Around The NBA : 2025-26

[Ice Man]

Zion ... now *that's* basketball hell. Never healthy enough to lead your team for anything more than a drink of water, but you're perpetually planning around him, awaiting the day that will not arrive.

If the Pelicans offered him for a year's worth of Portillo dogs, I wouldn't take him.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Zion ... now *that's* basketball hell. Never healthy enough to lead your team for anything more than a drink of water, but you're perpetually planning around him, awaiting the day that will not arrive.

If the Pelicans offered him for a year's worth of Portillo dogs, I wouldn't take him.

Im sure there must be some solid data to support how detrimental it is to hitch yourself to an oft injured superstar.

Embiid, AD, Zion, Kawhi

To go into every season not knowing if they will play 55-60 games. No back to backs. Even in a playoff scenario, how long till they break down. Its just a mess. They go into the season with kid gloves and it still means nothing.

I know as a franchise, you have to sign them if they are a superstar but man its tough.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Also I think OKC has a chance to break 73 wins.

As much as people think the West is a gauntlet, OKC is so much better than anyone in either conference.

The only thing that will slow them down is multiple injuries.

But if relatively healthy, I only see a few tough losses against top teams. Maybe some more dog day schedule losses in Jan or March. Maybe a game or two where SGA is resting.

I can see them getting 74-8

[prolific passer]

Zion ... now *that's* basketball hell. Never healthy enough to lead your team for anything more than a drink of water, but you're perpetually planning around him, awaiting the day that will not arrive.

If the Pelicans offered him for a year's worth of Portillo dogs, I wouldn't take him.

Zion never wanted to join the pels in the first place after the AD debacle. He will take his time coming back unless he's traded to a better situation.

[jordanwilliams6]

It looks like Zach has fully checked out. I’m not sure where the Kings go from here with him.

18 minutes and 2 points?

[Chicagoat]

Blazers won and have the easiest strength of schedule remaining. Season just started and we are 20 games in but something to keep an eye on.

[Dan Z]

For the season Deni Avdija is averaging 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists and shooting .474 FG

It's interesting how one draft mistake can affect a team going forward.

[Dan Z]

It looks like Zach has fully checked out. I’m not sure where the Kings go from here with him.

18 minutes and 2 points?

They go....nowhere?

I might offer Zach and picks for AD, but I bet Dallas says no. And realistically the Kings need to rebuild.

[drosestruts]

The NBA provided a good reminder last night that blown leads are not a uniquely Chicago thing, it's happening damn near every night in almost every game in the NBA.

Sixers were up by 22 at half time and won by 1-point (VJ hit a go ahead shot, followed by the best full court pass i've seen in a long time from Buddy Hield but, Maxey made a game winning block)

Lakers led by double digits at times but in the end required a game-winning shot from Rui after Toronto took the lead.

Nets were up double digits in the 2nd half just to get outscored by 22 in the 4th and lose to the Jazz

In the NBA in 2025 - no lead is safe.

[Red Larrivee]

The NBA provided a good reminder last night that blown leads are not a uniquely Chicago thing, it's happening damn near every night in almost every game in the NBA.

Sixers were up by 22 at half time and won by 1-point (VJ hit a go ahead shot, followed by the best full court pass i've seen in a long time from Buddy Hield but, Maxey made a game winning block)

Lakers led by double digits at times but in the end required a game-winning shot from Rui after Toronto took the lead.

Nets were up double digits in the 2nd half just to get outscored by 22 in the 4th and lose to the Jazz

In the NBA in 2025 - no lead is safe.

Yeah, the Bulls aren't even among the league leaders for the most blown double-digit leads.

A 15 point lead in today's NBA isn't anything. The three-point shot and increased pace of play has made big leads a lot more vulnerable. A few threes, and you're right back in it.

[jnrjr79]

The NBA provided a good reminder last night that blown leads are not a uniquely Chicago thing, it's happening damn near every night in almost every game in the NBA.

Sixers were up by 22 at half time and won by 1-point (VJ hit a go ahead shot, followed by the best full court pass i've seen in a long time from Buddy Hield but, Maxey made a game winning block)

Lakers led by double digits at times but in the end required a game-winning shot from Rui after Toronto took the lead.

Nets were up double digits in the 2nd half just to get outscored by 22 in the 4th and lose to the Jazz

In the NBA in 2025 - no lead is safe.

Yeah, the Bulls aren't even among the league leaders for the most blown double-digit leads.

A 15 point lead in today's NBA isn't anything. The three-point shot and increased pace of play has made big leads a lot more vulnerable. A few threes, and you're right back in it.

You've gotta have double digit leads to blow them.

[Ice Man]

I'm putting Lonzo for Okoro in the same trade category as Snell for MCW - Who cares? I don't care about Okoro being on this team, or not on this team, or whatever. He's just not a meaningful player. And Lonzo, yikes, has a 42% TS% on the year, making only 25 out of 94 3-point attempts.

[MrSparkle]

I'm putting Lonzo for Okoro in the same trade category as Snell for MCW - Who cares? I don't care about Okoro being on this team, or not on this team, or whatever. He's just not a meaningful player. And Lonzo, yikes, has a 42% TS% on the year, making only 25 out of 94 3-point attempts.

Honestly I just preferred to have the cap space and minutes for Noa and the other scrubs, however bad they are. So yeah, adding $11M to 2028 was detrimental I think. Cavs being an apron team should’ve sent a 2nd rd’er or something for the expiring relief.

Reminds me of when the Bulls traded Rose’s expiring for RoLo. The expiring money is better than the player’s salary!

[Hangtime84]

I'm putting Lonzo for Okoro in the same trade category as Snell for MCW - Who cares? I don't care about Okoro being on this team, or not on this team, or whatever. He's just not a meaningful player. And Lonzo, yikes, has a 42% TS% on the year, making only 25 out of 94 3-point attempts.

Honestly I just preferred to have the cap space and minutes for Noa and the other scrubs, however bad they are. So yeah, adding $11M to 2028 was detrimental I think. Cavs being an apron team should’ve sent a 2nd rd’er or something for the expiring relief.

Reminds me of when the Bulls traded Rose’s expiring for RoLo. The expiring money is better than the player’s salary!

I don't know our cap situation after the next season (mainly because depends on what we do this off season), but i figured they want some cap expirings for the following season.

Smith and Okoro contracts will be up.

[Dan Z]

I'm curious, so I looked up Lonzo Balls stats.

He has played in 18 out of 24 games so far. His FG% is .299 and 3pt% .266 (5.2 attempts per game). He averages 5.5 pts, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. 23.6 minutes per game.

I haven't watched him play, but based on those stats it look like his bricks quite often. Is he still not 100% healthy? Or is he rusty? Or is this who he is now?

[Dan Z]

I'm putting Lonzo for Okoro in the same trade category as Snell for MCW - Who cares? I don't care about Okoro being on this team, or not on this team, or whatever. He's just not a meaningful player. And Lonzo, yikes, has a 42% TS% on the year, making only 25 out of 94 3-point attempts.

Honestly I just preferred to have the cap space and minutes for Noa and the other scrubs, however bad they are. So yeah, adding $11M to 2028 was detrimental I think. Cavs being an apron team should’ve sent a 2nd rd’er or something for the expiring relief.

Reminds me of when the Bulls traded Rose’s expiring for RoLo. The expiring money is better than the player’s salary!

I don't know our cap situation after the next season (mainly because depends on what we do this off season), but i figured they want some cap expirings for the following season.

Smith and Okoro contracts will be up.

I didn't realize you guys were talking about Lonzo (until now). I just made a post about his stats.

I agree that I'd rather have cap space than Okoro, but I don't think his 11 million next year will matter much.

The deal AK should've done was Lonzo for Marcus Smart and a first (which I think was offered to the Bulls but turned down...?).

If Lonzo doesn't improve his shot do the Cavs turn down the club option for next year (it's 10 million)?

[MrSparkle]

Honestly I just preferred to have the cap space and minutes for Noa and the other scrubs, however bad they are. So yeah, adding $11M to 2028 was detrimental I think. Cavs being an apron team should’ve sent a 2nd rd’er or something for the expiring relief.

Reminds me of when the Bulls traded Rose’s expiring for RoLo. The expiring money is better than the player’s salary!

I don't know our cap situation after the next season (mainly because depends on what we do this off season), but i figured they want some cap expirings for the following season.

Smith and Okoro contracts will be up.

I didn't realize you guys were talking about Lonzo (until now). I just made a post about his stats.

I agree that I'd rather have cap space than Okoro, but I don't think his 11 million next year will matter much.

The deal AK should've done was Lonzo for Marcus Smart and a first (which I think was offered to the Bulls but turned down...?).

If Lonzo doesn't improve his shot do the Cavs turn down the club option for next year (it's 10 million)?

I think they’ll disregard reg. season and see how helpful he is in post-season. But if he plays like crap in April and May, then I see them waiving the option. Lots of luxury savings.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Zach is on one tonight. 29 pts at halftime.

[Dominator83]

Honestly I just preferred to have the cap space and minutes for Noa and the other scrubs, however bad they are. So yeah, adding $11M to 2028 was detrimental I think. Cavs being an apron team should’ve sent a 2nd rd’er or something for the expiring relief.

Reminds me of when the Bulls traded Rose’s expiring for RoLo. The expiring money is better than the player’s salary!

I don't know our cap situation after the next season (mainly because depends on what we do this off season), but i figured they want some cap expirings for the following season.

Smith and Okoro contracts will be up.

I didn't realize you guys were talking about Lonzo (until now). I just made a post about his stats.

I agree that I'd rather have cap space than Okoro, but I don't think his 11 million next year will matter much.

The deal AK should've done was Lonzo for Marcus Smart and a first (which I think was offered to the Bulls but turned down...?).

If Lonzo doesn't improve his shot do the Cavs turn down the club option for next year (it's 10 million)?

Cap space doesn't matter for us. There aren't any game-changing unrestricted free agents hitting the market anytime soon, and we never ever take bad salary in exchange for draft compensation. Were too cheap and we don't value draft capital.