Discussing Other Teams' Moves Part 3

[closg00]

@ their cover shot. Dray is a great value for the Nets though.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1734 ... -right-now

[dckingsfan]

:lol: @ their cover shot. Dray is a great value for the Nets though.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1734 ... -right-now

Interesting that Irving was on the list - that could go for any rookie contract no?

[Nivek]

He excludes players on rookie contracts, old guys on one-year deals and max salary players of "inestimable" value. Still kind of a dubious list, but reasonable criteria.

[dckingsfan]

He excludes players on rookie contracts, old guys on one-year deals and max salary players of "inestimable" value. Still kind of a dubious list, but reasonable criteria.

thanks for the clarification - I missed that...

[dangermouse]

:lol: @ their cover shot. Dray is a great value for the Nets though.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1734 ... -right-now

Ah, Byron Mullens. He could have been a better placeholder stretch 4. Would have had to use Maynor money on him but im cool with that. Would have been a much better move.

[closg00]

No comments about Pek getting a 5-year $60 mil deal. Flip drives a hard bargain, but caved on the 5 year no?

[tontoz]

Flip Saunders never learns, this time with public threats to send Shabazz to the D_League.

“In our league, you have to be disciplined and being ‘disciplined’ is being able to adhere to whatever rules are given and you gotta abide by the rules,” Saunders said on the local radio host’s show. “So that’s been disappointing. But when I talk to him, he’s either gonna learn the rules and learn to abide by things with the big boys or he’s gonna really quick learn a geography class: where Des Moines is in the NBDL down in Iowa.”

http://tracking.si.com/2013/08/10/timbe ... nba_t2_a10

What Flip said was of-course true, but why start-out a relationship with an org with a public call-out? Flip Saunders will never be a diplomat.

I agree it is a dumb move. Calling someone out before training camp? W T F

[payitforward]

Flip Saunders never learns, this time with public threats to send Shabazz to the D_League.

“In our league, you have to be disciplined and being ‘disciplined’ is being able to adhere to whatever rules are given and you gotta abide by the rules,” Saunders said on the local radio host’s show. “So that’s been disappointing. But when I talk to him, he’s either gonna learn the rules and learn to abide by things with the big boys or he’s gonna really quick learn a geography class: where Des Moines is in the NBDL down in Iowa.”

http://tracking.si.com/2013/08/10/timbe ... nba_t2_a10

What Flip said was of-course true, but why start-out a relationship with an org with a public call-out? Flip Saunders will never be a diplomat.

I agree it is a dumb move. Calling someone out before training camp? W T F

But... Shabazz did a stupid thing. Why should his team let it pass? And Flip said he might send him the D-League -- not to the other ends of the earth!

[nate33]

No comments about Pek getting a 5-year $60 mil deal. Flip drives a hard bargain, but caved on the 5 year no?

Man, Minnesota has an awful lot of long term money committed to a team that went 31-51 last year and 26-40 the year before. They've already committed $68M in salary for the 2014/15 season and $49M is committed to the 2015/16 season (a figure which doesn't even include the cost of Rubio and Derrick Williams). That team better gel in a hurry because there is no cap flexibility at all to add anybody.

Overall, I don't really like the team they have assembled. They've got a lot of guys who can post nice numbers on offense, but none of them play much D except Rubio. They would really benefit if they could, at some point down the road, trade Pekovic for a defensive big like Noah or Chandler. That would suddenly make them a great team. Maybe Dieng pans out to be that guy.

[payitforward]

No comments about Pek getting a 5-year $60 mil deal. Flip drives a hard bargain, but caved on the 5 year no?

Man, Minnesota has an awful lot of long term money committed to a team that went 31-51 last year and 26-40 the year before. They've already committed $68M in salary for the 2014/15 season and $49M is committed to the 2015/16 season (a figure which doesn't even include the cost of Rubio and Derrick Williams). That team better gel in a hurry because there is no cap flexibility at all to add anybody.

Overall, I don't really like the team they have assembled. They've got a lot of guys who can post nice numbers on offense, but none of them play much D except Rubio. They would really benefit if they could, at some point down the road, trade Pekovic for a defensive big like Noah or Chandler. That would suddenly make them a great team. Maybe Dieng pans out to be that guy.

How much of the mess they're in is due to David Kahn? I can't remember when the new GM took over....

[tontoz]

But... Shabazz did a stupid thing. Why should his team let it pass? And Flip said he might send him the D-League -- not to the other ends of the earth!

So if Flip doesn't call him out publicly he is letting it pass? Are you trying to say it isn't possible to discipline a player without calling him out publicly?

[Nivek]

No comments about Pek getting a 5-year $60 mil deal. Flip drives a hard bargain, but caved on the 5 year no?

Man, Minnesota has an awful lot of long term money committed to a team that went 31-51 last year and 26-40 the year before. They've already committed $68M in salary for the 2014/15 season and $49M is committed to the 2015/16 season (a figure which doesn't even include the cost of Rubio and Derrick Williams). That team better gel in a hurry because there is no cap flexibility at all to add anybody.

Overall, I don't really like the team they have assembled. They've got a lot of guys who can post nice numbers on offense, but none of them play much D except Rubio. They would really benefit if they could, at some point down the road, trade Pekovic for a defensive big like Noah or Chandler. That would suddenly make them a great team. Maybe Dieng pans out to be that guy.

Their record likely would have been better if Love had been healthy. He played only about 600 total minutes last season.

[dckingsfan]

No comments about Pek getting a 5-year $60 mil deal. Flip drives a hard bargain, but caved on the 5 year no?

Man, Minnesota has an awful lot of long term money committed to a team that went 31-51 last year and 26-40 the year before. They've already committed $68M in salary for the 2014/15 season and $49M is committed to the 2015/16 season (a figure which doesn't even include the cost of Rubio and Derrick Williams). That team better gel in a hurry because there is no cap flexibility at all to add anybody.

Overall, I don't really like the team they have assembled. They've got a lot of guys who can post nice numbers on offense, but none of them play much D except Rubio. They would really benefit if they could, at some point down the road, trade Pekovic for a defensive big like Noah or Chandler. That would suddenly make them a great team. Maybe Dieng pans out to be that guy.

Their record likely would have been better if Love had been healthy. He played only about 600 total minutes last season.

Chase Budinger went down with a knee injury, Rubio was coming back from knee surgery and Pek missed 20 games as well...

[FAH1223]

Man, Minnesota has an awful lot of long term money committed to a team that went 31-51 last year and 26-40 the year before. They've already committed $68M in salary for the 2014/15 season and $49M is committed to the 2015/16 season (a figure which doesn't even include the cost of Rubio and Derrick Williams). That team better gel in a hurry because there is no cap flexibility at all to add anybody.

Overall, I don't really like the team they have assembled. They've got a lot of guys who can post nice numbers on offense, but none of them play much D except Rubio. They would really benefit if they could, at some point down the road, trade Pekovic for a defensive big like Noah or Chandler. That would suddenly make them a great team. Maybe Dieng pans out to be that guy.

They did sign Corey Brewer back... but yeah, not much defense there..

[nate33]

No comments about Pek getting a 5-year $60 mil deal. Flip drives a hard bargain, but caved on the 5 year no?

Man, Minnesota has an awful lot of long term money committed to a team that went 31-51 last year and 26-40 the year before. They've already committed $68M in salary for the 2014/15 season and $49M is committed to the 2015/16 season (a figure which doesn't even include the cost of Rubio and Derrick Williams). That team better gel in a hurry because there is no cap flexibility at all to add anybody.

Overall, I don't really like the team they have assembled. They've got a lot of guys who can post nice numbers on offense, but none of them play much D except Rubio. They would really benefit if they could, at some point down the road, trade Pekovic for a defensive big like Noah or Chandler. That would suddenly make them a great team. Maybe Dieng pans out to be that guy.

Their record likely would have been better if Love had been healthy. He played only about 600 total minutes last season.

True, but even with Love playing, they didn't win all that much the year before. Love has been on that team for 5 years now and they still haven't cracked .400. With Love healthy this year, they posted an on/off differential that suggested a 42-win team. They're going "all in" on a lineup that hasn't even proven to be mediocre.

I figure it's a pretty good bet that they'll play closer to .500 ball this year, but it's real hard for me to believe that that team has the potential to win 55+ games and reach the Conference Finals. Assuming they plan to resign Rubio and Love, they will be capped out for at least the next 4 years. I'm not sure it's wise to lock yourself into a 4 year plan with so little evidence that it could work out.

[Dat2U]

No comments about Pek getting a 5-year $60 mil deal. Flip drives a hard bargain, but caved on the 5 year no?

Man, Minnesota has an awful lot of long term money committed to a team that went 31-51 last year and 26-40 the year before. They've already committed $68M in salary for the 2014/15 season and $49M is committed to the 2015/16 season (a figure which doesn't even include the cost of Rubio and Derrick Williams). That team better gel in a hurry because there is no cap flexibility at all to add anybody.

Overall, I don't really like the team they have assembled. They've got a lot of guys who can post nice numbers on offense, but none of them play much D except Rubio. They would really benefit if they could, at some point down the road, trade Pekovic for a defensive big like Noah or Chandler. That would suddenly make them a great team. Maybe Dieng pans out to be that guy.

Agreed, I'm not crazy about the Pekovic/Love fit. Both need to be paired with a defensive big to hide their inability to rotate quickly and challenge shots effectively. I'm not crazy about their wings either. They paid too much for Budinger & Brewer who are better as reserves than starters. And Rubio's jump shot is as bad as Wall' on his worst day. There's talent but it's a hodgepodge of talent with no real direction or focus. I have the utmost confidence that Flip will run that team into the ground. He might even be able to outdo Kahn.

Also I think Shabazz & Dieng were terrible picks. Dieng is a raw 23 yr old rookie, yeah good luck with that. Shabazz may rot on the bench because he really doesn't have an NBA game.

[nate33]

My guess is that because of their lack of defense, they will inevitably play an inconsistent style of basketball. Whenever a key player gets hurt (Love, Pekovic, Rubio) they won't be able to outscore teams and will therefore lose games. Fans will blame injuries. But the truth will be that they lack the defensive aptitude to win ugly and overcome key injuries. They'll be the opposite of the Chicago Bulls.

[Nivek]

Man, Minnesota has an awful lot of long term money committed to a team that went 31-51 last year and 26-40 the year before. They've already committed $68M in salary for the 2014/15 season and $49M is committed to the 2015/16 season (a figure which doesn't even include the cost of Rubio and Derrick Williams). That team better gel in a hurry because there is no cap flexibility at all to add anybody.

Overall, I don't really like the team they have assembled. They've got a lot of guys who can post nice numbers on offense, but none of them play much D except Rubio. They would really benefit if they could, at some point down the road, trade Pekovic for a defensive big like Noah or Chandler. That would suddenly make them a great team. Maybe Dieng pans out to be that guy.

Their record likely would have been better if Love had been healthy. He played only about 600 total minutes last season.

True, but even with Love playing, they didn't win all that much the year before. Love has been on that team for 5 years now and they still haven't cracked .400. With Love healthy this year, they posted an on/off differential that suggested a 42-win team. They're going "all in" on a lineup that hasn't even proven to be mediocre.

I figure it's a pretty good bet that they'll play closer to .500 ball this year, but it's real hard for me to believe that that team has the potential to win 55+ games and reach the Conference Finals. Assuming they plan to resign Rubio and Love, they will be capped out for at least the next 4 years. I'm not sure it's wise to lock yourself into a 4 year plan with so little evidence that it could work out.

Somewhere on the boards, I did a post about Love's teammates. His teammates have been epic bad -- complete dreck. This past season, Minnesota finally had some good players, but then Love got hurt.

Blaming a guy as productive as Love for his team not winning doesn't make sense to me. The guy has been a terrific player, but it's a team game. His franchise has had a garbage roster throughout his career. The logical conclusion to me is not that a team can't win with Love, but rather that a team can't win with one terrific player and scrubs.

And, the year before Rubio and Pekovic were both injured.

[pancakes3]

I don't know what the numbers say but a core of Rubio, Love, and Pekovic sounds pretty damn good to me. 3 white guys no less. With 2 beefy bodies in Love and Pekovic, any poor defense will probably be due to scheme, not talent. On the other side of the ball, all they have to do is test the adage "scoring wings are the easiest thing to replace in the league". So really just a coach and some vet mins and they'll be on easy street, or so the optimistic thinking goes.

Honestly though, a tough defensive coach plus a few Martell Websters and that team has Houston Rockets potential. Pre-Howard Rockets....

[LyricalRico]

Grizzlies add depth at C by acquiring Fab Melo, essentially in exchange for helping Boston get under the luxury tax. Really like what Memphis has done with their roster the last few months, starting with the Rudy Gay trade. I'm still not convinced about the coaching change, but they are going to be another tough out in the playoffs for sure

Speaking of Lionel Hollins, did he ever end up anywhere? Even as an assistant?