2013 NBA Offseason News

[texasdave]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Especially when they pick forward after forward after forward.

It's a forward-thinking organization.

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by improbus

And that is a real shame. But, I guess the NFL is that way with QB's (with the 2002 Bucs and 2000 Ravens filling the Pistons role). MLB is harder to pin down because no one player has the same impact that a QB and NBA star can have. The NHL is way too unpredictable.

It's been this way since the beginning of the NBA, though. Mikan, Russell, Kareem, Magic, Moses, Dr. J., Jordan, The Dream, The Admiral and Duncan-- if you don't have a superstar-- a top five, dominant type of bell weather Top Guy-- you don't have a chance.

For the life of me, I don't know why GMs don't continually cycle through on three to five-year plans of rebuild, compete, tear down, and repeat.

Were I Houston and I fail in my attempts to obtain Howard, for example, I'd then turn my attention to dealing my flotsam for picks and late-career expiring contracts. The more picks the better. Keep enough players to get into the lottery. Suck for a couple of years. Really, really suck.

If you can't suck enough--if you don't end up with a top five pick, overpay in talent and middling players to move up.

This past draft, for example, I'm fairly certain Sacramento would have given up the fifth pick for the number 12 pick, Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola. I'd have taken on John Salmons' onerous contract too. I'd have then gone with one of the young guys with the biggest ceiling. In this case, Andre Drummond.

With Drummond there, you build your team around him. Sign a veteran guy to mentor him who has a non-stop motor. Deal just about everyone else. In Houston, Martin would go for multiple picks. I'd probably sign Dragic as a PG because there are so many good point guards right now, it's less important to have a great one. Same thing with power forwards (aside from, again, the Top Guys). Since Houston already has 400 power forwards, I'd have picked one of the younger guys and stuck with him for a year. Patrick Patterson, welcome to the starting lineup.

So Houston now has three starters and a bunch of crap. Courtney Lee surprises as a starting guard, plays well, so you deal him at the trading deadline for Boston's number one. John Salmons plays adequately enough to earn looks from other teams. Deal him.

You're looking to suck again.

But while you suck, you're teaching Drummond everything. You run your offense through him. Deal with the turnovers. Deal with the growing pains. Make sure he's happy. Make him the face of your franchise.

A second year in the lottery, trading up again, you get the third pick. Shabazz Muhammed, you're my starting SG.

Now, you've got your Guy and your Second. Dragic is still there, solid as a PG. You've got cap space, so that's when you're looking for a good SF-- someone who can play. You can overpay there, too. And it doesn't matter if he's a little creaky, a little old.

Focus on SG, SF, and C. Hope and pray for lottery luck. Pick young talent. Grab PGs and PFs off the scrap heap unless you luck into a great one.

Rinse, lather, repeat.

[5TimeWSChamps]

Huge TWolves fan here, and this has been an interesting offseason so far.

Batum offer sheet is regarded to be 4 years, $44 million. No idea if Portland can/will match with the offer to Hibbert out htere

[improbus]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

It's been this way since the beginning of the NBA, though. Mikan, Russell, Kareem, Magic, Moses, Dr. J., Jordan, The Dream, The Admiral and Duncan-- if you don't have a superstar-- a top five, dominant type of bell weather Top Guy-- you don't have a chance.

For the life of me, I don't know why GMs don't continually cycle through on three to five-year plans of rebuild, compete, tear down, and repeat.

Were I Houston and I fail in my attempts to obtain Howard, for example, I'd then turn my attention to dealing my flotsam for picks and late-career expiring contracts. The more picks the better. Keep enough players to get into the lottery. Suck for a couple of years. Really, really suck.

If you can't suck enough--if you don't end up with a top five pick, overpay in talent and middling players to move up.

This past draft, for example, I'm fairly certain Sacramento would have given up the fifth pick for the number 12 pick, Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola. I'd have taken on John Salmons' onerous contract too. I'd have then gone with one of the young guys with the biggest ceiling. In this case, Andre Drummond.

With Drummond there, you build your team around him. Sign a veteran guy to mentor him who has a non-stop motor. Deal just about everyone else. In Houston, Martin would go for multiple picks. I'd probably sign Dragic as a PG because there are so many good point guards right now, it's less important to have a great one. Same thing with power forwards (aside from, again, the Top Guys). Since Houston already has 400 power forwards, I'd have picked one of the younger guys and stuck with him for a year. Patrick Patterson, welcome to the starting lineup.

So Houston now has three starters and a bunch of crap. Courtney Lee surprises as a starting guard, plays well, so you deal him at the trading deadline for Boston's number one. John Salmons plays adequately enough to earn looks from other teams. Deal him.

You're looking to suck again.

But while you suck, you're teaching Drummond everything. You run your offense through him. Deal with the turnovers. Deal with the growing pains. Make sure he's happy. Make him the face of your franchise.

A second year in the lottery, trading up again, you get the third pick. Shabazz Muhammed, you're my starting SG.

Now, you've got your Guy and your Second. Dragic is still there, solid as a PG. You've got cap space, so that's when you're looking for a good SF-- someone who can play. You can overpay there, too. And it doesn't matter if he's a little creaky, a little old.

Focus on SG, SF, and C. Hope and pray for lottery luck. Pick young talent. Grab PGs and PFs off the scrap heap unless you luck into a great one.

Rinse, lather, repeat.

But, can you sell tickets to come see Drummond learn how to play basketball? That is why teams don't do what the Sonics/Thunder did.

[texasdave]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

Huge TWolves fan here, and this has been an interesting offseason so far.

Batum offer sheet is regarded to be 4 years, $44 million. No idea if Portland can/will match with the offer to Hibbert out htere

May we have our coach back? McHale can be on a plane and heading north by day's end.

[Scrap Irony]

Your coach likely grabbed C Omer Asik with an offer sheet of $25.1 million for three years. Asik's per minute numbers are fantastic, with rebounds and blocks his forte. Asik cannot hit a free throw to save his life. He's shown an ability to pass the ball too, but he's a turnover waiting to happen and a foul machine.

Raw is the word, I think.

He'll have to be the starter for that money, with Greg Smith likely backing him up.

Asik C
Scola PF
Parson SF
Martin SG
Lowry PG

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

Huge TWolves fan here, and this has been an interesting offseason so far.

Batum offer sheet is regarded to be 4 years, $44 million. No idea if Portland can/will match with the offer to Hibbert out htere

They supposedly love him in Portland, and he profiles to be their starter playing major minutes (35+).

I'm guessing, since they're relatively safe regarding cap space, Portland would match the max offer.

Were I the T'Wolves, I'd focus on a shooting guard and a C. Why not deal with Houston? It makes sense, as Adelman knows the personnel. Both Luis Scola and Kevin Martin would look good in Minnesota. Neither are apparently happy with McHale and could be given away for pennies on the dollar.

[5TimeWSChamps]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

They supposedly love him in Portland, and he profiles to be their starter playing major minutes (35+).

I'm guessing, since they're relatively safe regarding cap space, Portland would match the max offer.

Were I the T'Wolves, I'd focus on a shooting guard and a C. Why not deal with Houston? It makes sense, as Adelman knows the personnel. Both Luis Scola and Kevin Martin would look good in Minnesota. Neither are apparently happy with McHale and could be given away for pennies on the dollar.

Well, they offered Hibbert a max deal at 4/$58 mil.

They won't have the money to match Batum if the Pacers don't match Hibbert's deal I believe, unless they start waiving players

[Betterread]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

Well, they offered Hibbert a max deal at 4/$58 mil.

They won't have the money to match Batum if the Pacers don't match Hibbert's deal I believe, unless they start waiving players

Are you saying Paul Allen won't pony up to keep Batum? Or will Portland worry about having 3 max players (LA, Hibbert and Batum) with Lilliard and Leonard becoming potential cornerstones in a few years but having no means to keep them?

[improbus]

Originally Posted by Betterread

Are you saying Paul Allen won't pony up to keep Batum? Or will Portland worry about having 3 max players (LA, Hibbert and Batum) with Lilliard and Leonard becoming potential cornerstones in a few years but having no means to keep them?

LA, Batum, and Aldridge would be the worst big money threesome in the NBA.

[5TimeWSChamps]

Originally Posted by Betterread

Are you saying Paul Allen won't pony up to keep Batum? Or will Portland worry about having 3 max players (LA, Hibbert and Batum) with Lilliard and Leonard becoming potential cornerstones in a few years but having no means to keep them?

Proposed cap is $59 mil next year

Player 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16
Brandon Roy $16,359,805 $17,779,458 $0 $0
LaMarcus Aldridge $13,000,000 $14,100,000 $15,200,000 $0
Wesley Matthews $6,505,320 $6,875,480 $7,245,640 $0
JJ Hickson $3,357,569 $0 $0 $0
Nicolas Batum $3,166,230 $0 $0 $0
Shawne Williams $3,158,000 $0 $0 $0
Luke Babbitt $1,892,280 $2,902,757 $4,078,373 $0
Elliot Williams $1,442,880 $2,373,537 $3,436,881 $0
Nolan Smith $1,404,960 $1,503,000 $2,394,279 $3,450,156
Kurt Thomas $1,352,181 $0 $0 $0
TOTALS: $45,115,426 $38,754,938 $22,445,640 $0


If they sign Hibbert to 4/$65 mil, they will have to dump some other players in order to free up enough space to get Batum at $11 mil per

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/portland.htm

[Betterread]

I follow you. Blatum would really fit nicely with the Wolves. I like him a lot more than Jamal Crawford.

[improbus]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

Proposed cap is $59 mil next year

Player 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16
Brandon Roy $16,359,805 $17,779,458 $0 $0
LaMarcus Aldridge $13,000,000 $14,100,000 $15,200,000 $0
Wesley Matthews $6,505,320 $6,875,480 $7,245,640 $0
JJ Hickson $3,357,569 $0 $0 $0
Nicolas Batum $3,166,230 $0 $0 $0
Shawne Williams $3,158,000 $0 $0 $0
Luke Babbitt $1,892,280 $2,902,757 $4,078,373 $0
Elliot Williams $1,442,880 $2,373,537 $3,436,881 $0
Nolan Smith $1,404,960 $1,503,000 $2,394,279 $3,450,156
Kurt Thomas $1,352,181 $0 $0 $0
TOTALS: $45,115,426 $38,754,938 $22,445,640 $0

If they sign Hibbert to 4/$65 mil, they will have to dump some other players in order to free up enough space to get Batum at $11 mil per

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/portland.htm

I'm pretty sure Roy doesn't count because he was amnestied. The Blazers will still have to pay him the money, but it doesn't count towards the cap.

[5TimeWSChamps]

Originally Posted by improbus

I'm pretty sure Roy doesn't count because he was amnestied. The Blazers will still have to pay him the money, but it doesn't count towards the cap.

Yeah, Roy isn't included in that $45 mil number for next year.

He's technically still signed, if you click the link it will show up as it is

[improbus]

The Hawks are getting really interesting, they seem to have shipped Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams, their two worst contracts, and may have entered the Dwight Howard sweepstakes. It also seems that Deron is staying in Brooklyn.