ATL - Luka Extension - 3/165

[engelmartin]

Vuc for cheap would be like Scott Williams/Kurt Thomas on steroids. Can’t trust Doc not to play him but man our bench would be fun.

[Ron Swanson]

While speaking on SiriusXM radio, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer speculated that the former MVP may be forced into an early retirement thanks to nagging injuries in his knees and back.

“I think Joel may know that the end is near,” Pompey said. “It’s kind of like explaining to people what he’s been going through. Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain and how much they’re going through… I feel like Joel Embiid knows that, it may not be this season, but the end is near. Maybe he can’t. Maybe he feels as though he can’t play to the level he used to.”

Pompey added a qualifier that he could be wrong and that Embiid could have an MVP season, but it is rare for a player to discuss his body breaking down openly.

Ooof. Whatever you feel about the dude, this really sucks to see his career go down like this. Early retirement might legitimately be on the table at this point and I'm sure that's what the Philly front office is probably hoping for. Their cap sheet for the next 3-4 years is absolutely cooked.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

While speaking on SiriusXM radio, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer speculated that the former MVP may be forced into an early retirement thanks to nagging injuries in his knees and back.

“I think Joel may know that the end is near,” Pompey said. “It’s kind of like explaining to people what he’s been going through. Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain and how much they’re going through… I feel like Joel Embiid knows that, it may not be this season, but the end is near. Maybe he can’t. Maybe he feels as though he can’t play to the level he used to.”

Pompey added a qualifier that he could be wrong and that Embiid could have an MVP season, but it is rare for a player to discuss his body breaking down openly.

Ooof. Whatever you feel about the dude, this really sucks to see his career go down like this. Early retirement might legitimately be on the table at this point and I'm sure that's what the Philly front office is probably hoping for. Their cap sheet for the next 3-4 years is absolutely cooked.

he needs a lanier role on a good team

[emunney]

Yeah, his whole career has been "if he's available", but this past year was the first year where he was pretty ordinary even when he was able to play. He's still going to have his games, like post-Achilles Kobe.

I do feel bad for him on a human level. On a basketball level, I can't think of a player who's been more celebrated for accomplishing less. Or even equally celebrated for accomplishing equal.

[tedbrogen]

Embiid will always have that 2019 Xmas Day Championship.

[Plossum]

Feel for Embiid. He’s a bit of a clown but having your best basketball years killed by injury must be tough. But he’ll always be one of those ‘what if’ guys. Doesn’t seem like someone to me who was super disciplined off the court to have himself in tip top shape. How much that contributed to his injuries I don’t know but he’ll be remembered with the like of Bynum, Oden and Sampson.

[Ron Swanson]

Oden, Bynum, and Sampson is probably a bit unfair. Those guys didn't play long enough nor ever reached the level of player Embiid was at his peak. He's the T-Mac of his generation, and technically the greatest per-minute scorer in the regular season all-time. Incredible player with a 3-4 year prime that made you think he could really be the best player in the league if not for a couple guys clearly ahead of him in Kobe/Duncan/KG. Jokic and Giannis were just clearly always ahead of him.

[RogerMurdock]

I just want Seattle to get a team back. I miss the Sonics. I don't really care if that's expansion or NO relocating

I care. As long as there's a greater than zero percent chance that the Bucks move, I don't want relocation. Plus, some fan base is going to lose their team and that stinks. I feel so bad for Oakland fans.

[RogerMurdock]

Oden, Bynum, and Sampson is probably a bit unfair. Those guys didn't play long enough nor ever reached the level of player Embiid was at his peak.

Sampson definitely began his career strong. He was going to be great until injuries hit. The other two, not so much. Bynum had a solid stretch for a few years, with one fantastic year before his injury downfall.

[Bernman]

Golden St. still only has 10 players under contract. I guess they're assuming s&t w/ Kuminga, then they'll take a few players in return. PHX is rumored to want Kuminga at 4/90. PHX would be an even bigger mess w/ a few take turns perimeter players. The deal would be Grayson, O'Neale, Dunn?

What happens if Kuminga signs w/ Brooklyn though, bypassing an s&t? GS would have to build out their roster w/ minimum scraps, or trade Moody for multiple guys making less. BTW, can't make this about the Bucks. There's nothing we can legally trade to solve their issue. It's just interesting.

[ReasonablySober]

Read on Twitter

Arenas got Molly's Game'd.

[emunney]

Oden, Bynum, and Sampson is probably a bit unfair. Those guys didn't play long enough nor ever reached the level of player Embiid was at his peak.

Sampson definitely began his career strong. He was going to be great until injuries hit. The other two, not so much. Bynum had a solid stretch for a few years, with one fantastic year before his injury downfall.

Would you say it was the blood clots in his shoulder that first derailed him or am I being cheeky about another extremely tall and coordinated stickman?

[tedbrogen]

Wasn’t Sampson’s issue the year after they made the finals he had the bad knee injury but rushed back to play in the playoffs and he was just never the same again?

[MickeyDavis]

Read on Twitter

[emunney]

Age 30-33. This is neither good nor bad for the Knicks. More downside than upside on the contract itself, but the alternative of letting him walk is definitely worse.

[tedbrogen]

Knicks locked into being second apron the following three years after this one unless they unload one of Hart, Towns, Brunson, OG. Also they likely won’t be able to retain Robinson, Deuce, and Yabu after this year.

[German Athens]

If that has 8% raises, that means in year 1 he’d be getting 33.5M which would be about 20% of the cap if the projections are accurate.

[German Athens]

That seems like a perfectly reasonable contract. It’s like lower-end third option money, and that’s about what he is. He’s the 4th guy there, but he’d be a pretty solid 3rd option alongside a top guy like Giannis.

NY’s problem is their top end. KAT’s the 9th highest paid player next year.

[Bernman]

You just can't build a team long-term like this anymore. They're paying 4 guys core $. These days it's gotta be 2, or max 3. They could have gotten away w/ 3 cuz of the Brunson team friendly deal. But this is excess. And the Hart deal is significant.

For now, they should offload Hart for some 2 for 1, or 3 for 1. Something like Dosonumu, Jalen Smith, & a couple 2nds. That would keep them under the 2nd apron this yr. This season or next they're going to have to offload 1 of KAT, Bridges, OG. Depends who makes them dysfunctional in May.

[GoldenAntlers]

They'll trade him soon. Just a feeling.