ATL - Nico gets the boot

[Plossum]

Watching the Spurs play I think they really may mean it when saying Harper and Castle are off the table in any trades. It wouldn't be a bad idea to let this group grow together long term, even at the expense of making a run for Giannis.

[jschligs]

Watching the Spurs play I think they really may mean it when saying Harper and Castle are off the table in any trades. It wouldn't be a bad idea to let this group grow together long term, even at the expense of making a run for Giannis.

While they may be pretty good when Wemby is not there, the fact that he's been injured this much means if you want a real championship window you trade for Giannis at the expense of one of those young guys. I honestly believe Wemby is going to have a 5 year peak (I'll gladly eat crow if wrong). The idea behind the Spurs trading for Giannis and getting rid of Harper or Castle is that they'd immediately be able to compete with OKC. And they don't have to give up both. A Giannis/Wemby duo when healthy would pretty pretty unstoppable, especially with one of Harper/Castle as well. That's a 5 year run of dominance and championship contention.

Dynasties don't seem possible anymore. OKC may win a couple more, and they are the only team I see being close to a dynasty. But they'll be in cap trouble after a few years. Some thought Denver could be a dynasty, some thought Boston...heck, even a few thought maybe the Bucks (not me). It just doesn't happen anymore.

[Plossum]

Watching the Spurs play I think they really may mean it when saying Harper and Castle are off the table in any trades. It wouldn't be a bad idea to let this group grow together long term, even at the expense of making a run for Giannis.

While they may be pretty good when Wemby is not there, the fact that he's been injured this much means if you want a real championship window you trade for Giannis at the expense of one of those young guys. I honestly believe Wemby is going to have a 5 year peak (I'll gladly eat crow if wrong). The idea behind the Spurs trading for Giannis and getting rid of Harper or Castle is that they'd immediately be able to compete with OKC. And they don't have to give up both. A Giannis/Wemby duo when healthy would pretty pretty unstoppable, especially with one of Harper/Castle as well. That's a 5 year run of dominance and championship contention.

Dynasties don't seem possible anymore. OKC may win a couple more, and they are the only team I see being close to a dynasty. But they'll be in cap trouble after a few years. Some thought Denver could be a dynasty, some thought Boston...heck, even a few thought maybe the Bucks (not me). It just doesn't happen anymore.

It's tough. Giannis is obv an MVP candidate in his prime and makes them a legit threat from the get go. But he is 31 and is starting to show some concerns re durability. It's a tough call to make and not sure what I'd do as Buford. I'd def be gunning for Harper though out of the 2.

[Dick Tate]

Reverse the perspective.

They: “What we’re asking for is equal value for a top three player. You need to realize that.”

We: “We don’t care. He’s getting old with growing injury concerns. We’re deep and like where we’re headed. Best of luck with the Thunder or Rockets.”

[Ron Swanson]

Reverse the perspective.

They: “What we’re asking for is equal value for a top three player. You need to realize that.”

We: “We don’t care. He’s getting old with growing injury concerns. We’re deep and like where we’re headed. Best of luck with the Thunder or Rockets.”

Now insert Stephon Castle for Brandon Jennings, and Giannis for prime Chris Paul. It's a deserving-of-mockery stance to take if Spurs fans think that both those guys are untouchable in a trade that'd instantly make them a Top-3 contender in basketball even with Wemby's injuries. Somebody do the Castle vs. Ryan Rollins stat comparison...

[Matches Malone]

These ultra bigs cropping up recently always come with complications. Bol Bol, Wemby, Edey, Clingan etc. Being that big comes at a cost. Also the amount of prospects in next years draft that are 7'0 and bigger is kind of crazy lol.

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San Antonio should probably maximize the time they have with Wemby because who knows how long his body holds up. Giannis for Harper, Castle and Picks

[Ron Swanson]

Precisely also why I need to see a guy like Chet play more than 28-minutes a night and be healthy over the course of a full NBA season before I put him in that tier of blue-chip guys we should be targeting in a Giannis trade. This game isn't nearly as physical anymore, but it's just as brutal as ever on these rail thin 7-footers' knees, feet, and joints.

[DingleJerry]

Watching the Spurs play I think they really may mean it when saying Harper and Castle are off the table in any trades. It wouldn't be a bad idea to let this group grow together long term, even at the expense of making a run for Giannis.

While they may be pretty good when Wemby is not there, the fact that he's been injured this much means if you want a real championship window you trade for Giannis at the expense of one of those young guys. I honestly believe Wemby is going to have a 5 year peak (I'll gladly eat crow if wrong). The idea behind the Spurs trading for Giannis and getting rid of Harper or Castle is that they'd immediately be able to compete with OKC. And they don't have to give up both. A Giannis/Wemby duo when healthy would pretty pretty unstoppable, especially with one of Harper/Castle as well. That's a 5 year run of dominance and championship contention.

Dynasties don't seem possible anymore. OKC may win a couple more, and they are the only team I see being close to a dynasty. But they'll be in cap trouble after a few years. Some thought Denver could be a dynasty, some thought Boston...heck, even a few thought maybe the Bucks (not me). It just doesn't happen anymore.

In addition, by getting Giannis its insurance on Wemby, and Giannis insurance on Wemby. If one goes down you still have the other and can compete and have a chance. Get lucky and both are healthy and you're right there with OKC as the 1B favorite.

Throughout the season can load manage both and max both out at 65-70 games

[emunney]

Lots of hand wringing when AJ had a few decent games last season. He's young but it's weird he's been banished for the most part.

It is surprising that the Wiz aren’t force feeding him minutes. Then again if he sucks it will be another mark against Horst’s draft record.

If he was good, he'd very likely be playing. But it should be noted that he's behind lotto picks from the past 3 drafts.

[Dick Tate]

Reverse the perspective.

They: “What we’re asking for is equal value for a top three player. You need to realize that.”

We: “We don’t care. He’s getting old with growing injury concerns. We’re deep and like where we’re headed. Best of luck with the Thunder or Rockets.”

Now insert Stephon Castle for Brandon Jennings, and Giannis for prime Chris Paul. It's a deserving-of-mockery stance to take if Spurs fans think that both those guys are untouchable in a trade that'd instantly make them a Top-3 contender in basketball even with Wemby's injuries. Somebody do the Castle vs. Ryan Rollins stat comparison...

They probably already think they're a top 3 contender and would like to see Wemby in a playoff series before they think otherwise. Many of them probably hope the Thunder make the deal to see if SGA develops the type of chemistry with Giannis that Dame did.

[Ayt]

Watching the Spurs play I think they really may mean it when saying Harper and Castle are off the table in any trades. It wouldn't be a bad idea to let this group grow together long term, even at the expense of making a run for Giannis.

I definitely would not be trading either of them for Giannis. Wemby is 21. If you are assuming he's going to get hurt and have his career cut short, what is the point of anything?

Reverse the perspective.

They: “What we’re asking for is equal value for a top three player. You need to realize that.”

We: “We don’t care. He’s getting old with growing injury concerns. We’re deep and like where we’re headed. Best of luck with the Thunder or Rockets.”

Now insert Stephon Castle for Brandon Jennings, and Giannis for prime Chris Paul. It's a deserving-of-mockery stance to take if Spurs fans think that both those guys are untouchable in a trade that'd instantly make them a Top-3 contender in basketball even with Wemby's injuries. Somebody do the Castle vs. Ryan Rollins stat comparison...

Meh. I'm guessing you were also banging the drum for OKC to make trades during the previous two seasons?

[mattg]

Lots of hand wringing when AJ had a few decent games last season. He's young but it's weird he's been banished for the most part.

It is surprising that the Wiz aren’t force feeding him minutes. Then again if he sucks it will be another mark against Horst’s draft record.

If he was good, he'd very likely be playing. But it should be noted that he's behind lotto picks from the past 3 drafts.

I mean let's just be honest, AJ Johnson is garbage asf and it's been blatantly obvious since day 1. He was a massive reach in the draft, you can visibly see the skill level isn't good enough watching him play, and the BBIQ and floor game...just aren't even remotely close, subpar for even college ball. He was quick/fast and young, and that's the only real positives about him.

The issue is that players exactly like AJJ are dime a dozen in every single HS class, there's probably 20 dudes every single year in the RSCI top 100 with his profile as a prospect...and 99% of them show exactly what they are within a few games of college ball and end up staying 4 years and still end up as a fringe prospect after that amount of time. Horst just is helpless in that regard and watches one of those dime and dozen dudes go overseas and then reaches in the draft for no reason as if an American guard going to play in Australia rather than college is a positive (spoiler it NEVER is).

[drew881]

End of this Rockets Clippers game is lolz. Batum steps on the line while inbounding it to try to tie. Sengun airballing a free throw to ice the game.

[Willie Colon]

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KPJ would average 30+ if he got this kind of whistle.

[ReginaldDwight]

SGA is an elite foul baiter for sure. OKC easily the least watchable team in the league.

[blazza18]

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KPJ would average 30+ if he got this kind of whistle.

He already gets a pretty good whistle for some reason.

[Matches Malone]

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[ReasonablySober]

Hey that's Curtis. Hey Curtis.

[RiotPunch]

MPJ has been on one... go get him instead of LaVine, Horts.

[paulpressey25]

Kon with 33/5/9 tonight.

Yeah, it’s his team now.