Official 2025-2026 Regular Season Thread

[jezzerinho]

Unrestricted free agents from the 2023 draft:

Jett Howard
Kobe Brown
Kobe Bufkin
Dariq Whitehead
Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Nick Smith Jr.
Jalen Hood-Schifino

Incredibly poor draft year but the cap crunch also meant that patience wore very thin with these guys that couldn't display useful pro-level performance in their first contract.

They got jettisoned a lot quicker than most. GMs couldn't hide their errors by extending questionable draft picks because there wasn't the salary space.

[eyriq]

Read on Twitter

?t=nxipF7vSGVaOrceDw-ln5A&s=19

[RookieStar]

Unrestricted free agents from the 2023 draft:

Jett Howard
Kobe Brown
Kobe Bufkin
Dariq Whitehead
Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Nick Smith Jr.
Jalen Hood-Schifino

Incredibly poor draft year but the cap crunch also meant that patience wore very thin with these guys that couldn't display useful pro-level performance in their first contract.

They got jettisoned a lot quicker than most. GMs couldn't hide their errors by extending questionable draft picks because there wasn't the salary space.

Jett is the highest pick in that list right?
They are all G/F wings too.

[RookieStar]

Read on Twitter

?t=nxipF7vSGVaOrceDw-ln5A&s=19

Pretty elite company right there

[BadMofoPimp]

Read on Twitter

?t=nxipF7vSGVaOrceDw-ln5A&s=19

Paolo coulda been there too if he wasn't injured so often.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

Read on Twitter

?t=nxipF7vSGVaOrceDw-ln5A&s=19

Paolo coulda been there too if he wasn't injured so often.

I think Franz would have gotten it last year if he didn’t miss about a month and a half worth of games. Paolo would too if he didn’t miss 2 months…. His totals are
Points: 4,692
Rebounds: 1500
Assist:968
But he still has time to join but his body needs to get in line.

[DiplomaticMagic]

Someone on Twitter said this and i forgot about this. But Paolo needs 65 game requirement for all-nba and to be eligible for super max. No wonder we taking it slow with him

[GelbeWand09]

Despite the up & downs, lets not forget Tristan has improved quite a bit.

Read on Twitter

[J-Mezzy]

All I know is when Paolo comes back, we better still let Bane be the go to guy down the stretch.

[Bergmaniac]

We are first in the league in free throw attempts rate even with our best foul drawer out for almost half the season so far. We are fourth in the league in the last 9 games that Paolo missed, Bane has stepped up and gotten to the line a lot more lately, Franz continues to get there a lot, Black is contributing quite a bit too, Wendell and Goga are getting to the line at a great rate too, very nice to see.

[Skybox]

The WHOLE team is playing offense at a different pace and with improved ball movement...it's far from a given that Paolo is going to be resistant to that. Possessions seems to be the metric this year- Spo has added a few gears, HOU is piling up offensive rebounds at a historic rate, teams are routinely scoring 130+ in regulation. Some of the best offensive teams are close to the bottom in 3pt attempts because they are running to the rim (and, as a result, the free throw line).

Remember, HE is the guy that clearly asked for playmaking help last season. The way he and the others (notably Franz) have had to play isn't necessarily the way he wanted to play. I'll be disappointed if his re-integration is really that big a concern - other than just getting there physically...Franz has been the motor in Paolo's absence-initiating the offense WAY too often and taking the hits way too often...he's consistently worn down by the 4th quarter and hero ball by Bane and/or Black have been winning us games (all good, not complaining). Paolo has never indicated, to my recollection, any hints of unhealthy ego or selfishness...he's young and learning and he's always been able to physically impose his will on multiple defenders.

I think we have an overpowering All-Star offensive force that has to learn to look around a little more and put themselves and others in position for easier baskets...I don't think that's the worst place to start with. It's a lot more likely, imo, than expecting guys in their 20's to start showing skills they never displayed - like ballhandling, shooting, or defense. He'll be fine - he's not a jerk and he's never seemed to be about anything but winning. My forever image of him is, even as a rookie, quietly boiling on the bench during losses while lesser clowns like Gary and WCJ yukked it up in street clothes next to him. I think he wants to win and when shown how best to do it - he's on board, with all of his immense talent.

[OrlandoDream]

I think we have enough sample size to state the Anthony Black 3rd-year leap is here. Average 18 ppg last 8 games on 50FG% and resounding 35 3PT%. I hate to be the debbie downer but if he continues this kind of play what will he command? We are already in the first apron this year. Our core 4 players are going to be taking up a significant portion of our cap. Does Weltman sell high on Anthony black now, knowing we cant afford his next contract?

Im sure there will be some posters saying we have to get rid of Suggs in an effort to keep Anthony Black. I for one think that would be the biggest mistake we make since Oladipo trade.

I know its not fun to think about and it completely sucks that CBA has not been renegotiated to incentivize teams to keep their own drafted players but here we are.

[Optimus_Steel]

We are first in the league in free throw attempts rate even with our best foul drawer out for almost half the season so far. We are fourth in the league in the last 9 games that Paolo missed, Bane has stepped up and gotten to the line a lot more lately, Franz continues to get there a lot, Black is contributing quite a bit too, Wendell and Goga are getting to the line at a great rate too, very nice to see.

Remember those years when we made a record for fewest free throws per game???…ahhh good times….not…

[GelbeWand09]

We are first in the league in free throw attempts rate even with our best foul drawer out for almost half the season so far. We are fourth in the league in the last 9 games that Paolo missed, Bane has stepped up and gotten to the line a lot more lately, Franz continues to get there a lot, Black is contributing quite a bit too, Wendell and Goga are getting to the line at a great rate too, very nice to see.

Remember those years when we made a record for fewest free throws per game???…ahhh good times….not…

The Vuc effect He had the lowest ftr for a 20pppg in 25 years next to a 3point specialist (Hield?) whose name I have forgotten. But didnt help that AG got no handles and Fournier avoided contact.

[basketballRob]

I think we have enough sample size to state the Anthony Black 3rd-year leap is here. Average 18 ppg last 8 games on 50FG% and resounding 35 3PT%. I hate to be the debbie downer but if he continues this kind of play what will he command? We are already in the first apron this year. Our core 4 players are going to be taking up a significant portion of our cap. Does Weltman sell high on Anthony black now, knowing we cant afford his next contract?

Im sure there will be some posters saying we have to get rid of Suggs in an effort to keep Anthony Black. I for one think that would be the biggest mistake we make since Oladipo trade.

I know its not fun to think about and it completely sucks that CBA has not been renegotiated to incentivize teams to keep their own drafted players but here we are.

I think I'd be worried if I were Suggs. AB put up decent numbers at starting PG, and they will only get better. I projected AB as an 18/5/5 player a long time ago.

Anthony Black Starter | StatMuse https://share.google/EJ3pg8qsC5TyFwuvx

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[Knightro]

Read on Twitter

Not trying to stir the pot, but Bane’s massive uptick in consistent game-by-game effectiveness does coincide with Paolo’s injury…

[Knightro]

I think we have enough sample size to state the Anthony Black 3rd-year leap is here. Average 18 ppg last 8 games on 50FG% and resounding 35 3PT%. I hate to be the debbie downer but if he continues this kind of play what will he command? We are already in the first apron this year. Our core 4 players are going to be taking up a significant portion of our cap. Does Weltman sell high on Anthony black now, knowing we cant afford his next contract?

Im sure there will be some posters saying we have to get rid of Suggs in an effort to keep Anthony Black. I for one think that would be the biggest mistake we make since Oladipo trade.

I know its not fun to think about and it completely sucks that CBA has not been renegotiated to incentivize teams to keep their own drafted players but here we are.

Deal with 2027-2028 problems in 2027-2028 IMO.

[BadMofoPimp]

I think we have enough sample size to state the Anthony Black 3rd-year leap is here. Average 18 ppg last 8 games on 50FG% and resounding 35 3PT%. I hate to be the debbie downer but if he continues this kind of play what will he command? We are already in the first apron this year. Our core 4 players are going to be taking up a significant portion of our cap. Does Weltman sell high on Anthony black now, knowing we cant afford his next contract?

Im sure there will be some posters saying we have to get rid of Suggs in an effort to keep Anthony Black. I for one think that would be the biggest mistake we make since Oladipo trade.

I know its not fun to think about and it completely sucks that CBA has not been renegotiated to incentivize teams to keep their own drafted players but here we are.

I think I'd be worried if I were Suggs. AB put up decent numbers at starting PG, and they will only get better. I projected AB as an 18/5/5 player a long time ago.

Anthony Black Starter | StatMuse https://share.google/EJ3pg8qsC5TyFwuvx

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

Was that you or Eyriq?

[eyriq]

Read on Twitter

Not trying to stir the pot, but Bane’s massive uptick in consistent game-by-game effectiveness does coincide with Paolo’s injury…

Read on Twitter

?t=R-LbD4EYesU4N_etXhsQHQ&s=19

[basketballRob]

I think we have enough sample size to state the Anthony Black 3rd-year leap is here. Average 18 ppg last 8 games on 50FG% and resounding 35 3PT%. I hate to be the debbie downer but if he continues this kind of play what will he command? We are already in the first apron this year. Our core 4 players are going to be taking up a significant portion of our cap. Does Weltman sell high on Anthony black now, knowing we cant afford his next contract?

Im sure there will be some posters saying we have to get rid of Suggs in an effort to keep Anthony Black. I for one think that would be the biggest mistake we make since Oladipo trade.

I know its not fun to think about and it completely sucks that CBA has not been renegotiated to incentivize teams to keep their own drafted players but here we are.

I think I'd be worried if I were Suggs. AB put up decent numbers at starting PG, and they will only get better. I projected AB as an 18/5/5 player a long time ago.

Anthony Black Starter | StatMuse https://share.google/EJ3pg8qsC5TyFwuvx

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

Was that you or Eyriq?

Ron Harper won 3 championships as the PG on Chicago and averaged under 3 apg. I like big defensive minded PGs who play a role with high usage players. NAW would've worked well in that role, too. He's been starting as the PG for Atlanta. He's averaging 20.4 ppg and 3.6 apg.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app