2023-24 Around the NBA Thread

[Hoop Head]

However, Jerry Colangelo and Robert Sarver are no longer the owners, so this shouldn't apply now.

I can see it being different for Barkley, regardless of there being a new owner. If you worked for a company and had a really bad end to your time there that soured you on the whole company and made your overlook the good, it's hard to change that point of view. Chuck has moved on as much as he can. He loves the fans and is friendly with the organization but won't ever be a diehard fan.

 

[Superbone]

Supposedly, Charles and Colangelo made up.

 

[Mainstreet]

Supposedly, Charles and Colangelo made up.

There was a truce and Charles was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor.

https://www.nba.com/suns/news/azcentral_barkley_030317.html

 

[Mainstreet]

The Heat are reportedly preparing a trade package for Damian Lillard that may include 3-4 first round picks.

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[BirdGangThing]

Dame is going to be a free agent in 2025

Miami could give up 4 first-round draft picks and Tyler Herro (plus some sides)

Durant is going to be a free agent in 2025

Suns gave up 4 first-round picks, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson (plus some sides)

I don't see any of the first-round draft picks becoming lottery picks for either Portland or Brooklyn

 

[GatorAZ]

The Heat are reportedly preparing a trade package for Damian Lillard that may include 3-4 first round picks.

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If the picks are unprotected thru 2030 it’s a no brainer. Dame and Butler will both be 34 next year.

 

[Mainstreet]

If the picks are unprotected thru 2030 it’s a no brainer. Dame and Butler will both be 34 next year.

I'd do it. The Trail Blazers have hung onto Lillard too long already. Some of their trades have left me perplexed.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's your team, Anthony Edwards.

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[Chaplin]

It's your team, Anthony Edwards.

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This is the hard-hitting journalism Shams is known for. What a fascinating conversation.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is the hard-hitting journalism Shams is known for. What a fascinating conversation.

I like how Edwards said the work has just started and talked about team goals.

 

[Yuma]

Ant-man has been one of my favorites since he was drafted. The guy is on a Booker arc of improving every season. I hope he stays hungry.

 

[Hoop Head]

Ant-man has been one of my favorites since he was drafted. The guy is on a Booker arc of improving every season. I hope he stays hungry.

He's exceeded all expectations I had for him, which were pretty low. I thought he was more of a combo guard than he's been. Sort of a poor man's Kyrie, albeit a better finisher around the rim. He's been a home run as a #1 pick. He plays larger than his measurements would indicate. He needs a better outside shot but he's been working on that. Hopefully he gets out of Minnesota so he can play for a team that would build around him properly.

 

[Russ Smith]

The Heat are reportedly preparing a trade package for Damian Lillard that may include 3-4 first round picks.

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One of the hot rumors is Portland is asking for Jaime Jaquez over Jovic in the trade but Miami is hesitant to move JJJ.

I'm still hoping somehow they need a 3rd team and the Warriors jump in and get Jaime.

 

[Russ Smith]

DeAaron Fox shot 76.5% on shots at the rim last year, 90% of his shots at the rim were unassisted. Dude continues to get better every year, him improving his outside shot the last couple of years has made him almost unguardable 1 on 1.

 

[Superbone]

DeAaron Fox shot 76.5% on shots at the rim last year, 90% of his shots at the rim were unassisted. Dude continues to get better every year, him improving his outside shot the last couple of years has made him almost unguardable 1 on 1.

It’s too bad the Suns never had a shot at him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

It’s too bad the Suns never had a shot at him.

I think we did take a shot at him but he was too fast for us, not even a graze.

I didn't really believe in him, thought he'd be basically another Bledsoe. Not horrible but nothing special either. Can I have a do-over?

 

[Russ Smith]

I think we did take a shot at him but he was too fast for us, not even a graze.

I didn't really believe in him, thought he'd be basically another Bledsoe. Not horrible but nothing special either. Can I have a do-over?

UCLA played UK twice that year, won the first lost in the NCAA's when Fox went off. UCLA had both Lonzo and Aaron Holiday, Holiday was a very good college defender, Lonzo was better than people realized but Fox torched both of them both times we played, especially the NCAA game he basically won single handedly. He was not a good shooter then that was the knock on him but he was so good off the bounce then, and because he's improved the shot, now he's unguardable. He's not as good defensively as he should be given his length and athleticism but he's gotten better.

Of course in hindsight the team kicking themselves for not picking him is the Lakers

 

[95pro]

DeAaron Fox shot 76.5% on shots at the rim last year, 90% of his shots at the rim were unassisted. Dude continues to get better every year, him improving his outside shot the last couple of years has made him almost unguardable 1 on 1.

I've always thought Fox reminded me of...Beal. A younger Beal for sure. I'm not sure Beal was ever that efficient though since Fox has a better cast around him than Beal ever had.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I've always thought Fox reminded me of...Beal. A younger Beal for sure. I'm not sure Beal was ever that efficient though since Fox has a better cast around him than Beal ever had.

Beal has had the higher TS% for his career and they both had a 59% TS% last year. Fox certainly isn't more efficient, but they are about even.

 

[AzStevenCal]

UCLA played UK twice that year, won the first lost in the NCAA's when Fox went off. UCLA had both Lonzo and Aaron Holiday, Holiday was a very good college defender, Lonzo was better than people realized but Fox torched both of them both times we played, especially the NCAA game he basically won single handedly. He was not a good shooter then that was the knock on him but he was so good off the bounce then, and because he's improved the shot, now he's unguardable. He's not as good defensively as he should be given his length and athleticism but he's gotten better.

Of course in hindsight the team kicking themselves for not picking him is the Lakers

Yeah I watched both games and I remember much of the talk afterwards was less about how good Fox was going to be and more about how overrated Lonzo was. Fox certainly looked like the better player in those particular games but I watched a lot of UK that season too and Fox was just so erratic. He had no 3 point shot, turned the ball over at a very high rate and wasn't much of a defender. I figured he'd just be another version of Bledsoe but unlike Eric, Fox has improved every year.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I like how Edwards said the work has just started and talked about team goals.

If I signed him to a max contract..... I would expect him to say something very similar. Ant is happy with the money is my guess.

Chandler and Pat P said similar stuff in the months following their contracts.

Ant-man has been one of my favorites since he was drafted. The guy is on a Booker arc of improving every season. I hope he stays hungry.

I like the kid but he relies more on his athleticism than I would prefer. he gets in to precarious positions in the air and I would worry about that over time.

He needs to get his shot right, get the team to play better around him, and continue to improve his handles.

Hunger wont be a problem IMO. Longevity could be though.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Yeah I watched both games and I remember much of the talk afterwards was less about how good Fox was going to be and more about how overrated Lonzo was. Fox certainly looked like the better player in those particular games but I watched a lot of UK that season too and Fox was just so erratic. He had no 3 point shot, turned the ball over at a very high rate and wasn't much of a defender. I figured he'd just be another version of Bledsoe but unlike Eric, Fox has improved every year.

I liked fox a lot. But wouldn’t have taken him over jackson. I was a fool for Jackson.

 

[95pro]

If I signed him to a max contract..... I would expect him to say something very similar. Ant is happy with the money is my guess.

Chandler and Pat P said similar stuff in the months following their contracts.

I like the kid but he relies more on his athleticism than I would prefer. he gets in to precarious positions in the air and I would worry about that over time.

He needs to get his shot right, get the team to play better around him, and continue to improve his handles.

Hunger wont be a problem IMO. Longevity could be though.

I thought he really did a good job this past season of not doing that, the year before though he definitely was.

Ant-man reminds me of Michael Finley, lets hope that's not his ceiling though.

I thought he missed a huge opportunity this past post season to step up and make a leap to stardom. He shrunk in those big moments and I was disappointed in his play in crunch time.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I liked fox a lot. But wouldn’t have taken him over jackson. I was a fool for Jackson.

I liked him more than Jackson but I didn't want either one of them with a high pick. I didn't want JJ at all, at least not until summer league when I did a 180 on him. But it took me till this last season to fully buy into Fox despite some impressive games over his previous 5 years.

 

[Superbone]

I liked him more than Jackson but I didn't want either one of them with a high pick. I didn't want JJ at all, at least not until summer league when I did a 180 on him. But it took me till this last season to fully buy into Fox despite some impressive games over his previous 5 years.

The thing is we needed a PG at the time. Big time miss by McDonough. The beginning of the end. Jackson has gotta go down as one of our biggest draft busts if not the biggest.