Discussing Other Teams' Moves - Part 7

[payitforward]

I'm not surprised that Jimmy Butler cares about the money, if that's really the case. For one thing, he's one of the very best players in the NBA, & he's making a lot less than Andrew Wiggins, who isn't even a good player at all.

Given that Towns is certain to get a max deal (& he deserves one), there's no way Jimmy Butler can maximize his career in Minny.

As to money being too important... I don't get it. Why shouldn't he want to get paid at a level commensurate w/ his abilities? Most people who work want that. Why is it morally reprehensible in an athlete?

No... let me not ask a rhetorical question. It's not morally reprehensible for Jimmy Butler to want top dollar. It's exactly the right thing for him to want. He's got a few more years to earn at that level. Any NBA player who doesn't understand that feature of his situation is a fool.

[dckingsfan]

I'm not surprised that Jimmy Butler cares about the money, if that's really the case. For one thing, he's one of the very best players in the NBA, & he's making a lot less than Andrew Wiggins, who isn't even a good player at all.

Given that Towns is certain to get a max deal (& he deserves one), there's no way Jimmy Butler can maximize his career in Minny.

As to money being too important... I don't get it. Why shouldn't he want to get paid at a level commensurate w/ his abilities? Most people who work want that. Why is it morally reprehensible in an athlete?

No... let me not ask a rhetorical question. It's not morally reprehensible for Jimmy Butler to want top dollar. It's exactly the right thing for him to want. He's got a few more years to earn at that level. Any NBA player who doesn't understand that feature of his situation is a fool.

Didn't we mock Kawhi Leonard for giving away millions? It would be one thing if you have made your money and are singularly chasing a ring.

[I_Like_Dirt]

Didn't we mock Kawhi Leonard for giving away millions? It would be one thing if you have made your money and are singularly chasing a ring.

I don't really blame players for doing whatever they want in free agency. While I'm not a huge fan of the trade demand part of things, Butler, for all his issues, seems professional enough that he'd still show up and work hard. Although it surely doesn't seem that way, he's probably doing the Wolves a favor by letting them know of his intentions. Granted, he isn't making the situation perfect for them by tanking his trade value in the process, but I suspect the league already had a good idea of his rough personality and it's still better for the Wolves to know than for Butler to quietly play out the season, not tell the Wolves anything, and then just leave.

With Kawhi, I'm not sure what he wants exactly, beyond he wanted to get out of San Antonio. And frankly, he isn't the first person to want out of San Antonio. Ron Funches has made that much pretty hilariously clear this past year. What Kawhi wants to do beyond this season? We will see. I think his team and assorted hanger-onners want him in a major market close to home (i.e. LA). I suspect Kawhi would be pretty alright with playing in LA, too. I don't think he personally wants a lot of media scrutiny but he does want to be treated like a superstar, which means the Lakers probably aren't the ideal landing spot for him and the Clippers are the better LA fit for him, and frankly the Raptors might be a better fit for him than the Lakers, too, on those grounds. I think Kawhi wants to play basketball and be paid reasonably well for it, though I don't think he cares too much beyond "max," whatever that is. He wants to enjoy who he plays and works with and prefers not to play in undiagnosed continuous pain if it can be avoided. Beyond that? I'm not really sure, but while his actions were unfortunate and his reps seemed pretty forceful while Kawhi largely seemed to stay out of it, I don't really see how it's a negative on Kawhi.

Same goes for Butler here. He can do what he wants. There are some indicators that he might be tough to get along with, but I don't think they can be found directly in his trade demand, though maybe indirectly in the actions that led to his trade demand. If he wants to go play with Kyrie for the Clippers or Nets or whoever, great! Provided the Nets don't gut their roster to trade for him, they could have a really quality team next year with Irving and Butler complemented by the likes of Levert, RHJ, Russell, Allen, etc.

[dckingsfan]

Didn't we mock Kawhi Leonard for giving away millions? It would be one thing if you have made your money and are singularly chasing a ring.

I don't really blame players for doing whatever they want in free agency. While I'm not a huge fan of the trade demand part of things, Butler, for all his issues, seems professional enough that he'd still show up and work hard. Although it surely doesn't seem that way, he's probably doing the Wolves a favor by letting them know of his intentions. Granted, he isn't making the situation perfect for them by tanking his trade value in the process, but I suspect the league already had a good idea of his rough personality and it's still better for the Wolves to know than for Butler to quietly play out the season, not tell the Wolves anything, and then just leave.

With Kawhi, I'm not sure what he wants exactly, beyond he wanted to get out of San Antonio. And frankly, he isn't the first person to want out of San Antonio. Ron Funches has made that much pretty hilariously clear this past year. What Kawhi wants to do beyond this season? We will see. I think his team and assorted hanger-onners want him in a major market close to home (i.e. LA). I suspect Kawhi would be pretty alright with playing in LA, too. I don't think he personally wants a lot of media scrutiny but he does want to be treated like a superstar, which means the Lakers probably aren't the ideal landing spot for him and the Clippers are the better LA fit for him, and frankly the Raptors might be a better fit for him than the Lakers, too, on those grounds. I think Kawhi wants to play basketball and be paid reasonably well for it, though I don't think he cares too much beyond "max," whatever that is. He wants to enjoy who he plays and works with and prefers not to play in undiagnosed continuous pain if it can be avoided. Beyond that? I'm not really sure, but while his actions were unfortunate and his reps seemed pretty forceful while Kawhi largely seemed to stay out of it, I don't really see how it's a negative on Kawhi.

Same goes for Butler here. He can do what he wants. There are some indicators that he might be tough to get along with, but I don't think they can be found directly in his trade demand, though maybe indirectly in the actions that led to his trade demand. If he wants to go play with Kyrie for the Clippers or Nets or whoever, great! Provided the Nets don't gut their roster to trade for him, they could have a really quality team next year with Irving and Butler complemented by the likes of Levert, RHJ, Russell, Allen, etc.

No disagreement with what you wrote. My point is that mocking Butler for wanting to get paid is ludicrous.

[stilldropin20]

jimmy butler is a douche. a me first, me second, now here's the ball with 3 seconds...make a shot!!


You dont want him. nobody in their right mind should want him. words can not express how happy i am that both jimmy and Rose are gone. Inside note: Rose created the monster that is Jimmy butler. But Rose was smart enough and had enough allies to let his brother and others do his dirty work for him.

selfish iso ball players dont work in today's NBA. They are exposed by the better teams. Thats jimmy butler in a nutshell.

On a talent level...jimmy butler is no better than prime Indiana Ron Artest and almost as volatile...just in different ways.

you dont want him.

[payitforward]

The Bucks have signed Christian Wood with a "significant partial guarantee." He is a very talented kid. One of those examples -- of which we see one after another after another -- that indicate how bad FOs are at player evaluation.

Not suggesting that Wood will be a star in the league, but he has starter potential & is still quite young.

A whole bunch of us have been calling for the Wizards to sign him for quite a while now. Too late.

[pcbothwel]

The Bucks have signed Christian Wood with a "significant partial guarantee." He is a very talented kid. One of those examples -- of which we see one after another after another -- that indicate how bad FOs are at player evaluation.

Not suggesting that Wood will be a star in the league, but he has starter potential & is still quite young.

A whole bunch of us have been calling for the Wizards to sign him for quite a while now. Too late.

Somewhat agree... but to play devils advocate.

People were angry we took Aaron White over him.
Then we went undrafted.
Signed by 76ers, so we were too late.
But then waived, but we were too late
Signed again, but then waived.
Signed by Charlotte, then waived
Signed by Mavs, then waived
Then China, then waived
Now the Bucks,.... we'll see

Again, I like his tools, but he has been waived by 3 NBA teams and 1 Chinese team.
Every.Single.GM. has had a shot at this kid over 6 times (Draft, UDFA, waived twice by 6ers, 1 CHO, 1 DAL)

Im not holding this against EG... remember, we just stole Thomas Bryant. I'll give him a pass for now on Wood.

[payitforward]

The Bucks have signed Christian Wood with a "significant partial guarantee." He is a very talented kid. One of those examples -- of which we see one after another after another -- that indicate how bad FOs are at player evaluation. ...

Somewhat agree... but to play devils advocate.

People were angry we took Aaron White over him.
Then he went undrafted.
Signed by 76ers, so we were too late.
But then waived, but we were too late
Signed again, but then waived.
Signed by Charlotte, then waived
Signed by Mavs, then waived
Then China, then waived
Now the Bucks,.... we'll see

Again, I like his tools, but he has been waived by 3 NBA teams and 1 Chinese team.
Every.Single.GM. has had a shot at this kid over 6 times (Draft, UDFA, waived twice by 6ers, 1 CHO, 1 DAL)

Im not holding this against EG... remember, we just stole Thomas Bryant. I'll give him a pass for now on Wood.

I'm not holding it against Ernie either. It's too small an issue to put in his already overloaded basket of bonehead moves.

Although your history is formally correct, it makes it sound like he played badly for several teams in succession. That's not the case. In 2015-16, he played all of 145 minutes for Philly; he went up & down to the Delaware 87ers, but ended the season w/ the Sixers. This was when the regime changed from Hinkie to the Colangelos, & they dropped Wood.

The next year he was with Charlotte & played 107 minutes.

He wasn't signed/waived by the Mavs -- he played on their SL team, however. After SL he was signed by Fujian. He was waived almost immediately, however -- he never played a game for them.

Still... it's an odd journey, no doubt about it, for a guy who seems pretty talented! There were people here who wanted us to take him w/ our #19 pick in 2015 (before we traded up for Oubre).

[closg00]

The Bucks have signed Christian Wood with a "significant partial guarantee." He is a very talented kid. One of those examples -- of which we see one after another after another -- that indicate how bad FOs are at player evaluation.

Not suggesting that Wood will be a star in the league, but he has starter potential & is still quite young.

A whole bunch of us have been calling for the Wizards to sign him for quite a while now. Too late.

Christian Wood busted his ass to finally get this opportunity and I think John would have LOVED to have a young small-ball C like Wood. Oh-well, I will be watching to see how he does this year.

[Ruzious]

The Bucks have signed Christian Wood with a "significant partial guarantee." He is a very talented kid. One of those examples -- of which we see one after another after another -- that indicate how bad FOs are at player evaluation.

Not suggesting that Wood will be a star in the league, but he has starter potential & is still quite young.

A whole bunch of us have been calling for the Wizards to sign him for quite a while now. Too late.

Christian Wood busted his ass to finally get this opportunity and I think John would have LOVED to have a young small-ball C like Wood. Oh-well, I will be watching to see how he does this year.

The Bucks have a big roster crunch now - I'm confused as to why they signed Frazier. That might mean they don't expect to keep Trevon Duval - who I think will eventually be a good NBA PG. I expect to be following him in the G League this season.

[I_Like_Dirt]

Christian Wood busted his ass to finally get this opportunity and I think John would have LOVED to have a young small-ball C like Wood. Oh-well, I will be watching to see how he does this year.

Christian Wood has been busting his ass and has had a similar opportunity before and hasn't taken advantage of it. Hopefully he does this time, but he still only got a partially guaranteed contract on a team that has Henson, Lopez, Maker, and a Zeller already on the team. That's 4 centers on a team that's likely going to wind up playing Giannis at C for significant stretches because he's clearly their best option there. And then they have DJ Wilson and Ilyasova, both of whom might see time at C at various points, too.

The Bucks are clearly being diligent in their search for bigs, and Wood is still an intriguing prospect, but I really feel the Bucks are missing a golden opportunity to get with the program and roll with a bunch of guards and wings.

[dckingsfan]

Christian Wood busted his ass to finally get this opportunity and I think John would have LOVED to have a young small-ball C like Wood. Oh-well, I will be watching to see how he does this year.

Christian Wood has been busting his ass and has had a similar opportunity before and hasn't taken advantage of it. Hopefully he does this time, but he still only got a partially guaranteed contract on a team that has Henson, Lopez, Maker, and a Zeller already on the team. That's 4 centers on a team that's likely going to wind up playing Giannis at C for significant stretches because he's clearly their best option there. And then they have DJ Wilson and Ilyasova, both of whom might see time at C at various points, too.

The Bucks are clearly being diligent in their search for bigs, and Wood is still an intriguing prospect, but I really feel the Bucks are missing a golden opportunity to get with the program and roll with a bunch of guards and wings.

It does seem like there are more quality bigs than slots available right now as many teams slant toward small ball.

[verbal8]

I wonder if Anthony Davis tries to force a trade to the Lakers.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251203/Anthony-Davis-Signs-With-Rich-Paul-Of-Klutch-Sports

Also:
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251211/LeBron-James-We-Got-A-Long-Way-To-Go-To-Get-To-Golden-State

[Ruzious]

Didn't we mock Kawhi Leonard for giving away millions? It would be one thing if you have made your money and are singularly chasing a ring.

I don't really blame players for doing whatever they want in free agency. While I'm not a huge fan of the trade demand part of things, Butler, for all his issues, seems professional enough that he'd still show up and work hard. Although it surely doesn't seem that way, he's probably doing the Wolves a favor by letting them know of his intentions. Granted, he isn't making the situation perfect for them by tanking his trade value in the process, but I suspect the league already had a good idea of his rough personality and it's still better for the Wolves to know than for Butler to quietly play out the season, not tell the Wolves anything, and then just leave.

With Kawhi, I'm not sure what he wants exactly, beyond he wanted to get out of San Antonio. And frankly, he isn't the first person to want out of San Antonio. Ron Funches has made that much pretty hilariously clear this past year. What Kawhi wants to do beyond this season? We will see. I think his team and assorted hanger-onners want him in a major market close to home (i.e. LA). I suspect Kawhi would be pretty alright with playing in LA, too. I don't think he personally wants a lot of media scrutiny but he does want to be treated like a superstar, which means the Lakers probably aren't the ideal landing spot for him and the Clippers are the better LA fit for him, and frankly the Raptors might be a better fit for him than the Lakers, too, on those grounds. I think Kawhi wants to play basketball and be paid reasonably well for it, though I don't think he cares too much beyond "max," whatever that is. He wants to enjoy who he plays and works with and prefers not to play in undiagnosed continuous pain if it can be avoided. Beyond that? I'm not really sure, but while his actions were unfortunate and his reps seemed pretty forceful while Kawhi largely seemed to stay out of it, I don't really see how it's a negative on Kawhi.

Same goes for Butler here. He can do what he wants. There are some indicators that he might be tough to get along with, but I don't think they can be found directly in his trade demand, though maybe indirectly in the actions that led to his trade demand. If he wants to go play with Kyrie for the Clippers or Nets or whoever, great! Provided the Nets don't gut their roster to trade for him, they could have a really quality team next year with Irving and Butler complemented by the likes of Levert, RHJ, Russell, Allen, etc.

No disagreement with what you wrote. My point is that mocking Butler for wanting to get paid is ludicrous.

I'd rather mock the people who insist he's all about winning and leadership.

[LyricalRico]

I wonder if Anthony Davis tries to force a trade to the Lakers.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251203/Anthony-Davis-Signs-With-Rich-Paul-Of-Klutch-Sports

Also:
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251211/LeBron-James-We-Got-A-Long-Way-To-Go-To-Get-To-Golden-State

All of the focus has been on the free agents that LAL can potentially attract next summer, but more and more stars are forcing trades so we've got to start looking at that possibility too. And if Davis really wants to be as great as he says, he's got to either come East or join a super team. So putting two and two together...maybe?

[verbal8]

I wonder if Anthony Davis tries to force a trade to the Lakers.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251203/Anthony-Davis-Signs-With-Rich-Paul-Of-Klutch-Sports

Also:
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251211/LeBron-James-We-Got-A-Long-Way-To-Go-To-Get-To-Golden-State

All of the focus has been on the free agents that LAL can potentially attract next summer, but more and more stars are forcing trades so we've got to start looking at that possibility too. And if Davis really wants to be as great as he says, he's got to either come East or join a super team. So putting two and two together...maybe?

Pick 3 from a selection of decent PGs and average wings to that Duo and any line-up is the "death line-up".

[LyricalRico]

The Phoenix Suns have interest in trading for Jeff Teague should he become available.

The Minnesota Timberwolves could conceivably acquire Goran Dragic in a trade with the Miami Heat involving Jimmy Butler, which would make Teague available.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251227/Suns-Interested-In-Trading-For-Jeff-Teague

Maybe that's what Phoenix wants, but I don't see why the Heat would give up Dragic in a deal for Butler. Both Butler and Dragic have options after this season, and presumably the reason Miami would even entertain a Butler rental would be to make a run in a LeBron-less East which they need Dragic for IMO.

[Ruzious]

I wonder if Anthony Davis tries to force a trade to the Lakers.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251203/Anthony-Davis-Signs-With-Rich-Paul-Of-Klutch-Sports

Also:
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251211/LeBron-James-We-Got-A-Long-Way-To-Go-To-Get-To-Golden-State

Hopefully he waits till Lebron is over the hill... which may be when he's 50.

[youngWizzy]

I wonder if Anthony Davis tries to force a trade to the Lakers.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251203/Anthony-Davis-Signs-With-Rich-Paul-Of-Klutch-Sports

Also:
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251211/LeBron-James-We-Got-A-Long-Way-To-Go-To-Get-To-Golden-State

Hopefully he waits till Lebron is over the hill... which may be when he's 50.

If Davis is on the block, Danny Ainge will be the first to pick the phone up. The Celtics have arguably the most to offer. I actually just had a chill down my spine as to how good they could be with Davis.

[verbal8]

That might actually be even better for Lebron's company. Have a Lakers-Celtics rivalry with the superstars both being represented by the company.

I wonder if Anthony Davis tries to force a trade to the Lakers.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251203/Anthony-Davis-Signs-With-Rich-Paul-Of-Klutch-Sports

Also:
https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251211/LeBron-James-We-Got-A-Long-Way-To-Go-To-Get-To-Golden-State

Hopefully he waits till Lebron is over the hill... which may be when he's 50.

If Davis is on the block, Danny Ainge will be the first to pick the phone up. The Celtics have arguably the most to offer. I actually just had a chill down my spine as to how good they could be with Davis.