It's showtime -- let the (NBA) games begin!

[Melancer46]

What could Cavs get for Tristan Thompson in a trade?

I don't think his value is much. Thompson got his nice payday because he uses LeBron's agent and LeBron made it known to the Cleveland FO he wanted Thompson back.

Depends on if a team is convinced he's actually a good defender, which I'm not. If you think he's a good defender and is basically a homeless man's DeAndre Jordan, I would bet some teams would be interested and would offer like a late 1st or a Courtney Lee-level wing.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Honestly, the Shump/Smith/Thompson contracts aren't that ridiculous. It's where we are in the NBA now. (Ok, maybe JR is a tad excessive)

As for the Cavs, either move Love or Thompson, or see what shakes loose with the vet exceptions.

The J.R. Smith contract is comically terrible.

Having Shumpert or Thompson on a contract like that alone isn't awful, but the bundle of those four at that price tag is a millstone.

 

[Oráiste]

Honestly, the Shump/Smith/Thompson contracts aren't that ridiculous. It's where we are in the NBA now. (Ok, maybe JR is a tad excessive)

As for the Cavs, either move Love or Thompson, or see what shakes loose with the vet exceptions.

swap love for Paul George, gives them the perimeter defender to push KD and save Lebron on that end.

probably have to swallow Monta Ellis along with him, if it is going to happen at all

 

[orangefog]

swap love for Paul George, gives them the perimeter defender to push KD and save Lebron on that end.

probably have to swallow Monta Ellis along with him, if it is going to happen at all

You could try, but Monta Ellis is a volume shooter.

 

[Oráiste]

You could try, but Monta Ellis is a volume shooter.

Oh, I'm not suggesting they would actually put him on the floor. Eating the $23M left on his deal would be part of the price of getting PG

 

[Knicks411]

swap love for Paul George, gives them the perimeter defender to push KD and save Lebron on that end.

probably have to swallow Monta Ellis along with him, if it is going to happen at all

I'm not sure Indy goes for that; of course Cleveland does that though.

 

[Knicks411]

The J.R. Smith contract is comically terrible.

Having Shumpert or Thompson on a contract like that alone isn't awful, but the bundle of those four at that price tag is a millstone.

When you look at some of the deals that were signed last summer, I don;t think it's terrible is all. Maybe if i was Dan Gilbert and I was paying the tax I'd feel differently

 

[Oráiste]

I'm not sure Indy goes for that; of course Cleveland does that though.

yeah, highly unlikely. there will be other, better offers on the table for them if they decide they have to move him

that's why I think it is more likley that Lebron picks a better destination than Cleveland builds a better team

 

[orangefog]

Oh, I'm not suggesting they would actually put him on the floor. Eating the $23M left on his deal would be part of the price of getting PG

It was just a nasty joke.

 

[OrangeDW]

If I am the Clippers I trade for Melo, resign Paul and try to acquire D-Wade. So after next year I can appeal to LeBron coming to LA and playing with his friends.

By the time that all came together, those guys would all be 34+. It would have Barkley-Olajuwon-Drexler/Pippen Rockets or 2012-13 Kobe-Gasol-Artest-Nash Lakers written all over it. Huge names, still good talent but ultimately just too many old guys. You've gotta have some young legs on the court.

 

[Knicks411]

By the time that all came together, those guys would all be 34+. It would have Barkley-Olajuwon-Drexler/Pippen Rockets or 2012-13 Kobe-Gasol-Artest-Nash Lakers written all over it. Huge names, still good talent but ultimately just too many old guys. You've gotta have some young legs on the court.

Austin Rivers time!

 

[NineOneSeven]

Cavs take game 4 right?

Right?

 

[Melancer46]

Cavs take game 4 right?

Right?

Going into the series, Game 4 was the one I thought they'd win.

I don't know though...the way they lost Game 3 has to be incredibly deflating. I think the best they can hope for is that Golden State comes out tight with the pressure of potentially going 16-0.

 

[Knicks411]

Cavs take game 4 right?

Right?

I dunno, I think the Warriors close it out tonight. I don't think there's any hope of a let up for the Warriors like the Bulls in the 96 finals or anything.

Not sure this is a factor, but this is also the only game with just one day off in between. Lebron played a ton of minutes Wed, and if they have any chance of winning, he's going to have to be close to 45 tonight

 

[NineOneSeven]

I dunno, I think the Warriors close it out tonight. I don't think there's any hope of a let up for the Warriors like the Bulls in the 96 finals or anything.

Not sure this is a factor, but this is also the only game with just one day off in between. Lebron played a ton of minutes Wed, and if they have any chance of winning, he's going to have to be close to 45 tonight

True, but warriors were also really hot early to match cleveland

Do they shoot 16-33 from deep again?

 

[Knicks411]

True, but warriors were also really hot early to match cleveland

Do they shoot 16-33 from deep again?

I mean, maybe? I take your point, but they are the Warriors. I was just looking at the box score again, 27 of their 33 3 pointers were taken by KD/Steph/Klay. That's a pretty crazy concentration of 3 point attempts.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think we'll know pretty early how this will end.

I keep saying, the Warriors are pissed. They're mad about last season. They're running on anger and I don't think they're tapping it out yet.

 

[Melancer46]

Marc Stein reporting that Utah views Miami as as big a threat for Hayward as Boston.

There had been whispers about them being the darkhorse in this a month or two back as well.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Marc Stein reporting that Utah views Miami as as big a threat for Hayward as Boston.

There had been whispers about them being the darkhorse in this a month or two back as well.

I would guess it's less Miami and more the Riley/Spoelstra tandem that appeals to Hayward.

 

[Melancer46]

I would guess it's less Miami and more the Riley/Spoelstra tandem that appeals to Hayward.

I'd guess that and the no income tax helps as well.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

Cavs take game 4 right?

Right?

Ask me a week ago, I'd have said series will go at least six, I wouldn't have been surprised by it going the distance. But, after Wednesday night's heartbreaker (for us LBJ/Kyrie/ergo Cavs fans), I'm not sure I wanna even watch tonight. But I will.

I expect LeBron to do what LeBron does so well, I think Kyrie and Love will bring it. JR finally took, and made, some threes (5) the other night.

They need Deron Williams to not shoot air balls on open shots, they need Korver to hit good looks in the clutch. No game ever comes down to just one play, it's 48 minutes of a whole lotta plays, but Korver hits that three on a sweet pass from LeBron with 52 seconds left in game 3, the Cavs are up 5, we're looking at a series, maybe the Cavs tying it up tonight.

But Korver, who regularly makes 30 footers look like layups, clanks the shot off the rim, the Slim Reaper rebounds, comes down, drains a 3, Warriors go up a point, game -- and the series -- over.

I think Cavs may win tonight, but not sure I'd get down on them even with 6 1/2. Too bad, I'm not ready for the season to end, but I kinda feel like I did a few years ago when I painfully realized it was time to take my beloved 21-year-old cat Spike on his final trip to the vet. May be time to call it a season.

 

[jordoo]

I would guess it's less Miami and more the Riley/Spoelstra tandem that appeals to Hayward.

I would think getting out of Utah would appeal to Hayward.

 

[Melancer46]

I would think getting out of Utah would appeal to Hayward.

I'm not so sure. He's always talked about how amazing a place Salt Lake City is and how it's perfect for him to raise his family. Miami doesn't seem like his kind of vibe at all.

 

[Alsacs]

Quinn Snyder's podcast with the Vertical would lead me to think Utah is very worried Hayward will leave.

I like Boston's chances here.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Ask me a week ago, I'd have said series will go at least six, I wouldn't have been surprised by it going the distance. But, after Wednesday night's heartbreaker (for us LBJ/Kyrie/ergo Cavs fans), I'm not sure I wanna even watch tonight. But I will.

I expect LeBron to do what LeBron does so well, I think Kyrie and Love will bring it. JR finally took, and made, some threes (5) the other night.

They need Deron Williams to not shoot air balls on open shots, they need Korver to hit good looks in the clutch. No game ever comes down to just one play, it's 48 minutes of a whole lotta plays, but Korver hits that three on a sweet pass from LeBron with 52 seconds left in game 3, the Cavs are up 5, we're looking at a series, maybe the Cavs tying it up tonight.

But Korver, who regularly makes 30 footers look like layups, clanks the shot off the rim, the Slim Reaper rebounds, comes down, drains a 3, Warriors go up a point, game -- and the series -- over.

I think Cavs may win tonight, but not sure I'd get down on them even with 6 1/2. Too bad, I'm not ready for the season to end, but I kinda feel like I did a few years ago when I painfully realized it was time to take my beloved 21-year-old cat Spike on his final trip to the vet. May be time to call it a season.

Durant hit some shots that HOF players hit.

Wouldn't surprise me though is the cavs pull through tonight. I've always thought the word "deflating" was overblown for teams that lose tough games, but it's definitely crazy to think they lost given james and kyrie couldn't be stopped for 45 minutes. I said to a friend that cavs win if smith hits 5 threes... Well...