2024-2025 Around the NBA Thread

[Mainstreet]

Lonnie Walker IV will sign with Zalgiris Kaunas of the Euroleague. His contract has a buyout option until February 18th

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[Mainstreet]

He needs to be more consistent but honestly beyond Curry the one guy on the team they can give the ball to and say get a shot, is Kuminga. Wiggins was brilliant in his last game but not sure how sustainable that is.

THey are still too small and it seems like Draymond is less capable of guarding 7 footers than in past years, age catching up I assume, but they are deep and explosive.

Kerr clarified said with Curry and Wiggins both out he wanted more shooting in the starting lineup so he brought Kuminga off the bench. The reason he didn't notify him except by text was "it wasn't a big deal we were trying to balance out the lineup not demote JK." So hopefully not an issue, the chemistry this year seems to be great.

The Suns have the same problem as the Warriors, too small upfront.

Both teams could use more size and perhaps an infusion of additional talent there.

I do like Kevin Looney as a backup 4/5.

 

[Lorenzo]

Have to admit that the mavericks t-wolves game last night was fun to watch. Ant put on a first half to remember, but looked like he wore down as the game went on. For the life of me I can't remember a player that sweats more than Anthony. maybe Jordan? but it reminds me of the movie Bedazzled with Brednen Frazier. Both of the mavericks big men toyed with goebert. and Doncic struggles from 3 but swishes an incredible logo dagger.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Have to admit that the mavericks t-wolves game last night was fun to watch. Ant put on a first half to remember, but looked like he wore down as the game went on. For the life of me I can't remember a player that sweats more than Anthony. maybe Jordan? but it reminds me of the movie Bedazzled with Brednen Frazier. Both of the mavericks big men toyed with goebert. and Doncic struggles from 3 but swishes an incredible logo dagger.

Maybe Barkley?

 

[Lorenzo]

Maybe Barkley?

that's right I forgot about chuck. Anthony is definitely going to need more help IMO for the wolves to be legit contenders.

 

[Hoop Head]

Have to admit that the mavericks t-wolves game last night was fun to watch. Ant put on a first half to remember, but looked like he wore down as the game went on. For the life of me I can't remember a player that sweats more than Anthony. maybe Jordan? but it reminds me of the movie Bedazzled with Brednen Frazier. Both of the mavericks big men toyed with goebert. and Doncic struggles from 3 but swishes an incredible logo dagger.

Players in MJ and Chuck's days played hungover. They would be sweating out last nights party. Hope Ant isn't doing that. He seems to have a stamina issue though. We saw that in the playoffs last year. He's start great and slow down as the game went on, usually toast by the 4th.

Saw the 4th quarter and Luka is on another level. When he gets going he's unlike he's unlike anyone else. That dagger is a shot he's hit multiple times in his career while even great players don't see one of those fall in their careers.

 

[Lorenzo]

Players in MJ and Chuck's days played hungover. They would be sweating out last nights party. Hope Ant isn't doing that. He seems to have a stamina issue though. We saw that in the playoffs last year. He's start great and slow down as the game went on, usually toast by the 4th.

Saw the 4th quarter and Luka is on another level. When he gets going he's unlike he's unlike anyone else. That dagger is a shot he's hit multiple times in his career while even great players don't see one of those fall in their careers.

good point about the hangover thing. I forgot about lol. I do know that in last night's game Ant was trying to guard Irving as well. probably not the best idea moving forward. When you look at a team like Boston, they have like 3 or 4 guys that can guard elite ball handlers and hit 3's.

 

[95pro]

Have to admit that the mavericks t-wolves game last night was fun to watch. Ant put on a first half to remember, but looked like he wore down as the game went on. For the life of me I can't remember a player that sweats more than Anthony. maybe Jordan? but it reminds me of the movie Bedazzled with Brednen Frazier. Both of the mavericks big men toyed with goebert. and Doncic struggles from 3 but swishes an incredible logo dagger.

Ant is smaller and thinner than MJ. Puts out a ton of effort. Maybe he needs to add 5-10 lb of muscle.

And players like Luka play lower to the ground.

And then others know when to turn it on. Once he figures out when to do that he could take the next step.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The Suns have the same problem as the Warriors, too small upfront.

Both teams could use more size and perhaps an infusion of additional talent there.

I do like Kevin Looney as a backup 4/5.

Nurk. Backed up by Plumlee. Neither of those guys is small. Durant is a 7 foot pf. Then we are playing Book and Dunn at sf. The only small one of all those is Book. I just do t get the small up front characterization.

 

[Hoop Head]

Nurk. Backed up by Plumlee. Neither of those guys is small. Durant is a 7 foot pf. Then we are playing Book and Dunn at sf. The only small one of all those is Book. I just do t get the small up front characterization.

Who has size other Nurkic and Plumlee? KD can be 6'10" but so is AD, who uses their size and who doesn't? KD is a very slender 6'10" who does not play his height at all. Dunn and Royce play more PF than KD. Even Cam Johnson played bigger than KD does. Then you add in how Durant was taller than Ayton and rumored to be 7' and he's quite possibly the smallest 7' in the modern NBA.

Even though Bol² doesn't play a lot, no one believes he's someone who uses his height effectively. That's part of why he doesn't see a lot of minutes.

The Wolves weren't that much taller than the Suns last postseason but they played like men against boys.

 

[leclerc]

Yeah without looking up the numbers I'm pretty sure we finish quite low in giving up offensive rebounds and points in the paint.

IMO we play C, SF, SG, SG, PG. We're not the only team doing that (one true big and more wing players) but our C is perhaps a bit slow and our next biggest player does not match up well with strong inside players.

 

[leclerc]

If Dunn can put on some muscle perhaps he can cover PFs but I'd rather have him cover the best wing player on the other team.

Welcome to the dunngeon!

Looking forward to the game tonight! Beat LA!

 

[95pro]

If Dunn can put on some muscle perhaps he can cover PFs but I'd rather have him cover the best wing player on the other team.

Welcome to the dunngeon!

Looking forward to the game tonight! Beat LA!

I don't feel Dunn needs more muscle to cover PF, he does so already with foot speed, positioning, timing, and his reach. I mean he'll definitely grow in to his body more so naturally he should be able to put on a bit more muscle, hopefully it doesn't hinder his athleticism.

 

[leclerc]

If he can cover LeFlop and Luka then he might not need more muscle, but as you said, he is a young man and the NBA season is long.

 

[Proximo]

Maybe Barkley?

Patrick Ewing was the guy that sweat the most that I can remember.

 

[Mainstreet]

Nurk. Backed up by Plumlee. Neither of those guys is small. Durant is a 7 foot pf. Then we are playing Book and Dunn at sf. The only small one of all those is Book. I just do t get the small up front characterization.

Unless the Suns are playing small ball, the Suns need Nurkic or Plumlee on the court to matchup with many other NBA teams.

If one or two of the above players are not playing well or injured, the problem is magnified. Then, if the Suns play against a big athletic front court, Nurkic and Plumlee look slow in comparison. Bigger teams will try to exploit the Suns inside.

Maybe if everything went perfect, the Suns might be able to adapt in the regular season, but things seldom go perfect and the playoffs are a different matter.

Also, Durant may be listed as a power forward, but his body build is that of a small forward.

 

[Hoop Head]

This is just funny....

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[GatorAZ]

The Bucks are toast and there’s already rumors of Giannis looking for an exit.

 

[Hoop Head]

The Bucks are toast and there’s already rumors of Giannis looking for an exit.

Giannis is really loyal. I'd be surprised if he asks out or is dealt before Milwaukee shakes it up and move Middleton, Lopez, Portis, or even Dame before they move Giannis. They tried to acquire Beal by trading Middleton last offseason. I'd try and get Portis if I were JJ because we aren't getting Giannis. Brook Lopez is too old. Middleton is too Injury prone, and overpaid. Lillard is too old and there's no way Milwaukee deals Lillard for Beal, which is the only way the fit might work for us. Lillard for Booker would work in terms of fit but Lillard is too old for that to make sense for Phoenix.

 

[Mainstreet]

Giannis is really loyal. I'd be surprised if he asks out or is dealt before Milwaukee shakes it up and move Middleton, Lopez, Portis, or even Dame before they move Giannis. They tried to acquire Beal by trading Middleton last offseason. I'd try and get Portis if I were JJ because we aren't getting Giannis. Brook Lopez is too old. Middleton is too Injury prone, and overpaid. Lillard is too old and there's no way Milwaukee deals Lillard for Beal, which is the only way the fit might work for us. Lillard for Booker would work in terms of fit but Lillard is too old for that to make sense for Phoenix.

We agree, the Suns should get Bobby Portis if possible. He is the type of rotation player the Suns need at the 4/5.

And their small ball lineup would be devastating.