One roster spot to fill, who should we do with it?

I guess I am leaning toward keeping a spot open, but Bird is appealing for his energy, cutting ability and athleticism. If he develops as a shooter, I think he can be a solid rotational player.

Okafor has played 131 NBA games and averaged 23.5 minutes. And yet, nobody wants him. Just saying.

Since they traded for Rodney Purvis instead of cutting Nader, they could just hold onto him for awhile. His contract isn't guaranteed until January.

KyleCleric wrote:Since they traded for Rodney Purvis instead of cutting Nader, they could just hold onto him for awhile. His contract isn't guaranteed until January.

I would think its more likely they cut Purvis and sign Bird to fill the spot for the same money. Since none of the moves gets Danny below the tax line.

But since there may be something to Danny wanting to move Morris to get under the tax line, I have been trying to find teams with trade exceptions to take him on.
Trade exceptions because trading Morris seems to be about getting below the tax line. and there is only one team below the cap that can take Morris salary on in a trade now, more on that at the end.

so far I've come up with

Chicago who has a couple trade exceptions they can use.

Cleveland who also has trade exceptions large enough

Denver who has trade exceptions (however bring Morris on would put them OVER the tax line)

Detriot has one but they are already in Tax territory

Portland has a trade exception but is also over the tax line.


Milwaukee has a $3.3M trade exception that along with Tyler Zellers' $1.9M in salary could work (someone show this to cowens please!). But that would mean Danny wants to bring back a player to fill the 15th roster spot , instead of waiting for later in the year to see what may be available or needed due to injures during the season.

finally, the Kings are still about $10 M below the cap. SO they can take Morris in a trade and still be under the cap. Danny could simply get back a new trade exception and maybe he can get the protection taken off the Kings pick for next year.


IF Danny is looking to get below the tax line and Morris is the way to do it, the Kings deal could make sense for both teams.

I believe that the luxury tax is only officially calculated at the end of the season. If this is true there may be no reason to trade Marcus Morris at this time.

He is a pretty decent player who may become more important to have if say Hayward is unable to play full time starter minutes in the first half of the year. Other injuries could happen as well that Morris could help fill in for.

There could be a time that he is may not be needed, but I do not see right now as that time.

KDP, Morris to Denver for Trey Lyles (or someone cheaper) could make sense. Denver would stay under the tax. Celts would be brought under the tax. We'd get a useful player and Denver would address their biggest need.

wideclyde wrote:I believe that the luxury tax is only officially calculated at the end of the season.  If this is true there may be no reason to trade Marcus Morris at this time.

He is a pretty decent player who may become more important to have if say Hayward is unable to play full time starter minutes in the first half of the year.  Other injuries could happen as well that Morris could help fill in for.

There could be a time that he is may not be needed, but I do not see right now as that time.

Exactly.  We can ease both Hayward and Irving into the season and keep everyone fresh.  Ainge can keep all his options open longer and pull the trigger closer to February.  If injuries happen to other key players, team management may decide to stay over the tax line for the push into the playoffs.

Yes, Danny is under no obligation to move Morris or anyone else right now for sure. I was just reading the article about the Nader trade and they notes there that Morris may be the next player moved, IF Ainge wants to get below the tax line.

I was just seeing what teams may be available today, assuming Ainge would be only trying to dump salary.

the Kings idea stood out to me, because I think that pick is going to be another young stud and I would hate to lose it if somehow it ends up the top pick next year.