NBA Thread 2020-21 Season

[OrangeDW]

I think the principle guys coming back would be siakam and Powell .. not sure that would do it from the rockets perspective.. and not sure Why the raptors would want harden

Haden’s best fit is to go to a crappy team and make them a playoff team singlehandedly ..

He’s the last guy Id want to add as a finishing piece on a contender..

Of course he wants to go to a contender .. but guess what ... he’s under contract for two more years and doesn’t have a no trade ... so he has to go where they send him

I think somebody like Orlando, that’s decent and has some pieces but also has a limited ceiling, should look at it. If Harden makes them a sure playoff team that can win a series or two..that’s a heck of a lot more excitement than they’ve had for the last decade or so.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think somebody like Orlando, that’s decent and has some pieces but also has a limited ceiling, should look at it. If Harden makes them a sure playoff team that can win a series or two..that’s a heck of a lot more excitement than they’ve had for the last decade or so.

What's crazy is the Magic have been to the playoffs two straight years! But they're so non-descript it's easy to forget that they've been decently competitive.

I mean it's the eastern conference, but still.

 

[OrangeDW]

What's crazy is the Magic have been to the playoffs two straight years! But they're so non-descript it's easy to forget that they've been decently competitive.

I mean it's the eastern conference, but still.

Right, they’re definitely decent.

Harden could probably elevate them to a 50 win team that’s a “contender”(but won’t actually win anything).

I have Vuc, Fultz, and Gordon on one of my fantasy teams, so I hope it doesn’t happen.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Right, they’re definitely decent.

Harden could probably elevate them to a 50 win team that’s a “contender”(but won’t actually win anything).

I have Vuc, Fultz, and Gordon on one of my fantasy teams, so I hope it doesn’t happen.

I definitely agree though that Harden should go somewhere that his presence alone puts a team in the playoff chase.

 

[OrangeDW]

I definitely agree though that Harden should go somewhere that his presence alone puts a team in the playoff chase.

Orlando and Charlotte stand out to me as two teams that aren’t going anywhere but are desperately overdue for some level of excitement, that don’t seem to have a real long term plan, that would be solid playoff teams with Harden, and that might have the pieces to do it?

Would a package centered around PJ Washington/Graham get it done? (I don’t even pretend to care about how the money aspect works when coming up with trades, btw). Charlotte with Ball, Harden, and Hayward would be both interesting and pretty good - at least offensively.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Orlando and Charlotte stand out to me as two teams that aren’t going anywhere but are desperately overdue for some level of excitement, that don’t seem to have a real long term plan, that would be solid playoff teams with Harden, and that might have the pieces to do it?

Would a package centered around PJ Washington/Graham get it done? (I don’t even pretend to care about how the money aspect works when coming up with trades, btw). Charlotte with Ball, Harden, and Hayward would be both interesting and pretty good - at least offensively.

that is not much coming back to the rockets. I would think they would require more. Now Im not sure how much value harden truly has out there... I think its quite amusing how differently he's valued by so called experts...but a a talent somewhere between Siakam and Ben Simmons is what I think a fair return would be.

I think getting Simmons from Philly would be grand theft auto. Simmons, a healthy wall, a rejuvenated Boogie, and the emergence of C. wood makes the Rockets a legit top four team in the west. Any offensive drop they may suffer would be more than made up for on D alone.

 

[OrangeDW]

that is not much coming back to the rockets. I would think they would require more. Now Im not sure how much value harden truly has out there... I think its quite amusing how differently he's valued by so called experts...but a a talent somewhere between Siakam and Ben Simmons is what I think a fair return would be.

I think getting Simmons from Philly would be grand theft auto. Simmons, a healthy wall, a rejuvenated Boogie, and the emergence of C. wood makes the Rockets a legit top four team in the west. Any offensive drop they may suffer would be more than made up for on D alone.

In general I agree that you don’t trade a star without getting a star in return.

I do wonder if Washington has star potential though. A guy they’re going to use as a small ball center, that shot 37% from 3 as a rookie - he could become a super valuable guy.

 

[Alsacs]

Any Charlotte trade for Harden would revolve around Ball going to Houston.

He is their only real tradable asset right now unless they gave up unprotected picks 4-5 years down the line.
Jordan may be a bad owner but he isn’t going to gut his future to get Harden and be a playoff team to win nothing.

 

[OrangeDW]

Any Charlotte trade for Harden would revolve around Ball going to Houston.

He is their only real tradable asset right unless they gave up unprotected picks 4-5 years down the line.

How is Washington not a tradable asset?

 

[Alsacs]

How is Washington not a tradable asset?

He is an asset but he isn’t a piece that is going to get you James Harden.

Washington played on a bad team with no expectations and didn’t exactly put eye popping numbers.
He was solid. If Charlotte calls me and offers Washington as the lead player going to Houston it’s not happening.

It’s either LaMelo Ball or multiple unprotected and draft swaps years down the road that gets a maybe.

 

[OrangeDW]

He is an asset but he isn’t a piece that is going to get you James Harden.

Washington played on a bad team with no expectations and didn’t exactly put eye popping numbers.
He was solid. If Charlotte calls me and offers Washington as the lead player going to Houston it’s not happening.

It’s either LaMelo Ball or multiple unprotected and draft swaps years down the road that gets a maybe.

Probably right.

Personally think Graham and Washington both look like solid starters for years to come, with Washington’s versatility to slide to center being a nice “perk” in this current NBA.

But yeah, Ball would be the guy with the ceiling that Houston would probably demand.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Any Charlotte trade for Harden would revolve around Ball going to Houston.

He is their only real tradable asset right now unless they gave up unprotected picks 4-5 years down the line.
Jordan may be a bad owner but he isn’t going to gut his future to get Harden and be a playoff team to win nothing.

Why wouldn't Charlotte give up Ball for Harden?

Harden is better than Ball ever has a chance to be.

 

[MikeSU02]

Houston should try to do PG and Lou for Harden if Houston wants a win now team. That gives Houston Wall and PG (with whatever you can get out of Boogie as well) plus Lou off the bench. Plenty of extracurricular activity for Lou to do in H-Town.

Harden can go to LAC where Ballmer will clearly be flexible when it comes to his stars and Harden can be surrounded by Pat Bev and Kawhi for their 1-3. Harden wants to play ball and party. So be it. Not the first, def won't be the last... anyone wants to judge these guys should talk to some of our own Cuse players and what JB let's them get away with.

Honestly, is there really any better option for Houston if they are trying to stay competitive that is realistic?

If he wants a bunch of first round picks, then trade him to New Orleans and try to get back Ingram and picks (they obviously aren't trading Zion).

Those are the only two legit trades I think are worthwhile (sorry, I don't see how pairing Ben Simmons with John Wall makes any sense) unless Ainge gets itchy.

I'll be honest, if we could get him to the Knicks, I'd take him in a heart beat. Would he keep One Oak (or whatever is one of the hottest clubs, my time being out at those places is long gone) open until shoot around? Perhaps. But at least we would win some games and be in the playoffs.

 

[Day2]

Houston should try to do PG and Lou for Harden if Houston wants a win now team. That gives Houston Wall and PG (with whatever you can get out of Boogie as well) plus Lou off the bench. Plenty of extracurricular activity for Lou to do in H-Town.

Harden can go to LAC where Ballmer will clearly be flexible when it comes to his stars and Harden can be surrounded by Pat Bev and Kawhi for their 1-3. Harden wants to play ball and party. So be it. Not the first, def won't be the last... anyone wants to judge these guys should talk to some of our own Cuse players and what JB let's them get away with.

Honestly, is there really any better option for Houston if they are trying to stay competitive that is realistic?

If he wants a bunch of first round picks, then trade him to New Orleans and try to get back Ingram and picks (they obviously aren't trading Zion).

Those are the only two legit trades I think are worthwhile (sorry, I don't see how pairing Ben Simmons with John Wall makes any sense) unless Ainge gets itchy.

I'll be honest, if we could get him to the Knicks, I'd take him in a heart beat. Would he keep One Oak (or whatever is one of the hottest clubs, my time being out at those places is long gone) open until shoot around? Perhaps. But at least we would win some games and be in the playoffs.

I don’t see the Clippers making that move right now. They would really need to be struggling.

 

[jncuse]

I thought there may be restrictions against trading Paul George because of the recent extension. But I wasn't sure. So I ran a George-Harden deal on the RealGM Trade Checker, and apparently George cannot be traded until April 9, 2021.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

oh man, Philly. Don’t do it. Ben might become a better shooter. Harden is 30+, he’s not going to become a better defender. Ben is young and can guard everybody on the floor, any given night.

Harden has great regular season states, at the expense of teammates and chemistry. Just don't ask him to show up for game 7. James Harden continually struggles in closeout games vs. Warriors

 

[MikeSU02]

I thought there may be restrictions against trading Paul George because of the recent extension. But I wasn't sure. So I ran a George-Harden deal on the RealGM Trade Checker, and apparently George cannot be traded until April 9, 2021.

View attachment 193216

ahhhh well.

 

[chugg21]

Gobert 5/205. Saved 23m over 5 years off the supermax. Deal certainly won't age well but nothing else you can do on either side. Kind of sucks for the team knowing that you can't extract any kind of surplus value on a contract like this. He has to play at DPOY level and keep progressing on offense to just break even.

 

[Alsacs]

Gobert 5/205. Saved 23m over 5 years off the supermax. Deal certainly won't age well but nothing else you can do on either side. Kind of sucks for the team knowing that you can't extract any kind of surplus value on a contract like this. He has to play at DPOY level and keep progressing on offense to just break even.

Jazz have no choice but this contract is just crazy.

They have to give it to him but man that is nuts.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

The best thing possible for the Jazz was to lock Rudy in. Everything they do is built around him on both ends of the floor. I saw a thing that said since he became a starter, the Jazz win like 60% of their games, and without him they're like 40%.

It's a ton of money, but Rudy has the makeup that he's going to bust his tail and give everything he's got to play up to it.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

 

[MikeSU02]

Good contract.

1. Who else are they getting to come to Utah in free agency? Anyone? The money has to go somewhere.
2. The metrics posted above show how valuable he is to the team.
3. AD signing with the Lakers makes Rudy's even more valuable.
4. Utah was one shot away from the second round w/o BB available.

This team has a good coach, two young stars that they got in the mid to late first round and a solid supporting cast. Now that they have even more stability, they should also be an attractive destination for older vets looking to play for a competitive team.

Will they win a title? Probably not, but it's not out of the question. Will they stay competitive assuming they stay healthy? Yes.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

The best thing possible for the Jazz was to lock Rudy in. Everything they do is built around him on both ends of the floor. I saw a thing that said since he became a starter, the Jazz win like 60% of their games, and without him they're like 40%.

It's a ton of money, but Rudy has the makeup that he's going to bust his tail and give everything he's got to play up to it.

3rd largest contract ever. I remember when he signed his current 100 million contract and people questioned it. The Jazz are locked down the next three years. Great job by Dennis Lindsey. Great letter to Utah by Rudy. You deserve it.

 

[Alsacs]

I think Toronto is going to explore Siakam for Harden.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think Toronto is going to explore Siakam for Harden.

How are the strip clubs in Toronto?

And depending on how that is answered, does that make Harden in Toronto a better or worse idea?