NBA Chatter Thread

[Deuce]

I would have considered offering both. Or both in a package for Butler and more.

I DEFINITELY would have offered one or the other.

Maybe wouldn't do both now, because at this point I'm down a playoff run with him. And for a 27 year old player in his prime you are expecting 4-5 more top years, so his value to you as a franchise by not having him for this playoff run is decreased 20-25%.

Maybe Ainge thinks his value lessens after the season considering he only has 2 guaranteed years left on his deal. Signing a 29 year old to big money isn't too enticing.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Shame that turd Zaza ended any hopes of a decent Spurs-Warriors series with no real punishment.

And random: I remember when that savant casmith at the zone used to claim Westbrook sucked and would never be any good.

 

[Texas Ace]

Two things:

First, that absolutely was a dirty play and it's a shame because the Spurs would have definitely won game one.

Second​, the way Cleveland is playing right now they can totally beat Golden State. They are in the zone right now.

 

[Simpleton]

Last night's game shows why I am not as high on the Celtics future as most, such as that homer Chris Mannix who wrote a fluff piece the other day that basically said "when LeBron falls the Celtics will be there".

To me the Celtics, as they currently stand, are basically the best of the above average teams in the East (along with Washington, Atlanta, Toronto). They could play 50 games against the Wizards and it would probably be something like 27-23 Celtics, if that. They're only marginally better than teams like the Wizards and only got the 1 seed on depth/trying hard because Cleveland clearly didn't give a shit.

They are not a true contender, they are only in the ECF because of how poor the conference is and even then they probably would've lost to the Bulls if Rondo hadn't gotten hurt and went 7 in a razor-tight series against the Wizards. Their absolute ceiling in the West would be the 4th seed but if they were out there I could see them going as low as 5 or 6.

They have an impressive amount of assets obviously, and the allure of the unknown future is probably what is creating alot of this perception that they're basically the crown prince in waiting, but if you look closely I don't think the timing of it is all going to work out right unless they get a strong consolidation trade.

Thomas and Bradley are on unbelievable value deals that run out after next year, Crowder as well a year or two after that. Thomas will obviously be max'ed while Bradley might be as well. Olynyk and Smart are on rookie deals and they will have to be extended within 2-3 years as well.

On the other hand you have the Brooklyn picks, I already said what I think on Fultz, but unless they find a generational type talent in 2018 I think it will likely take 2-3 years for the picks to blossom into players capable of starting on a championship contender, at which point you will be cap strapped due to extending Thomas, Bradley, Smart, and Olynyk, or they will be gone. Not to mention Horford will be past his prime.

Long story short I think they're caught between two strategies, trying to win now and accumulating young talent. I do not think they will be able to do both, even if they sign Hayward.

 

[Carp]

Josh Jackson at 3 is a dream scenario for me.

PG Simmons
SG Stauskas
SF Covington
PF Saric
C Embiid

Then you have Luwawu, McConnell, Holmes, Bayless coming off the bench...with some kind of return for Okafor, the Sixers just might be real contenders, sooner rather than later. The Sixers get the Lakers unprotected pick next year and the Kings unprotected the year after. The Process looks great now.

 

[Deuce]

Last night's game shows why I am not as high on the Celtics future as most, such as that homer Chris Mannix who wrote a fluff piece the other day that basically said "when LeBron falls the Celtics will be there".

To me the Celtics, as they currently stand, are basically the best of the above average teams in the East (along with Washington, Atlanta, Toronto). They could play 50 games against the Wizards and it would probably be something like 27-23 Celtics, if that. They're only marginally better than teams like the Wizards and only got the 1 seed on depth/trying hard because Cleveland clearly didn't give a shit.

They are not a true contender, they are only in the ECF because of how poor the conference is and even then they probably would've lost to the Bulls if Rondo hadn't gotten hurt and went 7 in a razor-tight series against the Wizards. Their absolute ceiling in the West would be the 4th seed but if they were out there I could see them going as low as 5 or 6.

They have an impressive amount of assets obviously, and the allure of the unknown future is probably what is creating alot of this perception that they're basically the crown prince in waiting, but if you look closely I don't think the timing of it is all going to work out right unless they get a strong consolidation trade.

Thomas and Bradley are on unbelievable value deals that run out after next year, Crowder as well a year or two after that. Thomas will obviously be max'ed while Bradley might be as well. Olynyk and Smart are on rookie deals and they will have to be extended within 2-3 years as well.

On the other hand you have the Brooklyn picks, I already said what I think on Fultz, but unless they find a generational type talent in 2018 I think it will likely take 2-3 years for the picks to blossom into players capable of starting on a championship contender, at which point you will be cap strapped due to extending Thomas, Bradley, Smart, and Olynyk, or they will be gone. Not to mention Horford will be past his prime.

Long story short I think they're caught between two strategies, trying to win now and accumulating young talent. I do not think they will be able to do both, even if they sign Hayward.

If Fultz is the pick, we let Smart walk. Olynyk is a part time contributor and will come back relatively cheap or walk as well. IT4 is their only max player. As much as I love Bradley's defense, that's all he provides. His spot up 3 shooting is inconsistent.

 

[Carp]

I did not realize how much I dislike Isaiah Thomas. He moves around like an old man. The ball sticks with him too much.

 

[Simpleton]

If Fultz is the pick, we let Smart walk. Olynyk is a part time contributor and will come back relatively cheap or walk as well. IT4 is their only max player. As much as I love Bradley's defense, that's all he provides. His spot up 3 shooting is inconsistent.

You're probably right although the point that I'm making is that much of their success this year is directly due to their depth, especially against the Wizards. That depth will erode over the next 3 years and it will take about that same amount of time for the rookies to develop into guys capable of starting on a contending team. Then once those rookies develop, if they develop to that level, Horford will be about 33-34 and Thomas will be 30 or 31, and all that depth will be gone or too expensive.

That's why I say I think they're stuck between plans.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Josh Jackson at 3 is a dream scenario for me.

PG Simmons
SG Stauskas
SF Covington
PF Saric
C Embiid

Then you have Luwawu, McConnell, Holmes, Bayless coming off the bench...with some kind of return for Okafor, the Sixers just might be real contenders, sooner rather than later. The Sixers get the Lakers unprotected pick next year and the Kings unprotected the year after. The Process looks great now.

Hell yes on Jackson.

As for that lineup, I think Bayless starts at the 2 over Stauskus. Eventually I see Jackson (assuming we draft him) starting at the 3 with a fair amount of time at the 2.

 

[Carp]

Hell yes on Jackson.

As for that lineup, I think Bayless starts at the 2 over Stauskus. Eventually I see Jackson (assuming we draft him) starting at the 3 with a fair amount of time at the 2.

I think Bayless would be better served off the bench as an energy guy who can take some ball handling duties off of Simmons. Luwawu is my pick for longterm at the 2. Heart is a plus defender and really improved over the season.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I think Bayless would be better served off the bench as an energy guy who can take some ball handling duties off of Simmons. Luwawu is my pick for longterm at the 2. Heart is a plus defender and really improved over the season.

I agree but I think Bayless is a better shooter than Stauskus and we need that. I don't think either really is a starter.

 

[Carp]

I agree but I think Bayless is a better shooter than Stauskus and we need that. I don't think either really is a starter.

I think Stauskas ends up being a better shooter from 3 and he is underrated as an athlete. I'd label Bayless as more of a scorer, not a shooter.

Aside from those two though...the thought of Covington, Luwawu, and Jackson as defenders is very exciting. That is just flatout loxkdown on the wing.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I think Stauskas ends up being a better shooter from 3 and he is underrated as an athlete. I'd label Bayless as more of a scorer, not a shooter.

Aside from those two though...the thought of Covington, Luwawu, and Jackson as defenders is very exciting. That is just flatout loxkdown on the wing.

Very exciting. People seem to be split on who the Sixers should take at 3. A lot of people even saying that they should reach for month. But I just think adding Jackson at his size and athleticism and his ability to defend the wing is something that they can't pass up.

I mean yes they still need Shooters and yes someone like fultz and monk would be perfect but the process isn't over yet. It's not like they are looking to contend next year. So they'll have to wait for a shooter it's not that big a deal to me. But Jackson on the other hand has a pretty high ceiling in my opinion. I just don't see how they can pass him up.

 

[Genghis Khan]

That should read monk not month.

 

[BipolarFuk]

THROW THE DAMN TOWEL!!

 

[Genghis Khan]

Wow.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

THROW THE DAMN TOWEL!!

 

[Deuce]

Shutting IT4 down for the remainder of the playoffs is their version of throwing in the towel. Overcoming an 0-2 deficit on the road would be tough enough, especially with how Cleveland is playing. But there's 0% chance without him.

 

[midswat]

I bet it'll be the Warriors vs Cleveland in the NBA Finals.

 

[Angrymesscan]

I bet it'll be the Warriors vs Cleveland in the NBA Finals.

Your middle name must be Nostradamus...