Thank Nation 2(Clippers edition) + Tank Watch 2016: Kings(Cousins), Hawks(Millsap) Magic(Ibaka)

[slothrop8]

I would like to petition the court to establish the Thank Nation thread as a place to follow the Clippers season, track what the draft position of the pick they owe us will be, and speculate about players that are expected to fall around that draft position. I object to the Thank Nation thread being muddled with speculation about mid season acquisitions. I call for official separation of Thank Nation and any Tank Watch.

[CoachJReturns]

It's worth noting that the Clippers pick is top-14 protected - so even if CP, Blake and Jordan get hurt, or if Donald Sterling finds a way to buy back the team, we won't get the pick. Here's hoping the Clips limp into the 8 seed.

This is the exact reason I added it to the list of potential trades. It's likely a pick in the 20s, so it doesn't have the same degree of interest as the Knicks pick last season.

[Jonn]

Cousins is coming home. His Kingdom awaits.

[CoachJReturns]

Cousins is coming home. His Kingdom awaits.

Bring him home.

[Dalek]

Agreed. He was one of the most athletic bigs in NBA history, but that part of his career is finished. He doesn't have enough finesse to his game to be the same force without his explosiveness.

Well he was making jumpshots in preseason and just dominating in general.. I think he may surprise you this season. He seems revitalized from what I could see.

I expect him to play well, but miss a lot of action. Hawks will still be better than Kings and Magic in all likelihood though. I will be hoping for a Cousins trade all year.

It is interesting that all three teams now have young coaches at the helm:
Dave Joeger in Sac
Frank Vogel in Orl
Budenhozer in Atl

Coach Bud has had the most recent success, but he hasn't had to work with a dominant personality before, while the others were caught on teams who were transitioning from a slow, defense oriented teams. I see them all struggling out of the gate, with Joeger having the toughest landscape to work with (meddling ownership, upset stars, etc.)

[Mr_NC]

Cousins or die trying Masai

[Vlade Divac]

Sacramento is a joke organization. Poelti, Bruno and Bebe just might do it[/spoiler]

Watch what are you saying! Look who you are talking to

[gerrit4]

Milsap is a great fit, but he's a free agent and is a bit old. That being said, if the numbers work (and we think we can keep him), I think it would be an amazing guy to get. Is it enough to beat Cleveland? I don't think so, but if there's an injury (let's say Lebron or Kyrie), then yes, it could happen.

Cousins is exactly what we need in terms of talent. He's such a good player, and is also young. But man I just get a bad feeling about that guy's attitude. I feel like it has such potential to be a disaster.

I was all for getting Ibaka this summer, but I just don't see it happening. They're going to want to give it a try for the season, or trade him at a good value. I don't want to trade a similar package to what was asked for in the summer from OKC.


As for the Clippers pick, I fear it will be a stinker. The Clips are one of the only teams that could upset and win a championship this year - they're bumped up a notch (in theory) because teams like San Antonio got a little worse, and OKC got a lot worse. This time last year many of us thought (myself included) that Houston could be a powerhouse, and that NO would take a big step forwards because of Davis. Those two teams aren't as relevant right now. So if I'm the Clippers, I would be sensing a really big opportunity this season.

[OAKLEY_2]

Cousins would be the more riskier trade, and also would require more assets.
Just does not seem Masai-like. I would say Millsap would be his guy.

But then...

Spoiler:

Sacramento is a joke organization. Bruno, Bebe, 1st should get it done

You're right that Masai has never been one to give up a lot of assets, but given his average drafting and the log jam of prospects and role players currently on the roster, I think it's the time to consolidate. Particularly, with Cousins being only 26 years old. It's a long term addition to the talent pool instead of a band aid.

Average drafting? Give me a break.

[OAKLEY_2]

Cousins all day and every day.

[dalton749]

We go all in and get both, become a super team At the deadline. Jonas, Ross, Patterson, Powell, wright, poeltl, 3 firsts out. Our bench is left with Joseph and Sullinger but we have a starting 5 of Lowry, derozan, Carroll, milsap, Cousins.

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=gr8ycqy

[CoachJReturns]

Cousins would be the more riskier trade, and also would require more assets.
Just does not seem Masai-like. I would say Millsap would be his guy.

But then...

Spoiler:

Sacramento is a joke organization. Bruno, Bebe, 1st should get it done

You're right that Masai has never been one to give up a lot of assets, but given his average drafting and the log jam of prospects and role players currently on the roster, I think it's the time to consolidate. Particularly, with Cousins being only 26 years old. It's a long term addition to the talent pool instead of a band aid.

Average drafting? Give me a break.

Sorry has he started a star player yet or integral piece of the core? Did I miss it? Lol. Average means he's been fine, but none or his picks have been guys that the team would be devastated to lose.

[CoachJReturns]

By the way Masi did not draft our best prospect. Milwaukee picked Powell. So yeah, as happy as I am with the job he's done overall, Masai hasn't done anything great in terms of drafting thus far.

[dalton749]

By the way Masi did not draft our best prospect. Milwaukee picked Powell. So yeah, as happy as I am with the job he's done overall, Masai hasn't done anything great in terms of drafting thus far.

Milwauke made the pick on our behalf, that was Masais choice.

[CoachJReturns]

By the way Masi did not draft our best prospect. Milwaukee picked Powell. So yeah, as happy as I am with the job he's done overall, Masai hasn't done anything great in terms of drafting thus far.

Milwauke made the pick on our behalf, that was Masais choice.

Fair. He's added one decent player and possibly 2 with 5 picks thus far. Until one is an integral part of the starting lineup though, I don't think there's any reason to be mad if the picks this year are dealt in a package for a young star IIke Cousins.

[TheRealDeal]

Bill Simmons mentioned the Boogie to Toronto possibility on his pod today. Hope he knows something

[dalton749]

By the way Masi did not draft our best prospect. Milwaukee picked Powell. So yeah, as happy as I am with the job he's done overall, Masai hasn't done anything great in terms of drafting thus far.

Milwauke made the pick on our behalf, that was Masais choice.

Fair. He's added one decent player and possibly 2 with 5 picks thus far. Until one is an integral part of the starting lineup though, I don't think there's any reason to be mad if the picks this year are dealt in a package for a young star IIke Cousins.

Yea I don't mind moving them all to cash in now, as the dream trade I posted to get both milsap and cousins above shows, including or future picks.

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=gr8ycqy

[OAKLEY_2]

You're right that Masai has never been one to give up a lot of assets, but given his average drafting and the log jam of prospects and role players currently on the roster, I think it's the time to consolidate. Particularly, with Cousins being only 26 years old. It's a long term addition to the talent pool instead of a band aid.

Average drafting? Give me a break.

Sorry has he started a star player yet or integral piece of the core? Did I miss it? Lol. Average means he's been fine, but none or his picks have been guys that the team would be devastated to lose.

Norm says hello.

[OAKLEY_2]

Wright projects to be a post injury Shawn Livingstone clone. That is completely fair in my book if we didn't crowd Delon with Joseph. By the way I love Cory's contributions. I love the way Delon slashes. His go to the basket moves are awesome. Solid single. With a threat to steal.

Siakam is a tough one because I have seen so little of him but a solid rotation player is better than an average swing at the draft table.
Solid double.

Jakob. He has the skills to be potentially better than JV even if those skills are temporarily out of fashion. Solid double.

Norm. He may be Demar's heir apparent. He's a home run.

Bruno. Fielder's choice but reaches base on an error.

[OAKLEY_2]

By the way Masi did not draft our best prospect. Milwaukee picked Powell. So yeah, as happy as I am with the job he's done overall, Masai hasn't done anything great in terms of drafting thus far.

Milwauke made the pick on our behalf, that was Masais choice.

Fair. He's added one decent player and possibly 2 with 5 picks thus far. Until one is an integral part of the starting lineup though, I don't think there's any reason to be mad if the picks this year are dealt in a package for a young star IIke Cousins.

Totally agree. If you are landing Cousins everything is on the table. I think barring a big trade like Cousins, Norm, Delon, Paskal, Jakob will form our future core but sure looks like we are hoarding assets... drumroll please.