Discussing Other Teams' Moves - Part 8

[payitforward]

His injury won't be as big as you think... I think between Shepherd getting more run, Thompson improving into there lead initiator, and just improvements across the board from other could eat this loss, but it does dig into there depth in the backcourt.....

Definitely a blower for the Rockets though....

Fred Van Vleet is one of the most underrated players of all times.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vanvlfr01.html

Show Play-by-play reveals his + On/Off status with Toronto and Houston.

Van Vleet is always a plus on the court.

He's had a 54-point game.
He's had a 20 assists game.
He's had 2 triple-doubles.

FVV is a complete player who Houston will sorely miss.

A swap of McCollum for FVV could make sense. McCollum replaces FVV so that Houston can still contend.

We get a younger, better version of McCollum for next year, and one that will probably have trade value next summer. We could probably squeeze a little extra out of Houston in the deal since we're giving up a viable player in exchange for a guy who will be injured all season.

What an absolutely great idea, nate! Well done!

Danm, I wish there was a way to get an email to Will.
Here's hoping somebody in the FO was quick-thinking enough to come up with the same idea....

[dckingsfan]

I don't think that trade could happen until December 14th? Also, can the Rockets do the trade straight up given their cap situation?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I missed this story a couple of weeks ago.

https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rookie/2025/09/05/thunder-thomas-sorber-knee-injury-update/85999380007/

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie center Thomas Sorber will miss the entire 2025-26 season after sustaining a torn ACL in his right knee, the team announced on Friday.

Sorber suffered the injury during an offseason workout on Thursday in Oklahoma City. He will become the third Thunder player in the past three years to miss his rookie season due to injury, joining Chet Holmgren (foot) and Nikola Topić (knee).

Ironically, I was searching for the latest Derik Queen injury rehabilitation update when I came across the Sorber article. Queen is riding the exercise bike like Lance Armstrong, per Joe Dumars, in order to get his body in great condition.

He and skinny Zion Williamson will be interesting to follow.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Zion Williamson has lost over 50 pounds. He appears to be 225 pounds or less.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[closg00]

I missed this story a couple of weeks ago.

https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/rookie/2025/09/05/thunder-thomas-sorber-knee-injury-update/85999380007/

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie center Thomas Sorber will miss the entire 2025-26 season after sustaining a torn ACL in his right knee, the team announced on Friday.

Sorber suffered the injury during an offseason workout on Thursday in Oklahoma City. He will become the third Thunder player in the past three years to miss his rookie season due to injury, joining Chet Holmgren (foot) and Nikola Topić (knee).

Ironically, I was searching for the latest Derik Queen injury rehabilitation update when I came across the Sorber article. Queen is riding the exercise bike like Lance Armstrong, per Joe Dumars, in order to get his body in great condition.

He and skinny Zion Williamson will be interesting to follow.

Thanks, I was not aware of his injury, wow, terrible luck for him, and possibly his career.

[closg00]

Zion Williamson has lost over 50 pounds. He appears to be 225 pounds or less.

Read on Twitter

?t=1zjM7F5LcIdp9fLSRrzK9A&s=19

Read on Twitter

?t=neSq3I5FDoab1eafJjcQCQ&s=19

Zion has shown-up in shape before, I hope it sticks. Too-bad we won't see Derek playing anytime soon.
EDIT: Derek will be back in a month or two according to him.

[9 and 20]

What did they do to this man?? Skinny Ted sharing his diet secrets with Zion Williamson was not on my bingo card.

[nate33]

[payitforward]

Unreal. Unrecognizable. Only thing I can imagine is Ozempic or one of the similar drugs.
Along w/ plenty of working out of course.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Word on the street is crack cocaine.

Zion has recently become an associate of Tyrone Biggums.

[gambitx777]

Gotta be the O. They probably got him on keto, low carb eat as much as you want as long as it s this and work out shananagans too.

Sent from my SM-S926U1 using RealGM mobile app

[AFM]

Jared McCain injured--tore his thumb...

[Dat2U]

Zion's build is crazy now that you can truly see it with the fat gone. Look at shoulders and arms! You see why he was monster at 6-5 barefoot. It looks like he has a Pterodactyl wingspan!

It will be interesting to see if he can now stay healthy & can still be a wrecking ball in the paint now that he looks 30 lbs lighter.

Contract year Zion might be a monster!

[dckingsfan]

Jared McCain injured--tore his thumb...

Dude just has no luck.

[payitforward]

Utah could not come to terms with Walker Kessler, who will enter the final year of his contract.

They are trying to trade him, of course, & (rightly!) asking a whole lot in return (2 R1 picks plus...). Should be interesting to watch it play out.

I'd LOVE to have him, but best bet he winds up on the Lakers....

[Kanyewest]

His injury won't be as big as you think... I think between Shepherd getting more run, Thompson improving into there lead initiator, and just improvements across the board from other could eat this loss, but it does dig into there depth in the backcourt.....

Definitely a blower for the Rockets though....

Fred Van Vleet is one of the most underrated players of all times.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vanvlfr01.html

Show Play-by-play reveals his + On/Off status with Toronto and Houston.

Van Vleet is always a plus on the court.

He's had a 54-point game.
He's had a 20 assists game.
He's had 2 triple-doubles.

FVV is a complete player who Houston will sorely miss.

A swap of McCollum for FVV could make sense. McCollum replaces FVV so that Houston can still contend.

We get a younger, better version of McCollum for next year, and one that will probably have trade value next summer. We could probably squeeze a little extra out of Houston in the deal since we're giving up a viable player in exchange for a guy who will be injured all season.

I believe FVV has an implied no trade on his contract because if the Rockets trade him, he loses his Birds rights.

[dckingsfan]

Utah could not come to terms with Walker Kessler, who will enter the final year of his contract.

They are trying to trade him, of course, & (rightly!) asking a whole lot in return (2 R1 picks plus...). Should be interesting to watch it play out.

I'd LOVE to have him, but best bet he winds up on the Lakers....

Yep, an interesting one to watch. He will be a UFA next season. My guess is that they match and try to trade him next season? Either way, my opinion is a player like this could pair well with Sarr

Quentin Grimes will be interesting to watch as well (although not a need for us).

[closg00]

Jared McCain injured--tore his thumb...

Dude just has no luck.

TF

[dckingsfan]

Las Vegas odds for the bottom 7 teams.

Code: Select all

Team   Win Total
Utah Jazz              18.5
Brooklyn Nets          20.5
Washington Wizards     21.5
Charlotte Hornets      27.5
New Orleans Pelicans   30.5
Phoenix Suns           31.5
Chicago Bulls          32.5

I think that as usual, Utah will tank hard. My guess is that they will trade Lauri Markkanen if they have a chance.

Brooklyn will be bad. How bad depends on if they play the youngsters.

Charlotte will depend on the health of Ball, he has played 1161 minutes per seasons over the last 3.

New Orleans is dependent on Zion in a contract year.

Phoenix - they have no reason to tank. Last season their C position was a mess. Now it is the forward position (IMO). Having Beal and Durant gone probably helps Booker. Guessing they will try to move Green (or if they have to Allen).

The Bulls will probably be bad, just not that bad.

Of course there could be another team that falls apart. I would think this means that best case we are one of the two or three worst teams. Worse case we are the fifth worst team.

Either way, we should be fine - especially with the Phoenix wildcard and the depth of the top tier players in this draft.

Code: Select all

Top 4    #1 Ovr
52.10%   14.00%
52.10%   14.00%
52.10%   14.00%
48.10%   12.50%
42.10%   10.50%

[payitforward]

Las Vegas odds for the bottom 7 teams.

Code: Select all

Team   Win Total
Utah Jazz              18.5
Brooklyn Nets          20.5
Washington Wizards     21.5
Charlotte Hornets      27.5
New Orleans Pelicans   30.5
Phoenix Suns           31.5
Chicago Bulls          32.5

I think that as usual, Utah will tank hard. My guess is that they will trade Lauri Markkanen if they have a chance.

Brooklyn will be bad. How bad depends on if they play the youngsters.

Charlotte will depend on the health of Ball, he has played 1161 minutes per seasons over the last 3.

New Orleans is dependent on Zion in a contract year.

Phoenix - they have no reason to tank. Last season their C position was a mess. Now it is the forward position (IMO). Having Beal and Durant gone probably helps Booker. Guessing they will try to move Green (or if they have to Allen).

The Bulls will probably be bad, just not that bad.

Of course there could be another team that falls apart. I would think this means that best case we are one of the two or three worst teams. Worse case we are the fifth worst team.

Either way, we should be fine - especially with the Phoenix wildcard and the depth of the top tier players in this draft.

Code: Select all

Top 4    #1 Ovr
52.10%   14.00%
52.10%   14.00%
52.10%   14.00%
48.10%   12.50%
42.10%   10.50%

Phoenix is going to be just awful. Maybe worse than we are. Possibly the worst team in the league. not a chance they win 31 games.