tOfficial 2015 NBA Draft/Free Agency Thread

[WiggyRuss]

Maybe if I type slower, you can keep up.

They are both power forwards. Tristan Thompson is a power forward who is a back up to Kevin Love, who is also a power forward. Just because Thompson occasionally plays center when the Cavs want to use a smaller lineup, doesn't change the fact that he's a BACKUP POWER FORWARD.

Therefore, the Cavs are looking at tying up about $40 million in 1 position. You trying to make it look better by claiming that Thompson can play center in some lineups, doesn't change the facts. You can put lipstick on a pig and it's still a pig. You can put Thompson at center in some lineups and he's still a backup power forward.

It's really not that complicated.

obviously you are stuck in the past and do not underestand the modern NBA game. Thompson played MORE minutes than Mozgov- both in the regular season and post season- because he played a lot of minutes at both C and PF. He played during crunch time in the 4th quarter. He played WITH Kevin Love a lot. I understand that Scott and the Lakers are stuck in the past- but you have to see how the modern game has evolved. I mean- just watching the Finals you could easily see how a lot of the time Lee and Thompson were battling eachother at the center position with small lineups around them. This is not the NBA from 10-15 years ago. BUT- if you choose to put your head in the stand and ignore those facts- I cant help ya.

 

[trojanfan12]

obviously you are stuck in the past and do not underestand the modern NBA game. Thompson played MORE minutes than Mozgov- both in the regular season and post season- because he played a lot of minutes at both C and PF. He played during crunch time in the 4th quarter. He played WITH Kevin Love a lot. I understand that Scott and the Lakers are stuck in the past- but you have to see how the modern game has evolved. I mean- just watching the Finals you could easily see how a lot of the time Lee and Thompson were battling eachother at the center position with small lineups around them. This is not the NBA from 10-15 years ago. BUT- if you choose to put your head in the stand and ignore those facts- I cant help ya.

It's not being stuck in the past, it's a fact. Sorry you're not bright enough to understand the game. So feel free to continue embarrassing yourself.

As for Thompson playing more minutes than Mozgov. Mozgov averaged 25 minutes per game for the Cavs and Thompson averaged 26. That doesn't make Thompson a center, nor does it make him worth $90 million dollars.

Btw, in his 25 minutes per game, Mozgov averaged more points than Thompson and only 1 rebound less.

For comparison, Kawhi Leonard just signed a 5 year $90 million contract (the same that Thompson is demanding) and averaged approx. 32 minutes per game.

Like I said, the Cavs are tying up nearly $40 million in one position. You can try to spin it all you want, it won't change the facts.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

It's not being stuck in the past, it's a fact. Sorry you're not bright enough to understand the game. So feel free to continue embarrassing yourself.

As for Thompson playing more minutes than Mozgov. Mozgov averaged 25 minutes per game for the Cavs and Thompson averaged 26. That doesn't make Thompson a center, nor does it make him worth $90 million dollars.

For comparison, Kawhi Leonard just signed a 5 year $90 million contract (the same that Thompson is demanding) and averaged approx. 32 minutes per game.

Like I said, the Cavs are tying up nearly $40 million in one position. You can try to spin it all you want, it won't change the facts.

So. What lineup do you anticipate seeing the most if Love/Tristan are playing together.

Will the lineups be proactive or an adjustment to what other teams are doing?

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

It's not being stuck in the past, it's a fact. Sorry you're not bright enough to understand the game. So feel free to continue embarrassing yourself.

As for Thompson playing more minutes than Mozgov. Mozgov averaged 25 minutes per game for the Cavs and Thompson averaged 26. That doesn't make Thompson a center, nor does it make him worth $90 million dollars.

For comparison, Kawhi Leonard just signed a 5 year $90 million contract (the same that Thompson is demanding) and averaged approx. 32 minutes per game.

Like I said, the Cavs are tying up nearly $40 million in one position. You can try to spin it all you want, it won't change the facts.

It's 40M base salary which isn't the problem, its the multiple x 3 (or whatever the tax penalty is x the years of the contracts) that has Gilbert scratching his head even though Wiggy says that Gilbert couldn't care less about it because he's a billionaire.

 

[trojanfan12]

So. What lineup do you anticipate seeing the most if Love/Tristan are playing together.

Will the lineups be proactive or an adjustment to what other teams are doing?

My guess would be that they'll start any games where Love and Mozgov healthy with Thompson on the bench. If they start struggling with a team that is using a smaller lineup like GSW or feel they can gain an advantage with a smaller lineup themselves, then we'll see Thompson at center. Pretty much every team has some version of a small lineup that they use at times. On that point, Wiggy is correct. Still doesn't change the amount of money that will be tied up in 1 position.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

My guess would be that they'll start any games where Love and Mozgov healthy with Thompson on the bench. If they start struggling with a team that is using a smaller lineup like GSW or feel they can gain an advantage with a smaller lineup themselves, then we'll see Thompson at center. Pretty much every team has some version of a small lineup that they use at times. On that point, Wiggy is correct. Still doesn't change the amount of money that will be tied up in 1 position.

Sorry, the question was really directed to Wiggy.
I agree with you though.


And my point is that a team usually needs to play their best lineup vs always having to worry about adjusting to the opponents.

It's nice to have mix and match pieces, but you need to be able to give your best players by far the most minutes unless games are blowouts.

The Cavs should be causing the mismatches because of the versatility of James.

 

[trojanfan12]

It's 40M base salary which isn't the problem, its the multiple x 3 (or whatever the tax penalty is x the years of the contracts) that has Gilbert scratching his head even though Wiggy says that Gilbert couldn't care less about it because he's a billionaire.

I agree. It will also make it difficult to do anything to improve the team going forward. It's like the comparison I used with the Lakers tying up money in longer term deals with older veterans. Example, Pau had a contract that made him virtually untradeable. If teams didn't want to take on Pau's $19 million, they're not going to want to take on Thompson's $18.8 million. The Lakers had to do it though, because they were in a championship window and did what they had to do to win titles. Those titles, make the re-build we're seeing now worth it.

The Cavs have to give Thompson his money because their window is right now. In a couple of years, that window will shrink considerably, if not close entirely (depends on Lebron's health and how quickly he declines) and the contract they are paying Thompson to win now, becomes the anchor keeping them from moving forward. The question will be whether or not they have a title or 2 to make it worth it.

 

[trojanfan12]

Sorry, the question was really directed to Wiggy.
I agree with you though.


And my point is that a team usually needs to play their best lineup vs always having to worry about adjusting to the opponents.

It's nice to have mix and match pieces, but you need to be able to give your best players by far the most minutes unless games are blowouts.

The Cavs should be causing the mismatches because of the versatility of James.

Exactly.

 

[Black Adam]

It's not being stuck in the past, it's a fact. Sorry you're not bright enough to understand the game. So feel free to continue embarrassing yourself.

As for Thompson playing more minutes than Mozgov. Mozgov averaged 25 minutes per game for the Cavs and Thompson averaged 26. That doesn't make Thompson a center, nor does it make him worth $90 million dollars.

Btw, in his 25 minutes per game, Mozgov averaged more points than Thompson and only 1 rebound less.

For comparison, Kawhi Leonard just signed a 5 year $90 million contract (the same that Thompson is demanding) and averaged approx. 32 minutes per game.

Like I said, the Cavs are tying up nearly $40 million in one position. You can try to spin it all you want, it won't change the facts.

well, you're wrong because your FACTS don't line up with Wiggy's opinions/point of view. but i DO have a time machine here if you wanna borrow it...

the year is 2015. DO set it the machine properly before use...

oh, and no going back to the 80's and buying Microsoft stock. that was MY idea first...

 

[WiggyRuss]

So. What lineup do you anticipate seeing the most if Love/Tristan are playing together.

Will the lineups be proactive or an adjustment to what other teams are doing?

well obviously it depends on the opposition to a certain extent- you are going to play things differently if you are playing the Wizards with Gortat and Nene- two true 7 footers (or close) - then if you are playing a team like the Hawks who have guys like Horford and Milsap who are undersized front court players.

The Cavs best lineup is probably Irving, Shumpert, James, Love, Thompson.


That is the great thing about having 4 bigs who are so versatile like the Cavs have with Varejao, Love, Thompson and Mozgov......pretty much all the time Love will play the 4, Mozgov the 5, and Varejao and Thompson mixed and matched at EITHER the 4 or 5, depending on matchups- and the particular strategy the coaching staff wishes to implement for that game-

not only that- but at times LeBron and James Jones played some 4 for the Cavs- and Thompson was at the 5- giving them an EXTREMELY fast and smaller lineup that really blitzes the opponent.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I REALLY want to see a super-small lineup of:

PG- Kyrie
SG- Mo
SF- Smith
PF- Bron
C- Thompson

ESPECIALLY against teams without traditional centers- (which are fewer and fewer these days)

A super-big lineup of

PG- Kyrie
SG-Shumpert
SF- Bron
PF- Varejao
C- Mozgov

is also intriguing to just pummel the opposition in the half court.....

its one of the great things about having 4 bigs that can all play and all compliment eachother so well.
If people dont realize that- and how that is how the game is moving towards- then they are just stuck in the past.

The great thing about Thompson and Love is that they compliment eachother just so damn well! There is no overlap of skill set there. The strengths of one are precisely the weaknesses of the other guy which makes them so efficient playing together.

Its one of the reasons why the Cavs are favored to win the most games in the league, and win the title this year. Just gotta thank Dan G. for really shelling out the dollars as well- on a level that no one in the history of the league has ever done before. Talk about commitment to winning....

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

I REALLY want to see a super-small lineup of:

PG- Kyrie
SG- Mo
SF- Smith
PF- Bron
C- Thompson

ESPECIALLY against teams without traditional centers- (which are fewer and fewer these days)

A super-big lineup of

PG- Kyrie
SG-Shumpert
SF- Bron
PF- Varejao
C- Mozgov

is also intriguing to just pummel the opposition in the half court.....

its one of the great things about having 4 bigs that can all play and all compliment eachother so well.
If people dont realize that- and how that is how the game is moving towards- then they are just stuck in the past.

The great thing about Thompson and Love is that they compliment eachother just so damn well! There is no overlap of skill set there. The strengths of one are precisely the weaknesses of the other guy which makes them so efficient playing together.

Its one of the reasons why the Cavs are favored to win the most games in the league, and win the title this year. Just gotta thank Dan G. for really shelling out the dollars as well- on a level that no one in the history of the league has ever done before. Talk about commitment to winning....

I wish you were the coach of the Cavs. They would be irrelevant if that were true. You're so dumb, it's funny.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I REALLY want to see a super-small lineup of:

PG- Kyrie
SG- Mo
SF- Smith
PF- Bron
C- Thompson


A super-big lineup of

PG- Kyrie
SG-Shumpert
SF- Bron
PF- Varejao
C- Mozgov

Umm, what about the 100m dollar man Love?

I like your first lineup, minus Smith, plus Love.

To make paying Tristan so much sorta worth it, he has to play as many minutes, or more, as Mozgov.

His future has to be at Center.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I REALLY want to see a super-small lineup of:

PG- Kyrie
SG- Mo
SF- Smith
PF- Bron
C- Thompson

ESPECIALLY against teams without traditional centers- (which are fewer and fewer these days)

A super-big lineup of

PG- Kyrie
SG-Shumpert
SF- Bron
PF- Varejao
C- Mozgov

is also intriguing to just pummel the opposition in the half court.....

its one of the great things about having 4 bigs that can all play and all compliment eachother so well.
If people dont realize that- and how that is how the game is moving towards- then they are just stuck in the past.

The great thing about Thompson and Love is that they compliment eachother just so damn well! There is no overlap of skill set there. The strengths of one are precisely the weaknesses of the other guy which makes them so efficient playing together.

Its one of the reasons why the Cavs are favored to win the most games in the league, and win the title this year. Just gotta thank Dan G. for really shelling out the dollars as well- on a level that no one in the history of the league has ever done before. Talk about commitment to winning....

Ummm.
No.
It's pretty much all because of and riding on James.
Take him out of the equation and you are fighting for a 6-8 seed.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Umm, what about the 100m dollar man Love?

I like your first lineup, minus Smith, plus Love.

To make paying Tristan so much sorta worth it, he has to play as many minutes, or more, as Mozgov.

His future has to be at Center.

Well- Tristan and Love each have to get the lions share of the minutes over Mozgov and Varejao- which was true for the most part last year.

With a year of experience under his belt it will be intersting to see how Blatt manages it all.

Like I have said before- at one point in Anderson Varejao's career he was a total black hole offensively- but he really worked himself up into a solid jump shooter and pretty nifty finishing around the basket and in the pick and roll. I never thought he would develop those offensive skills. Lets hope TT can do some of the same as he continues his development. The fact that TT is such a hard worker, and great kid and has improved a lot thus far definitely bodes well- but it could be 2 or 3 or 4 years before he really could become a guy that needs to be paid attention to on the offensive end- but i definitely think he COULD eventually get there.

With all the depth in the front court that the Cavs have between those 4 bigs- tehre is no reason to run any of them into the ground or play any of them over 32-34 minutes a game during the regular season. Its nice having 4 quality big men - that is for sure. Someteams dont even have 2!.

Mecca- your Clips could use another rim protector that is for sure...

 

[Black Adam]

I wish you were the coach of the Cavs. They would be irrelevant if that were true. You're so dumb, it's funny.

considering how LeBronBron treated his CURRENT coach last season it WOULD be interesting to watch...

 

[WiggyRuss]

I wish you were the coach of the Cavs. They would be irrelevant if that were true. You're so dumb, it's funny.

Could NOT have done worse than Thibs did against the Cavs! LOL.

DELLAVADOVA DOES YOU ON YOUR HOME FLOOR for a GAME HIGH IN POINTS- and the Bulls offense looks like a monkey fucking a football. the Bulls SHOULD have had me coaching that series!

SIMPLE ADJUSTMENT- PUT SOMEONE FAST ON KYRIE LIKE SNELL BECAUSE KYRIE CANT MOVE!!!! apparently that was too much for Thibs to reason out- that and his idiocy in continuing to play the in-way-over-his-head Mirotic who had lost his mind. SEE- I would have done better than Thibs! lol.

 

[LAD]

It's 40M base salary which isn't the problem, its the multiple x 3 (or whatever the tax penalty is x the years of the contracts) that has Gilbert scratching his head even though Wiggy says that Gilbert couldn't care less about it because he's a billionaire.

You referring to the repeat offender tax that's applied after the 3rd consecutive year of paying the luxury tax?

 

[LAD]

I agree. It will also make it difficult to do anything to improve the team going forward. It's like the comparison I used with the Lakers tying up money in longer term deals with older veterans. Example, Pau had a contract that made him virtually untradeable. If teams didn't want to take on Pau's $19 million, they're not going to want to take on Thompson's $18.8 million. The Lakers had to do it though, because they were in a championship window and did what they had to do to win titles. Those titles, make the re-build we're seeing now worth it.

The Cavs have to give Thompson his money because their window is right now. In a couple of years, that window will shrink considerably, if not close entirely (depends on Lebron's health and how quickly he declines) and the contract they are paying Thompson to win now, becomes the anchor keeping them from moving forward. The question will be whether or not they have a title or 2 to make it worth it.

Great analogy.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Could NOT have done worse than Thibs did against the Cavs! LOL.

DELLAVADOVA DOES YOU ON YOUR HOME FLOOR for a GAME HIGH IN POINTS- and the Bulls offense looks like a monkey fucking a football. the Bulls SHOULD have had me coaching that series!

SIMPLE ADJUSTMENT- PUT SOMEONE FAST ON KYRIE LIKE SNELL BECAUSE KYRIE CANT MOVE!!!! apparently that was too much for Thibs to reason out- that and his idiocy in continuing to play the in-way-over-his-head Mirotic who had lost his mind. SEE- I would have done better than Thibs! lol.

Man, you keep referencing beating the Bulls like you won a title. That's pretty pathetic. We're not even talking about the Bulls.