Graycap23 said:

phunkdaddy said:

I'm not sure I like this move. The Sixers have the Lakers number 1 next season and they are talking about giving them that pick as a part of the deal for the number one pick. Deal a number one pick to your hated rivals the Celtics? Who does that? The Sixers better be damn sure Markelle Futz is worth this move. We Sixers fans have suffered long enough.

They robbed the 6er's blind. The 6er's gm must be related to the Bears GM.

According to Stephen A. Smith, the C's are prepared to deal the pick to the Bulls for Jimmy Butler. Then the C's sign Gordon Heyward.

Even if Butler and Heyward are not enough to dethrone the Cavs in '18, it may be enough after LBJ (supposedly) leaves after next season, and the C's still get the Sixers' lottery pick in '18 or '19 to acquire more talent.

If Fultz-Simmons-Embiid turn into a Big Three, phunk, it will be worth it.

However, the C's and Sixers should remember the saying about "ifs and buts, candies and nuts . . ."

[Edited 6/19/17 9:30am]

Graycap23 said:

namepeace said:

phunkdaddy said:

Graycap23 said:

They robbed the 6er's blind. The 6er's gm must be related to the Bears GM.

Lol. Similar situation. I'm not sure if Fultz is head and shoulder above Ball and DeAaron Fox. He better be or Philly gonna be assed out.

I'm not feeling Fultz.

namepeace said:

Graycap23 said:

They robbed the 6er's blind. The 6er's gm must be related to the Bears GM.

According to Stephen A. Smith, the C's are prepared to deal the pick to the Bulls for Jimmy Butler. Then the C's sign Gordon Heyward.

Even if Butler and Heyward are not enough to dethrone the Cavs in '18, it may be enough after LBJ (supposedly) leaves after next season, and the C's still get the Sixers' lottery pick in '18 or '19 to acquire more talent.

If Fultz-Simmons-Embiid turn into a Big Three, phunk, it will be worth it.

However, the C's and Sixers should remember the saying about "ifs and buts, candies and nuts . . ."

[Edited 6/19/17 9:30am]

Ainge isn't playing around. I love it.

phunkdaddy said:

I hope you're right about the big 3 potential with the Sixers. I hope they hang on to Okafor and let him come off the bench and build his trade value instead of giving him up for peanuts. Still think he can be a good player. [Edited 6/19/17 10:01am]

I haven't followed him at all, but from what I've heard, he's a potential head case. He never wanted to be in Philly. They kind of have to hold onto him since Embiid's health is iffy, but he'd be the first to go, and I think he's a potential asset to trade for a good pick.

WTF is going on in Cleveland with the GM getting fired just before the draft?

I'm hearing Phil Jackson is weighing the possibility of trading Porzingis...has he lost his fucking mind?

Twitter reaction....

http://www.hotnewhip...article/34003/?

[Edited 6/20/17 15:35pm]

The Atlanta Hawks have traded center Dwight Howard and the 31st pick to the Charlotte Hornets for MIkes Plumlee, Marco Belinelli, and the 41st pick. Shows how far Dwight has fallen.

Lakers send Russell & Mozgov to the Nets for Brook Lopez & a pick.

[Edited 6/21/17 5:54am]

Should we get a sticky for the Draft and Offseason?

uPtoWnNY said:

WTF is going on in Cleveland with the GM getting fired just before the draft?

It's either Dan Gilbert realizing LeBron is a lame duck in CLE and planning to blow it up, or Dan Gilbert simply being dense. There are rumblings Kyrie will want out when LBJ is gone.

I'm hearing Phil Jackson is weighing the possibility of trading Porzingis...

I honestly think PJ wants to get fired. If he trades Porzingis he kills his only true accomplishment as GM. A troubled tenure as GM can overshadow (but not taint) an historical legacy. I think that happened to Elgin Baylor for a long time.

uPtoWnNY said:

The Atlanta Hawks have traded center Dwight Howard and the 31st pick to the Charlotte Hornets for MIkes Plumlee, Marco Belinelli, and the 41st pick. Shows how far Dwight has fallen.

He's always been injured and his offensive game hasn't developed a decade or more in.

Lakers send Russell & Mozgov to the Nets for Brook Lopez & a pick.

I never thought LAL would get out from under the Mozgov albatross contract, but they did. I would have preferred they keep Russell and experiment with a Ball-Russell-Clarkson guard rotation, but oh well. They're freeing up space to sign 2 max players but they've been there before and come up empty.

namepeace said:

uPtoWnNY said:

WTF is going on in Cleveland with the GM getting fired just before the draft?

It's either Dan Gilbert realizing LeBron is a lame duck in CLE and planning to blow it up, or Dan Gilbert simply being dense. There are rumblings Kyrie will want out when LBJ is gone.

I'm hearing Phil Jackson is weighing the possibility of trading Porzingis...

I honestly think PJ wants to get fired. If he trades Porzingis he kills his only true accomplishment as GM. A troubled tenure as GM can overshadow (but not taint) an historical legacy. I think that happened to Elgin Baylor for a long time.

I'm hearing the relationship between LeBron & Gilbert is STILL toxic. The "experts" say he's going to either LA team after 2018.

How about LeBron, Lonzo Ball & Paul George wearing Laker purple & gold?

uPtoWnNY said:

namepeace said:

I'm hearing the relationship between LeBron & Gilbert is STILL toxic. The "experts" say he's going to either LA team after 2018.

How about LeBron, Lonzo Ball & Paul George wearing Laker purple & gold?

If they get George for the right price they could lure Westbrook as well.

But I won't get my hopes up. I'm not sold on Ball. Jerry West is the best front office closer ever, and he's with the Clips. Logo could easily lure LBJ to the better LA team (right now).

And . . . even if they got all 3 of those guys, plus Westbrook, they'd need 2-3 more perimeter studs to get out of the West.

Sure is fun to speculate!

namepeace said:

Should we get a sticky for the Draft and Offseason?

As long as I've been doing the NBA postseason threads, I don't believe I've even seen a separate sticky for offseason moves; the NBA Finals threads have extended into July to cover the NBA draft and first week of free agency.

BTW, I haven't posted anything on the individual NBA season awards yet, but that's because they haven't been announced yet. They used to announce the winners of the MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Most Improved Player, etc., during the second round of the playoffs and conference finals, but the NBA decided to go the way of the NFL and have their own awards show for that beginning this year, and in fact this upcoming Monday (June 26th) on TNT. They got Drake to host this.

namepeace said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I'm hearing the relationship between LeBron & Gilbert is STILL toxic. The "experts" say he's going to either LA team after 2018.

How about LeBron, Lonzo Ball & Paul George wearing Laker purple & gold?

If they get George for the right price they could lure Westbrook as well.

But I won't get my hopes up. I'm not sold on Ball. Jerry West is the best front office closer ever, and he's with the Clips. Logo could easily lure LBJ to the better LA team (right now).

And . . . even if they got all 3 of those guys, plus Westbrook, they'd need 2-3 more perimeter studs to get out of the West.

Sure is fun to speculate!

It doesn't make sense for LeBron to head west, where he'll have to go through San Antonio & Golden State to get to the finals. But the Warriors might not be the same team in 2, 3 years. They can't pay everyone.

Word has it Ainge will use his picks to make a serious run at Anthony Davis.

uPtoWnNY said:

namepeace said:

If they get George for the right price they could lure Westbrook as well.

But I won't get my hopes up. I'm not sold on Ball. Jerry West is the best front office closer ever, and he's with the Clips. Logo could easily lure LBJ to the better LA team (right now).

And . . . even if they got all 3 of those guys, plus Westbrook, they'd need 2-3 more perimeter studs to get out of the West.

Sure is fun to speculate!

It doesn't make sense for LeBron to head west, where he'll have to go through San Antonio & Golden State to get to the finals. But the Warriors might not be the same team in 2, 3 years. They can't pay everyone.

SA won't be as scary if Aldridge doesn't hit another gear in the playoffs. That said, good points.

Word has it Ainge will use his picks to make a serious run at Anthony Davis.

Davis has up to 4 years left on his deal. Gonna be hard to grab him.

Dwight Howard is crazy if he thinks he's a lock for the NBA's Hall of Fame.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a fucking mess despite having the most most valuable player of all time
on its squad.

LaMarcus Aldridge is a head-case.

I ought to be ashamed of myself for the shadenfreude I have towards Lonzo Ball as a result of his
annoying as fuck father. Yet, I do not think Lonzo Ball is not going to suck.

Danny Ainge obviously made a deal and got sucked off by Satan because he's the most gifted
wheeler-dealer GM I've ever seen.

Kevin Durant is soft, but proved himself *right* for abandoning OKC as it is clear that Russell West-
brook is difficult to play with (if winning a ring with your nemesis is considered to be the "right"
thing to do).

If the 76'ers aren't in the playoffs next year, with Ben Simmons and Embiid leading the way, then
somebody in Philadelphia needs to be fired.

Players who ought to just call it a career and be done with it but will probably steal some more money instead:

Carmelo Anthony

Dwight Howard

Chris Andersen

Vince Carter
Matt Barnes
Udonis Haslem
Dwyane Wade
Pau Gasol
David Lee
David West

Dasein said:

Dwight Howard is crazy if he thinks he's a lock for the NBA's Hall of Fame.

The basketball HOF casts an awfully wide net. So he's not a lock, but he's at least a 50-50 shot.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a fucking mess despite having the most most valuable player of all time on its squad.

I really like LBJ, but he supposedly wanted a lot of those players.

LaMarcus Aldridge is a head-case.

Hadn't figured that out. Good player, good organization, great coach, decent supporting cast . . . still not clicking.

I ought to be ashamed of myself for the shadenfreude I have towards Lonzo Ball as a result of his annoying as fuck father. Yet, I do not think Lonzo Ball is not going to suck.

He could be Jason Kidd. But I think there are better athletes in this draft that could be superstars.

Danny Ainge obviously made a deal and got sucked off by Satan because he's the most gifted wheeler-dealer GM I've ever seen.

He's no Jerry West. Maybe one of the players he's drafted in the last 15 years has made it to an All-Star game. But for the trade for KG (with help from his old teammate, Kevin McHale), he might have been gone a while ago.

Kevin Durant is soft, but proved himself *right* for abandoning OKC as it is clear that Russell West- brook is difficult to play with (if winning a ring with your nemesis is considered to be the "right" thing to do).

Put it this way: no reasonable person can blame someone for taking an easier job for the same amount of money plus more benefits (large market, titles).

If the 76'ers aren't in the playoffs next year, with Ben Simmons and Embiid leading the way, then somebody in Philadelphia needs to be fired.

They're still unproven, and collectively haven't even played a full season yet.

Players who ought to just call it a career and be done with it but will probably steal some more money instead:

Carmelo Anthony

Dwight Howard

Chris Andersen

Vince Carter
Matt Barnes
Udonis Haslem
Dwyane Wade
Pau Gasol
David Lee
David West

Melo's got a little left. Maybe The Spaniard does too.

Dasein said:

If the 76'ers aren't in the playoffs next year, with Ben Simmons and Embiid leading the way, then
somebody in Philadelphia needs to be fired.

I love Embid's game, but that cat has Bill Walton, Sam Bowie & Greg Oden written all over him.

Phil Jackson's quote:

"I think we know what we're doing."

LSD is a helluva drug.

728huey said:

Looks like the Bulls are facing reality and are ready to start rebuilding. They're shipping Jimmy Butler to Minnesota for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the no. 7 draft pick. This is good for the Timberwolves as they get some veteran presence to go along with Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony Towns.

They robbed the Bulls blind, then the Bulls turn around and draft another Mcdermott.

Paxson & Forman should be unemployed.

Graycap23 said:

728huey said:

Looks like the Bulls are facing reality and are ready to start rebuilding. They're shipping Jimmy Butler to Minnesota for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the no. 7 draft pick. This is good for the Timberwolves as they get some veteran presence to go along with Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony Towns.

They robbed the Bulls blind, then the Bulls turn around and draft another Mcdermott.

Paxson & Forman should be unemployed.

This was more than a robbery - it was an anal fisting.

I'm fucking disgusted with the Knicks. Picking a dude because he fits the triangle over Monk?

I fucking HATE Phil Jackson. The next two years can't go fast enough.

[Edited 6/23/17 7:18am]

uPtoWnNY said:

Graycap23 said:

They robbed the Bulls blind, then the Bulls turn around and draft another Mcdermott.

Paxson & Forman should be unemployed.

This was more than a robbery - it was an anal fisting.

I'm fucking disgusted with the Knicks. Picking a dude because he fits the triangle over Monk?

I fucking HATE Phil Jackson. The next two years can't go fast enough.

[Edited 6/23/17 7:18am]

In an Era of Super Teams.......the Bulls have a Semi team.

Brendan said:

I've been a fan of the Minnesota Timberwolves since their inception in 1989. As a fan also of basketball and the NBA, it has been both fun and frustrating. The most exciting time was when they had Kevin Garnett, a 15-time All-Star and one of the great two-way players of all time (he was really about 7 foot 1 in shoes but was extremely reticent about the baggage that comes with being listed as a 7 footer). In 2004 he was the league MVP and the team went to the Western Conference Finals. That was the peak for Minnesota unfortunately.

* * *

Minnesota, on the other hand, is now adding a 3-time All-Star just entering his prime, 27, with two potentially great players, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. This could be fun! Most of the nation probably hasn't seen KAT much at all yet, but you're in for a treat. What KAT accomplished at 21 this season, 25.1 points and 12.3 rebounds, is unprecedented (yes, partially because most players used to play 2-4 years in college, not one and done). He is also the 15th player in NBA history at any age to amass 2,000-plus points and 1,000-plus rebounds in a season since Tim Duncan in 2001-02.

* * *

A lot more free agents now are going to look at this trio in Minnesota that will probably average at least 70 points per game, with two potential All Stars, and think, "You plus me, what a ride!" Here's hoping it all works out at least mildly well, as Minnesota has been as bad as the LA Clippers were before they had their recent run with potential greatness.

Things are really looking up in Uptown. KAT, Wiggins and Butler are a good All-Star level nucleus to build around, and free up Rubio to distribute. 1-2 more pieces and they're a legit playoff team, and with a few years to gel, they could be a contender.

I hope Thibs doesn't run them into the ground. He's infamous for that.

They're saying the days of the big man are over, but I think we're a few years away from a Big Renaissance, with KAT, Embiid, Anthony Davis and Giannis.

namepeace said:

The NBA Awards are on tonight, so these will probably be my last entries to this thread for this NBA season. I will post the awards as they are announced.

728huey said:

The NBA Awards are on tonight, so these will probably be my last entries to this thread for this NBA season. I will post the awards as they are announced.

Please editorialize too!

I only care about MVP and if LBJ doesn't win it, the whole award is fucking ridiculous, just like
MJ should've won every year he was active on the Bulls roster.

Malcolm Brogdon was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for 2016-2017. He is the lowest seeded draft pick to win the award in 60 years. Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 36th pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft, he averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game in his rookie season.

Brogdon led all rookies with 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game, and ranked second in 3-point field goal percentage (40.4), second in free throw percentage (86.5), third in overall field goal percentage (45.7) and fourth in scoring (10.2 points per game).

He beat out Joel Embiid and Dario Saric of the Philadelphia 76ers to become the third Milwaukee Bucks rookie to win the award. Bob Pettit (1954-55) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969-70) are the only other two Bucks to receive the honor.

Eric Gordon was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year on Monday. He beat out fellow Houston Rockets teammate Lou Williams and Golden State Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala for the trophy.

Gordon was lights out from 3 for Houston last season, averaging 16.2 points on 37 percent 3-point shooting. The Rockets’ sniper drilled 246 3s last season, fourth-most in the NBA behind only teammate James Harden, and the "Splash Brothers" Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry. More impressively, after missing significant time due to injury in each of his last 5 seasons, Gordon stayed healthy and played in 75 games last season.

Runner-up Lou Williams averaged 18.6 points with the Los Angeles Lakers before he was traded to the Rockets in midseason. He subsequently averaged 14.9 points on below average shooting percentages in Houston. Andre Iguodala averaged 7.6 points per game for the best team in the NBA, serving as a utility player off the bench for a Warriors squad that won the NBA Finals.