2024-25 NBA Thread: Stephen A leading ESPN’s draft coverage by yelling about players he’s never heard of until now (145 Viewers)

[Yo Mama]

New Suns' depth chart (still at/near the second apron without any of their own picks):

PG:
SG: Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Bradley Beal, Jalen Green, Grayson Allen
SF:
PF:
C:

 

[Tau837]

Durant could reasonably be viewed as a top 20 all time player. Is Shaq the only other one to have played for more than 3 frsnchises? Does this affect Durant's legacy at all? I think it does for me.

Lebron?

Cleveland, Miami, LAL. That’s 3.

Cleveland was two different stints.

I am aware. My post asked about franchises.

 

[Desert_Power]

New Suns' depth chart (still at/near the second apron without any of their own picks):

PG:
SG: Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Bradley Beal, Jalen Green, Grayson Allen
SF:
PF:
C:

Changing the game.

 

[Tau837]

New Suns' depth chart (still at/near the second apron without any of their own picks):

PG:
SG: Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Bradley Beal, Jalen Green, Grayson Allen
SF:
PF:
C:

Changing the game.

Positionless basketball.

 

[msudaisy26]

I like the deal for the Rockets, not super crazy about it for the Suns. Feels like they could have gotten a more appealing package from the Wolves. I’d imagine that the Suns must be planning on making several more moves as they have a very unbalanced/incomplete roster. At the end of the day, what Jalen Green develops into will be the major barometer of if this trade ends up being good for the Suns. He’s a young player with a lot of talent—but man—he seems to have a lot of “dud” games.

Doubt he ever plays for them. He’s headed to some bozo franchise like Charlotte or Washington.

You are probably right. The only thing that the Suns might need in regard to the guard position is a pure point—so keeping him wouldn’t make much sense. However, if I were the Suns—I think I’d go a different direction. I think they might be better off just blowing things up (keeping Green)—but trying to get a kings ransom for a deal that ships away Booker and Beal. Trading Green away to a bozo franchise is not going to get them anything in return that remotely makes them relevant. While I like that Orlando made a move for Bane—I think they gave up a lot for him—and I think that Booker would clearly garner more than Bane. Feels to me like Bookers value is at or close to a peak right now (in regard what they could ask for in return)—and I don’t think that fans are going to be rushing to see this team this season. If I were the Suns, I’d maybe try to reach out to teams like Memphis and see if they could maybe explore a deal centered around Booker and Jaren Jackson Jr…etc. I think a young core featuring guys like Green, JJJ, a defensive minded player like Brooks, a shooter like Grayson and recouping some of the future draft capital that they gave up from previous deals maybe puts them in a better position than continuing on with Booker.

Apparently the Suns want to keep Green. Honestly with this new owner they are a bozo franchise like Charlotte.

Booker is going to be making 60-70M a year soon. Very few teams can take that into their cap. He’s a great player but he’s going to be sitting there losing for a while.

I think any team that pays booker that much is going to trapped in purgatory. I agree with you that he’s a great player—but I think that he lacks the leadership skils to be elite (but the market will dictate that he gets paid elite money). What an interesting past few months—we see Luka,Anthony Davis, Durant, Bane, Jalen Green moved—-and it feels like there is still lot more to come.

He was the best player on a team that went to game 6 of the finals. He is a top 20 player in the league.

No franchise will win a championship if Booker is their best player. The team that he took the finals was absolutely loaded—that team should have been considered championship or bust. After the loss—he didn’t take any responsibility and placed the blame on Ayton. If the dude can’t win a ring with his 4th best player being a double double machine—and a guy like Cam Johnson coming off of the bench—he’s not elite—he’s great. The dude just had KD and Beal on his team and couldn’t navigate his team to the play in. He also led his team to one of the worst game 7 performances I’ve ever seen when Luka took him to school and effectively ended the game by halftime. I know you are a Pistons fan. I’ll take Cade over booker any day of the week. I like players that show that they can do a lot with a little—-I’m not a fan of players that don’t have much to show when they are surrounded with talent.

I wouldn't say that team was loaded. Paul was still very good, but Cam Johnson and Bridges were still young players coming into their own and Ayton was a product of Paul and Booker. I would also take Cade over Booker, but I think Booker could absolutely be a 1A on a championship team.

Having Bradley Beal on your team is a detriment. Dragging him to anything would be an accomplishment. Plus the West this year was loaded from one to eight.

 

[msudaisy26]

Durant could reasonably be viewed as a top 20 all time player. Is Shaq the only other one to have played for more than 3 frsnchises? Does this affect Durant's legacy at all? I think it does for me.

Lebron?

Cleveland, Miami, LAL. That’s 3.

Cleveland was two different stints.

I am aware. My post asked about franchises.

I understand your loophole. He played for four different teams though, just because he went back to the location. That team was totally different from the one he left.

 

[jvdesigns2002]

I like the deal for the Rockets, not super crazy about it for the Suns. Feels like they could have gotten a more appealing package from the Wolves. I’d imagine that the Suns must be planning on making several more moves as they have a very unbalanced/incomplete roster. At the end of the day, what Jalen Green develops into will be the major barometer of if this trade ends up being good for the Suns. He’s a young player with a lot of talent—but man—he seems to have a lot of “dud” games.

Doubt he ever plays for them. He’s headed to some bozo franchise like Charlotte or Washington.

You are probably right. The only thing that the Suns might need in regard to the guard position is a pure point—so keeping him wouldn’t make much sense. However, if I were the Suns—I think I’d go a different direction. I think they might be better off just blowing things up (keeping Green)—but trying to get a kings ransom for a deal that ships away Booker and Beal. Trading Green away to a bozo franchise is not going to get them anything in return that remotely makes them relevant. While I like that Orlando made a move for Bane—I think they gave up a lot for him—and I think that Booker would clearly garner more than Bane. Feels to me like Bookers value is at or close to a peak right now (in regard what they could ask for in return)—and I don’t think that fans are going to be rushing to see this team this season. If I were the Suns, I’d maybe try to reach out to teams like Memphis and see if they could maybe explore a deal centered around Booker and Jaren Jackson Jr…etc. I think a young core featuring guys like Green, JJJ, a defensive minded player like Brooks, a shooter like Grayson and recouping some of the future draft capital that they gave up from previous deals maybe puts them in a better position than continuing on with Booker.

Apparently the Suns want to keep Green. Honestly with this new owner they are a bozo franchise like Charlotte.

Booker is going to be making 60-70M a year soon. Very few teams can take that into their cap. He’s a great player but he’s going to be sitting there losing for a while.

I think any team that pays booker that much is going to trapped in purgatory. I agree with you that he’s a great player—but I think that he lacks the leadership skils to be elite (but the market will dictate that he gets paid elite money). What an interesting past few months—we see Luka,Anthony Davis, Durant, Bane, Jalen Green moved—-and it feels like there is still lot more to come.

He was the best player on a team that went to game 6 of the finals. He is a top 20 player in the league.

No franchise will win a championship if Booker is their best player. The team that he took the finals was absolutely loaded—that team should have been considered championship or bust. After the loss—he didn’t take any responsibility and placed the blame on Ayton. If the dude can’t win a ring with his 4th best player being a double double machine—and a guy like Cam Johnson coming off of the bench—he’s not elite—he’s great. The dude just had KD and Beal on his team and couldn’t navigate his team to the play in. He also led his team to one of the worst game 7 performances I’ve ever seen when Luka took him to school and effectively ended the game by halftime. I know you are a Pistons fan. I’ll take Cade over booker any day of the week. I like players that show that they can do a lot with a little—-I’m not a fan of players that don’t have much to show when they are surrounded with talent.

I wouldn't say that team was loaded. Paul was still very good, but Cam Johnson and Bridges were still young players coming into their own and Ayton was a product of Paul and Booker. I would also take Cade over Booker, but I think Booker could absolutely be a 1A on a championship team.

Having Bradley Beal on your team is a detriment. Dragging him to anything would be an accomplishment. Plus the West this year was loaded from one to eight.

Thats fair enough. By the way—I don’t disagree with your assessment that he’s a top 20ish player in the league. I think that talent-wise and stat-wise—that is accurate. With that said—my definition of an “elite” player is if the player is good enough to be the best player on a championship team. For me—being an elite player involves a combination of talent, showing up when it counts the most, leadership skills. I think there are several “top 20” players that would not qualify as being elite. Booker is one of them. I would also have Ja Morant, Jaylen Brown in there to name a couple of more. We’ll see on Booker. Kevin Durant is a hell of a player even at his age—and he played 62 games this past season. To put things in perspective—Kawhi Leonard played 37 regular season games this season—a team with an aging James Harden, Norman Powell, and Zubac performed considerably better than the Suns with Booker in his prime and a KD that is still lethal. We’ll have to see what happens with Booker—but I just don’t see him winning the ring being the best player on a team. I view him as being an ideal sidekick on a championship caliber team. The question will be if he ever gets surrounded by decent enough talent (or close enough talent to what he had) to see if I can be proven wrong. I just don’t see that happening in Phoenix anytime soon.

 

[Tau837]

Durant could reasonably be viewed as a top 20 all time player. Is Shaq the only other one to have played for more than 3 frsnchises? Does this affect Durant's legacy at all? I think it does for me.

Lebron?

Cleveland, Miami, LAL. That’s 3.

Cleveland was two different stints.

I am aware. My post asked about franchises.

I understand your loophole. He played for four different teams though, just because he went back to the location. That team was totally different from the one he left.

I don't see it as the same thing to play for one franchise twice as to play for two franchises once. Especially not when the one franchise was his home town franchise (Akron is less than 40 miles from Cleveland). YMMV.

 

[Desert_Power]

It's a long offseason, make sure to keep your takes hydrated.

 

[msudaisy26]

Durant could reasonably be viewed as a top 20 all time player. Is Shaq the only other one to have played for more than 3 frsnchises? Does this affect Durant's legacy at all? I think it does for me.

Lebron?

Cleveland, Miami, LAL. That’s 3.

Cleveland was two different stints.

I am aware. My post asked about franchises.

I understand your loophole. He played for four different teams though, just because he went back to the location. That team was totally different from the one he left.

I don't see it as the same thing to play for one franchise twice as to play for two franchises once. Especially not when the one franchise was his home town franchise (Akron is less than 40 miles from Cleveland). YMMV.

I dont like the whole argument that you downgrade Durant for ring chasing and moving teams, when other greats have done it like Barkely, LeBron, Shaq, etc and then attach some arbitrary number to it.

If you are downgrading Durant because of it then all those guys for it, but I think that is a silly reason to try tarnish anyone's place in NBA history. This isn't the 70's anymore.

 

[mr. furley]

Great, great player, but his insecurity is what defines him.

Lmao actually laughed reading this. Give me a break. Some of you need to detox from Stephen A.

the Durant hot takes are ****ing sizzling today

 

[Alex P Keaton]

New Suns' depth chart (still at/near the second apron without any of their own picks):

PG:
SG: Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Bradley Beal, Jalen Green, Grayson Allen
SF:
PF:
C:

They’re fine. Booker is (supposedly) elite.

 

[AAABatteries]

is there a case to be made that not only are these the two best finals teams ever,

Are you out of your mind?

 

[McBokonon]

“In return, the Suns acquired guard Jalen Green, forward Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and five second-round picks, according to ESPN.”

YUCK

Related graph that explains the current state of the Suns

Spoiler

this is a bit of a deep cut

 

[Tau837]

Durant could reasonably be viewed as a top 20 all time player. Is Shaq the only other one to have played for more than 3 frsnchises? Does this affect Durant's legacy at all? I think it does for me.

Lebron?

Cleveland, Miami, LAL. That’s 3.

Cleveland was two different stints.

I am aware. My post asked about franchises.

I understand your loophole. He played for four different teams though, just because he went back to the location. That team was totally different from the one he left.

I don't see it as the same thing to play for one franchise twice as to play for two franchises once. Especially not when the one franchise was his home town franchise (Akron is less than 40 miles from Cleveland). YMMV.

I dont like the whole argument that you downgrade Durant for ring chasing and moving teams, when other greats have done it like Barkely, LeBron, Shaq, etc and then attach some arbitrary number to it.

If you are downgrading Durant because of it then all those guys for it, but I think that is a silly reason to try tarnish anyone's place in NBA history. This isn't the 70's anymore.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, as am I. We disagree, and that is fine. I asked the question to see where people stand. You have made your stance clear. Thanks.

 

[identikit]

Those future Phoenix draft picks could be really really valuable

To another team

 

[identikit]

OKC already planning ahead:

https://x.com/SharpFootball/status/1936922080362090892

 

[scoobus]

Booker, Green, and Beal should be a joy to watch on the court together.

 

[TLEF316]

Great, great player, but his insecurity is what defines him.

Lmao actually laughed reading this. Give me a break. Some of you need to detox from Stephen A.

What kind of all time great athlete had a burner Twitter to tweet back at haters?

 

[Capella]

Great, great player, but his insecurity is what defines him.

Lmao actually laughed reading this. Give me a break. Some of you need to detox from Stephen A.

What kind of all time great athlete had a burner Twitter to tweet back at haters?

Makes him even better imo

 

[msudaisy26]

Booker, Green, and Beal should be a joy to watch on the court together.

Now you are just talking crazy. Beal, won't play that much.

 

[msudaisy26]

Rooting for the Pacers, but won't be upset if the Thunder win it. Just please, please be a great game.

 

[rockaction]

I’ve never heard a dumber-sounding intro. Wow. Idiocracy. Holy smokes.

 

[dickey moe]

How long until the NBA finals finish in July? This has dragged on forever. I didn't watch the last two games. Actually did not even remember they were on. Guess I'll watch Game 7 tonight. Or I might go to bed. I fail to understand the point of more than 1 day off between games. It's a <2 hour flight.

It goes into mid-June about every year. The playoffs are great - if anything, reduce the regular season to 60 games (but of course that won't happen).

 

[identikit]

Looks like Haliburton's 3 pt shot is on line tonight

He's pretty streaky with it

 

[dickey moe]

Halliburton channeling Steph distance right now.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

interesting stat

Teams that win a Game 7 go on to win the series 100% of the time.

 

[dickey moe]

New Suns' depth chart (still at/near the second apron without any of their own picks):

PG:
SG: Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Bradley Beal, Jalen Green, Grayson Allen
SF:
PF:
C:

That's freaking hilarious.

 

[msudaisy26]

The ball movement by the Pacers and the closeout speed by the Thunder is awesome.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

The ball movement by the Pacers and the closeout speed by the Thunder is awesome.

It is amazing how fast they switch yet never bump into each other.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Oh Jesus

 

[dickey moe]

Awwwww ****

 

[ChicoCat]

Man, that sucks.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

kd style

 

[identikit]

Oh no!!

 

[Zeppelin]

****

 

[Chris B.]

That Achilles popped

 

[Jayrod]

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

[sho nuff]

Awful man…that just sucks.

 

[General Malaise]

Heartbreak for Haliburton

Damn

 

[msudaisy26]

Just awful.

 

[sho nuff]

Seems so many achilles injuries all throughout different sports recently.

 

[ChicoCat]

Siakim and 3 pointers..... I don't know if that's enough...but....maybe.

 

[msudaisy26]

That replay was gross.

 

[whoknew]

Man that sucks.

 

[dickey moe]

Jesus McConnell dribbles too darn much.

 

[Jayrod]

Jesus McConnell dribbles too darn much.

That crossover right in front of a defender in your kitchen is stupid as hell. Not using his body, turning the corner or just giving up the ball. So stupid.

 

[Insein]

Haven't watched much NBA this year but tunes in for this series. Absolutely brutal. Poor guy may never get back here again.

 

[msudaisy26]

Jesus McConnell dribbles too darn much.

He is great off the bench in spurts, but there is a reason he has been a back up pg his entire career. Plus Wallace was holding his wrist.

 

[Chris B.]

Ref watched Wallace grab McConnell's wrist and said, "yep, perfectly legal"