Official NBA General Discussion 2025-26 V2.0

[PushDaRock]

A lot of people were writing off Boston for some reason and saying they should tank but they're right there still. NRTG is solid and they have some quality wins over good competition. They're utilizing Nurse Ball by never turning it over and crashing the offensive glass to generate extra possessions into a Top 5 offense despite not scoring the ball particularly efficiently. They get Tatum back sometime in the new year, so if he's back close to form they're going to be pretty good.

I assumed he was done for the season? Do they think he can return before the playoffs?

He got the Speed Bridge done right away, much shorter recovery time than typical. How he looks when he returns is anyone's guess, but he should be good to go quite a bit before the playoffs unless they decide to player it super safe. They won't commit to a target date though because I'm sure a lot depends on how the team is doing.

[Clutch0z24]

They won't be able to resign ANY drafted ppl to a big post rookie-contract if they keep their big 3. They also won't be able to resign any role players with a raise.

So yes....they will be losing assets for free. Their role players will starting leaving in free agency. All the players they currently have on rookie contracts will sign for other teams after their 4th season (if they are good). It's a mathematical certainty while paying more than 150 million for 3 players.

Imagine replacing Dort and Caruso with Jakobe and Gradey. Because that's what ppl are suggesting by filling in the rest of the roster with rookie contracts. And they won't be able to make trades or upgrades because 1) they can't add any salary 2) the rules of the 3rd apron will apply.

I'm not criticizing OKC. I'm criticizing the new rules. Under the old rules....OKC would definitely be on-track for a dyn asty. And they DESERVE to be. That's why i think these new rules are bad for the league.

Boston is the first victim. They built their team brilliantly (even tho i dont like their style of play). They deserved 3 to 5 more years of elite contender status. Instead....they had to blow everything up after spending years building it up. It's so dumb. I would be mad if i were a celtics/thunder fan. The rules punish teams who spend 4 to 5 years building an elite roster.

I think what most fans wanted was to punish teams who BUY themselves into an elite roster. Not teams like OKC who build their team the right way. I hate to admit it...but Boston built their team the right way too.

Imagine trying to spin having too many assets as a bad thing....They are the best team in the league right now with whats looking like a top 10 draft pick maybe even top 5 if the Clippers keep sucking....

They have many options to pivot to keep the best team in the league for a long time....They have Shai who is a legit franchise player and a top 3 player in the league who is only getting better, They could end up drafting Boozer or some other stud and use one of their big contracts in Chet or Jdub to trade for elite role players if they need too....

Im sure Presti knows the situation and cap issues more than you or anyone on this board does and im sure he is preparing for what he will do with the roster to keep them in the title picture for the next generation....I mean as long as they have Shai healthy and playing at the level he is playing at they will always be a threat in the NBA because every other team has the same disadvantages with the cap situation as them...Our team is already in cap hell, Without a franchise player on the roster and we top out to be a 1st or 2nd round exit with no good draft picks to try and even get a franchise player in the door to improve....I think our situation is alot worse and if we had a button to press and change rosters + Draft picks with OKC im sure you would do it any chance you had.

The difference is they already have a franchise player and could end up getting more due to having very high draft picks along with already being a championship level team.....They are literally in the position every franchise dreams to be in....Trying to spin it in a negative light as if having too much good things is a bad thing is silly...They will be fine because majority of their roster has value around the NBA.

Lol you are obsessed with making this about Presti. My beef is with the RULES.

In your mind i am saying "presti is so crap. He has way too many assets. What an idiot!". Or at least you really WANT me to be saying that.

What i am actually saying: "the apron rules are gonna sabotage the dynasty that OKC SHOULD become and deserve to be. The new rules are not fair to teams that have bulit themselves the right way."

Is there someone else arguing with you about Presti being a good gm? Because i don't know why you are interpreting me in that way.

Im just saying you are trying to spin the best situation an NBA team had in a long time into a negative as if they do not have lots of options to remain the best team in basketball.....They have lots of good young guys that look to be great role players and they will have Shai for many more years ....Shai is the one that makes the OKC elite and as long as they have him they will be fine and compete for titles....

They can trade Jdub or Chet if they really have to for more draft picks or some role players while drafting in the top 5-10 next year....Any one would love to be in a position to repeat as champs and get a top pick in a stacked draft. Every team has these cap issues so its pointless to bring it up against the OKC when even with cap issues they are in such a better positon than all of the NBA because they have a legit franchise player while many franchises don't.

[Brinbe]

ngl, seeing the clippers completely torch their franchise has been pretty cathartic. couldn't happen to a more deserving organization.

[causal_fan]

I'm loving the Clippers season - Imagine if OKC ends up with the #1 pick.

[ItsDanger]

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[Basketball_Jones]

Chris Paul’s available let’s get a real point guard!

[MiamiSPX]

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And no, I don't think we can pursue him because I am certain he would never approve Toronto.

[navyblue]

and so it begins

[T-d0t]

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And no, I don't think we can pursue him because I am certain he would never approve Toronto.

Agreed we won't get him but how in the world do you know he won't approve Toronto??

[Kingsway_fan]

Huge for whomever lands him... unfortunately we will not be a destination for him... nor do we have assets for a workable trade without gutting team.

... my guess is NY, or somewhere warm... a big market...or OKL. [They could package the clippers pick + others ... wow, imagine getting Shai and Giannis for old Paul George, lol ] . Dynastic.

[MiamiSPX]

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And no, I don't think we can pursue him because I am certain he would never approve Toronto.

Agreed we won't get him but how in the world do you know he won't approve Toronto??

Too much money at stake. He is up there with Curry and LeBron with off court endorsements, upwards of 40-50M per year. That doesn't go away moving to Canada (but you'd have to bet Nike, Google and Disney wouldn't be thrilled about it), but in New York that likely increases exponentially. By all accounts he loves his money and supports his family. He also made a strange comment about wanting to see all the European stars in big markets, which Toronto is not as far as the NBA landscape is concerned.

22 games of Ingram isn't enough for him to hitch his wagon to that. He's already gone through an injury prone sidekick with Middleton.

At the end of the day, a lot of us knew he would crack, just like Dame did. And just like every other star, I bet his list will be the usuals:

NY (he's on record many times saying it's his favorite city)
Miami (no star has ever not wanted to go there)
LAC (they have no shot, but I bet it's still on his list)
Houston (contender and have the assets)
SA (darkhorse but they easily have the assets)

So no, I don't actually know he won't agree to Toronto, but I would be willing to wager on it.

[redraptor77]

Why do people say not Toronto ??
He has said he like Toronto
Not saying we have the assets but why do we discount our selves
OKC has the most pieces to go all in again
Orlando has some parts but trading all those firsts hurt
He needs a good shooting team and PG for success
Chicago ?
Maybe three way with Utah
Miami is interesting
If he goes does that make turner available also ?
I don’t see NY Having enough to give back
Dallas and NY deal for AD maybe

[Kingsway_fan]

Why do people say not Toronto ??
He has said he like Toronto
Not saying we have the assets but why do we discount our selves
OKC has the most pieces to go all in again
Orlando has some parts but trading all those firsts hurt
He needs a good shooting team and PG for success
Chicago ?
Maybe three way with Utah
Miami is interesting
If he goes does that make turner available also ?
I don’t see NY Having enough to give back
Dallas and NY deal for AD maybe

They would want lots of quality picks ---> OKLAHOMA. San Antonio or NY? ... sunny Miami?

[redraptor77]

Why do people say not Toronto ??
He has said he like Toronto
Not saying we have the assets but why do we discount our selves
OKC has the most pieces to go all in again
Orlando has some parts but trading all those firsts hurt
He needs a good shooting team and PG for success
Chicago ?
Maybe three way with Utah
Miami is interesting
If he goes does that make turner available also ?
I don’t see NY Having enough to give back
Dallas and NY deal for AD maybe

They would want lots of quality picks ---> OKLAHOMA, OR San Antonio or NY...

NY traded a lot of their firsts already for Bridges
Not a lot of draft capital from them
SAN Antonio is stacked
OKC is best positioned if they want to spend the money and resources

As for other comments about endorsements and such - he plays in Milwaukee and the global dynamic has changed for marketing
Ask Khwahi about the sale of his shoes after he left Canada

[Kingsway_fan]

Why do people say not Toronto ??
He has said he like Toronto
Not saying we have the assets but why do we discount our selves
OKC has the most pieces to go all in again
Orlando has some parts but trading all those firsts hurt
He needs a good shooting team and PG for success
Chicago ?
Maybe three way with Utah
Miami is interesting
If he goes does that make turner available also ?
I don’t see NY Having enough to give back
Dallas and NY deal for AD maybe

They would want lots of quality picks ---> OKLAHOMA, OR San Antonio or NY...

NY traded a lot of their firsts already for Bridges
Not a lot of draft capital from them
SAN Antonio is stacked
OKC is best positioned if they want to spend the money and resources

As for other comments about endorsements and such - he plays in Milwaukee and the global dynamic has changed for marketing
Ask Khwahi about the sale of his shoes after he left Canada

Where is MASAI when we need him, lol fk Rogers, he only spends massively over the cap on his Jays...

[RapsFanInOhio]

Huge for whomever lands him... unfortunately we will not be a destination for him... nor do we have assets for a workable trade without gutting team.

... my guess is NY, or somewhere warm... a big market...

We absolutely have the assets for a workable trade, and I would argue that losing some package of Scottie, Agbaji, and Dick or Walter doesn’t significantly gut our depth.

There’s a separate question as to whether we should do something like that but I think a rotation of IQ/RJ/Ingram/Giannis/Poeltl and then subs of Mamu/CMB/Dick or Walter/Shead is probably deep enough for a Finals run.

[redraptor77]

If he really wants to bring up a team to the top
Detroit ?
Cavs?

Toronto may have some merit - i love to win with our own home grown players
Trading Barnes would hurt a bit
I think it really depend on if bucks want a complete reset or be semi competitive

Lot of salary open for trades
Giannis, Ball, Young, Morant, AD, Zion
Seems like an interesting time to jump on talent

[sofargone]

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[SnotoriousBIG]

Blazers just put belt to azz to the Cavs on a back 2 back...

[LoveMyRaps]

Cavs lose
Magic lose
Hawks lose

Great night for the Raps.