NBA 2024-2025: Celtic Pride

[Kingspoint]

Speaking of guys who don't deserve max contracts and believe that they do, the Blazers still have two years left on Ayton's contract, will use this year to see if he can be effective as a PF, just in case Clingan proves himself capable of playing an effective Center while staying healthy for 2000 minutes in a season at the end of observing him this season. There's really no direction for the Bengals regarding what to do with Ayton until the 2024-2025 season plays itself out and they are able to view the progress of Clingan and the ability of those two to work together.

The Blazers are never going to offer a large extension for Ayton at the Center position in hopes that Clingan becomes the Starter there, so PF in an Aldridge-type of role [great mid-range, good rebounding, acceptable Defense, but unable/unwilling to guard the "3")] is the only position where the Blazers would consider giving Ayton an extension at a price the two camps could work out. That's not a decision that needs to be made until next Summer though, and by then, should they want to trade him, then there is only one season left on Ayton's contract, making him a much more valuable trade piece. Also, next Summer, decisions can be made on both Simons and Grant (if either are still here after the 2024-2025 trade deadline). There will be mystery injuries again this season to help the tanking for the 2025 draft, though with Billups' lack of ability to Coach at any level (not that he's ever tried any other), they probably don't have to intentionally tank to lose by putting veterans on the bench. But, putting veterans on the bench is the only way to get the minutes given to the players who potentially make up the 2026-2027 roster, so that they are ready to make a push for the playoffs at that time.

So, 2024-2025 will be a year of watching how creatively Joe Cronin is able to get minutes for the future players, in addition to see if there's a reason to keep Ayton beyond his current contract (that price to be determined based on what happens over the next year).

The first pick of the 2025 draft is hopefully a Starter at the 3-4 position, so who we get in the draft will also play a part in what to do with Ayton.

[Kingspoint]

The Heat won the Summer League, all six games they played in the Summer League and their last two games in the California League.

Any other team, and it's probably no big deal, but it's the Heat. You have to wonder what diamonds in the rough they found this year that by March will be part of the 8-man rotation.

The team has 14 players on standard contracts and don’t plan to add a 15th player until later in the regular season due to luxury tax concerns. They also have all three two-way slots filled. Those two-way spots could change — they don’t count against the cap — in the aftermath of Summer League performances. Josh Christopher, Caleb Daniels, Cole Swider and Alondes Williams — all of whom are free agents at the moment — made compelling cases to receive a two-way deal or at least a training camp invite.

[Kingspoint]

From Paul George today...

“I think just taking the pressure off Joel,” George said. “I think I can kind of help him get through a season healthy. And again, it’s just not putting so much pressure on him. Regardless of how good you feel, I think pressure causes a lot of injuries as well, and you think you have to get overplayed, you have to touch every possession, that kind of just wears you down, especially for how physical he is. So that’s the key. Everybody do their part, make sure we’re working on our bodies, and that we don’t just put that pressure on one individual to go out and win games for us.”

[Kingspoint]

Brent Barry is leaving the Spurs front office to be an Assistant Coach with the Clippers.

Barry interviewed for the POR Head Coaching job in 2021 that eventually went to Billups. With Billups having been a disaster so far in Portland and this being the last year of Billups' guaranteed money, Barry may be planning ahead to another interview with Portland this Summer or next. Billups' only other Coaching experience was a short-time stint as an Assistant with, coincidentally, the Clippers.

[Kingspoint]

Here are some additional details from the league:

Disney:

Disney will broadcast 80 regular season games per year, including 20+ on ABC and up to 60 on ESPN. ABC’s games will air on Saturdays and Sundays, with ESPN’s airing on Wednesdays and some Fridays.
ABC and ESPN will broadcast about 18 games in the first two rounds of the playoffs each season.
In 10 of the 11 seasons in the agreement, ABC and ESPN will air one of the two conference finals.
ABC will continue to air the NBA Finals.
ABC/ESPN will continue to air the draft, the draft lottery, and half of the Summer League games.

NBCUniversal:

NBCUniversal will distribute as many as 100 regular season games per year. More than half of those games will be broadcast on NBC on Sunday and Tuesday nights. Peacock will stream Monday night doubleheaders throughout the regular season.
The All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night (including the dunk contest and three-point competition) will air on NBC.
NBC and/or Peacock will air about 28 games in the first two rounds of the playoffs each season.
In six of the 11 seasons in the agreement, NBC will broadcast one of the two conference finals. They’ll rotate with Amazon beginning in 2025/26.

Amazon:

Amazon will distribute 66 regular season games per year on Prime Video. Those will include Thursday doubleheaders (beginning in January), Friday doubleheaders, some Saturday games, and at least one game on Black Friday.
Prime Video will broadcast the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final of the NBA Cup (in-season tournament).
Prime Video will broadcast all six games in the play-in tournament.
Prime Video will air approximately a third of the games in the first two rounds of the playoffs each season.
In six of the 11 seasons in the agreement, Amazon will air one of the two conference finals. They’ll rotate with NBC beginning in 2025/26.
Note: Because NBC and Amazon will each broadcast six conference finals, there will be one year in which they each get one and Disney doesn’t.
Prime Video will air half of the Summer League games.


A lawsuit from TNT Sports – a longtime NBA broadcast partner and the odd man out in this round of negotiations – is possible after the NBA rejected TNT’s right to match Amazon’s deal.


This reminds me of the 1995 MLB playoffs which alienated a lot of people as fans and would have been permanent for many had it been extended beyond the 1995 season.

[Kingspoint]

Oddsmakers have an Elite-Eight for the teams who are actually competing for the 2024-2025 NBA Championship. Everyone else are two tiers below, hoping upon hope that if everything bounces right, they can reach a Conference Final.

Attrition (injuries) will once again play a major role as it does every year to see who is the last team standing.

The eight teams in order of lowest odds to highest odds among the eight:

BOS
OKC
PHI
NYK
DEN
DAL
MIN
MIL

It will be like an Agatha Christie novel waiting for each of the eight to get knocked off through a major injury, combination of injuries, or bad seeding because of injuries throughout the season.

BOS is still the best team set up to withstand an injury to their best player. NYK, in my opinion, is the 2nd best team to withstand an injury to their best player. PHI is set up better than they've ever been to withstand in an injury to Embiid. OKC, DEN, DAL, MIN and MIL are all 1st Round knockouts if they lose their best player.

[M2]

Oddsmakers have an Elite-Eight for the teams who are actually competing for the 2024-2025 NBA Championship. Everyone else are two tiers below, hoping upon hope that if everything bounces right, they can reach a Conference Final.

Attrition (injuries) will once again play a major role as it does every year to see who is the last team standing.

The eight teams in order of lowest odds to highest odds among the eight:

BOS
OKC
PHI
NYK
DEN
DAL
MIN
MIL

It will be like an Agatha Christie novel waiting for each of the eight to get knocked off through a major injury, combination of injuries, or bad seeding because of injuries throughout the season.

BOS is still the best team set up to withstand an injury to their best player. NYK, in my opinion, is the 2nd best team to withstand an injury to their best player. PHI is set up better than they've ever been to withstand in an injury to Embiid. OKC, DEN, DAL, MIN and MIL are all 1st Round knockouts if they lose their best player.

Got to figure at least a couple of teams upset that apple cart. Here's some possibilities:

CLE - Extended Mitchell, threw a max at Mobley (I wouldn't have done that) and kept their team together. Could reap the benefits of continuity.
IND - Made the conference finals. They are deep and big.
ORL - Ferocious defense. If Paolo and Franz each take a step forward, that's a team no one wants to play.
NOP - Still think they might move Ingram for a center, but Dejounte Murray is the PG they've needed. And they will get a center at some point.
GSW - I like their depth moves and they might land Markkanen before the season starts (just constant smoke billowing on that one).
SAC - They were 3rd in the West two seasons ago, and DeRo's going to give them an extra-potent attack.

Deep sleepers:

CHI - I think Giddey is going to cook and LaVine is going to go on a reputation rescue tour.
MEM - Ja will be back to lead a very deep roster. If guys like Santi Aldama and GG Jackson keep improving, they could be back near the top of the West.

[Kingspoint]

Got to figure at least a couple of teams upset that apple cart. Here's some possibilities:

CLE - Extended Garland, threw a max at Mobley (I wouldn't have done that) and kept their team together. Could reap the benefits of continuity.
IND - Made the conference finals. They are deep and big.
ORL - Ferocious defense. If Paolo and Franz each take a step forward, that's a team no one wants to play.
NOP - Still think they might move Ingram for a center, but Dejounte Murray is the PG they've needed. And they will get a center at some point.
GSW - I like their depth moves and they might land Markkanen before the season starts (just constant smoke billowing on that one).
SAC - They were 3rd in the West two seasons ago, and DeRo's going to give them an extra-potent attack.

Deep sleepers:

CHI - I think Giddey is going to cook and LaVine is going to go on a reputation rescue tour.
MEM - Ja will be back to lead a very deep roster. If guys like Santi Aldama and GG Jackson keep improving, they could be back near the top of the West.

I really wish the NBA had a 3-Division league like Soccer in England. The best franchises play each other the most. The middle tier play each other the most. The third tier play each other the most. Most of the playoff participants come from the first tier. A few come from the 2nd tier. One or two come from the last tier. Where you finish in your tier determines if you get to move up, stay in the same tier, or you move down to another tier each year. How much fun is it to watch in 2024-2025 POR vs OKC. Does anyone really want to watch that? OKC vs MIN for maximum viewing and POR vs DET for a more competitive game.

There's real money to be made on that 2nd tier you mentioned, if you can pick the right one. Of those you mentioned, ORL in the East and MEM in the West would be my picks.

[Boston Red]

Looks like Lauri Markkanen is going to be with the Jazz for a while. Hopefully they can build a winner around him soon.

[Mitri]

Looks like Lauri Markkanen is going to be with the Jazz for a while. Hopefully they can build a winner around him soon.

He'll be with them for at least next season, as he can't be traded until after the trade deadline lands. So much for that GSW upgrade.

It does seem like he wants to stay in Utah for a while, though.

[Kingspoint]

Looks like Lauri Markkanen is going to be with the Jazz for a while. Hopefully they can build a winner around him soon.

The Jazz will be able to use their cap room to renegotiate Markkanen’s 2024/25 salary ($18,044,544) all the way up to his maximum of $42,176,400, then extend him based off of that number. Extending him based on his previous salary would have limited his maximum extension to about $113MM over four new years, for a total of approximately $131MM over five years.

League sources tell The Athletic that Markkanen’s new deal is expected to be worth upwards of $200MM over the next five seasons (including ’24/25).

[M2]

He'll be with them for at least next season, as he can't be traded until after the trade deadline lands. So much for that GSW upgrade.

It does seem like he wants to stay in Utah for a while, though.

He's definitely there now. Though, looking at their roster, I don't think there's much danger of them contending in the next two seasons. Their young guys have got plenty of growing pains ahead of them and their other vets are pretty meh. Markkanen got his money, but his team is not on the same "right now" timeline that he is.

[Kingspoint]

Hadn't seen anyone attempt this subject before. Sam Quinn did a good job of it.

Ranking all 68 traded future NBA first-round picks:

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/r...honor-of-no-1/

I rank every traded first-round pick in the NBA at some point during every offseason, and every offseason that list gets longer. When we started this tradition in 2022, there were 47 picks to rank. Fast forward to 2023 and the list grew to 56. Now that we've reached 2024, we're up to 68 total picks. Here's how those picks break down:

24 unprotected picks owed outright.
22 protected picks owed outright.
16 unprotected picks owed through swap rights.
Five protected picks owed through swap rights.

If there was any fear that the new collective bargaining agreement was going to scare teams into holding onto their picks, well, we can brush that aside. Making the money work is harder than ever, but once teams figure that part out, they're going to keep packaging all of their picks for the unhappy veteran du jour. At any given time in the NBA, there are 210 theoretically available first-round picks. That figure counts every team's pick for the next seven years, which is the furthest out a team can trade them. For the first time since this exercise began, we've crossed the 30% owed threshold. Of those 210 total picks, 32.3% of them have been traded.

[klw]

Talk about a Woj bomb!
https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2024/09/...enture-gm.html

Adrian Wojnarowski, the longtime NBA reporter who has worked at ESPN since 2017, announced today (via Twitter) that he’s retiring from ESPN and from the news industry as a whole. ... While Wojnarowski’s statement didn’t include any details on the next phase of his career, his fellow news-breakers at ESPN – Adam Schefter (NFL), Jeff Passan (MLB), and Pete Thamel (NCAAF) – reported that Woj has agreed to become the general manager of the men’s basketball program at St. Bonaventure, his alma mater.

[M2]

The 76ers have been looking around to build their own arena, with New Jersey and Delaware both making overtures. FWIW, I used to live near Dr. J in northern Delaware. Yet, Philly's Mayor has announced the City has struck a deal with the team for a new arena in Center City - https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...-plan/3973546/. Details are still sketchy and it sounds like there's plenty of local intrigue to sort through, but it looks like they're in the City of Brotherly Love.

FWIW, I think they should play in North Philly.