OT: NBA Offseason

[superjohn]

I think you're way overrating the Pistons. Last year they were two games away from missing the playoffs in the East. Adding a 34 year old Chris Paul isn't going to change that by too much.

They're pretty garbage and basically a Blake injury away from competing to be the worst team.

 

[navery12]

Think it’s December 15th. Also Mo Wagner is a Washington Wizard already haha. The Lakers legit have nothing to trade outside LeBron and Kuzma.

I forgot about the Wagner trade. But it's January 15th. Regardless of who it is, the Lakers have no contracts to match

 

[MilliniumPrince]

I think CP3 on the current Pistons is a 50+ win team, especially if Detroit doesn't have to give up Kennard to get CP3.

The Celtics aren't going to be dominant and the 76ers are one wrong Embiid step from being a 47 win team and a second round exit. The Bucks are going to be really freaking good, but Bledsoe is a mega choker and Middleton did not exactly bathe himself in glory against the Raptors either. The Pistons would have a chance against the Bucks in a 7 game series.

If you are the Pistons, why not go for it? Paul is $50 million cheaper than Westbrook, and he would be a good fit on that team. Griffin's game has matured a lot in the last few years, and Drummond, Griffin, Rose, CP3 and Kennard is a solid starting lineup. Detroit is never going to attract marquee free agents, so why bother saving the cap space?

Edit: The Pistons also have leverage, because the minute Bradley Beal goes on the market, CP3's value drops.

If you ignore the fact CP III and Griffin hate each other and tried to have a fight in halls of the Staples Center, you have a point.

 

[navery12]

Exactly . Guys on here have no idea what they are talking about.

Tag me next time

 

[awfuldan]

I forgot about the Wagner trade. But it's January 15th. Regardless of who it is, the Lakers have no contracts to match

View attachment 44710

Got it, good to know!

 

[Walker11]

Why would OKC just buy him out? Paul to the Lakers sounds good, but there really is no path. That said, this offseason has proven anything can happen.

You tell me. I certainly didn't suggest they should.

 

[xclamations]

As long as Boston doesn't win, I'm happy

 

[Scoe]

I think CP3 will end up on the Lakers somehow, someway or how about the Spurs.

 

[awfuldan]

I forgot about the Wagner trade. But it's January 15th. Regardless of who it is, the Lakers have no contracts to match

View attachment 44710

On second thought - it possible we are both right? NBA trade and salary cap rules are so crazy. Was trying to figure out where I saw that December 15 date and found this article.

December 15: When the NBA trade game can really begin

NBA trade season is coming, but it can’t really begin until next week. We explain why two dates must pass before the real fireworks happen.

www.sbnation.com

But this site says it depends on the player

The Importance Of January 15 For NBA Teams

January 15 is an important date on the NBA's calendar. We explain why.

www.hoopsrumors.com

Either way, point is the Lakers have no options.

 

[navery12]

On second thought - it possible we are both right? NBA trade and salary cap rules are so crazy. Was trying to figure out where I saw that December 15 date and found this article.

December 15: When the NBA trade game can really begin

NBA trade season is coming, but it can’t really begin until next week. We explain why two dates must pass before the real fireworks happen.

www.sbnation.com

But this site says it depends on the player

The Importance Of January 15 For NBA Teams

January 15 is an important date on the NBA's calendar. We explain why.

www.hoopsrumors.com

Either way, point is the Lakers have no options.

I'm honestly not sure. I always thought it was December 15 until I saw that article. Then convinced myself it was from playing too much 2K because that's the rule there

 

[bazz&boujee]

Haven't looked at any #'s but my first thought is Paul ends up on the Lakers. Don't know how they could swing it but could also see Beal in the mix for them.

i just don’t see the lakers having the assets to make a trade like that

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I thought this too. Paul would be a really good fit for Detroit stylistically. Paul's contract matches up with Griffin's, but if memory serves, Paul and Griffin were not best buds by the time their days on the Clippers ended. I suspect both are desperate enough by this point in their careers that even a longshot chance on Detroit is better than finishing their careers on the playoff bubble or rebuilding.

If you ignore the fact CP III and Griffin hate each other and tried to have a fight in halls of the Staples Center, you have a point.

Thanks for the bulletin.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Russell Westbrook-Chris Paul trade: Unpacking all angles from a stunning Rockets-Thunder blockbuster

Did the Rockets just mortgage the future to get worse?

www.cbssports.com

I agree with this writer, to a point. All things being equal, it looks like the Thunder out-traded the Rockets. That Westbrook contract is ugly enough that I thought the Thunder would have to throw in picks to move it, not get picks back. But Chris Paul is a 34 year old guard, and the extra 3.5 years he is older than Westbrook are big at his point in a player's career.

 

[traitor71]

Houston just got better. They went from two guys who didn't get along to two guys that do. They didn't have to give up any players, and Westbrook's contract doesn't matter because they were stuck with Paul's deal. This is a win now league and they continue to try do that. I'm not saying they will win a title, but they are in the upper tier of teams that have a shot this year.

 

[djct1999]

Like I said, I don't know how they can swing it and like you just said anything can happen.

Beal would be a great fit but it just goes to show you how the Pelicans absolutely fleeced the Lakers and their future.

 

[tzznandrew]

i just don’t see the lakers having the assets to make a trade like that

They can't trade anyone on their roster for a while except Kuzma/LeBron/AD

They aren't trading LeBron or Davis.

Only Kuzma is someone anyone else would want, and he's making less than $2M. No way they get to mid-$30M to match. It would have to be:

- Kuzma
- KPC
- Green
- Bradley
- McGee

That's a 5 for 1 trade that the Thunder/Wizards would only potentially want Kuzma from. What would the Lakers do to incentivize it? They don't have any picks to trade by rule: the Pelicans have them all.

They would need Paul/Beal to be bought out, and that seems incredibly unlikely.

 

[djct1999]

They can't trade anyone on their roster for a while except Kuzma/LeBron/AD

They aren't trading LeBron or Davis.

Only Kuzma is someone anyone else would want, and he's making less than $2M. No way they get to mid-$30M to match. It would have to be:

- Kuzma
- KPC
- Green
- Bradley
- McGee

That's a 5 for 1 trade that the Thunder/Wizards would only potentially want Kuzma from. What would the Lakers do to incentivize it? They don't have any picks to trade by rule: the Pelicans have them all.

They would need Paul/Beal to be bought out, and that seems incredibly unlikely.

Most people would argue that the John Wall contract is the worst in the league, but Chris Paul's is right up there. He is 34(an old 34 at that) and still has 3 years and over 120 million left.

 

[djct1999]

You tell me. I certainly didn't suggest they should.

The only way it happens is if Paul accepts significantly less than the 123 million he is owed in a buyout. As President of the players association, its unlikely he does that.

 

[Walker11]

The only way it happens is if Paul accepts significantly less than the 123 million he is owed in a buyout. As President of the players association, its unlikely he does that.

It's a pointless hypothetical. No chance

 

[HuskyHawk]

This is such a strange league. I am waiting for the NBA to go through a phase where somebody tries something different, like Billy Beane did in baseball. The value attached to names over performance is incredibly high, leading to some awful contracts. The league also drafts kids who mostly aren't ready to contribute. That's true of Hockey and Baseball, but almost none of those drafted players are in the big leagues or paid huge salaries until they are ready. NFL players come in ready. The NBA is the only league where you pay big money and put 19 year olds on your roster and hope that they pan out.

Unfortunately, the fix is bad for college basketball. They will end the college/age requirement next year I think, but they could beef up the G League and expand the draft to 4 rounds.

As an example, I think many of us looked at the Grant Williams pick by Boston and thought it was a bad move. Why? He has no star potential. Yet he's playing great in the Summer League like a man against boys. And he absolutely can contribute to an NBA team right now, unlike most of these kids.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I don't know where these Lakers trade rumors are coming from, but if the team is the one leaking this, they are idiots.

 

[djct1999]

Houston just got better. They went from two guys who didn't get along to two guys that do. They didn't have to give up any players, and Westbrook's contract doesn't matter because they were stuck with Paul's deal. This is a win now league and they continue to try do that. I'm not saying they will win a title, but they are in the upper tier of teams that have a shot this year.

And they have the coach and system in place that may actually be able to accommodate two ball dominant players. Both guys can still be fed! With a strong supporting cast, Houston is a team that can definitely win it all. They also can implode. Next year is going to be fun.

 

[djct1999]

I don't know where these Lakers trade rumors are coming from, but if the team is the one leaking this, they are idiots.

Magic.

 

[Rocktheworld]

This is such a strange league. I am waiting for the NBA to go through a phase where somebody tries something different, like Billy Beane did in baseball. The value attached to names over performance is incredibly high, leading to some awful contracts. The league also drafts kids who mostly aren't ready to contribute. That's true of Hockey and Baseball, but almost none of those drafted players are in the big leagues or paid huge salaries until they are ready. NFL players come in ready. The NBA is the only league where you pay big money and put 19 year olds on your roster and hope that they pan out.

Unfortunately, the fix is bad for college basketball. They will end the college/age requirement next year I think, but they could beef up the G League and expand the draft to 4 rounds.

As an example, I think many of us looked at the Grant Williams pick by Boston and thought it was a bad move. Why? He has no star potential. Yet he's playing great in the Summer League like a man against boys. And he absolutely can contribute to an NBA team right now, unlike most of these kids.

I think the crazy amounts of guaranteed money contribute too.

 

[bazz&boujee]

They can't trade anyone on their roster for a while except Kuzma/LeBron/AD

They aren't trading LeBron or Davis.

Only Kuzma is someone anyone else would want, and he's making less than $2M. No way they get to mid-$30M to match. It would have to be:

- Kuzma
- KPC
- Green
- Bradley
- McGee

That's a 5 for 1 trade that the Thunder/Wizards would only potentially want Kuzma from. What would the Lakers do to incentivize it? They don't have any picks to trade by rule: the Pelicans have them all.

They would need Paul/Beal to be bought out, and that seems incredibly unlikely.

and honestly i wouldn’t even trade kuzma for paul at this point..

 

[superjohn]

and honestly i wouldn’t even trade kuzma for paul at this point..

What? Their window is the next 2 years. Paul gives them a way better shot at winning it than Kuzma.

 

[bazz&boujee]

What? Their window is the next 2 years. Paul gives them a way better shot at winning it than Kuzma.

i mean if you want to argue positional fit sure maybe, plenty of bigs and they could use a true PG.. but paul was a shell of himself in recent playoffs. no show in GS series. if kuzma progresses on the same projectory he’s been on, he might be the better player next year and definitely in two years.

 

[bazz&boujee]

I don't know where these Lakers trade rumors are coming from, but if the team is the one leaking this, they are idiots.

i don’t think there are “actual rumors” about any of these trades happening. just bannana boat speculation..

 

[the Q]

Rockets really need to get korver with their mle right now.

 

[johnhuskies95]

This is such a strange league. I am waiting for the NBA to go through a phase where somebody tries something different, like Billy Beane did in baseball. The value attached to names over performance is incredibly high, leading to some awful contracts. The league also drafts kids who mostly aren't ready to contribute. That's true of Hockey and Baseball, but almost none of those drafted players are in the big leagues or paid huge salaries until they are ready. NFL players come in ready. The NBA is the only league where you pay big money and put 19 year olds on your roster and hope that they pan out.

Unfortunately, the fix is bad for college basketball. They will end the college/age requirement next year I think, but they could beef up the G League and expand the draft to 4 rounds.

As an example, I think many of us looked at the Grant Williams pick by Boston and thought it was a bad move. Why? He has no star potential. Yet he's playing great in the Summer League like a man against boys. And he absolutely can contribute to an NBA team right now, unlike most of these kids.

The rookie contracts really aren't that crazy. Ben Simmons *only* made 6.5 million this past year, and he's an All-Star. It's when guys get to 6+ years of service that the contracts start to get really big.