Around the League (Offseason)

[Phrazbit]

Barring injury I agree that Minny and Sacramento should be seriously improved. And I dont think the Jazz will be as awful as some people do. I think the Enes, Favors front court will be pretty nasty, but they obviously have no depth upfront when last year they had a ton.

But IMO New Orleans will still stink. They have all these guards that need the ball in order to make an impact and even WITH the ball Holiday is the only one that I think is worth his money. Davis is now shifted to center, will be given a big boost in minutes, has no real backup and will need to stay healthy. If the unibrow struggles or goes down I'd peg them for 20-25 wins.

 

[PDXChris]

Barring injury I agree that Minny and Sacramento should be seriously improved. And I dont think the Jazz will be as awful as some people do. I think the Enes, Favors front court will be pretty nasty, but they obviously have no depth upfront when last year they had a ton.

But IMO New Orleans will still stink. They have all these guards that need the ball in order to make an impact and even WITH the ball Holiday is the only one that I think is worth his money. Davis is now shifted to center, will be given a big boost in minutes, has no real backup and will need to stay healthy. If the unibrow struggles or goes down I'd peg them for 20-25 wins.

Greg Stiemsma was signed as their backup C and they also got Jeff Withey in the Robin Lopez trade. They also have Ryan Anderson, Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon to score a ton of points. If Gordon and Davis stay healthy, they are in the playoff hunt. And if Gordon is hurt again, Rivers should be imporved enough to be a decent backup to Holiday. They will go small a lot and score a ton. I see a lot of Evens, Holiday, Gordon, Anderson, Davis on the court.

PG Tyreke Evans, Brian Roberts
SG Jru Holiday, Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers
SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Darius Miller
PF Ryan Anderson, Jason Smith
C Anthony Davis, Greg Stiemsma, Jeff Withey

 

[Phrazbit]

Rivers was awful next year. He would have to improve a ton just to be worthy of being the 10th man. I see the scorers, but I see guys that dont necessarily score efficiently, creating scoring looks for others OR are a threat without the ball in their hands. I think their offense is going to be a mess if they plan on using Evans, Gordon and Holiday at once.

I also dont think they have any intention of using Evans as a point guard. Supposedly he will be 6th man and play mostly SF/SG.

And Stiemsma does calm my concerns over their backup center situation, the guy is lousy.

I think a lot of stuff would have to work out perfect (Davis and Gordon staying healthy, Evans/Gordon/Holiday somehow sharing the ball) for them to even sniff .500.

Its a team with a lot of "me-first" offensive players, poor defenders and serious injury questions, IMO its a recipe for disaster.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Rivers was awful next year. He would have to improve a ton just to be worthy of being the 10th man. I see the scorers, but I see guys that dont necessarily score efficiently, creating scoring looks for others OR are a threat without the ball in their hands. I think their offense is going to be a mess if they plan on using Evans, Gordon and Holiday at once.

I also dont think they have any intention of using Evans as a point guard. Supposedly he will be 6th man and play mostly SF/SG.

And Stiemsma does calm my concerns over their backup center situation, the guy is lousy.

I think a lot of stuff would have to work out perfect (Davis and Gordon staying healthy, Evans/Gordon/Holiday somehow sharing the ball) for them to even sniff .500.

Its a team with a lot of "me-first" offensive players, poor defenders and serious injury questions, IMO its a recipe for disaster.

That said, I think (and hope) they're better than us.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Rivers was awful next year. He would have to improve a ton just to be worthy of being the 10th man. I see the scorers, but I see guys that dont necessarily score efficiently, creating scoring looks for others OR are a threat without the ball in their hands. I think their offense is going to be a mess if they plan on using Evans, Gordon and Holiday at once.

I also dont think they have any intention of using Evans as a point guard. Supposedly he will be 6th man and play mostly SF/SG.

And Stiemsma does calm my concerns over their backup center situation, the guy is lousy.

I think a lot of stuff would have to work out perfect (Davis and Gordon staying healthy, Evans/Gordon/Holiday somehow sharing the ball) for them to even sniff .500.

Its a team with a lot of "me-first" offensive players, poor defenders and serious injury questions, IMO its a recipe for disaster.

I'm pretty sure I'd trade it for our collection of "me last" offensive players. Seriously, do we have a scoring threat other than All World Beasley? On paper I think they're a full notch better than us if Gordon stays reasonably healthy (big if, I know). You could be right about it being a recipe for disaster but that's a solvable problem for the right coach.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

Greg Stiemsma was signed as their backup C and they also got Jeff Withey in the Robin Lopez trade. They also have Ryan Anderson, Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon to score a ton of points. If Gordon and Davis stay healthy, they are in the playoff hunt. And if Gordon is hurt again, Rivers should be imporved enough to be a decent backup to Holiday. They will go small a lot and score a ton. I see a lot of Evens, Holiday, Gordon, Anderson, Davis on the court.

PG Tyreke Evans, Brian Roberts
SG Jru Holiday, Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers
SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Darius Miller
PF Ryan Anderson, Jason Smith
C Anthony Davis, Greg Stiemsma, Jeff Withey

Ummm Tyreke Evans signed there as a 6th man. Why would the Pelicans play Holiday at shooting guard?

Holiday/Rivers/Jackson
Gordon/Evans/Morrow
Aminu/Evans/Miller
Anderson/Smith
Davis/Whitey/Stiemsma

They have a real good team, they singed cheap effective role players like Morrow and Stiemsma too.

They have a solid big man rotation because Davis can play both positions. They have multiple playmakers on the perimeter.

Rivers probably won't get much playing time. Pierre Jackson will battle with him.

Even if the Pelicans don't meet expectations I can't see them winning less that 33-35 games, a number that is a major reach for us.

 

[PDXChris]

Ummm Tyreke Evans signed there as a 6th man. Why would the Pelicans play Holiday at shooting guard?

Holiday/Rivers/Jackson
Gordon/Evans/Morrow
Aminu/Evans/Miller
Anderson/Smith
Davis/Whitey/Stiemsma

They have a real good team, they singed cheap effective role players like Morrow and Stiemsma too.

They have a solid big man rotation because Davis can play both positions. They have multiple playmakers on the perimeter.

Rivers probably won't get much playing time. Pierre Jackson will battle with him.

Whoops on swapping Holiday and Evans.

I forgot about Morrow. As far as Evans, Gordon has to stay healty in order for him to see the court more than Evans. Evans will end up starting more games this year because of that.

 

[Phrazbit]

I'm pretty sure I'd trade it for our collection of "me last" offensive players. Seriously, do we have a scoring threat other than All World Beasley? On paper I think they're a full notch better than us if Gordon stays reasonably healthy (big if, I know). You could be right about it being a recipe for disaster but that's a solvable problem for the right coach.

Steve

Dont mistake what I am saying, we are still the heavy favorite for the coveted title of "worst in the west". I just think New Orleans is more likely to compete with us for that title than they are to compete for a playoff spot.

I'd also throw in the Mavs as a dark horse "worst o the west" candidate. Their offseason has been a disaster and Cuban and Dirk have enough trust in each other that Mark could probably talk him into having "back problems" once the Mavs fall out of the race.

 

[slinslin]

The most important thing is that Minnesota finishes 9th.

That would likely mean the #14 pick for us in a draft where Marcus Smart might be a #8-12 pick rather than the top 3 pick he would have been this year.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Dont mistake what I am saying, we are still the heavy favorite for the coveted title of "worst in the west". I just think New Orleans is more likely to compete with us for that title than they are to compete for a playoff spot.

I'd also throw in the Mavs as a dark horse "worst o the west" candidate. Their offseason has been a disaster and Cuban and Dirk have enough trust in each other that Mark could probably talk him into having "back problems" once the Mavs fall out of the race.

I was thinking something similar but more along the lines of a trade. If Dirk can recapture his standing as one of the league's best he'd be a great trade piece at the mid-season mark. I know Cuban wouldn't do it unless Dirk was comfortable with the idea but it does seem to be the best for both of them. Maybe a multi-team trade that involves Chicago moving Rose and one of their forwards.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

as long as they have Dirk they will win more games than us

 

[Mainstreet]

Right now I do not see a shooter on the Suns roster. Can't win many games if you can't shoot the ball.

 

[sunsfan88]

Right now I do not see a shooter on the Suns roster. Can't win many games if you can't shoot the ball.

This. The spacing on this team is gonna awful and it will restrict the penetrating of Dragic, Bledsoe and Goodwin.

Our best bet is that Frye and Markieff Morris have lights out years shooting the ball.

 

[Phrazbit]

Right now I do not see a shooter on the Suns roster. Can't win many games if you can't shoot the ball.

Well, we have a few guys who will shoot every time they get the ball in their hands, but if you're looking for someone to MAKE that shot well... beggers cant be choosers.

 

[Mainstreet]

This. The spacing on this team is gonna awful and it will restrict the penetrating of Dragic, Bledsoe and Goodwin.

Our best bet is that Frye and Markieff Morris have lights out years shooting the ball.

I'm thinking Frye will not be back, at least this is my hope if there is any risk to his health. Markieff needs to remember he is not a shooting guard.

 

[Mainstreet]

Maybe already mentioned but the Lakers amnesty Metta World Peace.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...lakers-waive-metta-world-peace-amnesty-clause

 

[sunsfan88]

I wonder what the reaction of Suns fans everywhere would be if the Suns signed MWP via amnesty waivers....

Nobody expected us to get Scola last year but we did that. Of course McDonough is a lot brighter than Blanks but still, hypothetically speaking, I really wonder what kind of posts to expect if the Suns signed World Peace.

 

[Magnus]

The Lakers also now signed Nick Young and Jordan Farmar

Also, this is the most pointless article I have ever read

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2013/07/11/can-lakers-go-california-dream-teaming/?ls=iref:nbahpt6a

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Lakers also now signed Nick Young and Jordan Farmar

Also, this is the most pointless article I have ever read

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2013/07/11/can-lakers-go-california-dream-teaming/?ls=iref:nbahpt6a

Just another delusional Laker fan. There are a lot of them and I'm going to be really pissed if it turns out the rest of us are the delusional ones.

Steve

 

[Chaplin]

Lakers lose Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace and replace them with Jordan Farmar and Nick Young.

Only bad thing about this whole thing is that we still probably can't beat them. But it is fun to see how woefully awful they are doing.

 

[Superbone]

Lakers lose Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace and replace them with Jordan Farmar and Nick Young.

Only bad thing about this whole thing is that we still probably can't beat them. But it is fun to see how woefully awful they are doing.

Still? We beat 'em last year.

 

[Chaplin]

Still? We beat 'em last year.

We went 2-2 last year. Don't expect any better than that this year.

 

[Superbone]

We went 2-2 last year. Don't expect any better than that this year.

I'm not. I'm hoping for worse. Well, I never mind when we beat the Lakers. How about we go 4-78 next year?

 

[Errntknght]

heck, I'd settle for 8-74... beat LA four times and the Spurs four times. Perfect time to do it...

 

[sunsfan88]

Monta Ellis has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks.


Ellis will make as much as $30 million over three seasons and at least $25 million.
Ellis opted out of the final season of his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks at $11 million.


Ellis parted ways with agent Jeff Fried this week.


http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/9473581/monta-ellis-deal-dallas-mavericks-sources

What are the Mavs trying to do? Calderon, Ellis, Harris, Dirk...is anyone other than Marion going to play defense on that team?

Also why so many PGs with Calderon, Harris, and Larkin?

Man, I think Cuban's gone crazy since blowing up his title team a month after they won the championship.