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

[gswhoops]

Remmeber those analogy type questions on the SAT's? Here's one for you

Steph Curry is to Klay Thompson, like

A. Chocolate is to peanut butter
B. Wayne Grretzky is to Alex Ovechkin
C. Tom Brady is to Bill Bellicheck
D. Population is to traffic

Pretty easy one, like many multiple choices its C. One guy carrying the other on his back to relevance.

If not for Steph Curry, Klay Thompson would be at best, Michael Redd, ceiling

Don’t know ball, sadly.

Just because Belichick lost it doesn’t mean he was overrated as a defensive mind in his prime. Never a good GM. Absolutely fantastic Xs and Os defensive coach. Huge base scheme shifts over the years. Eventually got to the point where his base scheme was week-to-week fluidity. One of the few guys to ever really utilize tweeners well. Definitely the only one that truly allowed them to thrive. Adapted Okie Fronts to the modern NFL when everyone else was going to Tite. There’s no end to it. One absurd hire by a college team can’t change history.

Agreed; also using a 35-year-old post-ACL and Achilles tear Klay to "prove" that prime Klay was overrated is the height of silliness.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Remmeber those analogy type questions on the SAT's? Here's one for you

Steph Curry is to Klay Thompson, like

A. Chocolate is to peanut butter
B. Wayne Grretzky is to Alex Ovechkin
C. Tom Brady is to Bill Bellicheck
D. Population is to traffic

Pretty easy one, like many multiple choices its C. One guy carrying the other on his back to relevance.

If not for Steph Curry, Klay Thompson would be at best, Michael Redd, ceiling

Don’t know ball, sadly.

Just because Belichick lost it doesn’t mean he was overrated as a defensive mind in his prime. Never a good GM. Absolutely fantastic Xs and Os defensive coach. Huge base scheme shifts over the years. Eventually got to the point where his base scheme was week-to-week fluidity. One of the few guys to ever really utilize tweeners well. Definitely the only one that truly allowed them to thrive. Adapted Okie Fronts to the modern NFL when everyone else was going to Tite. There’s no end to it. One absurd hire by a college team can’t change history.

Agreed; also using a 35-year-old post-ACL and Achilles tear Klay to "prove" that prime Klay was overrated is the height of silliness.

You guys are also responding to a member of this forum board who is fueled by emotional, ESPN-level takes.

We all have different purposes for engaging on this website, and for some, it is to discharge negative emotions.

I learned a long time ago to simply not engage with people who exhibit this behavior, whether it is co-workers, a fellow community member at a board meeting, someone at a bar, or a family member during Thanksgiving.

[parsnips33]

Underrated part is "like many multiple choices its C"

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Somehow forgot the pelicans gave the winless pacers their pick back

[Texas Chuck]

Remmeber those analogy type questions on the SAT's? Here's one for you

Steph Curry is to Klay Thompson, like

A. Chocolate is to peanut butter
B. Wayne Grretzky is to Alex Ovechkin
C. Tom Brady is to Bill Bellicheck
D. Population is to traffic

Pretty easy one, like many multiple choices its C. One guy carrying the other on his back to relevance.

If not for Steph Curry, Klay Thompson would be at best, Michael Redd, ceiling

Don’t know ball, sadly.

Just because Belichick lost it doesn’t mean he was overrated as a defensive mind in his prime. Never a good GM. Absolutely fantastic Xs and Os defensive coach. Huge base scheme shifts over the years. Eventually got to the point where his base scheme was week-to-week fluidity. One of the few guys to ever really utilize tweeners well. Definitely the only one that truly allowed them to thrive. Adapted Okie Fronts to the modern NFL when everyone else was going to Tite. There’s no end to it. One absurd hire by a college team can’t change history.

Also while Klay was clearly the 3rd most important player (4th while KD was there) behind guys who have strong arguments for being the best offensive and defensive players of their era(Gobert probably pips Draymond in the RS, but in the playoffs nobody tops Draymond or even really comes close), that doesn't mean he wasn't a key cog. Through 2019, he played virtually every night, defended the best guard so Curry didn't have to, made over 40% of 3's on high volume(and his spacing value exceeded that) and performed great in the playoffs.

Steph (and Draymond) being greater doesn't mean Klay wasn't a legit high level 2-way wing in his prime. Yeah Dallas signed the guy coming off years of injury and he's nowhere near that player. And I get that frustration especially to start this season where his shot isn't falling and he's taking too many bad shots(though the difference in quality between the shots he gets and Max Christie gets shows how much defenses still fear him so the spacing benefits continue to be very real even if Dallas has nobody to take advantage. But him being a mediocre role player now has nothing to do with who he was in his prime.

[gswhoops]

Presti announcing that Topic is undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. What a terrible run of events for this poor guy. Hopefully he makes a full recovery soon and gets to restart his career.

[daoneandonly]

Presti announcing that Topic is undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. What a terrible run of events for this poor guy. Hopefully he makes a full recovery soon and gets to restart his career.

Very sad, and hope he makes a full recovery God willing

[daoneandonly]

Im a big fan of both guys and dont want to see either gone, but what's the best guard a package of Lively and Naji Marshall could return? Or even individually?

I do like Jay's proposal of Naji/Klay for Monk in a 3 teamer.

[daoneandonly]

I would dare say Bucks need to send at least a swap on their 2031 first to the kings for taking Kuzma.

If Monk were worth a 2031 swap, he likely would not be a Sacramento King after an offseason of rumors?

A 2026 swap? A stack of seconds? Sure, I could see it. But not an actual upside asset. Not when the money is so similar the first two years and then Sac gets off the third year completely..

Monk by itself is not worth, definitely, but he is a positive asset. I still see Kuzma as super negative, but yeah, a bunch of seconds makes more sense considering the extra year in Monks contract,

I think Kuz is so bad Dallas could potentially put Caleb in place of Naji, and it could work for MIl. But speaking of how bad Kuz is begs the question why would Sac do it as much as they need forward help.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Somehow forgot the pelicans gave the winless pacers their pick back

To be fair, it was a Top-4 protected 1st, but the two trades were pretty crazy.

Two 2026 Lottery Picks for Derik Queen.

[babyjax13]

Man, I feel bad for Topic. It isn't just testicular torsion, he was diagnosed with cancer. Sounds like he will make a full recovery, but likely another missed season.

[jbk1234]

I know it’s not happening… but I really think that this would benefit all three teams..

Klay and Naji to Milwaukee
Kuzma to Sac
Monk to Dallas

And you decide who is owed seconds?

Mil gets Naji who can do everything Kuz is doing for them and adds another shooter. Also adds some extra matching salary for next offseason when they should be looking at trading 2-3 firsts..

Sac gets a forward and clears Monk’s player option.

Dallas gets a guard.

Just cut the Bucks out.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Presti announcing that Topic is undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. What a terrible run of events for this poor guy. Hopefully he makes a full recovery soon and gets to restart his career.

He shows so much potential but has been limited on the court. Could be a game changer once he is healthy.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Somehow forgot the pelicans gave the winless pacers their pick back

To be fair, it was a Top-4 protected 1st, but the two trades were pretty crazy.

Two 2026 Lottery Picks for Derik Queen.

Fair point. My main issue is the 2026 draft class seem like the class you want to be in. They gave two picks up from that class.

Class looking like one of the best in recent years.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Somehow forgot the pelicans gave the winless pacers their pick back

To be fair, it was a Top-4 protected 1st, but the two trades were pretty crazy.

Two 2026 Lottery Picks for Derik Queen.

Fair point. My main issue is the 2026 draft class seem like the class you want to be in. They gave two picks up from that class.

Class looking like one of the best in recent years.

Oh yeah 100%. I actually think the 2025 class is also incredibly strong.

[Jojothewhale]

For all the talk about how picks 3+ weren't worth anything last year, the early returns sure are fantastic. Of course that can change over the grind of a season. But so far, pretty damn great.

2026 has the same info coming into the season that 2025 did. There are 3 guys and then a hard drop. It's one Ace-style draft season disaster from running it back. That might turn out to be a compliment.

[mlloyd10]

Random Thought - Ryan Rollins wins MIP

[Texas Chuck]

Random Thought - Ryan Rollins wins MIP

I mean if Wemby doesn't win it the award means nothing. But when Luka blew up in year 2 he didn't win it either despite clearly making a far bigger jump than anyone. Going to MVP level is the hardest, most important jump.

But mostly its just some guy who gets a new opportunity and scores some points. Makes the award nearly meaningless. Nice story for a Bucks team desperate for a scoring guard, but he shouldn't win that award.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Random Thought - Ryan Rollins wins MIP

I mean if Wemby doesn't win it the award means nothing. But when Luka blew up in year 2 he didn't win it either despite clearly making a far bigger jump than anyone. Going to MVP level is the hardest, most important jump.

But mostly its just some guy who gets a new opportunity and scores some points. Makes the award nearly meaningless. Nice story for a Bucks team desperate for a scoring guard, but he shouldn't win that award.

Do #1 overall picks really qualify for MIP? I mean that more about the informal practices than about any actual rules.

[Ron Swanson]

Random Thought - Ryan Rollins wins MIP

I mean if Wemby doesn't win it the award means nothing. But when Luka blew up in year 2 he didn't win it either despite clearly making a far bigger jump than anyone. Going to MVP level is the hardest, most important jump.

But mostly its just some guy who gets a new opportunity and scores some points. Makes the award nearly meaningless. Nice story for a Bucks team desperate for a scoring guard, but he shouldn't win that award.

Do #1 overall picks really qualify for MIP? I mean that more about the informal practices than about any actual rules.

This. It was bad enough when they gave it to Morant a few years ago when he was already borderline All-Star level the year before. Traditionally it's always been awarded under the assumption of "leap/improvement that people didn't see coming". Giving it to generational prospects and Top-2 picks that simply develop along expected trajectories their first 3-years feels cheap. We don't need any more excuses for the MVP caliber guys to hoard ALL the awards.