Around The NBA (2022-23 edition)

Post #1 » by **THE J0KER** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:58 am

A month before the start of the season (two weeks before preseason), we can start this thread. For the change, no more any so-called "SUPERTEAM" around nor big West-East quality gap, so we can expect tough battles on the East and on the West both. Of course, the eventual KD trade can change that, but from today's perspective, we can expect a very close 2023 race (with Denver involved too as a contender). The biggest names who change teams during the 2022 summer are R.Gobert, D.Mitchell, and D.Murray, and all of them go to the "dark horses" teams, not to A-List contenders, so we can say this 2022 offseason was very unusual and 'silent' compared to what we have in recent past.

skywalker33 · Post #2 » by **skywalker33** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 9:59 pm

Since this is "Around the NBA" , who would you evaluate as a better choice at SG ?

KCP or GHarris ? Both make around $13-14MM, KCP 1+year, with Gary being a year younger

Post #3 » by **THE J0KER** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:20 pm

Sorry, but Gary Harris is probably done as a factor player due to numerous injuries. Very sad story considering he was in 2017-18 already at 23 almost a TOP50 NBA player with good defense, 18-3-3, and very efficient shooting (60%TS%, 40%3p%).

Richard Miller · Post #4 » by **Richard Miller** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:17 pm

skywalker33 wrote:Since this is "Around the NBA" , who would you evaluate as a better choice at SG ?

KCP or GHarris ? Both make around $13-14MM, KCP 1+year, with Gary being a year younger

Gary is yet again injured (torn meniscus) and had a surgery earlier. Not saying KCP or anyone else can't get injured, but going from his history wouldn't say he's the better choice even if he were on a minimum contract.

skywalker33 · Post #5 » by **skywalker33** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 5:23 pm

skywalker33 wrote:Since this is "Around the NBA" , who would you evaluate as a better choice at SG ?

KCP or GHarris ? Both make around $13-14MM, KCP 1+year, with Gary being a year younger

Perhaps I needed to add “Hypothetical speaking” for you Euro fans….

Post #6 » by **The Rebel** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 2:45 am

skywalker33 wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:Since this is "Around the NBA" , who would you evaluate as a better choice at SG ?

KCP or GHarris ? Both make around $13-14MM, KCP 1+year, with Gary being a year younger

Perhaps I needed to add “Hypothetical speaking” for you Euro fans….

Prior to the injuries Gary Harris is never getting traded for Monte Morris level of players, he had all star potential and was showing it just before the hip injury. Even after the injuries he was still an elite defender, KCP is not that, he is a good defender and a solid shooter, huge upgrade over what we had, but expecting him to replace Harris is just unfair.

skywalker33 · Post #7 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 11:10 pm

The Rebel wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:Since this is "Around the NBA" , who would you evaluate as a better choice at SG ?

KCP or GHarris ? Both make around $13-14MM, KCP 1+year, with Gary being a year younger

Perhaps I needed to add “Hypothetical speaking” for you Euro fans….

Prior to the injuries Gary Harris is never getting traded for Monte Morris level of players, he had all star potential and was showing it just before the hip injury. Even after the injuries he was still an elite defender, KCP is not that, he is a good defender and a solid shooter, huge upgrade over what we had, but expecting him to replace Harris is just unfair.

Always LOVED the GHarris selection (maybe not his 1st year), always thought he'd be a star player but injuries really have derailed his career. Right now (not hypothetically anymore) I'm looking forward to seeing what KCP will bring here to DEN

skywalker33 · Post #8 » by **skywalker33** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 4:46 pm

My favorite photo I've seen lately

the fact it's RW as a Laker thrills me to no end

TunaFish · Post #9 » by **TunaFish** » Sun Sep 25, 2022 2:27 pm

skywalker33 wrote:My favorite photo I've seen lately

the fact it's RW as a Laker thrills me to no end

Sounds like the Laker's are trying to unload Westbrook but can't find the right deal so far. That's a lot of salary to find a taker.

Anyone think that LeBron might be slipping this season due to age?

Richard Miller · Post #10 » by **Richard Miller** » Sun Sep 25, 2022 5:23 pm

If LeBron is healthy, doubt it. He will probably coast on defense, but on offense probably as dangerous as ever.

skywalker33 · Post #11 » by **skywalker33** » Sun Sep 25, 2022 10:40 pm

Richard Miller wrote:If LeBron is healthy, doubt it. He will probably coast on defense, but on offense probably as dangerous as ever.

Father Time is still UNDEFEATED !

Richard Miller · Post #12 » by **Richard Miller** » Mon Sep 26, 2022 1:50 am

skywalker33 wrote:
Richard Miller wrote:If LeBron is healthy, doubt it. He will probably coast on defense, but on offense probably as dangerous as ever.

Father Time is still UNDEFEATED !

Well, you could've said the same thing last year and he still averaged 30 and was literally best scorer in the league. Not someone to be underestimated, until he's officially retired.

skywalker33 · Post #13 » by **skywalker33** » Mon Sep 26, 2022 2:51 pm

Richard Miller wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:
Richard Miller wrote:If LeBron is healthy, doubt it. He will probably coast on defense, but on offense probably as dangerous as ever.

Father Time is still UNDEFEATED !

Well, you could've said the same thing last year and he still averaged 30 and was literally best scorer in the league. Not someone to be underestimated, until he's officially retired.

I'll agree with that, he's still a very impressive player. But he is slowing down, only played 56 games last year, will be 38 during the season and his body is breaking down faster than his recovery time IMO. And I can't wait until he retires, maybe his mouth retires too.

skywalker33 · Post #14 » by **skywalker33** » Mon Sep 26, 2022 5:27 pm

Media Day, listened to a KCP interview. Said they'll be looking to make the defense a team effort, sounded like they'll be working with MPJ to help make his defense better, wouldn't that be nice.

Post #15 » by **The Rebel** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:50 pm

skywalker33 wrote:
Richard Miller wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:
Father Time is still UNDEFEATED !

Well, you could've said the same thing last year and he still averaged 30 and was literally best scorer in the league. Not someone to be underestimated, until he's officially retired.

I'll agree with that, he's still a very impressive player. But he is slowing down, only played 56 games last year, will be 38 during the season and his body is breaking down faster than his recovery time IMO. And I can't wait until he retires, maybe his mouth retires too.

Lebron still has his moments, but his 30 average was a joke, he was literally walking back on defense and cherry picking all night on offense, especially in garbage time. When the fans and media starting reporting that he was staying in games down 30 with 3 minutes left and would not even get back on defense he finally stopped stat stuffing chasing the scoring title.

He will likely be a top 10 player when he tries this year, but between missed games and his team struggling to get into the playoffs I think those moments are even going to be further limited.

Post #16 » by **The Rebel** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:56 pm

skywalker33 wrote:Media Day, listened to a KCP interview. Said they'll be looking to make the defense a team effort, sounded like they'll be working with MPJ to help make his defense better, wouldn't that be nice.

MPJ is just as tall as any other PF in the league, when he is used to guard PFs and allowed to help on defense instead of trying to guard small perimeter guys at the point of attack than he is a solid defender, but that is on Malone for putting him in those situations. Just like it is unfair asking 7' Jokic to defend Curry, it is unfair to ask a 6'11" dude with a bad back to guard Curry.

That being said, the biggest issues I saw on defense were with our guards, Murray will fight through screens in big moments, KCP has always fought through screens, Bones needs to get stronger and learn to do it more, Brown does it as well, those will be huge improvements no Barton dying on screens with Campazzo and Bones not having the strength to do it every time. Ppersonally I think it should be a requirement for any of our perimeter guys to fight through every screen to get minutes as our defense breaks down when they switch or even worse fall down as Barton loved to do.

skywalker33 · Post #17 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Oct 13, 2022 7:48 pm

Saw a thread on the GB regarding an expansion draft and what eight players would you protect on your team. Got me to thinking, with his injury history and large contract, would you protect MPJ ? Would he be selected for his talent or to be traded to another team ??

Thoughts ?

Post #18 » by **The Rebel** » Thu Oct 13, 2022 10:24 pm

skywalker33 wrote:Saw a thread on the GB regarding an expansion draft and what eight players would you protect on your team. Got me to thinking, with his injury history and large contract, would you protect MPJ ? Would he be selected for his talent or to be traded to another team ??

Thoughts ?

He would likely get picked. If you think about it the expansion team is likely to get picks of end of rotation guys and prospects on rookie deals, they can afford to take a chance on MPJ next summer as they have to fill up the cap either way. The question to me is if we leave him unprotected and I don't think we do.

I think we protect
Jokic
Murray
MPJ
Gordon
Bones
KCP
Brown

And 1.of Nnaji, Watson, and Braun depending on how they look by the end of the year.

skywalker33 · Post #19 » by **skywalker33** » Fri Oct 14, 2022 2:53 am

The Rebel wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:Saw a thread on the GB regarding an expansion draft and what eight players would you protect on your team. Got me to thinking, with his injury history and large contract, would you protect MPJ ? Would he be selected for his talent or to be traded to another team ??

Thoughts ?

He would likely get picked. If you think about it the expansion team is likely to get picks of end of rotation guys and prospects on rookie deals, they can afford to take a chance on MPJ next summer as they have to fill up the cap either way. The question to me is if we leave him unprotected and I don't think we do.

I think we protect
Jokic
Murray
MPJ
Gordon
Bones
KCP
Brown

And 1.of Nnaji, Watson, and Braun depending on how they look by the end of the year.

Well, if we didn't have to allow medical records to an expansion team, MPJ would be a huge risk IMO.That said I would have to agree we'd protect him, dependent on this upcoming season's production.

On the proposed list, I would keep Nnaji but could see the Nuggets offering a draft pick to select, say Reed. I'd bet they would want to keep Braun as well as Nnaji and Watson is a big unknown as of yet, but an interesting prospect none the less

TunaFish · Post #20 » by **TunaFish** » Fri Oct 14, 2022 12:19 pm

skywalker33 wrote:
The Rebel wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:Saw a thread on the GB regarding an expansion draft and what eight players would you protect on your team. Got me to thinking, with his injury history and large contract, would you protect MPJ ? Would he be selected for his talent or to be traded to another team ??

Thoughts ?

He would likely get picked. If you think about it the expansion team is likely to get picks of end of rotation guys and prospects on rookie deals, they can afford to take a chance on MPJ next summer as they have to fill up the cap either way. The question to me is if we leave him unprotected and I don't think we do.

I think we protect
Jokic
Murray
MPJ
Gordon
Bones
KCP
Brown

And 1.of Nnaji, Watson, and Braun depending on how they look by the end of the year.

Well, if we didn't have to allow medical records to an expansion team, MPJ would be a huge risk IMO.That said I would have to agree we'd protect him, dependent on this upcoming season's production.

On the proposed list, I would keep Nnaji but could see the Nuggets offering a draft pick to select, say Reed. I'd bet they would want to keep Braun as well as Nnaji and Watson is a big unknown as of yet, but an interesting prospect none the less

Correct me if I am mistaken but Bruce Brown is on a two year contract with a player option for the second season. Seem likely he will exercise that option and become a free agent at the end of the season.

If there is expansion, I don't think you can protect an unrestricted free agent.

Conversely, I would love to see the Nuggets keep Brown, if they can.