2022-23 NBA Thread: “you’ll never let me down like the Heat did”, Miami fan says to giant pile of cocaine (1 Viewer)

[Craig_MiamiFL]

I was gone all afternoon so I'm only getting here now. But I'll take on anybody in here:

Kyrie is a legend.

Challenge goes to anyone reading this...

Name a single more destructive internal force in the history of sports than Kyrie. Any sport, any era.

Go.

I'd have LOVED to have seen him decline that option and seen his market......

.....Would have been a real nice dose of reality for him. If the Lakers weren't absolutely desperate to give it one last realistic go with Bron/AD, I could see Kyrie on the open market for a bit. 

I don't think a good year with Bron/AD repairs his value next offseason. JMO The league is over him and his warped sense of reality. ESPN was playing his end of season interview with Kyrie talking about the Nets being a "family" while this joker wouldn't get vaxxed and sat out all but 20-something games.

Kyrie's only still 30 but I think the NBA end is very near for him (one way or another). Unless it's on a very very low annual value, I think his long term deal days are O-V-E-R.

 

[Eephus]

Good signing, not quite the discount to stay with the Bucks though. 

Bobby took his discount last year.  Can't expect him to take one for the team every year.

I'm not a huge fan of using the full MLE for Joe Ingles.  He's been a nice player but he's an old guy coming off knee surgery.  I would have liked to see the Bucks try to get more athletic at the wing.  I guess Marjon Beauchamp can potentially provide that but that's asking a lot from a late first rounder.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Free agent guard Delon Wright has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal to sign with the Washington Wizards

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Must Watch Highlight Video 

 

[Frostillicus]

Nice. 

Hey!

 

[msudaisy26]

Bobby took his discount last year.  Can't expect him to take one for the team every year.

I'm not a huge fan of using the full MLE for Joe Ingles.  He's been a nice player but he's an old guy coming off knee surgery.  I would have liked to see the Bucks try to get more athletic at the wing.  I guess Marjon Beauchamp can potentially provide that but that's asking a lot from a late first rounder.

I didn't expect him to continue to take discounts. Gruecd seemed to believe that Portis and other free agents would take discounts to stay or go to the Bucks. 

 

[Tau837]

Dude was two inches from making probably the biggest shot in playoff history and going to the finals. 

 

[msudaisy26]

Nice. 

Hey!

Do the T-Wolves have the 2 slowest perimeter players in the league between Russell and Anderson?

 

[gruecd]

Good signing, not quite the discount to stay with the Bucks though. 

He took a big discount last year, presumably with the understanding that they’d take care of him this offseason.

 

[gruecd]

I didn't expect him to continue to take discounts. Gruecd seemed to believe that Portis and other free agents would take discounts to stay or go to the Bucks. 

I thought he’d take the most the Bucks could give him, even if someone else offered more. And based on what some of these other clowns got paid, I think he definitely could’ve gotten way more.

 

[Zigg]

Much like before the Leonard season, the Raptors always seem to be a really good team, one star away from being a true contender. They seem built to plug in a #1 at all times.

Very unlikely, but would love to see Durant go there.

 

[msudaisy26]

Much like before the Leonard season, the Raptors always seem to be a really good team, one star away from being a true contender. They seem built to plug in a #1 at all times.

Very unlikely, but would love to see Durant go there.

Plus Toronto fans are awesome. 

 

[ShamrockPride]

@Craig_MiamiFL

Now THIS is art 

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Free agent center Andre Drummond is finalizing a deal with the Chicago Bulls

 

[ignatiusjreilly]

It won't be the end at all. Making a super team still has higher odds of winning a title then not making a super team, but it doesn't guarantee it. 

Super team era didn't start with Lebron and the decision, it started a few years earlier with the Celtics with Ray Allen, and KG going to Boston to team up with Pierce. 

I would bet the next time a superstar like Lebron, KD or whoever tells their team to go get player x or y or they will demand a trade that team is going to go get those players. 

I should have clarified: What I meant specifically by "Super Team" was one assembled by the players. I'm sure Boston had buy-in from KG and Allen before they made those trades, but in the end the Celts made it happen. The Heat was really the first time the players themselves got together and took the initiative. KD and Kyrie wanted to play together, so they chose the Nets; if they had decided they liked the Knicks' situation better, they would have gone there. And pretty much from the moment he returned to Cleveland (through him time in LA), LeBron has been his team's de facto GM. 

That's the era that I think is coming to a close. Teams are realizing that, while players have increased leverage, giving them everything they want won't end well for anyone. LeBron may be the second-greatest player ever, but he's been a Grunfeld-level GM. (Meanwhile, the greatest player ever has also proven to be pretty bad at player evaluation.) 

 

[SayWhat?]

SlowMo is a great add for the Wolves.  Love it.

 

[Eephus]

I should have clarified: What I meant specifically by "Super Team" was one assembled by the players. I'm sure Boston had buy-in from KG and Allen before they made those trades, but in the end the Celts made it happen. The Heat was really the first time the players themselves got together and took the initiative. KD and Kyrie wanted to play together, so they chose the Nets; if they had decided they liked the Knicks' situation better, they would have gone there. And pretty much from the moment he returned to Cleveland (through him time in LA), LeBron has been his team's de facto GM. 

That's the era that I think is coming to a close. Teams are realizing that, while players have increased leverage, giving them everything they want won't end well for anyone. LeBron may be the second-greatest player ever, but he's been a Grunfeld-level GM. (Meanwhile, the greatest player ever has also proven to be pretty bad at player evaluation.) 

It's still a star's league.  Teams will continue to go to extraordinary lengths to acquire and retain them. 

It's way too early to declare that the Nets implosion represents anything more than a one-off

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Free agent center Andre Drummond has agreed to a two-year, $6.6M deal with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. The second year is a player option.

 

[Yo Mama]

I was gone all afternoon so I'm only getting here now. But I'll take on anybody in here:

Kyrie is a legend.

Challenge goes to anyone reading this...

Name a single more destructive internal force in the history of sports than Kyrie. Any sport, any era.

Go.

Magic Johnson (as Pres/GM)

 

[msudaisy26]

Magic Johnson (as Pres/GM)

That is a good one and if we are doing former players as GMs or owners than Jordan is up there. 

 

[ignatiusjreilly]

It's still a star's league.  Teams will continue to go to extraordinary lengths to acquire and retain them. 

I agree. I just think they'll try to reassert some leverage when it comes to personnel moves. I also think players will look at how LeBron and KD have damaged their reps by getting too involved in that area and decide they'll just focus on playing.

I'm not saying the whole league is going to shift on a dime. I just think the pendulum will swing back a little in the other direction

 

[msudaisy26]

What are the Bulls doing? They have Vucevic, Williams and Tristan Thompson. Seems like that money could be spent better on a different position. 

 

[Yo Mama]

That is a good one and if we are doing former players as GMs or owners than Jordan is up there. 

We could do a whole list of former players from just the Lakers:

Magic

Mitch Kupchek

Kurt Rambis (and his wife)

Byron Scott

 

[Frostillicus]

Do the T-Wolves have the 2 slowest perimeter players in the league between Russell and Anderson?

I can't wait until they do a pick and roll with those two. 

 

[Frostillicus]

And they aren't slow! They're methodical and deliberate and play at their own pace. 

 

[Yo Mama]

Anderson for $68 million?  More like $18 million

 

[Juxtatarot]

What are the Bulls doing? They have Vucevic, Williams and Tristan Thompson. Seems like that money could be spent better on a different position. 

Tristan won’t be back. 

They are trying to spend the rest of their MLE on Gallo. We’ll see. Not a very exciting off-season.

 

[BassNBrew]

Speculation....

HORNETS GET

KEVIN DURANT

NETS GET

GORDON HAYWARD

TERRY ROZIER

JAMES BOUKNIGHT

FOUR FIRST-ROUND PICKS

 

[Yo Mama]

Speculation....

HORNETS GET

KEVIN DURANT

NETS GET

GORDON HAYWARD

TERRY ROZIER

JAMES BOUKNIGHT

FOUR FIRST-ROUND PICKS

More likely:

Nets get

Gordon Hayward

Kelly Oubre

Hornets get

Russell Westbrook

2027 protected 1st

More $ for MJ

Lakers get

Kyrie Irving

 

[General Malaise]

I think by this time next year you will think that is a steal. 

I've always enjoyed watching him - he can fly.  And I don't think the Blazers had any better options.  Just......I've watched them make so many regrettable financial decisions in the past that I'm tarnished.

 

[BoltBacker]

I've always enjoyed watching him - he can fly.  And I don't think the Blazers had any better options.  Just......I've watched them make so many regrettable financial decisions in the past that I'm tarnished.

I didn't see much of him last year. Is he ANY BETTER on defense?

 

[Yo Mama]

I've always enjoyed watching him - he can fly.  And I don't think the Blazers had any better options.  Just......I've watched them make so many regrettable financial decisions in the past that I'm tarnished.

Blazers still spending - Gary Payton II for 3 years and $28 mil per Shams

 

[Eephus]

Blazers still spending - Gary Payton II for 3 years and $28 mil per Shams

Nice to see him get paid

 

[Navin Johnson]

Game 7 down two hitting a three at the buzzer.  Likely getting them a ring.  Yeah, not huge at all.

 

[Navin Johnson]

Nice to see him get paid

Sad to see him go, glad he finally got paid.

 

[scoobus]

Miles Bridges seems to be not a very good person.

 

[Deamon]

Plus Toronto fans are awesome. 

I hope this is shtick.  They're awful and he'd never go to a place they cheered for his injury.

 

[Deamon]

I like the Bagley signing. Wish the 3rd year was an option, but in 18 games after the trade, Bagley averaged 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds on 55.5% shooting

What's this do for my man Kelly though?

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

So what is the reason KD wants a trade?  He brought in Kyrie, right?  He backed Simmons for Harden. When he and Kyrie played together they were formidable. This seems out of nowhere — or did he just want Kyrie gone and he opted in and he cannot stand to just play with him even for one season (or until trade deadline)?

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Was really hoping Drummond would make his way back to philly. Will he start in chicago?  2 years for $6.6mm seems low. 

 

[Anarchy99]

So what is the reason KD wants a trade?  He brought in Kyrie, right?  He backed Simmons for Harden. When he and Kyrie played together they were formidable. This seems out of nowhere — or did he just want Kyrie gone and he opted in and he cannot stand to just play with him even for one season (or until trade deadline)?

There have been some reports that KD and Kyrie hope to end up on the same new team and still want to play together. I don't see how that's realistic (who can match $80+ million in salaries?), but it sounds like KD's issue is with Brooklyn's front office.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Was really hoping Drummond would make his way back to philly. Will he start in chicago?  2 years for $6.6mm seems low. 

Assuming no unexpected trades, Vucevic will remain the starter.

 

[BoltBacker]

Was really hoping Drummond would make his way back to philly. Will he start in chicago?  2 years for $6.6mm seems low. 

It's just shocking to me that guy is only 28yo the way he moves around the court. 

I'd have sworn he came into the league sometime around the same time as Dave Corzine. 

How can he possibly THAT MUCH younger than Al Horford?

 

[Juxtatarot]

What happens with Bridges? Obviously teams are going to be reluctant to sign him. 

 

[gruecd]

What happens with Bridges? Obviously teams are going to be reluctant to sign him. 

Somebody will sign him.  Talent trumps all else.

 

[Zeppelin]

What happens with Bridges? Obviously teams are going to be reluctant to sign him. 

He does something like this right before free agency? What an idiot. 

 

[offdee]

I didn't see much of him last year. Is he ANY BETTER on defense?

Who are you talking about here for the Blazers?

 

[AAABatteries]

There have been some reports that KD and Kyrie hope to end up on the same new team and still want to play together. I don't see how that's realistic (who can match $80+ million in salaries?), but it sounds like KD's issue is with Brooklyn's front office.

You know, I've mostly kept my mouth shut with all this super team stuff - I've never really liked it but whatever.  But, if KD and Kyrie really did push their way out of Brooklyn and say both end up in L.A. then I'm not even sure what to say - would be a total joke.  I get that L.A. still probably wouldn't win but one of the reasons I watch sports is to root for things and my teams.  I'm happy to just watch games for the entertainment but to get people to really love basketball and be invested it seems to me you want to discourage this kind of stuff.  If this happens and I was a Nets fan I'd probably just not watch.   /rant

 

[Tau837]

Game 7 down two hitting a three at the buzzer.  Likely getting them a ring.  Yeah, not huge at all.

You didn't say it would have been a "huge" shot. You said "biggest shot in playoff history." Hence my reaction.

As for "likely getting them a ring," Durant himself has said they would not have won the championship had the shot been ruled a 3 pointer.

 

[Anarchy99]

You know, I've mostly kept my mouth shut with all this super team stuff - I've never really liked it but whatever.  But, if KD and Kyrie really did push their way out of Brooklyn and say both end up in L.A. then I'm not even sure what to say - would be a total joke.  I get that L.A. still probably wouldn't win but one of the reasons I watch sports is to root for things and my teams.  I'm happy to just watch games for the entertainment but to get people to really love basketball and be invested it seems to me you want to discourage this kind of stuff.  If this happens and I was a Nets fan I'd probably just not watch.   /rant

The Lakers are one of the few teams that could seemingly have the pieces to swing a double dip to land KD and Kyrie. I am sure L.A. would love to jettison Westbrook, and they would have to include Davis as well. Not sure if the Nets would have any interest in entertaining such a deal and what else they would need to really consider it. There would most likely have to be a third team involved if the Nets shied away for taking back Westbrook. Could Lebron, KD, and Kyrie coexist (or stay on the court)?