2023-24 Around the NBA Thread

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

That shows how much the league has changed. Derrick Jones Jr was a G/F with us way back when his career started. Now he's considered a F/C. I know he never developed a reliable outside shot but he was pretty long. Can you imagine the reaction people would have had back then if you said he'd be considered a F/C in a decade or so?

Edit - not even a decade but 7 years. it was the 2016-17 season he started. That was Booker's 2nd year.

Color me skeptical that he’s signed as even a part-time center. I chalk that up to Shams making an error.

 

[Mainstreet]

At 6'6" 210 pounds, Jones is light even for a power forward.

He is a leaper but it's still a stretch, he can play all three frontline positions.

 

[Hoop Head]

Color me skeptical that he’s signed as even a part-time center. I chalk that up to Shams making an error.

He's played 10% of his time as a Center the last 2 seasons according to BBReference. That was for Chicago. He played more C than SF last season.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He's played 10% of his time as a Center the last 2 seasons according to BBReference. That was for Chicago. He played more C than SF last season.

Eh I think there’s likely fault in whatever logic is being utilized. I think those identifications try to force a square peg into a round hole. If they’re playing 5 smaller guys there’s a tendency to want to name one a “center” when they aren’t really playing said position or likely defending an embiid or even true backup center. He’s likely guarding a guy roughly his size (give or take an inch or two). But whatever, I don’t really care about this, I just think the designation is stupid.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Eh I think there’s likely fault in whatever logic is being utilized. I think those identifications try to force a square peg into a round hole. If they’re playing 5 smaller guys there’s a tendency to want to name one a “center” when they aren’t really playing said position or likely defending an embiid or even true backup center. He’s likely guarding a guy roughly his size (give or take an inch or two). But whatever, I don’t really care about this, I just think the designation is stupid.

Yeah. In a small ball line up someone has to be listed at center. That doesn't mean they area actually.

 

[Mainstreet]

Luka isn't playing tonight for the Slovenian team against the United States. It's reportedly precautionary.

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[Chaplin]

Luka isn't playing tonight for the Slovenian team against the United States. It's reportedly precautionary.

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He’s scared.

 

[Mainstreet]

He’s scared.

Some think it's gamesmanship.

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[CardNots]

Luka, I just cannot bring myself to like anything about him. sigh

 

[AzStevenCal]

Luka, I just cannot bring myself to like anything about him. sigh

All I can say in his favor is that he was named after a solid song by Suzanne Vega. And by "after" I mean he was named more than a decade after the song - I suspect the choice of name was pure coincidence but like I said, that's the only positive I can think of.

 

[Mainstreet]

It sounds like Shaq thinks the Warriors are going to win the 2024 NBA championship.

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[Mainstreet]

Luka, I just cannot bring myself to like anything about him. sigh

If the referees didn't allow Luka to lower his shoulder and plow players over on his drives, he would be more tolerable.

 

[Mainstreet]

Team USA beats Slovenia.

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[GatorAZ]

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[Hoop Head]

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Players need to be held to their contracts. This is the 3rd time in what, 4 years, where Harden has demanded/requested a trade. He opted into his contract just like 2 months ago as well and had all but made his trade demands public before doing so. That was his opportunity to leave. Now he needs to man up and play.

I wish the NBA would do something about players demanding trades, especially when they do so that frequently.

 

[Mainstreet]

So which is it?

Will James Harden play for the 76ers or not.

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[Phrazbit]

*5 minutes after picking up an option and not becoming a free agent

"I want out!"

 

[GatorAZ]

Short peak but Wade in his prime is 2nd to only MJ when it came to SG’s…
.

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[Lorenzo]

Short peak but Wade in his prime is 2nd to only MJ when it came to SG’s…
.

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In the 2006 finals wade was unstoppable. And shaq was not really a big factor on that championship, like he was for Kobe’s first three. I thought overall Kobe is easily the 2nd best 2 guard behind MJ that I have watched. Wade was really good though and close to Kobe. I enjoyed the hall of fame class last night. All of those players battled it out against one another.

 

[Phrazbit]

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"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of."

"This somehow slipped my mind when, just 6 weeks ago, I could have become a free agent, but instead picked up my option to remain a part of the Sixers organization."


There is a breed of gutlessness in the modern NBA that is absolutely revolting. Sadly, KD is a prominent member of this blood line, but Harden might be it's king. What a pile of trash, only a Net because he forced the issue, only a Sixer because he forced that... now he wants to burn that organization to the ground. Unreal.

Thank the NBA gods for Booker. Now that Lillard is attempting for force his trade, Booker is, without question, the most loyal player in the modern NBA.

 

[Proximo]

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"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of."

"This somehow slipped my mind when, just 6 weeks ago, I could have become a free agent, but instead picked up my option to remain a part of the Sixers organization."


There is a breed of gutlessness in the modern NBA that is absolutely revolting. Sadly, KD is a prominent member of this blood line, but Harden might be it's king. What a pile of trash, only a Net because he forced the issue, only a Sixer because he forced that... now he wants to burn that organization to the ground. Unreal.

Thank the NBA gods for Booker. Now that Lillard is attempting for force his trade, Booker is, without question, the most loyal player in the modern NBA.

This is a really really dumb thing to do in public.

I hope Morey screws him royally. Harden has taken things to far, you can’t force yourself out every year after a team gave up big assets to get you.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of."

"This somehow slipped my mind when, just 6 weeks ago, I could have become a free agent, but instead picked up my option to remain a part of the Sixers organization."


There is a breed of gutlessness in the modern NBA that is absolutely revolting. Sadly, KD is a prominent member of this blood line, but Harden might be it's king. What a pile of trash, only a Net because he forced the issue, only a Sixer because he forced that... now he wants to burn that organization to the ground. Unreal.

Thank the NBA gods for Booker. Now that Lillard is attempting for force his trade, Booker is, without question, the most loyal player in the modern NBA.

I’d like to think book is loyal, but I think it’s more of puzzle pieces falling in place at exactly the right time. Drafting Ayton, bridges, cam and trading for oubre probably bought time. Trading for Paul made team contender. Then landing Durant. Then beal. He hasn’t had to demand anything. And he was still too young before the previously mentioned items fell into place. Had we not acquired Paul and continued to fail to make the playoffs I think we would be rounding into book demands about this time.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I’d like to think book is loyal, but I think it’s more of puzzle pieces falling in place at exactly the right time. Drafting Ayton, bridges, cam and trading for oubre probably bought time. Trading for Paul made team contender. Then landing Durant. Then beal. He hasn’t had to demand anything. And he was still too young before the previously mentioned items fell into place. Had we not acquired Paul and continued to fail to make the playoffs I think we would be rounding into book demands about this time.

Yeah I think he was a year or two away from forcing his way to LA if we hadn't landed CP3. I do believe he wants to be loyal but he has people in his ear and he's too smart to not listen to them. This is a player's league and the only way this stuff will stop is if Silver decides to really do something about it.

Whether the words are used or not, each time a "trade me" demand succeeds it emboldens the next guy. They need to strengthen and enforce the rules about this but I suspect the league figures that no star is going to force himself to Memphis, New Orleans, OKC, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Utah, Indiana or Charlotte so why worry about it.

 

[GatorAZ]

Not sure what Silver and the owners can do at this point. I love KD but he forced his way out less than a year after signing an extension. We benefited from it because he only wanted to come here. Beal only wanted to come here. Harden only wants the Clippers and Dame only wants the Heat. No-trade clause or not superstars are choosing where they want to play regardless of their contractual obligation.

At least Philly got off the Simmons contract in that deal so it wasn’t a total travesty for Morey.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Not sure what Silver and the owners can do at this point. I love KD but he forced his way out less than a year after signing an extension. We benefited from it because he only wanted to come here. Beal only wanted to come here. Harden only wants the Clippers and Dame only wants the Heat. No-trade clause or not superstars are choosing where they want to play regardless of their contractual obligation.

At least Philly got off the Simmons contract in that deal so it wasn’t a total travesty for Morey.

I think they could put a halt to it if they really wanted to but it would likely include significant concessions to the players union. But since it often leads to stars landing in financially beneficial situations for the league, I don't know how motivated they'll ever be even if the have-not franchises start raising hell over it.