NBA 2018-2019

[samspann1]

I hear Kyle Korver, James Jones, Channing Frye, and Ray Allen’s corpse are available.

Don't forget about Richard Jefferson.

 

[jncuse]

Bucks, 6ers, Celtics, Pacers?

Then a bunch of mediocre teams punching each other?

I'll say Magic, Hawks, Nets and Raptors round out the playoffs.

Raps are likely as good as the Celtics and Pacers .. in the regular season..

They went 17-5 in games without Leonard last year,

 

[Day2]

Does Clipper Darrell come back to the Clippers after defecting last summer to the Lakers?

Uh, check out his twitter feed from the last 72 hours.

 

[jncuse]

In the NBA, draft picks are useless unless they are top 3

Otherwise live in free agency

As far as I can tell, none of the 2019 NBA semi-finalists lived on top 3 picks or Free Agency.

The only exception was Golden St getting Kevin Durant in free agency (after already winning the title) with their existing core.

Toronto, Milwaukee, and Portland were built on smart picks outside of the top 5, and great trades and sometimes what seemed like minor acquisitions.

I think if anything, tanking to win and get top 3 picks is proving to be a loser strategy in the last 10 years.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

How bad is Kevin Love’s defense and should I be worried the Celtics want to trade Heyward for Love but Stevens is stoping it right now.

I for one would thoroughly enjoy seeing an interior defense anchored by Kanter and Love.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Raps are likely as good as the Celtics and Pacers .. in the regular season..

They went 17-5 in games without Leonard last year,

Yeah.

They're really going to need Gasol to come up big and Siakam to take another step.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

BTW, Clips still have their MLE.

I've heard Jamychal Green wants to stay. He fits.

 

[jncuse]

It's always a wasteland.

It wasn't in 2019. The top of the west was quite weak except for one team. The Bucjs, Sixers and Raptors were all better than the Blazers or any western team last year.

But the top of the west has really shifted this summer. with Leonard moving over, and with Memphis, OKC, and NO moving their top players within the west.

 

[jncuse]

Yeah.

They're really going to need Gasol to come up big and Siakam to take another step.

To keep up with the Pacers and Celtics?

I also don't think people realize how good Kyle Lowry is even at 12-16 points a game.

In no way am I arguing that the Raptors get past the second round (or even the first), but they are in same class as Indiana and Boston.

 

[Day2]

I've heard Jamychal Green wants to stay. He fits.

That would be huge while Zubac develops.

Either a backup big or PG would be the finishing touch.

 

[jncuse]

In the NBA, draft picks are useless unless they are top 3

Otherwise live in free agency

Since 2010, the Mavs, Warriors, and Raptors have won the title without that model. The Bucks and Rockets have won 60 games without that model.

The NBA will be interesting this season, because teams like the Clips and Lakers have the top end nailed, but the depth is always a question. They will be tested by teams who have built in other ways (and they don't get an asterisk for any injury)... be it Denver, Portland, Golden St (when Thompson comes back. Utah is one nice move from being there, or is already there as well.

 

[Alsacs]

To keep up with the Pacers and Celtics?

I also don't think people realize how good Kyle Lowry is even at 12-16 points a game.

In no way am I arguing that the Raptors get past the second round (or even the first), but they are in same class as Indiana and Boston.

Toronto is a playoff team. I just think Boston and Indiana are better slightly. I am sure all will have mid 40s O/U next year.
It wouldn’t shock me if the Raptors try and trade Gasol.
Boston top 4 Kemba, Tatum, Brown, Heyward.
Indiana top 4 Oladipo, Brogdon, Turner, Sabonis
Toronto top 4 Siakam, Lowry, Gasol, Van Vleet.

I am not sure any Eastern team after Philadelphia and Milwaukee are in a different tier.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

It wasn't in 2019. The top of the west was quite weak except for one team. The Bucjs, Sixers and Raptors were all better than the Blazers or any western team last year.

But the top of the west has really shifted this summer. with Leonard moving over, and with Memphis, OKC, and NO moving their top players within the west.

Blip on the radar.

I don't give the Eastern conference credit for occasionally having good teams.

 

[Knicks411]

BTW, Clips still have their MLE.

All they would have is the room, right? They were under the cap, so they shouldn't have any MLE. I think?

 

[CanadianSU]

Raptor fan here...

Just won a championship... The Toronto Raptors. Yes Toronto, like in Canada. People (raptor fans) mad at Kawhi and are bringing up Derozan are you kidding me? No Kawhi = No basketball title in Canada.

 

[Day2]

All they would have is the room, right? They were under the cap, so they shouldn't have any MLE. I think?

I think they’re capped out now. George’s annual is higher than Gallo/SGA.

 

[Day2]

Raptor fan here...

Just won a championship... The Toronto Raptors. Yes Toronto, like in Canada. People (raptor fans) mad at Kawhi and are bringing up Derozan are you kidding me? No Kawhi = No basketball title in Canada.

They should be mad at management for turning down the Thunder deal.

 

[jncuse]

They should be mad at management for turning down the Thunder deal.

Why would we be mad? We won a title. We have 90M in Salaries clearing in 2020. Giannis possibly coming in 2021.

 

[Day2]

Since 2010, the Mavs, Warriors, and Raptors have won the title without that model. The Bucks and Rockets have won 60 games without that model.

The NBA will be interesting this season, because teams like the Clips and Lakers have the top end nailed, but the depth is always a question. They will be tested by teams who have built in other ways (and they don't get an asterisk for any injury)... be it Denver, Portland, Golden St (when Thompson comes back. Utah is one nice move from being there, or is already there as well.

The Clippers don’t really have any issues depth wise.

 

[Day2]

Why would we be mad? We won a title. We have 90M in Salaries clearing in 2020. Giannis possibly coming in 2021.

I don’t know. Ask the poster I replied to.

 

[jncuse]

Raptor fan here...

Just won a championship... The Toronto Raptors. Yes Toronto, like in Canada. People (raptor fans) mad at Kawhi and are bringing up Derozan are you kidding me? No Kawhi = No basketball title in Canada.

I think a lot of Raptors fans are angry right now because this has been such a drawn out process this past week. If Kawhi had announced on June 30, I think there would be less anger then there is now.

I'm disappointed, mildly angry at most. Kawhi brought us the title, and from the beginning we knew his leaving was a strong possibility. The fact that he considered us so much, given his other clear desires, does not make his leaving an indictment against other team. I wish him well, and I am glad there is no Laker superteam.

I am most happy that we are not stuck with Demar Derozan and we can start from scratch now,

 

[Alsacs]

Why would we be mad? We won a title. We have 90M in Salaries clearing in 2020. Giannis possibly coming in 2021.

I wouldn’t be upset but apparently the Thunder offered Westbrook and George to Toronto for the same number of draft plcks and Siakam.
Uriji didn’t want to trade Siakam.

 

[jncuse]

The Clippers don’t really have any issues depth wise.

Your probably right - that is why they are the favourite over that other 2 star team in LA,

 

[OrangeDW]

I wouldn’t be upset but apparently the Thunder offered Westbrook and George to Toronto for the same number of draft plcks and Siakam.
Uriji didn’t want to trade Siakam.

I wouldn’t want Westbrook either.

 

[kirbivore]

HAHAHAHAHA