Around the NBA: 2018—19

[Mattv]

I like his game a lot but he's a constant malcontent. He didn't even make it two months before it started hitting the fan.

I don’t think he’s capable of respecting anyone younger (within reason) of him. I think there is only a handful of teams where he could “fit” in and not cause trouble. These teams are Houston, OKC, Raptors, GSW, and Celtics. There might be a couple of others, but unless you have a mega star Alpha player, Butler will not show any amount of respect.

I don't think it's a matter of malcontent/leadership. I think he's just a d*ck and is going to have problems with people liking him everywhere.

Unless yall have read something I havent I dont see it from what I have read he had a talk with his Coach and Gm that he felt that he wasnt being used the way he felt he should be. Is there more to the story that I havent seen?

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[ThunderBolt]

Is it all injury or is Oladipo coming back to earth? Meanwhile Sabonis dropped 17 in a quarter tonight.

[spearsy23]

I don’t think he’s capable of respecting anyone younger (within reason) of him. I think there is only a handful of teams where he could “fit” in and not cause trouble. These teams are Houston, OKC, Raptors, GSW, and Celtics. There might be a couple of others, but unless you have a mega star Alpha player, Butler will not show any amount of respect.

I don't think it's a matter of malcontent/leadership. I think he's just a d*ck and is going to have problems with people liking him everywhere.

Unless yall have read something I havent I dont see it from what I have read he had a talk with his Coach and Gm that he felt that he wasnt being used the way he felt he should be. Is there more to the story that I havent seen?

Sent from my SM-G930T using RealGM mobile app

1) at this point he's running into a-holes everywhere he goes.

2)

Some witnesses called the exchange "disrespectful" and said it went beyond normal interactions between a player and coach, reports Wojnarowski and Shelburne.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.si.com/nba/2019/01/04/jimmy-butler-brett-brown-challenging-role-offense-76ers

[Pillendreher]

Otto Porter coming off the bench. We need to save him.

[Jstock12]

Is it all injury or is Oladipo coming back to earth? Meanwhile Sabonis dropped 17 in a quarter tonight.

Defensively, Oladipo is still as elite as last year in my opinion. He and Thaddeus Young are very disruptive and are major reasons why the Pacers are a top3 defense. Offensively though, Victor has been streaky even before the injury... He started the season hot, shooting 48% from the field and 41% from three in October, but followed it up with 40% from the field and 30% from three in November before going down with injury. Overall, I'd say he's currently somewhere in the middle between what he was in OKC and his first year in Indiana. He'll get better as the season goes on though.

Sabonis is doing a great job. A high usage big off the bench, sort of a PnR version of OKC Kanter, but with adequate defense.

[ThunderBolt]

The longer time goes on, the less clear it is to me why Lebron chose the lakers. Their young talent sucks. They think they can win with or trade that group of guys for Anthony Davis?

[spearsy23]

The longer time goes on, the less clear it is to me why Lebron chose the lakers. Their young talent sucks. They think they can win with or trade that group of guys for Anthony Davis?

It was never about basketball and he made that clear

[slick_watts]

The longer time goes on, the less clear it is to me why Lebron chose the lakers. Their young talent sucks. They think they can win with or trade that group of guys for Anthony Davis?

passing wilt, kobe and kareem in LA will be extraordinary for his brand.

[Dadouv47]

The longer time goes on, the less clear it is to me why Lebron chose the lakers. Their young talent sucks. They think they can win with or trade that group of guys for Anthony Davis?

They will have at least another superstar next season.

[ThunderBolt]

He’ll be 35 next season. I doubt he wins another championship unless he ring chases. They were supposed to have a second star this year but that guy chose not to give magic a meeting.

[ThunderBolt]

The longer time goes on, the less clear it is to me why Lebron chose the lakers. Their young talent sucks. They think they can win with or trade that group of guys for Anthony Davis?

It was never about basketball and he made that clear

And I disagree with his decision. It should have been about basketball.

[spearsy23]

The longer time goes on, the less clear it is to me why Lebron chose the lakers. Their young talent sucks. They think they can win with or trade that group of guys for Anthony Davis?

It was never about basketball and he made that clear

And I disagree with his decision. It should have been about basketball.

Why? He's already in the top 3 players of all time at the worst, he has nothing left to prove, go live where you want and can be with your family more often until bronny is drafted and you go spend the last year/two of your career playing with him.

[ThunderBolt]

It was never about basketball and he made that clear

And I disagree with his decision. It should have been about basketball.

Why? He's already in the top 3 players of all time at the worst, he has nothing left to prove, go live where you want and can be with your family more often until bronny is drafted and you go spend the last year/two of your career playing with him.

He had comments earlier this year about losing his patience with young guys. He’s not content to be a middle of the pack team in the west but that’s what he chose.

[Kizz Fastfists]

He had comments earlier this year about losing his patience with young guys. He’s not content to be a middle of the pack team in the west but that’s what he chose.

Magic promised him another star player before next season. We'll see how it goes. Right now they are down LeBron and Kuzma. Their young players are good, but they need more time to get where they need to be to win 45 games without LeBron. If Kuzma hadn't gotten hurt they probably beat the Knicks. They are still the 8 seed and I don't think any team wants to face LeBron in the first round of the playoffs even if they are a middle of the pack playoff team.

[ThunderBolt]

He had comments earlier this year about losing his patience with young guys. He’s not content to be a middle of the pack team in the west but that’s what he chose.

Magic promised him another star player before next season. We'll see how it goes. Right now they are down LeBron and Kuzma. Their young players are good, but they need more time to get where they need to be to win 45 games without LeBron. If Kuzma hadn't gotten hurt they probably beat the Knicks. They are still the 8 seed and I don't think any team wants to face LeBron in the first round of the playoffs even if they are a middle of the pack playoff team.

That’s the most optimistic post you’ve ever made. Hanging their hat on they would have beat the Knicks with Kuzma, doesn’t sell me on their young guys.

[Kizz Fastfists]

That’s the most optimistic post you’ve ever made. Hanging their hat on they would have beat the Knicks with Kuzma, doesn’t sell me on their young guys.

The point was if they beat the Knicks then no one is freaking out about their "losing streak" without LeBron. Their kids need time to develop. I didn't like them bringing in LeBron at this point and trying to rush them.

[ThunderBolt]

That’s the most optimistic post you’ve ever made. Hanging their hat on they would have beat the Knicks with Kuzma, doesn’t sell me on their young guys.

The point was if they beat the Knicks then no one is freaking out about their "losing streak" without LeBron. Their kids need time to develop. I didn't like them bringing in LeBron at this point and trying to rush them.

It adds to the narrative, sure but I've felt that way for a while. They have drafter three different players at the number 2 spot and one at number 7. None of those have lived up to expectations. Kuzma has a nice find where he was drafted. My point is that these players may or may not be good but the clearly aren't superstars, which is what they need.

The idea to punt on the first season with Lebron at 34 years old seems like a waste to me. It's also far from a guarantee that their youth will really bring in a star if they decide to try to move them. I think Boston beats a laker offer for AD easily. Others have better offers too, imo.

[Kizz Fastfists]

The idea to punt on the first season with Lebron at 34 years old seems like a waste to me. It's also far from a guarantee that their youth will really bring in a star if they decide to try to move them. I think Boston beats a laker offer for AD easily. Others have better offers too, imo.

Boston can only beat an AD offer IF Horford opts in AND NOLA will willing to take him as salary filler. If Horford opts out to give the team a cheaper contract it will be very hard for them to trade for AD. They can not trade for AD until the off-season unless Kyrie traded.

I don't think LA tries to trade for anyone. I think they try to add in FA to keep the young depth and improve the top of the roster. They will have max cap space this off-season. They are not punting the season anymore than OKC is punting Russ' career since kd left. LAL isn't winning a championship, but neither is OKC. If getting into the playoffs and possibly the 2nd round is a bad thing for LAL why do so many think it is good for OKC?

[ThunderBolt]

They are not punting the season anymore than OKC is punting Russ' career since kd left. LAL isn't winning a championship, but neither is OKC. If getting into the playoffs and possibly the 2nd round is a bad thing for LAL why do so many think it is good for OKC?

I’m not speaking for others. I’m speaking for myself. If neither team makes it beyond the second round I will view both as a failure. Even though LeBron continues to reinevent himself he’s still 34. Waiting another year is extremely risky. Paul George shows that.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I’m not speaking for others. I’m speaking for myself. If neither team makes it beyond the second round I will view both as a failure. Even though LeBron continues to reinevent himself he’s still 34. Waiting another year is extremely risky. Paul George shows that.

By that standard both will be failures. I don't have a problem with that view. There is nothing wrong with setting expectations for what would be a successful season. The problem is where some people actually believe the unrealistic expectations they put on their team and just dig in without any reason. We all want OKC to win a championship. No one should actually believe this team is going to do that.

Neither of them will be in the WCF. LAL might make the 2nd round if LeBron can carry them through the round, but that means them avoiding GS, Denver and Houston in the first round and that is unlikely.