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On it's way to being fantastic again.

These free agent moves are finally resulting in real challengers. It's been a pain to watch Le'bron manufacture Team after Team while other free agents make money grabbbing decisions! Finally! This year is really getting me excited about the League.Chris Paul to Houston makes another very good team in the West.

My hope is that the Utah dude goes to the Celtics! If he does, that makes the Celts as good as the Rockets in terms of the Conference leader they are chasing...If the Celtics also get George? The East is theirs! Man that would be great!

paul/harden is a nothing burger...

In reply to Ayenmol

Offseason always good...regular season sucks

In reply to ray

Truth. The highlight of the NBA season aside from the Finals is the offseason

In reply to ray

That's the point! For a while it has been Le'Bron strengthenning his team and everyone else taking max contracts. This year guys are actually going to the best fit THAT ALLOWS THEM TO COMPETE!

Is Houston going to take down the Warriors? Doubtful. But this makes them a more formidable team in the manner that is needed to compete.

What if Paul George joins them? That is a real possibility!

What if Hayward goes to Boston? And joins with George there? Reports are that the Celtics have been in talks with Indy. That finally puts real competition in Le'Brons way.

I've seen guys on here go crazy over nothing moves past off season, this is the Season to get exited....my opinion, but i think it's indisputable.

Hayward chooses the Celtics!

Not sure they can take down the Cavs quite yet.

George to OKC, well not sure if that changes much of anything in the West. Maybe the Thunder move to being a 4 or 5 seed now, and $$ wise they probably are improved. But good on them for trying something.

Hayward to Celtics is a good move for him. And it keeps Boston firmly entrenched as the second best team in the east.

Curry getting max and Durant signing at a discount keeps the Warriors in position to maintain their core (and maybe get a couple more pieces) for the next couple years.

In reply to Tryangle

a likely "stopover" on his way to LA Lakers next season...George wont' stay in OKC...small market...

Don't be surprised if Lebron ends up on the Lakers as well next year. Practically all of his business ventures (and one of his mansions) are in LA...

In reply to SirGarny

... and you have a feeling that Magic and LeBron would get along great, too.

Tell you what though... if I was a decent upcoming free agent in '18 and LeBron went to the Lakers, I'm immediately trying to get to a good East team (Wizards?) because that conference would be ripe for the taking.

Just read that Celtics may be trying to trade for Marc Gasol. Now that should make for some intrigue.

Meanwhile....my Raps re sign Ibaka and Lowry

PJ Tucker to Houston?

They've essentially kept the core of the team that badly underperforms in the playoffs. Patrick Patterson to OKC is good for the Raps.

Hopefully we'll get a major piece in this off season but I don't see too many out there. Otto Porter Jr (sharp shooter) and JaMychal Green (defensive specialist) are the only ones out there of any interest IMO

In reply to imusic

Nets made Otto an offer of 100mil over 4 years...DC can match though

Just saw a report that he may sign Nets offer sheet...but I think DC can match

Wizards already said they'd match any offer, I think the Kings were interested in Porter earlier on.

imusic, I fear your Raps are going to fall for the same line that doomed the Hawks before they realized their team wasn't equipped to overcome the Cavs.

In reply to Tryangle

Yup

But is not just the Cavs. We won't be able to overcome Boston either. And Milwaukee comin.

Watch TWolves in the West. I think this year they'll make a push, get to the playoffs, and make the 2nd round....assuming they don't meet GSW in the first round.

In reply to imusic

Like we aint got no money to spend. It gine be a medium-ish 3 of Ibaka, Demar and Kyle, plus one or two vets (probably get rid of Corey) and nuff youts. The thinking has to be at least one or two of the young guys turn into real NBA players. My bet is on Jacob and Delon. Plus is Bruno time. man did the D-league finals MVP , he tall as rass an can shoot the 3. he should be playing at least 10 if not 15 a night next season
Still think we need a capable 3 point shooter hopefully like a CJ Miles or a Meeks on the roster but I think we have to clear salary in order to be able use one of them exceptions to take another player

In reply to imusic

Cavs, Boston, Wizards and Milwaukee and Raptors. That is the east this year. Rest in rebuild or permanently shitey mode like the Knicks

In reply to defeyeant

Yup. Will be interesting to see what happens with the Knicks. Say what you want...but they have some loyal fans. Reminds me of Maple Leaf fans

In reply to imusic

Knicks holding steady right now...maybe they can get someone for Melo...and then look to the draft and some free agents in the future

I think Meeks went to the Wizards (guess my Magic didn't want to risk the investment as he's injury prone, but whatever).

Would be good for the league if the Bucks and Wolves take bigger strides this season. Give some hope to the smaller city franchises.

Sacramento may be a sneaky team to watch for, oddly enough, with their young talent, a good draft. Going after Randolph and George Hill is the sign of a team that wants to make an impact right now as opposed to one that should probably be waiting one more season. Unless those moves are just to try and avoid throwing everybody into the fire right away?

In reply to Tryangle

Yep Kings have lots of potential this year. They probably had the best draft of any team this year and the vet pickups are under-rated. Plus they already had Hield, Cauley-Stein and that Haitian cat

In reply to defeyeant

On further thought, worst case scenario is if that team struggles, they could trade Z-Bo to a team that may need an injury replacement or is on the cusp of the playoffs?

Man the West is going to be crazy.
Warriors reloaded
Spurs standing firm
Rockets adding Paul
Clippers lose Paul but resign Blake long-term
Jazz of course are the ones in a spot of bother
Thunder adding George
Grizzlies probably stepping back
Blazers holding on, tenuously
Nuggets adding Milsap
Pelicans a full year with Davis/Cousins
Wolves with maybe their own Big 3
Mavs will try hard for Dirk
and the aforementioned Kings

In reply to Tryangle

PJ Tucker gone to the Rockets is a real good move for them...and him

In reply to Tryangle

The West stacked.
I still think the Pelicans double big man thing wont work out without good wings. And I feel they waste that $126 mil on Jrue Holiday

Memphis like the Raptors of the West, they get as far as they going to get, time to try something else

Blazers in a holding pattern

Wolves need to get Wiggins to play some defense

Mavs wont make playoffs, neither will Denver,
Kings and Lakers need a few years to get it going but will be interesting young teams to watch.

Houston and Warriors is top two and then Spurs, Clips and Thunder

In reply to imusic

Considering how many people the Rockets had to unload to get Paul, everybody would be welcomed with open arms, heh

Has there been a top 10 free agent go to the raptors, ever? Toronto is going nowhere!

No one has mentioned Phily. I know they cant stay healthy. But these guys are going to make some noise next year. Embid or not.

In reply to Ayenmol

They better, all that tanking over recent years needs to bear fruit sooner or later. Props to the Sixers fans for putting up with the futility for so long.

But yes, this year is one where they should push for the playoffs without a doubt.

I think Philly will be interesting to watch but will still be tough for them to get to the playoffs even in a weakened east this year. They have the talent but they still need the seasoning so 18-19 is where I expect them to make noise

my east playoff teams this year in no particular order
Cavs
Raps
Celtics
Wizards
Bucks
Hornets
Heat
Pistons

Feel the Sixers will win about 37 and just miss out on playoffs

Pacers, Bulls and Hawks back to rebuilding and aint really sure what Orlando doing at all and less said about dem New year teams......

I was hoping the Heat would get Hayward, but he decided on the Celtics.

At first I thought he was a Mormon and would not be able to cope with the glitter of South Beach.
I was told he is Catholic and it seems that he is making a decision that best fits his need as an NBA player and the needs of his family. Can't blame the Heat for trying.

If the Heat signs the guys from last year Johnson, et al, I am not sure they will be as good or even better than the latter part of last season.

If they are just as good I see them as being #4 or #5 in the East. Any thoughts??

In reply to defeyeant

Fired the old GM, so that's a start. So hopefully they can build a proper team in the near future. Right now though, more futility is going to come.

Maybe this is the year to finally tank good and proper, although I think Vogel is a good coach and I don't want to risk him getting fired.

But we'll probably finish above the Nets and end up picking 4th as the ping pong balls don't like us.

In reply to Tryangle

Orlando lost me when they traded for Ibaka then a few weeks later gave ridulous money to Biyombo while still having a slew of other big men last year. This also got to be the year they give the reins to Aaron Gordon and decide if Efrid Payton is a NBA starter (I would argue he isnt) though

In reply to defeyeant

I dont know bout all that. The NBA is a star driven League. Outside of the Cavs and Celtics no one else is getting a sniff of the Eastern Conference finals. The 6ers are certainly interesting and if they are to count their tanking a success, then in this weak conference, they had better show something with all the young talent on the floor.

In reply to defeyeant

Yep... and again the GM was deservedly canned for such failed moves. In the end, Oladipo for Terrence Ross. Whoopee.

Knick sign Hardaway Jr to 71 mil offer sheet? Is he really worth that on today's market? So Hardaway Jr and Porzingis to lead the Knicks to the promised land?

In reply to defeyeant

Knicks just rebuilding...anyway, East is weak...who knows what's possible

In reply to defeyeant

btw...80% of players not worth their contracts...but it aint my money

In reply to ray

only 80% ya being generous lol

In reply to embsallie

Hayward to the Celtics doesnt really matter. i am kind of glad the Heat didnt pay him $30 mil. i know the salaries are inflated, but for $30 mil i want KD, Antonio Davis or even Demarcus Cousins. Heath will finish about 5th or 6th in the East. They might also try to trade for a whale. who knows

Agree with ray. This is the market. Middle-tier players gonna get paid big bucks. didn't the Heat just sign that Olynyk guy to big bucks?

Just saw that the Spurs picked up Rudy Gay. Not going to put them over the top or anything, but seems like a useful move.

In reply to Tryangle

Spurs have mostly spent wisely
Olynk got 50 mil, Hardaway sheet offer is 71 mil, New Orleans signed Holiday for like 16 mil.
Its great for the ones who sign early but then there will be a bunch of useful guys who are looking for minimum deals later on when the money dries up just to stay in the league.

In reply to Tryangle

That's a REALLY ODD one to me.

Rudy Gay isn't exactly a proponent, far less executor of "team ball"

So it will be very interesting to see if he will adapt and fit into Pop's "team ball" concept

OR

He's just a bargaining chip for the Spurs


But if Rudy Gay can actually embrace and execute the concept of sharing the ball, he will be a dangerous player to have

In reply to ray

That's why I watch only marquis match-ups during the regular season....

Too many "1 and done's" collecting a 7 figure income...and left college averaging less than 10 points/rebounds/assists per game***and can't play basic defense...

compared to 20 years ago, the skill level of NBA players as a whole has diminished

In reply to SirGarny

The game's definitely changed.
Big men don't post up, they spread out and shoot from distance.
The pace has gone up a bit, but efficiency has gone down.
Everybody wants two-way swingmen, but many swingmen have deficiencies in their game (or mental outlook) that makes them more liabilities than anything (Jeff Green, come on down).
And on top of everything, when things go rough, employ Hack-a-Poor Free Throw shooter tactics.

In reply to Tryangle



Was saying the other day remember when if ya did a 7 footer ya was set for life? when the motto was 'you cant teach size' so nuff men would be on rosters for years just cause they were big?

and when guys without fixed positions, like undersized guards and power forwards were tweeners and would have a hard time staying in the league?

what a difference 10 years make

In reply to SirGarny

The $$$ is a result of numbers

There are an average of 14 players on an NBA Roster

Compare that to the NHL roster of 23
MLB roster of 40 (25 of whom are active)
NFL roster of 53


NBA and NHL teams play an 82 game regular season each with an average attendance of 18K per game
MLB teams play 162 games in the regular season with an average attendance of 30K per game
NFL teams play 16 games in the regular season with average attendance of $70K per game

NBA and NHL are closest in terms of numbers....except...the NBA employs 9 fewer players per team than the NHL

That doesn't even factor in the TV deals and that's where the big $$ comes in.

All athletes in pro sport bring a specialized skill set. You may say it's diminished....but it's the reality of the game. People PAY to see THE ATHLETES. Not the owners. Not the administrators. Not the coaches. The athletes' remuneration is reflected in that demand.

So don't begrudge a reliever in baseball that comes into the game for 5 pitches in the 7th inning of a game and gets paid US$7M a season for doing that. That pitcher has a specialized skill set that is NEEDED by the team and is paid accordingly.

Same for the Ivica Zubac's of the NBA

In reply to imusic


I don't disagree with anything you've posted and I'm fully aware of the numerical dynamic

But think about this...

with the exception of a small handful of players (Kobe, Lebron, McGrady, KG..guys who came out of high school who were talented enough to start for an NBA team), the majority of the one-and-done lack basic basketball skills.

Now a lot of 19 year old kids think they have the same, once-in-a generation talent like the aforementioned players....and they clearly don't!

I happen to agree with Kenny Smith's reasoning as to [b]whether or not a player should leave school early...

1) Are you a first team All American? First team All Conference?
2) Are you at least the top player at your position within your conference?
3) Have you averaged the mind-boggling points / assists/ rebounds for your position?
4) Are you an undeniable specialist in some area? (scorer, rebounder, defender)
5) Can you guard your position in the basic sense?
6) Have you dominated your position at your current level? At least the top 5 in your position?

There are more but I can't think of the rest currently....

Most of these players can answer in the affirmative while they are still in high school.
Only a few (less than 5) can answer in the affirmative after 1 year of college.

I guess the days of players staying on college for 4 years are over ...Patrick Ewing, Tim Duncan, Alonzo Mourning, Grant Hill...all dinosaurs.

Lots of players in the NBA Hall Of Fame or are headed there left school early...but I can vouch for their skill level when they left school.

Allen Iverson..best guard in the country while at Georgetown (sophomore)....he checked boxes 1-6
Isaih Thomas...best guard while at Indiana..national champion..boxes 1,2,4,5 &6
Chris Webber--Michigan sophomore...boxes 1-6

Those 3 left after their sophomore years...

feel free to add to the list...

In reply to SirGarny

Is it better for a player to "develop" after 4 years in College and be "NBA ready"?

OR

Sign the player after their first year of college to the NBA and develop them in the league against MEN?


Let's take Doug McDermott who played 4 years of college ball and was drafted by the Bulls in 2014. He was 22 years old at the time

Remember BYU's Jimmer Fredette? He was drafted by the Kings with plenty hype only to be eclipsed by one and done's Boogie Cousins and Tyreke Evans.

Tyreke was 19 when he was drafted by the Kings. Fredette was 22 when he was drafted

Fredette stayed 4 years in college. Tyreke had 1 year in college. He played MAN ball from age 19. Same for Boogie.

why then would NBA teams wait for a player to "develop" for 4 years in college when they could have them much earlier?

Is Jimmer Fredette a more fundamentally sound basketball player than Tyreke Evans? Maybe

Is he a better player than Tyreke? Hell no! Not even close.

Same happened to Laettner, Hurley, etc.

Like everything else, there are exceptions to the rule. Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler played 4 years in college before being drafted in the NBA. But they're very much the exception.

In reply to imusic

Some players are NBA ready well before the 4 years. I noted a few examples in my previous post.

There's no guarantee of NBA success after 4 years of college or NBA failure after only one year. I didn't intimate that at all in the previous post.

What I did suggest is that the majority of one-and-done's are not even the best players in the NCAA! Not the best at their positions. (there are many exceptions)

Many of them end up in the D-League and are only NBA ready looong after they're drafted! Even then, they're not starters.

Look...talent is talent...one either has it or doesn't have it. 7 years of college would not have made Hurley or Leattner better players. But if you're a McDonalds All American high school talent and in one year of college ball your average dropped from 30 points a game to 10, that's a good indication that maybe you're not ready for the pros. (not to mention the previously listed 6 qualifiers)

And that's the point I'm trying to make. Do well at one level before looking to advance to the next

In reply to SirGarny

But NBA scouts and management are drafting on potential and skill set

4 years of college ball fundamentals does NOT substitute for the athleticism that NBA execs are looking for

With the advent of the 3 ball...that MAY change slightly as pure shooters become more of a commodity, but you're still going to need that NBA "body" and be athletic enough to survive in that environment.

In reply to SirGarny

Here's the other perspective:

Make the $$$ NOW while you can

Who knows what injury or unfortunate life circumstance can befall you?

And if the NBA wants you.....why stay? especially under the extremely HYPOCRITICAL NCAA rules where everybody and they mama can make $$ but the student athlete? Nah

Statistically one and dones have done far better than 4 year grads.

NCAA ball is just a scam to basically pad these schools on the back of kids who would be better off getting real pro training and doing extra classes to buffer themselves up.

In reply to imusic

And that's why if you're a prospect, you better know for sure you're a lottery pick, etc.

The one-year-of-college thing is somewhat bogus, it's well-intentioned but is kind of pointless. If you have opportunity to make money and feed your family, but you get injured in your freshman year and your future earnings nosedive.

A NBA prospect can always get a college education while making salary. Like Commie said, it's just a way to make extra bucks for the NCAA.

In reply to imusic

Right on target. No disagreement there. If an owner is willing to pay me half a million to be average, why not take it? A lot of these players come from humble beginnings.



Perhaps the biggest fallacy / set of lies in team sports. I remember Chris Webber stating his jersey was selling for $100 after his freshman year at Michigan...and he was seeing none of it!

In reply to SirGarny

If I recall correctly, Ed O'Bannon eventually won his lawsuit on college athletes not profiting from their likenesses being used in marketing/video games etc. Don't know if any cash has been paid out yet.

Cause most of the guys who stay in for 4 years arent that good to begin with anyways. Nowadays you see a 4 year player and wonder what wrong with him

In reply to defeyeant

Yup

Off topic a lil bit......ah see nuff talk about RJ Barrett

I nearly drive off the road listening to vancouver sports radio this morning...

first of all they call him JR Barrett

Then they doh know he is Rowan Barrett son

Matter of fact, they doh know who Rowan Barrett is


Then they sayin "JR" Barrett could be the "Gretzky of basketball"

Then they say "JR" Barrett is hyped by people in the NBA to be the first pick of the 2019 NBA draft which would make him the first Canadian to be the first pick in the NBA draft! WTF????

Then dey sayin that Steve Nash is his Godfather and they not sure how that happened. Maybe Steve Nash was his idol?

Then they say Basketball Canada did good work in developing these players and is because of Steve Nash.

Dese forkahs on Vancouver sports radio only know bout hockey. Maybe some golf. That's it. Forkane July and the radio dominated by Canucks talk.

OK...rant over.

RJ Barrett is a nice player on the real tho. One to watch.

In reply to imusic

Hey congrats to Canada on their first FIBA medal, I guess it'll take time for mainstream Canada to really get into a team sport other than ice hockey (or the Grey Cup).

In reply to imusic

wha de rass?? an ya say Sports radio?? man no! nuh wonder the Grizzlies left


I aint even see the game. Wanted to see Barrett and the fella from St Catharines Abu Kigab

In reply to defeyeant

Is hockey and very little else out here.

Dis is de sports pecking order out here in Sportsignorantcouver:

1-10 Hockey
11 - Seattle Seahawks
12 Blue Jays (dem real like dey blue jays sah. Dey does sell out Safeco Field in Seattle when the Jays come to town and the Seattle people does well vex)
13 - Whitecaps (MLS)
14 - BC Lions (CFL)

WTF??? KNICKS SIGN TIM HARDAWAY JR TO A US$71M CONTRACT?

HUH?

In reply to imusic

Maybe DeGrasse will have another great Worlds and the sports radio will give him some attention?

In reply to Tryangle

They will for sure. DeGrasse is a big star in Ontario in particular. Western Canada....not so much

Actually...that's unfair. He participated in a track meet in Victoria a few weeks ago and was mobbed by kids after the race. So maybe he's a big deal out here too

Back on the NCAA bit for a sec:

If I'm Olympiacos or Barcelona, do I have a chance to trump the NCAA model, sign a 17 year old American, maybe get a 2 year deal out of him, he can declare for the NBA draft etc, he's gonna get paid and get enough exposure (it may/not? be below that of NCAA Div 1) to keep NBA teams focused on him?

Or would I need to dole out serious major bank in the first place?

In reply to imusic


Knicks going from worse to abominable ...

In reply to SirGarny

Bet they dont get one decent young player in return for Melo