The 2018-2019 Around the NBA thread

[AzStevenCal]

I dunno, Durant lacks self awareness and is profoundly insecure (as evidence by defending himself and attacking others on burner twitter accounts). He's already complained about his wages compared to other super stars (even though he'd be making as much or more if he hadn't left to ride coattails).

He has his rings now, likely a 3rd after this season, now he's going to head off and play for stats and bright lights. My guess is the Knicks or Lakers, with the Clippers, Mavs or Nets as dark horse teams.

I think he stays with the Warriors if he doesn't go to New York with Kyrie. And yes, he is incredibly insecure.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think he stays with the Warriors if he doesn't go to New York with Kyrie. And yes, he is incredibly insecure.

I think the Warriors probably have the best front office in the league right now.

Green and Durant clearly loath eachother and this is the last season those 2 will be on the same roster. While Durant is obviously in another world of talent and Green is also a D-Bag... I think the post-Durant Warriors are still a serious contender and would play with a chip on their shoulder, while I think the post-Green Warriors would be... a bunch of serious drama that would really miss their dirty grinder, especially since Klay is likely gone too if they manage to keep Durant. It is a lot for the Warriors to weigh. If it's Green AND Klay or Durant, then I think they make a courtesy offer to KD but let him go, if it's merely Green or Durant... that will be a really difficult call but I think he will make the decision for them.

He has no loyalty and he probably has juuuuust enough self awareness to know that if keeping him costs the Warriors other stars then any measure of failure will fall on his shoulders... and he is too gutless for that pressure. IMO, he bolts.

Unless, by some miracle, he and Green bury the hatchet... have a hug it out and cry moment while celebrating their snooze-fest title.

 

[sunsfan88]

Durant isn't going to New York. If he was interested in a challenge, he would never have left Westbrook and the Thunder. In fact a return to Oklahoma City is probably more likely.

Difference is the Knicks play the East and the Thunder play in the West. That alone would be a big enough to consider NYK without even mentioning the off court opportunities he will have in NY. Knicks become a top 3-4 team in that conference with just KD.

He’s following LeBron’s footsteps of “try to win a title with the orig team that drafted me if not then leave and form super team and win rings then focus on off court opponenties and prepare for retirement”.

If KD went to NY, it would be for all the same reasons that LeBron went to LA.

 

[sunsfan88]

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Agents mayne...

If this isn’t illegal or collusion in some kind of way then Adam Silver will have his hands full.

 

[sunsfan88]

Prozingis is better than Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie, in 2013, hit the biggest shot of the NBA Finals since Ray Allen 3 years prior for Miami.

Short answer, Porzingis is not better or even close to better than Irving.

 

[sunsfan88]

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Don’t disagree with him on this at all from a fan’s perspective.

 

[Phrazbit]

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Don’t disagree with him on this at all from a fan’s perspective.

I don't disagree... but it's already setup where these superstars are going to cost themselves tens of millions of dollars to title chase They can't abolish free agency, it's flat out illegal. IMO the only solution would be to do away with max contracts entirely. LeBron would have never left Cleveland if the Cavs could have paid him half their cap (which probably still falls short of his value).

I also really respect the look on Shaq's face as he called out Barkley for his blatant hypocrisy from him forcing his way to the 2 time champ Rockets to join Drexler and Hakeem.

 

[95pro]

I don't disagree... but it's already setup where these superstars are going to cost themselves tens of millions of dollars to title chase They can't abolish free agency, it's flat out illegal. IMO the only solution would be to do away with max contracts entirely. LeBron would have never left Cleveland if the Cavs could have paid him half their cap (which probably still falls short of his value).

I also really respect the look on Shaq's face as he called out Barkley for his blatant hypocrisy from him forcing his way to the 2 time champ Rockets to join Drexler and Hakeem.

Barkley was in the later parts of his career. What Davis is doing, he's in his prime and forcing his way out is impacting the entire Pelicans organization: revenue's, strategy, and the players that could be moved or waived to prepare for the future.

 

[swagron]

Barkley was in the later parts of his career. What Davis is doing, he's in his prime and forcing his way out is impacting the entire Pelicans organization: revenue's, strategy, and the players that could be moved or waived to prepare for the future.

So Charles is salty because Davis is trying to control his career in the prime of it? Recall that Barkley forced the trade to Houston to form a stacked super team with Hakeem, Drexler and Pippen. He didn’t get his championship and now he’s spewing sour grapes.

 

[Russ Smith]

Durant isn't going to New York. If he was interested in a challenge, he would never have left Westbrook and the Thunder. In fact a return to Oklahoma City is probably more likely.

Durant is interesting in that he has very publicly stated he has no interest in playing at home with the Wizards, its' part of his past and he doesn't want to look back. I don't know if that holds true for OKC as well or not.

he seems like a smart guy I'm sure he gets how difficult it will be in New York and how quickly he'll get blamed if they are not winning bigtime.

But I kind of expect he will leave the Warriors.

 

[Russ Smith]

I think the Warriors probably have the best front office in the league right now.

Green and Durant clearly loath eachother and this is the last season those 2 will be on the same roster. While Durant is obviously in another world of talent and Green is also a D-Bag... I think the post-Durant Warriors are still a serious contender and would play with a chip on their shoulder, while I think the post-Green Warriors would be... a bunch of serious drama that would really miss their dirty grinder, especially since Klay is likely gone too if they manage to keep Durant. It is a lot for the Warriors to weigh. If it's Green AND Klay or Durant, then I think they make a courtesy offer to KD but let him go, if it's merely Green or Durant... that will be a really difficult call but I think he will make the decision for them.

He has no loyalty and he probably has juuuuust enough self awareness to know that if keeping him costs the Warriors other stars then any measure of failure will fall on his shoulders... and he is too gutless for that pressure. IMO, he bolts.

Unless, by some miracle, he and Green bury the hatchet... have a hug it out and cry moment while celebrating their snooze-fest title.

That's what I see happening too, Klay has hinted often he wants to stay, going to the Lakers is not really his goal. I think ultimately they will talk to Steph and find out how much longer he plans on playing, if he has any desire at some point to play in Charlotte etc. And then if they are confident he's there to stay, they'll try to lock down Klay and Green and let Durant walk. the interesting thing is the whole team seems to love Boogie Cousins but everyone insists there's just no way financially they can keep him.

So they're going to really need a big, Jones if healthy is marginal, they need someone like Bogut to help Green do all the dirty work. That's what Draymond likes about Boogie he's said it several times arleady

 

[Russ Smith]

When he's making shots it's amazing how good Ben Simmons is. He completely controlled the game last night in their win in Oakland, neither Draymond nor Durant could guard him.

 

[Western Font]

Durant isn't going to New York. If he was interested in a challenge, he would never have left Westbrook and the Thunder. In fact a return to Oklahoma City is probably more likely.

I think there’s a good chance he goes to NY and zero chance of OKC. NY has the off-court “opportunities” he seems to think he’s taking advantage of. Especially if RK is offered a position with the team, they’ll have influence over personnel matters. If it pans out that way I’d guess a lot of it is already in place, which makes the Porzingis move a lot easier for the Knicks.

I don’t even think NYK is a challenge, exactly. Durant has rings now. They would pair him with another star most likely and at least be a competitor. Then we’ll see how much he cares about competing.

 

[Western Font]

I think the Warriors should let go of Durant and Green in that order, and keep Steph, Klay, and Kerr together as long as possible. As long as that trio is together, they have a Spurs-esque cultural situation that should attract the right kind of payers, with the additional advantages of he market.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Barkley was in the later parts of his career. What Davis is doing, he's in his prime and forcing his way out is impacting the entire Pelicans organization: revenue's, strategy, and the players that could be moved or waived to prepare for the future.

Uh Barkley forced his way out of Philly too. In his prime. I can’t stand the agent angle of this but Barkley may be the biggest hypocrite of this entire issue

 

[SirStefan32]

I think Barkley's situation was a bit different. He was older, past his prime. I also think that more some stuff happened behind the scenes with Barkley. I remember that he had a feud with Colangelo for years about something. I also remember him being pissed that the Suns were shopping him around. I think there is a lot more to the Barkley story than we know about.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't disagree... but it's already setup where these superstars are going to cost themselves tens of millions of dollars to title chase They can't abolish free agency, it's flat out illegal. IMO the only solution would be to do away with max contracts entirely. LeBron would have never left Cleveland if the Cavs could have paid him half their cap (which probably still falls short of his value).

I also really respect the look on Shaq's face as he called out Barkley for his blatant hypocrisy from him forcing his way to the 2 time champ Rockets to join Drexler and Hakeem.

What they can do is have an automatic $1 million fine for any player that demands a trade while under contract, and the immediate disqualification of his agent from representing NBA players.

 

[elindholm]

Uh Barkley forced his way out of Philly too. In his prime. I can’t stand the agent angle of this but Barkley may be the biggest hypocrite of this entire issue

Did he force his way to the Suns specifically, though? Players say they want out all the time. It used to be much less common for them to say, "Not only do I want out, but here are the two or three teams you must trade me to."

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think Barkley's situation was a bit different. He was older, past his prime. I also think that more some stuff happened behind the scenes with Barkley. I remember that he had a feud with Colangelo for years about something. I also remember him being pissed that the Suns were shopping him around. I think there is a lot more to the Barkley story than we know about.

I thought it was ostensibly about trading Majerle but maybe that was just the excuse he used at the time. And I'd agree, it was much different than the Anthony Davis situation. I don't know enough about his exit from Philadelphia than Barkley's off court antics probably led both sides to believe a break was necessary.

 

[AsUdUdE]

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Soooo... Kyrie is gone....

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the Warriors should let go of Durant and Green in that order, and keep Steph, Klay, and Kerr together as long as possible. As long as that trio is together, they have a Spurs-esque cultural situation that should attract the right kind of payers, with the additional advantages of he market.

And they were good before Durant arrived.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yeah, but Livingston and Iggy were hell of a lot better before Durant. It's not a knock on them- it's Father Time catching up.
I don't think the Warriors win another one if KD leaves.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Kyrie is my ultimate fever dream this offseason.

Especially if we somehow get lucky enough to get Zion.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Wow. The things going on right now. Lakers having discussions with Jason Kidd about their coaching job BEFORE actually firing Walton.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiret...he-Mix-To-Replace-Luke-Walton-As-Lakers-Coach

 

[Mainstreet]

Wow. The things going on right now. Lakers having discussions with Jason Kidd about their coaching job BEFORE actually firing Walton.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiret...he-Mix-To-Replace-Luke-Walton-As-Lakers-Coach

If true this is really a splash of cold water in the face for Luke Walton.