2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

[Mecca]

shit the way things are going LeBron would likely be in his shadow.

the Lakers gotta do something today don't they?

are the Lakers gonna let the deadline pass without making any move besides Bullock?

I would be shocked if they stand pat.

The Kings got better.

The Wolves are in striking distance.

If LeBron takes more " load management " games off, they won't make the playoffs.

If they do get 8th, they are going home in 4.

It would be a competitive 4.

But, that would be back to back brooms for LeBron at the hands of the Dubs.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I would be shocked if they stand pat.

The Kings got better.

The Wolves are in striking distance.

If LeBron takes more " load management " games off, they won't make the playoffs.

If they do get 8th, they are going home in 4.

It would be a competitive 4.

But, that would be back to back brooms for LeBron at the hands of the Dubs.

its a very tough situation for Magic and Pelinka.

Do they use assets to try and get better for this year--- or sit on those assets and wait for a big move this summer?

Its a hard sell to just stand pat after the Kings got better, and the Twolves are right there, and all the turmoil and negativity that has surrounded them. I mean its not coincidence that LeBron just suffered the worst loss of his career the other night against a Pacers team without Oladipo. The Lakers need to do something to change the narrative and give them some positive momentum.

 

[dtgold88]

KD/Kyrie/Zion is a fun concept that should win a bunch of games but may never make a conference finals.

KD/Kyrie/AD is a championship winning team next year.

How do they have the money to have all 3 max or near max guys?

 

[dtgold88]

I can't speak about the local angst.

You would know better than I.

But, nationally, it's people still hating on him because of the letter after Lebron's first defection.

...and on this site, the anti-Gilbert enthusiasts go after him mostly because we have been bombarded with page long dissertations on his deep pockets for the last 4 years.

Seriously, the character count used on that topic alone is obscene.

With that being said, He humbled himself enough to bring Cleveland a Championship.

For that alone, he has my respect.

agree with all of this, and last comment is why I don't get all the Cleveland angst. Not like we are rolling in titles here.

 

[dtgold88]

well Gilbert's deep pockets did just get them a kick in the ass to their rebuild

6 2nd rounders and 2 first rounders giving up George Hill and Kyle Korver. lol

gotta give the guy credit for basically buying those picks.

Right, and you can say anyone could have bought the Kyrie pick and taken on Davis, but he was the one who did it.

 

[dtgold88]

Oh, I do.

I don't have an issue with Gilbert and already conceded that Altman did a fantastic job flipping those guys for picks.

Did you see Portland is dangling a first rounder in return for a team eating a bad deal while sending back a expiring contract?

I could see not liking the guy. I don't like him. Thought the same of Lebron while here........but appreciate what they did for the city bringing a title I never thought I'd see.

 

[Mecca]

@bksballer89 If he actually stays there, @DJ is going to have to eat a whole bucket of crow after saying Washington gave up to much for a rental.

#TimeVindicates

 

[dtgold88]

It would've been cheaper to buy those picks during the draft. Cavs cap number for next year is now $136.6M (before they cut JR, Frye, and maybe Nwaba loose, their only non-guaranteed contracts and cap holds).

OK, but then they don't have expiring contracts in Clarkson, Knight and Henson to maybe deal next deadline.

 

[dtgold88]

Meh. Even if Tatum doesn't have the top ceiling potential of Zion, he's still a clear step above anything in the Lakers package.

Therefore, it more than "saves face" for New Orleans to have waited and end up with Tatum... if that's what goes down.

I agree.....and not often one expects to get a generational talent back for one in these deals.

 

[Mecca]

its a very tough situation for Magic and Pelinka.

Do they use assets to try and get better for this year--- or sit on those assets and wait for a big move this summer?

Its a hard sell to just stand pat after the Kings got better, and the Twolves are right there, and all the turmoil and negativity that has surrounded them. I mean its not coincidence that LeBron just suffered the worst loss of his career the other night against a Pacers team without Oladipo. The Lakers need to do something to change the narrative and give them some positive momentum.

That's a good question.

I kinda understand Ainge and the Pelicans belief that Davis will be open to other situations because the Lakers can't afford to punt on a LeBron Season two years in a row.

Davis can't get there until 20-21.

Are the Lakers gonna do 1 year, mercenary place holder deals again?

 

[dtgold88]

i actually liked Marquese Chriss in the draft- he has sucked- but is still super young.

he will prob get playing time with TT and Love being hurt (but both are due back soon).

Noooooooo.......someone needs to "accidentally" step on his toe and keep him out longer.

 

[Mecca]

 

[shopson67]

Meh. Even if Tatum doesn't have the top ceiling potential of Zion, he's still a clear step above anything in the Lakers package.

Therefore, it more than "saves face" for New Orleans to have waited and end up with Tatum... if that's what goes down.

I didn't say Tatum wasn't, but I don't see him doing for the franchise what AD couldn't. None of these guys will. They screwed up not building around AD better in the many years they had the opportunity.

 

[Gman]

They screwed up not building around AD better in the many years they had the opportunity.

Oh... no doubt about that.

 

[shopson67]

Quality vs Quantity.

It's really not that complicated.

The Pels can't get equal value.

But, I'd rather have a guy with possible Franchise player potential over 3 guys with possible, occasional, borderline All Star game participant potential.

I'm not defending the Lakers offer here (it's what they can do). I'm saying that a Knicks offer with the #1 would trump all (especially with the news update that the Knicks are even with the Lakers as a destination).

 

[shopson67]

i think Tatum is a clear step above anyone the Lakers are offering. He has the chance to be a franchise player. I dont see anyone the Lakers are offering likely becoming a franchise player.

The Celtics can offer a lot more draft capital as well- and the picks would likely be a lot better and transfer a lot earlier than if the Lakers offered only their own picks- which is all they have.

The Pelicans made a lot of bad moves- the Asik contract, the Hill contract, the Cousins trade etc. If they get Tatum and he becomes a great player they just need to do a lot better this time around. It is what it is.

Again, I didn't say otherwise (although Tatum as a franchise player has a ways to go as well). I put Zion's hype and upside ahead of Tatum, especially with the AD camp releasing that Knicks/Lakers are even in terms of destinations.

 

[flyerhawk]

How do they have the money to have all 3 max or near max guys?

They have gutted their roster.

 

[shopson67]

OK, but then they don't have expiring contracts in Clarkson, Knight and Henson to maybe deal next deadline.

They could still have 1 or 2 of the 3. Having all 3 put them into the luxury tax (which they can get out of by dumping JR, but being close will prevent them from adding salary this summer).

 

[Mecca]

@tlance

Ouch.

Getting rid of that contract takes the sting out of this a bit.

 

[bksballer89]

Houston basically admitted all of their offseason moves were silly