Around The NBA : 2025-26

[rosenthall]

But I think Zach has a spot on the Mt Rushmore of big-minute losers.

I'm not sure about the all-time list (but thanks for the report!), but for current players I think it's fair to say that Zach is the new Rudy Gay -- the prototype of a player whom fans believe is empty calories. Fittingly, Rudy also landed in Sacramento later in his career.

So did Shareef.

They're like Bulls-West.

[Mk0]

How things should be is Zach Lavine to Devin Booker as Dame Lillard is to Steph Curry. If you get the analogy.

But it's not.

I don't think Zach has a real comparison of a player that good and efficient on offense but have such game breaking traits. The sum is always less than to what it should be.

For the last couple of years I have had his comp as Norm Powell. He just made over 2x as much a year.

Like he could fill the role that Powell had on the Clippers, but he needs to be making 20m a year and not 47.5

Funny enough Norm may be getting paid if things continue going great for him in Miami. But I have a hard time seeing anyone wanting to pay him 30m a year. As good as he has been.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Well Zach has this season and next. No way he is turning down his player option of 48 million.

Zach will be 32 when he hits free agency. I think his next contract will look more indicative to what he should be making. So maybe around a Powell/Kuzma contract.

[cocktailswith_2short]

Well Zach has this season and next. No way he is turning down his player option of 48 million.

Zach will be 32 when he hits free agency. I think his next contract will look more indicative to what he should be making. So maybe around a Powell/Kuzma contract.

I wouldn't pay him a penny if I planned on winning games.

[drosestruts]

8 straight losses for Milwaukee

[dumbell78]

Denver also getting drilled with injuries. Murray went out with a sprained ankle. AG and Braun are already out extended time. Health is truly the 6th man in the NBA.

[Chi town]

Denver also getting drilled with injuries. Murray went out with a sprained ankle. AG and Braun are already out extended time. Health is truly the 6th man in the NBA.

Pace is destroying the league.

[Ice Man]

Flagg's average over his last 3 games -

24 points
8 rebounds
5 assists
2 TOs

After an up-and-down first 6 weeks, he seems to figured out his offensive role.

[drosestruts]

Flagg's average over his last 3 games -

24 points
8 rebounds
5 assists
2 TOs

After an up-and-down first 6 weeks, he seems to figured out his offensive role.

all while still being unable to shoot from 3. Going to be even scarier if he develops a shot.

[Ice Man]

all while still being unable to shoot from 3. Going to be even scarier if he develops a shot.

Those extra 20 inches have been a surprising problem for Cooper. It's customary for a player's 3 point % to drop when entering the NBA, because the line is a bit longer and there is usually less time from defenders. But Cooper's shot has completely fallen off the cliff, it was quite good last season, and it's certainly not because he's rushed. Defenders are treating him like Kris Dunn out there, daring him to shoot.

[drosestruts]

Speaking of Dallas - Ryan Nembhard looking pretty good for an undrafted rookie on a 2-way contract

Watch on YouTube

[Ice Man]

Speaking of Dallas - Ryan Nembhard looking pretty good for an undrafted rookie on a 2-way contract

Watch on YouTube

He's the best Dallas guard, until Kyrie comes back. Partly to his credit, he's too good of a player to be on a 2-way contract, but also that says something about the rest of Dallas's backcourt.

[drosestruts]

Speaking of Dallas - Ryan Nembhard looking pretty good for an undrafted rookie on a 2-way contract

Watch on YouTube

He's the best Dallas guard, until Kyrie comes back. Partly to his credit, he's too good of a player to be on a 2-way contract, but also that says something about the rest of Dallas's backcourt.

We should know better than most how difficult it can be to replace a high paid starting point guard who's out with injury.

I know there's lots of jokes about Niko and how awful that trade was, but the team in Dallas on paper was/is good. But therein lies the biggest issue, it's a collection of older guys with poor inury track records. Luka was not in the best shape, but he was 25.

Still, some health luck, and a hot hand or two, and Dallas would be a dangerous team in the playoffs.

[madvillian]

Zach currently has the worst +- in the league at -218. My sig is ever green.

[ImSlower]

Read on Twitter

If I hadn't seen him and his Pelicans beat us so embarrassingly a week ago, I honestly would have forgotten if he was out injured or playing. I don't know what his career will look like going forward. How can a team possibly pay superstar money to someone who likely will miss more than half the games? He still has two more years after this. Any team, the Pelicans included, simply have to build a roster that can be effective without him and simultaneously plan for his healthy stretches where he's a high-usage player.

[2weekswithpay]

Dumars trading a 2026 FRP was so dumb. Everything that's happening to the Pels right now is in line with what everyone predicted when they saw the trade.

[Muzbar]

Read on Twitter

If I hadn't seen him and his Pelicans beat us so embarrassingly a week ago, I honestly would have forgotten if he was out injured or playing. I don't know what his career will look like going forward. How can a team possibly pay superstar money to someone who likely will miss more than half the games? He still has two more years after this. Any team, the Pelicans included, simply have to build a roster that can be effective without him and simultaneously plan for his healthy stretches where he's a high-usage player.

Quick, and often injured star player, better trade for him.

Oh wait, some here have already tried that.

Who else is injured lots?