ATL - Nico gets the boot

[Ron Swanson]

Watching teams like OKC, Denver, and Cleveland on the same night just drives home how insanely far away we are from competing at that level. The talent gap is extreme enough, but it starts with the infrastructure and coaching staff.

[Profound23]

Watch on YouTube

Michelle Beadle for the win

[paulpressey25]

I really don't get why so many are trying to make excuses for this guy.

Nico has obviously buried his NBA career and that's on him.

The reason some of us focus on ownership is all the smoke around Miriam and Patrick. From everything you see, read and watch (see a couple of Dumont's press conferences) those two really are focused on casinos and maybe even getting the league to approve a deal to move to Vegas.

Then you get more hints from those two that they think NBA athletes are overpaid and coddled. So you can envision a scenario where the coach and GM are bitching to them last year about Luka's conditioning and Miriam and Patrick say to themselves "No way are then going to give this guy a $350 million dollar contract extension. Look for trades for the bum!" I truly believe it was ownership that ordered the trade discussions.

And yes, I'll put on the tinfoil hat that there was some non-zero chance it was mentioned that a deal to the Lakers might endear us with our new friend Adam Silver for favors we may want in the future if we can't get our Texas casino.

[paulpressey25]

Watching teams like OKC, Denver, and Cleveland on the same night just drives home how insanely far away we are from competing at that level. The talent gap is extreme enough, but it starts with the infrastructure and coaching staff.

I'm going to add in Boston. The front office is trying to tank but the culture and bench players are still too strong to let that happen.....at least for now.

[Ron Swanson]

Watching teams like OKC, Denver, and Cleveland on the same night just drives home how insanely far away we are from competing at that level. The talent gap is extreme enough, but it starts with the infrastructure and coaching staff.

I'm going to add in Boston. The front office is trying to tank but the culture and bench players are still too strong to let that happen.....at least for now.

Their shot and roster profile is also why I don't wanna hear any excuses for us. No Tatum, no Porzingis, no Jrue, and yet they're still a Top-8 defense and jacking up the 2nd most 3's in the league to make up for the amount of offensive talent they're missing and/or let walk out the door in the offseason.

[RogerMurdock]

I'm afraid to say we can't hate TJ McConnell

Read on Twitter

[emunney]

I really don't get why so many are trying to make excuses for this guy.

Nico has obviously buried his NBA career and that's on him.

The reason some of us focus on ownership is all the smoke around Miriam and Patrick. From everything you see, read and watch (see a couple of Dumont's press conferences) those two really are focused on casinos and maybe even getting the league to approve a deal to move to Vegas.

Then you get more hints from those two that they think NBA athletes are overpaid and coddled. So you can envision a scenario where the coach and GM are bitching to them last year about Luka's conditioning and Miriam and Patrick say to themselves "No way are then going to give this guy a $350 million dollar contract extension. Look for trades for the bum!" I truly believe it was ownership that ordered the trade discussions.

And yes, I'll put on the tinfoil hat that there was some non-zero chance it was mentioned that a deal to the Lakers might endear us with our new friend Adam Silver for favors we may want in the future if we can't get our Texas casino.

If this was the case (Adelsons ordered the hit on Luka), there's just no way "a source familiar with the situation" doesn't leak it to the press. Instead all we have is this kind of distal speculation.

[paulpressey25]

If this was the case (Adelsons ordered the hit on Luka), there's just no way "a source familiar with the situation" doesn't leak it to the press. Instead all we have is this kind of distal speculation.

I think some of that was already out there.

Besides, the two guys who might squeal are still being paid by the team. Kidd and Nico (severance). Give it time. We just learned two weeks ago playing at a poker table with Chauncey Billups might not be on the up and up.

[RogerMurdock]

Kidd and Nico (severance).

If Nico is severed, he doesn't remember anything about work now that he's not in the office.

[emunney]

I'm afraid to say we can't hate TJ McConnell

Read on Twitter

Sorry, the man in this video appears to have bathed. Obvious body double.