2025 Regular Season Thread Vol. 8

[SerialChiller]

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Pretty ridiculous of Riley I got Lebron's side here. The dude has always taken great care of himself and taken being an athlete extremely serious. I don't think he needs Riley meddling like that in his one guilty pleasure

[Kobewade11]

I wonder how motivated KD may be to spend his twilight years in a familiar city with some familiar faces and a HOF coach. I'm scanning the league for potential suitors and this is a move that just makes sense if he wants it, and we wouldn't have to completely mortgage the future.

Houston is well positioned to make a move for him. They also hold some of the Suns picks. The big one being the 2027 pick. They will also have the massive expiring of Van Vleet who will be more desirable to the Suns who are lacking a PG. Certainly more desirable than Rozier and Duncan.

https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rockets/2025/02/13/mad-respect-in-defeat-suns-star-kevin-durant-shows-love-to-rockets/78520214007/

Durant already planting the seed to the Rockets.

Idk..you think KD will choose Jabari over Bam?

[MettaWorldPanda]

I wonder how motivated KD may be to spend his twilight years in a familiar city with some familiar faces and a HOF coach. I'm scanning the league for potential suitors and this is a move that just makes sense if he wants it, and we wouldn't have to completely mortgage the future.

Houston is well positioned to make a move for him. They also hold some of the Suns picks. The big one being the 2027 pick. They will also have the massive expiring of Van Vleet who will be more desirable to the Suns who are lacking a PG. Certainly more desirable than Rozier and Duncan.

https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rockets/2025/02/13/mad-respect-in-defeat-suns-star-kevin-durant-shows-love-to-rockets/78520214007/

Durant already planting the seed to the Rockets.

Idk..you think KD will choose Jabari over Bam?

I think the Rockets will beat our offer unless we overpay and I don’t think Durant is turning down the Rockets. You’re assuming an “Only Miami” scenario. Can’t deny that Rockets have a lot of ammo to get something done and the means to pay him a max extension. And appealing items to the Suns to include their picks and equal or better young talent then we do.

[greg4012]

I wonder how motivated KD may be to spend his twilight years in a familiar city with some familiar faces and a HOF coach. I'm scanning the league for potential suitors and this is a move that just makes sense if he wants it, and we wouldn't have to completely mortgage the future.

Houston is well positioned to make a move for him. They also hold some of the Suns picks. The big one being the 2027 pick. They will also have the massive expiring of Van Vleet who will be more desirable to the Suns who are lacking a PG. Certainly more desirable than Rozier and Duncan.

https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rockets/2025/02/13/mad-respect-in-defeat-suns-star-kevin-durant-shows-love-to-rockets/78520214007/

Durant already planting the seed to the Rockets.

Idk..you think KD will choose Jabari over Bam?

Def agree that Miami ain't outbidding Houston (and shouldn't) in a bidding war for Durant if all else is equal.

Can't predict any of this, but it would surely have little to do with Jabari over Bam. A better comparison for the stature of Jabari Smith in the current NBA landscape is Nikola Jovic.

At this point, Jabari will be lucky if he ends up as Channing Frye 2.0 Give me Tari Eason on the Rockets over Jabari.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Houston is well positioned to make a move for him. They also hold some of the Suns picks. The big one being the 2027 pick. They will also have the massive expiring of Van Vleet who will be more desirable to the Suns who are lacking a PG. Certainly more desirable than Rozier and Duncan.

https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rockets/2025/02/13/mad-respect-in-defeat-suns-star-kevin-durant-shows-love-to-rockets/78520214007/

Durant already planting the seed to the Rockets.

Idk..you think KD will choose Jabari over Bam?

Def agree that Miami ain't outbidding Houston (and shouldn't) in a bidding war for Durant if all else is equal.

Can't predict any of this, but it would surely have little to do with Jabari over Bam. A better comparison for the stature of Jabari Smith in the current NBA landscape is Nikola Jovic.

At this point, Jabari will be lucky if he ends up as Channing Frye 2.0 Give me Tari Eason on the Rockets over Jabari.

Jabari will probably end up on the Suns if they end up doing a deal anyway. Durant has been training with Jalen Green in the offseason and the two have become somewhat close.

[Kobewade11]

Houston is well positioned to make a move for him. They also hold some of the Suns picks. The big one being the 2027 pick. They will also have the massive expiring of Van Vleet who will be more desirable to the Suns who are lacking a PG. Certainly more desirable than Rozier and Duncan.

https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rockets/2025/02/13/mad-respect-in-defeat-suns-star-kevin-durant-shows-love-to-rockets/78520214007/

Durant already planting the seed to the Rockets.

Idk..you think KD will choose Jabari over Bam?

I think the Rockets will beat our offer unless we overpay and I don’t think Durant is turning down the Rockets. You’re assuming an “Only Miami” scenario. Can’t deny that Rockets have a lot of ammo to get something done and the means to pay him a max extension. And appealing items to the Suns to include their picks and equal or better young talent then we do.

We're also assuming here Houston would be equally motivated to come up off a lot of that better young talent to acquire KD - they had no such inclination at the deadline but obviously that could change in a couple of months.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

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Haha, one min, talking about grown men, then next whine about COOKIES!! LMAO
Amazing LeBron keeps in shape with this cookie addiction, lol.
But Riley micromanaging is legendary. That's the thing tho, when you win, you are a genius for what you do. When you lose, you get blamed for the same thing you do. And it's a funny story bu Wade, but if we beat Spurs that year, he stays, at least couple more years.

Yeah Riley's micromanaging has always been a thing, that's why Magic and Kareem ran him out of LA

I remember when Alonzo got his kidney issue... Zo believed it was from taking too many pills for pain or something. Makes you wonder, why was Zo abusing his body with pain meds? Was it because of Riley pushing the guys too hard obsessively?

Not blaming anyone, but there's something to think about.

[greg4012]

Idk..you think KD will choose Jabari over Bam?

Def agree that Miami ain't outbidding Houston (and shouldn't) in a bidding war for Durant if all else is equal.

Can't predict any of this, but it would surely have little to do with Jabari over Bam. A better comparison for the stature of Jabari Smith in the current NBA landscape is Nikola Jovic.

At this point, Jabari will be lucky if he ends up as Channing Frye 2.0 Give me Tari Eason on the Rockets over Jabari.

Jabari will probably end up on the Suns if they end up doing a deal anyway. Durant has been training with Jalen Green in the offseason and the two have become somewhat close.

Important to note that Jabari should not be of high value in any trade discussion. He's due to get paid his next contract and is tracking to be a less valued NBA player than Jovic (and his teammate Eason).

TBH Jabari seems homeless as someone who is not built to bang with center and doesn't have close to requisite handle or playmaking to be a versatile forward. Among all forwards in the NBA that have played at least 20 games this season and average at least 15 mpg, Jabari is LAST in assist%. 156th out of 156 forwards.

All he does is rebound at an average rate, shoot anything that comes his way (and score at below average efficiency), and serve as length on the floor (average to below average defensively)

[MettaWorldPanda]

Def agree that Miami ain't outbidding Houston (and shouldn't) in a bidding war for Durant if all else is equal.

Can't predict any of this, but it would surely have little to do with Jabari over Bam. A better comparison for the stature of Jabari Smith in the current NBA landscape is Nikola Jovic.

At this point, Jabari will be lucky if he ends up as Channing Frye 2.0 Give me Tari Eason on the Rockets over Jabari.

Jabari will probably end up on the Suns if they end up doing a deal anyway. Durant has been training with Jalen Green in the offseason and the two have become somewhat close.

Important to note that Jabari should not be of high value in any trade discussion. He's due to get paid his next contract and is tracking to be a less valued NBA player than Jovic (and his teammate Eason).

TBH Jabari seems homeless as someone who is not built to bang with center and doesn't have close to requisite handle or playmaking to be a versatile forward. Among all forwards in the NBA that have played at least 20 games this season and average at least 15 mpg, Jabari is LAST in assist%. 240th out of 240 forwards.

All he does is rebound at an average rate, shoot anything that comes his way (and score at below average efficiency), and serve as length on the floor (average to below average defensively)

So if the Heat offer Jovic, JJJ, Rozier and Duncan and for comparison sake the Rockets offer Smith, Whitmore, Van Vleet along with the Suns picks back. I think the latter looks a lot more appealing to the Suns. Now if the Heat go in and offer Ware that could be hyper appealing to the Suns. But then we start getting into the realm of overpay. Some teams can afford to overpay and I don't think we can find ourselves in a bidding war.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Idk..you think KD will choose Jabari over Bam?

Def agree that Miami ain't outbidding Houston (and shouldn't) in a bidding war for Durant if all else is equal.

Can't predict any of this, but it would surely have little to do with Jabari over Bam. A better comparison for the stature of Jabari Smith in the current NBA landscape is Nikola Jovic.

At this point, Jabari will be lucky if he ends up as Channing Frye 2.0 Give me Tari Eason on the Rockets over Jabari.

Jabari will probably end up on the Suns if they end up doing a deal anyway. Durant has been training with Jalen Green in the offseason and the two have become somewhat close.

Come on man, you know good and well KD is not about to go spend the final years of his career in Houston with a bunch of kids in an organization that’s won nothing since the 90s lol and the trade package doesn’t matter because KD is going exactly where he wants to go. I would personally be shocked if he doesn’t have just 1 team in mind at this point but at worst he will have like 2-3 teams in mind.

Miami - Spo/Bam Team USA connection, 2nd on his 2 team list last time, assets to do more after getting him.

Warriors - run it back, didn’t seem to want to go back there, not sure how they get it done

Thunder - best story

Dallas - get back with Kyrie, form a big 3 with AD

Minny - try to team up with Ant? (He’ll get that in Miami stay tuned)

[MettaWorldPanda]

Def agree that Miami ain't outbidding Houston (and shouldn't) in a bidding war for Durant if all else is equal.

Can't predict any of this, but it would surely have little to do with Jabari over Bam. A better comparison for the stature of Jabari Smith in the current NBA landscape is Nikola Jovic.

At this point, Jabari will be lucky if he ends up as Channing Frye 2.0 Give me Tari Eason on the Rockets over Jabari.

Jabari will probably end up on the Suns if they end up doing a deal anyway. Durant has been training with Jalen Green in the offseason and the two have become somewhat close.

Come on man, you know good and well KD is not about to go spend the final years of his career in Houston with a bunch of kids in an organization that’s won nothing since the 90s lol and the trade package doesn’t matter because KD is going exactly where he wants to go. I would personally be shocked if he doesn’t have just 1 team in mind at this point but at worst he will have like 2-3 teams in mind.

Miami - Spo/Bam Team USA connection, 2nd on his 2 team list last time, assets to do more after getting him.

Warriors - run it back, didn’t seem to want to go back there, not sure how they get it done

Thunder - best story

Dallas - get back with Kyrie, form a big 3 with AD

Minny - try to team up with Ant? (He’ll get that in Miami stay tuned)

Rockets have a great chance. How can you deny they are currently one of the top teams in the West and have a very good coach in Udoka who's completely flipped that culture. They will also have flexibility to make more moves.

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[3ammy3uck3ts]

Jabari will probably end up on the Suns if they end up doing a deal anyway. Durant has been training with Jalen Green in the offseason and the two have become somewhat close.

Come on man, you know good and well KD is not about to go spend the final years of his career in Houston with a bunch of kids in an organization that’s won nothing since the 90s lol and the trade package doesn’t matter because KD is going exactly where he wants to go. I would personally be shocked if he doesn’t have just 1 team in mind at this point but at worst he will have like 2-3 teams in mind.

Miami - Spo/Bam Team USA connection, 2nd on his 2 team list last time, assets to do more after getting him.

Warriors - run it back, didn’t seem to want to go back there, not sure how they get it done

Thunder - best story

Dallas - get back with Kyrie, form a big 3 with AD

Minny - try to team up with Ant? (He’ll get that in Miami stay tuned)

Rockets have a great chance. How can you deny they are currently one of the top teams in the West and have a very good coach in Udoka who's completely flipped that culture. They will also have flexibility to make more moves.

Read on Twitter

It would definitely be one of the more shocking moves we’ve seen. Not even saying this to hope traffic Miami, I would just be very shocked

[marson]

I’m hoping we have more options besides KD this offseason. The upcoming playoffs should give us plenty of insight.

It could also be an offseason where everyone tries to make a move for Giannis.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Read on Twitter

The most important figure in Miami sports history was FED UP!!

[3ammy3uck3ts]

I’m hoping we have more options besides KD this offseason. The upcoming playoffs should give us plenty of insight.

It could also be an offseason where everyone tries to make a move for Giannis.

There will definitely be more players who shake free, we know KD and Trae right now but yes if the bucks underperform and are a 1st/2nd round exit showing they’re not very close to winning it Dame and Giannis will be added to the list. I’m sure there are some more who will pop up too depending on situation

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Read on Twitter

Pretty ridiculous of Riley I got Lebron's side here. The dude has always taken great care of himself and taken being an athlete extremely serious. I don't think he needs Riley meddling like that in his one guilty pleasure

Yea that is some insane micromanagement, someone needed to save him from himself lol.

[Kobewade11]

I’m hoping we have more options besides KD this offseason. The upcoming playoffs should give us plenty of insight.

It could also be an offseason where everyone tries to make a move for Giannis.

Milwaukee will be must see tv this summer if they have another early playoff exit

[MettaWorldPanda]

Come on man, you know good and well KD is not about to go spend the final years of his career in Houston with a bunch of kids in an organization that’s won nothing since the 90s lol and the trade package doesn’t matter because KD is going exactly where he wants to go. I would personally be shocked if he doesn’t have just 1 team in mind at this point but at worst he will have like 2-3 teams in mind.

Miami - Spo/Bam Team USA connection, 2nd on his 2 team list last time, assets to do more after getting him.

Warriors - run it back, didn’t seem to want to go back there, not sure how they get it done

Thunder - best story

Dallas - get back with Kyrie, form a big 3 with AD

Minny - try to team up with Ant? (He’ll get that in Miami stay tuned)

Rockets have a great chance. How can you deny they are currently one of the top teams in the West and have a very good coach in Udoka who's completely flipped that culture. They will also have flexibility to make more moves.

Read on Twitter

It would definitely be one of the more shocking moves we’ve seen. Not even saying this to hope traffic Miami, I would just be very shocked

Type in Durant to the Rockets and they are numerous articles talking about it. Here is a recent one from a week ago discussing the Rockets as the favorites to land him. I think we have a much better chance at landing Trae Young since I don't see a heavy market for him and I think the pieces that we have lineup in terms of easy expiring salary matching. Remember the Suns can't aggregate players so your looking at a 4 or 5 for 1 type of deal. That most likely involves having to get other teams involved. We are already at Young's salary with just two players in Rozier and Duncan. Toss in JJJ and a highly valued future pick and we definitely have something to work with since the Hawks will most likely be in rebuild mode and looking to get all that money off the books. Not many teams like us that can meet there requirements.

https://www.si.com/nba/rockets/news/rockets-projected-favorites-to-land-suns-kevin-durant-trade-odds

[marson]

Either way, I think LeBron is already on his way out. Windhorst, Jake Fisher, or someone else had an article saying LeBron is returning to Cleveland, no matter what. And this is after the Heat won their second franchise title.

I do agree the press conference was a bit much, though. He carried the franchise for four straight years. As for what he said about Jimmy, I kind of get it.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Making the playoffs means something to this group so as we get deeper into the final stretch of the season teams will be tapping out and we will be pulling off wins like last night. We had Bam playing on one leg last night because he said it was a must win. Jovic will be back at the end of March and he'll have 10 games to get back up to speed into the rotation against a favorable schedule.