NBA Season

[VegasJustin]

Let's get into the NBA Draft rumors. Lots of them so let's get to work.

It is widely accepted that Cleveland wants to trade up to the #2 pick and get Beal. This guy could be the next Ray Allen and Cleveland could have one of the best backcourts in the NBA in a few years if they take him.

Washington is unhappy as they want Beal to pair with Wall so they're rumored to possibly send the #3 pick and Andray Blanche to..... The Los Angeles Lakers. They would get Gasol. Holy shit, sign us up! Pick Kidd Gilchrist and we have our small forward position locked down for years.


Houston wants Dwight Howard. They picked up a #18 pick and have three first rounders now. I think this is a smoke screen for a trade for Gasol. If they can get him for two picks and Lowry, I think they do it. I'm not sure why they want Howard when he would never sign there long term.

The Lakers are trying to get into the late first round and World Peace has been a name thrown out there. Makes sense.

The Lakers for the first and Shawn Marion has been mentioned. Again, makes sense.

There was some talk about the Rockets trading up for the #5 pick from the Kings, but it doesn't look like that will happen. Apparently the Kings like Damien Lillard of Weber State.

There was also talk of the Bulls trading Deng, but nothing has been really talked about since that came up.

The Pistons traded Ben Gordon to the Bobcats for Corey Maggette. The Pistons saved a ton of money.

The Mavericks want Deron Williams, but he might stay with Brooklyn.

[SoCalJoe]

Okay Justin, give us your draft analysis. I saw this morning that Portland passed on Barnes and picked some guy from Weber State, really? then they drafted some stiff w/the 11th pick that is a 'project', really? Ugh

[Clevelandmo]

Okay Justin, give us your draft analysis. I saw this morning that Portland passed on Barnes and picked some guy from Weber State, really? then they drafted some stiff w/the 11th pick that is a 'project', really? Ugh

Nothing but shock and disbelief in Cleveland regarding the Cavs #1 pick.

[VegasJustin]

I have never seen Lillard play, well I'm sure I have but I can't remember. Everything I have read and the highlights I have seen suggest that he is going to be in a few all star games. He averaged nearly 25 points for Weber State. I have no problem with this pick.

I do have a problem with the Cleveland draft. Waiters is going to be a serviceable player, but you don't pick a guy at number four to get a good role player. They wanted a power forward obviously, so why pass on Thomas Robinson!? Barnes is a pure shooter and will be better than he was in College, they should have went there or grabbed Robinson. Zeller can run up and down the floor and has good skills, but he is weak. Somebody from Golden State said that Ezeli tore him up in the Warriors workout, citing Tylers lack of strength.


The steal of the draft was Perry Jones going to the Thunder. As the ESPN analysts were saying, this guy can replace Ibaka down the road when Ibaka wants that big contract. Apparently the Lakers tried to get him, but it didn't happen. He's going to need to bring it every night, but I think that cast around him won't let him take days off.


And if this wasn't obvious, someday the Hornets are going to be amazingly good. Rivers will need to play the point and not play hero ball, but I think he will do that. I also think that Davis is going to be a star and Gordon also has the potential to be a star. Great draft from them.

[VegasJustin]

Some free agent news for everybody.

Portland offered 4/$58m to Roy Hibbert. To say this is overpaying is an under statement. You gotta overpay though to get what you want though, especially big men, and Hibbert has shown improvement on the offensive end. If he can continue this improvement then he can be a consistent all star, but that's by default as there isn't many great big men out there.

The Nets are offering a bunch of players for Joe Johnson. It's mostly bench players. If they can get him and keep Deron, then they got something there. They also resigned Gerald Wallace. And I think Brooks is going to be a star and he would be coming off the bench.


Dwight Howard has requested a trade to the Nets. If they pull off this and everything else then there is a new sheriff in the East. They would have everything, a PG, Center and perimeter players. The odds of them getting Dwight is slim though because.......

The Lakers have opened talks with the Magic for Dwight. They can offer a better Center, much better, in exchange. Not saying I want this to happen, but if it gets serious then Dwight will be a Laker.


Should have read the Dwight news before I posted this. He said he will only resign with one team and most people think it's with the Nets. Good, now we can keep Bynum who is actually less drama than Dwight.

[Clevelandmo]

I do have a problem with the Cleveland draft. Waiters is going to be a serviceable player, but you don't pick a guy at number four to get a good role player. They wanted a power forward obviously, so why pass on Thomas Robinson!? Barnes is a pure shooter and will be better than he was in College, they should have went there or grabbed Robinson. .
.

The local Cleveland paper had an interesting article on Waiters trying to explain the reasoning behind the pick. I guess Scott loves him, went to watch him play several times, and thinks he has it all. Also the Ohio State head coach said when they played Syracuse they planned their defense around how to stop Waiters. Strange thing to do for the sixth man, huh. The interesting part is that due to Waiters past the Cavs managment believes he's very disciplined and has shown that he can deal with adversity and still get the job done. They also say he is incredibly loyal. You have to wonder if the importance of those traits are elevated a bit within the Cavs management because of Lebron.

[VegasJustin]

It probably did, but Cleveland has to realize that if a player from Akron would leave Cleveland, then it's likely any star player would leave that city if they don't think they can win. Since Cleveland is not a glamor city, it's unlikely they sign big free agents so they have to use the Draft, ala OKC, to compete and that means picking the best available. With so many better players available, I don't like the pick. But I have nothing against the Cavaliers so I hope he proves me wrong and you guys have a great player on your team.


Ric Bucher said that Dwight wants to be a Net because he wants more say in the franchise and that's why he doesn't want to be a Laker. If this is true, then this guy has a bigger ego than every superstar to ever play the NBA combined. You get say in a franchise when you win championships. That's why Mitch meets with Kobe, he's been here for years and has won five titles. His opinion matters, as it should. All Howard has done is whine for two years and go to one finals where his Magic got destroyed by the Lakers.


Oh and good luck getting a Russian oligarch giving you complete control over a franchise. I'm sure guys like Mikhail and Vladimir love giving away power.

[VegasJustin]

Steve Nash is now a Laker! We gave up a 2013 and 2015 first round picks and gave up our second round picks for the next two years. We have signed him to a 3 year $25 million deal.


First of all, we do nothing with our picks so that's no big deal. And second of all, this instantly turns us into one of the top three teams in the league. We can keep Gasol now because Nash is the perfect PG to get him the open 15 foot jump shot. I still want him traded, but I won't be mad if we keep him. Also, this helps Kobe a lot. Now he isn't forced to keep the ball all game. He can play a much easier 36 minutes, which is scary for other teams as he will be well rested come playoff time.

There is still a need for a guy like Nick Young to come off the bench and resigning Sessions and Hill. If we do all of that, I am very confident of us winning a title. I have full confidence in the Magic Wand Of Mitch Kupchak to get everything done.

[LaxAttack]

This offseason (basically last 12 months since winning the the title) has been awful for my Mavs.

[VegasJustin]

Jason Kidd has left and went to the Knicks. The Mavericks are currently writing the book on how to not run a franchise after winning a title. There is a very good chance that they don't make the playoffs next year, possibly not even coming close. They have an owner that will spend, but it could be a long time before they are ever contenders.

[VegasJustin]

So the Nets are out of the Dwight Howard race. This was after they were supposed to get a deal done. So the Lakers are now favorites, right? Wrong, they were favorites, but the Magic don't like Bynum. Now the Rockets are favorites and they are even thinking of amnesty Scola to get a deal done. Holy shit, a trade needs to happen. Please?

Bynum is a better offensive center than Howard. Kupchak needs to focus on signing some shooters to come off the bench and maybe getting a starting small forward. Screw the Howard trade.

[ToviFromSantaBarbara]

trolling around and surprised to see an NBA thread. Massive GSW fan originally from the bay area, had season tix for 7 years. and play fantasy basketball in a keeper league so always following very closely on everything. glad to find another outlet.

Oh, and hate the Lakers.

[VegasJustin]

You're not alone in hating the Lakers. Everybody here does, except for me. It's ok, I can point to all of the banners up in Staples and laugh at everybody. Actually Heather likes the Celtics sobi can't laugh at her team......yet.

[SoCalJoe]

You're not alone in hating the Lakers. Everybody here does, except for me. It's ok, I can point to all of the banners up in Staples and laugh at everybody. Actually Heather likes the Celtics sobi can't laugh at her team......yet.

Isn't it the offseason?

[VegasJustin]

The newest rumor is that the Cavs are in the three team trade mix in the Dwight deal. They would get Bynum while the Lakers would get Dwight. Since this is about the millionth rumor involving Dwight, I have no clue how true this is. At this point, there could be two months before a deal is done.

Let's say this happened and the Cavs get Bynum and he signs an extension there. They give up all of their picks next year and take back the Jason Richardson contract. All of a sudden, you can see where the Cavs are right back in it. They now have a star PG with the best offensive center in the game. If Waiters is any good then you have a big three and I haven't even talked about Thompson yet. So you have a great team going forward and are right up there for the most promising team in the NBA.


In actual news, the Lakers signed Antawn Jamison. Love the signing. Great backup PF who can get you 10 a game off the bench.