For example $5mm MLE player + 6mm Achiuwa + 3mm Cam payne = 14mm and the ability to acquire a player in the top 100-120 salary range in the NBA who could be a rotation piece/injury replacement that could help us in the 2nd half. Even a move is never made, the salary can come off in a year, or it can be a player who can be used the way Shake Milton was used next offseason.

It seems there is every incentive to GET someone just to have this veteran depth + possibility to use this salary to aggregate to make a deal. Whom would you sign?

Some players available that have been valuable NBA role players:

Luke Kennard
Gordon Hayward
Evan Fournier (!)
Jae Crowder
Marcus Morris
Doug McDermott
Isaac Okoro (RFA)
Cedi Osman
Lonnie Walker
Talen Horton-Tucker

VDesai wrote:

martin wrote:The $5m exception can be used as a trade exception?

I belive only the Non-Taxpayer MLE (non apron teams) can do that

That’s correct. We would need to sign a player.

VDesai wrote:Knicks are above the first apron, but can't go above the 2nd apron. At this point there is no incentive TO NOT use the 5mm taxpayer MLE (aside from saving Dolan $$). Aside from adding more depth, the $5mm salary would be valuable as a puzzle piece at the trade deadline to acquire help.

For example $5mm MLE player + 6mm Achiuwa + 3mm Cam payne = 14mm and the ability to acquire a player in the top 100-120 salary range in the NBA who could be a rotation piece/injury replacement that could help us in the 2nd half. Even a move is never made, the salary can come off in a year, or it can be a player who can be used the way Shake Milton was used next offseason.

It seems there is every incentive to GET someone just to have this veteran depth + possibility to use this salary to aggregate to make a deal. Whom would you sign?

Some players available that have been valuable NBA role players:

Luke Kennard
Gordon Hayward
Evan Fournier (!)
Jae Crowder
Marcus Morris
Doug McDermott
Isaac Okoro (RFA)
Cedi Osman
Lonnie Walker
Talen Horton-Tucker

I like this thread - been wondering on this myself.

Okoro is someone I've always liked and I'd love to add 1 more high level defender that can hang with 1, 2, 3 and some 4's.
Unfortunately Okoro wants more than $5M and Cavs would almost certainly match any MLE offer made (unless there is some angle I'm not aware of).

A guy not on the list that I think would fit culture, plays & moves unselfishly, adds more shooting and would hold his own against 1s and 2's is Landry Shamet.

Yes - not exciting but nobody is exciting. If we hadn't signed Payne and drafted Kolek -- both Fultz and D Smith Jr would give us more off the dribble paint touches. On your list I guess L Walker, McDermott and Hayward would provide insurance.

martin wrote:

Rookie wrote:How many roster spots do we have left?

1 roster spot and a 2-way spot open

Thought we had 2 regular spots open?

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:The $5m exception can be used as a trade exception?

Owe we can trade for someone who isn't a free agent with that?

Forgot about that --- that's the move.

Can we add other players to that? As an example - say Deuce + $5M EXC for an $8M player?

We cannot use the Taxpayer MLE as a trade exceptions, which is why it makes a lot of sense to sign someone