*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (4 Viewers)

[thecatch]

Not that I know of. He's just following in the footsteps of great guys like Howard and Melo. Take a ####load of cash from a franchise then hold them hostage.

Oh, come on.Crappy team gets a stud...fine, you get 7 years to make something of it. If not, it's on you. Maybe you get a Jonas out of the deal, maybe not.

I'm very bitter though because, by my calculation, the Hornets have only drafted 3 players, in the last 22 years, that had any remote potential to ever be the 1st or 2nd best player on a contender (in the eyes of any reasonable person). 2 couldn't stay healthy. 1 of those was still on the roster when the ####### team left (before NO just gave him away). We'll see about the 3rd (Vonleh). This isn't counting the whole Kobe thing.

I'm tired seeing people ##### about only getting 7 years out of one that does hit.

MIN has effectively been robbed of the value of the last season of his contract by virtue of his trade demand.Vonleh has best player on a contender potential?

I don't see it that way. If not for this notion that they have to get something for him, they are more than welcome to go make a run this year and not worry about it. If I'm Flip, I tell CLE to send me their best offer involving Wiggins or that's exactly what I do, btw..

IMO that's unrealistic as a practical matter. If Love plays out the season, his teammates and everyone in the organization will know he wants nothing to do with them, and they are going to spend hours everyday talking about it with the media. That's going to affect their on the court play.

Lebron handled it perfectly this year, assuming he knew he was going back to CLE. Go do everything you can to live up to your deal and win, keep your mouth shut, and go where you want after the season. I doubt Heater fans are upset by the possibility that Lebron robbed them of a chance at a good draft pick by failing to let them know of his intentions in advance.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Not that I know of. He's just following in the footsteps of great guys like Howard and Melo. Take a ####load of cash from a franchise then hold them hostage.

Oh, come on.Crappy team gets a stud...fine, you get 7 years to make something of it. If not, it's on you. Maybe you get a Jonas out of the deal, maybe not.

I'm very bitter though because, by my calculation, the Hornets have only drafted 3 players, in the last 22 years, that had any remote potential to ever be the 1st or 2nd best player on a contender (in the eyes of any reasonable person). 2 couldn't stay healthy (Baron, Okafor). 1 of those was still on the roster when the ####### team left (before NO just gave him away). We'll see about the 3rd (Vonleh). This isn't counting the whole Kobe thing.

I'm tired seeing people ##### about only getting 7 years out of one that does hit.

Love could have left Minny after 5 years, not 7. He chose to take a ####load of money to stay in Minny instead of accepting the qualifying offer and becoming a free agent. Now he is being a ##### about it.

If you want to argue that rookie contracts and the draft are wrong, fine. But Love CHOSE to stay in Minny longer than he was forced to. That is on no one but him.

 

[pollardsvision]

Not that I know of. He's just following in the footsteps of great guys like Howard and Melo. Take a ####load of cash from a franchise then hold them hostage.

Oh, come on.Crappy team gets a stud...fine, you get 7 years to make something of it. If not, it's on you. Maybe you get a Jonas out of the deal, maybe not.

I'm very bitter though because, by my calculation, the Hornets have only drafted 3 players, in the last 22 years, that had any remote potential to ever be the 1st or 2nd best player on a contender (in the eyes of any reasonable person). 2 couldn't stay healthy. 1 of those was still on the roster when the ####### team left (before NO just gave him away). We'll see about the 3rd (Vonleh). This isn't counting the whole Kobe thing.

I'm tired seeing people ##### about only getting 7 years out of one that does hit.

MIN has effectively been robbed of the value of the last season of his contract by virtue of his trade demand.Vonleh has best player on a contender potential?

I don't see it that way. If not for this notion that they have to get something for him, they are more than welcome to go make a run this year and not worry about it. If I'm Flip, I tell CLE to send me their best offer involving Wiggins or that's exactly what I do, btw..

IMO that's unrealistic as a practical matter. If Love plays out the season, his teammates and everyone in the organization will know he wants nothing to do with them, and they are going to spend hours everyday talking about it with the media. That's going to affect their on the court play.

Lebron handled it perfectly this year, assuming he knew he was going back to CLE. Go do everything you can to live up to your deal and win, keep your mouth shut, and go where you want after the season. I doubt Heater fans are upset by the possibility that Lebron robbed them of a chance at a good draft pick by failing to let them know of his intentions in advance.

I do agree that it's probably preferable for everyone involved to just stay quiet (outside of maybe a private meeting with the coach/GM).

But I don't know that it's a huge deal either. Players have to play through trade rumors, and it's awfully hard for things not to get leaked one way or another.

Maybe it's not ideal, but it's on Flip to go get everyone on board to go make the best of this season. These guys are professionals, and it shouldn't take a zenmaster to get a good season out of a bunch of players that all have plenty of motivation to go have a great season. If Love doesn't honor his contract and give his best this season, then obviously, that would make him a ####head.

 

[pollardsvision]

And really, if not for CLE's amazing run of good fortune, isn't there a great chance this story is dead by now?

Maybe Love leaked that he wants out. After that MIN should have the "sorry to hear that, but we aren't trading you. let's go worry about making Playoffs" conversation and be done with it.

But MIN has a chance to really cash in here, so it's still a story. It doesn't need to be though. MIN can just cut off all trade talks. They don't want to, of course.

MIN was on course for a distracting season of Love uncertainty no matter what (with everybody and their mother assuming he's gone even if Love never leaked a thing). Unless Love is throwing a ####fit behind the scenes, it seems that it's MIN's desire to get something for him that's making it a bigger issue than it otherwise would've been.

 

[Bobcat10]

Min and Mia are/were in completely diff situations. Mia would have thought for 1 second, maybe, about trading Lebron. Min is fighting to be one and done in the West.

 

[meatwad1]

I think Cleveland would be stupid to trade Wiggins right now. He is one of the heralded and hyped prospects of the last ten years. Why give that up for Love at this point?

They have LeBron, the best player on the planet. Him alone added to that team without Wiggins gives them 50 or more wins. Anyone who does not agree with that is a moron. Sorry for being a jerk, but that is the way it is.

They should see what they have in Wiggins. If he even flashes the type of potential we think he has, Cle will be able to trade him for anyone they want, not just Love.

Just having Love on the team guarantees nothing; Minnesota has not even sniffed the playoffs in Love's tenure, despite having good players on their team. I know people like to make excuses for him, but that is very telling to me.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

, despite having good players on their team.

Like who?

 

[Daywalker]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

 

[Christo]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Other than finishing out the contract he did choose to sign.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Irrelevant. He owes them what he signed for.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Other than finishing out the contract he did choose to sign.

Which he's doing.

 

[JohnfrmCleveland]

Honestly, I'm hoping that Golden State relents and gives up Klay Thompson (is he really that special?) so we don't even have to make this deal. I want to see what we have in Wiggins. I want to see what LeBron, Irving, Wiggins, and a whole bunch of talented depth could do, because I think the bunch we have today is waaaaay better than the bunch LeBron won so many games with in his first time around, and I also think the coach will be better. Plus, I don't like it when free-agents-to-be can force their way off of a team. And I hate that he doesn't even want to opt in to his final year.

Bill Simmons wrote a piece where he mentioned the possibility of Wiggins being the Pippen to LeBron's Jordan. That is a very, very tempting idea to chase.

Right. It's an idea. People always fall in love with potential. Oddly, even when a top-5 player is sitting there staton them in the face.

Can you really be a Top Five guy and not be able to get your team into the playoffs?

It's also just an idea that Love will be a perfect complement to LeBron and Irving. He is potentially going to fit right in and space the floor. And to find out, it will only cost us the best prospect since LeBron himself, another #1 pick, and a first-rounder. Plus, we probably have to take back some bad contracts, or find another team to do it. And hope that he agrees to stick around for $20 million/year next year.

If I'm Flip Saunders, I do this trade yesterday. Trade away one guy, who obviously can't even carry you into the playoffs, is going to cost you max money, and doesn't want to be there anyway, for a potential superstar, another potential good player (also a stretch 4), plus a pick, all cheap, and all under your control for years to come - that's a no brainer.

 

[pollardsvision]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Other than finishing out the contract he did choose to sign.

We have no reason to think he won't.

If he doesn't finish the season in MIN, it will be because the Timberwolves weren't happy that Love wouldn't agree to more.

 

[Sammy3469]

Not that I know of. He's just following in the footsteps of great guys like Howard and Melo. Take a ####load of cash from a franchise then hold them hostage.

Oh, come on.Crappy team gets a stud...fine, you get 7 years to make something of it. If not, it's on you. Maybe you get a Jonas out of the deal, maybe not.

I'm very bitter though because, by my calculation, the Hornets have only drafted 3 players, in the last 22 years, that had any remote potential to ever be the 1st or 2nd best player on a contender (in the eyes of any reasonable person). 2 couldn't stay healthy. 1 of those was still on the roster when the ####### team left (before NO just gave him away). We'll see about the 3rd (Vonleh). This isn't counting the whole Kobe thing.

I'm tired seeing people ##### about only getting 7 years out of one that does hit.

MIN has effectively been robbed of the value of the last season of his contract by virtue of his trade demand. Vonleh has best player on a contender potential?

MIN put themselves in this situation with the 2nd contract they have him. He could still be locked up at this point. Blame Kahn, not Love

 

[Christo]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Other than finishing out the contract he did choose to sign.

Which he's doing.

How do you know?

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Other than finishing out the contract he did choose to sign.

Which he's doing.

How do you know?

I guess I can't see into the future, but there's been no indication that he intends to hold out if he isn't traded.

 

[wadegarrett]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Other than finishing out the contract he did choose to sign.

Which he's doing.

How do you know?

It's on the internet. If it's on the internet, it's true. That's a rule.

 

[Sammy3469]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Other than finishing out the contract he did choose to sign.

Which he's doing.

How do you know?

Has he said he won't play for them this year? They gave him the option to opt out after this year. It's not his fault for saying he will use it.

 

[meatwad1]

Honestly, I'm hoping that Golden State relents and gives up Klay Thompson (is he really that special?) so we don't even have to make this deal. I want to see what we have in Wiggins. I want to see what LeBron, Irving, Wiggins, and a whole bunch of talented depth could do, because I think the bunch we have today is waaaaay better than the bunch LeBron won so many games with in his first time around, and I also think the coach will be better. Plus, I don't like it when free-agents-to-be can force their way off of a team. And I hate that he doesn't even want to opt in to his final year.

Bill Simmons wrote a piece where he mentioned the possibility of Wiggins being the Pippen to LeBron's Jordan. That is a very, very tempting idea to chase.

Right. It's an idea. People always fall in love with potential. Oddly, even when a top-5 player is sitting there staton them in the face.

Can you really be a Top Five guy and not be able to get your team into the playoffs?

It's also just an idea that Love will be a perfect complement to LeBron and Irving. He is potentially going to fit right in and space the floor. And to find out, it will only cost us the best prospect since LeBron himself, another #1 pick, and a first-rounder. Plus, we probably have to take back some bad contracts, or find another team to do it. And hope that he agrees to stick around for $20 million/year next year.

If I'm Flip Saunders, I do this trade yesterday. Trade away one guy, who obviously can't even carry you into the playoffs, is going to cost you max money, and doesn't want to be there anyway, for a potential superstar, another potential good player (also a stretch 4), plus a pick, all cheap, and all under your control for years to come - that's a no brainer.

I think the reason he hasn't done it is because it is not really on the table. I have a feeling cooler heads will prevail and Cleveland will keep their options open.

As far as good players on their roster; Irving is a pretty great player. Thompson and Varejo are great role players. Waiters has potential also. Plus, I am expecting that Wiggins guy to be pretty good. My guess is that he will average 13/6/4 with 2.5 steals and a block right off the bat. Bennett looked like he improved also during summer league, so if he can at least become a decent role player that is good for them.

Plus didn't they sign Miller and Allen for outside shooting?

If that coach is any good, I feel they are probably the team to beat in the East. They don't need Love.

 

[pollardsvision]

Allen not signed.

Gravy training to South Beach is one thing, but CLE might be a bridge too far for him

 

[Frostillicus]

I was really enjoying all the Love banter for a while but I'm all loved out.

 

[Abraham]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Other than finishing out the contract he did choose to sign.

Which he's doing.

How do you know?

I guess I can't see into the future, but there's been no indication that he intends to hold out if he isn't traded.

Well, the "uncertainty" has made him remove himself from team USA. So there is that.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Lakers won't use stretch provision on Nash. If you're going to pay Kobe, Jordan Hill and Swaggy P combined $38 mil for 2014 , what's another $10 mil?

 

[pollardsvision]

Minn could have signed Love to a 5/80 deal in 2012. Infamously, they chose not to. Love owes Minn nothing.

Other than finishing out the contract he did choose to sign.

Which he's doing.

How do you know?

I guess I can't see into the future, but there's been no indication that he intends to hold out if he isn't traded.

Well, the "uncertainty" has made him remove himself from team USA. So there is that.

Maybe he's afraid to be around when Bing and Harden throw down?

 

[TxBuckeye]

Honestly, I'm hoping that Golden State relents and gives up Klay Thompson (is he really that special?) so we don't even have to make this deal. I want to see what we have in Wiggins. I want to see what LeBron, Irving, Wiggins, and a whole bunch of talented depth could do, because I think the bunch we have today is waaaaay better than the bunch LeBron won so many games with in his first time around, and I also think the coach will be better.

This is where I am at too. I know Love is a great player, I get that. But I'd really like to see what they have in Wiggins.

 

[JohnfrmCleveland]

Honestly, I'm hoping that Golden State relents and gives up Klay Thompson (is he really that special?) so we don't even have to make this deal. I want to see what we have in Wiggins. I want to see what LeBron, Irving, Wiggins, and a whole bunch of talented depth could do, because I think the bunch we have today is waaaaay better than the bunch LeBron won so many games with in his first time around, and I also think the coach will be better.

This is where I am at too. I know Love is a great player, I get that. But I'd really like to see what they have in Wiggins.

We've been hearing about Wiggins since he was, I think, a sophmore in HS, just like we heard about LeBron. How can you trade that guy away? Is there a 2003 trade scenario - for any team - that would have made sense of trading a freshly-drafted LeBron James for anybody? Kobe Bryant, maybe?

Trading Wiggins away has the potential to make my stomach hurt for 15 years, every time I see him play for somebody else.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

Captain didn't say why Andy is unavailable..

Actually I did. Twice.

 

[Frostillicus]

Captain didn't say why Andy is unavailable..

Actually I did. Twice.

It's true.

 

[pollardsvision]

#Cav'erForLife

 

[Spartans Rule]

It's also just an idea that Love will be a perfect complement to LeBron and Irving. He is potentially going to fit right in and space the floor.

There's no potentially there. You're talking about a guy who hit 190 3-pointers at a .376 clip on a team where he was by far the biggest offensive weapon. Love being able to spread the floor is as sure a thing as LeBron continuing to play at a superstar level.

And to find out, it will only cost us the best prospect since LeBron himself

If Joel Embiid doesn't hurt his foot, "the best prospect since LeBron himself" goes 3rd in the draft this year.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Honestly, I'm hoping that Golden State relents and gives up Klay Thompson (is he really that special?) so we don't even have to make this deal. I want to see what we have in Wiggins. I want to see what LeBron, Irving, Wiggins, and a whole bunch of talented depth could do, because I think the bunch we have today is waaaaay better than the bunch LeBron won so many games with in his first time around, and I also think the coach will be better.

This is where I am at too. I know Love is a great player, I get that. But I'd really like to see what they have in Wiggins.

We've been hearing about Wiggins since he was, I think, a sophmore in HS, just like we heard about LeBron. How can you trade that guy away? Is there a 2003 trade scenario - for any team - that would have made sense of trading a freshly-drafted LeBron James for anybody? Kobe Bryant, maybe?

Trading Wiggins away has the potential to make my stomach hurt for 15 years, every time I see him play for somebody else.

I watched all 1148 minutes of Wiggins's college career. I love the kid and was quick to defend him when the CBB fans here criticized him, but he's not another LeBron. If Joel Embiid has zero stress fractures during the predraft evaluations, Wiggins isn't even the first pick in the draft.

I guess the big thing here is how patient everyone in and around the organization is about competing for a title. If the goal is to win the 2015 NBA title, trade for Love before the season starts so LeBron, Love, and Irving have a full regular season to work it out. If the goal is to win multiple titles during LeBron's prime, it's not as clear what to do. There's a non-zero chance of acquiring Love without giving up Wiggins. There's the non-zero chance of Love pursuing free agency next summer no matter what he and his people have told the Cavs.

 

[Short Corner]

Is there a way flip can assign him to the d league and make him miserable all year? Because that would be awesome.

We're talking about a guy that's get paid 15M next year. How bad could that be? Its not like he's living pay check to pay check like the rest of the guys in that league.

Playing in college gyms in McAllen Texas and not being on tv is a bit different then MsG.

than

 

[Short Corner]

Plus, I don't like it when free-agents-to-be can force their way off of a team. And I hate that he doesn't even want to opt in to his final year.

Damn jerk trying to take a little bit of control over his short career.

He had control when he signed his contract. He will have control when he's done with that contract.

When a player has brought a franchise as much continued success as Love has the Wolves

 

[Short Corner]

Lakers won't use stretch provision on Nash. If you're going to pay Kobe, Jordan Hill and Swaggy P combined $38 mil for 2014 , what's another $10 mil?

Why would they? The $10M is basically dead money any way. Take the cap hit now while you aren't doing anything anyway rather than stretch it out and handicap yourself later.

 

[Britney Spears]

Not that I know of. He's just following in the footsteps of great guys like Howard and Melo. Take a ####load of cash from a franchise then hold them hostage.

Oh, come on.Crappy team gets a stud...fine, you get 7 years to make something of it. If not, it's on you. Maybe you get a Jonas out of the deal, maybe not.

I'm very bitter though because, by my calculation, the Hornets have only drafted 3 players, in the last 22 years, that had any remote potential to ever be the 1st or 2nd best player on a contender (in the eyes of any reasonable person). 2 couldn't stay healthy. 1 of those was still on the roster when the ####### team left (before NO just gave him away). We'll see about the 3rd (Vonleh). This isn't counting the whole Kobe thing.

I'm tired seeing people ##### about only getting 7 years out of one that does hit.

MIN has effectively been robbed of the value of the last season of his contract by virtue of his trade demand.

Disagree unless Love stops playing in games.

 

[Britney Spears]

It's also just an idea that Love will be a perfect complement to LeBron and Irving. He is potentially going to fit right in and space the floor.

There's no potentially there. You're talking about a guy who hit 190 3-pointers at a .376 clip on a team where he was by far the biggest offensive weapon. Love being able to spread the floor is as sure a thing as LeBron continuing to play at a superstar level.

And to find out, it will only cost us the best prospect since LeBron himself

If Joel Embiid doesn't hurt his foot, "the best prospect since LeBron himself" goes 3rd in the draft this year.

Also there have been other better prospects since LeBron, right? Anthony Davis?

 

[Abraham]

It's also just an idea that Love will be a perfect complement to LeBron and Irving. He is potentially going to fit right in and space the floor.

There's no potentially there. You're talking about a guy who hit 190 3-pointers at a .376 clip on a team where he was by far the biggest offensive weapon. Love being able to spread the floor is as sure a thing as LeBron continuing to play at a superstar level.

And to find out, it will only cost us the best prospect since LeBron himself

If Joel Embiid doesn't hurt his foot, "the best prospect since LeBron himself" goes 3rd in the draft this year.

Also there have been other better prospects since LeBron, right? Anthony Davis?

Only Oden.

 

[Spartans Rule]

It's also just an idea that Love will be a perfect complement to LeBron and Irving. He is potentially going to fit right in and space the floor.

There's no potentially there. You're talking about a guy who hit 190 3-pointers at a .376 clip on a team where he was by far the biggest offensive weapon. Love being able to spread the floor is as sure a thing as LeBron continuing to play at a superstar level.

And to find out, it will only cost us the best prospect since LeBron himself

If Joel Embiid doesn't hurt his foot, "the best prospect since LeBron himself" goes 3rd in the draft this year.

Also there have been other better prospects since LeBron, right? Anthony Davis?

Only Oden.

I'd say Durant, too. He had a ridiculous college season, and him vs. Oden was pretty heavily debated.

Rose came in with a ton of hype as well.

 

[Abraham]

I'm talking about guys that had a long term eye on them. Lebron and Oden were being eyed from the time they were 15 as being superstars at the highest level. If I were to pick a third guy for the group it would actually be OJ Mayo.

 

[pollardsvision]

Davis was a better prospect than Wiggins. Davis was on par with a healthy Embiid.

 

[Abraham]

Davis was a better prospect than Wiggins. Davis was on par with a healthy Embiid.

I don't disagree that by draft day Davis was a more highly regarded prospect than wiggins. I'm talking about the buildup in earlier years. Davis wasn't even a top college prospect until 10 months before he made it to Kentucky.

 

[pollardsvision]

Davis was a better prospect than Wiggins. Davis was on par with a healthy Embiid.

I don't disagree that by draft day Davis was a more highly regarded prospect than wiggins. I'm talking about the buildup in earlier years. Davis wasn't even a top college prospect until 10 months before he made it to Kentucky.

Ah, gotcha.

 

[Spartans Rule]

I'm talking about guys that had a long term eye on them. Lebron and Oden were being eyed from the time they were 15 as being superstars at the highest level. If I were to pick a third guy for the group it would actually be OJ Mayo.

Fair enough.

Of course, how highly regarded Wiggins was at 15 isn't super relevant now, and Oden and Mayo are proof of that.

 

[thecatch]

You guys are forgetting about how much hype Blake received.

 

[Britney Spears]

Davis was a better prospect than Wiggins. Davis was on par with a healthy Embiid.

I don't disagree that by draft day Davis was a more highly regarded prospect than wiggins. I'm talking about the buildup in earlier years. Davis wasn't even a top college prospect until 10 months before he made it to Kentucky.

Ok this makes sense. I don't follow at all until guys are about to be drafted. Coming into the draft, Wiggins didn't seem THAT highly regarded compared to some other guys from previous years.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

Davis was a better prospect than Wiggins. Davis was on par with a healthy Embiid.

I don't disagree that by draft day Davis was a more highly regarded prospect than wiggins. I'm talking about the buildup in earlier years. Davis wasn't even a top college prospect until 10 months before he made it to Kentucky.

He was going to go to Cleveland State

 

[JohnfrmCleveland]

It's also just an idea that Love will be a perfect complement to LeBron and Irving. He is potentially going to fit right in and space the floor.

There's no potentially there. You're talking about a guy who hit 190 3-pointers at a .376 clip on a team where he was by far the biggest offensive weapon. Love being able to spread the floor is as sure a thing as LeBron continuing to play at a superstar level.

Everything is potential. LeBron and Wade didn't play well together that first year. I don't know how LeBron will mesh with Irving. Love might be unhappy being the second or third option, like Bosh. It's just a whole lot to gamble on Love fitting in, liking Cleveland enough to sign long-term, and winning it all. If this doesn't lead to a championship, it's not worth it. And we already know he doesn't like Cleveland without LeBron, so he's got one foot out the door already.

I saw LeBron be very successful without a stretch 4. We had two guys clogging the paint, with LeBron driving and kicking to mostly sub-par shooters, and we won a ton of games. Now, we have more and better shooters, more guys that can create their own shot, and LeBron has gotten better in every phase of the game. I don't know if I want to add another shooter that doesn't play much defense to that formula while simultaneously ruining our depth. Plus, when we start paying Love max money, we'll also be paying LeBron the max and Irving the mini-max, so we'll be capped out for years. Houston was worried enough about that kind of cap trouble to let Parsons walk.

If Joel Embiid doesn't hurt his foot, "the best prospect since LeBron himself" goes 3rd in the draft this year.

Jordan was drafted third, too, right after Sam Bowie. Big men are overvalued. Anyway, he's a big man with a bad foot, so he went in the right spot in the draft.

 

[JohnfrmCleveland]

Davis was a better prospect than Wiggins. Davis was on par with a healthy Embiid.

I don't disagree that by draft day Davis was a more highly regarded prospect than wiggins. I'm talking about the buildup in earlier years. Davis wasn't even a top college prospect until 10 months before he made it to Kentucky.

He was going to go to Cleveland State

Is that true?

 

[Captain Quinoa]

Davis was a better prospect than Wiggins. Davis was on par with a healthy Embiid.

I don't disagree that by draft day Davis was a more highly regarded prospect than wiggins. I'm talking about the buildup in earlier years. Davis wasn't even a top college prospect until 10 months before he made it to Kentucky.

He was going to go to Cleveland State

Is that true?

Davis, the 6-foot-10 power forward from Kentucky who will be the No. 1 pick in theNBA draft on Thursday, was on Cleveland State's radar long before he hit the national stage and won a national championship. Of course, back in the 2008-09 season, he was a 6-3 sophomore point guard at Chicago's Perspectives Charter School, an OK player on a bad team.

"Our motto in recruiting is, 'Leave no stone unturned,'" Gee explained.

So when Randall Montgomery, a high school basketball official in the Chicago area who happens to be the father of CSU's Jeremy Montgomery, called Gee to recommend Davis, the coach followed up with a phone call to Perspectives coach Cortez Hale and a visit to his campus to see Davis.

"I didn't think he was outstanding," Gee recalled, "but thought he had a chance to get to our level.

"When I come back the following year he's 6 foot 8."

But through Davis' junior season, Cleveland State was not just the leading contender for Davis' services, it was the only school in the running.

"He was still kind of under the radar," Gee said of Davis. "We were doing really well in terms of having great discussions with the high school coach. Matter of fact, the high school coach was so engaged with us he had planned on driving his team here for camp and to have a campus tour. That high school, obviously, didn't have a lot of college players, let alone Division I players."

The plan was for Davis and his teammates to come to Cleveland in the summer of 2010 so the Vikings could get a closer look and evaluation. But between the end of his basketball season and the beginning of the camp, Davis was recruited by the Meanstreets AAU team in Chicago. Suddenly the kid no one had seen was getting national exposure -- and scholarship offers from teams like Kentucky, Syracuse and Ohio State.

"When it hit that level, I knew it was over," Gee said. "Then he went on to grow even more, and he had a phenomenal spring and summer.

"To make a long story short, we never talked to him again."

Of course, Davis always brought up Cleveland State in his interviews back then, telling reporters he thought that's where he was headed. Until he wasn't.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Omg