Around the League: 2023-24 Season

[SixthStreet]

I'm not even remotely concerned about the Knicks. That trade was awful and didn't even move the needle. Whomever made that trade is going to be fired over it sooner than later because of the lack of flexibility it resulted in.

They took the gift of getting Brunson on the deal they did and pissed it away with this trade.

[SixthStreet]

So LeBron's contract is going to take the Lakers over the 2nd apron apparently. Can we stop saying he cares about winning? He clearly does not. As I've said before, he will go nuts to win the play-in tournament like he did last year to try and improve his "resume" because he knows that's the only title he's winning.

[76ciology]

Lastly, it’s crucial to secure a top seed in the East and avoid dragging out playoff series to keep our players fresh.

Not necessarily disagreeing, but that's a double edged sword. Unless you have a deep group, going balls to the wall for a top seed is going to burn your key players out, as we've seen here a few times. This is one of the main reasons I was advocating for the 'less top heavy but younger and deeper' approach, as going 9-10 deep in the regular season would keep players fresher come playoff time.

The one thing Nurse has somewhat in common with Glenn (as painful as it is to make any comparisons between a real coach and a clown) is that he runs his primary guys hard. I'm really hoping that Nick gives some of the kids a legit shot at meaningful rotation spots, as that would go a long way in mitigating that issue.

In load management scenarios, we can have Eric Gordon or McCain fill in for Maxey, Oubre take on Paul George’s role, and Drummond cover for Embiid. Even with two of these players sitting out games, I believe our team will remain strong and competitive.

[Covi_Marsh]

I didn't even know what EW added was. Just looked it up. Only reference I could find was Hollinger's new stupid stat. Its a counting stat with a bunch of math that significantly overvalues centers and anyone who rebounds and blocks shots. So its a terrible way to evaluate talent and actual expected wins added. That being said, I could certainly argue that the Knicks will be worse simply because Mikal bridges makes their wing rotation deeper but their center position is so weak right now, even if Mitch was healthy.

The Nets completely stunk from the moment that Simmons got injured and Bridges play was a big part of that drop off

He’ll help the Knicks but we aren’t going to be much worse without him

It will simply be reflected in 82 games rather than our post Xmas record

Of course, that’s because he can’t be the best player on the team like he was for Brooklyn. On the Knicks, as their second or 3rd best player I think he’s going to look amazing, especially feeding off of Brunson.

He most definitely going to be their 2nd scorer. Not like they have a lot of offense. And maybe I’ll eat my words, but I’d rather have Bridges trying to iso Oubre or George over Josh Hart playing 45 mins out hustling everybody like he sniffed a line. His only go to is really dribble left middie fade. I’ll take that all day.

iHart is also a big lost. His two man game with Brunson was pretty good. He developed a floater if u helped take away Brunson and his passing was very good. Mitchell Robinson is much easier to guard. All he can do it dunk and he’s not finding the open man once he’s down there. Aside from him being more injury prone then Embiid.

[Kobblehead]

So LeBron's contract is going to take the Lakers over the 2nd apron apparently. Can we stop saying he cares about winning? He clearly does not. As I've said before, he will go nuts to win the play-in tournament like he did last year to try and improve his "resume" because he knows that's the only title he's winning.

Unfortunately for Bron senior, nobody counts tournament wins (whether they be bubble or play-in tournaments). So his legacy in the NBA is being the mercenary that helped Wade and Irving win rings for their franchises. Such a disappointing legacy. He could have been in the GOAT conversation if he just stayed in Cleveland instead of quitting because he couldn't overcome adversity.

[Covi_Marsh]

So LeBron's contract is going to take the Lakers over the 2nd apron apparently. Can we stop saying he cares about winning? He clearly does not. As I've said before, he will go nuts to win the play-in tournament like he did last year to try and improve his "resume" because he knows that's the only title he's winning.

Unfortunately for Bron senior, nobody counts tournament wins (whether they be bubble or play-in tournaments). So his legacy in the NBA is being the mercenary that helped Wade and Irving win rings for their franchises. Such a disappointing legacy. He could have been in the GOAT conversation if he just stayed in Cleveland instead of quitting because he couldn't overcome adversity.

Could have? Lol. He’s probably half the world’s GOAT. I see your on the other side. I go back and forth on who I say is number 1. Neither one is my favorite player although Bron was during his first stint with Cleveland. I don’t get into heated debates over it tho.

[mjkvol]

The Nets completely stunk from the moment that Simmons got injured and Bridges play was a big part of that drop off

He’ll help the Knicks but we aren’t going to be much worse without him

It will simply be reflected in 82 games rather than our post Xmas record

Of course, that’s because he can’t be the best player on the team like he was for Brooklyn. On the Knicks, as their second or 3rd best player I think he’s going to look amazing, especially feeding off of Brunson.

He most definitely going to be their 2nd scorer. Not like they have a lot of offense. And maybe I’ll eat my words, but I’d rather have Bridges trying to iso Oubre or George over Josh Hart playing 45 mins out hustling everybody like he sniffed a line. His only go to is really dribble left middie fade. I’ll take that all day.

iHart is also a big lost. His two man game with Brunson was pretty good. He developed a floater if u helped take away Brunson and his passing was very good. Mitchell Robinson is much easier to guard. All he can do it dunk and he’s not finding the open man once he’s down there. Aside from him being more injury prone then Embiid.

Agree. This is the perfect type of move that the national media hypes due to the bloated reputation Bridges has achieved since Phoenix. Listen, I loved him as a player at Nova and was thrilled when the Sixers picked him, as he was the perfect plug and play addition at the time, but the reality is that he is a very solid 3&D guy with some creation ability, not the quasi-superstar he has been made out to be.

I might be wrong, but IMO Hartenstein is going to be a bigger loss than is being made of it. That team gelled in the second half of the season and the playoffs, and it was the injuries as much as anything that killed them. Trade Randle, resign Hartenstein, and use your picks to add more youth and another shooter or two, and they were ready to compete with assets to improve more when needed. They went all in on a solid player who I'm not sure really moves the needle enough, and are still stuck with Randle. They'll be good, but I'm not so sure they're even better than us right now.

[mjkvol]

So LeBron's contract is going to take the Lakers over the 2nd apron apparently. Can we stop saying he cares about winning? He clearly does not. As I've said before, he will go nuts to win the play-in tournament like he did last year to try and improve his "resume" because he knows that's the only title he's winning.

It never fails to amuse me how the national media does cartwheels to endlessly praise James and refuse to place any of the blame for the Lakers' demise on his shoulders. Instead, we get articles about how wonderful it is that a 2nd round pick is used on a kid that shouldn't have even been in the draft, and ones like this that rips the dysfunction in the franchise yet absolves James of any blame as if he's just a guy on the roster.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/why-lebron-james-max-contract-is-latest-indictment-of-lakers-front-office-in-a-summer-full-of-them/

[Arsenal]

Of course, that’s because he can’t be the best player on the team like he was for Brooklyn. On the Knicks, as their second or 3rd best player I think he’s going to look amazing, especially feeding off of Brunson.

He most definitely going to be their 2nd scorer. Not like they have a lot of offense. And maybe I’ll eat my words, but I’d rather have Bridges trying to iso Oubre or George over Josh Hart playing 45 mins out hustling everybody like he sniffed a line. His only go to is really dribble left middie fade. I’ll take that all day.

iHart is also a big lost. His two man game with Brunson was pretty good. He developed a floater if u helped take away Brunson and his passing was very good. Mitchell Robinson is much easier to guard. All he can do it dunk and he’s not finding the open man once he’s down there. Aside from him being more injury prone then Embiid.

Agree. This is the perfect type of move that the national media hypes due to the bloated reputation Bridges has achieved since Phoenix. Listen, I loved him as a player at Nova and was thrilled when the Sixers picked him, as he was the perfect plug and play addition at the time, but the reality is that he is a very solid 3&D guy with some creation ability, not the quasi-superstar he has been made out to be.

I might be wrong, but IMO Hartenstein is going to be a bigger loss than is being made of it. That team gelled in the second half of the season and the playoffs, and it was the injuries as much as anything that killed them. Trade Randle, resign Hartenstein, and use your picks to add more youth and another shooter or two, and they were ready to compete with assets to improve more when needed. They went all in on a solid player who I'm not sure really moves the needle enough, and are still stuck with Randle. They'll be good, but I'm not so sure they're even better than us right now.

Agree 100%. Not sure the Knicks have improved at all by swapping in Bridges for Hartenstein and selling the farm to do it.

Hartenstein was a top impact player by advanced metrics. He's a big loss.

[76ciology]

I think the Knicks would be better off re-signing Hartenstein and trading Randle, along with all those picks, for Brandon Ingram or a 3&D wing like Cam Johnson.

If they can't find a good replacement for Hartenstein, the gamble on Mikal Bridges will fail. Currently, their best bet is either to luck into getting a cheap center, like Day'Ron Sharpe from the Nets, or to trade Randle for a center.

It's a good thing we were able to snag Drummond in free agency faster than the Knicks.

[Negrodamus]

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All time great off ball defender can’t play on team Australia.

[mithrandir17]

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[sodmoraes]

Franz got 5 years 270 max. Why his max is bigger than Maxeys?

Sent from my SM-G780G using RealGM mobile app

[Sixerscan]

Franz got 5 years 270 max. Why his max is bigger than Maxeys?

Sent from my SM-G780G using RealGM mobile app

That's only if he makes all nba and it becomes a 30% max like Hailburton's did. 220 otherwise. The reason for that difference is that it's an extension that starts next year when the cap goes up 10%.

[SixthStreet]

Good GMs should not be afraid to trade home grown talent. The Magic absolutely should have traded Wagner before it got to this point.

I hope when the day comes when the Embiid era has passed that we have a GM in place with the stones to do what guys like Hinkie and Ainge did/do. Otherwise you are guaranteeing yourself the treadmill.

[76ciology]

F: Banchero 50M
F: Wagner 50M
C: Isaac 20M
G: KCP 20M
G: Suggs 20
6th: Wendell Carter 10M
7th: Cole Anthony 10M

I've noticed that teams are now choosing to build around two star players and are comfortable maxing out their contracts. They then use the remaining cap space to secure a well rounded starting 5, use exemptions on the 6th to 7th spot. The rest of the roster is filled with rookies and players on minimum contracts.

Are Banchero and Wagner good enough to build around? I think it depends on the context. The Celtics successfully built around Tatum and Brown, showing that it's possible as long as they have mostly strong two-way winning players in the 3 to 7 spots. The Magic seem to believe that Isaac, KCP, Suggs, Wendell Carter, and Anthony.

Wagner and Banchero are comparable to Tatum and Brown. KCP and Suggs are comparable to Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. Isaac and Carter are comparable to Porzingis and Horford. Cole Anthony is comparable to Pritchard.

[Decipher]

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All time great off ball defender can’t play on team Australia.

Injured

[Kobblehead]

The Magic are running a risk on Franz Wagner. In 72 games last year, he shot 28% from three. And then in the playoffs, he shot 26% from three in 7 games. He HAS to be better.

[rzzzzz]

I was hoping that the ‘ers would get the Homie for cheeps. Supporting the Joker seems a good move for him.

[76ciology]

The Lakers are heavily investing in young talents like Dalton Knecht, Hood Schifino, and Max Christie (seems like they’re high on him for them to sign him $8M per year), alongside slightly older players such as Rui Hachimura (shot 42% from 3 last season) and Austin Reaves. Bigs in Wood and Hayes (those two are still with the Lakers right?) They are carried by veterans like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent.

A lot of neutral at best role players and betting a lot of young talents to breakout.