Around the NBA, 2018-19 Season thread

[gigantes]

He wants out of New Orleans a rookie won't change his mind.

I don't think it's that so much. More like he and his agent backed themselves in to a corner, and no matter how many good things might happen to NO, they'd still want out. Call it "pride," "saving face," and all that business.

Agents aren't too far from unions and lawyers as I see it. I mean, people were routinely being used & abused not so long ago, and it was vital that these folks got involved in order to protect peoples' rights. They were real champions, not too long ago. Unfortunately, these days they're more about how much you can leverage for personal gain, with no real thought to the overall concept of fairness & balance. This agent is the latter IMO.

/mini-rant du jour

The agent is charged with operating in the best interest of his client. Whether or not we agree with how things have played out, fairness and balance have little to with anything here.

Pretty much what I'm talking about.

WTF is "operating in the best interest of his client" supposed to mean, anyway?" In reality, it's just double-talk, starting with "CYA," which could mean almost anything, really.

Greed and whimsy. If we're playing a word game, I've heard much better obfuscations, that's for sure.

[MrDollarBills]

I don't think it's that so much. More like he and his agent backed themselves in to a corner, and no matter how many good things might happen to NO, they'd still want out. Call it "pride," "saving face," and all that business.

Agents aren't too far from unions and lawyers as I see it. I mean, people were routinely being used & abused not so long ago, and it was vital that these folks got involved in order to protect peoples' rights. They were real champions, not too long ago. Unfortunately, these days they're more about how much you can leverage for personal gain, with no real thought to the overall concept of fairness & balance. This agent is the latter IMO.

/mini-rant du jour

The agent is charged with operating in the best interest of his client. Whether or not we agree with how things have played out, fairness and balance have little to with anything here.

Pretty much what I'm talking about.

WTF is "operating in the best interest of his client" supposed to mean, anyway?" In reality, it's just double-talk, starting with "CYA," which could mean almost anything, really.

Greed and whimsy. If we're playing a word game, I've heard much better obfuscations, that's for sure.

I'm going to side with the player here regardless. The teams can ship these guys out or waive them on a whim. Only when the player asserts his agency does it become a problem with greed.

[DeRoma]

Man Brook Killed it tonight. Man if we could've teamed him up with AD we would've such a sick team.

[DarkXaero]

Great to see Brook ball out tonight and get the Bucks a big win at home.

[NyCeEvO]

Hmm, this is an interesting development with the Pels.

You have to think AD being offered a serious influx of help and also being in a position to help mentor the new guy is a real temptation to stay. Can't hurt that the new GM gets to say 'that was then, this is now' about past stuff. Also can't hurt that LA continues to look like a pretty sizable sh-tshow, and Boston continues to underwhelm.

I think it would make a nice feel-good story, anyway, and it's always nice to see a smaller market team defy the odds a bit.

.

Also, how cool is that the Knicks bummed their way to the worst record in the league, then wound up missing the two sure-shot talents of the draft?

He wants out of New Orleans a rookie won't change his mind.

I don't think it's that so much. More like he and his agent backed themselves in to a corner, and no matter how many good things might happen to NO, they'd still want out. Call it "pride," "saving face," and all that business.

Davis has played for the Pelicans for 7 seasons. They've been pretty bad for most of that time. When they finally put together a team that Davis liked, they short-changed Boogie on a new contract (when he was healthy before the Achilles) and didn't sign back Rondo, despite of how much Davis liked playing with him. They've wasted so much time and so many opportunities. While I feel bad when fans lose their superstar, I don't feel bad for the franchise, especially if they haven't done anything to surround their star with a good supporting cast.

Zion has the potential to become a superstar, but that's not a foregone conclusion. He's a great transition player but doesn't have a reliable shot. Davis isn't going to waste his prime, waiting 3-4 years for Zion to develop, when he can get traded now and be on a contender immediately. Zion isn't going to deliver him a championship in his first two seasons, but playing with LBJ in LA could.

Him still wanting out of New Orleans isn't pride, it's logical and makes a ton of sense.




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[MrDollarBills]

Man Brook Killed it tonight. Man if we could've teamed him up with AD we would've such a sick team.

When Brook came down and hit that nasty spin move in the lane off the dribble in the first half the commentators on TNT were shocked. I was like this ain't nothing new.

Good to see him killing it. I hope the Bucks go all the way just because Brook is a good dude.

[TroubleS0me]

vintage Lopez..u guys miss him?

[MrDollarBills]

vintage Lopez..u guys miss him?

Nah, it was best for both sides to part ways. I'm very happy for him though, this guy has dealt with a lot of losing in his career and now the world gets to see what he can really do when playing on a team that has talent.

[Prokorov]

vintage Lopez..u guys miss him?

Do I miss paying the max to a player who didnt really defender, wasnt aggressive, disappeared for big stretches, and got his offense at the expense of others.

It was a great move for us, we got Russell, who unlike lopez, showed he could carry a team to the playoffs..

Lopez is an awesome dude. but he isnt going to be the centerpiece of a team. as a role player for milwaukee/stretch big its a great fit... and at 10 million its solid value.

i was thrilled when we moved on from him. im still thrilled how it worked out

[Prokorov]

vintage Lopez..u guys miss him?

Nah, it was best for both sides to part ways. I'm very happy for him though, this guy has dealt with a lot of losing in his career and now the world gets to see what he can really do when playing on a team that has talent.

yeah as a 10M/year role player who isnt the focus, he is in a great place. that was never the case here

[MGrand15]

I can't believe KD ruined this Warrior squad playing right now against the Blazers. They're right back to their old way of playing. So much more entertaining. Klay and Steph actually have to try to carry the team. They have to play at 100% and unselfishly. So much better than the all star team the Warriors have been the last 3 years.

[SpeedyG]

I can't believe KD ruined this Warrior squad playing right now against the Blazers. They're right back to their old way of playing. So much more entertaining. Klay and Steph actually have to try to carry the team. They have to play at 100% and unselfishly. So much better than the all star team the Warriors have been the last 3 years.

KD is gone. I can't imagine him watching those trio return to their "normal" levels and thinking that's the best place for him, not if he wants to be considered one of the greats.

They clearly do not need him

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[MrDollarBills]

I can't believe KD ruined this Warrior squad playing right now against the Blazers. They're right back to their old way of playing. So much more entertaining. Klay and Steph actually have to try to carry the team. They have to play at 100% and unselfishly. So much better than the all star team the Warriors have been the last 3 years.

KD is gone. I can't imagine him watching those trio return to their "normal" levels and thinking that's the best place for him, not if he wants to be considered one of the greats.

They clearly do not need him

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They never needed him.

What a joke all of this is.

[Prokorov]

I can't believe KD ruined this Warrior squad playing right now against the Blazers. They're right back to their old way of playing. So much more entertaining. Klay and Steph actually have to try to carry the team. They have to play at 100% and unselfishly. So much better than the all star team the Warriors have been the last 3 years.

yup... its poetry in motion. screens, ball movement, hustle, communication, emotion.

much better then durant iso ball all night with klay and draymond not engaged

[Prokorov]

I can't believe KD ruined this Warrior squad playing right now against the Blazers. They're right back to their old way of playing. So much more entertaining. Klay and Steph actually have to try to carry the team. They have to play at 100% and unselfishly. So much better than the all star team the Warriors have been the last 3 years.

KD is gone. I can't imagine him watching those trio return to their "normal" levels and thinking that's the best place for him, not if he wants to be considered one of the greats.

They clearly do not need him

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makes no sense for KD to stay... no matter how many titles he wins there curry will always have 1 more ring and it will always be currys team he joined

if he goes to the knicks, and wins there, he is a basketball God and there will be GOAT talk. its a lock.

[gigantes]

I'm going to side with the player here regardless. The teams can ship these guys out or waive them on a whim. Only when the player asserts his agency does it become a problem with greed.

That's way oversimplifying IMO.

A responsible team invests in most of their players in a number of ways. Each roster slot has value, the team's league reputation matters (e.g. look at how SA had to give in to Kawhi's handlers playing games with them), a player's relationship with his peers and mgmt is important, not to mention the average player becomes a multi-millionaire via the team and league (in some ways artificially, at the expense of fans and the local taxpayers). Point is-- I don't believe any decent exec plays dice with the roster or the individual players.

I don't have a problem with a guy who's worked as hard as AD to ask out, but to refuse to reconsider in light of new developments is being petty and hardheaded IMO, altho I probably put a lot of that blame more on the paras... agent, not the player himself.

Just in general, I'm not too sympathetic to any multi-millionaire who has to bear the 'hardship' of moving teams. If I'm sympathetic, it's more towards players being unhappy in general, or not having a safety net after they blow through their money in retirement, or to G-leaguers / rival league players making so little money at the expense of the NBA, etc.

[gigantes]

Davis has played for the Pelicans for 7 seasons. They've been pretty bad for most of that time. When they finally put together a team that Davis liked, they short-changed Boogie on a new contract (when he was healthy before the Achilles) and didn't sign back Rondo, despite of how much Davis liked playing with him. They've wasted so much time and so many opportunities. While I feel bad when fans lose their superstar, I don't feel bad for the franchise, especially if they haven't done anything to surround their star with a good supporting cast.

Zion has the potential to become a superstar, but that's not a foregone conclusion. He's a great transition player but doesn't have a reliable shot. Davis isn't going to waste his prime, waiting 3-4 years for Zion to develop, when he can get traded now and be on a contender immediately. Zion isn't going to deliver him a championship in his first two seasons, but playing with LBJ in LA could.

Him still wanting out of New Orleans isn't pride, it's logical and makes a ton of sense.

You don't know that, and neither do I.

I do agree with 90% of what you wrote, but the situation has changed a lot, and I do think it makes a tonne of sense to at least reconsider. This guy here suggests that Davis may never find a better teammate. I don't know if that's true, but at least I think it's worth avoiding a kneejerk "no."

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2019/5/16/18627206/anthony-davis-trade-rumors-zion-williamson-new-orleans-pelicans-pairing

EDIT: also, I thought NO was kind of stuck of stuck between a rock and a hard place with re-signing Boogie. I'm sure they would have loved to have him back for the paltry amount GS got him for, but I doubt he gave them that chance. Agree tho, that whole situation was screwy, it cost them a lot, and I suspect we'll hear more about what happened behind the scenes down the road...

[NyCeEvO]

I can't believe KD ruined this Warrior squad playing right now against the Blazers. They're right back to their old way of playing. So much more entertaining. Klay and Steph actually have to try to carry the team. They have to play at 100% and unselfishly. So much better than the all star team the Warriors have been the last 3 years.

KD is gone. I can't imagine him watching those trio return to their "normal" levels and thinking that's the best place for him, not if he wants to be considered one of the greats.

They clearly do not need him

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makes no sense for KD to stay... no matter how many titles he wins there curry will always have 1 more ring and it will always be currys team he joined

if he goes to the knicks, and wins there, he is a basketball God and there will be GOAT talk. its a lock.

If KD’s rings with the Warriors are “hollow”, how can he realistically enter GOAT discussions? He’d have to win at least 3 championships as the clear cut alpha for the thought to even have some merit.

And considering that the most popular GOAT contenders (i.e. MJ, KAJ, LBJ, Russell) were excellent defenders for a considerable number of years, I don’t think there’s anything he can do to enter that tier.

[Prokorov]

KD is gone. I can't imagine him watching those trio return to their "normal" levels and thinking that's the best place for him, not if he wants to be considered one of the greats.

They clearly do not need him

Sent from my SM-G925T using RealGM mobile app

makes no sense for KD to stay... no matter how many titles he wins there curry will always have 1 more ring and it will always be currys team he joined

if he goes to the knicks, and wins there, he is a basketball God and there will be GOAT talk. its a lock.

If KD’s rings with the Warriors are “hollow”, how can he realistically enter GOAT discussions? He’d have to win at least 3 championships as the clear cut alpha for the thought to even have some merit.

And considering that the most popular GOAT contenders (i.e. MJ, KAJ, LBJ, Russell) were excellent defenders for a considerable number of years, I don’t think there’s anything he can do to enter that tier.

exactly why he needs to go to the knicks... winning their would be overhyped and his only chance to be in the GOAT conversaitons without winning 7+ titles. he will be immortalized with a title with the knicks. no where else would he have that luxury

[TheNetsFan]

makes no sense for KD to stay... no matter how many titles he wins there curry will always have 1 more ring and it will always be currys team he joined

if he goes to the knicks, and wins there, he is a basketball God and there will be GOAT talk. its a lock.

If KD’s rings with the Warriors are “hollow”, how can he realistically enter GOAT discussions? He’d have to win at least 3 championships as the clear cut alpha for the thought to even have some merit.

And considering that the most popular GOAT contenders (i.e. MJ, KAJ, LBJ, Russell) were excellent defenders for a considerable number of years, I don’t think there’s anything he can do to enter that tier.

exactly why he needs to go to the knicks... winning their would be overhyped and his only chance to be in the GOAT conversaitons without winning 7+ titles. he will be immortalized with a title with the knicks. no where else would he have that luxury

If he goes to the Knicks, and they finish behind us or they exit in the first round, that organization and fans will turn on him immediately.