AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/tim-ha...-interview

The NBA, according to Tim Hardaway.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/tim-ha...-interview

The NBA, according to Tim Hardaway.

I usually disagree with everything, but he's 100% here.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Brunson CBA violation rumor... There were tampering allegations when he signed and when his Dad was promoted to assistant coach. Do you think the Kawhi/Balmer thing is more common than we think?

I remember the last blatant (yet no irrefutable evidence) example was AK47 signing way under market to the fellow Russian Nets owner.

[Chicagojk]

I think the Mavs are really deep, albeit sort of weird fitting parts.   Looking at a lot of the good teams it seems like most everyone is really deep.  I can't remember rosters being this deep.  Time will tell. Some are older guys who maybe should be edged out, but on the surface teams look really deep.

[Chicagojk]

Someone mentioned Trae Young in a different post.  This is a big year for him.  #1 is he hasn't been signed to an super extension and Atlanta clearly wants to see more.  #2 from all accounts the Hawks had a great offseason and seemed really well set up if your star is a star.  Young has a team that is built around him.   I don't think he is a superstar but can he be the best player on a very good team?   That is what that is riding on this year.   He is looking for one of those 60 million dollar contracts.

[Chicagojk]

deep team but this is tough.

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1970215754697212375

[HoosierDaddyKid]

deep team but this is tough.

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1970215754697212375

That's bad news for them, damn. They're going to have to get another PG.

[F Gump]

That's bad news for them, damn. They're going to have to get another PG.

Suddenly the Mavs Exum-Russell-BW-Nembhard (with Kyrie looming over the horizon) rotation is looking positively stellar.

Three facts that might be relevant re HOU:
1 HOU depth at PG per B-R.com consists of Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday. Their quality depth is at the other end of the roster.
2 Last season, with Van Vleet sidelined, the Rox were 11-12. 
3 HOU has only 14 players but no room under the hard cap to sign another player (not that they would find an NBA starting-caliber PG on the street anyway at this point). 

("Trade, anyone?")

[Chicagojk]

In a lot of ways the Rockets are sort of like the Mavs now.  I think the Rockets are better, but they don't have a lot of creators.  Supposedly they really like Sheppherd, but even so it seems like a stretch for him to fill in as the lead ball handler for a contender at this stage.    Aaron Holiday was best in the role that he was being pegged for.   A fringe player who can fill in at times and mostly play pretty well.  Thompson is ahead of Flagg as a creator, I think, but a lot to ask for him to be the prime creator just like it will be for the Mavs and Flagg.   

They have some really attractive pieces to trade, but that would be a short term move.  Very interesting.

[Chicagojk]

Greek Freak on three of his favorite players:

My preference is two-way players. I like one player, Anthony Edwards. I like him a lot. I like Anthony Davis. See what I mean? I mean, I like Leonard, I like him a lot. I like guys who can play defense and offense and are dogs. When we get on the court, you know they're always going to give 100%. They might not play well, but they're always going to give 100%

[Knutsen]

Suddenly the Mavs Exum-Russell-BW-Nembhard (with Kyrie looming over the horizon) rotation is looking positively stellar.

Three facts that might be relevant re HOU:
1 HOU depth at PG per B-R.com consists of Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday. Their quality depth is at the other end of the roster.
2 Last season, with Van Vleet sidelined, the Rox were 11-12. 
3 HOU has only 14 players but no room under the hard cap to sign another player (not that they would find an NBA starting-caliber PG on the street anyway at this point). 

("Trade, anyone?")

Do they have any chance of getting an exception for Van Vleet?

[F Gump]

Do they have any chance of getting an exception for Van Vleet?

Perhaps- the criteria is "season-ending injury" and it must happen in the early season and the team has to apply for it (in essence saying the player won't be back) and it has to be approved by the league. 

BUT -- even if they got one, it would be worthless. The Rox have no ability to spend, as they are right up against the hard cap (so close to it they can't even give minimum salary). Getting an exception doesn't alter the hard cap math at all.

[Chicagojk]

Rockets will make a trade right?  Even if they like Sheppard, it doesn't seem smart to rely on this heavily as a second year player.  They feel like they are a true contender.    They have a lot of bodies too.    I am sure they don't want to trade Tari Eason, but he could bring back a really nice player if they moved him.    They also have future firsts, so maybe a less tier player and a first brings back a starter.    I just don't think a team who considers them a contender can enter the season with Sheppard and Holiday as your two point guards.

On the other hand, I think they probably hope for a Thompson and Sheppard closing lineup in the future.   They are more sure on Thompson than Sheppard in the present.  Just not sure they are ready for that now.

[Chicagojk]

Quentin Grimes at a stalemate

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1n...mal_offer/

[F Gump]

Rockets will make a trade right?  Even if they like Sheppard, it doesn't seem smart to rely on this heavily as a second year player.  They feel like they are a true contender.    They have a lot of bodies too.    I am sure they don't want to trade Tari Eason, but he could bring back a really nice player if they moved him.    They also have future firsts, so maybe a less tier player and a first brings back a starter.    I just don't think a team who considers them a contender can enter the season with Sheppard and Holiday as your two point guards.

On the other hand, I think they probably hope for a Thompson and Sheppard closing lineup in the future.   They are more sure on Thompson than Sheppard in the present.  Just not sure they are ready for that now.

I'm not convinced the Rox are all that enamored with RS (I think they have been trying to put lipstick on a pig when they talk him up, because he's been awful), but we are about to find out.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

ESPN has it's player rankings out for this upcoming season. This is a predictive ranking of next season and not necessarily a past resume ranking.

1. Jokic
2. SGA
3. Luka
4. Giannis
5. Wemby
6. Anthony Edwards
7. Steph
8. Lebron
9. Durant
10. Brunson
11. Jalen Williams
12. Cade Cunningham
13. Evan Mobley
14. Anthony Davis
15. Donovan Mitchell
16. Devin Booker

[Chicagojk]

ESPN has it's player rankings out for this upcoming season.  This is a predictive ranking of next season and not necessarily a past resume ranking.

1. Jokic
2. SGA
3. Luka
4. Giannis
5. Wemby
6. Anthony Edwards
7. Steph
8. Lebron
9. Durant
10. Brunson
11. Jalen Williams
12. Cade Cunningham
13. Evan Mobley
14. Anthony Davis
15. Donovan Mitchell
16. Devin Booker

Obiouvsly these lists mean nothing, but sort of suprising to see Wemby so high.   He can certainly be there or higher this year, but so far he has not won and has also been injured.   

Jalen Williams also feels high.  I really like him though.

[Mavs2021]

So Luka, Embiid and Zion (?) have suddenly lost a lot of weight and we supposed to believe it´s that they all magical found their work ethic and not Ozempic. LOL.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

So Luka, Embiid and Zion (?) have suddenly lost a lot of weight and we supposed to believe it´s that they all magical found their work ethic and not Ozempic. LOL.

It's definitely better to be skinny than fat. But I posted about 2 months ago Luka's weight loss makes him look sickly.  People probably think I'm just being a hater but I wouldn't be surprised if it's Ozempic.

I'm about 25lbs overweight and thought about taking it LOL.  Decided to try and grind through it for now. I don't want to lose any muscle mass or any of the side effects.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[Mizell] Agent David Bauman told me the Sixers’ formal offer was for four years and $39 million, and he still believes Grimes should command $20-25 annually. Some sort of one-year deal seems most likely, at the moment.