ATL - Smart Bought Out, Signs with Lakers

[buckboy]

The way things were going, you had to moderately favor the Pacers in this series until this:

Read on Twitter

You did? They're down 3-2.

They're massive underdogs with a healthy Haliburton.

[Bernman]

The way things were going, you had to moderately favor the Pacers in this series until this:

Read on Twitter

You did? They're down 3-2.

They're massive underdogs with a healthy Haliburton.

If they had a healthy Haliburton, they seemingly wouldn't have been down 3-2, rather up at least 3-2. The last 2 games were decided late, when they didn't have Hali's clutchness to lean on, an account of the injury.

Before the series I had OKC moderate favorites. But that wasn't the way the series was trending, when Indy were up 2-1 and leading late in game 4. If they win that, a comeback for OKC would have been extremely difficult.

[drew881]

Owner of the Dodgers. Stunner.

I believe he owns around 25% of the Dodgers but yeah he's loaded. At least the NBA isn't MLB, he can't just outspend everyone.

Non on the court basketball news happening during the finals. Stunner.

[buckboy]

The way things were going, you had to moderately favor the Pacers in this series until this:

Read on Twitter

You did? They're down 3-2.

They're massive underdogs with a healthy Haliburton.

If they had a healthy Haliburton, they seemingly wouldn't have been down 3-2, rather up at least 3-2. The last 2 games were decided late, when they didn't have Hali's clutchness to lean on, an account of the injury.

Before the series I had OKC moderate favorites. But that wasn't the way the series was trending, when Indy were up 2-1 and leading late in game 4. If they win that, a comeback for OKC would have been extremely difficult.

Fair enough. I thought you meant going into game 6.

[paulpressey25]

While having the 2nd apron stuff hasn't been good for us, longterm it is essential to have that quasi hard cap. Now that the Lakers have an owner with deep pockets and an ego to make a splash as a new owner, they're going to spend even more. The Buss family main assets have always been the Lakers. They can't write unlimited checks even though they make a ton of money.

[raferfenix]

And of course, Durant is actively sabotaging the market.

Tim Connelly just can never ever get KD interested. He tried several times in Denver to lure the DMV native and could never get traction. Minnesota makes the most sense for both teams.

League sources have said the Nets were brought in as a potential third-team in a deal construct, which would have helped move money and contracts to help both teams reshape their rosters. (No idea what they were getting or sending, but I would speculatively bet Nic Claxton to Phoenix was part of those talks.)

But then KD did what it is his right, and sent out word that he doesn’t want to play there.

https://hardwoodparoxysm.substack.com/p/the-best-of-bad-options-for-the-suns?utm_source=post-banner&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true

[jakecronus8]

If KD doesn’t want to play in Minnesota then it’s fair to question if he cares about winning at this point. Just a bizarre dude or just a sign of the times?

[ReasonablySober]

He wants to play in San Antonio and Houston so I think it's fair to say he wants to win. Miami...less so. But he's wanted to play with Bam for years.

[rayallenscalves]

He wants to play in San Antonio and Houston so I think it's fair to say he wants to win. Miami...less so. But he's wanted to play with Bam for years.

I've never gotten the fasciation with Bam. I good defender, sure, but a wildly overrated player in general. Way too much Bam glazing, as the kids say.

[Ron Swanson]

If all Houston is offering is Jalen Green and #10 (their own pick back) like what's being rumored, then I certainly don't blame Phoenix for dragging this out. I don't believe for a second that Minnesota cares about the report that said KD doesn't wanna go there. Jimmy was adamant that he wasn't gonna sign an extension anywhere besides Phoenix, and we all saw what happened. If they have the best offer then they'll get him.

[paulpressey25]

If all Houston is offering is Jalen Green and #10 (their own pick back) like what's being rumored, then I certainly don't blame Phoenix for dragging this out. I don't believe for a second that Minnesota cares about the report that said KD doesn't wanna go there. Jimmy was adamant that he wasn't gonna sign an extension anywhere besides Phoenix, and we all saw what happened. If they have the best offer then they'll get him.

I don't blame Phoenix for dragging it out either if the offer is #10 plus Green. But I'm not sure Houston goes much further. Maybe they put in one more of their lesser value firsts.

What I don't know is how the cap works under a trade where only Green goes out and Durant comes in.

[Ron Swanson]

If all Houston is offering is Jalen Green and #10 (their own pick back) like what's being rumored, then I certainly don't blame Phoenix for dragging this out. I don't believe for a second that Minnesota cares about the report that said KD doesn't wanna go there. Jimmy was adamant that he wasn't gonna sign an extension anywhere besides Phoenix, and we all saw what happened. If they have the best offer then they'll get him.

I don't blame Phoenix for dragging it out either if the offer is #10 plus Green. But I'm not sure Houston goes much further. Maybe they put in one more of their lesser value firsts.

What I don't know is how the cap works under a trade where only Green goes out and Durant comes in.

Houston could very well stick with their young core but I always find it strange that the new hipster NBA thing is to favor complacency and overvalue draft picks when you're a team in their position. If I'm a 50-win team with a young core and with ample/excess draft assets, I'd be constantly looking for upgrades on the margins (maybe they should have gotten in on Desmond Bane?).

I'd prefer whatever San Antonio offers (likely something around #14 and some future picks) anyways if I'm them. I can't imagine Miami has a shot here. Their assets/players suck. Minnesota is interesting because what they don't have in picks, they have in good, young players on extensions (Donte, McDaniels). If they're actually serious about KD, I think they could win the bidding war because for whatever reason Ishbia still wants to compete/re-tool around Booker/Beal rather than rebuild.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

If KD doesn’t want to play in Minnesota then it’s fair to question if he cares about winning at this point. Just a bizarre dude or just a sign of the times?

Just a sign of the times. There are other places where he can win and still be in a good location. If i told me boss i want to advance in the company and says how about norther wisconsin, I would probably decline and wait for the next option.

But as fan, it sucks. There is no loyalty and the big, southern market teams always have an edge.

[MickeyDavis]

Rockets have gone from 22 to 41 to 52 wins. Sticking with their core another season before possibly making a "big move" isn't a terrible idea.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Rockets have gone from 22 to 41 to 52 wins. Sticking with their core another season before possibly making a "big move" isn't a terrible idea.

Hell, even wait until the deadline and see if the Bucks flame out with Giannis and they decide to blow it up. No reason to break the bank on a 37 year old.

[Wonka]

I love TJ McConnell

[Profound23]

I love TJ McConnell

Was just about to post this. Hate watching him against the Bucks but man I love that dude.

[Serge28]

My girlfriend, sitting next to me on the couch right now, watching the Finals, listening to Doris Burke: "Are you sure that's not Lisa? Sounds like her dumb ass..."

[blazza18]

Looked at the box score and just assumed Indiana were shooting lights out. OKC's offence can be stinky at times.

[BUCKnation]

Reffing has been a mess. No consistency at all