2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

[flyerhawk]

Knicks (Mudiay), Nets (Lin)? Lakers could deal Rondo directly, although that doesn't seem likely given the search for a 3rd team. Doesn't help that 14 of the 15 Western teams still have playoff hopes lol.

The Knicks and Nets are in tank mode. Why would they want KCP or Ariza? FTR, Lin is on the Hawks. Same thing applies to them.

I really don't know what teams would be interested in taking on KCP. He has value but not so much that a team would give up an asset to get him.

 

[tlance]

The Knicks and Nets are in tank mode. Why would they want KCP or Ariza? FTR, Lin is on the Hawks. Same thing applies to them.

I really don't know what teams would be interested in taking on KCP. He has value but not so much that a team would give up an asset to get him.

We are going round and round about KCP, but the answer is really simple.

Phoenix needs a point guard. Devin Booker is not a primary ball handler. Getting a player capable of running an offense would go a long way toward helping Booker and Ayton develop.

Problem is, almost all of the non-mediocre PGs out there are either already on contending teams, or young players unlikely to be dealt for a veteran by a rebuilder.

All except 1. John Wall.

It would be a gamble for sure, and the contract sucks, but because of the bargain basement cost, it could be exactly what the Suns need.

Ariza + Troy Daniels and a future pick (not this year's and with some protections) for John Wall

The Suns can then rest him and Booker enough to lock up a bottom 3 seed, then head into next season with a lineup of:

Wall, Booker, Bridges, Zion/Barret/Reddish, and Ayton

With TJ Warren, Josh Jackson plus whatever vets they can sign for leadership purposes coming off the bench. Not too shabby.

 

[flyerhawk]

We are going round and round about KCP, but the answer is really simple.

Phoenix needs a point guard. Devin Booker is not a primary ball handler. Getting a player capable of running an offense would go a long way toward helping Booker and Ayton develop.

Problem is, almost all of the non-mediocre PGs out there are either already on contending teams, or young players unlikely to be dealt for a veteran by a rebuilder.

All except 1. John Wall.

It would be a gamble for sure, and the contract sucks, but because of the bargain basement cost, it could be exactly what the Suns need.

Ariza + Troy Daniels and a future pick (not this year's and with some protections) for John Wall

The Suns can then rest him and Booker enough to lock up a bottom 3 seed, then head into next season with a lineup of:

Wall, Booker, Bridges, Zion/Barret/Reddish, and Ayton

With TJ Warren, Josh Jackson plus whatever vets they can sign for leadership purposes coming off the bench. Not too shabby.

Sure. That makes sense. Not sure if they would do it but that makes sense. A roll of the dice certainly but the Suns and Magic have been the logical destinations for Wall, if they would eat his contract.

Of course they don't need the Lakers to be part of that deal.

 

[tlance]

Sure. That makes sense. Not sure if they would do it but that makes sense. A roll of the dice certainly but the Suns and Magic have been the logical destinations for Wall, if they would eat his contract.

Of course they don't need the Lakers to be part of that deal.

The problem is that Grunfeld would never make that trade.

#firegrunfeld

So we can move on!

 

[LAD]

Now I really hate this.

A player resting may not have anything to do with his effort. We don't know for sure who is making the decision to rest, but I can tell you in most cases it does not come from the player. It is usually the team or the agent.

In this case, I am betting on the Raptors playing it safe and going out of their way to prove to Kawhi that they aren't the Spurs.

Don't automatically blame the player for resting, because often it isn't his call.

I can understand this point of view - but given what we know about the situation as it played out in SA I think this situation might be different.

 

[Shanemansj13]

You know what would be really funny? If the Lakers trade Lonzo to your Cavs for Tristan.

That would be funny considering TT has been hands down WAY better than Lonzo this year and they have a PG that is already much better than Lonzo almost 30 games into his rookie season LOL

 

[LAD]

Philly fans?

I thought he liked taking 3's.

Oh well, winning cures all.



Joel Embiid, who missed his first game of the season Friday due to rest, told reporters that he feels like his offense has taken a hit since the team acquired All-Star Jimmy Butler in the blockbuster trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves last month. “I haven’t been myself lately,” Embiid told Philly.com. “I think it’s mainly because of the way I’ve been used, which is I’m being used as a spacer, I guess, a stretch-5, which I’m only shooting [29] percent” from 3-point range. “But it seems like the past couple games, like with the way I play, our setup, [coach Brett Brown] always has me starting on the perimeter … and it just really frustrates me.”

Uh oh....this can't be good.

 

[LAD]

OKC...

Holy Shit.

Yea, for that team it's a lot when we consider they were a first round exit last year. I wonder how long it will take before the FO starts to get frustrated with the team's performance if they can't get over the hump.

Speaking of which, what is a realistic goal for them? WC Finals? Finals? Championship?

 

[tlance]

I can understand this point of view - but given what we know about the situation as it played out in SA I think this situation might be different.

I don't think that is fair.

He sat in SA over a dispute with team doctors who said he was healthy when he didn't think he was. He wasn't "resting".

While his reason for missing games may be precautionary in both cases, it isn't fair to assume Kawhi is asking for rest in Toronto. In fact, I think it is more likely the other way around.

Point is, we don't know who is making the call for Kawhi to sit. What I do know, is every time I have ever seen him take an NBA court, he plays hard as hell. Questioning his effort is inappropriate, IMO.

 

[flyerhawk]

Uh oh....this can't be good.

Much ado about nothing really. Embiid was in a bit of a min-slump and Brown told him he was getting the night off. Embiid was venting a bit. A day later he went to one of the Sixers beat writers and told him he was happy with the trade and Butler and it was more about his displeasure at how he is playing. And Butler was nothing but a supportive teammate in response.

JoJo shouldn't have vented to the media but this kinda stuff happens all the time.

He gets to play one of his favorite teams tonight, the Pistons. In Philly. I would be surprised if we don't see a lot of low block plays for Embiid.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

That would be funny considering TT has been hands down WAY better than Lonzo this year and they have a PG that is already much better than Lonzo almost 30 games into his rookie season LOL

I actually think Lonzo Ball has been a huge disappointment when you consider that last year they was calling him the second coming of Christ. I am also thinking that both Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram could easily be trade bait soon?

If the Lakers could get and sign Trevor Ariza to play with Lebron for the next several years - He would really be a nice fit. If you could lets say get Leonard and Butler in return for dumping Ariza and Leonard - the Lakers would really have a good team in my opinion - and yes I know that is a fantasy

 

[LAD]

I don't think that is fair.

He sat in SA over a dispute with team doctors who said he was healthy when he didn't think he was. He wasn't "resting".

While his reason for missing games may be precautionary in both cases, it isn't fair to assume Kawhi is asking for rest in Toronto. In fact, I think it is more likely the other way around.

Point is, we don't know who is making the call for Kawhi to sit. What I do know, is every time I have ever seen him take an NBA court, he plays hard as hell. Questioning his effort is inappropriate, IMO.

That's fair. I just happen to disagree.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I don't think that is fair.

He sat in SA over a dispute with team doctors who said he was healthy when he didn't think he was. He wasn't "resting".

While his reason for missing games may be precautionary in both cases, it isn't fair to assume Kawhi is asking for rest in Toronto. In fact, I think it is more likely the other way around.

Point is, we don't know who is making the call for Kawhi to sit. What I do know, is every time I have ever seen him take an NBA court, he plays hard as hell. Questioning his effort is inappropriate, IMO.

With all due respect, Doctors are not always right. I had a situation one year where my doctor referred my mother to a hear specialist who gave an opinion that resulted in my doctor wanting to perform an exploratory heart surgery. I balked and requested a second opinion which resulted in a specialists that nixed the idea. The idea in my head of them wanting to do something like that on my 85 year old mother - had me in arms. My point is that while the doctors for the team said Leonard was healthy, the other doctors may have found something to make them think otherwise - you weren't there and you don't know that Leonard was able to play.

 

[flyerhawk]

The problem is that Grunfeld would never make that trade.

#firegrunfeld

So we can move on!

I think Grunfeld learned some magic voodoo trick from his time with the Knicks where GMs can do bafflingly stupid things and still keep their jobs in perpetuity.

 

[LAD]

Much ado about nothing really. Embiid was in a bit of a min-slump and Brown told him he was getting the night off. Embiid was venting a bit. A day later he went to one of the Sixers beat writers and told him he was happy with the trade and Butler and it was more about his displeasure at how he is playing. And Butler was nothing but a supportive teammate in response.

JoJo shouldn't have vented to the media but this kinda stuff happens all the time.

He gets to play one of his favorite teams tonight, the Pistons. In Philly. I would be surprised if we don't see a lot of low block plays for Embiid.

I hope you're right, because I think a player like Butler is exactly what they were missing.

I didn't understand why Brown would rest him against an opponent that he typically owns. It would be like Kerr not letting Dray play against Blake. It was odd to see & I think it made almost cost them the game.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I can understand this point of view - but given what we know about the situation as it played out in SA I think this situation might be different.

My thought is that Leonard had a legitimate problem in San Antonio that was not discovered by the team doctors working on behalf of San Antonio and quite possibly - that same problem is now still bothering Leonard which has resulted in the Toronto or who over to be cautious. Is that possible?

 

[Wamu]

That would be funny considering TT has been hands down WAY better than Lonzo this year and they have a PG that is already much better than Lonzo almost 30 games into his rookie season LOL

Thanks for taking my comment seriously.

 

[LAD]

My thought is that Leonard had a legitimate problem in San Antonio that was not discovered by the team doctors working on behalf of San Antonio and quite possibly - that same problem is now still bothering Leonard which has resulted in the Toronto or who over to be cautious. Is that possible?

Yes, that is the other possibility. I've said this from the beginning. I don't think he's fully healthy. But, on the flip side when he plays he looks great.

So my problem with this situation is really why are they resting him so early in the season? I get that they don't want to wear him down, but goodness they were resting him the first week of the reg season. It just seemed strange.

 

[Inimical]

 

[LAD]

Thanks for taking my comment seriously.

You must consider the source.