Ping Pong Ball Tracker

[RYgoBOOM]

I still think Shabazz is worth this gamble...

[shadrock]

I honestly cant believe some of you wanting to lose game to maybe have a chance to at best grab a 2-3rd option a few years down the road, I would rather fight for a playoff spot and a mid 1st than end up with a Cody Zeller nolan, or shabazz who are not team changing talents

Stop reading chad ford articles and do some proper research on this draft, there is more star potential in this drsft than most think. Archie Goodwin should be our priority, the guy is a slasher on the level of Harden, Wade, etc...

[UCF]

I love that our players are fighting hard to win games. However, looking long term it won't break my heart if we stay where we are at in the standings. A good draft pick and bringing back JJ would be great for next year.

[Cigamodnalro]

I love that our players are fighting hard to win games. However, looking long term it won't break my heart if we stay where we are at in the standings. A good draft pick and bringing back JJ would be great for next year.

So long as we trade Afflalo for future assets or young talent, I am totally on board with this.

[Skin]

I think we should rename this thread to "The Marcus Smart Lottery Ping Pong Tracker"

[thelead]

I think we should rename this thread to "The Marcus Smart Lottery Ping Pong Tracker"

I have been talking McLemore quite a bit but right now I think it's a coin flip between:

McLemore
Smart
Shabazz

Which leads me to believe JJ or Afflalo will be gone in the next two months.

[Skin]

I think we should rename this thread to "The Marcus Smart Lottery Ping Pong Tracker"

I have been talking McLemore quite a bit but right now I think it's a coin flip between:

McLemore
Smart
Shabazz

Which leads me to believe JJ or Afflalo will be gone in the next two months.

I bet it's gonna be JJ... and I bet we have no shot at Shabazz. I don't really care either.

[shadrock]

I think we should rename this thread to "The Marcus Smart Lottery Ping Pong Tracker"

I have been talking McLemore quite a bit but right now I think it's a coin flip between:

McLemore
Smart
Shabazz

Which leads me to believe JJ or Afflalo will be gone in the next two months.

Im starting to really like Archie Goodwin. He has the best superstar potential of any player in the draft. Top level slasher which is exactly what we need too!

[drsd]

I still think Shabazz is worth this gamble...

If your argument is that GM Hennigan and Coach Vaughn should teach a culture of losing in case the lottery-gods are kind, and then in case Shabazz MIGHT be a good player, then, well, I STRONGLY DISAGREE.




..

[Cigamodnalro]

If your argument is that GM Hennigan and Coach Vaughn should teach a culture of losing in case the lottery-gods are kind, and then in case Shabazz MIGHT be a good player, then, well, I STRONGLY DISAGREE...

We currently have a 12-20 record, and are on pace to only win 18 more games all season. Would you say the culture that this team has thusfar exhibited is a "culture of losing?" I only mean to say that it is possible to lose more games than you win without cultivating or in any way endorsing that "culture of losing" that is so damning to NBA franchises. The Thunder achieved it for four consecutive years, essentially. I think, under JV and Hennigan's careful guidance, we are capable of doing something similar.

We've lost each of our last, what, seven games by very narrow margins. And we're really, really trying to win each and every night. That we have not been successful in that endeavor, however, has not necessarily changed the culture or the expectations of this team. And that's an absolutely wonderful way to go, in my opinion. Fight to win every game, come up short for lack of talent, and increase both your resolve and your draft odds through that process. Draft well, acquire talent, and suddenly those same games you fought for but lost before become games that you fight for and win now. You've positioned yourself well for the future, have garnered an appreciation and a hunger for victories, and have drastically improved your personnel and ultimately your odds of long-term success in the process.

[shadrock]

Good start to the day, Toronto, Detroit, Cavs and Wiztards all winning...

[Horcy]

I honestly cant believe some of you wanting to lose game to maybe have a chance to at best grab a 2-3rd option a few years down the road, I would rather fight for a playoff spot and a mid 1st than end up with a Cody Zeller nolan, or shabazz who are not team changing talents

Would finishing 37-45 and lucking into the 8th spot, losing to the Miami heat by a huge margin in four consecutive games, getting the 16th pick in the draft, and overplaying our 26-30 year old veterans at the expense of our youth to achieve that end really be preferable to the alternative? Especially when several of those veterans could have been turned into youth or picks themselves, potentially speeding up and improving our rebuild to a considerable degree?

I think Redick really is the best way to illustrate this. Rank these three options:

A) Trade JJ Redick for a pick that forecasts in the 10-15 range in the 2014 NBA Draft
B) Keep JJ Redick, then let him walk for nothing as a free agent.
C) Re-sign JJ Redick to a multiyear deal starting at $8,500,000 a season, rewarding him for being a fan favorite and an Orlando Magic icon....while simultaneously destroying future cap flexibility and resulting in a platoon of aging role-playing SGs making, combined, almost $17,000,000.

I like Redick, and like him a lot, but in my eyes (C) is by far the worst position for this team moving forward (with [A] the best). I'd rather lose Redick for nothing this offseason than sign him to a large contract with Afflalo already locked up at almost $8,000,000 a season. I honestly am not sure that Redick/Afflalo at $17,000,000 brings all that more to the table than the Bulls debilitating $15,500,000 Boozer deal. It's just not prudent when you're competing with teams who have guys like LeBron James signed for 12.x million a year fighting for the same prize. And if your goal is not to win a championship, then, well, we are very different sorts of fans.

In any given four year period, I'd rather lose horribly three times and win everything one time than eek into the playoffs all four seasons. And I am absolutely positive any GM who has ever actually won anything would agree. There is no harder position, as a sports fan, than putting all of your faith in a team that you know, with confidence, is good but not good enough. That's what we were with Dwight last season, and really the season before as well. Give me youth and hope and potential, ultimately culminating in something very special, over a string of consecutive playoff births (and series losses) any day of the week.

Wow, the best post of the year so far
Definitely man. Sad but true. We all like JJ but we can't give him a luxury contract to be a 6th man.

[thelead]

updated

[shadrock]

Wall scheduled to return in 2 weeks according to wiretap, hoping that means the wiz win more games!

[Nyce_1]

I was all for playing to win and make a push for the playoffs. We were close, and if healthy, would've been the 8th seed. However, with our recent losing streak and string of injuries, I'm full on board with the tank. I'm excited with every CLOSE loss (big blowouts piss me off cause this team is better than that) and will be watching more and more college games.

What's our ranking now?