2019 - 2021 Free-Agents

Ranma · Post #161 » by **Ranma** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 3:19 am

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Ranma · Post #162 » by **Ranma** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 7:24 am

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Ric Bucher, BleacherReport.com (12/5/18)

"It depends on what kind of player you are," Durant said. "If you're Kyle Korver, then it makes sense. Because Kyle Korver in Atlanta was the bulk of the offense, and he's not a No. 1 option at all, not even close. So his talents benefit more from a guy who can pass and penetrate and get him open.

"If you're a younger player like a Kawhi, trying to pair him with LeBron James doesn't really make sense. Kawhi enjoys having the ball in his hands, controlling the offense, dictating the tempo with his post-ups; it's how he plays the game. A lot of young players are developing that skill. They don't need another guy."

Other players at this point, though, may not be willing to trade their stardom for a chance to win a championship with LeBron because it would also mean winning one for LeBron. As one scout said, "Some stars are looking at it and saying, 'Why do I want to add to his legacy?'"

"So much hype comes from being around LeBron from other people," Durant said. "He has so many fanboys in the media. Even the beat writers just fawn over him. I'm like, we're playing basketball here, and it's not even about basketball at certain points. So I get why anyone wouldn't want to be in that environment because it's toxic. Especially when the attention is [expletive] attention, fluff. It's not LeBron's fault at all; it's just the fact you have so many groupies in the media that love to hang on every word. Just get out of the way and let us play basketball."

What comes with that is the knowledge that if the team wins, it will be credited mostly to James; and if the team loses, it will be blamed on everyone around him.

Why Doesn't Anyone Want to Play with LeBron Anymore?

Ranma · Post #163 » by **Ranma** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 9:31 pm

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Ranma · Post #164 » by **Ranma** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 9:34 pm

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Ranma · Post #165 » by **Ranma** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 9:53 pm

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Ranma · Post #166 » by **Ranma** » Sat Dec 8, 2018 4:05 am

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Ranma · Post #167 » by **Ranma** » Sat Dec 8, 2018 4:21 am

Luke Adams, HoopsRumors.com (12/7/18)

1. Kevin Durant, F, Warriors (player option)
2. Kawhi Leonard, F, Raptors (player option)

While Durant is probably 2019’s clear-cut top free agent, he and Leonard belong in a tier of their own as the only players who are mortal locks to get long-term, maximum-salary contracts if they stay healthy the rest of the way. They’re two-way monsters who are among the NBA’s top five players when they’re at their best. Durant is three years older than Leonard, but that won’t prevent him from securing a huge payday next summer.

5. Khris Middleton, G/F, Bucks (player option)
6. Klay Thompson, G, Warriors

It’s possible I’m weighing this year’s performance too heavily here, but the truth is there may not be much difference between Middleton and Thompson in terms of their market value. Both players are excellent three-and-D wings who can knock down outside shots in bunches and handle tough assignments on the defensive end.

Middleton is a year and a half younger than Thompson and is more of a play-maker than Klay (4.0 APG vs. Thompson’s 1.8). He’s also knocking down 41.9% of his three-point attempts this year, while Thompson is making a career-worst 35.0%. Thompson may very well surpass Middleton on this list by season’s end, but for now I want to reward the Bucks swingman for his terrific start.

2019 NBA Free Agent Power Rankings 2.0

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Ranma · Post #168 » by **Ranma** » Sat Dec 8, 2018 5:14 am

As I've pointed out elsewhere, notice how soft-spoken Stephen A. Smith is compared to his normally rambunctious takes as he is begrudgingly relaying information he's found that contradicts his previous drivel.

Also, lest we forget, a big part of the reason Kevin Durant wanted to join the Warriors was because of their vaunted team camaraderie. Given his beef with Draymond Green, that doesn't look to be available to him in Golden State anymore while the Clippers have been noted specifically and not coincidentally by Doc and other Clippers representatives for genuinely liking each other and playing together as an unselfish and cohesive unit.

How much of that and many players need to be sacrificed in order to make that happen remains to be seen. Of course, there are other things Durant is looking for such as being embraced and proving his doubters wrong, but the Clippers can also provide opportunities in those areas as well.

Personally, I'm not enthralled with the notion of bending over backwards for Durant and Kawhi Leonard is my top target this off-season, but having 2 birds in the hand instead of waiting for Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo to come out of the bush is a no-brainer every team in the league would have to go for.

The thought of adding Kawhi to what we already have along with having him to go along with a re-signed Tobias Harris and newly signed Khris Middleton has grown increasingly attractive to me for the past month or so. In fact, my preference right now is to have a trio of Kawhi, Tobias and Middleton over the duo of Kawhi and KD if salaries aren't considered.

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Ranma · Post #169 » by **Ranma** » Sat Dec 8, 2018 10:55 pm

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Ranma · Post #170 » by **Ranma** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 12:48 am

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Brian Kalbrosky, HoopsHype.com (12/10/18)

The Bucks are averaging 22.8 wide-open three-pointers per game, which is the most in the NBA. In fact, Milwaukee is currently taking more wide-open threes than the Golden State Warriors (12.2) and San Antonio Spurs (10.4) combined. An attempt is characterized as wide open when the closest defender is six feet or further from the shooter.

Alex Boeder recently noted that the Bucks have dominated from beyond the arc despite the fact that Antetokounmpo is shooting just 11.9 percent from three (via NBA.com):
“The Bucks have transformed into a three-point powerhouse — they lead the NBA in threes made this season and are on pace to make the third-most threes of any team in any season ever, after ranking 27th in the league last season — while being led by a superstar who ranks 374th in the league in long-range accuracy. He ranks just below an individual named Thomas Bryant there!”

The Giannis Effect: Bucks Get More Wide Open 3s Than Any Other Team

Ranma · Post #171 » by **Ranma** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 8:15 pm

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Ranma · Post #172 » by **Ranma** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 8:26 pm

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D.J. Foster, TheRinger.com (12/11/18)

The joke going into the season was that the Clippers starters were not drastically better than their bench; now it’s looking like a genuine team-building strategy. The logic behind it is clear enough: The league is obsessed with rest, and starters on the whole are playing fewer minutes per game than they ever have before. (Do you hear that, Tom Thibodeau?) Anthony Davis currently leads the NBA in average minutes, at 36.8; in the 2013-14 season, eight players averaged more than that.

Drafting well is the ultimate equalizer, but restricted free agency is a sandbox the big boys can’t play in. Teams usually don’t want to tie up resources in someone who isn’t regarded as a perfect fit, but there are productive players who spend much of the summer waiting for the phone to ring, mainly because the market is depressed and the process is messy. Teams with max-salary players know they can’t steal those restricted free agents without a sizable offer, because the originating team can simply match.

On the flip side, teams that have followed the “Big Three” model have seen mixed results. Houston is in a tailspin on both ends of the floor and is getting almost nothing from its bench. Washington has more than $70 million in salary invested in John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Otto Porter Jr. this season and hasn’t been above .500 at any point.

Will things change once the playoffs start? Toronto’s second unit crushed opposing teams last season, but that was all rendered irrelevant when LeBron James cruised into town for playoff games. When rotations tighten and players have more time to rest between games, depth will naturally matter less. LeBron, of course, is unique. Not every superstar can hold up under the weight of having to carry his team for 82 games. Home-court advantage helps. Fatigue accumulates. Those things matter.

Into the Deep: Why Depth Matters More Than Ever in the NBA

Ranma · Post #173 » by **Ranma** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 5:03 am

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Brian Windhorst, ESPN.com (12/11/18)

The Clippers, it seems, closely watch every Raptors and Warriors game this season. Even though they are having a terrific season of their own -- experiencing the rare joy of expectation-free success in the NBA -- the Clippers are rather transparently obsessed with chasing Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant in free agency next summer.

It's clear on their books. They've cleared a path to open two max salary slots.

It's clear in their actions. They've been treating the two like college recruits and sending executives just to watch numerous Warriors and Raptors games so they're visible.

It's clear in their hiring. They've brought on NBA legend Jerry West and respected journalist Lee Jenkins to the front office in an effort to prepare a grand slam pitch when the time is right.

Ballmer's vision is to land Leonard or Durant -- or both, as long as they're swinging for the fences -- and then ride them to glory and a new arena in Inglewood that could turn the Clippers into one of the premier franchises in the league.

Could any of this actually happen? Don't know. But boy are the Clippers really trying to find out.

The Clippers' Bold Plan to Land Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant

Ranma · Post #174 » by **Ranma** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 7:15 am

During the podcast referenced in the tweet below with Kevin Pelton and Royce Young, Brian Windhorst relayed from one of Kawhi Leonard's acquaintances, that Kawhi took much exception to Kevin Durant's description of him as a "system player" in his recent comments about players not wanting to play with LeBron James. Windhorst also put the caveat of who really knows what Kawhi wants in relation to the acquaintance's comments.

However, Pelton chimed in and mentioned that Durant seems to take greater pleasure in showcasing what he can do offensively against noteworthy defenders like Kawhi rather than teaming up with such players. Royce mentions that players in the league with the implication of LeBron and Durant, specifically, don't seem to think Kawhi belongs in the same tier as those two as elite two-way players. Windhorst goes on to mention further that LeBron was more upset in finishing behind Kawhi in the voting for the MVP award than actually losing that award.

This colors the situation significantly. While Ballmer & Co. may be preparing to pitch both players in the hopes of securing two premier free agents this summer, it may come down to choosing between the two, if we're lucky. Durant could always try to smooth things over with Kawhi and say his comments were not meant to slight him, but I think Durant considers himself the alpha dog and, given his obvious insecurities on display heretofore, I doubt he'll accommodate Kawhi's supposed preference to be the face of a franchise.

Even with Kawhi himself noting that he doesn't pay attention to the media, I'm sure those in his circle are relaying this information to him. It is looking increasingly likely that it will be one or the other this off-season rather than a twin set of stars. However, keep in mind that Jerry West is actually fond of both players and he was able to successfully mediate between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal during their days with the Lakers together before he departed that organization, so I guess anything is possible with the Logo on our side.

Even still, while I've previously acknowledged that Durant was the more transcendent talent and it was practically unanimous on the podcast in favor of Durant when presented with a choice between the two, I still prefer Kawhi to be our guy, especially with him being disrespected by the mercenaries of LeBron & KD. Having said that, I still also want another true star to join him with designs on Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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Kawhi, Lakers & Ariza, Bulls Issues

Brian Windhorst, Royce Young, Kevin Pelton and Andrew Han discuss what's more likely: Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers or Anthony Davis to the Celtics (3:00), issues with the Chicago Bulls (31:00), thoughts on the Lakers and if a trade for Trevor Ariza could help (42:00) and much more.

Ranma · Post #175 » by **Ranma** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 7:23 am

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Quake Griffin · Post #176 » by **Quake Griffin** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 1:24 pm

I would give Steph and Klay statues.

I wouldn't give him one....particularly if he leaves next year.

Ranma · Post #177 » by **Ranma** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 8:45 pm

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Ranma · Post #178 » by **Ranma** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:33 pm

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Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times (12/11/18)

“If when we all leave this, we’ve done something grand, with this organization, it would be the best story ever,” Rivers said. “It’s a key selling point for free agents. You can make your history here.”

Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker or even Klay Thompson wants to be a star in a place that will support them like one? This has become that place.

“Players understand they can get a contract with any team, it’s the other stuff that matters to them,” Rivers said. “They want to come to a place that’s competitive, a place that’s nice to live, the right locker room, a place where they know everybody in the office is in it for wins.”

Leonard, who didn’t play Tuesday because of a bruised hip, couldn’t have liked what he saw when the tired Clippers committed 16 turnovers and missed 18 of 25 three-pointers. But he surely has liked what he has seen from a team located down the road from where he played high school basketball in Riverside.

Defense? Before Tuesday, the Clippers were tied for the NBA lead in defensive effective field-goal percentage.

Depth? They led the NBA in bench scoring, and recently set a franchise record with nine players scoring in double figures.

Disciplined? They recently set a franchise record with only four turnovers in a win over Portland.

Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer Has All the Pieces in Place to Add Two More Big Ones

Ranma · Post #179 » by **Ranma** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:59 pm

Kevin Durant VI: KD on Zion and Giannis, 2018 Surprises, Media Dealings, Legacies, Summer Plans and More | The Bill Simmons Podcast (Ep. 454)

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with NBA Finals MVP, Kevin Durant to talk Zion and Giannis, 2018 surprises, media dealings, legacies, summer plans and more.

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Spoiler:

Ranma · Post #180 » by **Ranma** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 4:11 am

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Who will be a member of the Clippers this summer?