NBA Thread 2020-21 Season

[MikeSU02]

Kyrie now refers to himself as an artist.

I honestly believe that KD is just like, "listen, I don't care what you say, just make sure you pass me the ball. Go ahead and be Voltaire, Picasso, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Elmo or whatever other insane thing that goes through your head... just get me the ball and let me cook. Also, you can't sit with me at lunch."

 

[KaiserUEO]

yet another hoop player without the balls to play the Garden.

 

[Melancer46]

I think it's tough to do broad strokes like that, imo. Giannis had some pretty rough times, if I remember his upbringing, for what he had to do to just have the basics. Whereas Luka has been in the spotlight and been celebrated for a long time (wasn't his dad a pro player?).

I do get your point though, I could see the appeal of stability (along with almost a quarter billion dollars) for someone like him, especially just having a kid/starting a family. I think it also matters if you are on a team that has a stable organization behind it. I think Edens and Lasry have done a good job of that.

Also, for those kids that jump ship on AAU or HS teams, while I personally am not a fan of it, I don't necessarily fault them. There are some scummy people trying to use those kids to make money. You got to do what you got to do.

Back to my other Luka comment in this thread, I absolutely think the Lakers are going to start laying tracks down for him now that Giannis isn't going there (or at least not likely going there), no matter how long they have to wait for him.

It really just seems like the Bucks got super lucky with one of the few superstars that would actually want to be in Milwaukee. He's always said he didn't really like LA, New York, Miami, etc., that he's always preferred to just kinda keep a low-profile and Milwaukee was a good match for that. That and just that he's an incredibly loyal and driven so he wants to try to break through and win a title for the Bucks.

I tended to think he'd sign but wasn't super confident about it. Had some guys that have been posting on one of the Bucks message boards for a long time saying that they had heard it was locked up a couple weeks ago and it was just a matter of making it official; that and Chris Haynes (Giannis' girlfriend's cousin) saying he had a hard time seeing Giannis not signing before the deadline was enough to make me feel decently about our chances.

You should have seen some of the other Bucks fans though lol. People were in full-blown meltdown mode. I can't imagine I'll be able to attend a Bucks game this year, but whenever the world returns to normal and that becomes a possibility again, I can't wait to go back and see him play again.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Did not expect Giannis to sign an extension before Rudy.

 

[Melancer46]

Did not expect Giannis to sign an extension before Rudy.

Do you think Utah wants to give him the supermax? I don't think it would necessarily be wrong of them to do it, but he's definitely the caliber of player where you should feel pretty concerned about giving it IMO.

 

[Knicks411]

Do you think Utah wants to give him the supermax? I don't think it would necessarily be wrong of them to do it, but he's definitely the caliber of player where you should feel pretty concerned about giving it IMO.

Yeah Giannis before Rudy doesn't really surprise me. With Giannis it's just up to Giannis; the Bucks were always going to offer the supermax as soon as they could. I don't think Utah is just rubber stamping the max to Rudy, so there's a little dance to be done.

A really interesting thought I heard (Probably from Zach Lowe on his podcast): Giannis not signing the extension had the impact of hurting a few of Milwaukee's direct rivals for the 20-21 season. As long as there was the possibility of Giannis on the market next summer, Miami and Toronto weren't going to make any moves to severely change their cap sheet, meaning they may have declined to add talent in season via trade, which indirectly would help the Bucks.

Anyway, he signed, so it doesnt matter anymore, and i didn't think it was going to matter, the Bucks wanted to get Giannis to sign ASAP. But I did think it was an interesting secondary effect of him dragging his feet a little.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

Mike Conley Sr. had game.

 

[moqui]

yet another hoop player without the balls to play the Garden.

 

[OrangeDW]

Mike Conley Sr. had game.

That foul line dunk looked like altered footage in slow motion, lol. Good grief.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Do you think Utah wants to give him the supermax? I don't think it would necessarily be wrong of them to do it, but he's definitely the caliber of player where you should feel pretty concerned about giving it IMO.

From people that claim to know things, the Jazz have an offer on the table for a bit more than what Gobert can get as a regular free agent, but not at the full supermax. He hasn't said no to it or anything, he's just taking his time because there's like a week left before it has to get wrapped up.

I think it'll get done. The whole Jazz identity is built around Gobert. People point to the defense, but they don't realize how involved he is in the offense too. He does a LOT to help guys get good shots.

I low key like if Gobert agrees to a contract that isn't the full supermax. That's the kind of thing that keeps him motivated. He's a psychopath with that stuff. I love it.

 

[Knicks411]

It kinda sucks (well, for the team I guess) when the guy qualifies for the super max, especially in a case where its Gobert, who is great but he's not like a first team all NBA guy.

Because then either the team offers him the super max, which is probably the wrong move for them, or they make him an offer that is still more than anyone else can, but the player can view as an "insult" cause it wasn't the max

 

[OttoinGrotto]

It kinda sucks (well, for the team I guess) when the guy qualifies for the super max, especially in a case where its Gobert, who is great but he's not like a first team all NBA guy.

Because then either the team offers him the super max, which is probably the wrong move for them, or they make him an offer that is still more than anyone else can, but the player can view as an "insult" cause it wasn't the max

Yeah, it's a tricky dance.

Plus, I mean... Gobert exceeded expectations by just so much. He was a project 1st round flyer that's been all NBA and won multiple DPOYs. You have to reward that.

But he also plays a position that isn't as highly valued these days, unless a team goes the other way and builds around him. Which is exactly what the Jazz have done. So he's more valuable to them than anybody else in the NBA.

 

[MikeSU02]

From people that claim to know things, the Jazz have an offer on the table for a bit more than what Gobert can get as a regular free agent, but not at the full supermax. He hasn't said no to it or anything, he's just taking his time because there's like a week left before it has to get wrapped up.

I think it'll get done. The whole Jazz identity is built around Gobert. People point to the defense, but they don't realize how involved he is in the offense too. He does a LOT to help guys get good shots.

I low key like if Gobert agrees to a contract that isn't the full supermax. That's the kind of thing that keeps him motivated. He's a psychopath with that stuff. I love it.

Sounds like the right move. You have to consider who else you are getting to come (or not come) to Utah. If you overpay a little but not give him every last penny, that's a win for the org, gets Rudy a ton of money and you stay competitive in the West.

 

[Melancer46]

From people that claim to know things, the Jazz have an offer on the table for a bit more than what Gobert can get as a regular free agent, but not at the full supermax. He hasn't said no to it or anything, he's just taking his time because there's like a week left before it has to get wrapped up.

I think it'll get done. The whole Jazz identity is built around Gobert. People point to the defense, but they don't realize how involved he is in the offense too. He does a LOT to help guys get good shots.

I low key like if Gobert agrees to a contract that isn't the full supermax. That's the kind of thing that keeps him motivated. He's a psychopath with that stuff. I love it.

Yeah, I totally get it. Gobert's supermax situation is maybe the most interesting one we've seen since the supermax first became a thing. He certainly doesn't play the same role that other supermax players have played and he arguably isn't as good as the others that have gotten it either. It's a really tricky situation and could easily turn ugly towards the end of that deal like we've seen with some of the other supermaxes in the past.

I think that sort of deal would make Utah the first to use one of their two supermax slots on a contract that isn't actually the full supermax if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Melancer46]

I promise I won't fill this thread with Giannis memes and stuff, but this brought me a lot of joy.

 

[Alsacs]

Giannis went the Tim Duncan route which is good for the NBA.

Not every star has to go to Miami or Los Angeles if they leave their team.

 

[KaiserUEO]

Giannis went the Tim Duncan route which is good for the NBA.

Not every star has to go to Miami or Los Angeles if they leave their team.

there is a lot of good with him staying there.

im sick of super teams and superstars other than Melo, scared to come to NY.

lebron in cleveland = good

lebron in miami & la = fluck him

 

[OrangeDW]

there is a lot of good with him staying there.

im sick of super teams and superstars other than Melo, scared to come to NY.

lebron in cleveland = good

lebron in miami & la = fluck him

The team and organization have been terrible though. Guys want to win. There’s been no good reason to go there.

 

[KaiserUEO]

The team and organization have been terrible though. Guys want to win. There’s been no good reason to go there.

bargnani and amare ruined any cap space for sure.

but they have $$ now and will have it, but will have no one to give it to it seems...

 

[moqui]

what is the board consensus: is dion's nba career finished, or does someone sign him up late?

 

[OttoinGrotto]

what is the board consensus: is dion's nba career finished, or does someone sign him up late?

He may not enter the season with a contract, but he'll play somewhere this season.

Covid is going to do weird things to rosters. Teams are going to need bodies that can play basketball.

Dion has a body that can play basketball.

 

[OrangeDW]

bargnani and amare ruined any cap space for sure.

but they have $$ now and will have it, but will have no one to give it to it seems...

They need some of these young players to develop to where they’re either quality running mates for a star, or nice trade chips to get a second star.

I highly doubt LeBron would’ve went to the Lakers if Ingram, Ball, Hart, Kuzma weren’t all valuable. Even though they weren’t winning yet, all their recent draft picks were looking like good young players with bright futures. The first 3 were enough to land Davis.

Knicks gotta hit on their picks and develop them while maintaining cap space, IMO.

They’ve got guys like Frank and Knox who so far have been complete also rans. They need guys like that to come around, Barrett to look like a future star, maybe Obi to pan out. Robinson looks like a nice piece, but that’s not enough. Randle, who I have always liked and who is another guy who developed nicely for the Lakers, can be a good 3rd-4th guy on a good team IMO.

 

[KaiserUEO]

They need some of these young players to develop to where they’re either quality running mates for a star, or nice trade chips to get a second star.

I highly doubt LeBron would’ve went to the Lakers if Ingram, Ball, Hart, Kuzma weren’t all valuable. Even though they weren’t winning yet, all their recent draft picks were looking like good young players with bright futures. The first 3 were enough to land Davis.

Knicks gotta hit on their picks and develop them while maintaining cap space, IMO.

They’ve got guys like Frank and Knox who so far have been complete also rans. They need guys like that to come around, Barrett to look like a future star, maybe Obi to pan out. Robinson looks like a nice piece, but that’s not enough. Randle, who I have always liked and who is another guy who developed nicely for the Lakers, can be a good 3rd-4th guy on a good team IMO.

thats the bottom line right there.


this year i would love the 8 seed, 7 is a dream.

didnt the NBA just change the last few playoff spots again?



i also wish ABC/ESPN/TNT would stop trying to make the NY area into non-Knick fans by not giving them a game on Christmas Day.

you cant tell me that the Knicks on Christmas, wont do the same, if not better ratings than the heat will v the pelicans.

nobody cares about the heat anymore.

im not watching on principal.

 

[OrangeDW]

thats the bottom line right there.

i would take the 8 seed, 7 is a dream.

didnt the NBA just change the last few playoff spots again?

i also wish ABC/ESPN/TNT would stop trying to make the NY area into non-Knick fans by not giving them a game on Christmas Day.

you cant tell me that the Knicks on Christmas, wont do the same, if not better ratings than the heat will v the pelicans.

nobody cares about the heat anymore.

im not watching on principal.

Ha, the Heat were...just in the finals! They got a squad and are fun to watch. They’ve got Brooklyn to get NY on the board on Christmas. While the Knicks with KD and Kyrie would have more cache than the Nets do with those two...it is what it is. The Knicks don’t have anyone that anyone that’s not a Knicks fan cares to watch at this point. From that standpoint, it’s a shame they didn’t land Zion.

They need Barrett to develop like Brandon Ingram has. That would be a boon to them.

 

[Knicks411]

Yeah, I totally get it. Gobert's supermax situation is maybe the most interesting one we've seen since the supermax first became a thing. He certainly doesn't play the same role that other supermax players have played and he arguably isn't as good as the others that have gotten it either. It's a really tricky situation and could easily turn ugly towards the end of that deal like we've seen with some of the other supermaxes in the past.

I think that sort of deal would make Utah the first to use one of their two supermax slots on a contract that isn't actually the full supermax if I'm not mistaken.

That's interesting, I didn't even consider that angle.

How many guys have qualified and not ended up getting it? Kemba was one?