Minnesota Sports Forum

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:13 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 7:36 am John Collins just signed a 3-year $51 million deal with the Pistons. That’s an average of $17 million per year.

That's a nice move for Collins and the Pistons. He gives them some more size.

I agree, Monster. It’s a move Detroit had to make give the fact they’ll be moving from Duran. The whole Duran thing seems weird to me. He’s a great talent who has been very productive and getting better. He had a bad playoff series, but that was his first and he’s young. I think the Pistons screwed things up with him. What’s your take?

From Shams:

Just in: Free agent Norman Powell has agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. Powell joins the Bulls as a potent scorer after an NBA All-Star season in Miami, averaging nearly 22 points over the last two years.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 7:36 am John Collins just signed a 3-year $51 million deal with the Pistons. That’s an average of $17 million per year.

After hearing this from Dougie (regarding Collins never being an option for MN) I'm a tad concerned they are going to get stuck unable to re-route Green...

Darren Wolfson
Heck, Dean Wade was never an option! Recall what an agent told me yesterday morning on the potential of his lower to mid-tier PF client landing here, “Not enough $$.”

If they get stuck with a barely rotation piece PF it's going to really be a dampener on this off season.

TheGrey08 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:38 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 7:36 am John Collins just signed a 3-year $51 million deal with the Pistons. That’s an average of $17 million per year.

After hearing this from Dougie (regarding Collins never being an option for MN) I'm a tad concerned they are going to get stuck unable to re-route Green...

Darren Wolfson
Heck, Dean Wade was never an option! Recall what an agent told me yesterday morning on the potential of his lower to mid-tier PF client landing here, “Not enough $$.”

If they get stuck with a barely rotation piece PF it's going to really be a dampener on this off season.

See "Going Small", of which Green would be an important part.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:31 am

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:13 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 7:36 am John Collins just signed a 3-year $51 million deal with the Pistons. That’s an average of $17 million per year.

That's a nice move for Collins and the Pistons. He gives them some more size.

I agree, Monster. It’s a move Detroit had to make give the fact they’ll be moving from Duran. The whole Duran thing seems weird to me. He’s a great talent who has been very productive and getting better. He had a bad playoff series, but that was his first and he’s young. I think the Pistons screwed things up with him. What’s your take?

Having Duren make all-nba seems to have really complicated things. He's now entitled to a lot of extra money from Detroit. I think they are wise to be holding back on that. As we see salaries add up quick and every dollar matters. Is Duren a 30% max guy? Sure he's young but I think where the league is now with aprons teams should know without a doubt that their young players are 30% guys before giving it to them. Getting all nba helps you know BUT this past year exceptional with so many missing the games played cut. This was a consequence of the 65 game rule. In a typical circumstance, Duren isn't all-nba and can't get that 30% max.

I would say the 65 game threshold should apply to mvp, and all nba first team, 55 games for 2nd team and all defense and 45 for 3rd team and other awards.

Let’s take a look at the PF and C free agent contracts so far in this round of free agency:

1. Dean Wade: 4 years, $39M — $10M/year
2 Robert Williams: 3 years, $44M — $14.6M/year
3. Jusuf Nurkic: 2 years, $22M — $11M/year
4. Porzingis: 2 years, $40M — $20M/year
5. Day’Ron Sharpe: 2 years, $20M — $10M/year
6. Hartenstein: 3 years, $75M — $25M/year
7. Mark Williams: 3 years, $38M — $12.6M/year
8. Horford: 2 years, $14M — $7M/year
9. Zach Collins: 2 years, $17M — $8.5M/year
10. Jock Landale: 1 year, $14M — $14M/year
11. John Collins: 3 years, $51M — $17M/year

This gives us a clear picture of the market value of rotation bigs. High-level starting bigs like Hartenstein and Porzingis are in the $20 - $25M range. Good starting or rotational bigs below that top level are in the $7 - $17M range. John Collins looks like a bargain for Detroit at $17M. Robert Williams value is discounted because of his durability issues.

So we can see the caliber big we’d like and that TC is probably looking to get has a market value that falls generally somewhere between taxpayer MLE and the non-taxpayer MLE. Interestingly, that market value is very close to the value of Josh Green’s contract. Just saying…. Three remaining questions:

1. Who is left that would improve our team?

2. Among those left who would improve our team, who (if any) would be gettable at the $5.8M we have to spend using the taxpayer MLE?

3. Among those left who fall roughly into that range between the taxpayer and non-taxpayer MLEs would be obtainable in a trade for Josh Green or a combo of Josh Green and Mo Gueye? (Trying to gauge who we can realistically get via trade without giving up TSJ)

60WinTim wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:53 am

TheGrey08 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:38 am After hearing this from Dougie (regarding Collins never being an option for MN) I'm a tad concerned they are going to get stuck unable to re-route Green...

Darren Wolfson
Heck, Dean Wade was never an option! Recall what an agent told me yesterday morning on the potential of his lower to mid-tier PF client landing here, “Not enough $$.”

If they get stuck with a barely rotation piece PF it's going to really be a dampener on this off season.

See "Going Small", of which Green would be an important part.

Doesn't change my concern at all lol. Even if they go small they need a good stretch PF rotation piece. Not having that versatility would be a mistake.

Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 9:05 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:31 am

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:13 am

That's a nice move for Collins and the Pistons. He gives them some more size.

I agree, Monster. It’s a move Detroit had to make give the fact they’ll be moving from Duran. The whole Duran thing seems weird to me. He’s a great talent who has been very productive and getting better. He had a bad playoff series, but that was his first and he’s young. I think the Pistons screwed things up with him. What’s your take?

Having Duren make all-nba seems to have really complicated things. He's now entitled to a lot of extra money from Detroit. I think they are wise to be holding back on that. As we see salaries add up quick and every dollar matters. Is Duren a 30% max guy? Sure he's young but I think where the league is now with aprons teams should know without a doubt that their young players are 30% guys before giving it to them. Getting all nba helps you know BUT this past year exceptional with so many missing the games played cut. This was a consequence of the 65 game rule. In a typical circumstance, Duren isn't all-nba and can't get that 30% max.

I would say the 65 game threshold should apply to mvp, and all nba first team, 55 games for 2nd team and all defense and 45 for 3rd team and other awards.

Thanks, Phenom. That helps explain what’s happening.

TheGrey08 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:38 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 7:36 am John Collins just signed a 3-year $51 million deal with the Pistons. That’s an average of $17 million per year.

After hearing this from Dougie (regarding Collins never being an option for MN) I'm a tad concerned they are going to get stuck unable to re-route Green...

Darren Wolfson
Heck, Dean Wade was never an option! Recall what an agent told me yesterday morning on the potential of his lower to mid-tier PF client landing here, “Not enough $$.”

If they get stuck with a barely rotation piece PF it's going to really be a dampener on this off season.

I do want to say it is Doogie. Not that most reliable reporter around.

I just did a spotrac check of bigs that could remotely get swapped for Josh Green (so the numbers may be unofficial, but we can't take back more money than we send).

This is the entire list

Bobby Portis (who got dealt to Miami so you better pray Miami merely treated him as a throw-in)

Dorian Finney-Smith

Jake LaRavia (now this is interesting in that he only makes $8 mil, but LA for now is under the cap. I only doubt this happens because this would trigger a hard cap potentially and they have dreams.

Taylor Hendricks and Kris Murray combined make a little less, but this couldn't happen until early September.


Oddly enough, the one big man who woulda made financial sense in a Josh Green swap was Brandon Clarke and he's gone.

Otherwise, get ready for the Josh Green era!!