Discussing Other Teams' Moves Part 3

closg00 · Post #881 » by **closg00** » Mon Sep 9, 2013 2:08 pm

I like this article on Orlando's young core, what a dedicated group of young guys. I look forward to seeing them this year.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/magics-young- ... g-together

payitforward · Post #882 » by **payitforward** » Mon Sep 9, 2013 3:39 pm

closg00 wrote:I like this article on Orlando's young core, what a dedicated group of young guys. I look forward to seeing them this year.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/magics-young- ... g-together

Hennigan, who comes out of the Thunder organization I believe, has made one terrific move after another since taking over in Orlando.

Without taking on even one bad long-term contract, he's turned what was a nightmare roster into 7 of the better young prospects in the league and some veterans all of whom expire next year except Afflalo.

Two guys I especially like are the 2012 round 2 picks Doron Lamb and Kyle O'Quinn -- both of whom I had as among the biggest bargain picks in that draft (especially O'Quinn). And the footnote is that we could have had them both....

Post #883 » by **montestewart** » Mon Sep 9, 2013 9:14 pm

payitforward wrote:
closg00 wrote:I like this article on Orlando's young core, what a dedicated group of young guys. I look forward to seeing them this year.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/magics-young- ... g-together

Hennigan, who comes out of the Thunder organization I believe, has made one terrific move after another since taking over in Orlando.

Without taking on even one bad long-term contract, he's turned what was a nightmare roster into 7 of the better young prospects in the league and some veterans all of whom expire next year except Afflalo.

Two guys I especially like are the 2012 round 2 picks Doron Lamb and Kyle O'Quinn -- both of whom I had as among the biggest bargain picks in that draft (especially O'Quinn). And the footnote is that we could have had them both....

Sometimes I think EG just overestimates how far along the team is in its search for new/young talent.

payitforward · Post #884 » by **payitforward** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 1:54 am

montestewart wrote:Sometimes I think EG just overestimates how far along the team is in its search for new/young talent.

Ernie is in his mid-60s. His horizon is short; this is his last job. He's also pretty cynical, at least that seems obvious to me from the way he carries himself and the way he talks. If good luck has helped him this time around, and he has a pretty good team -- not a contender but at least a good team -- I think that fills the bill for him.

3 of his 4 key veterans -- Nene, Okafor and Webster -- are significantly at risk of injury. And if you think Harrington is somehow "key" as well, then that makes 4 of 5. Hell, Maynor is coming off a significant injury as well. Only Ariza seems altogether healthy.

This gives him a built-in excuse if injuries hold down the team's results.

TBH, I don't think Ernie cares much about contending. I'm sure he doesn't. And I don't think Ted has much of a focus on it either -- his focus is on Monumental.

Still, if everyone stays healthy, we'll have a good season. And if so, that'll be a lot more fun than we have had in some years.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #885 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:59 am

I think Ernie needs to stay, but with a different title and not as the GM.

I think Ted can keep focused on Monumental, but all he has to do is hire Troy Weaver. Weaver will win for Ted and Ernie. He'll probably get Durant or someone like Marc Gasol to come to Washington around the time the Wizards are good enough to overtake Miami.

I am not high.

I'm just high on Life. (Or the Word, or Jesus, or just life in general)

For all the nice moves Hennigan has made in Orlando, the Wizards just need to pluck one or two guys off that Magic roster. Harrington knows all the guys who were on the Magic last season. Anyone from Big Baby Davis, to Jameer Nelson, to Moe Harkless, to Kyle O'Quinn, to the guy I really believe the Wizards can get--Andrew Nicholson--can become Wizards this season or next via trade.

I am optimistic that Ernie and Ted have someone funneling these sound ideas and they are going to figure it out. I think things are going to be way better than most imagine in the foreseeable future for the Wizards. Durant, Nicholson, Moutrie, Marc or even Pau Gasol--these guys are all in play. Hell, even Kobe would come to DC to get another ring. MJ didn't have a talented roster but the GOAT was a Wizard. Kobe's his playing clone in many ways.

Thing BIG! (Also, make sure Ted reads this forum. I know how Mo Almond at least got a cameo. All the Wizards did was go undefeated while Mo was a Wizard. My ideas just SEEM crazy.

Okay, some of my ideas are bad.

But not in this post IMO.

payitforward · Post #886 » by **payitforward** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:59 pm

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:I think Ernie needs to stay, but with a different title and not as the GM.

I think Ted can keep focused on Monumental, but all he has to do is hire Troy Weaver. Weaver will win for Ted and Ernie. He'll probably get Durant or someone like Marc Gasol to come to Washington around the time the Wizards are good enough to overtake Miami.

I am not high. I'm just high on Life. (Or the Word, or Jesus, or just life in general)

For all the nice moves Hennigan has made in Orlando, the Wizards just need to pluck one or two guys off that Magic roster. Harrington knows all the guys who were on the Magic last season. Anyone from Big Baby Davis, to Jameer Nelson, to Moe Harkless, to Kyle O'Quinn, to the guy I really believe the Wizards can get--Andrew Nicholson--can become Wizards this season or next via trade.

I am optimistic that Ernie and Ted have someone funneling these sound ideas and they are going to figure it out. I think things are going to be way better than most imagine in the foreseeable future for the Wizards. Durant, Nicholson, Moutrie, Marc or even Pau Gasol--these guys are all in play. Hell, even Kobe would come to DC to get another ring. MJ didn't have a talented roster but the GOAT was a Wizard. Kobe's his playing clone in many ways.

Thing BIG! (Also, make sure Ted reads this forum. I know how Mo Almond at least got a cameo. All the Wizards did was go undefeated while Mo was a Wizard. My ideas just SEEM crazy.

Okay, some of my ideas are bad.

But not in this post IMO.

Kobe is cooked, CCJ. Time for him to move on to the next phase of his life, where I bet he'll be just as successful as he's been in basketball.

I wouldn't want Glen Davis or Jameer Nelson; and they aren't going to part w/ Moe Harkless or O'Quinn. As to Nicholson, he is the least interesting (to me) of the Orlando young'uns -- he turns 24 this year, wasn't all that as a college player. Don't see much upside.

I sort of feel the same about Moultrie (who's a 76er).

But, hey, keep the ideas coming -- crazy, high on (whatever), who cares?

closg00 · Post #887 » by **closg00** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:05 am

Why do the Bulls like Mike James so-much, even if it's just a camp deal?

verbal8 · Post #888 » by **verbal8** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:15 am

closg00 wrote:Why do the Bulls like Mike James so-much, even if it's just a camp deal?

His initials.

dobrojim · Post #889 » by **dobrojim** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:40 pm

closg00 wrote:Why do the Bulls like Mike James so-much, even if it's just a camp deal?

They probably don't actually. It's PR which few will remember down the road
when James is gone and his legacy of utter suckitude will lead folks to
think about more pleasant thoughts.

dangermouse · Post #890 » by **dangermouse** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:52 am

Wow, Kupchak saying he doesnt think LA will be able to bring in a star player at all.

Lakers are done. Pack it up. What better year to go for the tank job?

Just let Kobe go, sign somewhere else or retire.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #891 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:26 am

I think Miami is a virtual lock to three peat.

Beasley was a 20/8 per 36 mins player when he last played with the Heat as a rookie. Riley already knows him. Spoelstra will probably reach him. Playing with Wade and James will push him past his weirdness in becoming a good to great player IMO.

Between Beasley and Oden the potential is there for Miami to win over 70 games if both Beasley and Oden bounce back.

closg00 · Post #892 » by **closg00** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 12:42 pm

Talking about "putting in the work" Tyler Zeller is up to 255-260 pound.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... spy-kreme/

Nivek · Post #893 » by **Nivek** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:34 pm

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:I think Miami is a virtual lock to three peat.

Beasley was a 20/8 per 36 mins player when he last played with the Heat as a rookie. Riley already knows him. Spoelstra will probably reach him. Playing with Wade and James will push him past his weirdness in becoming a good to great player IMO.

Between Beasley and Oden the potential is there for Miami to win over 70 games if both Beasley and Oden bounce back.

The league minimum type deal is what I thought Beasley should have gotten LAST offseason. Coming out of college, he looked like an elite prospect. His rookie year was below average, his individual numbers were about the same his 2nd season (though he shot worse), but in my stuff he rated about average because of better defense. Then started the decline. Last season, he rated below replacement level.

He's worth a shot for a team like the Heat, which has a veteran team, a luxury tax problem, and the need for cheap production. But Beasley needs to prove he belongs in the league. They should stick him at PF and keep him there. Don't try to use him as a SF.

It's funny -- I don't have much hope in him turning his career around, but if I was a GM, I'd take the one-year, minimum salary look to see if he can. The kid has a LOAD of potential.

If Oden can a) stay healthy; and b) return to something close to the form he showed before all the injuries, the Heat will have near elite production for his minutes on the floor. He could be their Bill Walton. When I researched long layoffs due to injury, I found approximately a 25% reduction in the player's pre-injury production. Oden was pretty good his first two seasons (total of 82 games). The Heat should be hoping for about league average production from him.

verbal8 · Post #894 » by **verbal8** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 3:11 pm

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:I think Miami is a virtual lock to three peat.

Beasley was a 20/8 per 36 mins player when he last played with the Heat as a rookie. Riley already knows him. Spoelstra will probably reach him. Playing with Wade and James will push him past his weirdness in becoming a good to great player IMO.

Between Beasley and Oden the potential is there for Miami to win over 70 games if both Beasley and Oden bounce back.

It really does look that way. They don't really have a rival in the East. I think the Knicks are a fundamentally flawed team. The Pacers are good, but still a step back in terms of talent. The Nets look like they have depth, but health and chemistry could be issues.

The Spurs are getting older and OKC looks like they had a pretty underwhelming off-season.

If they get decent play from Beasley and/or Oden, that allows them to limit the regular season minutes on their stars and the older guys.

Post #895 » by **nate33** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 4:20 pm

If Oden is healthy, the Heat will be a juggernaut team that could win 70 games. If Oden is washed up, then I wouldn't be surprised to see the Heat finish 2nd or 3rd behind Indiana or Chicago. The role players on that team are getting very old and they're going to start feeling a bit fat and happy after two championships. Lebron is amazing and brings it every night, but sooner or later, he might tire of carrying the load.

GhostsOfGil · Post #896 » by **GhostsOfGil** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:02 pm

Hm but even if Oden is healthy, how effective will he be at this point? He hasn't played competitive basketball for years.

Nivek · Post #897 » by **Nivek** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:10 pm

GhostsOfGil wrote:Hm but even if Oden is healthy, how effective will he be at this point? He hasn't played competitive basketball for years.

If he follows the form of others who missed multiple seasons due to injury, he's likely to be about 75% of what he used to be. His production will be diminished, but still about average. Not bad for a backup/spot-starter -- IF he can stay healthy.

pancakes3 · Post #898 » by **pancakes3** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:33 pm

Oden is a legit 7 footer, beefy, and has great defensive instincts. If his joints hold together, I don't see how at worst he's not equal to Brendan Haywood and at Best Tyson Chandler. He's only 25.

DCZards · Post #899 » by **DCZards** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:47 pm

GhostsOfGil wrote:Hm but even if Oden is healthy, how effective will he be at this point? He hasn't played competitive basketball for years.

If Oden is healthy, even 75%, he can be very effective. I don't think it matters a lot that he hasn't played for 2-3 years. Oden's value to the Heat is based on his tremendous size and strength, which means he's there to rebound, block shots and basically clog up the middle...and block out the sun...for Heat opponents. I don't think being out for a couple of years diminishes those kind of skills very much.

DCZards · Post #900 » by **DCZards** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:51 pm

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:I think Miami is a virtual lock to three peat.

Beasley was a 20/8 per 36 mins player when he last played with the Heat as a rookie. Riley already knows him. Spoelstra will probably reach him. Playing with Wade and James will push him past his weirdness in becoming a good to great player IMO.

Between Beasley and Oden the potential is there for Miami to win over 70 games if both Beasley and Oden bounce back.

I hope you are right about Beasley, ccj. I'd love to see the DC area kid get his act together and I think being surrounded by vets like Wade, Lebron and Ray Allen might help him do that.

However, Beasley's problem is not his "weirdness." His problem is that he's a pothead. I think rehab should be Beasley's first stop...and I'm guessing that the Heat are also pushing him in that direction.