Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[WesPeace]

This is the most boring finals for me since I can remember, dont really care much about either team. Not on my list of teams I really like, so whoever wins good for them.

My only interest is in comparing the Thunder to other championship squads from the past. It's scary to look at that roster with the realization that they are stocked with future Draft capital. Multiple First Round picks in every draft for the next 3 years. Barring an injury to SAG we could be looking at a dynasty. What a well run franchise. The absolute antithesis of the Bulls.

Thats is 100% truth.. they are already stacked and have multiple assets to even upgrade, awesome job by management in years that lead to this. We could really see a dynasty in the making.

[DASMACKDOWN]

OKC vs Pacers potentially might be the worst watched Finals in close to 20 years.

In terms of public appeal, this is absolutely the worst case scenario for the NBA.

The National media never even bothered to cover OKC despite being clear and away the best team all year. And the only people interested in the Pacers are people living in Indiana.

This is going to be terrible ratings.

Also I pick this to be an OKC in 5 or a sweep. And not close either.

[cocktailswith_2short]

OKC vs Pacers potentially might be the worst watched Finals in close to 20 years.

In terms of public appeal, this is absolutely the worst case scenario for the NBA.

The National media never even bothered to cover OKC despite being clear and away the best team all year. And the only people interested in the Pacers are people living in Indiana.

This is going to be terrible ratings.

Also I pick this to be an OKC in 5 or a sweep. And not close either.

all true.

[Ice Man]

The NBA needs to do a better job of rigging. Five teams out of 30 in its league play in NYC, LA, or Chicago, yet those teams represent only 1 out of 30 most recent NBA Finalists. Gross negligence of duty.

[prolific passer]

This finals should be a pretty fast paced and well coached one but the thunder talent might be too much for the pacers to handle.

[Ice Man]

The Pacers have scored at least 115 points during regulation in 10 of their 16 playoff games. If they can keep up that level of offense, OKC won't be winning in a walkover. But that's a big If, of course.

[Hold That]

OKC and IND is a result of great front office work.

Neither team drafted some transcending top 3 talent to get them there.

Just flat out great front office moves from both teams and maximizing Paul George as a trade piece.


Call this the Paul George finals

for Indy Paul George lead to sabonis which lead to Haliburton

For OKC Paul George lead to Shai

[Chi town]

So Giannis to the Raps?

What could Bucks possibly want to get to fair value?

[jnrjr79]

OKC vs Pacers potentially might be the worst watched Finals in close to 20 years.

In terms of public appeal, this is absolutely the worst case scenario for the NBA.

The National media never even bothered to cover OKC despite being clear and away the best team all year. And the only people interested in the Pacers are people living in Indiana.

This is going to be terrible ratings.

Also I pick this to be an OKC in 5 or a sweep. And not close either.

ESPN has covered OKC a fair bit over the season, particularly with SGA making his MVP push. Certainly not to the extent of the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, etc., though.

Indiana, though? I don't think they've been discussed at all prior to the playoffs.

[MrSparkle]

So Giannis to the Raps?

What could Bucks possibly want to get to fair value?

Well, you don’t get “fair” value in this scenario, but Milwaukee can get a farm.

Barnes, RJ (or Ingram), Dick, and then 6 FRPs (unprotected, 2-3 of them being swaps) would be a pretty decent offer… Raps try to get back some of Bucks’ unwanted/near-expiring vets to help depth (Pat, Prince, whoever).

I think Toronto would still have a solid rotation. Walter, Boucher (resigned), etc. Very strong starting 5 (Quick, Ochai, Ingram, Giannis, Poeltl).

[sco]

So Giannis to the Raps?

What could Bucks possibly want to get to fair value?

Huh. I guess I could see Barrett and IQ (and/or Dick) go in the deal, as both are young and "starter quality" plus a ton of picks. I can't see them trading Barnes, despite the similar role as Giannis...he's the one guy good enough to pair with Giannis to make a difference.

[kodo]

So Giannis to the Raps?

What could Bucks possibly want to get to fair value?

Kinda skeptical. They were an 11th seed in the East, add Giannis and subtract two core players and they get to 5th seed maybe? That's not better than his current situation. There are a lot of teams that can just give MIL a ton of picks and have won more games, including Chicago but also Miami, Orlando, Detroit, etc..

I will say if I was Giannis I'd stay in the EC. Lebron made a lot of Finals by staying in the East.

[sco]

So Giannis to the Raps?

What could Bucks possibly want to get to fair value?

Kinda skeptical. They were an 11th seed in the East, add Giannis and subtract two core players and they get to 5th seed maybe? That's not better than his current situation. There are a lot of teams that can just give MIL a ton of picks and have won more games, including Chicago but also Miami, Orlando, Detroit, etc..

I will say if I was Giannis I'd stay in the EC. Lebron made a lot of Finals by staying in the East.

If he is moving, I think NY is gonna make a push. They'll likely be looking to move KAT and/or Bridges who are good enough for MIL to stay relevant.

I'd love to see him here in a deal for Coby, Pat, Filler and 3 1sts, but that feels light and paying more feels like we wouldn't be good enough.

A core of Giannis, Josh and Matas feel good enough to contend if we get some "value" vets.

[GoBlue72391]

The NBA needs to do a better job of rigging. Five teams out of 30 in its league play in NYC, LA, or Chicago, yet those teams represent only 1 out of 30 most recent NBA Finalists. Gross negligence of duty.

They rigged the draft but forgot to rig the finals. Amateurs.

[Dan Z]

So Giannis to the Raps?

What could Bucks possibly want to get to fair value?

Well, you don’t get “fair” value in this scenario, but Milwaukee can get a farm.

Barnes, RJ (or Ingram), Dick, and then 6 FRPs (unprotected, 2-3 of them being swaps) would be a pretty decent offer… Raps try to get back some of Bucks’ unwanted/near-expiring vets to help depth (Pat, Prince, whoever).

I think Toronto would still have a solid rotation. Walter, Boucher (resigned), etc. Very strong starting 5 (Quick, Ochai, Ingram, Giannis, Poeltl).

Milwaukee is left with a team of Barnes, RJ, Dick, Portis (resigned?), Lopez (resigned?), AJ Green, Kuzma, an injured Lillard and the #9 pick in 2025. That's worse than the current Raptors team, which just finished with a 30 wins season.

They'd have no control of their own picks, but would have three late ones from Toronto (late because they'd be a good team with Giannis) and 2-3 swaps. Or 4 picks plus swaps if they did the deal after the draft (trading the draft rights to the #9 pick instead of the pick itself).

The Bucks would be better off keeping Giannis than do this deal.

[Ice Man]

The NBA needs to do a better job of rigging. Five teams out of 30 in its league play in NYC, LA, or Chicago, yet those teams represent only 1 out of 30 most recent NBA Finalists. Gross negligence of duty.

They rigged the draft but forgot to rig the finals. Amateurs.

A strange version of rigging, given that during the time period that I mentioned those 5 big-market teams have had exactly zero #1 overall draft picks!

[sco]

So Giannis to the Raps?

What could Bucks possibly want to get to fair value?

Well, you don’t get “fair” value in this scenario, but Milwaukee can get a farm.

Barnes, RJ (or Ingram), Dick, and then 6 FRPs (unprotected, 2-3 of them being swaps) would be a pretty decent offer… Raps try to get back some of Bucks’ unwanted/near-expiring vets to help depth (Pat, Prince, whoever).

I think Toronto would still have a solid rotation. Walter, Boucher (resigned), etc. Very strong starting 5 (Quick, Ochai, Ingram, Giannis, Poeltl).

Milwaukee is left with a team of Barnes, RJ, Dick, Portis (resigned?), Lopez (resigned?), AJ Green, Kuzma, an injured Lillard and the #9 pick in 2025. That's worse than the current Raptors team, which just finished with a 30 wins season.

They'd have no control of their own picks, but would have three late ones from Toronto (late because they'd be a good team with Giannis) and 2-3 swaps. Or 4 picks plus swaps if they did the deal after the draft (trading the draft rights to the #9 pick instead of the pick itself).

The Bucks would be better off keeping Giannis than do this deal.

Also, I don't see the point for TOR if they are giving up Barnes in the deal. He is the ONLY player on that roster that you want to keep to pair with Giannis...and even then they have their two top scorers who can't shoot 3's. That whole situation seems silly.

I think PHO for KD, NY for KAT + other assets, NO for Zion + other assets, BOS for KP + other assets, LA for Reeves + other assets, DEN for Murray + other assets, and MEM for Ja are all more constructive starting points for deals.

[MrSparkle]

So Giannis to the Raps?

What could Bucks possibly want to get to fair value?

Well, you don’t get “fair” value in this scenario, but Milwaukee can get a farm.

Barnes, RJ (or Ingram), Dick, and then 6 FRPs (unprotected, 2-3 of them being swaps) would be a pretty decent offer… Raps try to get back some of Bucks’ unwanted/near-expiring vets to help depth (Pat, Prince, whoever).

I think Toronto would still have a solid rotation. Walter, Boucher (resigned), etc. Very strong starting 5 (Quick, Ochai, Ingram, Giannis, Poeltl).

Milwaukee is left with a team of Barnes, RJ, Dick, Portis (resigned?), Lopez (resigned?), AJ Green, Kuzma, an injured Lillard and the #9 pick in 2025. That's worse than the current Raptors team, which just finished with a 30 wins season.

They'd have no control of their own picks, but would have three late ones from Toronto (late because they'd be a good team with Giannis) and 2-3 swaps. Or 4 picks plus swaps if they did the deal after the draft (trading the draft rights to the #9 pick instead of the pick itself).

The Bucks would be better off keeping Giannis than do this deal.

They could modify pick details with Toronto (maybe 4 swaps, whatever), but I don’t think a 23yo All-Star, 24yo improving 2nd option, and another 3P prospect is a bad haul for a near-expiring 30yo Giannis, if he tells Milwaukee he’s not resigning. Bucks aren’t really in position to compete with their situation, so they can’t be that worried about their FRPs the next 2-3Y. They basically need a talented depth chart, and make it through 2-3 rough years. Lillard returning next year could be an interim boost (atleast he becomes a near-expiring trade chip if anything).

The other teams that could offer the best package for Giannis are Houston, OKC and SAS. I think Toronto, if willing to move Barnes, has a good place to start negotiating. On an individual level, I don’t think the other teams would offer their best player (maybe Amen or Sengun). Barnes would arguably be the best single star available for trade.

Of course Bucks could just hold Giannis and hopelessly compete. I’d probably prioritize that scenario if I was their GM. OTOH, Luka Lakers will have Lebron expiring, and the cap-space to join them together. If Giannis doesn’t ink an extension by next summer, I’d be highly concerned about that playing out in 2027.

It’s a dicey scenario. You have a healthy Giannis with 2 years left before the player option. It’s a secure time to deal him at high value. With Lillard’s injury and their lack of assets, the roster is going to be very bad short of miracle additions, like some kind of young Caruso, Reaves, Strus pickups. But they could just gamble on Dame coming back and them having a decent enough team next season to get him to resign.

[drosestruts]

Derrick Rose joined the live studio show from the French Open today. Was a cool crossover of interests. He's also sitting front row right now at the Tommy Paul vs Alcarez match.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Are teams slowly learning their lesson?

To me the second apron and trade regrets are a real thing.

Teams are just far more cautious now of spending years worth of draft capital to get a star. So far the returns are not good. You do that to win a title. But most of the time you max out as a second round team. So when things ultimately don't work out, you are stuck as a franchise.

PHX is an unmitigated disaster. And despite the excitement the Knicks had in the playoffs, it doesn't excuse the fact that the Bridges trade was a terrible, terrible move. Bridges isn't terrible, but the cost was.

I think the league has made it hard to keep a great team together. If you are really young, you have to rush to try and be a title team. Because eventually its going to cost big money.

OKC is a prime example. They have had great books for a while but that will all change.

Because once SGA's supermax kicks in, Chet and Jalen get rookie max, while still trying to keep Dort, while paying Caruso and IHart, their will be in second apron. That is when things get sticky for a small market. They might win the chip this year, be satisfied, then let guys walk soon after.

Small markets certainly cant or wont pay out that kind of money long-term. So while I think OKC could be in the runnings for years with the same group, I only give them a 2-3 year window.

Cleveland is already secretly chirping about the cost of the team if they don't win. They will be in 2nd apron next year. Boston already was looking for an out before the playoffs started, shows you how significant it is.

I think the league did that 2nd apron to prevent super teams. It worked. But maybe they need to lesson the penalties for these teams to be good longer than a seasons or two.