NBA 2019-2020

Sarni

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Thats 3 years away though. GM and coach will have probably been fired by then.
2 years. 2021 free agent class will be amazing. Could include Giannis, LeBron as well.

Oh you mean their picks. Yeah 2022 the earliest one.
 

ZDwyr

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It's both exciting and nerve-wracking wanting another franchise to fail miserably.
 

Sarni

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It's both exciting and nerve-wracking wanting another franchise to fail miserably.
To be fair Kawhi and George will probably both get supermaxes in 2021 from Clippers and be still good for 2-3 years. Kawhi is only 28 and George is 29. At 30 and 31 they will still have a few years left at the top.

They're both from LA and I don't think they'll go from Clippers to Lakers. They're there to stay. Some have rumored that Clippers might try to also get Giannis in 2021 but I'm not sure how likely that would be cap wise. I'm sure Lakers and Knicks will be trying to get Giannis as well but I hope he stays with Milwaukee his whole career.
 

ZDwyr

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Yeah, assuming they hold up injury-wise. If the OKC media are correct then George won't be fit until a few months into the season. If his shoulder issues stick around, and Kawhi's quad degenerates, they might not be great longevity deals.
 

ZDwyr

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Also, the real discussion about being a terrible teammate needs to be directed more at Paul. Clearly not a fun guy to play with and a real chore but his advanced-stat friendly style means analysts and fans overlook it.
 

ZDwyr

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not really. they took on a huge contract too
Please. Houston attached two firsts to CP3 (who expires a year before Russ) to get Westbrook.

If it was a straight swap then Russ is a neutral asset. If OKC had to attach he was a negative (like Zach Lowe and others believed, which was crazy). Houston having to attach that shows either Russ was a positive asset or CP3 is a ridiculously negative asset - or a combo of both.
 

Sarni

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Now I get to ask how do the Rockets and Clippers work with 2 elite PGs and SFs respectively?
Not much of a problem for Clippers. Both can play at 2, and I’d say both could play at 4 in the modern NBA. George does not really need the ball in his hands, Kawhi is good off ball too. Both tremendous defenders, both very good shooters, both adequate playmakers. They are literally perfect for each other.

No idea about Rockets. Harden and Westbrook are horrific off ball.
 

Sarni

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Please. Houston attached two firsts to CP3 (who expires a year before Russ) to get Westbrook.

If it was a straight swap then Russ is a neutral asset. If OKC had to attach he was a negative (like Zach Lowe and others believed, which was crazy). Houston having to attach that shows either Russ was a positive asset or CP3 is a ridiculously negative asset - or a combo of both.
Those two firsts despite being so well in the future are quite valuable too. Rockets aren’t likely to be good in 2024 as that’s basically straight after Harden and Westbrook expire and they have zero young talent.
 

Eboue

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Please. Houston attached two firsts to CP3 (who expires a year before Russ) to get Westbrook.

If it was a straight swap then Russ is a neutral asset. If OKC had to attach he was a negative (like Zach Lowe and others believed, which was crazy). Houston having to attach that shows either Russ was a positive asset or CP3 is a ridiculously negative asset - or a combo of both.
i think chris paul has more value than russell westbrook to most teams. i also think russell westbrook had more value to houston than chris paul. the rockets could see it wasnt working and morey loves to chase stars. i dont think this will work either but it shakes things up. meanwhile i bet presti can get a couple of decent players or a late first for paul. so he really gets 3 firsts for westbrook and moves off the long term money. thus, presti is good, morey took a chance, westbrook still has very little value.
 

syrian_scholes

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Please. Houston attached two firsts to CP3 (who expires a year before Russ) to get Westbrook.

If it was a straight swap then Russ is a neutral asset. If OKC had to attach he was a negative (like Zach Lowe and others believed, which was crazy). Houston having to attach that shows either Russ was a positive asset or CP3 is a ridiculously negative asset - or a combo of both.
It's because Westbrook is much younger.
 

MrMarcello

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What does this even mean? Did you watch the Westbrook/Durant OKC team? Westbrook regularly deferred to Durant. He had no issue with it.
My apologies if that upset you. I didn't watch OKC but seem to recall plenty of chatter and highlights, perhaps exaggerated, on Westbrook jacking up shots in the fourth quarter, going hero-mode, while Durant was on the floor. If that wasn't the reality then my bad.
 

ZDwyr

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My apologies if that upset you. I didn't watch OKC but seem to recall plenty of chatter and highlights, perhaps exaggerated, on Westbrook jacking up shots in the fourth quarter, going hero-mode, while Durant was on the floor. If that wasn't the reality then my bad.
Sorry for being rude. I just get tired of debating this point. There were definitely instances and moments where that happened but it has been exaggerated. Also, while Russ gets a lot of the blame for that it often happened because Durant wasn't willing to take the shot or make the play. Durant doesn't have an aggressive/confident personality like Westbrook so he often went into his shell and Westbrook just picked up the slack.

You're right that since KD left (but not last season) Westbrook has been doing what he wants. He'll have to continue to transition out of that mindset as he was doing with George. He has a great friendship with Harden though. I think they'll make it work.
 

adexkola

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Not much of a problem for Clippers. Both can play at 2, and I’d say both could play at 4 in the modern NBA. George does not really need the ball in his hands, Kawhi is good off ball too. Both tremendous defenders, both very good shooters, both adequate playmakers. They are literally perfect for each other.

No idea about Rockets. Harden and Westbrook are horrific off ball.
Makes sense.
 

edcunited1878

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Can't wait to see who points more at the other player for not playing defense.

I think the Rockets went backwards especially with Brodie's huge salary.
 

Organic Potatoes

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I thought the much-anticipated free agency season was going to disappoint after KD’s injury. I was very, very wrong...
 

sidsutton

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With the West shaping up to be so tough next year, perhaps they thought the best ability is availability. Can’t have your #2 guy missing so many games, losing playoff seeding and/or burning out your #1 guy to keep the team afloat. Westbrook is durable and brings an intensity that is lacking apart from Tucker. Who knows how it all ends but can’t wait for next season to find out!