NBA OFFSEASON THREAD

[wildturkey]

The only reason to break up James/Wade/Bosh right now is if Arison doesn't want to pay into the tax heavy. Hell, even if he doesn't want to pay it, I'd still keep them for one more year. Look at how OKC screwed themselves up by moving Harden a year early. I'd listen to offers but I wouldn't actively push for one. Only reason I'd listen is you gotta start planning past 2014 so if some team makes a stupid offer tossing young talent and picks for Bosh, do it. But like I said, field offers but don't push for them.

I'd really just tinker with things. Miller isn't worth the salary so I'd amensty him and maybe consider not picking up Chalmers team option but I'd look at the FA guards first.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Where does a guy like Paul Millsap fit best? Would he be better served taking the money and signing with a team like Cleveland or take a lesser deal to be a final piece to the puzzle on a team like OKC?

 

[shitsho]

You dont break up the Heat core. Bosh has more than shown his worth on the defensive end and as a teammate. Everyone cant score all the time and still serve the best interest of the team. Bosh gets that. Scoop up Oden and try him out if you can sign him.

Howard walks to GSW, Clips, or Houston. I prefer GSW with Curry or Houston with CP3 and Harden. If its money he is after then he can wait with the Lakers until Kobe hangs em up and FA's come flocking or management has a conversation with Kobe and hands Howard the keys to the kingdom. Clips are nuts if they give up Bledsoe. CP3 will get injured again and they need the insurance. Besides I doubt Sterling has the capacity or desire to build a true winner.

Melo has to take a long extended look in the mirror and ask himself some tough questions. Where is he failing as a leader? How multi dimensional is he?

Pacers need to somehow lose West. I'd swear him and Chris Webber are related. They both get that deer in the headlights look when the pressure is tight. If they trade him for a good PG they will have duped the other team and come out ahead.

Spurs like the Heat should stand pat and give it one more try. I dont think their big 3 drop off a cliff just yet.

D. Rose. Does he make the Bulls championship material or are they only slighty better because the dynamics are different?

 

[Heatles84]

Rose returns to the Bulls.
Rondo returns to the Celtics.
Granger comes back to a young and improving Pacers team.
Howard and CP3 might go to the Hawks.
Bynum probably comes back to the Sixers if he can play.

The EAST will be about 1000 times tougher to win in 2014.

The WEST will be slightly easier, especially if Iguodala, Howard, CP3, Jefferson, and Millsap disperse to the eastern teams.

I agree with you somewhat Horns about your earlier statement about the Heat bringing in some youth. There will need to be some tinkering as the Heat can't sit pat and expect to repeat easily.

- I'm not actually too concerned with the Bulls when Rose comes back. At that point it comes back to Derrick Rose or bust given his style of play. Should they meet in the playoffs then it comes down to can he score against Lebron in the 4th

- Rondo can return to the Celtics all he wants. But what is he returning to? They'll either come back with KG and Pierce who are both well past their prime already and Doc obviously has no desire to coach in what has now become a rebuilding situation.

- Granger may or not be traded, and as a Heat fan they're really the only team in the East that concerns me. Both players (Paul George and Granger) play the same position so the Pacers will likely hold on to him the first couple months of the season then trade him when his value is higher to bolster their bench depth which was their Achilles heel.

- I just can't see CP3 and Dwight playing on the same team as much as they want to. Atlanta is an option, but it's Atlanta. Plus it's more they would have to deal with the Heat in the same division and not the other way around.

- Bynum.....no one is worried about Bynum anymore.

The East will be once again top heavy with the top teams being in order - Miami, Indiana, Chicago.

It will also comprise of other solid teams in Brooklyn and New York....and that's it. The rest of the playoffs will be rounded off with subpar teams as usual such as Atlanta, Washington (yes it's a possibility) and possibly Cleveland.

 

[bksballer89]

The Heat need a real C and move Bosh back to F

 

[tlance]

Bosh may not be worth a near-max deal, but he compliments LeBron extremely well. The Heat need to keep him. If they deal any of the big 3, it should be Wade. He would bring a lot more in return, and his game really does not mesh that well with LeBron's. This will not happen, and I don't think it should, but trading Bosh would be a poor decision.

Gambling on Oden would be a sound move if they can sign him cheaply. If he is able to play, he provides a low-cost counter for the Roy Hibberts of the world and a defensive anchor.

 

[tlance]

The Heat need a real C and move Bosh back to F

Careful. Bosh at the 4 means LeBron at the 3. That works well defensively, but it is important that the Heat don't go away from using LeBron as a 4 and surrounding him with shooters. As they have proven, those line-ups are pretty much unguardable.

 

[trojanfan12]

The Heat need a real C and move Bosh back to F

And doesn't even need to be a top flight center. Just a guy who can play a little defense and grab some boards, maybe get a put back or 2!! Basically, a bigger version of Birdman!!

 

[scotsman1948]

Howard resigns with the Lakers if he's smart and can grow a pair to play under the microscope/heritage of the 16-time champs.

don't you mean learn to play as Kobe's underling?

 

[Sman2011]

You dont break up the Heat core. Bosh has more than shown his worth on the defensive end and as a teammate. Everyone cant score all the time and still serve the best interest of the team. Bosh gets that. Scoop up Oden and try him out if you can sign him.

Howard walks to GSW, Clips, or Houston. I prefer GSW with Curry or Houston with CP3 and Harden. If its money he is after then he can wait with the Lakers until Kobe hangs em up and FA's come flocking or management has a conversation with Kobe and hands Howard the keys to the kingdom. Clips are nuts if they give up Bledsoe. CP3 will get injured again and they need the insurance. Besides I doubt Sterling has the capacity or desire to build a true winner.

Melo has to take a long extended look in the mirror and ask himself some tough questions. Where is he failing as a leader? How multi dimensional is he?

Pacers need to somehow lose West. I'd swear him and Chris Webber are related. They both get that deer in the headlights look when the pressure is tight. If they trade him for a good PG they will have duped the other team and come out ahead.

Spurs like the Heat should stand pat and give it one more try. I dont think their big 3 drop off a cliff just yet.

D. Rose. Does he make the Bulls championship material or are they only slighty better because the dynamics are different?

You say that, "Melo has to take a long extended look in the mirror and ask himself some tough questions. Where is he failing as a leader? How multi dimensional is he?"

Does melo have to ask himself these questions while looking at his reflection in the mirror? Or could he do it while sitting in a chair, or perhaps walking on the beach?

Just curious.

 

[Black Adam]

I know you WANT there to be too much risk, but that's just not the case!! Worst case for Dwight if he re-signs with the Lakers is that they play next season with much of the same team (hopefully healthy this time) as they had this past season and then re-build around Dwight via free agency next summer.

Not all that risky!!

i was wondering what risk punchline was talking about...

course the less talent on the Lakers roster the better he'll like it...

 

[bksballer89]

i was wondering what risk punchline was talking about...

course the less talent on the Lakers roster the better he'll like it...

The risk I'm talking about is later on in his contract if he re-signs. The last 3 years looks like a risk if he signs back with LAL for 5 more years. Kobe, Nash, and Pau will all be gone 2 years from now and it is not a slam dunk you sign a big name player in 2014.

 

[trojanfan12]

The risk I'm talking about is later on in his contract if he re-signs. The last 3 years looks like a risk if he signs back with LAL for 5 more years. Kobe, Nash, and Pau will all be gone 2 years from now and it is not a slam dunk you sign a big name player in 2014.

Yeah, because the Lakers have so much trouble signing big name players!!

 

[bksballer89]

Yeah, because the Lakers have so much trouble signing big name players!!

Lakers have not signed a big name player in nearly 20 years

 

[trojanfan12]

Lakers have not signed a big name player in nearly 20 years

Haven't had to. The Lakers have traded for them.

 

[Flauge]

im not sure Dwight wants to be in a team that will 'rebuild' around him. he turns 28 next year. he's entering his prime years now. having to put up with a constantly changing roster that accompanies rebuilding may not be what's best for him.

im not dwight.. i dont care where he goes as i dont hate the lakers one bit. id be perfectly content to see him resign in the western conference. but if im Dwight, i need titles, and where is that best opportunity right now if he joins the team. if you can honestly tell me as a laker fan you believe it to be LA, then good.. youre team probably has the best shot. Me personally, I say it's Houston. but who the hell knows.

 

[Flauge]

Haven't had to. The Lakers have traded for them.

NBA is changing. the new salary rules are going to be hard for most teams to load up talent. it's unfortunate. but of the teams in the NBA if any team can afford to pay a luxury tax it would be LA.

 

[bksballer89]

Haven't had to. The Lakers have traded for them.

Point is there is no lock you sign someone big after kobe retires. If I'm Dwight going back to LA is my 3rd option

 

[wlk3]

Point is there is no lock you sign someone big after kobe retires. If I'm Dwight going back to LA is my 3rd option

The Los Angeles Lakers, a third option... Wow.. That's a first... If you you're looking at the Lakers as a third option you don't deserve to wear the uni...

 

[trojanfan12]

im not sure Dwight wants to be in a team that will 'rebuild' around him. he turns 28 next year. he's entering his prime years now. having to put up with a constantly changing roster that accompanies rebuilding may not be what's best for him.

im not dwight.. i dont care where he goes as i dont hate the lakers one bit. id be perfectly content to see him resign in the western conference. but if im Dwight, i need titles, and where is that best opportunity right now if he joins the team. if you can honestly tell me as a laker fan you believe it to be LA, then good.. youre team probably has the best shot. Me personally, I say it's Houston. but who the hell knows.

Honestly, I really don't care if he re-signs or not!! If he does, great!! As I said, the Lakers go with basically the same team that they had this year, hopefully minus the injuries and then the Lakers re-build around him next summer.

If he doesn't, then they go with basically the same team minus Dwight, take their lumps for a season and then re-build next summer.

3rd option, is the rumored sign and trade with the Clips. I think this one is probably least likely, but at this point......who really knows?