NBA Off-season Trades/news

[Stonecutter]

I was praying Okur would opt out of Utah. Okur would be a brilliant upgrade on Bonner but after stealing Blair and Jefferson, I think we were pretty much done.

 

[Special K]

Word going around now is..

Hill to celtics
Big Baby to spurs


wow :lol:

 

[Tiger Hawk]

I maintain VC for Lee & Turkoglu is still an upgrade. Lee had a solid rookie season, but he's limited offensively and Turkoglu isn't worth $10m a year. Carter is a better shooter, better finisher and better defender. If he buys in and realises he's this close to a ring, he should leave it all on the court. Besides all that, you don't need him to dominate. Just pick his spots when to create for himself and hit the open shot. Realistically, the biggest concern is the loss of Gortat (and Battie), leaving no back-up to Howard. However, if Howard's playing 35 - 40 minutes a night, you don't break the bank on a back-up. There's no shortage of veteran players looking for a ring who can fill that role for less than Gortat will command on the open market (around $5m).

Also - Pachulia should get similar dollars to Gortat. Solid back-up who can score and is tough. No point signing him if you're letting Gortat go. Gortat is younger and has more potential, but bite the bullet, let Gortat go and sign a couple veterans for the minimum (or even a sign and trade if possible).

LeBron doesn't need to move to the 4, just develop a post game. He has the skills and talent, and would destroy all other wings who try to guard him there.

 

[Ridders]

Fair enough, i guess we will have to wait for the regular season to see how things turn out. I still don't buy the Cleveland team primarily because they still haven't solved their two biggest problems.
1) Having an athletic permiter guy, other than Lebron, who can effectively guard the likes of Kobe, Wade, VC, Pierce etc. This is where i thought they would really chase Artest and Ariza, but i guess both were asking for too many years in their contracts.
2) A big men who helps you defend the pick and roll, something Orlando killed them with. As much as i think the Shaq trade helps them, this is still one of their biggest weaknesses.

Thats the scary thing about Lebron. He is the best guy in the NBA without having a reliable mid-range jump shot and no semblance of a post game. When he adds these two components, WOW.

As much as it pains me to say it, i really really like the Celtics team. They haven't lost anyone significant and have added a great back-up to KG in Sheed. IF they can stay healthy imo, they at least would have to be equal favourites with LA. SA are another team that have quietly done alot. If Manu stays healthy, a team starting trio of Parker-Jefferson-Duncan, with Manu providing the spark of the bench is a very intriguing proposition. I can't remember the last time i was this hyped for an upcoming NBA season.

 

[Special K]

Just on the Cavs why would you sign there if you are Artest or Ariza? Lebron and Shaq are likely to only be there for another season.

Imagine signing a 3 year deal then watching them both walk and being stuck with Wally Z!!

 

[Stonecutter]

Word going around now is..

Hill to celtics
Big Baby to spurs


wow :lol:

I like that move, Bonner too spread the floor, Blair and Davis too provide rebounding, toughness and solid inside games off the bench. Only issue is if Davis and Blair clog up the middle too much for Duncan. That's the reason why I would've loved us too give Okur a crack.

 

[Ridders]

Yeah, the Spurs have done a real nice job of addressing their front court deficencies. Big Baby really did have a mini-break out in this last post-season.

Another factor i only thought about in the Shaq trade after your reference to Bonner spreading the floor. You can rip Big Z for whatever you want, but one of the things he has given Lebron throughout his career is great spacing in the paint due to his ability to consistently hit the mid-range jumpshot, which consequently has given Lebron the room to dominate around the rim. The one thing i'm interested to see is how Shaq affects this, as has made his living of dominating in the paint. Does he clog up the space around the rim to much or do they find a way to make it work. In all likelyhood it will be the latter but its just an interesting observation to make.

 

[McLovin]

Just on the Cavs why would you sign there if you are Artest or Ariza? Lebron and Shaq are likely to only be there for another season.

Imagine signing a 3 year deal then watching them both walk and being stuck with Wally Z!!

I think winning a championship in your first year would be reason enough. Lebron isn't a lock to walk away either...

 

[Special K]

Lebron is way better odds to walk then they are to win a title next year.

 

[El Coconuto]

Unless something catastrophic happens this season -- Cavs blow the mid-level on someone like AI, the Shaq experiment falls apart fast, Mike Brown is re-signed for too many more years -- I would actually put my money on LeBron staying in Cleveland. But that's just me...

 

[Ridders]

I'm very split on the whole Lebron thing. I've always had the idea that alot of it was just posturing by James and that he would eventually stay in Cleveland. BUT if he is dis-satisfied with the state of the team in 2010 and a team like the Knicks can offer him a max contract, along with surrounding him with another big free agent signing (i.e. Bosh, Wade ec.) and a good supporting cast, i could see him possibly making the move. As much as he is a guy who i'm sure puts alot of pride in being the home-town star who is the face of that city, he has always stated his ambitions as a businessman and wanting to be the first billionaire sportsmen.

On a little sidenote if you have a little too much spare time, like me, nothing is more fun than going on a Cleveland Cavs forum and trolling about Lebron leaving in 2010. A close second is starting a "Larry Hughes Appreciation Thread". Cannot remember the last time i saw such a paranoid fan base.

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

i think wolves will make a huge splash next season, cant wait just look at the talent they got now
Kevin Love
Jonny Flynn
Ricky Rubio
Corey Brewer
Charlotte pick
Utah pick
T-Wolves pick should be top 4 in a strong draft
they also have a whole heap of cap space for next year too with only a few players left Jefferson,Love,Flynn,Rubio,Songila,Brewer,Ellington

btw if celtics get hill than they shoulkd be faves

 

[Ridders]

I hope Big Al can recover from that horrible knee injury, he is imo the best young low-post scorer in the league. What is the latest on the Rubio situation. Will he play for the T-Wolves this season or stay in Europe?

 

[McLovin]

I vaguely remember reading he's going to skip this year and play in Spain this season. Could be wrong...

 

[El Coconuto]

Saw an interesting segment of PTI yesterday where they discussed LeBron and D-Wade both opting out at the end of the season and playing together in a place that had enough salary to afford them both (likely New York). Apparently they talked about it with each other a lot during the Olympics and promised each other that if they were each in bad positions that they would pull the trigger. Interesting.

 

[Ridders]

Saw that segment as well. Personally while the idea is amazing, i don't see how it works. Both are perimeter guys who need to dominate the ball, i don't see how they could co-exist for a full NBA season. While they did co-exist in the Olympics team, they both accepted playing vastly dimished roles to what they have on their respective franchises. Imo something like Lebron and Bosh or Amarie is far more feasible and would work out better.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

The second coming of MJ & Pippen...?? Would be awesome to see.....

 

[Ridders]

For some reason i don't see Wade as a guy who would play second fiddle to someone while in his prime.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Just read Dice has agreed to terms with Spurs - 2 year contract for the midlevel. Wow, I know he's getting on a bit but he adds experience, composure and depth to an already impressive looking Spurs squad for next year. Only reinforces my belief that they are the only serious challengers to the Lakers next year out West.

 

[Ridders]

Spurs, LA and Boston are all massively stacked with talent. I would be really surprised if next years NBA champions didn't come from these 3. I suppose Cleveland and Orlando would also have outside chances.