Discussing Other Teams' Moves

[LyricalRico]

^But the poor defense in the playoffs had a lot more to do with Fisher's age and Gasol's apathy than with lack of scheme IMO.

And even if Brown does make them an elite defensive team, his complete lack of an offense isn't going to fly. Kobe has shown over the last couple seasons that he's not able to take over games at will any more. Not that he can't do it at all, but Kobe isn't going to be able to bail Brown's offense out as much as LeBron did.

Also, without an offense like the Triangle that can be initiated by multiple positions, I'm thinking they are going to have to rely more heavily on playmaking from the PG position. Sure, they needed a PG either way, but I think they need to look at perhaps a higher tier than they may have considered before.

Maybe we should resurrect our old trade idea of #6+Lewis+Blatche for Gasol+Blake, assuming the Lakers want whichever of Knight or Walker is still on the board.

[Rafael122]

I think it's a great hire personally. Brown never had the offensive roster the Lakers have, in Cleveland. He's got Kobe/Gasol/Bynum/Odom as a starting point.

[sashae]

The interview of Mike Brown during the Mavs game last night was hysterical...

ESPN: So have you talked to Kobe yet, Mike?
Mike Brown: Well... we've exchanged a couple of texts.

REALLY?

This should go well.

[LyricalRico]

The interview of Mike Brown during the Mavs game last night was hysterical...

ESPN: So have you talked to Kobe yet, Mike?
Mike Brown: Well... we've exchanged a couple of texts.

REALLY?

This should go well.

Matter of fact, I'm wondering how much of this is intended as a show of power to Kobe. He wanted Shaw, and most saw Shaw as the de facto coach in waiting. But now they go in a COMPLETELY different direction, away from the Triangle and away from the Laker family.

Magic said that this was the call of Jim Buss, who now has decision making authority. Magic explicitly said that Brown is "his guy" (speaking of Jim Buss). I really think this is, at least partially, a way to show Kobe that he's no longer going to have his fingerprints on the decisions this team makes.

Can't wait to see how this plays out!

[fishercob]

I know it's very fashionable to bash Eddie Jordan in these parts, but he would be a perfect offensive system for OKC. When Eddie had healthy personnel here, our offense was consistently one of the best in the league.

What's the main downside of the Princeton? Generally, you hear about it taking a long time to learn. Well, what better group to bestow it upon -- an uber-talented, versatile group of 21 and 22 year olds.

Westbrook has taken a ton of flak for not being a "pure point guard" and people are talking about trading him unless he can tailor his game. Well what about putting him in a system where he doesn't have to be something he's not? He and Harden would be brilliant (perhaps better than Arenas/Hughes) in their two-main front.

The Princeton does such a good job creating mismatches for players -- imagine you're a coach trying to defend Durant and you can't even get the right defender on him.

You all remember Eric Snow saying how much he **hated** playing against EJ's Wizard teams because Eddie's offensive calls were so complicated to defend against? Imagine that with OKC's personnel.

It's complicated, so they might take a step back for a year. But they're young enough that they can afford it, and the payoff would be immense.

[Ruzious]

If Kevin McHale gets hired as a GM, that would be a big first step for the Celtics in their rebuild.

That'd be ironic. McHale already built the Celts into a great team. He did it when he happened to be the GM of another team, but he still deserves the credit.

[verbal8]

The Princeton does such a good job creating mismatches for players -- imagine you're a coach trying to defend Durant and you can't even get the right defender on him.

You all remember Eric Snow saying how much he **hated** playing against EJ's Wizard teams because Eddie's offensive calls were so complicated to defend against? Imagine that with OKC's personnel.

It's complicated, so they might take a step back for a year. But they're young enough that they can afford it, and the payoff would be immense.

I think for some teams EJ would be a great choice as an assistant running the offense. I agree that OKC would be a team where he would be a good fit, provided he and Brooks could find a way to co-exist. Durant is the most obvious mismatch potential on the Thunder.

I think the Thunder would need to add a shooter or two in the front-court, but I think they need that anyway to be a true contender.

[verbal8]

I normally would not think of San Antonio and OKC as trading partners, but what if Duncan is going to retire? They Spurs have a good but old backcourt in Parker and Ginobili and some young talent to rebuild around. Say the Thunder decide now is the time to make a big move to establish themselves as contenders, even if it is the cost of youth.

SAS send out:
Parker
Ginobili

OKC send out:
Collison
Harden
Westbrook

I think may the Spurs need to add a pick or prospect to make up for the age gap, but I could see it helping both teams. The Spurs have a young play-off team and the Thunder a true contender.

OKC

Parker/Maynor/N. Robinson
Ginobili/Sefolosha
Durant/Sefolosha
Ibaka/?
Perkins/Aldrich

SAS

Westbrook/George Hill
Harden/G. Neal
J. Anderson/R. Jefferson
Collison/M. Bonner
Splitter/Blair

[Nivek]

I think OKC would have to be nuts to make that deal, verbal. They should keep their young core, work to help them improve, and continue seeking upgraded rotation players. They'd be mortgaging their future for a short run with Parker and Ginobili -- and leaving themselves without depth in the frontcourt.

[LyricalRico]

If the Thunder want a vet PG, I'd look more along the lines of Westbrook+Collison for Chris Paul.

[dobrojim]

EJ would be a great Off coach for OKC.

LA just went from one of (if not) THE all-time great coaches
to someone who is not (even close).

[verbal8]

EJ would be a great Off coach for OKC.

LA just went from one of (if not) THE all-time great coaches
to someone who is not (even close).

I don't think that Mike Brown is a terrible hire, but I think they probably would have been better off giving Brian Shaw a shot.

[mohammed10]

If the Thunder want a vet PG, I'd look more along the lines of Westbrook+Collison for Chris Paul.

[closg00]

Meanwhile Rubio has, by virtually all accounts, regressed the past two years. After averaging 10 ppg and 6 apg for DKV Joventut, while shooting 41 percent from 3 during the 2008-09 season, he has struggled with Barcelona. In the 2009-10 season -- his first season with Barcelona -- his numbers dipped to 7 ppg and 4 apg in both the Spanish and Euroleague. There wasn’t a huge concern afterward because Rubio had joined a veteran team stacked with stars and adjusted his game to just fit in. Plus, his team won the 2010 Euroleague Championship. ESPN.com

...and this.

A number of top NBA international scouts who watched Rubio play this season walked away disappointed with his development. Some questioned whether he had peaked as an 18 year old. “He hasn’t improved any of his weaknesses,” one veteran scout said. “And he seems to have lost that swagger that made him so special. For so many years, he was so far ahead of players his age. He was a prodigy. Now he looks ordinary. I’m not sure what happened, but this is not the age you want a player to plateau.” ESPN.com

Must suck to be a Wolves fan.

[LyricalRico]

[verbal8]

:lol:

I guess the Wizards had some luck. They only had to endure one year of the Foye/Miller show, rather than a 4 year Ricky Rubio debacle.

[magnumt]

- Walsh will be remaining on for a little bit as a "consultant".

- Asst. GM Grunwald will be the GM starting July 1st until they can find a perm replacement (which they said they're starting on right now).

- Guys like Mark Weiltenstein (sp?) ex-GM from Denver, Pritchard, Mullin, Cho, and others are among candidates that have been rumored.

- Also, Mike D' might also be fired now (since not a lot of Players were happy with his Playoff Performance). So guys like Adelman might also be in play.

- More than likely (due to age), Walsh will retire after this.

--Mags

[spaceman_E]

If Kevin McHale gets hired as a GM, that would be a big first step for the Celtics in their rebuild.

That'd be ironic. McHale already built the Celts into a great team. He did it when he happened to be the GM of another team, but he still deserves the credit.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

Read a rumor from Ric Bucher that a Monta Ellis / Iggy trade is in the works. Don't know if it will have draft night ramifications or what the specifics are but either way that'd be a pretty significant move. Seems like it would leave the Sixers with a logjam in the backcourt with Turner, Louis Williams, and Jrue already there, but who knows how it will play out.

[LyricalRico]

Read a rumor from Ric Bucher that a Monta Ellis / Iggy trade is in the works. Don't know if it will have draft night ramifications or what the specifics are but either way that'd be a pretty significant move. Seems like it would leave the Sixers with a logjam in the backcourt with Turner, Louis Williams, and Jrue already there, but who knows how it will play out.

Interesting.

GSW gets a bigger running mate for Curry who is also a better defender. If Mark Jackson can continue to develop Curry as a PG and if Biedrins can regain his old form, maybe they can take the same path as the Grizz.

PHI gets a more potent scorer. With Thad Young a FA, maybe they are going to try Evan Turner at SF (even as a backup). I think Lou Williams is fine as a third guard, but they'll have issues with their backcourt defensively and that is compounded by their lack of a defensive big.