OT: NBA Offseason

[nelsonmuntz]

LeBron I believe is currently 3rd ALL-TIME in REGULAR SEASON minutes behind only Kareem & Malone. So the potential issue is the high mileage early in career as both those guys had long runs still playing regularly in their late 30's (and longer for Kareem). LeBron is already the all-time leader in playoff minutes and added to his regular season durability those are hard miles.
But on the other side LeBron has a near indestructible body and has invested vastly more than anyone before him in terms of training, diet and treatments. I think this past year was a purposeful throwaway to give him a break - he might have played thru his injuries on a more competitive team. I thought the goal always was to miss the playoffs, rest until the reinforcements (Davis) showed up. Given everything I think the odds are still with LeBron playing another 5 years at a high level IF he manages his minutes smartly going forward. His injuries & reduced PT this past year are the exception - concerning that it occurs right as his age hits the possibly declining years, but his historical performance portends LeBron will resume playing at a high level.

The historical analogies don't work given modern advancements. For example Tom Brady is way beyond any historical precedent AND he clearly doesn't have the otherworldly physique LeBron does.

The modern advancements work both ways. Young players are stronger, faster and better conditioned than players were 20 years ago, and Lebron has to match up with them.

Lebron's minutes are catching up with him. Sprains and pulls are old man injuries, and Lebron is starting to get them. The Lakers are going to have to put Lebron on the basketball equivalent of a pitch count to manage his minutes.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Not that it matters with Brad's "positionless" basketball approach but Jaylen is SG and the taller Tatum with a lesser handle is the SF. Given who is on the team, I think Hayward becomes a stretch 4. That's mostly about D, Hayward is the strongest, biggest of the three. Tatum can't guard quick 2's but Brown can and is the better athlete.

I'm not entirely sure that R. Williams won't start. From an offense/defense rotation perspective, I'd pair Kanter with Smart and Ojeleye on a second team. Grant Williams is starting to make sense to me as a draft pick. Low upside, but low floor pure PF with lots of college experience and more ready to play than most rookies. This team is going to need some decent minutes from him. He's the only true 4 on the roster.

Stevens has options for lineups. I think Grant Williams will contribute meaningful minutes this season. I am not sure about Langford. Kemba will not be facing a zone for the first time in years. You can spread the floor with this team, and Kemba will not be depended on for all the offense. I think his efficiency numbers will go through the roof, and will be helped by some down time because he won't be playing 38 and 40 minutes as often. Smart will be a good change of pace for the team.

Getting Cousins would help in some ways, but he has to go on a diet and start playing defense.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The modern advancements work both ways. Young players are stronger, faster and better conditioned than players were 20 years ago, and Lebron has to match up with them.

Lebron's minutes are catching up with him. Sprains and pulls are old man injuries, and Lebron is starting to get them. The Lakers are going to have to put Lebron on the basketball equivalent of a pitch count to manage his minutes.

He also played a very high weight for a number of years, and is now down some 25 pounds or so from that. He did it because he knew his body couldn't take the strain.

I'm not saying he's going to fall off a cliff performance wise, but I don't think there is much chance that he's the Lebron of 5-10 years ago by 2021. He might be 75% of that, which is still a hell of a player.

 

[tzznandrew]

He also played a very high weight for a number of years, and is now down some 25 pounds or so from that. He did it because he knew his body couldn't take the strain.

I'm not saying he's going to fall off a cliff performance wise, but I don't think there is much chance that he's the Lebron of 5-10 years ago by 2021. He might be 75% of that, which is still a hell of a player.

And certainly enough to win the title paired with a healthy AD and Kawhi would be the favorites to win the title.

Both Kawhi and AD have had injury issues, though. It's still worth the gamble.

 

[Lefty2one]

@nelsonmuntz

 

[nelsonmuntz]

@nelsonmuntz

Philadelphia better like the taste of Luxury Tax, because they are going to be eating it for a while.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Boston is signing Vincent Poirier. NBA Rumors: Celtics, French Center Vincent Poirier Agree To Two-Year Deal

 

[auror]

Philadelphia better like the taste of Luxury Tax, because they are going to be eating it for a while.

They saved a lot of money in the Process years.

 

[Scoe]

76ers sign Kyle Oquinn

 

[Scoe]

 

[auror]

76ers sign Kyle Oquinn

Glad they filled their need for a big.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Glad they filled their need for a big.

I've seen small ball, has a team ever rolled out a lineup with no guards? Does Philly have any non bigs on the roster? 6'10" Ben Simmons is supposedly their PG? Harris is 6'9", and he's the SF. Richardson at 6'6" is the SG. Good ball handlers? None. What a weird team. Are they really going to start this lineup:

Embiid 7'
Horford 6'10"
Harris 6'9"
Richardson 6'6"
Simmons 6'10"

Edit: while I hate the idea of defending Embiid, I don't see anybody on this team that has a prayer of guarding Kemba Walker.

 

[the Q]

Boston is signing Vincent Poirier. NBA Rumors: Celtics, French Center Vincent Poirier Agree To Two-Year Deal

I still think missing both O'Quinn and Jordan Bell was not a good look.

But I can dig this.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I still think missing both O'Quinn and Jordan Bell was not a good look.

But I can dig this.

I'm increasingly getting the sense that both Williamses will be counted on pretty heavily. I wouldn't even be surprised to see Bob line up next to Kanter against teams like Philly.

 

[the Q]

I'm increasingly getting the sense that both Williamses will be counted on pretty heavily. I wouldn't even be surprised to see Bob line up next to Kanter against teams like Philly.

I love bob. Love him. Excited to see him get some run. His upside is capela like (who was also drafted in a similar spot). I trust brad to develop him and turn kemba into a better version than any of his prior versions (like he did with IT).

He better be right about grant. He needs to be. The 4 spot is ugly right now.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I love bob. Love him. Excited to see him get some run. His upside is capela like (who was also drafted in a similar spot). I trust brad to develop him and turn kemba into a better version than any of his prior versions (like he did with IT).

He better be right about grant. He needs to be. The 4 spot is ugly right now.

That's my only concern with bringing in another 5. Would really have loved a flex 4-5 like Al if such a person is even out there. Depth at the 4 is essentially rookie Grant and undersized Hayward, unless they are going to play Bob there as well.

Then again, this roster is less weird than the 76ers is, and several other teams. GS is rolling out a team of mostly PGs it seems and Philly has none.

 

[the Q]

That's my only concern with bringing in another 5. Would really have loved a flex 4-5 like Al if such a person is even out there. Depth at the 4 is essentially rookie Grant and undersized Hayward, unless they are going to play Bob there as well.

Then again, this roster is less weird than the 76ers is, and several other teams. GS is rolling out a team of mostly PGs it seems and Philly has none.

Tatum starts at the 4.

Honestly going international for another 4 isn’t the worst idea. Bell would’ve fit well there.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

There's not much interest in veteran center DeMarcus Cousins on the open market, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"There's not a market for [DeMarcus Cousins]. I think he hoped that some big market teams would strike out, they'd have cap space and he could get a one-year, $12, $15, $18, $20 million deal. That's not happening," Wojnarowski said on "SportsCenter" Tuesday morning. "The mid-level exception he got in Golden State last year? I don't think that's there."

I thought I was the only one that could tell Cousins looked like . Yet another talented big man that has eaten himself out of an NBA career.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I've seen small ball, has a team ever rolled out a lineup with no guards? Does Philly have any non bigs on the roster? 6'10" Ben Simmons is supposedly their PG? Harris is 6'9", and he's the SF. Richardson at 6'6" is the SG. Good ball handlers? None. What a weird team. Are they really going to start this lineup:

Embiid 7'
Horford 6'10"
Harris 6'9"
Richardson 6'6"
Simmons 6'10"

Edit: while I hate the idea of defending Embiid, I don't see anybody on this team that has a prayer of guarding Kemba Walker.

I love Kemba, but Ben Simmons would put him in his pocket.

 

[aceboon]

Willie Cauley-Stein is that bad that he only had vet minimum deals on the table? All GSW will need him to do is catch lobs, board, and protect the rim, seems like a steal to me but I didn't watch the Kings all too intensely the past few years.

 

[auror]

I've seen small ball, has a team ever rolled out a lineup with no guards? Does Philly have any non bigs on the roster? 6'10" Ben Simmons is supposedly their PG? Harris is 6'9", and he's the SF. Richardson at 6'6" is the SG. Good ball handlers? None. What a weird team. Are they really going to start this lineup:

Embiid 7'
Horford 6'10"
Harris 6'9"
Richardson 6'6"
Simmons 6'10"

Edit: while I hate the idea of defending Embiid, I don't see anybody on this team that has a prayer of guarding Kemba Walker.

 

[aceboon]

Just checked Cauley-Stein's defensive numbers and they are pretty poor, meh, Warriors made Javale McGee useful so the jury is out, has to be an upgrade over Damian Jones tho.

 

[jibsey]

Knicks getting killed in press and on air but why? Durant has to sit for one of the 4 seasons right? So that makes him get $46 million for every year he plays rather than $ 35 million. Not only that but at $35 million he would be uninjured and a case could be made had he not blown the Achilles. Let them try to rebuild with Barrett and younger players.

 

[traitor71]

Knicks getting killed in press and on air but why? Durant has to sit for one of the 4 seasons right? So that makes him get $46 million for every year he plays rather than $ 35 million. Not only that but at $35 million he would be uninjured and a case could be made had he not blown the Achilles. Let them try to rebuild with Barrett and younger players.

They're getting killed because they are an inept franchise. They don't really deserve the benefit of the doubt in any situation.

 

[auror]

Knicks getting killed in press and on air but why? Durant has to sit for one of the 4 seasons right? So that makes him get $46 million for every year he plays rather than $ 35 million. Not only that but at $35 million he would be uninjured and a case could be made had he not blown the Achilles. Let them try to rebuild with Barrett and younger players.

Since the salary cap is yearly, that's not really how it works from a competitive value standpoint.