The 2017-2018 Around the NBA thread

[sunsfan88]

Story of many of our lives;

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[Phrazbit]

Reflects bad on Wiggins too. Dude was supposed to be a sure fire star. Instead he's a mediocre chucker who doesn't play defense.

 

[Hoop Head]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Minnesota make a play for Kawhi. He'd be really good in Thibs' system and if they could keep Butler, that's a great wing pairing on both sides of the ball. Probably make for best perimeter defense in the league. If they could make something work for Wiggins, maybe KAT would be more inclined to try defensively as a rim protector because not many people would be driving past those two. In addition to that, they would be legit contenders. At least as legit as any team outside of the Bay Area. A lineup of Teague, Butler, Kawhi, Taj Gibson, and KAT might give Golden State a scare. Even if they traded KAT for Kawhi they could run a lineup of Teague, Wiggins, Butler, Kawhi, and Dieng with Gibson and Rose on the bench.

I know Kawhi wants to go to LA but that doesn't matter, San Antonio will go for the best package and they might be able to get a star or potential star from Minnesota and picks. Adding him in Minnesota may get Butler to stay. Of course they might even trade Butler for Kawhi. I would think Pop could get a lot out of Butler. Sort of a better offensive version of Kawhi, in a way. Not quite the defender and doesn't have the size, but it would keep them from completely rebuilding.

 

[Hoop Head]

If Melo isn't waived I'd be shocked. I knew they had a big tax bill headed their way but since they're so far into the repeater territory, keeping him would cost over $100 million alone. He hurt them a lot in the postseason and was part of what kept Westbrook and George from developing really good chemistry. I doubt they can find someone to take him in a trade and even if they could, they'd need to take back some salary. I really liked their odds against Golden State because they played them harder than virtually anyone during the regular season but they couldn't get to them in the postseason.

Here's info on what he's costing them...

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This article has more info on their tax bill...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-history-to-top-300m-in-salary-and-luxury-tax

 

[Ronin]

Lakers Trade Rumors: Kawhi Leonard Ask Includes Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, More
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...d-ask-includes-brandon-ingram-kyle-kuzma-more

 

[Hoop Head]

The Spurs are nuts. Kawhi is a great player but he's not worth more than what the Nets gave up for Pierce, Garnett, and Jason Terry, I think it was. They want Ingram, Hart, Kuzma, 2 First round picks, and the right to swap 2 more firsts.

I guess they were serious about not trading him to the West because there is no way LA does that deal. I could have seen them doing it before Lebron, only because they've whiffed on free agency so many times that they'd be desperate to add 1 superstar, somehow.

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[Ronin]

Lonzo Ball's knee injury may have been leaked by people within his camp.

During the most recent episode of The Woj Pod, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski noted the Los Angeles Lakers "didn't want" that injury news coming out and "there's a belief around" the team that people within Ball's orbit discussed it with the media.

Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania reported on June 29 that Ball has a torn meniscus in his left knee that was diagnosed at the end of the regular season.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...camp-leaked-knee-injury-news-to-prevent-trade

 

[Mainstreet]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...camp-leaked-knee-injury-news-to-prevent-trade

Interesting. I knew there was speculation this was the case.

 

[Finito]

Make no mistake they didn't bring in Rondo to mentor Ball they brought him in to replace him

 

[PDXChris]

Of course not. He’s going to the warriors or lakers.

Nah, I heard on Cowheard he and Kyrie want to play together. I assume that means Boston next season. I doubt they team up in the West.

 

[CardsFan88]

People also need to remember, there's two LA teams.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nb...on-james-on-lakers/ar-AAzAAnJ?ocid=spartandhp

When ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said he heard Kawhi Leonard was more reluctant to join the Lakers with LeBron James there, I was skeptical.

But now Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports – who seems plugged-in with Lenoard – is echoing that sentiment.

Charania on The Herd with Colin Cowherd:

One thing that’s been made abundantly clear. I’m going to stress this. There’s no guarantee if Kawhi Leonard hits the market next summer that he’s going to sign with the Lakers, period. I think his options have broadened a little bit, just inside L.A. There’s another team, obviously, in L.A. I think he’d be very much open to the Clippers.

And there’s a belief around the league that if the Sixers came hard, that there could be a potential there for him potentially being there long-term.

I don’t think there’s much interest in the Boston Celtics scenario for him.

Around Kawhi, what’s been made abundantly clear is there’s not an interest to go join a super team. I don’t think he’s jumping for joy that LeBron James is in L.A. with the Lakers. If anything, that’s going to make him look maybe more toward the Clippers. Because this is a guy that won Finals MVP against LeBron James. You think he’s amped up and wants to join LeBron now? I think that’s been overstated, and the Spurs are beginning to realize that and beginning to realize that we might have a broadened market for him.

 

[Hoop Head]

There has been a lot of talk this offseason with Lebron going to LA about realigning the league and the playoff format. The NBA released a study they did that shows it would add approximately 40k more miles of traveling if they seeded the playoffs 1-16.

http://www.nba.com/article/2018/07/...0-more-travel-miles-top-16-playoffs/?rss=true

I know the balance of the NBA is supposed to be cyclical but that just hasn't been the case in a while. The West has been much deeper than the east for well over a decade now. A case could be made that the West has been better for almost 20 years now. I hope they do something but we probably won't see anything soon. The best bet to see a change is if the players pushed for it also but I don't think they care.

 

[Finito]

People also need to remember, there's two LA teams.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nb...on-james-on-lakers/ar-AAzAAnJ?ocid=spartandhp

Good for Kawhi. I don't think players around the league look at playing with Lebron like they used to. He kept Wade his best friend in the dark when he went back to the Cavs, he tried to trade Kyrie to like 4 different teams. It's a giant soap opera with Lebron and make no mistake Lebron looks out for Lebron.

I think players are kind of realizing this

 

[Ronin]

Carmelo Anthony, Thunder Reportedly Parting Ways This Summer Via Trade, Buyout
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...dly-parting-ways-this-summer-via-trade-buyout

Carmelo Anthony Rumors: Lakers, Rockets, Heat Suitors After Thunder Buyout
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...interested-once-thunder-reach-contract-buyout

 

[GatorAZ]

Make no mistake they didn't bring in Rondo to mentor Ball they brought him in to replace him

Apparently it will be a competition which is hilarious. Rondo outplayed Lillard in their playoff series so what is he gonna do to Lonzo? Can’t wait to hear LaVar when his kid is their 9th man...

 

[Hoop Head]

Apparently it will be a competition which is hilarious. Rondo outplayed Lillard in their playoff series so what is he gonna do to Lonzo? Can’t wait to hear LaVar when his kid is their 9th man...

That is one reason I was interested in Rondo for the Suns. The guy is a true competitor. He seems to have some KG in him and does not back down from anything. Seeing him in the playoffs the last 2 seasons being the best PG on the floor in almost every series he played in was remarkable. He outplayed Lillard this year and IT the year before.

 

[Finito]

That is one reason I was interested in Rondo for the Suns. The guy is a true competitor. He seems to have some KG in him and does not back down from anything. Seeing him in the playoffs the last 2 seasons being the best PG on the floor in almost every series he played in was remarkable. He outplayed Lillard this year and IT the year before.

He's a headcase though there's a reason a guy so talented is on a different team every year

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

He's a headcase though there's a reason a guy so talented is on a different team every year

Heard he is really smart, but that will get him into trouble because he doesn't want to take direction, especially from anyone he considers himself smarter than. Even though I do believe Igor to be a smart guy, he is a rookie coach and I don't know how Rondo would behave playing for him.

 

[Hoop Head]

He's a headcase though there's a reason a guy so talented is on a different team every year

No doubt about it. If the Suns were a few years older I could have seen them going that route but they're too young to bring in a personality like Rondo. I'm not sure if anyone on our team has played with him either, so there's no guessing how he'd mesh with everyone. I know McD had history with him in Boston but that some time ago.

It's over and done now. I'm not going to lose sleep over it. I hope he proves to be a bigger headcase than he's ever been now that he's on the Lakers.

 

[95pro]

Wow, Tony Parker to the Hornets??? 2 years and 10!!!!

 

[Ronin]

LaVar Ball Denies Leaking Information on Lonzo's Knee Injury

"I don't leak nothing," LaVar said. "I always say what's on my mind, so you don't never see me saying, 'I think I should say this now and let it leak.' I don't do that."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ies-leaking-information-on-lonzos-knee-injury

 

[JCSunsfan]

Wow, Tony Parker to the Hornets??? 2 years and 10!!!!

I think the Spurs are trying to keep Kahwi. The Spurs do not like change, they like continuity and keeping their star players forever. Tony Parker should be retiring.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Wow, Tony Parker to the Hornets??? 2 years and 10!!!!

um... I would have DEFINITELY taken a flyer on Parker for this amount. Veteran PG, brings championship pedigree, solid stop-gap for the future.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Carmelo Anthony, Thunder Reportedly Parting Ways This Summer Via Trade, Buyout
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...dly-parting-ways-this-summer-via-trade-buyout

Carmelo Anthony Rumors: Lakers, Rockets, Heat Suitors After Thunder Buyout
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...interested-once-thunder-reach-contract-buyout

oh man... please let the Lakers sign him and continue to build their clown-car of a team around LeBron.

 

[Suns_fan69]

um... I would have DEFINITELY taken a flyer on Parker for this amount. Veteran PG, brings championship pedigree, solid stop-gap for the future.

Not to mention he'd be the PERFECT mentor for Okobo. He could start here with Okobo off the bench and push Knight out of the way in the short term. Ah well, nothing we can do about it now.