NBA Chatter Thread

[Deuce]

I don't know about how much Wiggins loves the game or not but I've been saying since his first college game that he is no LeBron, he has basically no handles and I don't like his feel when he drives. It seems he just puts his head down and relies on his athleticism to get him to where he's going, I think he's going to be a Vince Carter level player, a guy you can build a team around and an All Star but not some transcendent, MVP type of talent.

Embiid is the only guy that I think has that type of potential in this draft.

I remember thinking this about Rose in college at times.

 

[Simpleton]

I remember thinking this about Rose in college at times.

That's true although I think Rose had much better body control when in the air, Wiggins just seems like a straight up and down guy, I don't think he's as explosive in the air going side to side.

 

[Simpleton]

Also, Van Gundy just said he thinks the Bulls match up with Indiana and could have a shot against them in a series, without Rose, so I guess he's delusional too. For the record I think Indiana would beat us in probably 6 but I think it's laughable how some of you think the Bulls with Rose wouldn't even have a shot to beat Indiana.

 

[Smitty]

I don't know about how much Wiggins loves the game or not but I've been saying since his first college game that he is no LeBron, he has basically no handles and I don't like his feel when he drives. It seems he just puts his head down and relies on his athleticism to get him to where he's going, I think he's going to be a Vince Carter level player, a guy you can build a team around and an All Star but not some transcendent, MVP type of talent.

Embiid is the only guy that I think has that type of potential in this draft.

Wiggins might be a #2 star, but still someone I'd love to have on the Bulls as Rose's cohort.

I still see potential in Jabari Parker as a #1.

And guys like Exum, Smart, etc.... could all still be studs.

 

[Smitty]

I don't see Chicago even with a 100% Rose beating the Pacers.

Now you are talking crazy.

 

[1bigfan13]

Thunder will be without Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins for at least the next month.

That signing of Caron Butler came right on time.

Those two (Thabo & Perkin) are two of our worst offensive players so this could be a blessing in disguise as it's forcing Brooks to give the younger guys more minutes which will hopefully lead to them moving on from those two guys in the off-season.

Perry Jones is better scorer than Thabo and he's shown the ability to guard out on the wing.

 

[1bigfan13]

Spurs and Mavs going at it tonight in a classic SW division match up. I remember just a few short years ago this game would be must see TV. It's still a pretty good match up between two playoff teams.

Also, I don't think Dallas has been on or will be on any of the featured ESPN/ABC Sunday games this year but somehow the Knicks are on practically every week. As a matter of fact, I think the Spurs are getting shut out of the featured games as well.

 

[1bigfan13]

Russell Westbrook is slowly finding his offensive rhythm. His first couple of games were rough but he looked good in the last 2 games plus tonight he's 7-7 shooting heading into halftime.

 

[Tony D]

I don't know about how much Wiggins loves the game or not but I've been saying since his first college game that he is no LeBron, he has basically no handles and I don't like his feel when he drives. It seems he just puts his head down and relies on his athleticism to get him to where he's going, I think he's going to be a Vince Carter level player, a guy you can build a team around and an All Star but not some transcendent, MVP type of talent.

Embiid is the only guy that I think has that type of potential in this draft.

So you knew it from the first time he played an NCAA game at 18 years old you knew he wasn't Lebron? Nobody thought MJ was MJ after his first game at North Carolina either. And the thing about Lebron is there will only be one Lebron. Lebron in high school already had an NBA ready body. He was a man among boys. Wiggins still needs to fill out. Wiggins can work on his handle. He's an unfinished product. I'll roll the dice on him or Embiid and see where they end up in 3 or 4 years.

I have no idea how any of these guys will turn out (Wiggins, Embiid, Parker, Exum, etc.), but I'm damn sure happy Philly has the potential for 2 top 10 picks this year instead of last year.

And another thing. As soon as Rose went down you were all on board the tank train. What happened with that?

 

[Tony D]

Wiggins might be a #2 star, but still someone I'd love to have on the Bulls as Rose's cohort.

So Wiggins is to Rose as Pippen was to MJ?

I think Wiggins will be a better shooter and scorer than Pippen. Pippen was an all time great defender though. Wiggins can defend, but asking him to be Scottie Pippen on that end is a lot.

When Pippen was Wiggins' age he was averaging 4ppg at Central Arkansas. Was Pippen as good as a ball handler when he was a freshmen in college as he was later in his career with the Bulls? Will Wiggins improve in that area moving forward? Pippen was just a great all-around player, top 50 all time when that list came out close to 20 years ago.

 

[Smitty]

So Wiggins is to Rose as Pippen was to MJ?

I think Wiggins will be a better shooter and scorer than Pippen. Pippen was an all time great defender though. Wiggins can defend, but asking him to be Scottie Pippen on that end is a lot.

When Pippen was Wiggins' age he was averaging 4ppg at Central Arkansas. Was Pippen as good as a ball handler when he was a freshmen in college as he was later in his career with the Bulls? Will Wiggins improve in that area moving forward? Pippen was just a great all-around player, top 50 all time when that list came out close to 20 years ago.

I'm not going that far, I'm just saying, he could be a #2 superstar.

The Wade to Lebron, the Parker to Duncan (or in later years the Duncan to Parker), etc.

 

[Simpleton]

So you knew it from the first time he played an NCAA game at 18 years old you knew he wasn't Lebron? Nobody thought MJ was MJ after his first game at North Carolina either. And the thing about Lebron is there will only be one Lebron. Lebron in high school already had an NBA ready body. He was a man among boys. Wiggins still needs to fill out. Wiggins can work on his handle. He's an unfinished product. I'll roll the dice on him or Embiid and see where they end up in 3 or 4 years.

I have no idea how any of these guys will turn out (Wiggins, Embiid, Parker, Exum, etc.), but I'm damn sure happy Philly has the potential for 2 top 10 picks this year instead of last year.

And another thing. As soon as Rose went down you were all on board the tank train. What happened with that?

I watched alot of LeBron in high school and I can tell by looking at Wiggins that he isn't, nor will he ever be, that. He just doesn't move the same way, it's not like saying he won't be a top 5 player of all time is some big insult, he'll be an All Star but he won't be a transcendent type of player I don't think. If I had the number 1 pick I'm pretty sure I would go with Embiid, his coordination, agility and explosiveness for his size is extremely, extremely rare.

As for the Bulls, I would prefer to get a top 5 or so pick over a 2nd round playoff exit but it became pretty clear about 6 weeks ago that that was not happening so I figure I might as well root for them. This team actually looks to be more impressive than last years team, and I think it's very possible that their performance so far has put them in a very strong position for Melo, should he choose to take a little less than the max.

 

[Smitty]

I'm not even sure I want Melo.

Once you sign Mirotic, you've got about 8 million left unless you also deal Taj.

Would you rather use that 8 million and see if you could lure a guy like Pau Gasol, and then have a sick front court of Taj-Noah-Gasol-Mirotic with rookies on the wings flanking Rose?

Or would you rather trade Taj for cap relief and have a front court of Noah-Mirotic with little depth, and Carmelo flanking Rose? You obviously have the two draft picks to fill out the roster but I think wings go deeper in this draft than big men.

Given that big men take longer to develop, if you want to compete with Indy and Miami in the next 2-3 seasons, you take the rookie wings and import Gasol and keep Taj.

I could get behind a long range view instead if I saw one who would be there at 20 worth having. But the only name I see is Willie Caulie Stein. If he's gone.... there's just no big men in that range of the draft. Meanwhile, as far as wings, there's Hood, Stauskas, LaVine, Grant, Hairston, Saric, etc.

 

[Simpleton]

I'm not even sure I want Melo.

Once you sign Mirotic, you've got about 8 million left unless you also deal Taj.

Would you rather use that 8 million and see if you could lure a guy like Pau Gasol, and then have a sick front court of Taj-Noah-Gasol-Mirotic with rookies on the wings flanking Rose?

Or would you rather trade Taj for cap relief and have a front court of Noah-Mirotic with little depth, and Carmelo flanking Rose? You obviously have the two draft picks to fill out the roster but I think wings go deeper in this draft than big men.

From what I see the Bulls have around 45 million committed next year, assuming they amnesty Boozer. Rose is around 18.8, Noah 12.2, Gibson 8, Dunleavy 3.3, Butler 2 and Snell 1.4. Assuming we give Mirotic around 7, that takes us up to 52, I believe the luxury tax is going to be about 75, if we give Melo 18 that takes us to 70 million for 8 players. Fill in the roster with vet minimum guys, I'm sure Hinrich would take that or something very slightly above it to stay in Chicago, and they're in business.

I might be missing something here but I'm pretty sure we can afford to pay Melo around 18 or so and still be right around the luxury tax while keeping Dunleavy and Gibson. Going forward you tinker with the roster a bit to re-sign Butler or what have you but generally you're rolling with Rose/Butler/Melo/Gibson/Noah and Mirotic off the bench, or flip flopped with Gibson.

We would need Melo to agree to less than the max but given his comments about James/Wade/Bosh lately I think it's possible he takes it, and that would be a strong title contender.

 

[Smitty]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can't pay Melo up to the luxury tax, you can pay him up to the cap. Which is like what, 58 million next year?

I think you are about correct with the 45 million number, but that leaves 13 million you can spend on free agents, up to 58.

I was assuming you get Mirotic for about 5. That leaves 8 remaining. You can't give Melo a contract that takes you up to the tax threshold, that's only for re-signing your own.

Unless we are signing and trading for Melo, but then we've gotta send salary back and the only thing that takes us below the cap, again, is Taj (obviously I'm not dealing Rose or Noah).

 

[Carp]

Simp watched Lebron alot in HS. LAWL

 

[Simpleton]

Simp watched Lebron alot in HS. LAWL

What's so funny about that?

Alot of his HS games were televised and I went to an HS All-Star game in DC that he played in, I actually saw alot of his HS games live.

 

[Carp]

What's so funny about that?

Alot of his HS games were televised and I went to an HS All-Star game in DC that he played in, I actually saw alot of his HS games live.

Feh. You saw as much of him as anyone else...but keep passing yourself off as some keen talent evaluator.

 

[Simpleton]

Feh. You saw as much of him as anyone else...but keep passing yourself off as some keen talent evaluator.

Feh to what?

I watched his games in HS and I'm giving my opinion, let me know when you disagree with me saying Wiggins will never be LeBron.

 

[Carp]

Keen insight on Lebron...he really was on no ones radar, but good old scout Simp knew it when he was in high school...you know, like everyone else knew he was going to be good.