Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[jnrjr79]

This is one of the most confusing firings I’ve ever seen. I wonder if there was some sort of acute incident that led to it.

They've been losing, but it seems like a lot of that has to do with injuries.

Kevin O'Connor reported that Malone and the GM hated each other and would disparage each other behind each other's backs (through saying negative stuff to reporters, was my impression).

[Ice Man]

Kevin O'Connor reported that Malone and the GM hated each other and would disparage each other behind each other's backs (through saying negative stuff to reporters, was my impression).

Sounds like Thibs and GarPax.

[Repeat 3-peat]

It will be interesting to see what Denver will do this Summer. Not sure who they will target, but Murray and MPJ may be putting their houses up for sale.

[dumbell78]

This is not what I had in mind as a fix for Denver when I posted yesterday. What a bizarre situation.

[ChiefILL53]

This is the craziest end to a season I've seen in a while.

[sco]

Kevin O'Connor reported that Malone and the GM hated each other and would disparage each other behind each other's backs (through saying negative stuff to reporters, was my impression).

Sounds like Thibs and GarPax.

In thinking about what you said, I wonder if there is any noise coming from how many minutes Malone is playing Joker this season (akin to how there was friction with Thibs putting high minutes on his starters).

[ChettheJet]

Most likely what's going on is an owner who knows business and thinks he knows more than the basketball people in the building. And what normally happens after the business man fires the coach and GM at the same time is the team falls apart.

The Nuggets have 4 players signed to huge long term contracts, if the owner thinks the team should have a better record he thinks they should get better players. What he fails to understand is even one of Porter jr, Murray, Jokic or Gordon requires the perfect trade to be put together and making it work for 1 or 2 other teams means the Nuggets have to come up short. Look at what it took to get Fox out of SAC and to SAS. Both teams had to feed the Bulls players and their FRP back and Lavine had to go to SAC which is now wondering how to move him or DeRozan or both.

Two years removed from a championship don't expect other teams to line up to help DEN out of what the owner thinks are their problems

[MrSparkle]

Kind of a hot-headed crew. Who would've thought... egos in pro sports management?

Malone seems to have been very frustrated all year long. Maybe the player-relationships broke down and they needed to lighten up the mood. Either way, they can't keep Murray-MPJ-Gordon on $130M of payroll (in 2026 alone). Jamal and Aaron are owed a whopping $100M in 2029. I'm not sure the owner thought those 2 extensions through entirely well, although I get the impetus to keep a championship team together (esp. since KCP had to walk). That's too much cap for 3 supporting players who can't make it past the 1st round without Jokic.

[drosestruts]

damned if you do, damned if you don't

Bulls have been criticized for breaking up their championship core

Nuggets will be criticized for having attempted to keep theirs together


It seems like the in-fighting between Malone and the GM was pretty well known. Also seems like the owner said enough and didn't pick a side, just got rid of both of them. Which to be fair, had he fired Booth, but kept Malone it makes for an odd relationship with whomever then ext GM would be.

If it was about the friction between the coaching and front office it sends a pretty clear message that they expect those departments to have a positive working relationship.

[MrSparkle]

Welp , looks like Suns aren't making the play-in. Assuming Coach Bud is the next to get the boot.

[DuckIII]

Welp , looks like Suns aren't making the play-in. Assuming Coach Bud is the next to get the boot.

It’s so funny how stupid the national NBA media can be. There was so much fawning in the press over what PHX did to put all those guys together. And yet how many of us fans looked at it and said: “What the hell are they doing, playing 2K? That will never work, they don’t even look like a contender.” A lot.

What a predictably failed experiment.

[sco]

Welp , looks like Suns aren't making the play-in. Assuming Coach Bud is the next to get the boot.

It’s so funny how stupid the national NBA media can be. There was so much fawning in the press over what PHX did to put all those guys together. And yet how many of us fans looked at it and said: “What the hell are they doing, playing 2K? That will never work, they don’t even look like a contender.” A lot.

What a predictably failed experiment.

Yeah. I do think that many FO's were "confused" by the new CBA impact, but still their roster construction was terrible. It's usually the deal to get the "last piece" that ends-up being the big mistake.

[Ice Man]

t’s so funny how stupid the national NBA media can be. There was so much fawning in the press over what PHX did to put all those guys together.

Those guys are paid for hits, not insight. Meaning they will always spend far too much time on fading stars with big-name recognition. My God, their verbiage on Melo going to Portland. Or Russ earlier this year to Denver.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Welp , looks like Suns aren't making the play-in. Assuming Coach Bud is the next to get the boot.

It’s so funny how stupid the national NBA media can be. There was so much fawning in the press over what PHX did to put all those guys together. And yet how many of us fans looked at it and said: “What the hell are they doing, playing 2K? That will never work, they don’t even look like a contender.” A lot.

What a predictably failed experiment.

Yeah. I do think that many FO's were "confused" by the new CBA impact, but still their roster construction was terrible. It's usually the deal to get the "last piece" that ends-up being the big mistake.

I guess it also goes to show you that patience and strategy of when and how to go for it matters. PHX was absolutely crushing it for 2 years. They did get embarrassed on their last winning squad to Luka but they panicked.

They still had Bridges, Cam Johnson etc. and could have just kept with it. But their owner just thought grab talent at all cost. Getting Durant and Beal completely caboshed that team. Now they are at a point where they cant even recover unless they trade off KD since they wont trade Booker. Its a mess.

[sco]

It’s so funny how stupid the national NBA media can be. There was so much fawning in the press over what PHX did to put all those guys together. And yet how many of us fans looked at it and said: “What the hell are they doing, playing 2K? That will never work, they don’t even look like a contender.” A lot.

What a predictably failed experiment.

Yeah. I do think that many FO's were "confused" by the new CBA impact, but still their roster construction was terrible. It's usually the deal to get the "last piece" that ends-up being the big mistake.

I guess it also goes to show you that patience and strategy of when and how to go for it matters. PHX was absolutely crushing it for 2 years. They did get embarrassed on their last winning squad to Luka but they panicked.

They still had Bridges, Cam Johnson etc. and could have just kept with it. But their owner just thought grab talent at all cost. Getting Durant and Beal completely caboshed that team. Now they are at a point where they cant even recover unless they trade off KD since they wont trade Booker. Its a mess.

I think the issue was getting Beal, and they can't trade Beal because of his no-trade clause. I think KD/Booker are a decent pairing that you can contend with, but the opportunity cost of Beal on the rest of the roster killed them.

[MrSparkle]

The Durant trade was bad, but the Beal trade was just preposterous. The Nurkic trade was bad too. Not that Ayton was worth much, but I just don't get how you move a healthy 18/10 23YO for a chronically injured 13/9 28YO who averaged lower minutes. Especially since the owner didn't seem to care about his finances.

[samwana]

I never understood Phoenix either, they had a great young team that only needed some time and experience. KD was a bad trade, but the worst trade of the decade must be the Beal trade, to be a Phoenix fan must be really frustrating. I don't even want to look what draft capital they have left. KD hasn't much value left Beal has none for a while. I was shocked that Washington was able to trade him and got some value back.

[kodo]

New billionaire owner syndrome.
Prokhorov buys the Nets. Wants immediate results, mortgages his entire future for KG/Pierce and gave Boston a championship team.
Ishiba buys Phoenix. Wants immediate results. Mortgages entire future for Durant, who was going to head to Phoenix anyway as he becomes a FA. Ironically, all that happens now is that Phoenix is the only place KD is guaranteed not to go as a FA.
Adelson buys Dallas. Trades away their entire future in Luka for "win now" move in Anthony Davis (?!).

Maybe Silver should stop giving these teams to billionaires and instead some people who actually know basketball, at least a tiny bit? Adelson was reportedly shocked that Luka for AD was considered a bad deal...I bet she doesn't even watch basketball.

I know Ballmer also gets hate, but he wasn't gutting a Finals team or future HOF in Luka to get Kawhi. The Clippers team he bought wasn't amazing enough to keep running it back, he went for a big swing and just lost the gamble on Kawhi's health.

[Dan Z]

Welp , looks like Suns aren't making the play-in. Assuming Coach Bud is the next to get the boot.

It’s so funny how stupid the national NBA media can be. There was so much fawning in the press over what PHX did to put all those guys together. And yet how many of us fans looked at it and said: “What the hell are they doing, playing 2K? That will never work, they don’t even look like a contender.” A lot.

What a predictably failed experiment.

The Rockets have swap rights with Phoenix so they now have a lottery pick. Haha.

[MrSparkle]

Welp , looks like Suns aren't making the play-in. Assuming Coach Bud is the next to get the boot.

It’s so funny how stupid the national NBA media can be. There was so much fawning in the press over what PHX did to put all those guys together. And yet how many of us fans looked at it and said: “What the hell are they doing, playing 2K? That will never work, they don’t even look like a contender.” A lot.

What a predictably failed experiment.

The Rockets have swap rights with Phoenix so they now have a lottery pick. Haha.

I’ve been playing with tankathon and getting some funny results. HOU getting PHX’s top-4 pick, PHI dropping to 7 and giving to OKC. Half the FRPs are moving to other teams (mostly outside the top-10, but still). Should be a brutal/entertaining lottery night. The lamest scenario would be NOP, PHI, UTA and CHA going top-4, but odds are atleast 1 of the super-tanks gets knocked out.