2016 NBA Off-Season Thread

[DJ Fieri]

He also seems like the kind of player who could change his mind if he meets with multiple teams.

#deandrejordan

This.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I'll make an avatar bet with anyone who wants to take it--- OKC vs. the field that Durant stays--- i will take OKC.

He is not going anywhere. Honestly- i think when all is said and done OKC might have the most talented team in the league- they got to Game 7 vs. the Warriors with a 1st year coach- Adams and Kanter are still young and improving. Oladipo strengthens them matchup wise vs. Golden State. I think the Spurs are finally getting old- Duncan and Ginobili look to be pretty done. I do think that Griffin will come out and try and prove that he is not the clown he acted last year and the Clips will be pretty good next year.

But the point is- I cant see Durant waiving the white flag after going to 7 games and joining Golden State when the teams are just so close tal;ent wise. He will be back in OKC.

 

[WiggyRuss]

whoever misses out on Whiteside is gonna be PUMPED about it within the next 2 years- book it.

Michael WallaceESPN Staff Writer

Best takeaway from Heat center Hassan Whiteside's meeting with the media was that he likes how the tables have turned, from him begging teams for tryouts less than 2 years ago to "now they're calling me" when free agency starts July 1.



of course its predictable from me--- but i have a bad bad feeling that giving this guy FU money is just gonna get you F'd.

 

[DJ Fieri]

The Bulls are in total rebuild mode.

 

[tlance]

I'll make an avatar bet with anyone who wants to take it--- OKC vs. the field that Durant stays--- i will take OKC.

He is not going anywhere. Honestly- i think when all is said and done OKC might have the most talented team in the league- they got to Game 7 vs. the Warriors with a 1st year coach- Adams and Kanter are still young and improving. Oladipo strengthens them matchup wise vs. Golden State. I think the Spurs are finally getting old- Duncan and Ginobili look to be pretty done. I do think that Griffin will come out and try and prove that he is not the clown he acted last year and the Clips will be pretty good next year.

But the point is- I cant see Durant waiving the white flag after going to 7 games and joining Golden State. He will be back in OKC.

It is still more likely that he stays, but once he fully digests the trade, how can it be a positive thing? Ibaka was a very good catch and shoot guy and he played elite defense from the 4 position. They have nobody who can fill that void.

Oladipo is a rich man's Waiters and Sabonis is a young Adams. Both great young assets, but neither were necessary pieces for this team. Ibaka was.

Small ball with Roberson and Oladipo playing together can work, but it would be even better to match up with GS if they had Ibaka to play the 5. I think the upgrade to Oladipo is less valuable than the downgrade from Ibaka to Adams when you are talking about switching ball screens.

This trade might push Durant out the door.

 

[WiggyRuss]

The Bulls are in total rebuild mode.

total rebuild mode?

they have the most valuable asset in the game- a star in his prime signed to a long term deal at a very very fair - if not cheap- price.

 

[WiggyRuss]

It is still more likely that he stays, but once he fully digests the trade, how can it be a positive thing? Ibaka was a very good catch and shoot guy and he played elite defense from the 4 position. They have nobody who can fill that void.

Oladipo is a rich man's Waiters and Sabonis is a young Adams. Both great young assets, but neither were necessary pieces for this team. Ibaka was.

Small ball with Roberson and Oladipo playing together can work, but it would be even better to match up with GS if they had Ibaka to play the 5. I think the upgrade to Oladipo is less valuable than the downgrade from Ibaka to Adams when you are talking about switching ball screens.

This trade might push Durant out the door.

we shall see right?

ill def take the bet if u want to do it.

I think Adams is plenty capable of playing the switching big role against GSW- and having Oladipo- a potential lock down defender- that i think will focus even more on his defense now that he doesnt have to carry such a load offensively like in Orlando.

Honestly- i love that htey can switch RW and Oladipo in a back court that is just INSANITY on its athleticism.

I think a HUGE part of the Cavs beating the Warriors was that we wore down Curry and Thompson. This is something the people that kept talking about how Love and Kyrie's lack of defensive abilities would counter out the offense they bring- many people said this- All of these people failed to realize the impact that going straight at Steph Curry over a 7 game series would do to him. He got worn out- he had his lingering knee issues- went 7 games against OKC who went right at him- and then 7 games against the Cavs- who went right at him. His legs were gone by the end- you could just see it.

Having Oladipo and RW in the back court really sets up OKC to do the same thing- but even have better defenders then the Cavs to control him. You beat the Warriors by wearing out Thompson and Curry- doubling them and making the other guys beat you. I think that trade set up the Thunder in a huge way to matchup with GOlden State and i think thats why its likely Durant is back.

Plus- Ibaka seemed to regress the last few years. HE started losing a little athleticism and never really kept advancing his game. He is a good small ball big- i think thats why Orlando paid so much for him- but i think Adams could be the better player going forward.

 

[WiggyRuss]

If Hassan is making his decision on July 1st then he is surely taking the first big contract he is offered

be glad when he goes. Sign Biyombo for less money- play him at center in small lineups and run and play some switching defense...ESPECIALLY with Winslow coming on. Bring back Joe Johnson and sign Biyombo--- would help you do the thing that you are supposed to do- WIN GAMES- much more than Whiteside.

say Bosh comes back---

PG- Dragic
SG- Wade
SF- Winslow
PF- Bosh
C- Biyombo

bench- Joe Johnson, Richardson, T. Johnson, McBob, middle level exception X (if Arison is willing to pay for it)

That lineup allows you to switch- and play much more versatile defense....Whiteside's shots can EASILY be absorbed by the guys on the court offensively- and it leaves you enough money to bring back Joe Johnson who's 3 point shooting was huge--- you can even go super small and replace Biyombo or Bosh with Johnson at times....

 

[tlance]

we shall see right?

ill def take the bet if u want to do it.

I think Adams is plenty capable of playing the switching big role against GSW- and having Oladipo- a potential lock down defender- that i think will focus even more on his defense now that he doesnt have to carry such a load offensively like in Orlando.

Honestly- i love that htey can switch RW and Oladipo in a back court that is just INSANITY on its athleticism.

I think a HUGE part of the Cavs beating the Warriors was that we wore down Curry and Thompson. This is something the people that kept talking about how Love and Kyrie's lack of defensive abilities would counter out the offense they bring- many people said this- All of these people failed to realize the impact that going straight at Steph Curry over a 7 game series would do to him. He got worn out- he had his lingering knee issues- went 7 games against OKC who went right at him- and then 7 games against the Cavs- who went right at him. His legs were gone by the end- you could just see it.

Having Oladipo and RW in the back court really sets up OKC to do the same thing- but even have better defenders then the Cavs to control him. You beat the Warriors by wearing out Thompson and Curry- doubling them and making the other guys beat you. I think that trade set up the Thunder in a huge way to matchup with GOlden State and i think thats why its likely Durant is back.

Plus- Ibaka seemed to regress the last few years. HE started losing a little athleticism and never really kept advancing his game. He is a good small ball big- i think thats why Orlando paid so much for him- but i think Adams could be the better player going forward.

I think Adams is awesome and I agree Ibaka is regressing. Still changes the dynamic a lot. Adams and Kanter/Sabonis can't play together against every team, Ibaka and Adams could.

As for the bet, I am leaning GS, but not confident enough to pull the trigger. Besides, I am still reeling from last time I bet on them.

 

[bksballer89]

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!

Source: Wizards doubt they'll sign Durant

 

[tlance]

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!

Source: Wizards doubt they'll sign Durant

LOL at my team. They sign his old coach, and he won't even meet with them. Classic Wizards.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

be glad when he goes. Sign Biyombo for less money- play him at center in small lineups and run and play some switching defense...ESPECIALLY with Winslow coming on. Bring back Joe Johnson and sign Biyombo--- would help you do the thing that you are supposed to do- WIN GAMES- much more than Whiteside.

say Bosh comes back---

PG- Dragic
SG- Wade
SF- Winslow
PF- Bosh
C- Biyombo

bench- Joe Johnson, Richardson, T. Johnson, McBob, middle level exception X (if Arison is willing to pay for it)

That lineup allows you to switch- and play much more versatile defense....Whiteside's shots can EASILY be absorbed by the guys on the court offensively- and it leaves you enough money to bring back Joe Johnson who's 3 point shooting was huge--- you can even go super small and replace Biyombo or Bosh with Johnson at times....

1. I hope and agree that Durant stays put another year.

2. Grain of salt taken about any of your Whiteside comments. He's already 100% proved you wrong to this point.
No Heat fan that I know hopes we don't pay him. His comments were appropriated. They in essence were directed to people like you who doubted him. As far as ' no hometown loyalty', in English that means no discount.

3. Why do you assume we'll ever see Bosh again? If the Heat or he felt he'd be ok to play, don't you think it would be in the news right now being that it would help the Heat in FA?
Gotta cut your potential losses moving forward.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Joakim Noah is reportedly the Knicks' top free agent target this summer

 

[DJ Fieri]

Horford would be the best fit on the Knicks imo.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Horford would be the best fit on the Knicks imo.

They are gonna try to go two for one with that 30 mil in cap.

They need a starting Center and a starting sg.

Horford wants a 30 million max.

Ditto for Howard.

Screw that.

 

[Bolts]

They are gonna try to go two for one with that 30 mil in cap.

They need a starting Center and a starting sg.

Horford wants a 30 million max.

Ditto for Howard.

Screw that.

Howard doesn't deserve that kind of money and any team that wants to give it to him would be stupid to do so imo. Knicks could go for Noah and a guy like Evan Fournier or Courtney Lee to fill out the starting lineup, but do they have anybody on their bench outside of Holiday?

 

[Heatles84]

They are gonna try to go two for one with that 30 mil in cap.

They need a starting Center and a starting sg.

Horford wants a 30 million max.

Ditto for Howard.

Screw that.

I don't want to see either on the Heat. I'd be willing to take Horford around $17-$19 mil per. No way do I want him being grossly paid more than Wade (who I see signing a 1-year $22 mil).

 

[Black Adam]

This isn't NBAY2K or whatever it is you gamer nerds play.

I resemble that remark, Clyde...

 

[trojanfan12]

I'll make an avatar bet with anyone who wants to take it--- OKC vs. the field that Durant stays--- i will take OKC.

He is not going anywhere. Honestly- i think when all is said and done OKC might have the most talented team in the league- they got to Game 7 vs. the Warriors with a 1st year coach- Adams and Kanter are still young and improving. Oladipo strengthens them matchup wise vs. Golden State. I think the Spurs are finally getting old- Duncan and Ginobili look to be pretty done. I do think that Griffin will come out and try and prove that he is not the clown he acted last year and the Clips will be pretty good next year.

But the point is- I cant see Durant waiving the white flag after going to 7 games and joining Golden State when the teams are just so close tal;ent wise. He will be back in OKC.

I agree. They came very close this year. I think the most likely scenario is that KD signs a 2 year with opt out after 1 to give it one more shot in OKC. If they don't get it done next year, then I think both he and Westbrook walk.

 

[bksballer89]

Source: Six teams booked to meet with Durant