Melton at $10M would be $51.5M in cap space.

then they can pursue free-agents with the remaining $12 million or so. If they are okay with his back, Melton will likely be one of the players they target. And they wouldn’t be “circling back” to him. They would just be pursuing him without his rights, since they are operating with cap space.

Why renounce him, open up $12 million in space, to then try to pursue him? There should be a specific *reason* to have that extra $12 million because Melton isn't limiting the big move if he signs for ~$10 million or less.

I already explained this. His cap hold is $17 million. They will renounce him to clear $17 million in cap space. There is zero reason to not renounce him. You are the only person who believes they should hold onto to his rights even though it makes no sense. It is a simple procedural motion that teams under the cap commonly make when a player’s cap hold is more than their likely market value. They are not going to rush a decision on Melton until free agency plays out, and they are not going to delay the signing of a priority free agents by foolishly holding onto Melton’s rights because you don’t understand that they hold no value to the process.

The Sixers likely have a lot of players ahead of Melton on their priority list due to his back issues, subsequently, signing Melton may not be a decision they are ready to make for a few weeks as they allow the market to play out. Therefore, they are not going to carry a more expensive cap hold for no reason. They are not signing him with cap space because they believe it is the right move. They simply understand math and realize the cap hold doesn’t benefit them. It’s actually not very complicated.

[mjkvol]

Even though he's older, I like the idea of Durant better than PG or Butler. Just in terms of injury risk and projected productivity, Durant projects better than either of them. Height and shooting are two things that age very well in this game, and those are two of KD's biggest strengths. He has had his own significant injuries, of course, but it hasn't been virtually every year like PG. And he doesn't project to fall off a cliff like Butler does. Expect one more good season from Butler before his contract is another Tobias albatross. A max Butler contract for 3 years is almost saying all-in for 1 year and punting the next 2. That's beyond stupid.

Next year is Embiid's age-30 season and Maxey's age-24 season. In terms of average-age prime, the next 3 seasons are the ones where they are both in their prime (age 24-32 - peak is usually about age 27/28). Although with Embiid's injury concerns and history, it would not be a shock to see his prime end sooner. The point is that we don't need to go all-in for next season. Maxey has extended our window considerably. If Maxey and Embiid are both lifetime Sixers (big if), then based just on their ages these next 3 years are the best shot at a title with them. Betting everything on one season - not a great move when we can have 3 years where we have a great chance.

Of course, every player is different. Some players peak early - see Simmons, Ben.

This is pretty much exactly my view as well. If the plan is balls to the wall for 2024, it is being very shortsighted. I'd like to see this as a sustainable build that extends beyond just next season and gives us the assets and flexibility to continue to compete in the foreseeable future. Any plans that has an expiration date beyond 1-2 seasons should not be considered, and that's exactly what any of the aging "stars" being brought in at max numbers will likely produce.

And I agree that of these bad options, Durant would be the 'best' one - he fits like a glove, and is less likely to fall off a cliff as a player if he stays relatively healthy.

[mjkvol]

The best value play would be to pursue Brandon Ingram. He currently has only $36M on the books, leaving us with $20M to allocate. Although he's coming off a really bad slump similar to Tobias', our front office (FO) needs to bet that he can rebound to his performance level from a season or two ago.

To hedge the Ingram bet, the FO should allocate the remaining cap space to acquire 1-2 high-quality role players.

Possibilities include pairing Ingram with 1-2 of the following players:
- DeMar DeRozan
- Miles Bridges
- Nic Claxton
- D'Angelo Russell
- Malik Monk
- Klay Thompson
- Isaiah Hartenstein
- Bruce Brown
- Tyus Jones
- Saddiq Bey

Potential starting lineups could be:

1. Maxey, DeRozan, Oubre, Ingram, Embiid
2. Maxey, Klay Thompson, Oubre, Ingram, Embiid
3. Maxey, Tyus Jones, Oubre, Ingram, Embiid 6th:Hartenstein or Claxton
4. Maxey, absorb Caruso, Oubre, Ingram, Embiid 6th:Hartenstein or Claxton
5. Maxey, Monk, Oubre, Ingram, Embiid
6. Maxey, Ingram, Oubre, Bridges, Embiid

*im not convinced about Ingram until I made this post

I don't hate this plan at all. Very interested in DeRozan, Bridges, Hartenstein, Monk, Brown, and maybe Claxton.

[Arsenal]

Bring back The Homie on a vet min. Good option as a backup 4/5 which we will need.

[sixers hoops]

Option 1: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for Markkanen; the fillers become part of the rotation.

Option 2: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for KD.

Option 3A: Sign Siakam to a $42M contract, use around $18M cap space, and picks for upgrades and depth like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3B: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Brandon Ingram, then use the remaining $20+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3C: Sign Paul George to a $50+M contract, use the little remaining cap, and trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for depth upgrade.

Option 4: Exhaust all cap and picks for Butler

The problem with the sign big FA scenario's is that you have to renounce all the players on the roster to acquire the necessary cap space. We would have the picks to get one or two solid depth pieces, but we don't have the matching salary.

Unless there's a very creative path that I haven't heard of, It's going to be 3 "stars" and vet min, exception players to fill out the roster. Which for me, would be a terrible option.

Oubre has a $2 million cap hold. Seems foolish to renounce him. That’s a rotation piece for a cheap cap hold. Then we would have the room exception as well. And Melton could be a very cheap gamble. It’s not great but keeping Oubre at that price helps

[blazehound]

Option 1: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for Markkanen; the fillers become part of the rotation.

Option 2: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for KD.

Option 3A: Sign Siakam to a $42M contract, use around $18M cap space, and picks for upgrades and depth like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3B: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Brandon Ingram, then use the remaining $20+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3C: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Jimmy Butler, then use the remaining $10+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Jalen Smith, Bey or Hartenstein.

Option 3D: Sign Paul George to a $50+M contract, use the little remaining cap, and trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for depth upgrade.

I’d do everything I could for Markkanen and then extend him. Fill out the rest of the roster with remaining cap space.

[phillynative]

Why did Ainge have to go to Utah.

[Kolkmania]

Option 1: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for Markkanen; the fillers become part of the rotation.

Option 2: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for KD.

Option 3A: Sign Siakam to a $42M contract, use around $18M cap space, and picks for upgrades and depth like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3B: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Brandon Ingram, then use the remaining $20+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3C: Sign Paul George to a $50+M contract, use the little remaining cap, and trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for depth upgrade.

Option 4: Exhaust all cap and picks for Butler

The problem with the sign big FA scenario's is that you have to renounce all the players on the roster to acquire the necessary cap space. We would have the picks to get one or two solid depth pieces, but we don't have the matching salary.

Unless there's a very creative path that I haven't heard of, It's going to be 3 "stars" and vet min, exception players to fill out the roster. Which for me, would be a terrible option.

Oubre has a $2 million cap hold. Seems foolish to renounce him. That’s a rotation piece for a cheap cap hold. Then we would have the room exception as well. And Melton could be a very cheap gamble. It’s not great but keeping Oubre at that price helps

Isn't it the case that we can only offer 120% of his current salary due to non-bird rights? Given his play this year, I'd think that someone would want to offer him MLE money.
We could be that team, but that negates the possibility of resigning him when we're at the above the salary cap threshold.

[Sixerscan]

Yeah after one year you just get his non-bird rights (120%), need 2 for early bird rights (then you can offer up to the MLE), then after that is full bird rights where you can offer whatever.

I think he’s a pretty obvious fit for the room exception.

[sixers hoops]

The problem with the sign big FA scenario's is that you have to renounce all the players on the roster to acquire the necessary cap space. We would have the picks to get one or two solid depth pieces, but we don't have the matching salary.

Unless there's a very creative path that I haven't heard of, It's going to be 3 "stars" and vet min, exception players to fill out the roster. Which for me, would be a terrible option.

Oubre has a $2 million cap hold. Seems foolish to renounce him. That’s a rotation piece for a cheap cap hold. Then we would have the room exception as well. And Melton could be a very cheap gamble. It’s not great but keeping Oubre at that price helps

Isn't it the case that we can only offer 120% of his current salary due to non-bird rights? Given his play this year, I'd think that someone would want to offer him MLE money.
We could be that team, but that negates the possibility of resigning him when we're at the above the salary cap threshold.

That part got by me. Oh well.

[davesilver]

Option 1: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for Markkanen; the fillers become part of the rotation.

Option 2: Generate 2 first-round picks using cap space, trade 4 first-round picks, and a swap trade with fillers for KD.

Option 3A: Sign Siakam to a $42M contract, use around $18M cap space, and picks for upgrades and depth like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3B: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Brandon Ingram, then use the remaining $20+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Derozan, Klay or Monk.

Option 3C: Trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for Jimmy Butler, then use the remaining $10+M cap space for another high-quality free agent like Jalen Smith, Bey or Hartenstein.

Option 3D: Sign Paul George to a $50+M contract, use the little remaining cap, and trade 2 picks and a swap (2024 1st, 2026 1st, and 2026 swap) for depth upgrade.

I’d do everything I could for Markkanen and then extend him. Fill out the rest of the roster with remaining cap space.

I just do not think a guy like Markkanen is worth dumping all the assets for. Why would you trade your whole arsenal for a guy who you'd hope would be a great 3rd option. The only argument is that it would extend both Maxey and Embiid's contention window.

[davesilver]

Elite player route:
Either acquire via trade or FA.

Elite role players route:
Either acquire via trade or FA.

We have two assets, draft capital and cap space. It wouldn't make sense imo to use both draft capital AND cap space for an elite player, unless you're getting a tier A superstar. The only guy here is Lebron imo.

Given the landscape of FA, I do actually believe signing PG is the best option. He's still 98th percentile in EPM. Even a 10% regression would give us an elite 3+D / secondary playmaker that fits like a glove next to Embiid/Maxey.

This would give us ~20M (could be off here) for our role players. The best part about using strictly cap space to sign PG would be that we'd retain our assets for trading pieces later on.

5-6 4-8M/year guys:
S+T Buddy + LAC first + 2RP for Caruso
1 year / 4M deal for Batum
Bruce Brown at 7M?
Oubre at 7M MLE
Lowry at min

Maxey Caruso PG Batum Embiid
Lowry Brown Oubre RC4 Reed