OT: NBA Offseason

[djct1999]

That post usurps my post stating 70 percent of your post was wrong without initially mentioning why. I think I am going to look back and see that I was 70 percent wrong - as was everyone. What a crazy, fun night. And we still have more to break. Kawhi seems to be in no rush. Chris Broussard is a hack and is the only person on my timeline pushing the Lakers as heavy Kawhi favorite narrative. He also apparently thinks Iggy is going there on a buy out with Seth or Danny Green. I don't think the math even makes sense, let alone the move for Kawhi.

I was thinking the same thing. I am convinced that Broussard doesn't have any sources at all. He never adds any value.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

A little late since Noel, dedmon, and Ed Davis all off the board.

Kanter is a throw your phone against the wall move

Davis would have been a good fit for the Celtics. I do think that letting Horford go was the right decision. I like Horford a lot, but he will be a 10 and 5 guy at best, and probably playing 50 games a season, by the end of that contract.

I like Kanter a lot, and there is no way the Blazers go that deep in the playoffs this season without him. He would be a good addition for any team.

Kemba is going to make Brad Stevens look like the smartest coach in the NBA again. Having an unselfish, team first point guard will do that for a coach.

 

[bballgrda]

In the 90's, maybe that would work. In today's NBA with zone defenses, it is harder to hide two weak spots on offense. Furthermore, Lebron, AD and Kawhi all need load management, which means that the Lakers would play a lot of games with only 2 of them and a pretty grim roster. And if one or two of them get even a minor injury, the Lakers would be in danger of not even making the playoffs. Lebron's body is starting to break down, and AD has never played a full season.

If Kawhi makes a decision soon enough, he will be doing the Lakers a favor by going to the Raptors or Clippers. The Lakers should use that max cap slot for 4-5 players. They don't need a star when they already have AD and Lebron.

This is bananas. You think the Lakers would be better off not signing Kawhi?

 

[djct1999]

I don't think that too many short term deals are a good idea. NBA players will trade about 20-30% of their annual salary for an additional 2 years. I am not a Portis fan, but if the Knicks could have gotten him for 4 years at $10 or $12 a year, they should have done it. The short term deals just dump the Knicks right back in free agency hunting for players and likely overpaying. It also makes it difficult to build a core of a team, because the pieces will constantly be changing.

The Randle and Gibson contracts, 2 years with team option are both easily tradeable. These signings will not impede the Knicks from doing anything going forward. That said, I am surprised they didnt rent their cap space by taking salary dumps to accumulate more first round picks.

 

[djct1999]

Davis would have been a good fit for the Celtics. I do think that letting Horford go was the right decision. I like Horford a lot, but he will be a 10 and 5 guy at best, and probably playing 50 games a season, by the end of that contract.

I like Kanter a lot, and there is no way the Blazers go that deep in the playoffs this season without him. He would be a good addition for any team.

Kemba is going to make Brad Stevens look like the smartest coach in the NBA again. Having an unselfish, team first point guard will do that for a coach.

Davis at 2 years 10 mil is a steal. The Jazz are really smart.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The Randle and Gibson contracts, 2 years with team option are both easily tradeable. These signings will not impede the Knicks from doing anything going forward. That said, I am surprised they didnt rent their cap space by taking salary dumps to accumulate more first round picks.

Real basketball doesn't work like rotisserie basketball. A split second is the difference between an open shot and a contested shot so Players need to get on the same page to be successful. Look at all 4 conference finalists. The cores of those teams had been together for years. The 76ers, which may have had the most talented team in the east on paper, got bounced in the second round. The Nuggets may be on the verge of a multi year run to the conference and even NBA finals, but this year they were not ready yet.

A team needs to balance between having a solid team core and mixing and matching pieces around it. I don't want to focus on the Knicks as an example because that team could up a cup of coffee, but I think the Bucks and Raptors' approach is more likely to be successful than the Lakers' or 76ers'. In extreme cases, the mixing and matching eventually overloads the cap number and you end up like the Thunder, Heat or Hornets. Kind of good, but in salary cap prison.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

This is bananas. You think the Lakers would be better off not signing Kawhi?

How many superstars did the NBA champs have? How about the Bucks? The Nuggets will be projected to win 55 to 60 games this year, and they only have 1 top 10-15 player. The right TEAM will beat 2 or 3 superstar players and a bunch of hacks. See the Raptors vs. 76ers if you want to see how that works.

 

[auror]

I love the Nets roster. They're so deep now. They're the new Raptors.

 

[the Q]

Dallas backed out of the Jimmy Butler deal.

Did philly renounce him already?

 

[djct1999]

Real basketball doesn't work like rotisserie basketball. A split second is the difference between an open shot and a contested shot so Players need to get on the same page to be successful. Look at all 4 conference finalists. The cores of those teams had been together for years. The 76ers, which may have had the most talented team in the east on paper, got bounced in the second round. The Nuggets may be on the verge of a multi year run to the conference and even NBA finals, but this year they were not ready yet.

A team needs to balance between having a solid team core and mixing and matching pieces around it. I don't want to focus on the Knicks as an example because that team could up a cup of coffee, but I think the Bucks and Raptors' approach is more likely to be successful than the Lakers' or 76ers'. In extreme cases, the mixing and matching eventually overloads the cap number and you end up like the Thunder, Heat or Hornets. Kind of good, but in salary cap prison.

In general yes, I agree 100%. The Lakers will strategy will implode. I never agreed with the 76ers approach and unless they win multiple championships, I don't see how it was worth it. But we were talking about the Knicks. Lets assume for a second they really were reluctant to give KD a max deal(I laugh), then they are doing the right thing. They are spending short term money while preserving long term flexibility. Sadly, the players they sign are less important than the terms(duration) they sign them for.

The Nuggets will go on a multi year run of playoff basketball, a top 4 seed, and relevance. I doubt they ever win a title with this roster. I still think in this NBA you need a mega star or two to win it all. The Raptors still had Kawhi but if the Dubs were healthy, they would have been blown out.

 

[bballgrda]

How many superstars did the NBA champs have? How about the Bucks? The Nuggets will be projected to win 55 to 60 games this year, and they only have 1 top 10-15 player. The right TEAM will beat 2 or 3 superstar players and a bunch of hacks. See the Raptors vs. 76ers if you want to see how that works.

You want to use Raptors v Sixers as an example as why a team is better off not signing Kawhi...

 

[navery12]

I don't think that too many short term deals are a good idea. NBA players will trade about 20-30% of their annual salary for an additional 2 years. I am not a Portis fan, but if the Knicks could have gotten him for 4 years at $10 or $12 a year, they should have done it. The short term deals just dump the Knicks right back in free agency hunting for players and likely overpaying. It also makes it difficult to build a core of a team, because the pieces will constantly be changing.

Agreed. I would have preferred they signed guys to 3-4 years, all they did now is push off building a team for 2 years

 

[Dogdeacon]

horford is not better than tobias and tobias is not better than simmons. neither of those things are close.

Simmons is an enigma, he has most of the tools to be a great player but a massive deficiency in the way.
re: Horford vs Harris
A. Look at their career stats, Al is superior.
B. Look at more than just scoring right now, Al generates offense for others, VORP etc
C. Defense, a big that can guard multiple people, guard outside is incredibly important to defend 3's
D. Likewise a big that can stretch defenses is vital and more valuable in today's NBA than a SF

Quick ranking search and this is first one I found, Tobias #40, Al #34 - if its as definitive as you say, find at least TWO that have Tobias higher or we can average them.
Ranking NBA's Top 100 Players of 2018-19 Season so Far

 

[superjohn]

How many superstars did the NBA champs have? How about the Bucks? The Nuggets will be projected to win 55 to 60 games this year, and they only have 1 top 10-15 player. The right TEAM will beat 2 or 3 superstar players and a bunch of hacks. See the Raptors vs. 76ers if you want to see how that works.

Come on, everyone and their mother knows the Warriors would have won it all again if their superstars were healthy. It's always been a superstars league. Lebron, AD, and Kawhi would be like nothing we've seen and they would be heavy favorites.

 

[djct1999]

Agreed. I would have preferred they signed guys to 3-4 years, all they did now is push off building a team for 2 years

Exactly who would you realistically want them to sign for 3-4 years? That dream ended with a ruptured achilles a few weeks back.

 

[tzznandrew]

Come on, everyone and their mother knows the Warriors would have won it all again if their superstars were healthy. It's always been a superstars league. Lebron, AD, and Kawhi would be like nothing we've seen and they would be heavy favorites.

They might have won it if just Klay Thompson didn't tear his ACL and miss another game entirely.

 

[aburks41]

Anyone know when new jerseys will be available? Want to get a Kemba C's and Bazz Warriors. And before anyone asks, I don't have an NBA team - I only care about the UConn guys

 

[bballgrda]

Come on, everyone and their mother knows the Warriors would have won it all again if their superstars were healthy. It's always been a superstars league. Lebron, AD, and Kawhi would be like nothing we've seen and they would be heavy favorites.

Why is everyone acting as if Kawhi isn't a super star. Nelson's original statement isn't even valid. IDK why I engage.

 

[RichZ]

I just know that now I'll have to learn to root for new teams. Kemba with the celts? I haven't rooted for the celts since Russell retired. JLamb with the Pacers? I can't remember ever following the Pacers. Bazz a Warrior? Where's his playing time goming from there?

 

[superjohn]

A lot of Kawhi to the Lakers talk. If that happens the NBA is a rap. Seriously, how many super teams does Lebron need?

 

[Kembacity]

A lot of Kawhi to the Lakers talk. If that happens the NBA is a rap. Seriously, how many super teams does Lebron need?

Just 1 per season, is that too much to ask?

 

[bazz&boujee]

Simmons is an enigma, he has most of the tools to be a great player but a massive deficiency in the way.
re: Horford vs Harris
A. Look at their career stats, Al is superior.
B. Look at more than just scoring right now, Al generates offense for others, VORP etc
C. Defense, a big that can guard multiple people, guard outside is incredibly important to defend 3's
D. Likewise a big that can stretch defenses is vital and more valuable in today's NBA than a SF

Quick ranking search and this is first one I found, Tobias #40, Al #34 - if its as definitive as you say, find at least TWO that have Tobias higher or we can average them.
Ranking NBA's Top 100 Players of 2018-19 Season so Far

horford sucks. i looked it up.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Come on, everyone and their mother knows the Warriors would have won it all again if their superstars were healthy. It's always been a superstars league. Lebron, AD, and Kawhi would be like nothing we've seen and they would be heavy favorites.

They may be heavy favorites with gamblers, but that team is going to struggle at times given how bad their bench is going to be. How many minimum contract players can a team have in its Top 8 and still expect to win? Who will guard Jokic or Aldridge? What happens if one of the Big 3 even sprains an ankle.

The Lakers could have gotten 4 quality players for what they are going to pay Kawhi. They don't need more stars, they need a team around the stars they have. Unfortunately, the ship has already kind of sailed on Plan B, so maybe it is Kawhi or bust at this point.

 

[HuskyHawk]

He'll be starting.

He will, but I tend to agree that this is poor roster construction. When your three best players are all guards, that's not ideal. If they were offering a max contract, why not Kawhi? He's much better than Russell. Who is playing in their front court?

 

[ihatepants]

I’m just saying the Warriors is possibly the most surprising destination for D Lo, IMO.
Also when Klay comes back in March/April, will DLo still be starting? Doubtful.
I also think DLo is possibly overrated. He had the third highest usage rate behind Harden and PG13. Not sure he slides right in and is worth max money on a team where he’s the 3rd/4th option or possibly a 6 man?

DLo is a bad fit on the Warriors. The thing about DLo is that he should be awesome as an off-ball catch and shoot guy, but he low-key sucks at it. He really wants to have the ball in his hands, work off a lot of ball screens and try to get to his mid range pull up or a floater, all of which run counter to what Kerr prefers to do. I mean, he's one of the better pick n roll point guards and is bad at everything else, and the Warriors run close to the least amount of pick n rolls.

I think it's a way worse fit for the Warriors offense than it looks like on paper unless he really changes how he plays.