2025 Regular Season Thread Vol. 9

[marson]

The Rockets, who are likely to get eliminated in the first round, would be desperate for a scorer, while Suns would be eager to regain control of their draft pick back. KD would return to his college roots.

The other scenario is OKC could be a dark horse if it's once again the SGA show, with no one else stepping up. This could be KD’s chance to win a ring with the team that drafted him, and a two-way duo with SGA would be lethal.

Personally, I'd prefer to stick with the current core and wait for other star opportunities down the line.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Not to get too greedy but we REALLY need to get a floor general with or without KD. It makes me sick seeing the wide open point blank shots (or 3s) guys like Zubac, Mobley/Allen, Siakam/Turner, everyone on the Hawks etc. get compared to our guys.

There will be some good cheap vets to be had as possible starters with Mitchell as our backup with potential draft pick. We also need a real locker room vet. Unfortunately Kevin Love is dealing with some issues.

[MettaWorldPanda]

The Rockets, who are likely to get eliminated in the first round, would be desperate for a scorer, while Suns would be eager to regain control of their draft pick back. KD would return to his college roots.

The other scenario is OKC could be a dark horse if it's once again the SGA show, with no one else stepping up. This could be KD’s chance to win a ring with the team that drafted him, and a two-way duo with SGA would be lethal.

Personally, I'd prefer to stick with the current core and wait for other star opportunities down the line.

Rockets would have to give up Van Vleet who’s become the leader of that young squad. Going to keep wasting years if you don’t start cashing in chips. The time to strike is now.

[BadMofoPimp]

I can see why Mac isn't on any NBA rotation now. Actually, both teams seem deplorable when it comes to ball handling and finishing.

[marson]

The Rockets, who are likely to get eliminated in the first round, would be desperate for a scorer, while Suns would be eager to regain control of their draft pick back. KD would return to his college roots.

The other scenario is OKC could be a dark horse if it's once again the SGA show, with no one else stepping up. This could be KD’s chance to win a ring with the team that drafted him, and a two-way duo with SGA would be lethal.

Personally, I'd prefer to stick with the current core and wait for other star opportunities down the line.

Rockets would have to give up Van Vleet who’s become the leader of that young squad. Going to keep wasting years if you don’t start cashing in chips. The time to strike is now.

Playoffs result could be very telling. I'd rather tear the whole house down let's say for a Giannis and build from there compared to a 37-year-old soon to retire player.

Hope FO just wait a little bit and see other options because there would be other options in this offseason.

[BadMofoPimp]

Game over, Magic lose . . .

[HeatFan_NC]

If MIL loses in the 1st Rd, I think Giannis will want out. We should go all in for him if that is the case.

Herro, JJJ, and Jovic for Giannis

Imagine a starting lineup of:

Mitchell or Pelle
Burks or Duncan
Giannis
Bam
Ware

[Beenie]

The biggest FU to Butler is trading for Durant and giving him that extension. It’s going to be glorious

Poetic

Another layer would be if KD (who has had devastating injuries in his career) were to sustain a major injury at some point after signing the extension, and Butler just basically goes on to play the same amount of games over the next couple of seasons that he always does.

If Mia were to pursue this route, it would demonstrate a logical contradiction on the part of the FO and that they aren't principled with their strategical approach.

[Beenie]

If MIL loses in the 1st Rd, I think Giannis will want out. We should go all in for him if that is the case.

Herro, JJJ, and Jovic for Giannis

Imagine a starting lineup of:

Mitchell or Pelle
Burks or Duncan
Giannis
Bam
Ware

The "all in offer" would include Bam which surely Mil would insist on in any deal for Giannis

[Beenie]

The Rockets, who are likely to get eliminated in the first round, would be desperate for a scorer, while Suns would be eager to regain control of their draft pick back. KD would return to his college roots.

The other scenario is OKC could be a dark horse if it's once again the SGA show, with no one else stepping up. This could be KD’s chance to win a ring with the team that drafted him, and a two-way duo with SGA would be lethal.

Personally, I'd prefer to stick with the current core and wait for other star opportunities down the line.

Rockets would have to give up Van Vleet who’s become the leader of that young squad. Going to keep wasting years if you don’t start cashing in chips. The time to strike is now.

Rockets make a ton of sense.

Theres gonna be several suitors for KD, though.

I still think GS, now with the addition of Butler, will be better positioned to convince him to return.

[oreon]

If MIL loses in the 1st Rd, I think Giannis will want out. We should go all in for him if that is the case.

Herro, JJJ, and Jovic for Giannis

Imagine a starting lineup of:

Mitchell or Pelle
Burks or Duncan
Giannis
Bam
Ware

That wont be enough. Giannis to Miami via trade is a pipe dream. But if Miami were to approach Bucks, they would have to put Bam on the table and possibly Herro too. Question for Heat fans would you do Bam + Herro + picks for Giannis ? Or maybe you can get it lower for Bam + Ware + picks + Jovic + Jamie for Giannis ?
Both are steep prices. Roster would be bare bones for atleast a season till you can sign some players in 2026.
Personally I don't know. You would need Giannis to commit to an extension. Then go to 2026 to recruit. I'd take the risk tho, its Giannis.
But I don't think fans are taking it serious, if Bam isn't in the package for Giannis

[marson]

The biggest FU to Butler is trading for Durant and giving him that extension. It’s going to be glorious

Poetic

Another layer would be if KD (who has had devastating injuries in his career) were to sustain a major injury at some point after signing the extension, and Butler just basically goes on to play the same amount of games over the next couple of seasons that he always does.

If Mia were to pursue this route, it would demonstrate a logical contradiction on the part of the FO and that they aren't principled with their strategical approach.

This is why I don’t think Mickey and Pat will be willing to offer him a $120 million extension.

He’s played an average of just 53.5 games per season over the last three years, which is basically the same situation as Butler when you factor in availability and age.

That’s also why we lowballed the Suns with the Butler and JRich offer. It’s clear they’re not interested in giving up a huge haul.

[Vertical Limit]

The biggest FU to Butler is trading for Durant and giving him that extension. It’s going to be glorious

Poetic

Another layer would be if KD (who has had devastating injuries in his career) were to sustain a major injury at some point after signing the extension, and Butler just basically goes on to play the same amount of games over the next couple of seasons that he always does.

If Mia were to pursue this route, it would demonstrate a logical contradiction on the part of the FO and that they aren't principled with their strategical approach.

This is why I don’t think Mickey and Pat will be willing to offer him a $120 million extension.

He’s played an average of just 53.5 games per season over the last three years, which is basically the same situation as Butler when you factor in availability and age.

That’s also why we lowballed the Suns with the Butler and JRich offer. It’s clear they’re not interested in giving up a huge haul.

The big difference is, durant is a more consistent player when he is available, he always shows up in the stat sheets.. guaranteed to give you 24+ a night on high efficiency. He will always be seen as an offensive threat when he is on the court and draws doubles/triple teams which opens up the court for everyone..

butler consistently took regular season games off.. you never knew when he was showing up, or when he was coming in for a triple single..

But i agree his availability and durability is a big question mark which is why i think the Heat will be interested, and they will make an offer, but they wont have the best offer available.. theyll offer any expirings they got and picks.. theyll try to retain all the other names/young talent they got and hope thats good enough

[insfo]

Game over, Magic lose . . .

A bit confused, isn't their game tomorrow?

[eddieheatfan]

i dont think durant is coming here. why he would jump from one trash to another?

[SA37]

Some interesting statistical tidbits here:

Miami got to the line just 23.8 times per 100 possessions during clutch time, by far the worst in the league and well below that of good teams like Cleveland (47.8). During the prime Butler years, Miami was middle of the pack in this metric. While that problem was new, the poor clutch three-point shooting was nothing new. Miami shot 30.6% and 31.9% on clutch threes the previous two seasons. Among the highest-volume three-point shooters in the clutch this year, the worst percentages were by four All-Stars: Tyler Herro (12 for 63, 19%), Jayson Tatum (6 for 31, 19.4%), Devin Booker (5 for 27, 18.5%) and Damian Lillard (4 for 27, 14.8%).

Miami already projects to have only $28 million or so in 2026 cap space, if it keeps 2026 restricted free agent Jovic and its two first-round picks in the next two years and doesn’t pick up Anderson’s 2026-27 team option. But Miami could push that total to $58 million by dealing Wiggins for shorter contracts.

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article302722469.html


Also, Barry Jackson sneaking in his offer for Durant he who shall not be named:

Wiggins, a skilled scorer, doesn’t fit what the Heat ideally needs: someone who can finish at the basket, draw fouls, get Miami into offense and take over games late. The view here is Miami should offer Wiggins, multiple first-round picks and two of its first- or second- or third-year players (not Ware) for an All-Star if one becomes available.

[greg4012]

The biggest FU to Butler is trading for Durant and giving him that extension. It’s going to be glorious

And then what? You can't build around a 37 year old. And a 37 year old on a max contract that you can't build around is organizational suicide.

We need to find a star that we can build around.

The NBA is 3-year windows

[greg4012]

We’ve damn near made 3 finals trips in the last 5 years and you’re swapping Jimmy for a better player in KD, Bam can do everything on both sides of the ball now, and Herro is actually efficient now. There’s no reason to think we won’t have success with that group and there’s still avenues to improve after.

Herro looked better because he was an even greater focus of the offense than before. He can't do that with KD on the team, otherwise KD makes no sense. KD is not going to be fine with 12 shots per game like Jimmy was.

So Herro improved his FTR from 15% to 24% because he was a greater focus of the offense?

He improved his TS% from 55% to 60% because he was a greater focus of the offense?

He hit a career high in steal percentage because he was a greater focus of the offense?

He improved his at the rim FG% from 59% last season to 70% this season because he was a greater focus of the offense?

He hit a career high in games played because he was a greater focus of the offense?

The guy who has been one of the premier C&S 3 point shooters and has shot significantly better as a C&S 3pt shooter than as a pull up 3 pt shooter somehow can't fit with a top offensive option on the team?

Herro averaged 17.9 FGA last season. Kevin Durant has actually played with at least 1 guard averaging more FGA than that nearly every season of his career. Since 2010, KD has had a guard teammate average 16.9 FGA or more every single season.

[greg4012]

If wiggins is going to be part of the KD trsde then i assume phoenix is going to want a third team involved so theyre not stuck with the contract. They are looking to get salary off the books on a 25-26 season that does not look promising.

IMO Andrew Wiggins contract is very easily moveable. A 30-year old super athletic 3&D wing that is good for 18+ ppg a night with legit impactful defense is worth 18% of the salary cap. Plus, with his PO for 2027, I'd say it's more likely than not that Wiggins opts out after next season to secure one last longer-term contract

[greg4012]

The Rockets, who are likely to get eliminated in the first round, would be desperate for a scorer, while Suns would be eager to regain control of their draft pick back. KD would return to his college roots.

The other scenario is OKC could be a dark horse if it's once again the SGA show, with no one else stepping up. This could be KD’s chance to win a ring with the team that drafted him, and a two-way duo with SGA would be lethal.

Personally, I'd prefer to stick with the current core and wait for other star opportunities down the line.

Both possibilities