The NBA Thread

[Rodey]

Hornets will be an interesting team this season.

Also, after reading more I'm becoming more indifferent to Wilson. At least they're sticking to their plan.

[snow1868]

Originally Posted by ~Crashintome89~

It's the NBA. Who cares. What a fake sport. We all know that it's just going to be Lebron's team vs. the Warriors next season.

This is a scorching hot take.

[Rodey]

Can't believe the Bulls drafted a dude who has probably never gotten a rebound in traffic in his life.

[Rodey]

Also, kind of wish the Deer would explore a Jabari trade. If Lavine, Dunn and a pick gets you a top-10 player and a mid-round pick, Jabari has to be able to get you something solid.

[YouNeverKnow25]

hornets have locked themselves into the upper fringes of "not bad"/lower fringes of good

they will never compete for a title as constructed. but maybe they could win 50 games and give the eventual east's finals participant a scare?

I am on the side of win games. the hornets will never be a top free agent destination. do your best to win as many games as you can, every year. I think they advanced that purpose last night.

[Rodey]

Well, the East got remarkably worse in the past few days, so who knows.

[Rodey]

Still trying to figure out what the Bulls are doing.

[thebridge15]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

hornets have locked themselves into the upper fringes of "not bad"/lower fringes of good

they will never compete for a title as constructed. but maybe they could win 50 games and give the eventual east's finals participant a scare?

I am on the side of win games. the hornets will never be a top free agent destination. do your best to win as many games as you can, every year. I think they advanced that purpose last night.

hornets don't really need to tank over and over. they tried it and got mkg. they will never get to the finals, so might as well field a competitive team

[CrashDMB237]

Originally Posted by kydmb99

Pretty much. Still can't believe they drafted him with Dennis Smith available.

"I can't believe they took the French kid when Dennis Smith was still available" is the new "I can't believe they took the Latvian kid when Justise Winslow was still on the board".

If there's one thing the Phil era Knicks have done well it's scout internationally. I'm going to take their word over yours on this one, no offense.

[CrashDMB237]

Originally Posted by Rodey

Still trying to figure out what the Bulls are doing.

I'm the opposite, I feel like I finally know what they are doing. They are going into full-blown rebuild mode. I would say it's more than likely they buy out Wade and they start developing youth while getting lottery picks. With the state of their franchise, I much prefer that to giving Jimmy Butler $200 million.

[kydmb99]

Originally Posted by CrashDMB237

"I can't believe they took the French kid when Dennis Smith was still available" is the new "I can't believe they took the Latvian kid when Justise Winslow was still on the board".

If there's one thing the Phil era Knicks have done well it's scout internationally. I'm going to take their word over yours on this one, no offense.

That's fine. But Kristaps working out and Winslow not so far has literally no relevance to this particular situation.

[kydmb99]

Not sure what it matters though. Even if Frank works out Phil will threaten to trade him in 2 years for not responding to a text quickly enough.

[Rodey]

Originally Posted by CrashDMB237

I'm the opposite, I feel like I finally know what they are doing. They are going into full-blown rebuild mode. I would say it's more than likely they buy out Wade and they start developing youth while getting lottery picks. With the state of their franchise, I much prefer that to giving Jimmy Butler $200 million.

I think you either keep Butler (who stated he would like to stay in Chicago) and build around him (he's still only 27) or get better value. If you're trading him, you have to get better value.

Lavine now comes with a major knee injury, Dunn (whom I loved last year) is already 23 and looked awful in his rookie season and Markkanen's ceiling is Channing Frye.

[CrashDMB237]

Originally Posted by kydmb99

That's fine. But Kristaps working out and Winslow not so far has literally no relevance to this particular situation.

I'm just saying it's a little dumb to play that game the day after the draft when neither guy has played a game in the NBA yet. And it goes beyond Porzingis. Willie Hernangomez is a starter in this league and Kuzminskas is a role player plucked out of nowhere (Spurs also wanted him).

So when their scouting team thinks going for the European guy over the guy who seems to be NBA ready on the surface, I think they've earned the benefit of the doubt.

[Rodey]

Originally Posted by kydmb99

Not sure what it matters though. Even if Frank works out Phil will threaten to trade him in 2 years for not responding to a text quickly enough.

Maybe it was DSJ's workout during which Phil fell asleep and that's why he didn't take him.

[kydmb99]

Originally Posted by CrashDMB237

I'm just saying it's a little dumb to play that game the day after the draft when neither guy has played a game in the NBA yet. And it goes beyond Porzingis. Willie Hernangomez is a starter in this league and Kuzminskas is a role player plucked out of nowhere (Spurs also wanted him).

So when their scouting team thinks going for the European guy over the guy who seems to be NBA ready on the surface, I think they've earned the benefit of the doubt.

Fair enough

Not trying to argue. I do like DSJ a lot though. Think he's a top 5 pick almost any other year.

[kydmb99]

Originally Posted by Rodey

Maybe it was DSJ's workout during which Phil fell asleep and that's why he didn't take him.

[CrashDMB237]

Originally Posted by Rodey

I think you either keep Butler (who stated he would like to stay in Chicago) and build around him (he's still only 27) or get better value. If you're trading him, you have to get better value.

Lavine now comes with a major knee injury, Dunn (whom I loved last year) is already 23 and looked awful in his rookie season and Markkanen's ceiling is Channing Frye.

According to reports from last night, the Celtics refused to make any trade that involves the number three overall pick for the Brooklyn or the Lakers pick. And then Butler himself made it extra hard on them by telling Cleveland he won't sign an extension. Who else other than those three teams had really been mentioned as in the market for Jimmy Butler? I don't really know how much better of a deal they could have gotten.

And yes, there is the option of keeping him and building around him but I just don't think he is worth that mega max kind of money.

[CrashDMB237]

Originally Posted by kydmb99

Fair enough

Not trying to argue. I do like DSJ a lot though. Think he's a top 5 pick almost any other year.

I like him too. He's the only other guy I wanted besides Frank. I get why people would say it's dumb to pass up on him but when the reasoning involves completely writing off Frank I think that's a little foolish.

A guy with the size, athleticism and basketball IQ of Frank is who I prefer to a guy like Dennis Smith who you know is just going to give you points. That's not a bad thing, but the Knicks need a whole lot more than points.

[SmoothG]

Originally Posted by Rodey

Markkanen's ceiling is Channing Frye.

I'll give you the rebounding comment, but this is not a very good take.

[thebridge15]

feel like butler is too old to build around and I wouldn't trust garpax to do it anyway

[CrashDMB237]

Also probably should clarify on Dennis Smith... I don't think he will be strictly a scorer (although it's pretty possible). I think he has a lot of developing to do while already being good enough to handle the ball full time. He has a tendency to go one-on-one and dribble a lot which is a bad combo when you're not surrounding by high IQ veterans. The Knicks have none of those. In terms of fit, I think Frank made more sense because he's not going to be expected to do be that guy right off the bat. He can come along slowly, grow with KP and Hernangomez and get a feel for them. Smith has 0 feel right now.

tl;dr - The Knicks were not a good situation for Smith's development at all.

[TimHonks]

I'm just happy the Bulls didn't bring in an old vet and L. Kennard - which is what I thought they were going to do.

Yes, they are going to suck next year. That's the point.

[thebridge15]

didn't backread, was it discussed that lonzo's comparison on espn was rubio?

[dmbmuskie]

Frye looks longer than Lauri and occasionally atleast gets in the way.

Anderson was one hell of a offensive rebounder in Orlando.

Lauri is going to stand 30 feet from the basket on offense and pray they don't put him in a pick and roll on defense.

I wish the Wolves would have take OG, but I'd take the kid from from Creighton over Lauir.

[CrashDMB237]

Originally Posted by thebridge15

didn't backread, was it discussed that lonzo's comparison on espn was rubio?

That's why I watch on mute while getting shit done around the house. Jesus, that's awful. I mean maybe just because at one point Rubio was supposed to be Jason Kidd?

[dmbmuskie]

Originally Posted by thebridge15

didn't backread, was it discussed that lonzo's comparison on espn was rubio?

Ricky was a much better athlete than Ball at that age.

Ball's slow release and average free throw shooting are major concerns for me. Hes going to get a lot of balls spiked into the 10th row.

[CrashDMB237]

Ball is going to be leaps and bounds better than Rubio in every way.

[Lee3691]

Originally Posted by thebridge15

didn't backread, was it discussed that lonzo's comparison on espn was rubio?

Lonzo is not as athletic, but is a much better shooter.

Still think the Celtics should have overpayed for one of the elite players available or potentially available.

Muskie obviously knows less about basketball then most people who post here - including the NHL trolls - but the Twolves did make a good move.

[thebridge15]

celtics are totally fine playing the waiting game. jimmy butler doesn't beat the warriors