The hawks are getting one of them

I assume this means that Strus is also gone

I don’t think the Wolves as presently constructed should be considered “contenders”

To be honest Denver can’t receive more than a rookie scale contract or vet min player ! They are already deep in the second apron they pay $68m of luxury tax… they need to offload some players since they are also a repeating team in the second apron, I don’t remember what it mean but it will be very impactful on the team trading leverage

$0

They are in the second apron, so they can’t take back more than they send out, plus there’s the base-year compensation aspect where the outgoing salary number only counts as 50% of its value. So if they sign and trade him at \(20M AAV, it only counts as \)10M outgoing (as an example). This works with Cleveland’s current cap situation, but it means that Denver cannot take back as much in return.

I don’t know what PWat will end up signing, but up to $30M per year would limit the players Denver could bring back to Sam Merrill + Jaylon Tyson. They could package him with another salary (Zeke Nnaji is the one in mock trades), which might get the number high enough to get Strus back, but it’s still a weird return for the Nuggets.

He’s great to have but also not missed. Perfect trade candidate

He does good things but also strangely dumb things. Mostly good things.

He’s the Dalton Line (worst possible franchise QB) of backup PG’s!

Good enough that the second unit doesn’t fall apart. Not so good that teams can’t convince themselves they can upgrade the position.

Yeah, can never sustain good play. Was a perfect King in that way.

The Cavs are currently under the apron, so yes

They would almost certainly move Strus at the very least for something like this.

EDIT: to be clear though, I think Kuminga is more likely than Watson.

“Koby Altman is a liar…”

I think Strus might get dumped next. They wouldn’t pay assets to dump him for Kuminga, but they would for Watson, who seems to be the likely target here.

If it’s a sign and trade Cavs are sending out salary (Strus most likely). they aren’t just adding Watson’s contract.

Not sure how likely it is anyway though

Not if Strus is also moved which is likely. He’s also easier to move than Schroeder since he’s still a valuable player and has an expiring contract.

Watson isn’t leaving Denver for \(17m. He wants nearly \)25m

Strus getting dumped should come next

Is Harden really going to sign for 15 million? Denver is offering 14 million to Watson, if all it takes is 17 they will just give it to him. They have to agree to a sign and trade, or it doesn’t happen.

Hypothetically I think Harden would want like $50 million a year, maybe 50 a year for two years? So do they do ⁴⁄₁₂₀? Thats a lot for Harden in 4 years

But some other redditor that probably also doesn’t understand the situation well told me I was right

They would need to lose Harden though right? His cap hold is higher than \(32 million so they already in the tax until he signs or they release his cap hold (\)47 million rn), which I don’t see either happening. Only way to get Watson would be to sign Harden for less $32 million and then sign-and-trade.

The Cavs are in the first apron by NBAs book rn becuase they have Harden’s bird rights and that’s what OP isn’t taking into consideration. You can’t just pretend Harden doesn’t exist

The Nuggets can’t take money back unless the trade moves them out of the 2nd apron.

Denver would only have $5.6M in second apron space assuming they dump Zeke Nnaji prior to or in conjunction with a Watson move.

That estimate is also assuming Lonnie Walker IV’s non-guaranteed deal is waived. If it isn’t, then they’d only have $3.2M in second apron space.

They would need to dump both Cam Johnson and Nnaji to take back Strus’ $16.6M which I’m almost certain they aren’t open to doing. Dumping 3 players (one of which is a starter [Johnson] and another one is a 6th man level player [Watson]) to get Strus is nuts not to mention incredibly complicated for Denver to do at this point in the offseason especially when they’re strapped for draft assets.

I can assure you that Tre Mann does in fact suck

You don’t understand how this is going to work, lol.

If they make any S&T, the terms will likely be agreed on but not officially done to start.

Harden will then re-sign for his amount which will probably be in the realm of 30-32m if they get one of these guys.

Then they do the S&T and send out salary, almost certainly would be Strus but could potentially be more.

That’s how the Cavs stay below the first apron that they would be locked to because they are taking on a S&T.