The 2017-2018 Around the NBA thread

[elindholm]

Celtics have Lakers pick if it's 2-5, could be game-changer for Boston.

Wow, after they had the Nets' unprotected pick last summer? That's some amazing foresight. Meanwhile, the Suns have Brandon Knight.

 

[Ronin]

Dave McMenamin‏Verified account@mcten 28s28 seconds ago
Isaiah Thomas will make his season debut Tuesday vs POR, per Ty Lue. He'll come off the bench and be under a minute restriction. He will not play vs BOS.

 

[Superbone]

Dave McMenamin‏Verified account@mcten 28s28 seconds ago
Isaiah Thomas will make his season debut Tuesday vs POR, per Ty Lue. He'll come off the bench and be under a minute restriction. He will not play vs BOS.

Under a minute. That's quite the restriction!

 

[Ronin]

Brian Mahoney
@briancmahoney

Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Utah’s Donovan Mitchell the NBA’s Eastern and Western Conference rookies of the month for December.

 

[Mainstreet]

Brian Mahoney
@briancmahoney

Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Utah’s Donovan Mitchell the NBA’s Eastern and Western Conference rookies of the month for December.

The Jazz traded Trey Lyles to the Nuggets for Donovan Mitchell. They both won big time. It's rare to see two winners in a trade, at least immediately.

 

[Superbone]

The Jazz traded Trey Lyles to the Nuggets for Donovan Mitchell. They both won big time. It's rare to see two winners in a trade, at least immediately.

I wasn't impressed with Lyles last night.

 

[Russ Smith]

Only 2 games but boy does Steph Curry look amazing since he came back. 38 in 25 minutes 10-13 on 3's in the first game, and then 32 last night including the game winner against Dallas on a night where the Warriors were both flat and getting totally hosed by the refs. It's remarkable how well they did without him because they are so much better offensively with him it's scary.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wasn't impressed with Lyles last night.

Lyles had 16 points and 11 rebounds last night. I thought there was a lot to like.

However, my interest in Lyles dates back to the 2015 NBA draft where I was hoping Myles Turner or Trey Lyles would fall to the Suns at #13. At that time I had no idea Devin Booker would be that good. The 2015 draft is looking to be a very good draft.

I thought perhaps I was the only fan of Lyles but Eddie Johnson said last night during the game, he thought Lyles would be a future star.

Lyles only turned 22 this last November.

 

[Superbone]

Lyles had 16 points and 11 rebounds last night. I thought there was a lot to like.

However, my interest in Lyles dates back to the 2015 NBA draft where I was hoping Myles Turner or Trey Lyles would fall to the Suns at #13. At that time I had no idea Devin Booker would be that good. The 2015 draft is looking to be a very good draft.

I thought perhaps I was the only fan of Lyles but Eddie Johnson said last night during the game, he thought Lyles would be a future star.

Lyles only turned 22 this last November.

Wow, it was a quiet 16/11. I had no idea. I watched the Denver broadcast and they actually had some issues with his play.

 

[Mainstreet]

Wow, it was a quiet 16/11. I had no idea. I watched the Denver broadcast and they actually had some issues with his play.

If the announcers get unhappy with him, maybe they can send him our way.

 

[3rdside]

That was random - I just ran into Andreas Bargnani in the lift of my hotel in Hong Kong ... standard tall person chat from me; “don’t see too many guys taller than me, you play basketball?”

Him: yeah, for Toronto and New York.

Me: I thought so, Andreas Bargnani right?

Him: yep..

His brother lives out here apparently...Bit of small talk (like me career, am sure he loved hearing that ..) and bid him farewell.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hoop Head]

That was random - I just ran into Andreas Bargnani in the lift of my hotel in Hong Kong ... standard tall person chat from me; “don’t see too many guys taller than me, you play basketball?”

Him: yeah, for Toronto and New York.

Me: I thought so, Andreas Bargnani right?

Him: yep..

His brother lives out here apparently...Bit of small talk (like me career, am sure he loved hearing that ..) and bid him farewell.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did he retire early because of injuries? He's only 32 now and last played during the 2015-16 season, so he missed all of last season. I hadn't heard anything about him in a while and since he hasn't played in the NBA for the last 2 seasons now, that makes sense but he left when he was just 30. That's pretty young to call it a career. Surely he could have found a spot on someone's roster considering his style of play would fit better in the NBA now than it did when he selected #1 overall in 2006.

 

[Hoop Head]

I thought this was an interesting stat, the Warriors are 21-0 when Draymond Green gets a triple double. That places him 2nd for the most consecutive wins by a team when a specific player records a triple double. He is behind Magic Johnson for the record but it wouldn't be surprising if he surpasses him this year, Magic and the Lakers had 24 consecutive wins when he put up a triple double. It's a little surprising that the Warriors haven't lost a game in which Green pulls down a triple double.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

I find it interesting that Green is probably the MVP for the Warriors but he gets no recognition for that amongst voters. Last year Steph finished 6th in MVP voting and Durant finished 9th. Both of them had good seasons but without Green I'm not sure if they would have won the title. Voters select their top 5 players in order they feel deserve the MVP and Green didn't get a single vote at any of the 5 places voters select. His value to the Warriors was established during the 2016 finals though when he got suspended for game 5, which would have clinched the series with the Warriors being up 3-1 at that point. I wonder how much Green would help improve a different team, could he turn a lottery bound team into a playoff team, or turn a playoff team into a legit contender? I wonder how most of the Warriors would perform on their own, separated. I think KD, Steph, Klay, and Green could be #1 options for most other teams. I don't think Green could be the leading scorer for a team that is competitive but he could have an offense run through him, like the Warriors have done. He's led their team in assists per game for the last 3 years.

 

[Russ Smith]

I thought this was an interesting stat, the Warriors are 21-0 when Draymond Green gets a triple double. That places him 2nd for the most consecutive wins by a team when a specific player records a triple double. He is behind Magic Johnson for the record but it wouldn't be surprising if he surpasses him this year, Magic and the Lakers had 24 consecutive wins when he put up a triple double. It's a little surprising that the Warriors haven't lost a game in which Green pulls down a triple double.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

I find it interesting that Green is probably the MVP for the Warriors but he gets no recognition for that amongst voters. Last year Steph finished 6th in MVP voting and Durant finished 9th. Both of them had good seasons but without Green I'm not sure if they would have won the title. Voters select their top 5 players in order they feel deserve the MVP and Green didn't get a single vote at any of the 5 places voters select. His value to the Warriors was established during the 2016 finals though when he got suspended for game 5, which would have clinched the series with the Warriors being up 3-1 at that point. I wonder how much Green would help improve a different team, could he turn a lottery bound team into a playoff team, or turn a playoff team into a legit contender? I wonder how most of the Warriors would perform on their own, separated. I think KD, Steph, Klay, and Green could be #1 options for most other teams. I don't think Green could be the leading scorer for a team that is competitive but he could have an offense run through him, like the Warriors have done. He's led their team in assists per game for the last 3 years.

It goes back to the define MVP argument.

Green is the heart and soul of the Warriors, his ability to defend multiple positions allows them to play the death lineup and switch everything. If you saw the Houston game last night Durant was out and Houston kept running pick and roll to get Paul on Jordan Bell and then go right by or hit a pullup. So they pulled Bell out and went to Draymond at the 5, the Warriors extended the lead. This happened 3 times in the game, it's the sole reason the Warriors won by double digits, when they needed a run they put Draymond at the 5. It was a matchup specific thing but there are very few guys his size who can do that and also run your offense.

But the reason they win when he gets a Triple double is easy, everyone that plays the Warriors backs off him daring him to shoot, when he gets triple doubles it usually means he's shooting well enough that they wind up having to extend on him and then his passing takes over.

Without Curry they still won because Durant is amazing, and they play great defense. When Curry comes back, they score about 15-20 points more per game because he is so good on offense teams guard them differently.

If they have to play without Draymond it changes their defense immensely, they can't switch as much because Zaza and Bell just aren't able to guard smaller players the way Draymond can.

He's an amazing player.

 

[3rdside]

Did he retire early because of injuries? He's only 32 now and last played during the 2015-16 season, so he missed all of last season. I hadn't heard anything about him in a while and since he hasn't played in the NBA for the last 2 seasons now, that makes sense but he left when he was just 30. That's pretty young to call it a career. Surely he could have found a spot on someone's roster considering his style of play would fit better in the NBA now than it did when he selected #1 overall in 2006.

Didn’t get that far sadly; not that it happens often but I tend to get a bit Star struck around celebrities as can’t be sure if they want to talk / be left alone / be recognised / be incognito etc so I end the conversation assuming its the latter..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[elindholm]

Didn’t get that far sadly; not that it happens often but I tend to get a bit Star struck around celebrities as can’t be sure if they want to talk / be left alone / be recognised / be incognito etc so I end the conversation assuming its the latter..

Probably the right decision. I've seen both Tom Chambers and Lisa Leslie in airports, and both times I let them go about their business.

 

[Ronin]

Shams Charania‏Verified account@ShamsCharania
Sources: The Los Angeles Lakers are releasing center Andrew Bogut. With Lakers at 11-27, this allows sides to part ways and Bogut to pivot toward signing with a playoff team.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Probably the right decision. I've seen both Tom Chambers and Lisa Leslie in airports, and both times I let them go about their business.

I actually bumped into Allen Iverson by mistake one time. Said my apologies like any other person. I only realized it was him when I looked him in the face after bumping him. The all-star game was in Phoenix that year, he was obviously arriving for it but not playing in it.

BTW. I am 5-9 and it sure did not seem like he was taller than me.

 

[Hoop Head]

Shams Charania‏Verified account@ShamsCharania
Sources: The Los Angeles Lakers are releasing center Andrew Bogut. With Lakers at 11-27, this allows sides to part ways and Bogut to pivot toward signing with a playoff team.

I wonder if that will help or hurt the chances of finding a trade partner for Monroe before the deadline. Bogut will sign with a contender of sorts but that will also cross him off other team's lists of possible help at Center, like the Cavs who are in desperate need of help at C.

 

[Russ Smith]

3 minute plus left in the 3rd quarter Steph Curry has 43 against the Clips including 8-13 from 3.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wonder if that will help or hurt the chances of finding a trade partner for Monroe before the deadline. Bogut will sign with a contender of sorts but that will also cross him off other team's lists of possible help at Center, like the Cavs who are in desperate need of help at C.

I think this will diminish at least one trade opportunity for the team that picks up Bogut but there is still a market for big men with contenders as insurance.

Plus Monroe still has value as an expiring contract ($17,884,176).

I would like for the Suns to think about trading Monroe and a first round pick or two for a star type player at the trade deadline to a marginal playoff team going nowhere. The kicker for doing this, it would hurt the Suns ping pong balls. I guess it all depends upon who becomes available.

 

[SirStefan32]

I think this will diminish at least one trade opportunity for the team that picks up Bogut but there is still a market for big men with contenders as insurance.

Plus Monroe still has value as an expiring contract ($17,884,176).

I would like for the Suns to think about trading Monroe and a first round pick or two for a star type player at the trade deadline to a marginal playoff team going nowhere. The kicker for doing this, it would hurt the Suns ping pong balls. I guess it all depends upon who becomes available.

I agree with you (and it would probably take more than Monroe and a pick or two), but I can't come up with any potential scenarios that are realistic.

 

[BC867]

The kicker for doing this, it would hurt the Suns ping pong balls. I guess it all depends upon who becomes available.

With the Suns history of ping pong balls, and it being a passive approach to building a winner, it is time for the Front Office to make things happen, rather than hope.

If the Suns have a chance at a trade that will help them grow and let it go by for the hope of ping pong balls, shame on them. It is time to abandon lazy, untalented management.

It starts at the top and rolls downhill. The players are next to the bottom. We fans are at the bottom.

 

[elindholm]

If the Suns want to consider moving Chandler again, the Thunder seem like a good fit. I watched their game against the Clippers and was shocked by how bad the interior defense is. It all starts with Anthony, who is among the worst defenders I've ever seen. He was getting beaten on the perimeter -- or was simply lost -- on nearly every play, and then there was no one to offer a second line of defense in the paint. Adams is useless because he falls down every time he tries to move. Jerami Grant gave them some good energy as a makeshift backup center, but they'll need functional defensive size if they want to get far in the playoffs.

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree with you (and it would probably take more than Monroe and a pick or two), but I can't come up with any potential scenarios that are realistic.

As the February 8th trade deadline nears, there will be rumors of who is available. I'm having trouble coming up with a name as well but I bet someone of interest pops up.

Also there might be some lesser known players available sort of like Troy Daniels.