2020 Preseason Speculation - Lineup battles underway

[King4Day]

I'm happy that Bogdon went to Atlanta. If he was going to leave, let it be to another weak team that needs help gaining relevancy.
Sacramento needs to start over again and this helps. It's too bad for them that the Bucks deal fell through. Divincenzo would have been a nice piece to had to their young core.
If Harden ever gets moved East, it'll be the first time I'll truly believe that the East is catching up, or has caught up, to the West.

[Barkley6]

I'm happy that Bogdon went to Atlanta. If he was going to leave, let it be to another weak team that needs help gaining relevancy.
Sacramento needs to start over again and this helps. It's too bad for them that the Bucks deal fell through. Divincenzo would have been a nice piece to had to their young core.
If Harden ever gets moved East, it'll be the first time I'll truly believe that the East is catching up, or has caught up, to the West.

It is rather strange that it feels like the NBA has been so West heavy for so long. I feel like we've been talking about how weak the East is since MJ retired. Wonder if it's geography, ownership or what. I understand why LA is more appealing to a lot of players than say Cleveland. But Dallas? San Antonio? Oklahoma City for christ sake, over places like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Miami.....really don't know.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I'm happy that Bogdon went to Atlanta. If he was going to leave, let it be to another weak team that needs help gaining relevancy.
Sacramento needs to start over again and this helps. It's too bad for them that the Bucks deal fell through. Divincenzo would have been a nice piece to had to their young core.
If Harden ever gets moved East, it'll be the first time I'll truly believe that the East is catching up, or has caught up, to the West.

It is rather strange that it feels like the NBA has been so West heavy for so long. I feel like we've been talking about how weak the East is since MJ retired. Wonder if it's geography, ownership or what. I understand why LA is more appealing to a lot of players than say Cleveland. But Dallas? San Antonio? Oklahoma City for christ sake, over places like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Miami.....really don't know.

The East vs West dynamic the past 20+ years is pretty interesting. Since the last Bulls championship in 98 it's been 15-7 West over the East as Champs but depth top to bottom has been even more lopsided over that span. That's such a long sample size, basically two generations of players so it's not some fluke. Why?

A few theories:
Simply more better run franchises out West. IMO this is probably the main reason. There have been both better run high end franchises and the middle of the pack franchises out West have been MUCH better run than the middle of the pack in the East.

The high end markets of East like NY and Chicago have been poorly managed, Miami is really the only big desirable market out East that has been competent. Added to the is the appealing geographies in the West like LA and SF have been well managed.

Some of it is self perpetuated by the lotto system. The last couple teams that don't make the playoffs out West are often better teams than the last couple playoff teams out East. But because of the lotto system these pretty good teams end up with a chance to move up in the lotto or even stay put and draft ahead of teams that they are better than. The west has also been a little lucky with the years they end up at the top of the draft and land superstars like Duncan, Davis, Durant, Zion, Luka, ect.

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[matt131]

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[WeekapaugGroove]

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I'm skeptical they will find a way to make this work. I'd imagine the cost for a team like NY to eat Batums $27 mil is probably 2 1sts. Maybe you can get a 1st from Boston to create the trade exemption and save that salary slot but if you're Charlotte do you really want to add a 1st? That seems like compounding an already sketchy move giving Gordon that contract. They would be better off just stretching Batum and eating that money and then maybe getting something for themselves from Boston to create the trade exemption.

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[bwgood77]

I'm happy that Bogdon went to Atlanta. If he was going to leave, let it be to another weak team that needs help gaining relevancy.
Sacramento needs to start over again and this helps. It's too bad for them that the Bucks deal fell through. Divincenzo would have been a nice piece to had to their young core.
If Harden ever gets moved East, it'll be the first time I'll truly believe that the East is catching up, or has caught up, to the West.

It is rather strange that it feels like the NBA has been so West heavy for so long. I feel like we've been talking about how weak the East is since MJ retired. Wonder if it's geography, ownership or what. I understand why LA is more appealing to a lot of players than say Cleveland. But Dallas? San Antonio? Oklahoma City for christ sake, over places like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Miami.....really don't know.

I think it's getting closer...maybe not depth at bottom, but if Giannis stays east, especially in Milwaukee you have:

Bucks, Celtics, Nets, Raptors, Sixers, Heat, Pacers, Hawks.

Wizards might get a lot better soon if Wall is back and looks good, though they seem to be pretty thin at 2/3.

Wall/Ish Smith/Neto/Cassius Winston
Beal/second PG from above
Rui/Avdija
Bertans/Avdija/Mortiz Wagner
Bryant/Robin Lopez/Moritz Wagner

[bwgood77]

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I'm skeptical they will find a way to make this work. I'd imagine the cost for a team like NY to eat Batums $27 mil is probably 2 1sts. Maybe you can get a 1st from Boston to create the trade exemption and save that salary slot but if you're Charlotte do you really want to add a 1st? That seems like compounding an already sketchy move giving Gordon that contract. They would be better off just stretching Batum and eating that money and then maybe getting something for themselves from Boston to create the trade exemption.

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If NY was going to use their cap space for anything I think they would have signed some people for more than 1 year. They have expiring for next summer so they must really be targeting FA next year (and probably hoping desperately to get Cade Cunningham).

[Barkley6]

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I'm skeptical they will find a way to make this work. I'd imagine the cost for a team like NY to eat Batums $27 mil is probably 2 1sts. Maybe you can get a 1st from Boston to create the trade exemption and save that salary slot but if you're Charlotte do you really want to add a 1st? That seems like compounding an already sketchy move giving Gordon that contract. They would be better off just stretching Batum and eating that money and then maybe getting something for themselves from Boston to create the trade exemption.

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If NY was going to use their cap space for anything I think they would have signed some people for more than 1 year. They have expiring for next summer so they must really be targeting FA next year (and probably hoping desperately to get Cade Cunningham).

I'm not worried about the Knicks doing anything competent at all. If you want to feel better about the Suns personnel moves over the last decade or two, take a look at this: https://ca.nba.com/news/new-york-knicks-offseason-summer-transactions-free-agency-misses-lebron-james-carmelo-anthony-amare-stoudemire/rxwkf078ib4n1ue82gllp1t7h

The Knicks might be the worst run franchise in the NBA.

[matt131]

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Haha this tweet is worded so oddly. Makes it sound like the 2021 all-star game will take place 3 years later

[sunsbg]

All I care regarding trades not involving the Suns this offseason is Giannis signs the supermax and doesn't form a super-team somewhere. Lebron, the master of building such teams will retire at some point, fortunately.

[thamadkant]

I'm happy that Bogdon went to Atlanta. If he was going to leave, let it be to another weak team that needs help gaining relevancy.
Sacramento needs to start over again and this helps. It's too bad for them that the Bucks deal fell through. Divincenzo would have been a nice piece to had to their young core.
If Harden ever gets moved East, it'll be the first time I'll truly believe that the East is catching up, or has caught up, to the West.

Remember Hawks had a 61 win season just slightly over a few seasons ago. It's not they've been bad for a decade or so.

[bigfoot]

Once Bogi signed the offer sheet it was all over. Trade Limitations — After exercising a Right of First Refusal (matching the offer sheet), the team cannot trade that player for one year without the player’s consent. Even with the player’s consent, he cannot be traded to the team whose Offer Sheet was matched for one year.

You've said this before, and you are right, and this offseason is obviously weird, but typically with the 3 day moratorium, players verbally agree to an offer sheet at some point in there, and it gives the team with the player time to think about it, decide to match, or threaten to match if a S&T is not reached. But yes, once it is physically signed, all they can do is match. Of course with the verbal offer, the RFA could choose not to tell the team he is on about it and then just sign the offer sheet but then he risks it being matched and having zero chance for a S&T...which is not good for him if he really wants to go.

Some signings can take place during the moratorium period, which are:

Teams signing their first-round Draft picks to standard rookie-scale contracts.
Second-round Draft picks accepting a required tender, which is a one-year contract offer teams must submit to keep the rights to that player.
Restricted free agents can accept qualifying offers from their existing team.
A restricted free agent finishing the fourth year of his rookie-scale contract can accept a maximum qualifying offer.
A restricted free agent can sign an offer sheet with a new team, which triggers the 2-day period for his original team to match it.
Players can be signed to minimum-salary contracts for one or two seasons (but the deals have no bonuses of any kind).
Teams can sign players to Two-Way contracts, turn a Two-Way contract into a standard NBA contract or convert certain standard NBA contracts into a Two-Way contract.
Teams can waive players or claim players waived by other teams.
Otherwise, all other signings must wait until after the moratorium period ends.

Sorry ... I should have indicated that I got that from https://www.nba.com/free-agency-explained#moratorium

[bwgood77]

I'm skeptical they will find a way to make this work. I'd imagine the cost for a team like NY to eat Batums $27 mil is probably 2 1sts. Maybe you can get a 1st from Boston to create the trade exemption and save that salary slot but if you're Charlotte do you really want to add a 1st? That seems like compounding an already sketchy move giving Gordon that contract. They would be better off just stretching Batum and eating that money and then maybe getting something for themselves from Boston to create the trade exemption.

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If NY was going to use their cap space for anything I think they would have signed some people for more than 1 year. They have expiring for next summer so they must really be targeting FA next year (and probably hoping desperately to get Cade Cunningham).

I'm not worried about the Knicks doing anything competent at all. If you want to feel better about the Suns personnel moves over the last decade or two, take a look at this: https://ca.nba.com/news/new-york-knicks-offseason-summer-transactions-free-agency-misses-lebron-james-carmelo-anthony-amare-stoudemire/rxwkf078ib4n1ue82gllp1t7h

The Knicks might be the worst run franchise in the NBA.

I am not worried, I'm just talking about their plans for cap space. I know they are terribly run and I don't expect them to sign anyone great next summer. Their best bet on improving is to get Cade Cunningham or a stud in the draft to pair with Barrett, Toppin and Robinson. Maybe look for a vet PG next summer if one is available.

[bwgood77]

You've said this before, and you are right, and this offseason is obviously weird, but typically with the 3 day moratorium, players verbally agree to an offer sheet at some point in there, and it gives the team with the player time to think about it, decide to match, or threaten to match if a S&T is not reached. But yes, once it is physically signed, all they can do is match. Of course with the verbal offer, the RFA could choose not to tell the team he is on about it and then just sign the offer sheet but then he risks it being matched and having zero chance for a S&T...which is not good for him if he really wants to go.

Some signings can take place during the moratorium period, which are:

Teams signing their first-round Draft picks to standard rookie-scale contracts.
Second-round Draft picks accepting a required tender, which is a one-year contract offer teams must submit to keep the rights to that player.
Restricted free agents can accept qualifying offers from their existing team.
A restricted free agent finishing the fourth year of his rookie-scale contract can accept a maximum qualifying offer.
A restricted free agent can sign an offer sheet with a new team, which triggers the 2-day period for his original team to match it.
Players can be signed to minimum-salary contracts for one or two seasons (but the deals have no bonuses of any kind).
Teams can sign players to Two-Way contracts, turn a Two-Way contract into a standard NBA contract or convert certain standard NBA contracts into a Two-Way contract.
Teams can waive players or claim players waived by other teams.
Otherwise, all other signings must wait until after the moratorium period ends.

Sorry ... I should have indicated that I got that from https://www.nba.com/free-agency-explained#moratorium

I'm surprised an original team cannot match an offer exceeding their cap space. I was under the impression you could give your own free agents with any contract to go over cap space with your bird rights.

[King4Day]

I'm happy that Bogdon went to Atlanta. If he was going to leave, let it be to another weak team that needs help gaining relevancy.
Sacramento needs to start over again and this helps. It's too bad for them that the Bucks deal fell through. Divincenzo would have been a nice piece to had to their young core.
If Harden ever gets moved East, it'll be the first time I'll truly believe that the East is catching up, or has caught up, to the West.

Remember Hawks had a 61 win season just slightly over a few seasons ago. It's not they've been bad for a decade or so.

Nobody took them as a legit title threat during that era.
I'm more referring to the fact that nobody wants to play for Atlanta.

Imagine they kept Doncic and had this same offseason? I think they would be a real threat to get to the ECF at the very least.

[suns12345]

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Haha this tweet is worded so oddly. Makes it sound like the 2021 all-star game will take place 3 years later

What is he saying?

[matt131]

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Haha this tweet is worded so oddly. Makes it sound like the 2021 all-star game will take place 3 years later

What is he saying?

I think, judging from Woj's tweet, that the 2021 all star game has been postponed indefinitely. It was supposed to be in indiana. Not indiana will get the 2024 all star game since 2022 and 2023 are already assigned to cities.

So its looking like no ASW this year apparently

[NTB]

There won't be an ASG but they will still select All-Stars right?

[Kerrsed]

I'm happy that Bogdon went to Atlanta. If he was going to leave, let it be to another weak team that needs help gaining relevancy.
Sacramento needs to start over again and this helps. It's too bad for them that the Bucks deal fell through. Divincenzo would have been a nice piece to had to their young core.
If Harden ever gets moved East, it'll be the first time I'll truly believe that the East is catching up, or has caught up, to the West.

It is rather strange that it feels like the NBA has been so West heavy for so long. I feel like we've been talking about how weak the East is since MJ retired. Wonder if it's geography, ownership or what. I understand why LA is more appealing to a lot of players than say Cleveland. But Dallas? San Antonio? Oklahoma City for christ sake, over places like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Miami.....really don't know.

Lots of factors in play. Geography is one. Would you want to deal with the weather in places like Chicago/Milwaukee/Detroit/Boston/NY/Cleveland/Philly ???? Fact is the large majority of NBA teams in the East are in the north-east where cold weather dominate. Look at the teams in the West, you have Portland and Minnesota (Who should be an eastern team) up in the north, the rest of the teams are in areas with much much much much nicer weather. Nicer weather means girls wearing less.

Taxes. Texas teams pull in a lot of players because of their tax laws. Just another way some teams have a distinct advantage. You could have a team in Cali offer you $3M more than a Texas team, but because there is no income tax in Texas, you would end up making more because of Cali's high income tax rates. Florida is a team in the East that also has no income tax.

Lifestyle. There is a HUGE difference in lifestyle when it comes to West vs. East. Different styles, different trends, different pace. I consider Phoenix to have a very similar lifestyle to Cali, but no beach, less liberal, and much much cheaper. Texas has started to become that way too with cities like Austin exploding. But its completely different than the hustle and bussle of huge skyscraper cities back east. Think the great Eastcoast vs Westcoast rap war of the mid 90's. Its the difference between 2Pac and Death Row Records against Biggie and Bad Boy records.

Women. Look, we are men. Damn near everything we do revolves around p****! Girls in the warmer climate areas like the West tend to wear less. When girls wear less they tend to be more fit. They have to stay in shape because you are seeing more. In the NE girls be laying clothes, bundled up. If they dont have to expose more the less likely they are to put in the extra work to stay fit. Look at what the quarantine has dont to people (Not just women but men also). Cant be out everywhere, gotta stay home and away, time to be lazy and rock the sweatpants and not shave. It happens.

I could go on and on about more reasons, but thats just a few off the top of my head and this post is getting way way longer than i intended.

[WeekapaugGroove]

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2 way contract maybe? I had never heard of the dude. SF who was on a 2way with Orlando last season.

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