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SportingCP96

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That team could be awesome very soon. They are already underperforming this year compared to where they should be, no excuse to not be around .500 even without Zion with guys like Jrue, Ball, Ingram, Redick, Favors and Hart in your rotation. I know a lot of them have been in and out of the lineup due to injuries but when it clicks, they could be very very good. Still think they will be close to playoffs if Zion stays healthy until the end of season. Probably around 40-42 wins.
Ya can see then sneaking in with the last seed in the west if Zion stays healthy. Whatever gentry did with Lonzo is working because he looks like the player he was in college and for the first time since he’s been in the league is showing good development.

Will be a big fight for the playoff spots because your Portland has been on a pretty good run lately with Dame putting up insane numbers in big wins vs LA and Utah.
 

SportingCP96

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When the next star becomes available it’s going to be super interesting. The usual teams like LA and Boston probably won’t be mentioned in the conversation anymore as they don’t have real tradeable assets, but the smaller market teams actually have loads of assets - like OKC or New Orleans. Will they try to go for someone like Beal?

Somewhere in the middle are probably the Knicks. Enough assets as their picks are always good because they always suck, big market but have been so underwhelming for so long that I’m not even sure major stars would re-sign there.
If NY could get one of the top 3 picks this year and get one of Wiseman, Edwards, or LaMelo (I personally prefer LaMelo because the Knicks NEED a PG like bread needs butter) paired up with RJ and Mitchell Robinson then they really start to have a good young core of players that might intrigue a all star caliber player of joining the Knicks. (this assuming the cancer that is Dolan does not feck it up which he probably will).

I know it is probably unlikely but if I would throw a cheeky offer at Minnesota for Towns. Morris, DSJ, Ellington and maybe someone else or even one of the Mavs picks and see if they bite. KAT is a Knicks fan and grew up near by and paired up with whoever we draft (assuming it’s a top 3 pick) and RJ and Mitch and things could start too look pretty good.


*Then I woke up and realized none of this is going to happen but hey a man could dream right.
 

Sarni

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If NY could get one of the top 3 picks this year and get one of Wiseman, Edwards, or LaMelo (I personally prefer LaMelo because the Knicks NEED a PG like bread needs butter) paired up with RJ and Mitchell Robinson then they really start to have a good young core of players that might intrigue a all star caliber player of joining the Knicks. (this assuming the cancer that is Dolan does not feck it up which he probably will).

I know it is probably unlikely but if I would throw a cheeky offer at Minnesota for Towns. Morris, DSJ, Ellington and maybe someone else or even one of the Mavs picks and see if they bite. KAT is a Knicks fan and grew up near by and paired up with whoever we draft (assuming it’s a top 3 pick) and RJ and Mitch and things could start too look pretty good.


*Then I woke up and realized none of this is going to happen but hey a man could dream right.
Well you can’t pair Wiseman with Robinson, and I don’t really think Robinson belongs to a big three young core anyway. Barrett might but a long, long way for him as well - he’s had a very underwhelming and historically inefficient first season too, it has to be said.

That Towns offer you are proposing here is ridiculously bad man. Morris is an expiring and worthless for a team not competing for playoffs, Ellington is almost dead money and Smith’s value is maybe a good second. I’m not even sure that offer would get you expiring Drummond. Unless you also want to include 4+ picks in there (and not Mavs picks as their value is very low too), and add Knox and Robinson, there is nothing to contemplate here.
 

Sarni

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Embarrassing that contenders in a major market are trading starters to get under the cap for the new billionaire owner.
Especially as they aren’t even that deep into luxury tax and the money from distribution is going to be below $1million this year so almost zero gain. I know they’ve been hit pretty hard by Morey’s comments but trading Capela, who’s on a good contract and one of the top defensive centers in the league, is pathetic. Even if they get Covington they’ll still be short in the playoffs. But then again it’s the same organization that traded Paul AND two potentially very good first round picks for Westbrook.
 

ZDwyr

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Something poetic about Houston wasting Harden's prime due to luxury tax concerns considering how he got there in the first place.
 

SportingCP96

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Well you can’t pair Wiseman with Robinson, and I don’t really think Robinson belongs to a big three young core anyway. Barrett might but a long, long way for him as well - he’s had a very underwhelming and historically inefficient first season too, it has to be said.

That Towns offer you are proposing here is ridiculously bad man. Morris is an expiring and worthless for a team not competing for playoffs, Ellington is almost dead money and Smith’s value is maybe a good second. I’m not even sure that offer would get you expiring Drummond. Unless you also want to include 4+ picks in there (and not Mavs picks as their value is very low too), and add Knox and Robinson, there is nothing to contemplate here.
I like Robinson’s upside as a rim protector and potentially developing interior scorer and RJ has been very inconsistent I agree but I think he has shown glimpses of what he can be but as you noted he could have a 22 point game 1 night and then the following have a 7 point game.

As for the offer I honestly would include a little more value that would benefit the wolves I think. We have some interesting players that might interest them, Morris being the prime asset along with Randle but then we have Payton a young DSJ (I agree not worth much) but I would also include Knox. I think that along with Towns wanting to leave and being a Knicks fan maybe might be worth a punt?

Also that’s why I said I would prefer LaMelo to the other two because we need a PG a lot more then we need a Center or SG IMO.

Granted trust me I 120% know none of this is happening. Just a little day dreaming is all haha. I just hope Dolan does not feck anything up IF we get a high draft pick this year.
 

Sarni

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I like Robinson’s upside as a rim protector and potentially developing interior scorer and RJ has been very inconsistent I agree but I think he has shown glimpses of what he can be but as you noted he could have a 22 point game 1 night and then the following have a 7 point game.

As for the offer I honestly would include a little more value that would benefit the wolves I think. We have some interesting players that might interest them, Morris being the prime asset along with Randle but then we have Payton a young DSJ (I agree not worth much) but I would also include Knox. I think that along with Towns wanting to leave and being a Knicks fan maybe might be worth a punt?

Also that’s why I said I would prefer LaMelo to the other two because we need a PG a lot more then we need a Center or SG IMO.

Granted trust me I 120% know none of this is happening. Just a little day dreaming is all haha. I just hope Dolan does not feck anything up IF we get a high draft pick this year.
Yeah but Morris has no value to Wolves. He might be worth a late first for a team like Clippers, Lakers or Bucks to contend this year but for a bad team looking to maybe win 25-30 games all season (if even that) his value is nothing.

Towns will stay a bit longer I guess. He has a really long contract (runs 4 more years after 2020) and though I rate his skill set, I think he lacks winner mentality and can't be the best player on a contender.
 

SportingCP96

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Yeah but Morris has no value to Wolves. He might be worth a late first for a team like Clippers, Lakers or Bucks to contend this year but for a bad team looking to maybe win 25-30 games all season (if even that) his value is nothing.

Towns will stay a bit longer I guess. He has a really long contract (runs 4 more years after 2020) and though I rate his skill set, I think he lacks winner mentality and can't be the best player on a contender.
I for sure agree with the fact that he can’t be the best player on a contender but I think he could be a good number 2 option but most importantly for a team like the Knicks in particular having an all star caliber player who is fairly young mixed with other young players with a good ceiling could potentially help them look like a better destination then they do now.

Who do you think will have the 3 worst records in the league?
 

Sarni

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I for sure agree with the fact that he can’t be the best player on a contender but I think he could be a good number 2 option but most importantly for a team like the Knicks in particular having an all star caliber player who is fairly young mixed with other young players with a good ceiling could potentially help them look like a better destination then they do now.

Who do you think will have the 3 worst records in the league?
This year? Warriors, Cavs and Wolves, I guess. All are hopeless. Wolves are extremely bad too but may get a few wins, unless they trade Covington in the next 2 days for some scrubs - then they may not win another game this year.

Bottom 5 should be Warriors, Cavs, Hawks, Knicks and Wolves. Everyone else is sort of all right in a way.
 

RobinLFC

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Ja Morant is great :lol:
 

mazhar13

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Speaking of the Knicks:

And that leads to this:

And for whatever reason, Dolan also wants a player agent to come into the FO:

Dolan is pretty much to the Knicks what Woodward is to us.
 

SportingCP96

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Speaking of the Knicks:

And that leads to this:

And for whatever reason, Dolan also wants a player agent to come into the FO:

Dolan is pretty much to the Knicks what Woodward is to us.
THANK GOD! Its a start! Feels like Christmas all over again
 

Sarni

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Atlanta only had to give up a non-lottery first to acquire Capela which is a great price for them. That makes me doubt Rockets sanity even more, they could have probably done a deal for Covington without sacrificing Capela (even if salary matching would have been tough, it wouldn’t have been impossible). I guess not paying extra few million of tax is more important.
 

RobinLFC

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Rockets would do well to survive the first round of the POs now, right? They'll most likely avoid the Lakers and Clippers but getting past the Jazz/Mavs/Nuggets would be as good as they can hope for at this point, it seems.
 

Sarni

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Rockets would do well to survive the first round of the POs now, right? They'll most likely avoid the Lakers and Clippers but getting past the Jazz/Mavs/Nuggets would be as good as they can hope for at this point, it seems.
It seems they don’t really care as long as their bottom line is fine. But I don’t really understand that Westbrook deal in the light of this - he’s way more expensive than Paul for the remaining length of his contract. Why do that and then trade a very good defensive center to save a bit of money?
 

stepic

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It seems they don’t really care as long as their bottom line is fine. But I don’t really understand that Westbrook deal in the light of this - he’s way more expensive than Paul for the remaining length of his contract. Why do that and then trade a very good defensive center to save a bit of money?
i'm not sure the move is just to save money. they clearly wanted another wing and maybe they thought Capela's skillset is replaceable. i think them getting under the tax was an added bonus.

not sure Covington is enough though really for teh Rockets to compete with the two LA teams.
 

SportingCP96

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Atlanta won this trade by far. They are making some good moves and drafting well. If they get a top 3 pick this year and maybe add 1 or 2 more pieces they should be a playoff team best season.
 

Sarni

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i'm not sure the move is just to save money. they clearly wanted another wing and maybe they thought Capela's skillset is replaceable. i think them getting under the tax was an added bonus.

not sure Covington is enough though really for teh Rockets to compete with the two LA teams.
They could have got Covington without sacrificing Capela. Matching salaries would have been hard but not impossible, and the only thing they got for Capela was Brooklyn's first round pick which will be like no. 16 or 17 in a weak draft. They could have thrown in House or their 2022 pick and it would have been virtually the same, maybe without even having to involve four teams.

Main goal was to save money, in a way that would also get them a half decent player. They managed to do that, Covington is pretty good and suits them well but letting Capela go was a mistake. They are a team of chuckers who take bazillion threes a game, Capela is possibly the best offensive rebounder in the league and one of the best pick & roll and lob targets around. Ridiculous to let him go, ridiculous.
 

Sarni

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Atlanta won this trade by far. They are making some good moves and drafting well. If they get a top 3 pick this year and maybe add 1 or 2 more pieces they should be a playoff team best season.
Definitely. That Brooklyn's pick is going to be crap, they got a good player out of it, on a good deal as well.

Doubt they will be a playoffs team though. I thought they could be competitive this year already but their defense sucks way too much for that to happen. Capela will help but they will still have many issues that won't be easy to solve. I think they are also looking to trade John Collins now.
 

Sarni

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Iggy ain't that special. If he's detrimental to the team, the young core in Memphis should be able to criticize him for it.
I really hope he stays in Memphis and doesn't play. The way he behaved in all of this has been nothing short of embarrassing.

I don't think anyone will offer anything significant for him. If I'm Clippers I don't even offer Harkless and a 2nd for that guy. Maybe Mavs will offer Lee and a second, that would actually make a degree of sense but there may not be on his list of preferred destinations, meaning he wouldn't even bother to travel to Dallas if he's traded there.

NBA should have a rule where you don't get paid if you don't play while you are healthy, or at least have limited salary for the duration of your absence. Makes no sense that this guy will get $18million for refusing to play for his team. Also don't get his affection with Warriors who basically just dumped him to get Russell. I wish he were still on that team, without Russell, and went through with sub-20 win season they are having.
 

SportingCP96

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Definitely. That Brooklyn's pick is going to be crap, they got a good player out of it, on a good deal as well.

Doubt they will be a playoffs team though. I thought they could be competitive this year already but their defense sucks way too much for that to happen. Capela will help but they will still have many issues that won't be easy to solve. I think they are also looking to trade John Collins now.
I had a typo but I meant to say if they add some more pieces then NEXT season I think they can be a playoff team:drool:
 
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ZDwyr

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Rockets weren't going anywhere with Capela anyway. Seems to be a neutral move if anything to me. If they can pick-up a center on the buyout it'll help somewhat.
 

RobinLFC

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I'd looooove for us to trade for Dennis Schröder but can't see it happening, unfortunately.
 

Fridge chutney

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How do you draft that one potential star with one of the picks OKC will have though? Unless you’re Toronto it’s hard to find a star in non-lottery and 20s.
Well that may change if Masai leaves for the Knicks as is rumoured. That would be devastating for Toronto if that happens.
 

Sarni

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What the hell are Warriors taking?!?! WIGGINS???
 

VanHaal'sRedArmy

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Speaking of the Knicks:

And that leads to this:

And for whatever reason, Dolan also wants a player agent to come into the FO:

Dolan is pretty much to the Knicks what Woodward is to us.
Except he's worse. Like a Glazer Woodward hybrid (just the worst aspects)
 

HTG

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Morris to the Clippers is a great addition for them. Getting even deeper.
 

JPRouve

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Wiggins out, I'm caught between nostalgia and giddiness.