'17-18 NBA Thread

[Enforcer84]

This is a bit contrarian, but if LeBron went to Houston and won a championship, I would be so amused that neither Paul nor Harden could Lead a championship team. 

 

That said, I'd miss LeBron bullying the rest of the East. Seriously, I think he could go to the Knicks and take them to the finals. 

 

 

 

[Michael Hopcroft]

15 hours ago, Pariah said:

Kawhi and LeBron, coached by Greg Popovich?

 

That's a thought that should make the rest of the league sit up and pay attention.

Or sit in the corner, shaking uncontrollably and hiding their faces from the world.

[Pariah]

5 hours ago, Enforcer84 said:

That said, I'd miss LeBron bullying the rest of the East. Seriously, I think he could go to the Knicks and take them to the finals. 

 

Yeah, I have a feeling the LeBron would have a much harder time making it to the Finals if he were playing in the West.

[Badger]

18 hours ago, Starlord said:

San Antonio, if they can keep Kawhi.

 

I doubt it, I've heard Leonard wants to leave.

 

And if Kawhi follows precedent (after finding every way he could not to play this year) he'll be injured for the next 5 years.**

 

**Slightly different maybe, but I remember Derrick Rose after his first knee blowout, once he was cleared to play he refused to come back until next season.  And has been blowing out knees faster than 18-wheelers since. 

[Badger]

6 hours ago, Enforcer84 said:

This is a bit contrarian, but if LeBron went to Houston and won a championship, I would be so amused that neither Paul nor Harden could Lead a championship team. 

 

That said, I'd miss LeBron bullying the rest of the East. Seriously, I think he could go to the Knicks and take them to the finals. 

 

 

 

 

I remember there was talk about the Knicks for him his last year in Cleveland, first time.  He went to Miami, NY got Anthony. 

 

But, apparently he was already "too old for that ####" way back then.

[Michael Hopcroft]

I can't think of any teams in the East that would really be a good fit for him. Miami is an ongoing construction project, the Knicks seemingly get to be more of a disaster with every move they make, Philly has a truly dysfunctional front office and I don't think any of its young talent is really happy to be there, and Boston is just no.

 

There aren't that many good fits in the West either. We have billboards in Portland that say "Lebron, Dame (Damien Lillard) needs a third option". LBJ is nobody's third option. And Portland was never in serious consideration as a landing spot regardless. Houston and Golden State have everything they need to compete for championships for years to come. About all the Lakers have is cap room, but while they can certainly afford him and he does have a home in LA the only way I can see him going to the Lakers is if they cut bait on the circus sideshow that is Lonzo Ball and his family and suddenly develop actual NBA-level talent. You don't waste the remaining years of Lebron's prime on a rebuilding job, you sign him as the last piece to bring you two or three championships.

[Michael Hopcroft]

What will be the time to start the '18-'19 thread? The draft?

[Badger]

Yeah, I do think Lonzo Ball is a better ballplayer than he has been given credit for in his 1st season. But, I think his niche is more of the old-school pass-first point, and nobody wants them nowadays for the most part  (and when they do they tend to fit into the 15-20 minute backup role).  And as long as having Lonzo means having LaVar,  definitely not worth having him.  His father is definitely gonna end up giving him a much shorter career, when nobody wants to deal with the crap.  (his brothers better have gotten used to Europe)

 

But of the 4, Lonzo is the only one I sort of like.

[Michael Hopcroft]

8 hours ago, Badger said:

Yeah, I do think Lonzo Ball is a better ballplayer than he has been given credit for in his 1st season. But, I think his niche is more of the old-school pass-first point, and nobody wants them nowadays for the most part  (and when they do they tend to fit into the 15-20 minute backup role).  And as long as having Lonzo means having LaVar,  definitely not worth having him.  His father is definitely gonna end up giving him a much shorter career, when nobody wants to deal with the crap.  (his brothers better have gotten used to Europe)

 

But of the 4, Lonzo is the only one I sort of like.

Tha's ironic because you are describing the sort of player other teams would desperately need. Lonzo probably won't be a superstar, but if his father got the message and became less of a headache he could have a fine career as a 15-7-7 kind of player committed to making his teammates better. And he is working hard this off-season to work on his shot. People forget how hard these athletes have to work to develop what it takes to even survive 82 games a year, much less consistently compete and win. Stephan Curry's shot is such a thing of beauty because he's constantly in the gym honing it.

[Starlord]

He seems to be working hard on 'diss tracks' against his teammates, not sure about his game.  He shot 36%, 31% from 3, and a STAGGERINGLY BAD 45% from the free throw line.  He has been injury prone and clearly doesn't have an NBA body yet.  As a guard, if he cannot get his free throw percentage up to at least 70% he'll be outta the league in 3 years.

[Pariah]

20 hours ago, Michael Hopcroft said:

About all the Lakers have is cap room, but while they can certainly afford him and he does have a home in LA the only way I can see him going to the Lakers is if they cut bait on the circus sideshow that is Lonzo Ball and his family and suddenly develop actual NBA-level talent. You don't waste the remaining years of Lebron's prime on a rebuilding job, you sign him as the last piece to bring you two or three championships.

 

I can't believe that LeBron James would willingly sign up to spend the last few years of his career constantly being tweeted about by an idiot like LaVar Ball. If it were me, I'd avoid the Lakers like a salt shaker full of polonium-210.

[Enforcer84]

I don't think there's anyone who believes that a LeBron Led Lakers team would unseat the warriors. 

- caveat, Ingram really improved from year 1 to 2, if Ball can show that improvement, and Ingram keeps getting better, and Randall and Kuzma improve...then I'd possibly be eating hat.

[Badger]

20 hours ago, Starlord said:

He seems to be working hard on 'diss tracks' against his teammates, not sure about his game.  He shot 36%, 31% from 3, and a STAGGERINGLY BAD 45% from the free throw line.  He has been injury prone and clearly doesn't have an NBA body yet.  As a guard, if he cannot get his free throw percentage up to at least 70% he'll be outta the league in 3 years.

 

Well, there have been bad FT shooting guards, but they don't get to start.  And bad is 55-65% in this case.

 

Regardless, if he keeps listening to his father, he is gone regardless of his strengths (unless he actually becomes #2 pick quality, and not just solid).  Given his horrible start the 36 and 31 isn't that bad.

[Badger]

19 hours ago, Pariah said:

 

I can't believe that LeBron James would willingly sign up to spend the last few years of his career constantly being tweeted about by an idiot like LaVar Ball. If it were me, I'd avoid the Lakers like a salt shaker full of polonium-210.

 

Yeah, he needs to shut it, he has pretty much destroyed LaMelo's chances with preposterously stupid decision making (LiAngelo didn't really have a chance).  Lonzo still has a chance to rectify, so he needs to shut his mouth, have his voice box ripped out by Mola Ram if that is what it takes.

 

 

[Enforcer84]

Rumbling that Kawai wants out of San Antonio. Makes me sad.

 

 

[Badger]

Yeah, seemed obvious throughout the year, that was the case.   Seemed in no hurry, to come back from injury, and was phoning things in till free agency payday.  

 

If I am right, he let the Spurs down, and I've lost some respect (though, I don't know that for sure, so I hold out some hope the injury was worse than made to be.  But, if right it would look bad compared to the walking dead that was formerly Manu Ginobili gutting it out)

[Badger]

Admittedly, I am behind news wise, but I have heard Paul George to LA, and also Leonard.  That would be interesting.  It would also make LeBron not so feasible.  One of those 3, would likely have to play significant minutes at center.  (or guard, I guess LeBron could be point, or Leonard's defense could probably do some SG, I guess).  Also would crowd out Kuzma, which would be bad long term. 

 

Not to mention all 3 would likely cause budget collapse

[Cygnia]

Heh

 

https://slate.com/culture/2018/06/lebron-james-2018-free-agency-a-wine-critic-on-where-he-should-play-next-year.html

[Enforcer84]

Draft was interesting this year. We'll see what shakes loose. 

[Badger]

Yeah, Hawks fans are pissed over the Luka Doncic thing.   I will say Trae Young is interesting in that he was way overrated early, and way underrated late.  Kings not taking Doncic at #2 is a head scratcher (unless I am forgetting some player on their roster).  I understand the Suns taking Ayton, between a potentially dominant center and a potentially guard, you take the center, even if the guard has higher potential.  But, I'm not really sold on Bagley to be honest.   But, hey, the Sacramento Kings gotta Sacramento King.  (not that taking Bagley is bad,  but I do see him as a bigger project than you might want to take at #2.)

 

Doncic is probably the one player in this draft, that has a reasonable chance at being a superstar (but again European players are harder to predict).

 

I think I heard about Porter saying he was "the best player in the draft" at some point.  So, his drop, could be a beneficially humbling experience for him.

[Grailknight]

Actually I think this draft has four potential superstars and five or six potential all-stars.

 

Ayton, Doncic, Porter, Bamba and Young  have ceilings as franchise changers if they are developed well. The first four have enormous talent and Young profiles versus Steph Curry very well( He was better  if you compare their freshman years.).

 

Bagley, Jackson Jr, Carter Jr and Sexton all look like  potential all-stars but no quite at the superstar level.

 

 

[Badger]

Well, I think they all are star potential, just not superstar (which might be a bit semantics and fine lines I admit).

 

I think Ayton could be one of the top centers, but maybe not super dominant like some expect.   (harder to judge centers in today's game)

 

Doncic could probably seamlessly play any of the small 3 positions.  ANd could easily be a team's true point, while also doing a lot of other stuff  (probably has the most dimensions to his game of any player in the draft)

 

Trae Young (ironically perfect name for a 3pt shooter) I see as a poor man's Curry.   I think he can be solid quality guard, even an All-Star but probably not the game changer that Curry is.

 

Bagley and Porter- I see as being high risk, high potentials.

 

Bamba-Real Live Slenderman, I think might be a shorter, more athletic Manute Bol on defense, but very raw offensively.  So ,he could just be a defensive specialist who thrives offensively on putbacks and alley oops.  But, he does seem to have the athleticism to be at least solid offensively, if it develops right.

 

I admit with Jackson, Carter and Sexton, I probably don't know enough of to get a truly clear estimation.

 

 

So, I guess if you are looking for star quality, I find it having very strong depth-wise.  For the "superstar game changer" I'd say Doncic and maybe Ayton  (but, the true game changers in a draft probably should only be no more than 3-4 anyway, so it isn't exactly weak in this regard either)

 

COurse, you always end up with a non-Top 5 that goes off on the league (see Donovan Mitchell)

 

 

[Badger]

Well did find an article on espn.com on possible Leonard trades, as for my takes (this possibly was done before draft)

 

1. LA Lakers for Deng, Kuzma and Ball  (Magic getting a little bit Lauvergne)

 

Uh, no.  Popovich is not going to deal with LaVar Ball, just no.  If you switch out Ball for Ingram then that could work. 

 

2. Philadelphia with Derrick White for Robert Covington, Markelle Fultz, and a pick

 

Unless they can get Leonard to stay long-term, might not be worth it for Philly really.  Leonard would most certainly be valuable, but Covington is a good fit for Philly's style in my opinion. Get Leonard for several years worth it. For 1-2 years not so much.

 

They had also had Portland essentially for McCollum (be interested to see Enforcer's input) and a couple of option with the Celtics  (one for Irving as a keypiece, the other with Hayward and another guy I forgot-possibly Rozier).  Celtics would be a good fit, thinking about, in a lot of ways.  I'd say Lakers and Celtics are the best ideas I've heard  (though I haven't heard it mention much but Cleveland would be good if LeBron is out, if they can find another solid option to join Cleveland-a healthy Cousins?). In my opinion Philly would be better finding that one more solid player through FA (or if they do make a trade, more for a guard).  And I don't think LeBron would be an optimal fit for Philly with Ben Simmons already there.  George would fit more seamlessly if you want a star forward in FA.

 

 

 

 

[Michael Hopcroft]

46 minutes ago, Badger said:

Well did find an article on espn.com on possible Leonard trades, as for my takes (this possibly was done before draft)

 

1. LA Lakers for Deng, Kuzma and Ball  (Magic getting a little bit Lauvergne)

 

Uh, no.  Popovich is not going to deal with LaVar Ball, just no.  If you switch out Ball for Ingram then that could work. 

 

2. Philadelphia with Derrick White for Robert Covington, Markelle Fultz, and a pick

 

Unless they can get Leonard to stay long-term, might not be worth it for Philly really.  Leonard would most certainly be valuable, but Covington is a good fit for Philly's style in my opinion. Get Leonard for several years worth it. For 1-2 years not so much.

 

They had also had Portland essentially for McCollum (be interested to see Enforcer's input) and a couple of option with the Celtics  (one for Irving as a keypiece, the other with Hayward and another guy I forgot-possibly Rozier).  Celtics would be a good fit, thinking about, in a lot of ways.  I'd say Lakers and Celtics are the best ideas I've heard  (though I haven't heard it mention much but Cleveland would be good if LeBron is out, if they can find another solid option to join Cleveland-a healthy Cousins?). In my opinion Philly would be better finding that one more solid player through FA (or if they do make a trade, more for a guard).  And I don't think LeBron would be an optimal fit for Philly with Ben Simmons already there.  George would fit more seamlessly if you want a star forward in FA.

 

 

 

 

for two or three years now, it's been the general assumption that the Blazers want McCollum gone and really, really want to trade him for a "more valuable" piece. But McCollum is desirable, to the point that if Portland really wanted to unload him them would get no shortage of takers. But they haven't traded him. Is it possible, just mildly possible, that they might actually want to keep him around?

[Starlord]

So at one point the Thunder drafted 3 future MVPs all playing on the same team.