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[Chi town]

Simmons fits well w Cousins and Wall.

Wait what?

Cousins will be primarily a stretch 5 moving fwd more so than Embiid and Wall is a good secondary creator that is a passable shooter. Wood is a good stretch 4 too.

If Rockets are looking to reload and not rebuild like they say they are I can see where Simmons fits with the older vets. Problem w Rockets is they don’t have much young talent.

Gordon Cousins Wood and playmaking of Wall aren’t bad for Simmons.

[Jimako10]

If Deandre Hunter can sustain his current level of play or close to it, the Hawks are definitely making the playoffs. Their extra depth need to build chemistry first though.

His 3 ball looks real. He looks to have made big strides.

If you were Atlanta, wouldn't you be trying to trade for Harden? So what if he doesn't want to go there, he's got 2 years left and they have a lot of pieces. Id offer John Collins + Huerter/Reddish and roll out a line up of Trae/Harden/Bodgan/Hunter/Capela. They have the depth to do it too.

[cjbulls]

I've watched all his games and I haven't seen any gameplanning.

So what's the big gameplan, sag off him? Orlando was doing that. He shot over them. Play him for the pass? He just finished himself instead.

We have had players somewhat like him, Rondo, Kidd and Ben Simmons come to mind. I don't remember any gameplans that neutralized them.

The way to defend him is ALWAYS to sag off. One OK shooting game against Orlando scrubs doesn't change that.

That's not much of a game plan. It's just the other team recognizing that you're so bad at something you do that they don't have to pay attention to that part of your game.

And that is done to Ben Simmons and was done to Rondo and Kidd. 16 all-star appearances and counting.

And I can tell you didn't watch because Orlando played their regular lineup the whole game. Their starters even finished the game.

[R3AL1TY]

If Deandre Hunter can sustain his current level of play or close to it, the Hawks are definitely making the playoffs. Their extra depth need to build chemistry first though.

His 3 ball looks real. He looks to have made big strides.

Yep, a 2 way player emerging. Reddish may lose some playing time if Hunter becomes very legit, but Reddish has been looking decent too lately.

[Ice Man]

Reddish may lose some playing time if Hunter becomes very legit, but Reddish has been looking decent too lately.

He looked surprisingly good in the game that I saw him. I have pretty much sworn off having firm opinions on 1-and-doners during the first two years in the league. The initially good ones can stop progressing and the initially terrible ones can become pretty good.

[cjbulls]

If Deandre Hunter can sustain his current level of play or close to it, the Hawks are definitely making the playoffs. Their extra depth need to build chemistry first though.

His 3 ball looks real. He looks to have made big strides.

Yep, a 2 way player emerging. Reddish may lose some playing time if Hunter becomes very legit, but Reddish has been looking decent too lately.

They have the problem of too many talented guys. Center is somewhat locked with Capela and Okongwu. PG is too with Trae and Rondo.

So you have 144 minutes to split among John Collins, Gallinari, Bogdanovic, Reddish, Hunter and Huerter (and Dunn!).

[R3AL1TY]

His 3 ball looks real. He looks to have made big strides.

Yep, a 2 way player emerging. Reddish may lose some playing time if Hunter becomes very legit, but Reddish has been looking decent too lately.

They have the problem of too many talented guys. Center is somewhat locked with Capela and Okongwu. PG is too with Trae and Rondo.

So you have 144 minutes to split among John Collins, Gallinari, Bogdanovic, Reddish, Hunter and Huerter (and Dunn!).

Yep, their coach is going to have a hard time choosing rotations. The new guys will have to build chemistry with the old guys in order for the team to improve.

[Butler4thewin]

that kid Cleveland drafted looks pretty good so far but it is only preseason but williams has me happy as ****

[Butler4thewin]

i wonder if harden ends up out west i hope so man because butler and giannis arnt players that cant really be overcome like lebron better yet i still believe butler will own giannis in the playoffs for the rest of his prime but i think butler has maybe 2 or 3 seasons left at this level tops

[Ice Man]

They have the problem of too many talented guys.

It's a rich man's problem. That's the right sort of problem to have.

Center is somewhat locked with Capela and Okongwu. PG is too with Trae and Rondo.

So you have 144 minutes to split among John Collins, Gallinari, Bogdanovic, Reddish, Hunter and Huerter (and Dunn!).

They got good in a hurry. Obviously, the Trae pick is the central event, but credit to Atlanta for all those other players, none of whom were on the team 3 years ago. That makes for a lot of good moves.

[sco]

If Deandre Hunter can sustain his current level of play or close to it, the Hawks are definitely making the playoffs. Their extra depth need to build chemistry first though.

His 3 ball looks real. He looks to have made big strides.

If you were Atlanta, wouldn't you be trying to trade for Harden? So what if he doesn't want to go there, he's got 2 years left and they have a lot of pieces. Id offer John Collins + Huerter/Reddish and roll out a line up of Trae/Harden/Bodgan/Hunter/Capela. They have the depth to do it too.

It makes sense for them to do a consolidation trade and Collins looks like a piece that could interest Houston. I'd love to get in on that and get Heurter or Reddish for Otto + filler. If we think folks here complain about our guard tandem being shot happy...

That said, I can't believe Houston is not taking deal for Simmons. That kid can ball. I read they wanted 3 picks on top of that. If they get 1 pick, that'd be a home run.

[R3AL1TY]

His 3 ball looks real. He looks to have made big strides.

If you were Atlanta, wouldn't you be trying to trade for Harden? So what if he doesn't want to go there, he's got 2 years left and they have a lot of pieces. Id offer John Collins + Huerter/Reddish and roll out a line up of Trae/Harden/Bodgan/Hunter/Capela. They have the depth to do it too.

It makes sense for them to do a consolidation trade and Collins looks like a piece that could interest Houston. I'd love to get in on that and get Heurter or Reddish for Otto + filler. If we think folks here complain about our guard tandem being shot happy...

That said, I can't believe Houston is not taking deal for Simmons. That kid can ball. I read they wanted 3 picks on top of that. If they get 1 pick, that'd be a home run.

Atlanta seems to never to jump into trade talks to improve their team. If they make a trade, it's like they're helping a contender like when they traded Korver to the Cavs. Harden will be perfect for them but I think Harden personally will want to go to a more proven team. But this is where a FO should up their negotiation skills and do some convincing for him to come over.

Simmons can ball but having him and Wall is a bad idea to me. It will become more necessary for Houston to have more shooters on their team if Simmons come over.

[qianlong]

Random thoughts...

Harden and House for Simmons, Filler and picks... Simmons fits well w Cousins and Wall.

Culver has improved. He’s an intriguing 2 way playmaker and won’t be getting enough opportunity in MIN w Edwards KAT and Rubio and Russell. His shot has improved a lot.

Bane can play play and will help MEM quite a bit.

LaMelo will hit his wall during the season but he’s way past his brother at this same point when Lonzo was getting started.

The one thing I don't agree on is Simmons fitting well with Cousins and Wall. I think it's an awful fit because Simmons simply can't shoot. Cousins, while he can shoot, needs space that Simmons would bring, and Simmons is duplicative with Wall. If they make a deal for Simmons and change, my opinion would be that their best bet would be to flip Simmons to a 3rd team and get back someone who fits better - maybe to the Clippers for Paul George.

The best 2 team Harden trade, IMO, is Harden + House to New Orleans for Ingram, Jaxson Hayes, NAW, Kira Lewis, and the Jrue-Holiday picks. That creates a dangerous, likely immediately contention level Pelicans team:

1: Harden, Ball
2: Bledsoe, Reddick, Thornwell
3: House, Hart
4: Zion, Meli, Gabriel
5: Adams, Hernangomez

Meanwhile, Houston is left with a competitive roster and regains draft capital:

1: Wall, Lewis
2: Gordon, NAW, McLemore
3: Ingram, Tate, Nwaba
4: (Wood), Tucker, Caboclo, G.Green
5: Wood, Cousins, Hayes

never thought of it but pelicans and rocket look like great trading partners.
Don't like the Atlanta suggestion, Harden and Trae would not fit very well to me, both need the ball on offense and perform poorly on the other side.
Is hard not to envy Hawks and Pelicans, they both have a player to build around plus several extra talented pieces.

[qianlong]

My last comment made me think of which roster have a better future. Which ones I would prefer as a gm. It does not mean a better team at the moment.
I think the most important thing in this is if you have a player or a couple of players to build around,even if just for a short stint. Good high level depth helps if you already have the 1a player. Most of them will never win anything but at least they provide a clear direction.

In no particular order but above the bulls:
Lakers: James, Davis
Clippers: Leonard and George
Gsw : Curry, maybe Wiseman
Houston: Harden (of course this can change quickly)
Miami : Jimmy and depth
Bucks: Giannis
Denver: Jokic
Portland: Lillard
Dallas: Luka
Pelicans: Zion and Ingram
Hawks: Trae and depth
Grizzlies: Morant
Philly: Simmons and Embiid, they may be not the best couple but both are worthy of a build around

Not so clear but still better talent IMO
Celtics: Tatum and Brown
Nets: They could be in the previous group if KD is healthy
Jazz: Mitchell & Gobert
Suns: Booker and Ayton, with Paul and Bridges as stabilizing factors
Wolves: not great and badly fit but kat, p!us Edwards, Culver, Russell. I could see the argument for being in the lower tier.


Teams I would put in our tier, perhaps we are better than some and worse than others but I would say it is debatable:
Kings
Raptors: a better team but they look like overachievers with no outstanding talent
Pacers
Bobcats
Wizards
Okc: they have only SGA but they have lot of picks coming

I would say clearly worse:
Magic
Spurs typing this feels weird
Cavs
Pistons
Knicks

[BeKuK]

As I watch the game I wonder what Doc Rivers will achieve with this team. I don't know why, but I feel like this will not be an easy year ...... especially for Doc Rivers.

[R3AL1TY]

Did anyone see that Derrick Jones Jr. alley hoop dunk on Monte Morris? My goodness

[MrSparkle]

Quickley with an amazing game. Maybe Thibs found his guy.

[MrFortune3]

I stand by my statement. He was clearly a more important player to them in that role. He wasn't going to get to have a bigger role playing behind those 3.

We'll have to disagree on that but I respect your opinion.

You can disagree but they signed one to a long term deal and declined to match an offer sheet on the other. Which do you think they thought was more integral?

They chose the cheaper guy to stay out of the luxury tax and said cheaper guy was traded along with a slew of picks to acquire a different guy.
If said guy they chose was more integral, said guy would still be on the team.

[MrFortune3]

People naturally assumed the draft would be bad because of the lack of athletic/flashy players but turns out this draft seems really loaded with potential solid 2 way skilled players. Kinda its own unique draft.

Too much desire for "wow" instead of paying attention to the ability of the players.

[kulaz3000]

Did anyone see that Derrick Jones Jr. alley hoop dunk on Monte Morris? My goodness

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