2015-16 NBA Season [Archive] - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

Bourgeois Zee

07-01-2015, 01:15 PM

I don't know if I like that deal for Atlanta or not. Splitter is okay at this point, but nothing special. It does allow Horford to be PF which makes him better, but Splitter can't play against small lineups at all. He is a good passer and a good shooter out to 10 feet. The money is negligible especially in today's market. All money can pretty much be ignored.

Carroll to Toronto will be interesting. He's turned himself into a very good shooting wing. (He shot 40% from 3-point range last year and has been particularly effective from the corners, an NBA set staple.) He's not ever been good as a defender according to most metrics. (I'd love to see what they have within NBA circle, though.) Basically, he's a carbon copy of a player they already have-- Patrick Patterson.

In fact, they are so similar (very good passers and shooters, decent rebounders, poor defenders), I wonder if Toronto's going to play the two together as interchangeable forwards. Offensively, each goes to a corner and allows PG Lowry to create and kick. Defensively, they outweigh their struggles with good shooting and decent rebounding numbers. This takes advantage of the dearth of offensive small forwards in the modern NBA (and in particular the East). This would also limit the disappointing duo of DeRozan and Ross to one position, perhaps the better to limit their barrage of bricks and fly-by defense.

__________

On another topic, is it bad that I desperately want to see Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins, and Rudy Gay all on the same Sacramento team? With George Karl coaching it? Hell, I'd settle for Ty Lawson's two DUIs, hookah, social media account, and inflated sense of self-worth added to the aforementioned "team" instead of Rondo's surly, take-my-ball-and-go-home, superior attitude mixed with 55% free throw shooting, four TOs a game, and 35% field goal percentage.

Add in the flake that is Willie Cauley-Stein, Ben McLemore's ego, and Nik Stauskas' Bird Disease-- this needs to be on HBO. Seriously. I'd pay to see how that works.

Tom Servo

07-01-2015, 03:30 PM

Tom Servo

07-01-2015, 03:41 PM

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 7m7 minutes ago
Amir Johnson's agreement with Boston will pay him $24 million over two years, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 6m6 minutes ago
Restricted free agent Kyle Singler has agreed to a five-year, nearly $25M extension with Oklahoma City, league source tells Yahoo Sports.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 03:44 PM

Just to put everything in one post for a moment....

From Rotoworld's live blog..

Update at 3:30 p.m. ET - Tyson Chandler has agreed to a deal with the Suns. Well, we have our first surprise of the day. Additionally, the Suns are going to bring Chandler to their meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge. The Suns had some issues with center because Alex Len just couldn't stay healthy, but now they have two terrific rim protectors. Len is no longer a fantasy sleeper for next year while Chandler should be the same double-double guy with blocks in an up-tempo style that he's always been.

Draymond Green and the Warriors have broken off talks of an extension. He's still a restricted free agent and the Warriors can/will still match any offer he receives. But it's a little odd that they're not just giving him the max deal he's going to eventually get.

Update at 3:15 p.m. ET - The Suns and Brandon Knight have agreed on a five-year, $70 million deal. The Suns now have two guards with five-year, $70 million deals in Knight and Eric Bledsoe, but that's OK because coach Jeff Hornacek loves two-PG lineups. Then again, that's a lot of money for Brandon Knight and we'll have to see if he can improve, or if last year's successful campaign was his ceiling.

Update at 3 p.m. ET - Kevin Love will return to the Cavs and accept a five-year, $110 million deal. "After Game 1 of the NBA Finals, that’s when it really struck me. Sitting on the sidelines, I never wanted to play in a game more than that one," Love said. "I had dreamed of playing in the NBA Finals and I just wanted to help my guys win." While there was some speculation that Love would leave Cleveland after not gelling with LeBron, we're pretty sure Love realizes his best shot at rings right now is to learn how to play with King James.

Jimmy Butler is finalizing a five-year, $90 million max deal with the Bulls. The other teams after Butler have given up, so the Bulls have their man. Cut from the same cloth as Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, DeMarre Carroll and Nicolas Batum, Butler should continue to improve his great all-around game over the next several years.

The Cavs and Tristan Thompson are nearing a deal worth $80 million. It seems like just yesterday Thompson was changing his shooting hand and struggling to get playing time. Thanks to being arguably the best rebounder in the postseason this summer, Thompson has set himself up for a big pay check. Presumably, this will be a five-year deal. The Cavs are bringing the crew back together to make another run at a championship.

Alexis Ajinca will sign a four-year, $20.2 million deal to remain with the Pelicans. Ajinca was a solid option off the bench for the Pelicans last season with averages of 6.5 points, 4.6 boards and 0.8 blocks in just 14.1 minutes per game, so this deal should end up returning some value.

Update at 12:30 p.m. ET - DeMarre Carroll has agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with the Raptors. He will likely start at small forward and should pick up right where he left off in Atlanta, meaning he'll be a mini version of Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Green with his new team.

Paul Millsap has narrowed his choice down to the Hawks and Magic. The Hawks are already reeling after losing DeMarre Carroll to the Raptors and if Millsap goes to Orlando, things will be gloomy in Atlanta. But hey, they did pick up Tim Hardaway Jr. and Tiago Splitter.

The Grizzlies are nearly assured of re-signing Marc Gasol, to no one's surprise.

LaMarcus Aldridge, who is meeting with the Spurs as we speak, is expected to make a decision soon, and the way things are going for the Spurs, don't be surprised if he's heading to Texas.

The Mavericks appear to be the frontrunners to land Portland's Wesley Matthews, which makes sense because Monta Ellis appears to be on his way to Indy (or somewhere other than Dallas).

Update at 12:05 p.m. ET - The Spurs have been busy. After locking up Kawhi Leonard to a max five-year deal soon after free agency began, they managed to ink Danny Green for four years at $45 million before dealing Tiago Splitter (and the $8.3 million he's owed) to the Hawks. Gregg Popovich and co. are now meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge with their core intact and enough salary-cap flexibility to bring him on board with a max salary. The Lakers reportedly didn't wow Aldridge during their meeting, and the Spurs still feel like the frontrunners -- that's a scary thought for the rest of the Western Conference.

Goran Dragic agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal with the Heat. Dragic has a player option after the fourth year, but the Heat have to be thrilled with this deal, which gives them some additional flexibility to re-sign Dwyane Wade. Luol Deng has already opted into his 2015-16 deal, so now it's up to Wade to cap off a successful offseason for the Heat.

Mike Dunleavy and the Bulls agreed on a three-year, $14.4 million deal. It was more money than the Cavs or Clippers could offer the veteran Dunleavy, who doesn't offer more than late-round fantasy value in Chicago. Expect him to hover around last season's averages of 9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 triples. In other Bulls news, Jimmy Butler is now "leaning strongly" toward accepting a four-year or five-year offer from Chicago. Any deal he signs would likely include a player option.

Update at 3:20 a.m. ET - The Bucks and Khris Middleton are nearing a five-year, $70 million deal. What a difference two months makes, right? Middleton was behind Jared Dudley on the depth chart at the time of Jabari Parker's knee injury, but he turned in one of the best finishes of any player in the 2015 part of the season. In that span, Middleton averaged 16.7 points, 4.9 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 treys, which gave him third-round value in fantasy leagues. He'll be an early mid-round fantasy target next year with Jabari back.

Update at 2:45 a.m. ET - Free agent Monta Ellis and his family will reportedly travel to Indiana to meet with Pacers officials on Wednesday. The Pacers seem to be determined to sign Ellis for his instant offense, but it will be interesting to see him and Paul George (and the rest of the team) try to share the ball if it happens.

The Lakers had a two-hour meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge on Wednesday morning. He still has six more meetings and the Lakers are really going to have to impress Aldridge in order to bring him on. Plus, Kobe Bryant's massive contract will severely limit the team from signing two max players. Expect LMA to sign somewhat soon, and while the Lakers are now probably the favorite, he could still end up in San Antonio, or somewhere else.

The Nets and Brook Lopez are finalizing a deal worth a reported $60 million over three years and that's a lot of money for shaky feet. Brooklyn prioritized BroLo in free agency, particularly after trading away Mason Plumlee on draft night, and they quickly locked him up just hours into free agency. Lopez played 72 games last season, quelling concerns about his surgically-reconstructed foot, and he's a solid top-40 fantasy player when healthy.

The Brooklyn Nets will re-sign Thaddeus Young to a four-year, $50 million deal on Wednesday. No surprises here. The Nets made it clear that re-signing Young was a priority this summer, and they didn't waste any time getting a deal done.

Free agent Monta Ellis "is gathering traction" in talks with the Pacers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. The Pacers are dedicated to playing at a faster pace next season and Ellis would be a shot of adrenaline offensively, so this is an interesting match. He reportedly prefers East Coast teams and has been linked to the Hawks and Heat, but the Nuggets and Kings have also expressed interest.

Update at 1:30 a.m. ET - Anthony Davis and the Pelicans have verbally agreed upon a five-year, $145 million deal, and it sure didn't take it long to happen. Davis will have a player option for the fifth year but Pelicans fans can breathe easy with this news. For obvious reasons, Davis is still the frontrunner to be the No. 1 pick in fantasy leagues.

Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs have agreed on the framework of a five-year contract worth more than $90 million, which also didn't take long to happen. Even this maximum-salary contract is a relative bargain for the Spurs, who locked up the reigning Defensive Player of the Year for roughly $18 million per season as he heads into his prime. And let's never forget, this is the player the Pacers traded in order to get George Hill.

Greg Monroe will meet with the Knicks on Wednesday. Monroe is one of the more interesting free agents, as he could literally land anywhere. The Celtics, Lakers, Bucks and Blazers could make things interesting, while the Hawks, just like with every other key free agent, haven't been mentioned at all.

In the first truly surprising news of the night, Al-Farouq Aminu has agreed to a four-year, $30 million deal with the Trail Blazers. Aminu was reportedly a target of the Celtics, Raptors, Pelicans, Knicks and Mavericks, but Portland ponied up a lot of cash to bring him to Rip City. The Blazers recently traded Nicolas Batum and could lose Wesley Matthews and Arron Afflalo in free agency, so Aminu will almost certainly be starting at small forward on opening night. And he may see some time at power forward as well, if LaMarcus Aldridge ends up with the Spurs, or some other powerhouse. Aminu is shaping up to be a steal in the later rounds of fantasy drafts next season.

The Brooklyn Nets are nearing an agreement to re-sign Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young. There doesn't appear to be any drama in Brooklyn right now, and it sounds like the Nets could have a deal in place for both players very soon.

Bourgeois Zee

07-01-2015, 03:44 PM

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 12m12 minutes ago
Sources: The Suns walked into meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge moments ago, armed with Tyson Chandler and his agreed upon multi-year contract.

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 16m16 minutes ago
Tyson Chandler has agreed to a deal with the Suns, league source tells Yahoo Sports.

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 36m36 minutes ago
Yahoo Sources: Brandon Knight, Phoenix Suns agree on a five-year, $70M deal. http://yhoo.it/1gbN1Yx

Love the Tyson Chandler move for Phoenix. Don't understand the Brandon Knight deal. He's decidedly average as a PG, perhaps less than that.

I am also amazed that any player would accept any contract longer than three years. Especially with the cap as it is. Worried about a lockout perhaps?

Tom Servo

07-01-2015, 03:49 PM

Where does everybody see Aldridge landing? I can't see him passing on playing in his home state alongside Tim Duncan, but stranger things have happened.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 03:50 PM

I find the Tyson Chandler signing the most significant move of Free Agency so far. It propels Phoenix from borderline playoff team in the West to probable playoff team in the West (because they aren't done adding player(s), which knocks some team out of the West (Portland?, with it's loss of Aldridge?).

Portland should land Monroe, even though he was meant to be used at Center with hope LaMarcus is at Power Forward. But, I don't see how Aldridge can turn down the Spurs if he hears this from them?:

Pop: "LaMarcus, if you sign with Portland, or any other team, it will be your last max/big contract, as any team will use you too many minutes the same way Portland has for the last three seasons (Stotts way overused his Starters the last two seasons, so often when he didn't have to). But, with San Antonio, you can see how we extended the careers of our best players, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. Here your career longevity is taken into account and you'll not only get the max contract you sign right now from us, but you'll be in position to sign another max contract with us after this one is up. You'll have the least amount of wear-and-tear on your body, the most money, and of course, the most Championships."

LaMarcus: "Where do I sign?"

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 03:53 PM

On another topic, is it bad that I desperately want to see Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins, and Rudy Gay all on the same Sacramento team? With George Karl coaching it? Hell, I'd settle for Ty Lawson's two DUIs, hookah, social media account, and inflated sense of self-worth added to the aforementioned "team" instead of Rondo's surly, take-my-ball-and-go-home, superior attitude mixed with 55% free throw shooting, four TOs a game, and 35% field goal percentage.

Add in the flake that is Willie Cauley-Stein, Ben McLemore's ego, and Nik Stauskas' Bird Disease-- this needs to be on HBO. Seriously. I'd pay to see how that works.

Karl has seen his last day in Sacramento.

It's hard to say which franchise is more dysfunctional....the Cleveland Browns or the Sacramento Kings.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:01 PM

As of right now, this is the lineup I see in Portland...

Lillard/McCollum/Frazier/Diez
Henderson/McCollum/Connaughton
Aminu/Henderson/Crabbe
Monroe/Leonard/Vonleh
Plumlee/Kaman/Leonard

While the Starters are a big downgrade (though still not bad), the bench is a major improvement, going from worst in the NBA the last two seasons to middle-of-the-road w/ McCollum, Leonard, Kaman (and unnamed player to be added later) as the first four off of the bench. Vonleh's minutes will be reduced, but he'll get developed. He's only 19. That is one really, really young ballclub.

That's 13 players with one more player left to sign (Olshey likes the extra roster spot for flexibility). The hope is that one player is Aldridge, then Monroe would move to Center. If not Aldridge, I have no idea who, but maybe throw a contract at RFA Enes Kanter and make OKC match. Lot's of options for Olshey.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:10 PM

Of course, if Aldridge wants to make the most money, he does a sign-and-trade and gets the extra year and the extra money per year (35% of Portland's cap versus 30% of another team's cap).

Aldridge to Phoenix for Bledsoe?

Tom Servo

07-01-2015, 04:13 PM

Aldridge to Phoenix for Bledsoe?
Heard that idea floated, but isn't Bledsoe in the backcourt with Lillard the same problem as him and Knight in Phoenix?

Bourgeois Zee

07-01-2015, 04:16 PM

Bourgeois Zee

07-01-2015, 04:20 PM

Portland should land Monroe, even though he was meant to be used at Center with hope LaMarcus is at Power Forward. But, I don't see how Aldridge can turn down the Spurs if he hears this from them?

Why would Monroe go to Portland over Boston, New York, or LA (more media exposure)? Assuming the money's the same.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:24 PM

Heard that idea floated, but isn't Bledsoe in the backcourt with Lillard the same problem as him and Knight in Phoenix?

Pretty much. But, with the additions and losses the Blazers have made, they need Offense, better passing and a need to stretch the Defense. Bledsoe provides all three.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:29 PM

Why would Monroe go to Portland over Boston, New York, or LA (more media exposure)? Assuming the money's the same.

Because NY and LA are terrible franchises right now and have been for awhile. They aren't going to win anything for many, many years. Portland has flirted with Monroe for several seasons and have made it known to him that they covet him. Players want to be wanted. Olshey is a great recruiter and Paul Allen has unlimited money and the team has a great plane to travel on, great facilities to practice at. Boston has a lot to offer, but they have Amir Johnson just signed to start at PF with Sullinger pushing for starters minutes there, too. Monroe would start over Tyler Zeller and Olynyk, so it's a possibility there.

But, most importantly, Monroe is going to feel most coveted by Portland, and that should be the main reason he signs, besides him having the best lineup around him by a very, very wide margin. He hated having so much responsibility on him last season, and it effected his play. He's a 28-minute per night player, not 31-minutes like he played last year.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:32 PM

Why would Aldridge want that max contract when it actually makes him more money to go for three years? Sure, he'd give up some on the front end, but he more than makes that back when the cap jumps.

Makes no sense for him.

He'll sign with San Antonio, IMO. They'll then be the favorites in the West. But they have to hope last season's Tony Parker isn't the Tony Parker that shows up this year. He was bad.

Financially, it's not a good decision. His best financial decision is to sign a 1-year contract with Portland, and then do a sign-and-trade next season. He gets an extra $60M over five years by doing this. But, if he leaves Portland now, then he doesn't get his Bird rights for three seasons, as you mention. He would get more money, but he'll also get two max contracts if he signs with San Antonio, whether he signs a 3-year or a max now. May as well take the extra guaranteed money.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:35 PM

Monta Ellis is in Indiana to meet with Larry Bird and the Pacers.

The Pacers are reportedly prepared to offer a three-year, $32 million deal, so they might actually get a deal done after this meeting. If it doesn't go down, expect the Kings, Heat and Mavs to get a crack at Monta.

Source: Candace Buckner on Twitter

Bourgeois Zee

07-01-2015, 04:37 PM

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:42 PM

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:46 PM

McCollum blossomed in the playoffs last year with more playing time. He'll be given Wes Matthews' shooting guard spot to see what he can do. (With good reason-- Dude can play.) Aminu will play more PF this year in small ball lineups than SF. He just can't shoot well enough as a SF to keep him there.

I'm really interested in seeing how Portland attacks this season. They have some really novel players. Lilliard is a shoot-first PG who takes (and makes) ridiculously bad shots. (He reminds me of a superior Vernon Maxwell.) McCollum's a good shot who isn't good defensively but should be. Aminu is phenomenal on the boards and a decent defender, but he can't shoot to save his life. And won't. Ever. I've seen him pass up layups, for God's sake. His counterpart in larger lineups is likely to be Mason Plumlee, a hyper-athletic big 'tweener. Meyers Leonard is a stretch five who can shoot from distance. He's a match-up nightmare that should see much more clock this year. That doesn't include Noah Vonleh, who did absolutely nothing last season in no time on the court. He's a cypher at this point, but the Blazers should give him some time.

Should be a fun team to watch.

Olshey has stated the if McCollum wants minutes, he's going to have to improve his PG abilities. He won't start over Henderson at SG, and we still may not have our SG on the team. McCollum starting at SG is a fallback option, but it's not what Olshey wants. He wants C.J. backing up Damian at PG and backing up whoever at the SG position. The team is loaded at PF and absent of any SF's. Aminu is the only true SF on the team. While he's not a shooter, he probably won't play much at the 4 in small-ball lineups.

The most likely small-ball lineup Stotts would use right now would be McCollum-Lillard-Henderson-Leonard-Plumlee. Leonard can run the floor extremely well.

There's still a mystery player to be added to the rotation, and I really have no idea who that is. Again, this team is lacking enough passers, enough shooters and enough Offense....as it sits right now. They really need another Guard who can shoot and pass (Bledsoe) to play Stott's style of small ball.

There's some major spacing issues with this group of players as it is. You could move the wing players to the baseline to open things up for Lillard and McCollum, whereas Aldridge allowed it's wing players to be on the 45-degree arc and shoot from there. McCollum is probably the team's best mid-range shooter right now. That's uncomfortable.

Bourgeois Zee

07-01-2015, 04:50 PM

Financially, it's not a good decision. His best financial decision is to sign a 1-year contract with Portland, and then do a sign-and-trade next season. He gets an extra $60M over five years by doing this. But, if he leaves Portland now, then he doesn't get his Bird rights for three seasons, as you mention. He would get more money, but he'll also get two max contracts if he signs with San Antonio, whether he signs a 3-year or a max now. May as well take the extra guaranteed money.

From Grantland's Zach Lowe (http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-eight-biggest-nba-free-agency-questions/):

That advantage means much less with the coming cap boom, which opens up options that used to be too risky for players or teams. Aldridge could sign a two-year max deal with another team, then hit free agency again, sign another two-year max deal, and make more money in just the next four years — about $111 million — than Portland can offer in that traditional five-year max contract. Over the full five years, Aldridge could earn about $35 million more double-dipping in free agency than by signing the longest possible contract with the Blazers this summer. THIRTY-FIVE MILLION...

That max percentage increases from 30 percent to 35 percent once a player logs 10 years in the league. Next year will be Aldridge’s 10th season, and that gap of five percentage points will represent something like $4 million or $5 million per year1 — or as much as $20 million over the life of a contract. Aldridge has a double incentive to hit free agency again as soon as possible.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:53 PM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotworld comments:

The Lakers will not be signing LaMarcus Aldridge, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.

According to this credible report, Aldridge disliked the basketball part of the presentation, which is a fairly important part of basketball free agency.

Source: Mike Bresnahan on Twitter

Unrestricted free agent LaMarcus Aldridge and Kobe Bryant "didn't quite gel" at their meeting.

LMA reportedly "didn't quite get answers from Kobe we was seeking." The Lakers have a lot of attractive parts of their franchise, but it's really going to be hard to convince free agents to sign there with Kobe's $25 million on the books this upcoming season.

Source: Mike Bresnahan on Twitter

Bourgeois Zee

07-01-2015, 04:53 PM

Olshey has stated the if McCollum wants minutes, he's going to have to improve his PG abilities. He won't start over Henderson at SG, and we still may not have our SG on the team. McCollum starting at SG is a fallback option, but it's not what Olshey wants. He wants C.J. backing up Damian at PG and backing up whoever at the SG position. The team is loaded at PF and absent of any SF's. Aminu is the only true SF on the team. While he's not a shooter, he probably won't play much at the 4 in small-ball lineups.

The most likely small-ball lineup Stotts would use right now would be McCollum-Lillard-Henderson-Leonard-Plumlee. Leonard can run the floor extremely well.

There's still a mystery player to be added to the rotation, and I really have no idea who that is. Again, this team is lacking enough passers, enough shooters and enough Offense....as it sits right now. They really need another Guard who can shoot and pass (Bledsoe) to play Stott's style of small ball.

Lillard, McCollum, Henderson, Aminu, and Plumlee would be the lineup I'd go with in small ball. Unless, of course, Vonleh proves something over the next few months.

Too, if McCollum isn't starting over Henderson, it's a mistake. Henderson's okay, but he's certainly nothing special. McCollum has a chance to be a 20 point a game scorer. Henderson, because of his Duke education, can spell twenty. (But only just barely.)

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 04:59 PM

From Dave Deckard of Blazersedge.com

As far as I know, LaMarcus Aldridge's free agency decision has nothing to do with hating Portland. He may have frustrations with the town or franchise but who doesn't when you work in the same place for 9 years straight?

But even if you just consider the money angle, things aren't quite as clear cut as you paint them.

It's true that the Blazers can offer more money than any other team when you compare any two apples-to-apples situations. But Aldridge isn't limited to just apples. Another team's orange (differently structured contract) can get pretty close to Portland's apple. Aldridge isn't just comparing a couple offers, but a virtual cornucopia.

Let's consider the max offer that Aldridge could take in one swoop right now. Other teams can offer 4 years for around $80 million. The Blazers can offer 5 years for around $108 million. That's a difference of $28 million in favor of the Blazers, which is huge. But notice the difference requires an extra year of service to Portland. If you factor in a prospective 5th year from another team (after his current contract expires) Aldridge would make over $110 million in that city too.

Now let's imagine another team offers him a 2-year deal at around $38 million, after which he'd re-sign. He'd be under special "Early Bird" rules, which would limit his raises to 150% of his former salary. But that still ends up being 150% of around 19 million, which puts his rake over the next 3 years between $28-29 million per season. With raises his 5-year take now stands over $125 million, not the $108 million the Blazers could offer right now.

But Portland can come back and offer a 1-year deal followed by a max-resigning with full Bird Rights for 35% of the 2016 salary cap. Now we're around the $150 million mark over the next 5 years.

Just in these brief, spitball examples we've set out a buffet of $80 million, $108 million, $110+ million, $125 million, and $150 million...and we could even put another year on that last Portland offer and push it above $180 million. Head spinning yet with the choices? Aldridge's may be too.

Portland always ends up with the top number in a given scenario, but understand that Aldridge can choose any of these levels to buy in on and he doesn't have to choose Portland in order to get some of them. If he wants to view an orange (county?) offer as equivalent to the Trail Blazers' apple because the dollar difference is only a few million and the risk doesn't seem that great to him, that's within his prerogatives.

A "Clear-cut" decision would be Portland being able to guarantee Aldridge a $108 million, 5-year deal right now and other teams only able to guarantee 4 years at $80 million with no reasonable expectation that the 5th year of service to them would push him past the $108 million that the Blazers were offering. That's how it's worked every season CBA up until this very moment, which is why these decisions have been more obvious. But new TV money will soon push the salary cap--and the willingness of teams to pay star players--far higher than it's been heretofore. $80 million vs. $108 million aren't the only choices anymore, just two of many. It's a great time to be a free agent, not so great if you're trying to retain one.

We also have to understand that finances aren't just about math and ledgers. Numbers in a bank account quantify wealth in easily-defined terms, but perception of wealth is far more complex and personal.

When you say, "There's no way I'd turn down an extra $20-40 million! This is simple!" you're speaking from your own reality. If you're like most of us, you're lucky to have a bank account that reads 5 digits before the decimal point hits. If somebody offered you $20 million you'd jump in the air twice, fall to the floor, pee your pants, and scream. Then when you realized you just messed up your floor you'd say, "Screw it!" and buy yourself not just a new pair of jeans, but a new house to go around them. And no wonder! That amount would represent 1000 times your current savings.

LaMarcus Aldridge has made $70 million already in his 9-year career. He has a reasonable expectation of making at least $110 million more over the next 5 years alone. $20 million represents a smaller percentage of his earnings than yours. It may or may not be the same kind of obvious inducement to him that it is to you.

People view money differently. I don't presume to know how Aldridge views it. For most of us, though, wealth reaches a point of diminishing returns. Once we have our basic needs met, a few desires granted, and feel reasonably secure in our future, financial concerns become subordinate to happiness.

When you have nothing, you'll take $20 million over anything else that makes you happy because you figure you can buy a ton of other things that make you happy with that money. Whatever you're missing, you just purchase something to substitute for it. When you have $180 million you've already purchased most of the things that money can buy. You start weighing other types of happiness against the utility of $20 million more and find that decision isn't a simple as it used to be.

If someone offered me $500,000 a year to write in State A and $1 million a year to write in State B, I'd almost certainly take the million dollar offer no matter what I thought of the two states. I'd figure I couldn't make up that much money any other way.

Change those offers to $5 million a year versus $7 million and I look at the issue in a new light. If State A had better craft beer, if I were closer to my family, if I had my eye on a little house at the beach, if my spouse had a strong preference, I'd probably take the $2 million hit to live in State A.

Financially this make no sense. Over a 5-year period I'd be losing $10 million in the second scenario, which is twice as much as I'd even make in the first one. But I'd be comfortable with it because anything I really wanted to buy would be covered by $5 mil as easily as $7 mil, plus I'd be surrounded by readily-available beer choices, live closer to my family, and have a happy spouse.

If you doubt me, I sincerely invite you to try making these offers to me. (My e-mail is [email protected].) I'll be ecstatic to demonstrate how it works in real time. There's a nice place in Neskowin that was for sale the last time I was down there and for $5 million annually I can begin writing right away.

Again, though, we don't know what Aldridge is thinking. He may be the type that prizes every penny over other concerns. If so, that's good news for Portland.

Dave,

If LaMarcus leaves I'm calling him disloyal. I know you're gonna disagree with me but seriously won't you feel just a little burn? How about if he goes to the L*kers? I'm ready to boo him out of the building. After 9 years with the team that drafted you, you don't do that!

C.H.

Yeah, I'm gonna disagree with you. And yeah, even if it's the Lakers.

I'm going to disagree with you because of what I just explained. Nobody can tell Aldridge what it means to be happy and nobody has the right to take away his pursuit of that happiness. Even if he makes decisions with different priorities than I would, he's allowed. If he leaves, I'll be glad in a way that he's not simply pursuing the biggest paycheck. I suspect his life will end up better that way.

LaMarcus Aldridge has done everything he's contractually obligated to do for the Portland Trail Blazers and he's done it well. The city and the franchise owe him nothing but thanks. If he signs up to do it for another 5 years, that's great. Then new expectations can take hold. But if he doesn't, nothing more is owed or should be expected. He has the right to make that choice. It's neither disloyal nor worthy of reprimand.

If Aldridge remains with the Blazers and his stats fall to 9 ppg on 28% shooting, I will also defend your right to talk about trading him. That's how the game works. When a player is under contract to your team you have the right to speak about him as a player and consider him solely in basketball terms (as long as you don't deny or overshadow his humanity while doing so). This is what he gets paid for. When that contract is done, he gets to be a real person again and make his own choices. You don't have to like those choices, but he doesn't owe his entire life to you just because he signed a contract with your team once.

Do I hope Aldridge returns to the Trail Blazers? Yes. Do I want him to sacrifice his own happiness and perceived career/life path in order to make Blazer fans happy? No. It'll be far easier for Portland to find another player to love and obsess over than it'll be for Aldridge to get a new life.

.

More free agency talk is coming tomorrow. Send your Mailbag questions to [email protected].

--Dave [email protected] / @DaveDeckard / @Blazersedge

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 05:04 PM

Lillard, McCollum, Henderson, Aminu, and Plumlee would be the lineup I'd go with in small ball. Unless, of course, Vonleh proves something over the next few months.

Too, if McCollum isn't starting over Henderson, it's a mistake. Henderson's okay, but he's certainly nothing special. McCollum has a chance to be a 20 point a game scorer. Henderson, because of his Duke education, can spell twenty. (But only just barely.)

McCollum will still get 28 minutes per game off the bench, and get his 20 points (probably 18), but the entire team is going back to the drawing board defensively and Offensively. It's going to take a full season so see how both aspects work out. Really, a season-and-a-half.

Bourgeois Zee

07-01-2015, 05:20 PM

From Dave Deckard of Blazersedge.com...

Something no one has mentioned yet is that San Antonio can offer LA serious cash with no income tax. Oregon's income tax rate is one of the highest in the league.

When you're talking about money this high, that makes a huge difference.

Is it enough to change the calculus (on a strictly financial level) for Aldridge?

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 05:23 PM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Unrestricted free agent LaMarcus Aldridge was "floored in a good way" with the Rockets' analytics.

A lot of folks don't quite understand what analytics exactly mean and perhaps no person is more associated with analytics to help build a team than general manager Daryl Morey. The Rockets are going to have to move some pieces around -- Terrence Jones for sure -- in order to hand LMA.

Source: Mike Bresnahan on Twitter

Terrance Jones went to Jefferson HS in Portland here, and I'd love to have him as a Blazer. Hate the idea of him being a Rocket, but if we could get Terrance Jones in a sign-and-trade, I'd love to have that as compensation.

- - - Updated - - -

Something no one has mentioned yet is that San Antonio can offer LA serious cash with no income tax. Oregon's income tax rate is one of the highest in the league.

When you're talking about money this high, that makes a huge difference.

Is it enough to change the calculus (on a strictly financial level) for Aldridge?

Perhaps, yet he has a visit set up with Toronto, the hell-hole of Free Agency when it comes to money. And, yes....the State of Oregon (and specifically, Portland) has been run by a bunch of Democratic buffoons for decades who have made Oregon the 49th state, worsened only by Hawaii, for best places to retire according to Forbes Magazine. Oregon can't keep businesses in the State, they lost 80% of their Port of Portland imports recently (now everything must arrive by truck or rail), they have the highest cost of food in the 48 mainland states, even though they have tons of farms that grow the food, and they have the worst taxes of the 48 states. Oregon is a terrible destination and place to live if you want to earn any money for yourself, your family and your future family. But, it's beautiful, so a lot of people put up with it (or they're too stoned to notice as it became legal today to smoke pot recreationally.)

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 05:34 PM

Lillard, McCollum, Henderson, Aminu, and Plumlee would be the lineup I'd go with in small ball. Unless, of course, Vonleh proves something over the next few months.

That could also be the best option, but there needs to be another passer in that group and Henderson would have to be replaced by someone who can pass the ball better.

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 06:04 PM

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 07:06 PM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Paul Millsap has agreed to a three-year, $59 million deal to stay with the Hawks.

It's likely a three-year deal with the a player option for the third year. Millsap signing a deal is a big domino to fall here, so there are likely going to be some lesser power forwards agreeing to deals now. Millsap was wonderful with the Hawks last year and is great in their system, so look for him in the second round of drafts.

Source: Tony Jones on Twitter

Kingspoint

07-01-2015, 07:51 PM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

The Cavs and Iman Shumpert have agreed on a four-year, $40 million deal with a player option on the last year.

Owner Dan Gilbert is spending some serious dough today. Shumpert was expected to meet with other teams, but the Cavs just put up an offer he couldn't refuse. He was abysmal in the playoffs, making just 36.0 percent from the field. He won't be a fantasy option in most leagues.

Source: Alex Kennedy on Twitter

So, that's Love, Thompson and Shumpert.

Kingspoint

07-02-2015, 12:08 AM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

The Pelicans and Omer Asik have agreed on a five-year, $60 million deal.

Holy cow. It's the last deal of a wild day and it is perhaps one of worst buys. Asik wasn't a great fit next to Anthony Davis, but maybe coach Alvin Gentry can turn him around. The Pelicans have spent $200 million on the players that figure to get almost all of their center minutes this year. Asik isn't worth drafting in most leagues.

Kingspoint

07-02-2015, 12:09 AM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Draymond Green and the Warriors have agreed on a five-year, $85 million deal.

There was no way any team had a chance to pry Draymond Green away from the Warriors. He will continue to get minutes at center and should have even more playing time next season. The Warriors are expected to try and deal David Lee, but that won't affect Green's playing time. He's a top-25 pick in fantasy leagues? Yeah.

Source: Marc Spears on Twitter

Revering4Blue

07-02-2015, 12:51 AM

The Sacramento Kings are making changes, everybody. Jason Thompson has spent the first seven years of his career with the franchise, and now that era is reportedly over. He's headed to the Philadelphia 76ers alongside Carl Landry and -- seriously -- 2014 first-round pick Nik Stauskas, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. In exchange, the Sixers are sending back "the rights to overseas players," and we're not talking about Dario Saric here. This is a salary dump.

Oh, and by the way, Philadelphia will receive a protected first-round pick from Sacramento, plus the right to swap picks in the first round of two other drafts, per Grantland's Zach Lowe. Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie was quiet on draft night, but he just made up for it.

Why exactly would the Kings do this? They're chasing free agents, of course. Who wouldn't want to play for this franchise?

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25230984/reports-kings-trade-nik-stauskas-to-sixers-pursuing-monta-ellis

Bourgeois Zee

07-02-2015, 08:44 AM

Don't get that deal at all.

Landry and Thompson are next to useless, but Stauskas AND a 1st rounder AND the right to switch... twice?!

I hate liking the Kings.

Tom Servo

07-02-2015, 11:50 AM

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 27m27 minutes ago
Greg Monroe will sign a three-year, $50M deal with the Bucks, including the player option on the final year, sources tell Yahoo.

Kingspoint

07-02-2015, 02:04 PM

Don't get that deal at all.

Landry and Thompson are next to useless, but Stauskas AND a 1st rounder AND the right to switch... twice?!

I hate liking the Kings.

Vlade doing some more flopping.

Tom Servo

07-02-2015, 03:06 PM

The Nets fan in me doesn't know why the they just signed Shane Larkin, but the Reds fan in me loves it.

Kingspoint

07-02-2015, 03:44 PM

If they get Monroe and then Aldridge, then they'd have to be right back where they were before Matthews got injured....Top-4 in the West.

Lillard/McCollum/Frazier/Diez
Henderson/McCollum/Connaughton
Aminu/Henderson/Crabbe
Aldridge/Leonard/Vonleh
Monroe/Plumlee/Kaman/Leonard

A formidable Starting-5 with a very deep bench.

The Blazers went South fast.

Tom Servo

07-02-2015, 04:41 PM

The Blazers went South fast.
What do you figure the starting 5 is right now, Lillard/Henderson/Aminu/Davis/Plumlee?

Revering4Blue

07-02-2015, 05:01 PM

What do you figure the starting 5 is right now, Lillard/Henderson/Aminu/Davis/Plumlee?

Regardless of who starts, not much from the perimeter with that front line. I'd start Leonard and Davis and bring Plumlee and Vonleh off the bench.

BillDoran

07-02-2015, 05:10 PM

What do you figure the starting 5 is right now, Lillard/Henderson/Aminu/Davis/Plumlee?

Olshey is doing an bang-up job piecing together the West's 10th best team.

What do you do when you can't land a max-level star? Spread that money around on a bunch of middling players.

Suppose we're a long way from the final roster, but really losing faith in the organization. Two summers ago, we had ample cap space to add the final pieces to an up-and-coming team. Olshey brought us Dorell Wright, Mo Williams and Robin Lopez. Last summer, albeit on a limited budget, he brought in washed-up dreck like Steve Blake and Chris Kaman. Starting to understand LaMarcus's frustration. Olshey seems so hell-bent on maintaining flexibility that he forgets to make concerted runs when the stars align. I understand the mentality, but, geez, we were a player or two off from being legitimate contenders the past two seasons. Then again, maybe it really is tough to entice big name free agents into moving to Oregon.

Getting really tired of the dented can shopping. Feels like the Reds circa-2004, when signing John Vanderwal was championed as a significant move.

Kingspoint

07-02-2015, 05:23 PM

A video came out last night where an Assistant Coach of the Blazers stated flat out that they knew LaMarcus wasn't coming back and that the team was going young as early as June 24th.

I can't see how the Asst Coach doesn't get fired within 24 hours. The Blazers' Office took the 4th of July weekend off beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST (noon here) today. Olshey is working with a limited staff from 9:00 am EST through Monday Morning.

Stotts has his work cut out for him.

It's going to be hard to figure out what the Blazers are going to do. The personnel we have do not fit Stott's style of Offense, nor do the parts seem to fit together.

My best guess is that there is still one $7-12M per year player that will be added to the roster, who will probably start at Center.

Davis should start at PF.
Aminu will definitely start at SF.
Lillard of course at PG.
Henderson will start at SG.
Leonard would help stretch the floor with this group and fit best in that manner at C, but Plumlee will probably start.

One thing for sure about Stotts, is that you never know what he's going to do.

Of the above players, the most likely players to be replaced as a Starter with another signing would be C and SG.

None of this matters much as there are probably half a dozen moves that need to be made before there's any semblance of a roster in place that can start working together and going after a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

We traded the 2016 1st Round pick to Denver (with Thomas Robinson and Wil Barton) for Afflalo, but the pick is Top-14 protected next season. Looks like the Blazers might get their 1st Round pick next year. Then Olshey tries to trade some of these players and the pick to move up in the draft for a better lottery pick.

--------------------------

That starters Lopez, Batum, Lillard and Matthews were a pretty lazy group. They were always near the last of the league in batted balls, steals, blocks and any other type of hustle stat. It wasn't until last year that they finally started guarding the 3-point shot (at which they were at the top of the league the first half of the season before injuries unraveled everything.)

In contrast, this new group of players should be in the top-five in the NBA in rebounds (the Sixers led the league in steals,...younger players hustling and all), as individually, they are all very good rebounders for their position. Because they have poor passers on average (and should be in the bottom five of the league as a result in both assists and assists-to-turnover ratio), they are going to also be in the bottom five in the league in FG-efficiency. They are going to then have to have more FG attempts to make up for it. Being great at rebounding will help that.

BillDoran

07-02-2015, 09:27 PM

Kingspoint

07-02-2015, 09:40 PM

Kidd looked like a dear in headlights in New York, but he did a great job in Milwaukee.

Revering4Blue

07-03-2015, 12:12 AM

A team that's going to be fun to follow is the Bucks. I'm not entirely sure I understand what they're doing, but it's intriguing.

Tons of length and flexibility - MCW, Middleton, Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, John Henson, Greivis Vasquez and now Greg Monroe. Not a true pivot in the mix, other than an aging Zaza Pachulia, but the versatility could really stifle offenses, particularly pick-and-roll-dependent teams.

Jason Kidd seems like a bit of a jerk, but I do think he can coach. Looks like a team that could make a run in the Eastern Conference.

Rashad Vaughn and Damien Inglis, who missed last season, are also intriguing new pieces. Between Vaughn and R.J Hunter, it will be interesting to see which one, ultimately, is the better player.

Dudley was dealt today to Washington and, according to the grapevine, Mayo and Miles Plumlee may be headed to Indy for Hibbert, unless a sign-and-trade for Hibbert is executed by Dallas involving Monte Ellis -- who turned down a higher offer from the Kings to sign with the Pacers -- which would only occur if the Mavs strike out with DeAndre Jordan.

Kingspoint

07-03-2015, 01:25 AM

The Trailblazers produced a slew of uber-millionaires...

Lillard…$25M/season (Blazers)
Matthews…$16M/season (Mavericks)
Batum…$20M/season (likely his new contract next summer) (Spurs?)
Lopez…$13M/season (Knicks)
Aldridge…$20M/season (soon to be $30M) (Spurs, most likely)

It’s just too bad we couldn’t have had one more season with everyone before they cashed in.

At $94M for a starting lineup of a fringe contender...

They want a championship team and as much as we flirted with the idea. We are not getting that with the line-up above.

PA: If we keep this core and I’ll pay a minimum of 30M in tax after the championship. What are our chances of winning a title?
NO: around 5%, rounded off
PA: Just Bolt it, I want a contender
NO: It will take another rebuild of 5 years or a Retool of 3 years
PA: I can’t take another 5 years
NO: Ok, I’ll do my best

BillDoran

07-03-2015, 02:38 PM

Not sure more than a handful of us regularly check this thread, but I was curious to know who others thought the best GM (or whatever position the primary basketball operations guy takes) was in the NBA, the one they'd most like to see running their favorite franchise. I realize it's a highly contested business, but all the roster shuffling this time of year really makes me wonder what kind of of plans, if any, these guys have. Often feels very scattershot, save a group of teams' consistency.

Lots of contenders, I would think, but also brings to question whose actually running the show for each team.

Let's just begin with the assumption the Billy King is everyone's first choice, and commence with selecting a second favorite.

Kingspoint

07-03-2015, 05:14 PM

Anything Jerry West touches turns to gold.

What the Spurs accomplish with Pops has to be next.

I was shocked when Ownership got rid of Hollins n Memphis, but what they are doing works.

It took years to move on from Sprewell, but Golden State made a great hiring in Kerr, while also making a great decisio in dumping Jackson. They put pieces in place over the last few years to set this up.

Three years from now Philly may be in this conversation.

Houston has put together some very good trades keeping them in contender status, while OKC has been very good, except for hanging onto Brooks too long and running into injuries.

Portland is injury-plagued making it difficult to judge them, but the jailblazer days are long past. Their retooling will be swift.

Milwaukee, Washington and Toronto have all put together good years in difficult cities to build in.

Atlanta has the worst fanbase i the NBA over the last 20 years, yet they've built a contender through patience.

Bourgeois Zee

07-03-2015, 06:07 PM

1. Pat Riley
He's built three championship-level teams with four distinct styles. (Yes, the Lakers were his. At least in part.) Who else has done that?

2. Pops/ RC Buford
Continuity has its place. Helps to have players willing to play for serious discounts.

3. Jerry West
As noted previously.

4. Larry Bird
Always seems to make moves that work out. On the cheap. I can't imagine what he could do with a larger budget.

BillDoran

07-03-2015, 11:47 PM

I figured the Spurs braintrust would rate near the top. Hard to argue with the run they've been on over the past 10-15 years.

The Warriors look to be built for the long haul. Not sure how much influence Jerry West has, but the front office installed by Joe Lacob, including GM Bob Myers, looks really good. Refusing to trade Klay Thompson for Kevin Love looks great in hindsight. (Everything looks great in hindsight after a championship, I suppose.)

Masai Ujiri got a lot of love while in Denver. I like what he's done in Toronto, but still a ways off from being a true contender.

The Kevin Pritchard/Larry Bird combo has had Indiana competitive for quite a while, until injuries and Roy Hibbert's disappearance cratered the team.

I really like Danny Ainge, personally. He seems to know when to strike. Piecing together Pierce/Garnett/Allen was impressive. With all the draft picks and pieces, it seems like they're on the verge of another big move or two in the near future. I think they got pretty decent return for a good not great player in Rondo who has an awful attitude.

The hard-core stat guys are fun to follow. Morey seems more flexible than Hinkie, but I appreciate the market inefficiency approach. For the publicity though, the Rockets haven't really been especially good (I know they made a nice run this year). Hinkie would drive me nuts. I sincerely appreciate his unwavering and thorough commitment to an approach, but man it's painful in the short-term.

15fan

07-06-2015, 10:16 PM

Dear Golden State:

Now you are the hunted.

We're coming for you.

Regards,

San Antonio

Kingspoint

07-06-2015, 10:26 PM

Dear Golden State:

Now you are the hunted.

We're coming for you.

Regards,

San Antonio

James: "I'll be back!"

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 02:56 PM

Ranking the NBA West for the 2015-16 season:

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Memphis Grizzlies
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. Houston Rockets
7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Utah Jazz
9. Phoenix Suns
10. Los Angeles Clippers
11. Portland Trailblazers
12. Minnesota Timberwolves
13. Denver Nuggets
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Los Angeles Lakers

Boston Red

07-07-2015, 03:08 PM

You don't think the Clippers will make the playoffs?

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 03:19 PM

You don't think the Clippers will make the playoffs?

I do not. Utah is a much better team. New Orleans is a much better team. Phoenix is every bit as good, if not better. The Clippers have no Defense.

They'd make the playoffs in the East, no problem.

I think there's a big gap between #10 Clippers and #11 Trailblazers, though. I also think there's a big gap between #5 Mavericks and #6 Rockets.

If I had to group them, I'd go:

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Memphis Grizzlies

5. Dallas Mavericks (injuries to Matthews and Parsons are the only thing keeping the Mavs from being in the top group, but come playoff time, I see them right there with the top-4.

6. Houston Rockets
7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Utah Jazz

9. Phoenix Suns
10. Los Angeles Clippers

11. Portland Trailblazers
12. Minnesota Timberwolves
13. Denver Nuggets

14. Sacramento Kings

15. Los Angeles Lakers (Lakers will struggle to see 15 wins)

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 03:28 PM

The East is still fluctuating some, and much more difficult to predict. Someone else can do that.

I'll go out on a limb and say...

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Tom Servo

07-07-2015, 03:33 PM

Good call on Utah, I think they are definitely a team on the upswing with a plethora of talented kids.

Bourgeois Zee

07-07-2015, 03:35 PM

I think it's easier to see the tiers in the West this year.

1. San Antonio Spurs
Pretty obvious, at this point. Only question is Tony Parker. Is he done?

2. Golden State Warriors
Good team-- have they improved enough to match San Antonio?

3. Houston Rockets
A notch below the top two. Still, two superstars, two near All-Stars, and a healthy PG? Fewer questions than any team below them. Great bench allows for rest to everyone but Harden.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Can Durant stay healthy? Can they play defense? They'll score. A lot.

5. Dallas Mavericks
Nowitzki's a year older. There's no PG in a league where a good one is required. Jordan is overrated. Mathews has to come back from a serious injury. And defend. Not much depth either.

6. New Orleans Pelicans
If they're healthy, they're going to be tough to beat. Solid group will go only as far as Anthony Davis can take them. He can take them a long, long way. Best player in the league next year, IMO. Impossible to stop.

7. Memphis Grizzlies
Everyone is old except Mike Conley. And he's 27. Old guys break down.

8. Los Angeles Clippers
Two of top 25 players in the league. Will play small and try to outscore people. Are there enough balls for a Griffin, Paul, Crawford, Reddick, Pierce quintet? They won't play defense at all. Will be fun to watch.

9. Phoenix Suns
They'll run and run and run some more. Love the addition of Tyson Chandler and the subtraction of the Morris' twins. (Not yet, but it's coming.) Questions about forwards. Might they go back to three guards?

10. Utah Jazz
No PG. Not much shooting. Will be interested to see how Gobert works in small ball sets.

11. Sacramento Kings
Could move up three spots or down four. Cousins is the best C in the NBA. Underrated Belinelli could surprise as a shooter. Love WCS as a shot blocker next to Cousins. Koufos too. Key is Rondo. I'm betting he's going to be on his best behavior (and effective) for his one year in Sacramento. Then again, everything could come apart tomorrow.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves
Towns will win ROY. Wiggins is a stud. Lots of questions, but those two are exclamation points. Will be fun to watch develop.

13. Denver Nuggets
Watch them deal everyone. Only reason they aren't lower is the difficulty in dealing Manimal before 2016. Gallinari is underrated, but fragile.

14. Portland Trailblazers
Lillard and... nothing. Their roster looks like it's constructed by a first-time fantasy guy. McCollum better be the real deal. No one else can shoot even a little bit.

15. Los Angeles Lakers
Randle's a nice piece. So is Russell. Clarkson is also solid. That's about it. Three gunners in Young, Louis Williams, and Kobe. No one underneath to play defense. At all. Poor system. So, to recap, poor shooting, poor defense, poor coaching. Not a great team.

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 04:13 PM

Dante Exum is an excellent Point Guard for the Jazz. So much so that Trey Burke could see last year that he'd already lost his job.

As far as shooters, Gordon Hayward says, "Hi!".

Bourgeois Zee

07-07-2015, 04:20 PM

Dante Exum is an excellent Point Guard for the Jazz. So much so that Trey Burke could see last year that he'd already lost his job.

As far as shooters, Gordon Hayward says, "Hi!".

Exum had a PER of 5.7 (15 is considered about league average), an offensive rating of 90 (100 is average) and a defensive rating of 109 (100 is average). His -0.8 VORP (well below replacement level) indicates that, while he may one day be "an excellent point guard," he's absolutely not there yet. Nor is he anywhere close.

Hayward's a good shooter, but if he's the best you've got, you're in serious trouble. He's the best they've got.

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 04:46 PM

Exum had a PER of 5.7 (15 is considered about league average), an offensive rating of 90 (100 is average) and a defensive rating of 109 (100 is average). His -0.8 VORP (well below replacement level) indicates that, while he may one day be "an excellent point guard," he's absolutely not there yet. Nor is he anywhere close.

Hayward's a good shooter, but if he's the best you've got, you're in serious trouble. He's the best they've got.

I think he's there now, especially since those around him most of the time will be the starters. My eyetest surpasses any stats in this case. He'll make mistakes being how young he is and won't have the consistency, of course, which will drag down his stats, but he's ready to lead Utah to the playoffs this season.

League average at Point Guard is really good in the 2015-16 NBA world. But, you said, "No point guard." Exum is very, very good. I said excellent, and that would require consistency. I hope you get a chance to watch at least six Utah Jazz games this year from start to finish. I think your opinion on Exum will change if you can get that opportunity. Also, seeing someone in person is a whole lot different than seeing them on television. For example, I saw Scottie Pippin on television as much as anyone before he became a Trailblazer, including numerous times in person as a season-ticket holder. But, until I saw him in person on a regular basis, I had no idea of the quality of player that he was, and this was at the twilight of his career. He was the third best Trailblazer to ever put on a uniform (after Walton and Drexler). There are just so many things that are witnessed in person that one just can't see on television. Floor intelligence is probably first and foremost. That's where Exum shines.

I'm not dismissing the stats you posted on Exum, but those will be the exception, not the rule, when it comes to those stats and Exum in the future.

Bourgeois Zee

07-07-2015, 04:52 PM

Tom Servo

07-07-2015, 04:58 PM

Exum went from playing against Australian high schoolers to the NBA, his rookie season wasn't good but there's a learning curve in my mind.

Also Rudy Gobert is going to be a beast.

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 05:24 PM

In the future, he might be better. But, right now, he's horrid.

That comments makes me believe that you haven't seen him play for even 50 minutes since March 1st.

Razor Shines

07-07-2015, 05:59 PM

We'll just agree to disagree, then. Especially if you won't take statistics into consideration.

At this point, I'll argue that Exum is perhaps the worst player in the NBA.

In the future, he might be better. But, right now, he's horrid.

Hey man, you may watch a good deal of basketball and you may watch games in person but it's a different story when you see a game in person as a season ticket holder. You're basically a scout, team management will probably ask your opinion on players.

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 06:08 PM

Hey man, you may watch a good deal of basketball and you may watch games in person but it's a different story when you see a game in person as a season ticket holder. You're basically a scout, team management will probably ask your opinion on players.

It is completely different seeing a player in person in any sport versus seeing them on television. There's a lot of knowledge that just can't be gleaned through the tube. When I used the word "season-ticket" holder, it was to describe the number of games I would have seen Pippen play both before he was a Trailblazer and after he was a Trailblazer. It's why scouts have to go to Europe instead of just streaming the players on their computers.

Boston Red

07-07-2015, 06:14 PM

Exum has apparently been a stud for the Jazz in the summer league, but he hurt his ankle yesterday. Hopefully nothing too serious.

Razor Shines

07-07-2015, 06:25 PM

It is completely different seeing a player in person in any sport versus seeing them on television. There's a lot of knowledge that just can't be gleaned through the tube. When I used the word "season-ticket" holder, it was to describe the number of games I would have seen Pippen play both before he was a Trailblazer and after he was a Trailblazer. It's why scouts have to go to Europe instead of just streaming the players on their computers.

I wouldn't know, man. I'm too busy playing in leagues with formerly graduated D1 players and some NBADL guys. I only say that because I want you to describe how good I am.

Ha.

I was mostly kidding with you about the season ticket holder thing, just seems you like to drop that whenever you get the chance and hell maybe I would too if I was a season ticket holder.

I don't disagree about scouting guys in person vs on TV but even still I'm a little skeptical about of your view on Exum. I still think he may be a year away.

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 06:39 PM

I wouldn't know, man. I'm too busy playing in leagues with formerly graduated D1 players and some NBADL guys. I only say that because I want you to describe how good I am.

Ha.

I was mostly kidding with you about the season ticket holder thing, just seems you like to drop that whenever you get the chance and hell maybe I would too if I was a season ticket holder.

I don't disagree about scouting guys in person vs on TV but even still I'm a little skeptical about of your view on Exum. I still think he may be a year away.

Being in Austin, you get a chance to see a lot of professional basketball, being not far from Houston, Dallas and a little further away, San Antonio and New Orleans. Oklahoma City isn't that far away, either. But, I think I'd be attending a lot of NFL football if I lived where you lived, and would choose season tickets to the NFL instead over the NBA. I love all sports, though.

On a Summer League note, Orlando PF Aaron Gordon is rocking it. At 19, Orlando thinks he will soon have the ability to guard any team's best scorer.

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 06:42 PM

I don't disagree about scouting guys in person vs on TV but even still I'm a little skeptical about of your view on Exum. I still think he may be a year away.

At 19 years old, he's going to have too many turnovers, while making some poor decisions, too. But, defensively, he gets the luxury of having Gobert behind him and that let's him play aggressively Defensively.

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 06:59 PM

You look at Hollis-Jefferson in these Summer League games and he's so far ahead of other 1st Round players. The shooting will come. Shooting is the easiest thing to learn in the NBA. Year by year he'll become a better shooter and his range will improve. But, with all of the other things he does, Brooklyn would be wise to make him their Starter before the year is over with so he gets the minutes. Every minute Joe Johnson gets (whom they are desperately trying to unload) will stunt Hollis-Jefferson's growth. Olshey must have really valued the price-tag and upside of Plumlee to agree to that trade.

It's pretty rare that you can get a Starter right away at Small Forward with the #23 pick, unless you're a really bad team, something I think the Nets are not. They should be in the playoff hunt all year long.

Kingspoint

07-07-2015, 07:17 PM

Charlotte's Troy Daniels is buidling a resume if Charlotte wants to trade him. Young with upside and the ability shoot the 3 (6 of 9 two games ago, with a .385 mark in two years in the league), pass and rebound (14 today), he's a 2 (and eventually some 3) who is behind Batum with P.J. Hairston and Lamb also at the 2. Charlotte can afford to try to get assets for him as there simply aren't many minutes for him. Batum plays hurt, while Hairston and Lamb will get some minutes.

As a Blazer fan, I'd love to trade for him as they need young players who can shoot. His contract is only $1M with a QO option the following year.

Kingspoint

07-08-2015, 02:43 PM

DeAndre Jordan trying to join the scums of the league, Hedo Turkolu and Carlos Boozer (reneging against verbal agreements with Blazers and Cavaliers, respectively) with word that he's going to have another meeting with the Clippers.

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

DeAndre Jordan is now reportedly "50/50" on his decision to either return to the Clippers or stick with his original decision to join the Mavericks.

The Clippers are reportedly "hopeful" that DeAndre will return, while the Mavs are "nervous" about this second meeting with the Clippers, and this all started on Monday when Jordan reportedly expressed his doubt in committing to the Mavs and called Doc Rivers. Paul Pierce was reportedly added to help the relationship between Chris Paul and Jordan, and he will participate in today's meeting, along with CP3, J.J. Redick, Steve Ballmer, and Doc Rivers. Marc Cuban has also reportedly arrived in Houston to stop all this madness, and it'll be very interesting to see how this all plays out.

Source: Arash Markazi on Twitter

It's on...."Battle of the Titans"....Steve Balmer vs Marc Cuban. The Winner gets DeAndre Jordan.

My money is on Cuban and his selling skills over Balmer's boardroom experience.

Tom Servo

07-08-2015, 02:56 PM

Huh, I thought DeAndre to Dallas was a signed, sealed, and delivered deal, didn't realize it wasn't official.

BuckeyeRed27

07-08-2015, 03:38 PM

Huh, I thought DeAndre to Dallas was a signed, sealed, and delivered deal, didn't realize it wasn't official.

None of these deals are official until tomorrow, although it is pretty rare for someone to back out after committing. This is good stuff, I hope he comes back to the Clips.

Kingspoint

07-08-2015, 03:42 PM

If anyone is seeing this on Twitter, it's hilarious. The emoticons being used by Clippers and Mavs personnel and players are comical.

Bourgeois Zee

07-08-2015, 05:00 PM

Dirty pool on the Cippers' side even if Jordan did feel conflicted. If he wants to change his mind and back out, that's on him. However, they shouldn't be sending/ calling/ meeting/ tweeting anything at this point.

Jordan's a slimeball if he pulls out of his agreement with the Mavs (and I hate Dallas). LA should be contracted.

(Then again, I might just be biased because I HATE Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Two more whiny, arrogant, buttheads you could not find.)

Boston Red

07-08-2015, 06:25 PM

KoryMac5

07-08-2015, 06:48 PM

It's not just Jordan changing his mind the bigger repercussions are the deals that happened or didn't as a result of this deal. For example Dallas had a trade for Hibbert lined up before Jordan committed, that went by the wayside with the promise of his signing. Tyson Chandler and other free agents were allowed to walk on by due to Dallas thinking Jordan had agreed. The Wes Matthews deal was contingent on Jordan signing as well if Jordan backs out what happens then, and will other players back out of deals as well . Will other teams try and poach players in the future if the ink isn't dry yet. The music has stopped and Dallas just got booted out of it's chair. One of the crazier NBA off seasons i can remember.

Cuban is currently in town with Parsons trying to seal the deal for the 2nd time. I would rather be the first option in Dallas than the 3rd in LA.

Tom Servo

07-08-2015, 07:00 PM

BuckeyeRed27

07-08-2015, 07:24 PM

Go to Dallas and have the potential to be the guy or stay in L.A. and be Chris Paul's whipping boy when things go wrong while Doc trades for horrible players and then complains about the 'horrible' situation he inherited.

Should be an easy choice.

You're right, go back to the Clippers.

Dallas is going to be a 6th seed at best. LA has a legit shot to win it all.

Kevin Love was "the guy" for years. Clearly he likes his situation more now.

Kingspoint

07-08-2015, 07:31 PM

Much as in college football recruiting, I think the guy should be fair game until the ink is on dotted line.

Only lowlife operate that way (and children). Any business-person worthy of respect honors verbal agreements. If they don't, they not only are never trusted by anyone ever again, but they shouldn't be in the business world to begin with.

KoryMac5

07-08-2015, 07:38 PM

You're right, go back to the Clippers.

Dallas is going to be a 6th seed at best. LA has a legit shot to win it all.

Kevin Love was "the guy" for years. Clearly he likes his situation more now.

Dallas is a much better situation then the T Wolves though. Ask Love how he likes playing 3rd string to Irving and Lebron, never forget superstars have HUGE ego's they all want to be the man.

BuckeyeRed27

07-08-2015, 07:41 PM

Dallas is a much better situation then the T Wolves though. Ask Love how he likes playing 3rd string to Irving and Lebron, never forget superstars have HUGE ego's they all want to be the man.

I think he likes it about 5 years and $120M worth.

It is a better overall situation in terms of ownership, but in terms of role it is about the same and that was my point.

KoryMac5

07-08-2015, 08:32 PM

Cuban has flown with Parsons to meet with Jordan, Clippers brass not leaving Jordan's home until he signs. If I am Dallas, I go all in for the tank next season.

Boston Red

07-08-2015, 08:50 PM

Only lowlife operate that way (and children). Any business-person worthy of respect honors verbal agreements. If they don't, they not only are never trusted by anyone ever again, but they shouldn't be in the business world to begin with.

What does that have to do with the Clippers? They don't have a verbal agreement with anyone.

As for verbal agreements in general....I'd advise you to get those in writing.

Kingspoint

07-08-2015, 09:56 PM

What does that have to do with the Clippers? They don't have a verbal agreement with anyone.

As for verbal agreements in general....I'd advise you to get those in writing.

It has to do with Jordan, not so much the Clippers. But, there's also a respect that goes around from one franchise to the next that once a player commits verbally the way Jordan did, other franchises stop their pursuit.

Business etiquette means everything for anyone with one ounce of integrity. Anyone who hasn't learned that is still at the 5-year-old stage of learning right from wrong.

- - - Updated - - -

Cuban has flown with Parsons to meet with Jordan, Clippers brass not leaving Jordan's home until he signs. If I am Dallas, I go all in for the tank next season.

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

DeAndre Jordan won't even take a phone call from Mark Cuban or Chandler Parsons, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com.

Yep, the Clippers have apparently taken away his phone. It sounds like the Mavs are going to need a SWAT team, Kevin Spacey and John McClane to get a chance to talk to Jordan.

Source: Tim MacMahon on Twitter

Boston Red

07-08-2015, 10:05 PM

If I'm the Clippers, I'd do exactly what they're doing. Not a big fan of DeAndre 's move, but it's not the end of the world. People decide to take a new job and change their minds pretty regularly.

Stray

07-08-2015, 10:32 PM

If I'm the Clippers, I'd do exactly what they're doing. Not a big fan of DeAndre 's move, but it's not the end of the world. People decide to take a new job and change their minds pretty regularly.

Yeah, but in this case there was a huge ripple effect. Dirk agreed to take less money to bring him in, other FAs were signed or not signed because of DJ to Dallas, and all the lost time and money in the entire process.

I don't really know why there's a period of verbal agreements anyway. Let the decisions be made when you're signing the contract.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 12:28 AM

People decide to take a new job and change their minds pretty regularly. And, it's unprofessional as hell.

A couple of sayings to remember...

"Buyers are Liars" (That's a retail environment, though, when you're dealing with consumers, not business professionals).

“The day you sign a client is the day you start losing one.” -- Don Draper

But, the only saying that one should ever operate under when dealing with someone else, either in the business world, retail world, or any other environment, is "The Golden Rule", "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." That wasn't followed here by Jordan or the Clippers. Both were unprofessional. Jordan is a Putz.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 12:30 AM

I don't really know why there's a period of verbal agreements anyway. Let the decisions be made when you're signing the contract.

Because throughout all of this, there's only been four children who have reneged on verbal agreements,...Hedo, Brand, Boozer and now Jordan. One shouldn't make rules for the exceptions, especially when the exceptions involve immaturity (though my children knew the Golden Rule at a very early age).

Boston Red

07-09-2015, 12:31 AM

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 12:36 AM

Nice move by Charlotte grabbing Jeremy Lin for backup PG. Charlotte's had a nice off-season. Cho can be a little slow in making moves, but he makes some good ones.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 12:37 AM

Sure it's unprofessional, but again it's not the end of the world. The fact that Billy Donovan is now an NBA head coach proves that.

And I don't agree that the Clippers were unprofessional. We'll just have to agree to disagree there, I suppose.

Tell Mark Cuban that. The Mavs franchise just got hit with a bomb.

Nothing is the end of the world until it's the end of the world when all remembrance of mankind is obliterated away through erosion and time. But, in the meantime, you try not to do damage to those around you. Jordan and the Clippers did damage to tens of thousands of Mavs fans and employees by not following The Golden Rule. One thing Braintree's greatest Citizen was known for was for following "The Golden Rule" in all of his dealings. It cost him a 2nd term as he couldn't respond in kind to Jefferson's devious mudslinging.

Clippers/Mavs contests should be something else next season.

Boston Red

07-09-2015, 12:38 AM

Okay, I'll give Mark a call. Guess Mark isn't a closer.

Tom Servo

07-09-2015, 12:41 AM

So where does Dallas go from here? They didn't trade for Hibbert assuming they had Jordan.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 12:44 AM

Okay, I'll give Mark a call. Guess Mark isn't a closer.

Being the salesman and businessman that he is, he's got to be irate right now.

But, you can guarantee he'll reflect a little on what he could have done differently, even though he was dealing with a Putz. He knows how to handle them and that he didn't close the deal.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 12:48 AM

So where does Dallas go from here? They didn't trade for Hibbert assuming they had Jordan.

They're screwed. All of their moves were based on them signing Jordan. Without the rim defender, it's going to be difficult. Bernard James did really well in limited minutes last season, but he's not ready to be a Starter. Cuban is going to have to calm down (probably get hammered tonight), and then methodically look into the 30+ Summer League teams to see if there's any opportunities there. He's committed to winning now and missed the opportunity to rebuild. He'll have to find guys who can play right now.

He'll have to give up future draft picks for someone. (Chris Kaman is available ;) )

Boston already has Dallas' 2016 1st Round pick and you can't trade away 1st Round picks two years in a row, so they can't trade away the 2017 1st Round pick. So, they can't tank. Dallas has no assets to trade.

They'll have to wait until next year's Free Agency and get a Center, while trying to add two Centers to go along with James and the huge project Bhamara.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 12:57 AM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

DeAndre Jordan officially re-signed with the Clippers just after midnight on Thursday morning.

He verbally committed to the Mavericks and then changed his mind, leaving the Mavericks in a huge hole, and putting the Clippers back in championship discussions. The fact Jordan reneged on his verbal commitment is going to be something that is talked about for a long, long time, and it will be interesting to see how he's treated in Dallas, and other cities, next season. The Clippers have their core back in place, and Jordan will start at center and be one of the better defensive players in the league again next season. What a long, strange moratorium it's been. It sounds like Jordan's deal is a four-year, $87.7m deal with a player option after the third year, according to CBS' Ken Berger.

Source: Arash Markazi on Twitter

Boston Red

07-09-2015, 01:08 AM

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 01:49 AM

So the Clippers and Mavs trade places, essentially?

Yes.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 02:03 AM

Lillard, McCollum, Henderson, Aminu, and Plumlee would be the lineup I'd go with in small ball. Unless, of course, Vonleh proves something over the next few months.

Too, if McCollum isn't starting over Henderson, it's a mistake. Henderson's okay, but he's certainly nothing special. McCollum has a chance to be a 20 point a game scorer. Henderson, because of his Duke education, can spell twenty. (But only just barely.)

Looking more at it, I have to agree with you that Aminu is perfect as the "4" in a small-ball lineup.

KoryMac5

07-09-2015, 06:26 AM

Tom Servo

07-09-2015, 09:37 AM

Nets sign Wayne Ellington as Alan Anderson's replacement.

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 09:53 AM

I'm looking forward to karma stepping in and watching Jordan go down pre-season with an ACL tear.

- - - Updated - - -

Nets sign Wayne Ellington as Alan Anderson's replacement.

Decent move there.

The Nets are just good enough to sneak into the playoffs and get slaughtered every year.

Yay, East.

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 10:08 AM

So the Clippers and Mavs trade places, essentially?

Dallas has three good players, Matthews, Parsons, and Nowitzki. Neither Parsons nor Nowitzki play defense at all and Matthews could really struggle after serious injury. Dirk will need to be protected too because he's played 16 years and 50,000+ minutes in the league.

Their next best player coming back, according to PER, is JJ Barrea.

I know Carlisle is good, but I don't know if he's this good.

Put another way, there are only three rosters worse off right now than the Mavs'. And that may shrink by one if LA's rookies prove adequate and they get Hibbert.

Speaking of, I now think Dallas is forced to try and get into that discussion. The difference is that they're going to offer real value for him instead of just salary ballast. Another reason why Bird and Indiana deserve credit.

Revering4Blue

07-09-2015, 12:29 PM

Jordan is his own man and can make his own decisions but at least man up and tell the team you made the agreement with that you had a change of heart. He granted Cuban a meeting with Parsons and then wouldn't pick up the phone. Seems very High School to me.

Mavs will tank there first round pick in 2016 is top 7 protected.

This is the main issue I have with this situation. Clippers apologists can spin it any way they wish, but this was Bush League.

And no, the Clippers are not a stronger organization than the Mavericks are. The Clippers lack a real GM, and frankly, Carlisle is a better coach than Rivers. The Clippers a legitimate Championship threat with that defense? I'll believe it when I see it with this roster. They couldn't knock out a beaten-up Rocket team and are not decidedly better now than last season. They also have to deal with Lance Stephenson. Good luck with that.

texasdave

07-09-2015, 12:38 PM

Agreed. DeAndre Jordan is a punk. Next story.

Revering4Blue

07-09-2015, 12:45 PM

Nice move by Charlotte grabbing Jeremy Lin for backup PG. Charlotte's had a nice off-season. Cho can be a little slow in making moves, but he makes some good ones.

I'll give Cho a "C" so far for off season moves.

For the sound moves -- signing Lin, dealing Stephenson for what amounts to Hawes and Lamb -- there are the puzzling ones:

1)Allowing their best rim protector, Biyombo, to leave without replacing him.

2)Turning down the draft day trade offer - six picks - from Boston to select someone who would most likely be there at #16 anyway.

3)Is the talent gap between Henderson and Batum wide enough to warrant including Vonleh in the deal? Curious as to why the Hornets feel that Zeller possesses a higher ceiling than Vonleh. Granted, Olshey may have been given the choice between the two young PFs and chose Vonleh.

Revering4Blue

07-09-2015, 01:05 PM

So where does Dallas go from here? They didn't trade for Hibbert assuming they had Jordan.

They'll likely have to do it by committee.

As Kingspoint mentioned, Bernard James factors in here. Then, there are a few options, OTTOMH:

Sign JaVale McGee and/or Kendrick Perkins to cost-effective, low-risk short deals.

Considering the fact that you also have a need at PG, Pat Riley, reportedly is offering both Chris Anderson and Mario Chalmers for salary relief to avoid the Luxury tax, Dwight Powell, for example, and a future #2 should get the deal done, as cap space isn't a problem for Dallas.

Offer a similar package to the Bucks for Miles Plumlee, who is buried on the depth chart there. A really good athlete for his size, Plumlee, when given the minutes in Phoenix last season, produced, with a higher blocks per minute rate than his brother.

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 02:50 PM

So where does Dallas go from here?

They could offer Enes Kanter a pretty big contract and try to outscore teams. That would weaken OKC (who likely couldn't afford to sign him then) and make them better.

They could also go in a more creative direction: Sign Josh Smith as a PF and move Nowitzki to C. Sign Stoudemire to play 22 mpg or so. Go small (with Smith as your rim protector) and run like hell.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:01 PM

Jordan is his own man and can make his own decisions but at least man up and tell the team you made the agreement with that you had a change of heart. He granted Cuban a meeting with Parsons and then wouldn't pick up the phone. Seems very High School to me.

High School? That's an insult to a lot of 10-year olds and up. Jordan acted like a 5-year old.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:02 PM

Here's how two professionals act and is the expected behavior of anyone in the business world. Anything less than this and you fall short of the mark.

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban offered to let Wesley Matthews out of his verbal agreement after DeAndre Jordan decided to re-sign with the Clippers.

Cuban said he told Matthews he could opt out of the verbal agreement with no hard feelings, but Matthews responded by saying he's excited to play for the Mavericks. "Wes is the exact player we want in a Mavs uniform and our fans will love him," Cuban wrote. With Matthews apparently ready to stick to his word, we'll await an official contract announcement over the next few days.

Source: USA Today

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:04 PM

They could offer Enes Kanter a pretty big contract and try to outscore teams. That would weaken OKC (who likely couldn't afford to sign him then) and make them better.

They could also go in a more creative direction: Sign Josh Smith as a PF and move Nowitzki to C. Sign Stoudemire to play 22 mpg or so. Go small (with Smith as your rim protector) and run like hell.

Those are both realistic scenarios, and may be their best options (what few options they have....there is way too much talent left to tank bad enough to be bottom-7.....that will never, ever happen. Cuban would never tank. He has too much integrity.)

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:06 PM

Offer a similar package to the Bucks for Miles Plumlee, who is buried on the depth chart there. A really good athlete for his size, Plumlee, when given the minutes in Phoenix last season, produced, with a higher blocks per minute rate than his brother.

OKC and Milwaukee have the most depth at Center and could afford to make a trade. While Perkins offers no Defense at this point of his career, he's still a body that could help in a committee. I'd probably cap Stoudamire and Perkins at both 10-12 minutes per game. Any more than that, and they would be hurting any team.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:11 PM

Speaking of, I now think Dallas is forced to try and get into that discussion. The difference is that they're going to offer real value for him instead of just salary ballast. Another reason why Bird and Indiana deserve credit.Looks like they hit a homerun with their 1st Round pick. They shut him down after two games in the Summer League as there wasn't anything left to prove. He's going to by good.

Tom Servo

07-09-2015, 03:13 PM

The Kanter idea for Dallas isn't bad, he seems particularly motivated now being out of Utah.

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 03:20 PM

Those are both realistic scenarios, and may be their best options (what few options they have....there is way too much talent left to tank bad enough to be bottom-7.....that will never, ever happen. Cuban would never tank. He has too much integrity.)

Disagree. In the West, at least 10 teams are better on paper. They have questions at literally every position, bad answers at PG, and no answers at center. No bench, three decent (but not All-Star) starters-- right now, they're no better than Portland or Denver. They might even be worse than LA, all things considered.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:26 PM

I'll give Cho a "C" so far for off season moves.

For the sound moves -- signing Lin, dealing Stephenson for what amounts to Hawes and Lamb -- there are the puzzling ones:

1)Allowing their best rim protector, Biyombo, to leave without replacing him.

2)Turning down the draft day trade offer - six picks - from Boston to select someone who would most likely be there at #16 anyway.

3)Is the talent gap between Henderson and Batum wide enough to warrant including Vonleh in the deal? Curious as to why the Hornets feel that Zeller possesses a higher ceiling than Vonleh. Granted, Olshey may have been given the choice between the two young PFs and chose Vonleh.

Regarding #2....there's the "slow" part I was referring to when talking about Cho....too much analyzing, not enough decision-making.

Stephenson was poison. Hard to unload. Anything for him would be a blessing.

Regarding the gap between Henderson and Batum...it's about as wide as the gap between the emotions in Batum's head. When Batum's head isn't in sulking mode, he's the 2nd best Small Forward in the NBA. When he is sulking, he's nothing but an extra passer on the floor. He's half-way closer to France, and that should help (he gets lonely for someone to speak French with). In a new environment, he should come out guns blazing. Right now, he's probably the best player on the team, better than Kemba Walker. I'm expecting, in a contract year, for Batum to have his best season in this new environment. 17.5-pts, 7.2-reb, 5.5-ass, 1.1-St, 1.1-Bk, 75-Games. 50% shooting overall, 40% shooting from 3, 85% shooting from the Free Throw Line.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:30 PM

Disagree. In the West, at least 10 teams are better on paper. They have questions at literally every position, bad answers at PG, and no answers at center. No bench, three decent (but not All-Star) starters-- right now, they're no better than Portland or Denver. They might even be worse than LA, all things considered.

I rank them 11th. That would make 10 teams better than them on paper and in reality. But, they are much better than Portland, Denver and Minnesota, while the Lakers and Kings are in a different world. That places them 6th in the West. Then, of course, there is the East, where at least 4 or 5 teams will have a worse record than the Mavericks.

No team is as bad as the Lakers...not even in the East.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:33 PM

The Kanter idea for Dallas isn't bad, he seems particularly motivated now being out of Utah.

Of course, I want Portland to make a Kanter offer with a poison pill in the contract making it difficult for OKC to match. I'm guessing that Cuban's lawyers are working on that right now.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:36 PM

Enes Kanter is reportedly in Portland and is preparing to sign an offer sheet with the Blazers.
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 03:39 PM

I rank them 11th. That would make 10 teams better than them on paper and in reality. But, they are much better than Portland, Denver and Minnesota, while the Lakers and Kings are in a different world. That places them 6th in the West. Then, of course, there is the East, where at least 4 or 5 teams will have a worse record than the Mavericks.

No team is as bad as the Lakers...not even in the East.

The Wolves have them beat on the bench, at PG (Rubio), C (Pekovic/ Gieng), and are at least even at PF (Towns), and SF (Wiggnins).
The Kings have them beat on the bench, at PG (Rondo and Collison), C (WCS), PF (Cousins), and are at least even at SF (Gay).
Denver has them beat at PF (Lawson) and C (Nurkic) and could be even at PF (Manimal) and SF (Gallinari).
Portland has them beat on the bench, at PF (Lillard) and at C (Leonard).
The Lakers (assuming they add Hibbert) have them beat at PG (Russell/ Clarkson), SG (Bryant), and C (Hibbert).

Coaching counts for a lot in this league, but not that much.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:40 PM

If I were Cuban, I'd offer Joel Freeland a contract. He would instantly be their #1 Center. There aren't ten Centers in the NBA better Defensively. And, he can hit his free throws. He's only 28 and has improved dramatically every year in the league. (he came late as an international player from Britain).

He was out of Portland's plans because we needed the money to try to lure a max free agent or two at the Center position to try to get Aldridge to change his mind. When that didn't work, we had to go young to match Lillard's age, so he didn't fit in with that, either.

Freeland was far and away our best Defensive Center on the team the last two seasons. He kept getting injured, though, while his recovery time was slower than expected. But, as a committee Center to go along with James, Freeland would be perfect with the Mavs. They need that kind of workman at Center.

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 03:41 PM

Enes Kanter is reportedly in Portland and is preparing to sign an offer sheet with the Blazers.
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter

Kanter's offensive game is really underrated. His defensive game better than advertised (but still bad). If given the minutes (35 or so), he'll get you 20 and 10.

I like his game and think Utah dealt the wrong guy. (Favors would have gotten them more and provides almost exactly what Kanter would have.)

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:43 PM

The Wolves have them beat on the bench, at PG (Rubio), C (Pekovic/ Gieng), and are at least even at PF (Towns), and SF (Wiggnins).
The Kings have them beat on the bench, at PG (Rondo and Collison), C (WCS), PF (Cousins), and are at least even at SF (Gay).
Denver has them beat at PF (Lawson) and C (Nurkic) and could be even at PF (Manimal) and SF (Gallinari).
Portland has them beat on the bench, at PF (Lillard) and at C (Leonard).
The Lakers (assuming they add Hibbert) have them beat at PG (Russell/ Clarkson), SG (Bryant), and C (Hibbert).

Coaching counts for a lot in this league, but not that much.

The Wolves have more talent overall, but the Mavs have a better PF, SF and SG. Parsons had a down year last season. Matthews is a better leader than anyone on the Wolves, and a better 3-pt shooter than anyone on the Wolves, plus a better defender than anyone on the wolves at the 1, 2 or 3 positions. Dirk is still effective as a shooter, rebounder and passer. Barrea is a very good backup, equal to any backup the Wolves have at Guard. I don't see a huge difference in the Coaching, either.

The Wolves have put together a lot of talent. But, like every season with the Wolves, you're always waiting for the talent to turn into production. Can't believe it until I see it. If Minnesota could put that talent to use, they have enough of it to make the playoffs and exit in the 1st Round. I just don't see them making that leap. The mental part of winning always escapes the T-Wolves.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:47 PM

Monroe "officially" signed with the Bucks, so a trade of one of their many Centers (Henson, Pachulia...whom they seem to underate) to Dallas could be an option.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 03:55 PM

Kanter's offensive game is really underrated. His defensive game better than advertised (but still bad). If given the minutes (35 or so), he'll get you 20 and 10.

I like his game and think Utah dealt the wrong guy. (Favors would have gotten them more and provides almost exactly what Kanter would have.)

Anything to screw with OKC works for me. I imagine Portland will go max on the contract on the 23-year old, former #3 overall pick, and OKC will have three days to match. They'll have to trade away players for no money (Novak, Augustine (Dallas?), Perry Jones...that would clear $8.75M) to clear space for Kanter. A max deal for Kanter would be about $40M over 4 years.

I agree that his Defensive Game is better than advertised.

Tom Servo

07-09-2015, 04:06 PM

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 04:08 PM

David Aldridge ✔@daldridgetnt
Offer sheet for Enes Kanter, per source, is a four-year max deal for approximately $70 million, with a player option for year four.
12:57 PM - 9 Jul 2015

Boston Red

07-09-2015, 04:19 PM

The Jazz basically treated getting rid of Kanter like it was addition by subtraction.

Tom Servo

07-09-2015, 04:23 PM

The Jazz basically treated getting rid of Kanter like it was addition by subtraction.
It basically was, they played a lot better after trading him and giving Rudy the keys.

But I think that's just because of the situation itself, not that Kanter is a bad player.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 04:37 PM

Revering4Blue

07-09-2015, 04:38 PM

Speaking of underrated centers (though certainly not at Kanter's level), Jeff Withey remains buried on New Orleans depth chart. I've thought he was a guy who could provide some solid value if he saw more than the minuscule amount of minutes he is afforded.

Good call.

They (New Orleans) re-signed Asik and Ajinca, who provided more production per minute than Asik. Factoring in the decision to play Anthony Davis at center and Ryan Anderson at PF together more often, IMO, it didn't make sense to break the bank to bring back Asik, when Ajinca and Withey could have provided solid production at C for far less prohibitive cost. With the $$$ saved by letting Asik go, the SF position on this unbalanced roster could have been addressed. Don't kid yourselves, that's still an issue for this team.

Then again, Asik cost the Pells a #1 pick in this past draft. Sure, Gentry should be an improvement over Williams as coach, but the biggest issue - Demps as GM - remains.

Revering4Blue

07-09-2015, 04:50 PM

Kanter's offensive game is really underrated. His defensive game better than advertised (but still bad). If given the minutes (35 or so), he'll get you 20 and 10.

I like his game and think Utah dealt the wrong guy. (Favors would have gotten them more and provides almost exactly what Kanter would have.)

In a vacuum, maybe.

With Favors, you have better rim production with Gobert out of the game than with Kanter. It's one reason that Trey Lyles should fit in nicely spelling either Gobert or Favors. On a related note, SG Alec Burks missed most of last year, which didn't help the outside shooting issue at all and a major reason why I tend to underrate the team's poor shooting rap.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 05:05 PM

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 05:11 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
UFA Joel Freeland has advanced in negotiations with the Dallas Mavs on a multi-year deal, but sizable gap on salary, sources tell RealGM.
1:38 PM - 9 Jul 2015

How is this different than what the Clippers did? It's still unprofessional of Freeland to back out unless he had told him that if an NBA team came calling (which I'm sure he did) that he'd have to consider their offer. From Dallas' standpoint, it's as Stray pointed out,....the NBA teams are a collective for the good of all, while overseas teams are not a part of the NBA, so the hands-off after agreement encroachment isn't the same.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 05:19 PM

In a vacuum, maybe.

With Favors, you have better rim production with Gobert out of the game than with Kanter. It's one reason that Trey Lyles should fit in nicely spelling either Gobert or Favors. On a related note, SG Alec Burks missed most of last year, which didn't help the outside shooting issue at all and a major reason why I tend to underrate the team's poor shooting rap.

Gobert is really, really good and needed to be the Starter.

Razor Shines

07-09-2015, 05:28 PM

If Jordan was genuine when he met with Cuban and then genuinely had a change of heart, I have no problem with him going back on his agreement with Dallas. He should have called Cuban and told him he changed his mind but other than that I have no problem. Athletes careers are so short and when they have a moment of leverage they should do what is best for them.

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 06:21 PM

The Wolves have more talent overall, but the Mavs have a better PF, SF and SG. Parsons had a down year last season. Matthews is a better leader than anyone on the Wolves, and a better 3-pt shooter than anyone on the Wolves, plus a better defender than anyone on the wolves at the 1, 2 or 3 positions. Dirk is still effective as a shooter, rebounder and passer. Barrea is a very good backup, equal to any backup the Wolves have at Guard. I don't see a huge difference in the Coaching, either.

The Wolves have put together a lot of talent. But, like every season with the Wolves, you're always waiting for the talent to turn into production. Can't believe it until I see it. If Minnesota could put that talent to use, they have enough of it to make the playoffs and exit in the 1st Round. I just don't see them making that leap. The mental part of winning always escapes the T-Wolves.

PF--Towns and Nowitzki, at this point, is a push, IMO. Nowitzki will play no more than 30 mpg and will likely go somewhere around 17/6/2. Towns will likely play more minutes, score less, rebound far more, pass as well, and defend far better. Nowitzki is a great teammate. So is Towns.

2G-- Kevin Martin's PER was higher than Wes Matthews' last year. And Matthews might not be able to guard a lamp post this season because of his Achilles injury. Too, Kevin Martin actually out-shot Matthews last season, 38% to 39%.

SF-- Wiggins and Parsons is also a push. Perhaps a slight edge to Parsons. Parsons' PER was good last season, but Wiggins really blossomed January forward. I like Wiggins' upside and defensive ability more than Parsons' shooting at this point. But I could see why you might pick Parsons.

PG-- Rubio is far, far better than Barea. It's not close.

Regardless, I think we can both agree that the Wolves' talent level is close to that of Dallas'. That means they're occupying the same space. We agree (I think) that space is in the basement.

At this point, it's just degrees of suck for the Mavs.

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 06:27 PM

Good call.

They (New Orleans) re-signed Asik and Ajinca, who provided more production per minute than Asik. Factoring in the decision to play Anthony Davis at center and Ryan Anderson at PF together more often, IMO, it didn't make sense to break the bank to bring back Asik, when Ajinca and Withey could have provided solid production at C for far less prohibitive cost. With the $$$ saved by letting Asik go, the SF position on this unbalanced roster could have been addressed. Don't kid yourselves, that's still an issue for this team.

Then again, Asik cost the Pells a #1 pick in this past draft. Sure, Gentry should be an improvement over Williams as coach, but the biggest issue - Demps as GM - remains.

Agreed on Asik. He makes no sense for that team. At all.

However, in Tyreke Evans, Gentry has a unique piece that can guard opposing wings. In fact, I'd argue Evans is a far better defensive player on the wing than on PGs. If they can stay healthy, the Pels are going to be good (often despite Asik).

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 06:31 PM

While Kanter hasn't shown to be able to play any Defense according to most sources, I love what he brings to the Blazers (if OKC doesn't match) on Offense.

I want no part of tanking by the Blazers. I also don't think Kanter would make enough of a difference for Portland to still not be a bottom-14 team and keep their 2016 pick. We're talking about how many balls they get in the globe at this point. They can always move up as they've acquired assets this off-season that could develop this season enough to warrant a trade and move up in next year's draft.

I'm tired of going to the games and watching a rebuilding unit. It's not fun. I would rather see more wins and have the G.M. work harder to try to make the roster better than by having an easier road of it with a better lottery pick. The opportunities are there if the G.M. is doing his due diligence. I wanted us to draft Rudy Gobert, if only to give Batum another Frenchie to speak with, and instead we grabbed McCollum. I would have settled for Dieng over McCollum.

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 06:39 PM

Gobert is really, really good and needed to be the Starter.

Gobert is great defensively.

But Utah made the wrong trade. Favors would have netted far more than 10 spots in the draft and the rights to Tibor Pleiss. Kanter is a far better shooter, scorer, rebounder, and slightly worse defender. They give you the same production. Put Kanter next to Gobert, and you've got 45/23/2 with above average defense. Put Favors next to Gobert and you've got 40/20/4 and above average defense.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 06:40 PM

:duel:

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Chandler Parsons said that the reason DeAndre Jordan chose to remain in Los Angeles with the Clippers was because "he wasn't ready to be a franchise player."

"Maybe he got nerves about being a franchise player and having the pressure of leading a team," said Parson when asked why he thought Jordan may have changed his mind. "He’s very comfortable in L.A. He can play behind Chris Paul, play behind Blake Griffin. That’s what I thought he didn’t want... This decision was just way too big for him and he wasn’t ready to be a franchise player." The boos will be deafening when Jordan enters American Airlines Center for the first time next season, still donning a Clippers jersey.

Source: ESPN

Tom Servo

07-09-2015, 06:41 PM

and the rights to Tibor Pleiss.
http://36.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5vsdaVIyP1qh59n0o1_500.png

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 06:42 PM

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 06:46 PM

Here's something interesting...

David Aldridge ✔@daldridgetnt

With DeAndre Jordan going back to the Clippers, Wes Matthews's deal with Dallas goes from 4/$57M to a max deal: 4 years, $70M, per source.
3:38 PM - 9 Jul 2015

David Aldridge ✔@daldridgetnt

That would have happened if Jordan had initially opted 2 stay in L.A. Matthews took less in order 4 Jordan to come. That changed, obviously.
3:41 PM - 9 Jul 2015

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 07:02 PM

The Mavericks are going to love having "The Ironman" around for the next four seasons.

The Blazers took a huge nosedive when Wes went down, showing he was much more valuable to the team than just his great defense and stellar 3-pt shooting.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 09:37 PM

Monroe "officially" signed with the Bucks, so a trade of one of their many Centers (Henson, Pachulia...whom they seem to underate) to Dallas could be an option.

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

The Mavericks are reportedly nearing a deal with the Bucks that will net them Zaza Pachulia.

He's no DeAndre Jordan, but he's better than what they got. Pachulia will be the starting center in Dallas, but that doesn't make him a must-own guy in standard leagues. He posted averages of 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game last season on 45.4 percent shooting from the field. The Mavericks will reportedly send over a second-round pick to Milwaukee to complete the deal.

Source: Marc Stein on Twitter

.........this shouldn't stop them from adding Freeland. The combo of Freeland-Pachulia-James is a very good comination.

Tom Servo

07-09-2015, 10:20 PM

Nets sign former SLU big man and Summer League legend Willie Reed to "a mostly guaranteed" deal. Optimists have Hassan Whiteside visions in their head, I'm not expecting much more than a warm body behind Thomas Robinson, Chris McCullough, and Cory Jefferson.

Mirza Teletovic signs with Phoenix, gonna miss him in BK.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 10:54 PM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

The Mavs acquired center Zaza Pachulia from the Bucks in exchange for a second-round pick.

Pachulia can put up some popcorn numbers and he has shot 81.4 percent from the foul line over his last two seasons. He also managed 1.1 steals per game last season and that offsets his lack of blocks (0.3) to a certain degree. He should play 24-28 mpg this season and that makes him worth a look in the later rounds.

- - - Updated - - -

I don't think the Mavs are done acquiring Centers.

Also, Olshey said in his press-conference when asked if there was a trade in the future before the season begins...."I hope so."

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 10:55 PM

Also, from Rotoworld...

Celtics sign Amir Johnson to two-year, $24 million deal on Thursday.

Johnson has a somewhat fantasy friendly game, particularly in 9-cat leagues, but his constant injury concerns make him a late-round grab at best. Owners drafting players that project to start the year slowly may want to look at him as a stop-gap solution.

Kingspoint

07-09-2015, 11:09 PM

If I had to group them now, I'd go:

(55-60 wins)
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (if they lose Kanter, I flipflop them with Memphis)
4. Memphis Grizzlies

(53-54 wins)
5. Houston Rockets

(50-52 wins)
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Utah Jazz
8. Los Angeles Clippers

(45-49 wins)
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Phoenix Suns

Big gap here.

(30-37 wins)
11. Portland Trailblazers (I don't think adding Kanter moves the needle here...doesn't get them out of this groupiing,... but I hope we can get him.)
12. Minnesota Timberwolves
13. Denver Nuggets

(22-27 wins)
14. Sacramento Kings

(less than 17 wins)
15. Los Angeles Lakers (Lakers will struggle to see 15 wins)

Bourgeois Zee

07-09-2015, 11:48 PM

Stray

07-09-2015, 11:53 PM

Because throughout all of this, there's only been four children who have reneged on verbal agreements,...Hedo, Brand, Boozer and now Jordan. One shouldn't make rules for the exceptions, especially when the exceptions involve immaturity (though my children knew the Golden Rule at a very early age).

I get that it's rare, but I don't get the point of it anyway. Not to say that this was some premeditated plan by the Clippers to torpedo the Mavs organization, but if it were it'd have been played to perfection. With bonus side effects to other teams by the verbal agreement with DJ and the Mavs.

That a premeditated plan could even be possible is enough for me to hate the entire thing. Let the dust settle when dudes are signing their names to contracts. This verbal stuff beforehand makes no sense.

Revering4Blue

07-10-2015, 12:59 AM

In some form, the Kings' two-deep depth chart:

PG
Rondo/ Collison

2G
McLemore/ Bellinelli

SF
Gay/ Casspi

PF
Cousins/ Moreland

C
Cauley-Stein/ Koufos

In Cousins, Gay, and Rondo, the Kings have two former All-Stars and a former Olympian. All three are good enough to have once been considered among the best at their respective positions. Cousins was second in the league in true +/-. Gay had a PER of nearly 20, which ranked sixth among NBA SF starters. Collison's 17.5 PER ranked 16th among PG starters. Belinelli's a nearly 40-percent shooter from deep. Cauley-Stein is a defensive savant and Koufos is a starting-level backup. If McLemore can find his stroke consistently and play like he did the last ten games of the season, the Kings could surprise a whole bunch of people.

Packaging Nick Stauskas in order to rid the roster of Jason Thompson and Carl Landry -- along with their respective contracts -- allowing DMC to spend more time at PF was a wise move. Including a future #1 and the right to swap future picks in said deal to Philly was a ridiculous move, to say the least.

That stated, I really like what they've done to reshape their roster so far. For lineup versatility reasons, I'd like to see someone else warrant minutes at SF, allowing Gay, with his 7'3" wingspan, or Casspi to spend some time as a stretch 4. According to their Summer League roster, which includes several players familiar to College Basketball fans, there may be some worthy candidates, as a 6'5" or 6'6" player with a decent wingspan can at least log SF minutes in today's NBA.

http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2015/7/9/8922457/2015-las-vegas-summer-league-preview-sacramento-kings

Revering4Blue

07-10-2015, 02:03 AM

A look at how the 3rd round might have gone... if there had been one.

http://www.nbadraft.net/nba-draft-3rd-round

Kingspoint

07-10-2015, 03:38 AM

In some form, the Kings' two-deep depth chart:

PG
Rondo/ Collison

2G
McLemore/ Bellinelli

SF
Gay/ Casspi

PF
Cousins/ Moreland

C
Cauley-Stein/ Koufos

In Cousins, Gay, and Rondo, the Kings have two former All-Stars and a former Olympian. All three are good enough to have once been considered among the best at their respective positions. Cousins was second in the league in true +/-. Gay had a PER of nearly 20, which ranked sixth among NBA SF starters. Collison's 17.5 PER ranked 16th among PG starters. Belinelli's a nearly 40-percent shooter from deep. Cauley-Stein is a defensive savant and Koufos is a starting-level backup. If McLemore can find his stroke consistently and play like he did the last ten games of the season, the Kings could surprise a whole bunch of people.

They have to play together and at this point, we have no idea who their Coach is going to be. Karl doesn't want Cousins, and Cousins knows it, but the Kings can't get out of Karl's contract. Team chemistry is more important than baseball, football or soccer. They have to gel together or they can't play Defense. Offense is a struggle if they don't gel together. With so many games on the road and all of the traveling they do together, they have to get along. This franchise is volatile and could implode from week to week. They will not be able to put things in their heads aside enough to focus long enough on a game for 48 minutes and pull out a victory...at least not more than about once every four games. Win one, lose three, will be the pattern.

Kingspoint

07-10-2015, 03:41 AM

I get that it's rare, but I don't get the point of it anyway. Not to say that this was some premeditated plan by the Clippers to torpedo the Mavs organization, but if it were it'd have been played to perfection. With bonus side effects to other teams by the verbal agreement with DJ and the Mavs.

That a premeditated plan could even be possible is enough for me to hate the entire thing. Let the dust settle when dudes are signing their names to contracts. This verbal stuff beforehand makes no sense.

The Clippers were on the verge of trading away Jamal Crawford and blowing up the team. Chris Paul knew this (as I assume he gets informed of every move), and I wouldn't doubt that he led the charge to get this done. Paul wanted no part of a retooling/rebuilding after spending all those years in New Orleans.

- - - Updated - - -

Deron Williams has asked to be released so he can join the Mavs.

Tom Servo

07-10-2015, 09:13 AM

Deron Williams has asked to be released so he can join the Mavs.
Too bad Dallas couldn't woo him away in 2012, I was a fan but he's been such a disappointment. Was never the same player he was with Utah.

KoryMac5

07-10-2015, 11:50 AM

Surgery on both ankles really hampered his explosiveness. Also not sure how Carlisle and Deron would get along as Rondo and Carlisle clashed quite often.

Boston Red

07-10-2015, 12:23 PM

Too bad Dallas couldn't woo him away in 2012, I was a fan but he's been such a disappointment. Was never the same player he was with Utah.

That was such a bizarre situation. He was an absolute STUD with the Jazz. I never thought the Jazz would end up on the better side of that deal, and it turned into a complete trouncing in their favor.

I loved watching him play, but I'll always have some hate in my heart for Deron for causing Jerry Sloan to retire.

Tom Servo

07-10-2015, 06:27 PM

David Aldridge
‏@daldridgetnt
The Nets and Deron Williams have reached a buyout agreement, per source.

David Aldridge ‏@daldridgetnt 1m1 minute ago
Confirming @MazzESPN report: Williams gets $27.5M of remaining $43M from Nets. Nets will use stretch to make his cap number $5.5M thru 2020.

It's official. Sigh. What a waste.

Kingspoint

07-10-2015, 07:29 PM

Matthews will be a peacemaker.

Tom Servo

07-11-2015, 02:57 PM

Joel Embiid will undergo a second surgery on his foot, and he will likely miss the entire 2015-16 season.

So this sets back Hinkie's plan, what, 5-7 years? :help:

Bourgeois Zee

07-11-2015, 03:08 PM

The Sixers still have Noel and Okafor underneath and Saric as a possibility after this season. I like that young core. (None of them are over 21.) Some combination of Thomas Robinson, Carl Landry, and Jason Thompson mean the power spots are well taken care of.

Their issue is the complete lack of wings and guards. They made a great trade for Nik Stauskas, whom I like to play big minutes and play well. Robert Covington looks like a rotation player at wing.

Who else is there?

None of the PGs inspire anything less than pure terror. The shooting guards can't. The wings are broken.

Hinkie had 15 draft picks and whiffed on all but one of them.

Bourgeois Zee

07-11-2015, 07:13 PM

I've been watching the Summer League off and on most of the past two days. It's amazing how much difference a year or two makes in terms of production. Zach LaVine struggled for most of the year last season. Last night, he looked like an All-Star in his first game in the Summer League. What does he get out of playing? Ditto Jordan Clarkson. Both were too good to be playing in this league, Clarkson in particular. (That said, LaVine is currently o-fer in his second SL outing.)

Most over-matched first rounder I've seen so far? Larry Nance, Jr. Kobe might kill him. That's okay: no one would notice.

Kingspoint

07-11-2015, 08:52 PM

Gallen5862

07-12-2015, 04:57 PM

Adrian WojnarowskiVerified account
‏@WojYahooNBA
Undrafted Kentucky guard Aaron Harrison has agreed to a two-year deal with Charlotte, league source tells Yahoo. He has impressed so far.

Tom Servo

07-12-2015, 06:56 PM

Brooklyn Nets ✔@BrooklynNets
#Nets have reached an agreement in principle with free agent F/C Andrea Bargnani, GM Billy King announced today.

Welp...at least it's just the vet minimum.

Bourgeois Zee

07-12-2015, 07:07 PM

Tom Servo

07-13-2015, 10:03 AM

Help I can't stop watching horrible Bargnani gifs

http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3899479/airbargs.gif

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/1961rh2sp2xwmgif/original.gif

http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/528cee4169beddc63598523e/bargnani-defense.gif

Kingspoint

07-13-2015, 01:38 PM

#2 and #3 are hilarious.

Kingspoint

07-13-2015, 01:56 PM

Blazers get Moe Harkless for a future second rounder.

Great deal for Portland. He can play either wing and is a very good defender (something the Blazers look like they're focusing on, Kanter notwithstanding). Too, two years ago, he shot well from deep (38%) before regressing in limited games and minutes last year. (Injuries hurt.) He's still only 22 as well.

In a separate deal, Houston signed Marcus Thornton. That's a good deal for the Rockets. In Houston's offense, Terry would often slide to one corner, while the PF went to the other. Harden would pick and roll with Howard, and Ariza would be the release valve on the left wing. Thornton is a career 42% shooter from the corners and has a quick release. Like the fit here. (Defensively, he sucks, but may try harder in games and minutes that count.)

No Kanter after OKC matches. No problem. It still screwed with OKC, which I like, and puts a little pressure on them financially for the next five seasons (Kanter has a player option). It just means more minutes for Ed Davis, Vonleh, Plumlee, Leonard and Aminu and Harkless (where Harkless can play the 3 with Aminu the 4 in a small-ball grouping).

Give a 1000-1800 minutes to everyone on the roster (except Lillard, who will once again get way too many minutes), see who improves, see who looks like they might fit into Stotts' and Olshey's system, see who looks tradeable, and see who can be a throw-in on a trade for salary-matching purposes. Use the lottery pick they'll have from 2016 to have another active Summer next year, Rinse and Repeat in 2016-17, and then put a roster together the Summer of 2017 (where they may or may not have their 1st Round pick) that can start rising up the standings and make a charge towards the top while Lillard is still in his prime.

Along the way, all I can do is observe the job Stotts does without any judgements as there really is no map, as of yet, for what the Blazers might look like in 2017-18.

I still feel that they'll compete with Minnesota and Denver for the 3rd through 5th worst spots in the Western Conference, though if Minnesota puts it together, they could finish 10 games behind the T-Wolves. The more I look at the Blazers roster and the harder it is to try to find wins next season. On to the 2016 draft....everyone around here is already wanting Simmons.

Bourgeois Zee

07-14-2015, 02:38 PM

Nemanja Bjelica has a cool name. He also has a cool number (88). At 6'10", he has PG skills and can shoot the ball from deep. Good rebounder, fair defender. Just signed with Minnesota.

IMO, he's a steal and fits that team really well as either a sixth man or as a wing. That team is absolutely loaded with talent:

PG Rubio/ LaVine/ T. Jones
2B K. Martin/ S. Muhammad
SF Wiggins/ Bjelica/ Hummel
PF Garnett/ Bennett/ Payne
C Towns/ Gieng/ Pekovic

They're my number league pass team.

Were I Flip, I'd go Rubio, Martin, Wiggins, Towns, and Gieng as starters, with Payne/ Garnett, Pek, Bjelica, Muhammad, and LaVine on the second squad.

Kingspoint

07-14-2015, 03:06 PM

Boston picks up Perry Jones and a 2nd Round pick for presumably another 2nd Round pick (salary purge for OKC).

Perry Jones has some good potential, but is on a roster full of potential in Boston.

Danny Ainge continues to prove that he's one of the Top-5 G.M.'s in the NBA. With 8 1st Round picks over the next three seasons, it's not going to take Boston long to be competing for the Eastern Conference Championship once again.

Tom Servo

07-14-2015, 03:49 PM

Danny Ainge continues to prove that he's one of the Top-5 G.M.'s in the NBA. With 8 1st Round picks over the next three seasons, it's not going to take Boston long to be competing for the Eastern Conference Championship once again.
Word is they are still trying to acquire Danilo Gallinari as well, Jones might be a part of that possible deal with Denver.

Bourgeois Zee

07-14-2015, 04:36 PM

Revering4Blue

07-14-2015, 04:39 PM

Word is they are still trying to acquire Danilo Gallinari as well, Jones might be a part of that possible deal with Denver.

Olynk, Jones and a future first?

Difficult to get a fix on Denver. Chandler is re-signed, Gallinari is on the block, Faried may be moved, but only if Connelly is blown away with an offer. Of course, there's also the Ty Lawson situation, which gets worse by the day. His trade value is low now, I imagine.

Revering4Blue

07-14-2015, 04:51 PM

They'll have to draft better. Ainge's drafts have been underwhelming at best (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Celtics_draft_history).

Sure, Fab Melo was a bust, but it's still hard to believe that Sullinger fell to #21 in 2012, as he's already out-performed most of his draft classmates. The jury is still out and it's too soon to write off Nogueria, even though he's playing elsewhere, or Young.

Not crazy about Rozier at #16 this year, but Hunter at #28 and Mickey at #33 were solid value picks.

When you have at your disposal as many picks and Ainge and Hinke have, if you hit on 50% of your #1s and 20% of your #2s -- and/or they are utilized to bring value via trade -- you've done well.

Bourgeois Zee

07-14-2015, 05:20 PM

Sure, Fab Melo was a bust, but it's still hard to believe that Sullinger fell to #21 in 2012, as he's already out-performed most of his draft classmates. The jury is still out and it's too soon to write off Nogueria, even though he's playing elsewhere, or Young.

Not crazy about Rozier at #16 this year, but Hunter at #28 and Mickey at #33 were solid value picks.

When you have at your disposal as many picks and Ainge and Hinke have, if you hit on 50% of your #1s and 20% of your #2s -- and/or they are utilized to bring value via trade -- you've done well.

The top ten picks have been underwhelming. So have picks in the teens. Picks in the 20s have been solid.

Bourgeois Zee

07-14-2015, 05:27 PM

Olynk, Jones and a future first?

Difficult to get a fix on Denver. Chandler is re-signed, Gallinari is on the block, Faried may be moved, but only if Connelly is blown away with an offer. Of course, there's also the Ty Lawson situation, which gets worse by the day. His trade value is low now, I imagine.

I'm guessing Denver is trying to tie Lawson to Gallinari.

The Celtics have, at last count, 112 point guards on their roster. (And not one of them can shoot.)

Tom Servo

07-14-2015, 05:51 PM

The top ten picks have been underwhelming.
Not a very big sample size, no? Only 3 top ten picks in Ainge's 12 years with Boston.

Dumping Rondo on Dallas and getting back Jae Crowder, who looks like another Demarre Carroll, was brilliant.

Bourgeois Zee

07-14-2015, 06:14 PM

Kingspoint

07-14-2015, 06:19 PM

They'll have to draft better. Ainge's drafts have been underwhelming at best (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Celtics_draft_history).

Rozier and Mickey Jordan were excellent picks.

Kingspoint

07-14-2015, 06:22 PM

Since the C's won the championship, Ainge has drafted exactly two players-- Smart and Sullinger-- who own a positive VORP. That's a 20% success rate. James Young is smelling like a bust just one year after Bill Simmons called him the steal of the draft. This year, Rozier was an overdraft and Hunter's a shooter who can't shoot.

Hunter is a great shooter. Dude can flat out shoot. Hunter will struggle with other things, but shooting isn't one of them. Rozier isn't an overdraft if he ends up being good and I can't see a scenario where he isn't going to be good. He has intelligence and a lot of natural ability.

Tom Servo

07-14-2015, 06:23 PM

Mitch Lawrence
‏@Mitch_Lawrence
Denver Nuggets considering waiving Ty Lawson after latest DUI arrest, per #NBA sources. Lawson has two years, $25.6 mil left on contract.

Kingspoint

07-14-2015, 06:24 PM

I'm guessing Denver is trying to tie Lawson to Gallinari.

The Celtics have, at last count, 112 point guards on their roster. (And not one of them can shoot.)

Smart can shoot. His range will increase as the years go on just like any other Point Guard or player in the NBA.

Revering4Blue

07-14-2015, 08:05 PM

Not a very big sample size, no? Only 3 top ten picks in Ainge's 12 years with Boston.

Dumping Rondo on Dallas and getting back Jae Crowder, who looks like another Demarre Carroll, was brilliant.

And Brandon Wright, of whom Ainge turned into another first rounder.

Kingspoint

07-15-2015, 04:02 AM

Cuban was asked in an interview at the Summer League on Sunday, "You've been around a long time now...you're no longer the young, new owner. How do you see things now in the league?"

Cuban--"The owners are a lot smarter now. There used to be a lot of owner who just inherited the team from their dad. They were pretty stupid and didn't know what they were doing. Now you have guys who headed hedgefunds and they're all into analytics and are good with numbers. I liked it when the other owners were stupid."

That was paraphrasing, but I'm sure it's available somewhere on youtube. But, I got the theme of his comments.

The first thing that I think of is, "Hello, Mike Brown!....owner of 26 years in a row without a playoff win." Inbred sports ownership at it's finest.

Boston Red

07-15-2015, 10:09 AM

538.com weighs in on Kanter. Their verdict? He's not particularly good.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/enes-kanter-may-be-one-of-the-last-players-to-cash-in-on-hollow-numbers/

Kingspoint

07-15-2015, 11:02 AM

538.com weighs in on Kanter. Their verdict? He's not particularly good.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/enes-kanter-may-be-one-of-the-last-players-to-cash-in-on-hollow-numbers/
Yeah, most analytics, as Borgious Zee could testify, rate him at the bottom of the league among Centers Defensively, some historically at the bottom Defensively. But, he's only 23. He can only get better. He'll have much better Coaching tgan before. He was with Snyder for only half a season. Hs Offense is already elite among Centers a the age of 23. That, too, will only get better. He would have averaged 7-8 baskets per game the next two seasons for the Blazers. The only Blazers who wil average 5 per game this year will be Dame (probably 8-9), and McCollum (probably 5-6). This would have relieved a lot of pressure off of those two on the Offensive end even though he's a bad match with those two on the Defensive end. It's difficult to get baskets in 4th quarters in the NBA, and Kanter can get them in a variety of ways.

It's a win-win for Portland. It makes OKC shell out a lot of money for five years, keeps Steven Adams off the floor (and perhaps not affordable...do it again with Adams), gives Plumlee, Leonard, Davis and Vonleh more minutes, and keeps flexibilty in the Blazers roster. Still would have rather had him, but Olshey and I are in the minority here in Portland.

Stray

07-18-2015, 12:54 PM

Nice to see Kilpatrick have such a good summer league. Hope he gets a chance to make an opening day NBA roster.

Revering4Blue

07-19-2015, 09:47 PM

The Nuggets have reportedly agreed to a trade that will send Ty Lawson to the Rockets.

The Rockets will send over a protected first-round pick to Denver in addition to Kostas Papanikolaou, Pablo Prigioni, Joey Dorsey and Nick Johnson. Emmanuel Mudiay will now be the starting point guard in Denver, so his value gets a major boost with this news. Patrick Beverley, on the other hand, will now come off the bench in Houston, so his value takes a pretty big hit with the arrival of Lawson. The Rockets are really buying low here, and it'll be interesting to see how James Harden and Lawson can co-exist.

Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter per Rotoworld.

Revering4Blue

07-20-2015, 02:08 PM

A 2013 re-draft. Guess who goes #1.

http://pressbreak.sportsblog.com/posts/2837763/ranking-the-2013-nba-draft-prospects.html

BillDoran

07-20-2015, 02:50 PM

A 2013 re-draft. Guess who goes #1.

http://pressbreak.sportsblog.com/posts/2837763/ranking-the-2013-nba-draft-prospects.html

I'm as excited about Giannis as anyone, but this feels like buying the hype. There's a lot to dream on, what with the crazy size, work ethic and youth. There's still some upside to be realized obviously, which is scary after the jump he made from year one to year two. I think he becomes a defensive monster that might not provide a ton on the offensive end. Perhaps he becomes a facilitator, but I wonder if that shot will ever come around or he'll ever fill out enough to do damage in the paint. I can see him becoming Scottie Pippen-lite, but can't help but shake thoughts of a disappointing ultra-athlete like Anthony Randolph. He's also got to learn to play under control. He was second in the NBA in personal fouls last year.

It's also obviously a pretty weak draft class, but give me Nerlens Noel or Rudy Gobert over Antetokounmpo.

Bourgeois Zee

07-20-2015, 03:26 PM

I think you could argue for any of the three. The issue is how difficult it is to quantify defense.

At this point, Antetokounmpo is basically a poor man's MKG.
Gobert's Mark Eaton with a bit better offensive skill set.
And Noel is some unquantifiable mix of the two.

For that reason, I'd lean toward Noel. He's great inside and out of the court. He blocks and steals at levels no 20 year old has ever done.

BillDoran

07-20-2015, 03:54 PM

I think you could argue for any of the three. The issue is how difficult it is to quantify defense.

I think Defensive Rating does a pretty good job of quantifying impact. Certainly not perfect (and exceptionally convoluted), but I was looking at this weekend and was surprised how well it seemed to align with my subjective recollections (e.g. Ben Wallace has DRtg in the 80s for a few seasons). Again, I think there's improvement to be made, but I like it better than any baseball defensive metric.

At this point, Antetokounmpo is basically a poor man's MKG.

Beg to differ there. Antetokounmpo is every bit MKG's equal. I think he gives you a bit more on the offensive end, and his length causes problems that few in the NBA can. MKG is a bigger Tony Allen. Despite my pessimism, Giannis is jumbo Tony Allen and a lottery ticket on the offensive end.

Bourgeois Zee

07-20-2015, 04:30 PM

Antetokounmpo is every bit MKG's equal. I think he gives you a bit more on the offensive end, and his length causes problems that few in the NBA can. MKG is a bigger Tony Allen. Despite my pessimism, Giannis is jumbo Tony Allen and a lottery ticket on the offensive end.

MKG's DRPM is more than two full points ahead of Antetokounmpo's. Kidd-Gilchrist is a defensive stopper who plays the opposing team's best wing player every minute he's on the court. The Greek Freak doesn't do that. Most often, he uses those go-go gadget arms of his to block a shot or, to a far lesser extent, steal a pass. In Kidd's deflection and press-heavy defensive sets, Antetokounmpo should be a disruptive force. He's not. He's above average, but only because his tools are so incredible. Once he figures out defensive alignments and offensive sets, he might get better. He'll have to work at it; having seen him 40+ times this year, he tends to trust his arms but not move his feet. He's a lazy defender, but one with remarkably long arms and strides. MKG, on the other hand, moves his feet as well as any wing in the NBA not named Tony Allen. In a more aggressive defense with a legitimate shot blocker at the basket (or even a nominally decent defensive player at either power forward or center), he'd be in that same breath as Kawhi Leonard, Allen, and Draymond Green. As is, he's pretty much the only quality defender on his team. (Biyombo was good, but he played less than 20 mpg.)

I will freely acknowledge that MKG struggles with the outside shot. But his offensive rating is actually one point higher than his counterpart in Milwaukee. I would also like to acknowledge that playing next to Jared Dudley, Jabari Parker, Brandon Knight, Ersan Ilyasova, Khris Middleton, and other shooters makes it far easier for Antetokounmpo than playing next to Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker, Lance Stephenson, and Gerald Henderson does for Kidd-Gilchrist. Antetokounmpo has better tools at this point, but his three-point shot is broken. It's similar to Kidd-Gilchrist's shot from his rookie year. It'll need a complete tear down and overhaul to even be respectful. That limits him, IMO, to an MKG-like offensive game. BTW, Kidd-Gilchrist's improvement arc is impressive. He took enough mid-range shots last year to actually be a threat and hit on 50% of his shots from 10 - 16 and 37% of shots from 16 feet to the three-point line. IMO, he's a sleeper to really break out this year as an All-Star level wing. Let a few shots fall early, and he'll end up on everyone's short list.

BillDoran

07-20-2015, 07:39 PM

MKG's DRPM is more than two full points ahead of Antetokounmpo's. Kidd-Gilchrist is a defensive stopper who plays the opposing team's best wing player every minute he's on the court. The Greek Freak doesn't do that. Most often, he uses those go-go gadget arms of his to block a shot or, to a far lesser extent, steal a pass. In Kidd's deflection and press-heavy defensive sets, Antetokounmpo should be a disruptive force. He's not. He's above average, but only because his tools are so incredible. Once he figures out defensive alignments and offensive sets, he might get better. He'll have to work at it; having seen him 40+ times this year, he tends to trust his arms but not move his feet. He's a lazy defender, but one with remarkably long arms and strides. MKG, on the other hand, moves his feet as well as any wing in the NBA not named Tony Allen. In a more aggressive defense with a legitimate shot blocker at the basket (or even a nominally decent defensive player at either power forward or center), he'd be in that same breath as Kawhi Leonard, Allen, and Draymond Green. As is, he's pretty much the only quality defender on his team. (Biyombo was good, but he played less than 20 mpg.)

I will freely acknowledge that MKG struggles with the outside shot. But his offensive rating is actually one point higher than his counterpart in Milwaukee. I would also like to acknowledge that playing next to Jared Dudley, Jabari Parker, Brandon Knight, Ersan Ilyasova, Khris Middleton, and other shooters makes it far easier for Antetokounmpo than playing next to Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker, Lance Stephenson, and Gerald Henderson does for Kidd-Gilchrist. Antetokounmpo has better tools at this point, but his three-point shot is broken. It's similar to Kidd-Gilchrist's shot from his rookie year. It'll need a complete tear down and overhaul to even be respectful. That limits him, IMO, to an MKG-like offensive game. BTW, Kidd-Gilchrist's improvement arc is impressive. He took enough mid-range shots last year to actually be a threat and hit on 50% of his shots from 10 - 16 and 37% of shots from 16 feet to the three-point line. IMO, he's a sleeper to really break out this year as an All-Star level wing. Let a few shots fall early, and he'll end up on everyone's short list.

Good stuff. Before I posted, I looked at both MKG and Antetokounmpo's shooting stats as well and was surprised by the similarities. In some ways Giannis regressed as a shooter (but it also looks like Kidd altered his offensive assignment). He took only about a third as many threes last season as the year prior and his 3P% plummeted as well (.347 versus .139). I had also assumed Antetokounmpo's usage rate would be higher than MKG's, but they're very similar over the past two seasons. Even with his own broken shot though, Giannis seems to have a brighter future on the offensive end as he seems to facilitate better (AST% 13.1 to MKG's 8.2) while posting a better TS% (.552 to .519). I expect a sharper learning curve for him as well. Giannis isn't necessarily a basketball neophyte having come up in the youth program of a Greek club, but in no way does it compare to the American amateur basketball system, especially for a big name recruit (MKG was about as big as it gets, playing for a powerhouse high school at St. Patrick's, AAU Team Final and Calipari's Kentucky).

You make good points on each's defensive assignments and effort. Not familiar with DRPM, but Antetokounmpo has MKG beat by two points per 100 minutes, and he made a big jump from his rookie season to his second (110 versus 101).

All told though, I think I fell victim to the same hype that I tweaked in the original article. The highlight reel defensive plays and the enthusiasm over his length got the better of me. And MKG is turning into a really nicely complementary player. When MKG's shooting numbers didn't make a big jump after working with Mark Price, I suppose I kinda wrote him off as an impact player in the league.

Kingspoint

07-20-2015, 08:25 PM

BillDoran

07-20-2015, 08:43 PM

MKG is going to benefit greatly playing with Batum. Batum makes everyone's game better that he plays with, even if he sulks at times about his own Offensive game. You can pencil in 5-6 assists per night for Batum this season, along with 6.5+ rebounds per night (all from the #2 position...to me, the position he should have been playing all along in Portland with Matthews coming off the bench as a 6th man...the bench would have been so much better with Matthews on it, and we also would have drafted Adams instead of McCollum...what a difference this would have made!). As a #2, I'm wondering if Batum will have fewer games where he takes less than 10 (and fewer games where he takes less than 7) shots per game, as there must be some expectation for him to score more. The expectations last year when Matthews went down didn't change Batum's play, so I'm not holding out hope that it does this time. But, new team, playing for the mega-contract next season, should be enough to make this Batum's best season, yet.

As a big Batum fan, I hope he does well and am looking forward to watching as many Charlotte games as I can this season.

Batum always defended the team's best Offensive player with Matthews on the team, from the Point to the PF, and this shouldn't change with MKG. They will be fun to watch.

It'll be fun to track Batum this year. He got a bit of a bad wrap in Rip City. In moving into the starting lineup at a really young age for a veteran-minded HC in McMillan, I think that set fairly unattainable expectations from the outset. He's very good defensively, developed a good stroke (until this season) and is an excellent offensive player, if not a big scorer. Very fluid offensively and is phenomenal in moving the ball. I hope they give him more of a chance to facilitate in Charlotte, because when he's engaged he's at the cusp of All Star caliber. I often wonder whether his family life (the ugly divorce and his affection for his home country) had something to do with his rough year.

Kingspoint

07-20-2015, 09:18 PM

I often wonder whether his family life (the ugly divorce and his affection for his home country) had something to do with his rough year.

I think it was everything. I posted in December on the blazers' website that Stotts should order him home to France and not come back until he's rested. He was doing the team no favors playing the way he had been. After the All-Star break Batum stated flatly (after watching Matthews in the 3-pt contest in New York and then vacationing on the beach in Mexico without his cell phone) that he got to relax and rest and that his bad play was because he didn't take any time off in the Summer. I saw it as he finally got to clear his head from the messy divorce that he was still in the middle of and still is dealing with it. Nobody on the blog believed this but me, but Batum has always been so sensitive. If anyone could use a fresh start in a new city, it's Batum. And, to get away from the memories of Portland is a good thing.

Kingspoint

07-22-2015, 02:13 AM

While I think it's great and badly overdue that the NBA has finally embraced analytics, I want to caution that it's still in the infancy stage of coming up with ways to measure production, especially on the Defensive end, which theoretically, is 50% of a person's impact on the court.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum rate above average to average in many Defensive analytics, but anyone watching them play know for certain that they both belong at the bottom of the NBA among Guards Defensively.

Here's something about one particular analytic that a poster on blazersedge wrote up. It was a very good post:

I believe the Blazers more aggressively covered for Lillard's flaws yes
But it’s a huge non sequitur to then conclude that "the Blazers, with Lillard on the floor, were better defensively in those situations than the Grizzlies with Conley", although you need to understand what the Synergy stat is actually saying there to understand why.

The stat is ONLY tracking possessions where Lillard gets picked is involved in a pick and roll, and the immediate play results in a FGA or TO, and that’s completely independent of any help defense on the play. If Lillard gets completely wiped out on a pick, ends up 5 yards behind the play, and Robin Lopez blocks the shot, he gets credit for defending the "P&R ball handler". If Lillard’s man instead dumps the ball off to the wide open roll man, Lillard gets zero blame and Lopez is responsible for the PPP defending the "P&R roll man". If instead Batum has to dig down off his man to cover and the PG instead kicks it out to the corner for a wide open 3, Synergy then assigns Batum culpability for the play.

In each of those outcomes, Lillard is primarily responsible for a breakdown, but in none of them does he get the blame, and in one he even gets the credit for another player’s help defense. Paradoxically, the way Synergy charts plays, it’s almost better to be a terrible defender, because the resulting chain reaction of defensive breakdowns usually mean someone else’s man ends up with the final shot. Because the guys who do the Synergy charting only track the final action of the play.

Which leads to the main problem here. The stats literally ignore the rest of the defensive possession. If a team tries three P&R’s that all get snuffed out for the first 18 seconds of the possession, before resorting to a rushed iso as the clock winds down, literally zero credit is given for defending those pick and rolls.

This fact is somewhat apparent by looking at the the total # of plays tracked listed. According to the data Lillard defended a total of 532 P&R’s in 82 games this year, which would be roughly 6.5/game. Or, to put if differently, Damian defended one pick and roll every 5.5 minutes he was on the court. Not exactly plausible to any observer who has watched more than 10 minutes of NBA games in the past 5 years.

So really, the synergy data does a very poor job of identifying defensive responsibility for plays while flat out ignoring the majority of NBA defensive action. Unless they completely overhauled how they chart plays in the two years since they last offered their product to the public (a dubious assumption), there’s just no real reason to put much weight in these stats at all.

Gallen5862

07-22-2015, 12:24 PM

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nba/269238/report-tyler-hansbrough-to-sign-w-hornets

The Hornets have reportedly agreed to terms with free agent big man Tyler Hansbrough.

Hansbrough, who played for North Carolina in college, seems ready to join a somewhat crowded frontcourt that already includes Al Jefferson, Cody Zeller, Spencer Hawes and rookie Frank Kaminsky. Hansbrough averaged 11.0 points and 5.2 points during the 2010-11 season but his stats have trended down ever since, and he'd be unlikely to earn more than 15-20 minutes per game coming off Steve Clifford's bench.

Tom Servo

07-22-2015, 04:51 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1136&v=Zp6nAQTK6i8

go to 18:56, it is amazing

BillDoran

07-22-2015, 08:04 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1136&v=Zp6nAQTK6i8

go to 18:56, it is amazing

Anyone who thinks Kobe isn't an anchor on that organization right now is kidding themselves. He's preposterously overpaid. Nobody wants to play with him. And the locker room is a mess largely due to his personality. All for a 37-year-old who's played 41 games over the past two seasons. Cut him (and his massive ego) loose, Mitch.

dougdirt

07-25-2015, 09:38 AM

Josh Smith might have to live in a homeless shelter after signing his new deal and only making $6.9M this year after earning just $94M prior to this season.

Dude's got a family.

texasdave

07-28-2015, 01:58 PM

texasdave

07-28-2015, 01:59 PM

Josh Smith might have to live in a homeless shelter after signing his new deal and only making $6.9M this year after earning just $94M prior to this season.

Dude's got a family.

Perhaps he can move in with Latrell Sprewell and split the rent.

Bourgeois Zee

07-28-2015, 02:45 PM

Anyone want to throw their team rankings at this point, after most of the free agents and trade acquisitions have been made? Summer winners and summer losers? That sort of thing.

I like the Rockets too much to be totally objective. I can't turn that off. In the East I think Washington battles the Cavs. I love John Walls' game. In the West, if I take Houston out of the equation, I'd put money on the Spurs over the Warriors. I think Memphis could sneak in there.

For ROY, Jahlil Okafor. Although, I think a couple of others will probably have better careers.

West Playoff Teams:
1. San Antonio
2. Golden State
3. Houston
4. Oklahoma City
5. La Clippers
6. Memphis
7. New Orleans
8. Phoenix
________

9. Sacramento
10. Utah
11. Minnesota
12. Portland
13. Dallas
14. LA Lakers
15. Denver

East Playoff Teams:
1. Cleveland
2. Chicago
3. Washington
4. Atlanta
5. Miami
6. Milwaukee
7. Indiana
8. Charlotte
______
9. Toronto
10. Boston
11. Orlando
12. Detroit
13. Brooklyn
14. New York
15. Philadelphia

All-NBA Team:
A. Davis (MVP)
D. Cousins
L. James
R. Westbrook
K. Durant

ROY: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota

NBA Champs: Cleveland

Kingspoint

07-31-2015, 10:00 PM

From Rotoworld:

Bernard James will sign with the Shanghai Sharks.

Sarge was with the Mavericks last year and had hoped to return next year.

Source:*Mike Scotto on Twitter

I'm very surprised by this. James showed to me that his Defense in the middle was worthy of 15-20 minutes per game this year for the Mavs. perhaps the plethora of free agent attention to Centers by Cuban the last month discouaged him into making this leap to China. I would love to have him on the Blazers. I'm pretty sure he wasn't a UDFA, but a RFA.

Kingspoint

08-06-2015, 02:45 PM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will reportedly sign the Bucks arena bill next week.

The bill will provide $250 million of taxpayer money to help fund the Bucks' new arena and Walker plans to sign the deal on August 12. While the figure could climb to $400 million when interest is factored in, the new arena will keep the Bucks in Milwaukee for the foreseeable future.

Source: ESPN

Revering4Blue

08-06-2015, 10:06 PM

The Celtics’ best move this offseason was the one they didn’t make.

http://prosportsdaily.com/Headlines/ExternalArticle?articleId=367992

Tom Servo

08-06-2015, 10:09 PM

Dante Exum tore his ACL, guess we won't have an answer to the debate over his skill level this year.

Kingspoint

08-07-2015, 02:55 PM

The Celtics’ best move this offseason was the one they didn’t make.

http://prosportsdaily.com/Headlines/ExternalArticle?articleId=367992

Yeah, during Summer League I was watching Brent Barry work a game between Portland and Boston and Ainge sat down to have a conversation (but his eyes never came off the floor as the game was going on). While Ainge proudly acknowledged the volume of golf he was getting in at Las Vegas (was wearing golfing attire at the time), he sounded relieved that Jordan turned down his massive offer for the #9 pick (once again showing why Jordan has no business running a franchise). Ainge flat out said that he made a mistake in offering too much for the pick. Reminds me of Mike Brown turning down all of New Orleans' picks because he just had to have Akili Smith.

Ainge doesn't make mistakes like this too often. But, anyone who takes as many chances as Ainge does is going to make a few. Most G.M.'s sit on their butts doing nothing, spending their entire tenures worrying about how best to keep their job. Ainge worries about one thing: how to win more Championships. You'd think that would be the goal of most G.M.'s, but it's rarely the goal of any of them. Most of them in the past have been lemmings without a creative bone in their bodies. Fortunately, for the fans, there's a new group of owners and G.M.'s who are more willing to make trades and risk being fired (or injuring their relationship with a fickle fan base).

Kingspoint

08-07-2015, 03:35 PM

If you're another G.M. trying to rebuild your roster, Ainge should be the #1 number on your speed dial as he has so many assets compiled that he has to give some of them away every year. He's already got a crowded roster. With the possible infusion of 3-4 new players each year, there's plenty of opportunity to acquire some talent from Boston. You're not going to get the better of Ainge, but you won't have to overpay, either, while there's definitely a pipeline of talent available. The Blazers have already acquired Phil Pressey, who has a very good chance of beating out Tim Frazier (last year's D-League MVP and ROY) for 3rd PG duties behind Lillard and McCollum. It's all about getting better brick-by-brick.

Kingspoint

08-11-2015, 04:57 PM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Knicks president Phil Jackson said Andrea Bargnani is "a big tease."

"When he was injured he refused to do simple non-contact activities like dummy our offense in practice," Jackson said. "He seemed to be a malingerer and this had a bad effect on the team, and also on the way the Knicks fans reacted to him. When he was on the court, he had a hard time staying intense, didn't hustle back in offense-to-defense transition, wasn't active enough in defending screen-rolls." Andrea "The Big Tease" Bargnani will likely get some backup center minutes with the Nets this season.

Source: ESPN NY (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13355566/the-phil-files-part-7-final-evaluations)

Wow!

Kingspoint

10-05-2015, 03:24 PM

Stray

10-27-2015, 09:16 AM

Gets started tonight, should be a fun season.

Kingspoint

10-28-2015, 11:30 PM

Enjoying a 70-43 halftime lead as Portland tries to win it's 15th consecutive home opener.

Revering4Blue

10-29-2015, 12:39 AM

The Grizzlies looked like one of those gawd awful early 90's Maverick teams tonight at home against the Cavs, losing by 40.

A couple of surprises:

The Knicks win by 25 in Milwaukee. The Bucks were without Alphabet and Parker, but NY didn't have Afflalo. Derrick Williams, for once, looked like a lottery talent.

Nuggets 105, Rockets 85 in Houston. Yeah, Houston was without Howard and Montiejunas and I love their roster when (if) healthy, but the Nuggets were without Chandler and Nurkic. Tanking? Nah.

Revering4Blue

10-29-2015, 12:54 AM

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist needs right shoulder surgery and he will likely miss the entire season.

His initial timetable for recovery is six months, leaving a slight possibility that he'll return in early-to-mid April. This is devastating news for MKG and the Hornets, who inked him to a four-year, $52 million extension this summer. Nicolas Batum will likely have to fill the void at SF with Jeremy Lamb, P.J. Hairston, Troy Daniels and possibly Jeremy Lin all chipping in at SG. Marvin Williams could also spend more time at SF but there are no easy answers for Charlotte.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

This a real shame, and a huge loss, and it showed tonight against Miami. And the problem is now compounded by the inane decision not to take Boston's draft day offer just so they could draft Kaminsky, when Winslow was still on the board. One of their bigs (Zeller?) is going to have to go in order to acquire wing help.

Revering4Blue

10-29-2015, 12:56 AM

Enjoying a 70-43 halftime lead as Portland tries to win it's 15th consecutive home opener.

37 for McCollum.

This will be a short reloading period for the Blazers, I suspect.

Big Red Smokey

10-29-2015, 06:20 AM

Nice win for the Twolves.

Kingspoint

10-29-2015, 01:41 PM

37 for McCollum.

This will be a short reloading period for the Blazers, I suspect.
I've attended about 1000 NBA games....seen 50+ point outings, but he was the hottest I've ever seen a player. 22 in the 1st from every angle and distance. Only his 4th career start. I think he just Pipped Gerald Henderson, who was supposed to be the starter this year. McCollum was emotional after the game talking about opportunity...he had two bad injuries...his senior year in college and his rookie year in the NBA...then the trade for Afflalo and the signing of Henderson.

Ed Davis is determined to have 10 rebounds a night.

Aminu will be better than Batum.

Meyers Leonard is one of the most efficient players in the NBA.

Vonleh will be a Starter in two years, .but I don't know how that effects Plumlee, Davis and Leonard.

Moe Harkless has a high basketball IQ and great length.

Stotts is under-rated.

Lillard is a leader.

Stray

11-08-2015, 11:55 PM

Seeing Kobe struggle like he has is kinda sad.

Rojo

11-11-2015, 08:55 PM

Not NBA, but I thought this was pretty funny.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/three-point-revolution-basketball-video_56438315e4b045bf3ded5964?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00 000592

Revering4Blue

11-21-2015, 08:50 PM

Simple question:

Was the firing of Kevin McHale as Rockets coach after only 11 games - some without Dwight Howard, Terrance Jones, and all without Donatas Motiejunas - a knee-jerk reaction?

Tom Servo

11-24-2015, 05:00 PM

Simple question:

Was the firing of Kevin McHale as Rockets coach after only 11 games - some without Dwight Howard, Terrance Jones, and all without Donatas Motiejunas - a knee-jerk reaction?
Yes.

Not a kneejerk reaction: Going on Year 3, I'm really starting to believe the Sam Hinkie 'Process' is ultimately a long journey to nowhere.

Bourgeois Zee

11-24-2015, 05:58 PM

I'm really starting to believe the Sam Hinkie 'Process' is ultimately a long journey to nowhere.

Well, to be fair, they've been able to make tens of millions simply because Hinkie won't spend any money on good players.

Revering4Blue

11-24-2015, 06:58 PM

Well, to be fair, they've been able to make tens of millions simply because Hinkie won't spend any money on good players.

Virtualy any free agent Hinkie could have signed wouldn't have been able to move the needle, amounting to, by comparison, the Reds signing Eric Milton in '05. You start adding free agents once the core is in place.

The way to build a young core and lock them up is before they are established stars. That entails doing precisely what Hinkie, who's robbed everyone blind via trades, is doing. It only looks this bad because: Noel missed one year, Embiid hasn't played yet, and Saric will arrive next year. Tony Wroten has been out this year, also.

Plus, they'll have up to four first rounders - likely two top five - in a loaded draft, and Saric coming over. Frankly, Hinkie was wise to sell high on Michael Carter-Williams, as keeping him would have maybe amounted to, what, three more wins last year. With as many picks as the Sixers have, Hinkie only needs to hit on 50% of first rounders and 20% of 2nd rounders for a contending core to be in place.

Bourgeois Zee

11-24-2015, 07:09 PM

Virtualy any free agent Hinkie could have signed wouldn't have been able to move the needle, amounting to, by comparison, the Reds signing Eric Milton in '05. You start adding free agents once the core is in place.

He's had enough money to buy not one or two, but three difference-makers in free agency. The past two years, he's had to pay his players more because he chose not to buy anyone. At all.

And I'd argue vehemently against this type of tanking simply by pointing to his roster. Noel is serviceable. Okafor can score.

That's all he has to show for three years of GM'ing.

And that sucks, injuries or not.

Tom Servo

11-24-2015, 07:32 PM

I think Embiid being healthy and effective was a huge part of the plan and now that's circling the drain. And it's questionable whether that was something worth banking on or not.

Like BZ said, what he has to show so far going into his third year are some guys who any team could and would have taken that high in the draft, it's not like Hinkie shrewdly selected some huge difference maker nobody else appreciated. He did draft some injured players which, and as the Blazers found out from Sam Bowie and Greg Oden, turns out that doesn't always work out so great! Maybe if he turns over some stones with the next draft or makes a really nice trade things will look differently, but it sure seems like all of the losing isn't getting them any closer to any winning, just more losing.

Revering4Blue

11-24-2015, 08:48 PM

He's had enough money to buy not one or two, but three difference-makers in free agency. The past two years, he's had to pay his players more because he chose not to buy anyone. At all.

And I'd argue vehemently against this type of tanking simply by pointing to his roster. Noel is serviceable. Okafor can score.

That's all he has to show for three years of GM'ing.

And that sucks, injuries or not.

What about Dario Saric, who would have gone top five in this past draft?

What about stealing Nik Stauskas from the inept Kings organization, who, at the very least - along with Jeremi Grant and Robert Covington - will be a solid rotation player, star or not?

Don't you think it's a little too early to write off Embiid from ever contributing to this franchise?

The only assets Hinkie's given up are Jrue Holiday, of whom the Pelicans drastically overpaid for, and Michael Carter-Williams. T.J O'Connell is averaging more assists per game than MCW, and can actually shoot. This is a point guard loaded draft, anyway.

Sure, Hinkie could have signed, for example, Robin Lopez and Aaron Afflalo, but why do so when Okafor and Stauskas possess higher upsides? You're going to be in the lottery, likely with two picks there, and own up to four first rounders anyway? A GM needs to make moves in the best long term interests of the franchise, not to pacify little Johnny, who owns an Evan Turner jersey.

That stated, Tom makes a good point about Embiid. But they've got that covered with Okafor, but, IMO, Embiid's status prevented them from swinging for the fences with Porzingis, as he and Noel would be a sick pair up front.

Anyway, Hinkie doesn't necessarily need to emerge from this draft with Ben Simmons, but it is imperative that he lands at least two difference makers, and I don't see how he won't. Then, he'll start augmenting the roster with "B" level free agents, as the Thunder did once the young core was in place.

Bourgeois Zee

11-24-2015, 09:13 PM

You're really high on a shooting guard who's shooting 33% from the floor one year after shooting 35% and is almost one full win below replacement level.

In fact, you're banking on a lot of maybe's as sure things.

Hinkie screwed up when he drafted Embiid. He knew the risks, gambled, and lost.

Noel was a good trade.

Okafor is decent offensively. But he gives back all of it (plus some) defensively.

Saric is a cypher. No one knows what he's going to do, or, if he does decide Philly is his kind of place, whether he'll be any good.

Hinkie's found a couple of decent role players, true.

With the 20 picks he's had, he ought to have more than that to show for it.

Revering4Blue

11-24-2015, 11:54 PM

I'm going to stop short of accusing you of moving the goalposts, but when did I suggest Stauskas, Saric and other players are sure things? Merely, that it's too early to judge.

If it makes any sense, IMO, questioning Hinkie's execution of the plan - whether he could have done better drafting wise in totality so far - has merit. Questioning the "plan" itself doesn't.

When Hinkie took over, largely thanks to the disastrous '12 Bynam trade and other ill-fated deals, the 76ers were stuck on that perpetual 7th or 8th playoff spot ceiling treadmill, owing several draft picks to various teams with a great deal $$$ tied up in fungible players - Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner and the like. It only made sense to tear it down and recoup draft picks and young talent. It's not logical to argue otherwise.

This may surprise you, but I actually didn't and don't agree with certain draft day moves. I don't blame him all for drafting Embiid, injury risk and all, as he was the player on the board at the time with the highest upside - just like Noel, when he was taken in '13 - when they were not going to be able to escape the lottery last year, anyway.

I, as many others do, question whether Okafor and Noel can co-exist together long term on the front line. Pure speculation, nothing scientific: I believe that Hinkie really wanted D'Angelo Russell, and in drafting Okafor, went against his grain of drafting the best player available, going for a safe bet that would contribute from day one. Were I Hinkie, owing to the fact that certain players on the board - Justic Winslow, in particular - were coveted by teams, like Boston, with multiple first rounders in the '15 draft alone, I would have traded down for considerable value or, as I stated, swung for the fences with Porzingis. I also would have grabbed some guards, one of the Harrison twins, for example, in the second round, though I do like the addition of PFs Richaun Holmes and Christian Wood - both projected late first round talents taken in the 2nd round and undrafted, respectively.

It goes without saying that Hinkie's performance in the upcoming trading deadline - He's made at least two deals apiece the last two deadlines - the draft and ensuing offseason will go a long way in determining if Hinkie's the man to carry out the "plan." In any case, given the abundance of picks the 76ers will still own, whomever is ultimately GM will be set up nicely.

Revering4Blue

11-25-2015, 12:43 AM

Pacers 123, Wizards 106 on the road.

40 points for Paul George, C.J Miles with 32 and Myles Turner is still out.

No, they're not ready to challenge the Cavs for conference supremacy, but they're a heck of a lot closer than would be had they not ignored their casual fans by moving on from Hibbert and West.

Bourgeois Zee

11-25-2015, 12:46 AM

I'm going to stop short of accusing you of moving the goalposts, but when did I suggest Stauskas, Saric and other players are sure things? Merely, that it's too early to judge.

At this point, the Stauskas deal looks like a bad deal. Hinkie picked up a shooting guard who can't seem to shoot. You called that a good move and Stauskas a good rotation player. So far, he's anything but.

If it makes any sense, IMO, questioning Hinkie's execution of the plan - whether he could have done better drafting wise in totality so far - has merit. Questioning the "plan" itself doesn't.

We disagree on this. I think a team has at least some responsibility to try and put a decent team on the floor. Purposefully tanking for three seasons (likely more) is the antithesis of competitive play. Choosing to play bad players, dumping/ releasing good players in order to suck, grabbing second round picks just to use them on useless picks-- none of this makes sense.

When Hinkie took over, largely thanks to the disastrous '12 Bynam trade and other ill-fated deals, the 76ers were stuck on that perpetual 7th or 8th playoff spot ceiling treadmill, owing several draft picks to various teams with a great deal $$$ tied up in fungible players - Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner and the like. It only made sense to tear it down and recoup draft picks and young talent. It's not logical to argue otherwise.

Golden State did really well from just that spot a couple of years ago. So have Houston, Memphis, Washington, Toronto, and others. Hinkie tried to game the system. So far, all he's gamed are Philly fans.

Revering4Blue

11-25-2015, 01:29 AM

At this point, the Stauskas deal looks like a bad deal. Hinkie picked up a shooting guard who can't seem to shoot. You called that a good move and Stauskas a good rotation player. So far, he's anything but.

It's never a bad deal to pick up a lottery pick for nothing. It's never a good deal for a team to unload one for nothing, if the Kings didn't want Stauskas, they could have at least acquired something of substance for him. Hinkie had/has nothing to lose by acquiring him. And, yes, the operative phrase - and this applies to this entire topic is "so far." This is far from a finished product. I have already made it abundantly clear that Hinkie needs to step up his game.

We disagree on this. I think a team has at least some responsibility to try and put a decent team on the floor. Purposefully tanking for three seasons (likely more) is the antithesis of competitive play. Choosing to play bad players, dumping/ releasing good players in order to suck, grabbing second round picks just to use them on useless picks-- none of this makes sense.

Sorry, but if the goal is to build a contending core for years to come as the Thunder have - not just make the playoffs to be quickly discarded - it simply makes no sense to lock up players to deals when they won't fit in by the time the team is competitive. Anything else is just window dressing.

A franchise has the responsibility to put a contending team on the floor for championships, not playoff appearances and take whatever action to expedite the process and sometimes that entails drafting players who are either stuck overseas for a year or two or injured and will miss a year in which you're not going to win anyway. We can argue whether or not this plan is the way to accomplish that in the most expedient manner, but this is a cutthroat business, a GM must do what's best for his franchise, first and foremost. Hinkie may wind up cutting his own throat, but at least he has the stones to deviate from the standard process.

Golden State did really well from just that spot a couple of years ago. So have Houston, Memphis, Washington, Toronto, and others. Hinkie tried to game the system. So far, all he's gamed are Philly fans.

Apples to oranges. All cited examples had at least one young core player on their roster at the time. Golden State, in particular, hit on three players in the '12 draft, and already had Curry and others on the team.

No way, I'd build around Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes. No sane GM would have,