Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[kodo]

As was said about the Celtics roughly 15 minutes ago, and then...

We've said that about the last 7 different NBA champions. GS is the only one that actually delivered.

Really? I know I didn’t. This Thunder team is the first team since the Curry Warriors that I considered potentially dynastic (and then they did it).

Not a complaint. It’s been fun going into seasons with so many teams being legitimate contenders.

People absolutely said Denver was going to win another title right after they won. People said Boston were favorites to win again this year. Etc..
That stuff gets moderated by the time of the next post-season, but right after a team wins most of the NBA fans are on their bandwagon.

[MrSparkle]

Speaking of the Celtics… they’re surely looking like a tank job, no? All signs point to Horford leaving (who is almost 40, anyway)… which means they’ve lost their entire big rotation, replaced their injured superstar with Niang, and replaced their 2x champ all-defensive Jrue with Simons. Also, Brown had a knee scope; he should fine, but it’s typical for a slower start. Derrick White is good and all, but he’s more a compliment. This is almost like the 99 Bulls; sure they still had Ron and Toni, but uh… priorities change when you lose 6 of your 9 man rotation. I expect this team to “strategically”/cautiously sit anybody with a sore ankle, and they’re coming back in 2026 with a healthy Tatum and Boozer, AJ or DP.

A hard fall for Indiana and a massive drop for Boston are my early/post-FA calls. Losing Turner and Haliburton is a pretty big blow to chemistry and flow, despite their finals tested roster.

1. Cavs (easy call)
2. Knicks
3. Magic
4. Pistons
5. Bucks
6. Sixers
7. Heat
8. Hawks
9. Pacers
10. Bulls
11. Raptors
12. Nets
13. Hornets
14. Celtics
15. Wizards

[kodo]

Speaking of the Celtics… they’re surely looking like a tank job, no? All signs point to Horford leaving (who is almost 40, anyway)… which means they’ve lost their entire big rotation, replaced their injured superstar with Niang, and replaced their 2x champ all-defensive Jrue with Simons. Also, Brown had a knee scope; he should fine, but it’s typical for a slower start. Derrick White is good and all, but he’s more a compliment. This is almost like the 99 Bulls; sure they still had Ron and Toni, but uh… priorities change when you lose 6 of your 9 man rotation. I expect this team to “strategically”/cautiously sit anybody with a sore ankle, and they’re coming back in 2026 with a healthy Tatum and Boozer, AJ or DP.

A hard fall for Indiana and a massive drop for Boston are my early/post-FA calls. Losing Turner and Haliburton is a pretty big blow to chemistry and flow, despite their finals tested roster.

1. Cavs (easy call)
2. Knicks
3. Magic
4. Pistons
5. Bucks
6. Sixers
7. Heat
8. Hawks
9. Pacers
10. Bulls
11. Raptors
12. Nets
13. Hornets
14. Celtics
15. Wizards

Yeah they'll (Boston) probably get Dybantsa just like Philly got VJ, San Antonio got Harper, Dallas got Flagg.

Meanwhile teams with no stars like the Bulls will get 13th or 14th.

[2weekswithpay]

I would still bet on the Celtics to win more games than the Nets and Hornets. Brown, White, and Pritchard are better than what the bottom feeders got.

[Dan Z]

This may have been talked about already, but I just found out about it yesterday. The Knicks signed Guerschon Yabusele for two years 11.275 million (total).

Good deal. I thought he had a solid season last year.

https://www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbreak/new-york-knicks-officially-sign-3-year-nba-player-yabusele

[Dan Z]

I would still bet on the Celtics to win more games than the Nets and Hornets. Brown, White, and Pritchard are better than what the bottom feeders got.

I agree. There's no way the Celtics are worse than the Nets or Charlotte, unless they purposely tank.

Who is the Nets best player? Charlotte has talent, but I don't think Ball is a winning player nor do I trust his health.

[MrSparkle]

I would still bet on the Celtics to win more games than the Nets and Hornets. Brown, White, and Pritchard are better than what the bottom feeders got.

I agree. There's no way the Celtics are worse than the Nets or Charlotte, unless they purposely tank.

Who is the Nets best player? Charlotte has talent, but I don't think Ball is a winning player nor do I trust his health.

Dudes- have you looked at Boston’s roster? They are still in the luxury tax, and their current big man rotation is Xavier Tillman and Luke Garza. These are 4th stringers in case anyone is wondering.

Their wing rotation after Jaylen is going to be Hauser, Niang and a bunch of waiver wire guys.

Lol- they are absolutely projected to be worse than the Nets and Hornets. White and Brown would need to have historic seasons to haul them to 35 wins. I’ll change my mind if they trade for a rim protector or another starter, but as it stands, they’re over the LT with a G-League roster after its top-4 guys (2 of whom are bench caliber players in Pritchard and Simons).

[Dan Z]

I would still bet on the Celtics to win more games than the Nets and Hornets. Brown, White, and Pritchard are better than what the bottom feeders got.

I agree. There's no way the Celtics are worse than the Nets or Charlotte, unless they purposely tank.

Who is the Nets best player? Charlotte has talent, but I don't think Ball is a winning player nor do I trust his health.

Dudes- have you looked at Boston’s roster? They are still in the luxury tax, and their current big man rotation is Xavier Tillman and Luke Garza. These are 4th stringers in case anyone is wondering.

Their wing rotation after Jaylen is going to be Hauser, Niang and a bunch of waiver wire guys.

Lol- they are absolutely projected to be worse than the Nets and Hornets. White and Brown would need to have historic seasons to haul them to 35 wins. I’ll change my mind if they trade for a rim protector or another starter, but as it stands, they’re over the LT with a G-League roster after its top-4 guys (2 of whom are bench caliber players in Pritchard and Simons).

Who is the starting center on the Hornets? Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner?

And again...who is the best player on the Nets? Claxton? They're adding 5 rookies to their team.

[Ccwatercraft]

I agree. There's no way the Celtics are worse than the Nets or Charlotte, unless they purposely tank.

Who is the Nets best player? Charlotte has talent, but I don't think Ball is a winning player nor do I trust his health.

Dudes- have you looked at Boston’s roster? They are still in the luxury tax, and their current big man rotation is Xavier Tillman and Luke Garza. These are 4th stringers in case anyone is wondering.

Their wing rotation after Jaylen is going to be Hauser, Niang and a bunch of waiver wire guys.

Lol- they are absolutely projected to be worse than the Nets and Hornets. White and Brown would need to have historic seasons to haul them to 35 wins. I’ll change my mind if they trade for a rim protector or another starter, but as it stands, they’re over the LT with a G-League roster after its top-4 guys (2 of whom are bench caliber players in Pritchard and Simons).

Who is the starting center on the Hornets? Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner?

And again...who is the best player on the Nets? Claxton? They're adding 5 rookies to their team.

it will be interesting to see how the nets handle the roster moving forward. They have a ton of flexibility moving forward. It's just an issue of time and hitting more than missing on those picks

[Dan Z]

Dudes- have you looked at Boston’s roster? They are still in the luxury tax, and their current big man rotation is Xavier Tillman and Luke Garza. These are 4th stringers in case anyone is wondering.

Their wing rotation after Jaylen is going to be Hauser, Niang and a bunch of waiver wire guys.

Lol- they are absolutely projected to be worse than the Nets and Hornets. White and Brown would need to have historic seasons to haul them to 35 wins. I’ll change my mind if they trade for a rim protector or another starter, but as it stands, they’re over the LT with a G-League roster after its top-4 guys (2 of whom are bench caliber players in Pritchard and Simons).

Who is the starting center on the Hornets? Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner?

And again...who is the best player on the Nets? Claxton? They're adding 5 rookies to their team.

it will be interesting to see how the nets handle the roster moving forward. They have a ton of flexibility moving forward. It's just an issue of time and hitting more than missing on those picks

It depends on where those picks end up. In 2027 they owe a swap to Houston.

They had 5 picks in the 2025 draft and I didn't think much of their selections, but who knows...only time will tell.

[Ccwatercraft]

Who is the starting center on the Hornets? Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner?

And again...who is the best player on the Nets? Claxton? They're adding 5 rookies to their team.

it will be interesting to see how the nets handle the roster moving forward. They have a ton of flexibility moving forward. It's just an issue of time and hitting more than missing on those picks

It depends on where those picks end up. In 2027 they owe a swap to Houston.

They had 5 picks in the 2025 draft and I didn't think much of their selections, but who knows...only time will tell.

Yip. Could go either direction but it's always interesting to see how a rebuild develops and if they have a couple of rookies pop or fizzle.

[drosestruts]

Jase Richardson has been pretty good through two games in summer league

19 points (on 10 shots), 4 assists and only one turnover vs a Toronto defense that gave our team all sorts of trouble.

The height doesn't seem to be negativley impacting him as he's been able to drive and finish effectivley throughout both games. He even won a jump ball again Toronto.

If Franz and Paolo are going to be the primary ball handlers anyway - I like Bane and Richardson being the backcourt in Orlando.

If Jase were 6'5" he'd have been a top-5 pick.

Kid has so much skill and plays so composed

[MrSparkle]

Jase Richardson has been pretty good through two games in summer league

19 points (on 10 shots), 4 assists and only one turnover vs a Toronto defense that gave our team all sorts of trouble.

The height doesn't seem to be negativley impacting him as he's been able to drive and finish effectivley throughout both games. He even won a jump ball again Toronto.

If Franz and Paolo are going to be the primary ball handlers anyway - I like Bane and Richardson being the backcourt in Orlando.

If Jase were 6'5" he'd have been a top-5 pick.

Kid has so much skill and plays so composed

Yeah, although undersized scorers like our SL heroes Blakeney and Freeman-Liberty usually thrive chucking that rock. I think Jase is very talented and will have a role, but he is very small for a shoot-first guard. Nate Robinson had a solid career, so I don’t expect him to be bust or anything. Good pick/gamble at 25.

[kodo]

Jase's standing reach is the same as Fears, and only 1" lower than Kasparas who is a big PG. Head height isn't really all that relevant it's just an indicator of standing reach but Jase has a bit more of a plus wingspan.

He's still small for a SG but 25th pick with his shooting a team isn't going to get everything.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Its really something when you have an owner that keeps trying to win in the Clippers owner.

When it seems they have zero space or money left, they can still come up with 2/11 mil for Bradley Beal. You gotta give Steve credit.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Its really something when you have an owner that keeps trying to win in the Clippers owner.

When it seems they have zero space or money left, they can still come up with 2/11 mil for Bradley Beal. You gotta give Steve credit.

And a potential incoming CP3

[Dan Z]

Its really something when you have an owner that keeps trying to win in the Clippers owner.

When it seems they have zero space or money left, they can still come up with 2/11 mil for Bradley Beal. You gotta give Steve credit.

His willingness to spend is also part of the problem. They went all-in on Kawhi and it's not surprising that it hasn't worked out.

[kodo]

Beal for $5M is an amazing deal, last 2 seasons 17.6 ppg, 4.3 apg, 40.7% 3P%.
And they're going to get CP3 too? And John Collins could be very good addition.

This is why everyone knows cap space is irrelevant, two of the best "win now" vets went to a team with -$51M cap space.

[Muzbar]

The Sun should have never traded for Kevin Durant. They had a good young up and coming squad with Booker, Bridges, Johnson and Ayton (yes, even Ayton). They also should have picked Haliburton over Jalen Smith, they needed a PG at the time.

That young squad went to the finals and then they broke it up for Durant and went all in on Beal (which never made any sense).

Now, all they have is Booker from that squad. They just needed to be patient.

[NecessaryEvil]

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Can someone explain this like I was a 5th grader?