Rumors, Random Thoughts, etc Version 20/20 We all got everything right...

[Texas Chuck]

New Thread for Opening night.

[Texas Chuck]

Feels like a bunch of teams fruitlessly chasing OKC tbh.

[Godaddycurse]

Feels like a bunch of teams fruitlessly chasing OKC tbh.

curious how OKC will navigate the apron next year, but agree with you that barring injuries they are the clear favourites this year

[SkyHook]

Feels like a bunch of teams fruitlessly chasing OKC tbh.

Honestly... yeah. Despite my longstanding loathing of Clay Bennett, I've got nothing but admiration for the job that Sam Presti has done. And even knowing that my team is far from that chase, I'm looking forward to watching a fun season.

[SlimShady83]

Curious to see If Green gets a tech in first game on opening night

[gswhoops]

Feels like a bunch of teams fruitlessly chasing OKC Golden State tbh.

FTFY

[Ron Swanson]

Feels like a bunch of teams fruitlessly chasing OKC tbh.

Eh, they showed plenty of cracks against two really good but not exactly "they win the championship any other year" teams in Denver and Indiana. They rightfully deserve to be the favorites to repeat, but we've made this mistake plenty of times before where we just assume this young, great team is destined for a dynasty type run. Denver is better, Houston is better, Golden State could be healthier in the playoffs this time. I'm not convinced this is a "them vs. the field" situation.

[Texas Chuck]

Feels like a bunch of teams fruitlessly chasing OKC tbh.

Eh, they showed plenty of cracks against two really good but not exactly "they win the championship any other year" teams in Denver and Indiana. They rightfully deserve to be the favorites to repeat, but we've made this mistake plenty of times before where we just assume this young, great team is destined for a dynasty type run. Denver is better, Houston is better, Golden State could be healthier in the playoffs this time. I'm not convinced this is a "them vs. the field" situation.

Well I'm going to watch the games.....

But its hard for me to not look at them on paper as a pretty clear class of the league especially since unlike their closest competitors should injury strike, they can fill holes with ease.

[HornetJail]

Feels like a bunch of teams fruitlessly chasing OKC tbh.

curious how OKC will navigate the apron next year, but agree with you that barring injuries they are the clear favourites this year

honestly... if their ownership is willing to pay the tax, does the apron even hurt? any depth they eventually lose over the next couple years will be replaced by:

2026 best of own/LAC/HOU 1st
2026 second best of own/LAC/HOU 1st
2026 PHI 1st
2026 UTA 1st (if 9-30... unlikely imo but you never know)
2027 DEN 1st
2027 LAC 1st (swap from either their own or DEN)
2027 SAS 1st (17-30)
2028 best of own/DAL 1st
2029 DEN 1st

the league is actually **** for the rest of this decade if Presti nails a couple of those picks

[HadAnEffectHere]

OKC still relies overwhelmingly on SGA so their odds of a title are just the odds of SGA not getting a hamstring injury or worse in the postseason.

Without him, they have to rely on Topic or Cason Wallace to create massive amounts of offense and neither guy has literally ever done this against serious competition.

[parsnips33]

What is the big midseason star trade this year? Too soon for Devin Booker? What about Embiid?

[Godaddycurse]

What is the big midseason star trade this year? Too soon for Devin Booker? What about Embiid?

trae young

[Texas Chuck]

OKC still relies overwhelmingly on SGA so their odds of a title are just the odds of SGA not getting a hamstring injury or worse in the postseason.

Without him, they have to rely on Topic or Cason Wallace to create massive amounts of offense and neither guy has literally ever done this against serious competition.

This is saying literally nothing. Every team is no longer a contender if you take their MVP player off the court.

[MoneyTalks41890]

In terms of navigating the apron, I expect iHart to either move on or get his TO declined for 26-27 to sign a longer deal with lower AAV.

Declining Kenrich the other no brainer.

Then it’s Caruso and Dort.

It’s 27-28 when SGA’s supermax kicks in when there are real questions about guys like Cason and refilling depth.

[giberish]

Feels like a bunch of teams fruitlessly chasing OKC tbh.

curious how OKC will navigate the apron next year, but agree with you that barring injuries they are the clear favourites this year

honestly... if their ownership is willing to pay the tax, does the apron even hurt? any depth they eventually lose over the next couple years will be replaced by:

2026 best of own/LAC/HOU 1st
2026 second best of own/LAC/HOU 1st
2026 PHI 1st
2026 UTA 1st (if 9-30... unlikely imo but you never know)
2027 DEN 1st
2027 LAC 1st (swap from either their own or DEN)
2027 SAS 1st (17-30)
2028 best of own/DAL 1st
2029 DEN 1st

the league is actually **** for the rest of this decade if Presti nails a couple of those picks

I don't think their ownership is as cheap as it was during the Harden trade, but I don't see them leading the league in payroll either. Could well treat the 2nd apron as a hard cap.

They'll have to start making some salary triage moves next summer but it won't be too bad for a while. If they make the right moves as to which role players to keep and use their picks to keep bringing in young talent they could stay on top for quite a while though.

[HadAnEffectHere]

OKC still relies overwhelmingly on SGA so their odds of a title are just the odds of SGA not getting a hamstring injury or worse in the postseason.

Without him, they have to rely on Topic or Cason Wallace to create massive amounts of offense and neither guy has literally ever done this against serious competition.

This is saying literally nothing. Every team is no longer a contender if you take their MVP player off the court.

Except it completely undermines "fruitlessly chasing OKC." Literally all these teams need is SGA to pull a hamstring and OKC is toast and then they can maybe win a title. The odds of SGA getting hurt are probably reasonably high this postseason considering the sheer amount of load and games he's had the last several years.

[SkyHook]

What is the big midseason star trade this year? Too soon for Devin Booker? What about Embiid?

I can't see Booker being dealt, but I suppose there's always a possibility. What's a scenario in which the Sixers try to move Embiid? If he continues to be injured as often as he has, Philly would have to attach a considerable amount of draft capital to entice another team to take on his albatross of a contract.

I'd keep my eye on the situation with San Antonio's backcourt. It will be interesting to see how Fox, Harper, and Castle coexist. Does Atlanta or Memphis consider moving Young or Morant?

[SlimShady83]

Trea Young and Giannis team up

[zaz102]

What is the big midseason star trade this year? Too soon for Devin Booker? What about Embiid?

I can't see Booker being dealt, but I suppose there's always a possibility. What's a scenario in which the Sixers try to move Embiid? If he continues to be injured as often as he has, Philly would have to attach a considerable amount of draft capital to entice another team to take on his albatross of a contract.

I'd keep my eye on the situation with San Antonio's backcourt. It will be interesting to see how Fox, Harper, and Castle coexist. Does Atlanta or Memphis consider moving Young or Morant?

The only real scenario of Embiid getting traded is if he looks great, but asks out or if the owners force a trade. Neither of these seem likely as there hasn't been the type of smoke you see from a Giannis, Butler, KD, etc.

[babyjax13]

What is the big midseason star trade this year? Too soon for Devin Booker? What about Embiid?

Sabonis. To me, he didn't sound all that committed to Sacramento when they traded Fox. I think that team will be pretty abysmal, too, and he will want to play consequential basketball.