This has been the craziest season I have ever seen. So many big time trades. Stacked Western conference. Superstars emerging.
That said, there are a bunch of teams that are in a noticeable funk. Either they are aging, their direction has reached a plateau or they are just not very good.
I made this thread so we can speculate about big changes we expect to happen around the league this offseason.
I think well see:
1) Dallas trade one of it's stars.
2) Chicago try to secure a star.
3) Milwaukee trades any or all of Redd, CV, and Williams.
4) New York unsuccessfully try to blow up and start over.
5) Golden State move in a new direction.
6) Houston shop TMac.
A lot of this may spill over into the next season but I think we'll either see it start or hear rumblings in the offseason.
What do you guys see happening?
OT: Big changes league-wide this offseason?
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OT: Big changes league-wide this offseason?
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PeeDee
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Devilzsidewalk
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here's my predictions for the 2008-2009 season:
1. Dirk Nowitzki abruptly announces his retirement and declares himself eligible for the 2009 German Hand-ball League Draft
2. after accomplishing its mission of winning an NBA Championship, Kevin Garnett reveals itself to be an automaton and initiates self-destruct sequence 1JL03 and lowers itself into a vat of molten metal. A tearful plea from David Stern to convince it not to destroy itself goes unheeded. Skynet stock plummets.
3. AI loses a step after being weighted down by 3 extra off-season tattoos.
4. After spending 2 months meditating in a Buddhist monastery, Gerald Green discovers that his athleticism can be used for things such as attacking the rim, getting uncontested mid-ranger jumpers, and playing defense. He makes an NBA roster.
5. In an ironic twist of events, after a questionable foul call, a disgusted Ron Artest tosses his gum into the stands and hits a lounging fan. Aforementioned fan rushes the court grabbing random players by the shirt and punching them while screaming "Was it you?!?!" Ron Artest plays dead to avoid confrontation. In a 'Shining' type moment, 2000 miles away Stephen Jackson goes to his car to get his gun and starts firing into the air.
6. Greg Oden puts up 13/8, Blazers go 40-42, Blazers fans feel confused.
7. Golden State hesitantly gives Baron Davis a max extension. B-Diddy celebrates by shopping for suits to wear while injured.
8. In a tell-all interview with the Star Tribune, Glen Taylor confides that Marko Jaric has tanked his 3 years with the Wolves. Marko Jaric responds "no, I'm just not very good". Glen Taylor apologizes for the confusion. Wolves fans research the words "arsenic poisoning" "quick suicide" and "God hates me...why?" on Google.
9. Draft comes around, Heat get Derrick Rose with the 1st pick, Sonics grab Beasley with the 2nd, Lopez goes the Grizzlies 3rd, Clippers get the 4th pick and grab Mayo, Wolves have the 5th pick and draft Russell Westbrook. Wolves fans research the words "arsenic poisoning" "quick suicide" and "God hates me...why?" on Google.
10. Cavs trade Ben Wallace, Varejao, and Wally Szczerbiak to the Suns for Shaq, Boris Diaw, and Raja Bell. It doesn't help either team.
1. Dirk Nowitzki abruptly announces his retirement and declares himself eligible for the 2009 German Hand-ball League Draft
2. after accomplishing its mission of winning an NBA Championship, Kevin Garnett reveals itself to be an automaton and initiates self-destruct sequence 1JL03 and lowers itself into a vat of molten metal. A tearful plea from David Stern to convince it not to destroy itself goes unheeded. Skynet stock plummets.
3. AI loses a step after being weighted down by 3 extra off-season tattoos.
4. After spending 2 months meditating in a Buddhist monastery, Gerald Green discovers that his athleticism can be used for things such as attacking the rim, getting uncontested mid-ranger jumpers, and playing defense. He makes an NBA roster.
5. In an ironic twist of events, after a questionable foul call, a disgusted Ron Artest tosses his gum into the stands and hits a lounging fan. Aforementioned fan rushes the court grabbing random players by the shirt and punching them while screaming "Was it you?!?!" Ron Artest plays dead to avoid confrontation. In a 'Shining' type moment, 2000 miles away Stephen Jackson goes to his car to get his gun and starts firing into the air.
6. Greg Oden puts up 13/8, Blazers go 40-42, Blazers fans feel confused.
7. Golden State hesitantly gives Baron Davis a max extension. B-Diddy celebrates by shopping for suits to wear while injured.
8. In a tell-all interview with the Star Tribune, Glen Taylor confides that Marko Jaric has tanked his 3 years with the Wolves. Marko Jaric responds "no, I'm just not very good". Glen Taylor apologizes for the confusion. Wolves fans research the words "arsenic poisoning" "quick suicide" and "God hates me...why?" on Google.
9. Draft comes around, Heat get Derrick Rose with the 1st pick, Sonics grab Beasley with the 2nd, Lopez goes the Grizzlies 3rd, Clippers get the 4th pick and grab Mayo, Wolves have the 5th pick and draft Russell Westbrook. Wolves fans research the words "arsenic poisoning" "quick suicide" and "God hates me...why?" on Google.
10. Cavs trade Ben Wallace, Varejao, and Wally Szczerbiak to the Suns for Shaq, Boris Diaw, and Raja Bell. It doesn't help either team.
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Joe Kleazy
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10/10
Re: OT: Big changes league-wide this offseason?
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Krapinsky
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Re: OT: Big changes league-wide this offseason?
PeeDee wrote:I think well see:
1) Dallas trade one of it's stars.
2) Chicago try to secure a star.
3) Milwaukee trades any or all of Redd, CV, and Williams.
4) New York unsuccessfully try to blow up and start over.
5) Golden State move in a new direction.
6) Houston shop TMac.
I think you missed the three most obvious ones.
New Jersey- will try to move Jefferson or Carter and M. Williams. Need to start rebuilding for Lebron.
Portland- will try to trade quantity for quality. Frye/Jack/Outlaw/Blake and their pick could be packaged.
Memphis- Obviously have to move a PG and probably Mike Miller. What they do will depend on who they draft. If they get Rose, Conley to Portland for their pick/Frye/Outlaw makes sense.
Out of the ones you named-
Houston- I can't see T-Mac being moved. I think they try one more year with Yao/T-Mac under Adelman's system.
Golden State- I doubt we'll se much change here either. I think Baron comes back. They have a good young nucleus in Ellis/Biendrins/Wright. Maybe they try and move Harrington.
New York- You're right here. They won't be able to do much. I can't see anything major happening. Maybe they move Crawford if they draft a 2, i.e. Mayo, Gordon, Bayless.
Milwuakee- With this team I really have no idea. They have one of the most illogical rosters in the league. I could see Redd getting moved in a deal similar to the Ray Allen deal of last year. I'm not sure if there's a good fit out there though, maybe Clips/Raptors/Phx make a play. My guess is they'd love to move Williams. No takers there though.
Chicago- Gordon goes. Deng resigns. Maybe they try and package their pick with Gooden or Hughes for a star as you put it. Sending Hughes and their pick, plus maybe another piece to Mil for Redd might make sense.
Dallas- I'm not sure they try an move Dirk or Howard. I think they'll do their damnedest to move Dampier or Terry, but perhaps to no avail. Maybe they try ad shop Kidd and find no takers. I think they resign Diop before the Wolves do. They'll obviously have to do something.
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TrentTuckerForever
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Devil his due.
I think Dallas is the team most likely to undergo a massive change. They could quite easily be bounced in the first round again, after going to the Finals in '06. The Kidd deal (made to make Dirk happy) didn't work, they're suddenly old, and Avery Johnson has gone from coach of the future to someone who could be unemployed by the next All-Star break.
I also think Detroit could have a massive facelift. Joe Dumars is too smart to allow his assets to deteriorate too badly. He'll make bold moves if they can't get that second (elusive) ring.
On Milwaukee - if I ran the Wolves I'd be calling about Redd. I know some are down on him for being too much like Allen (big O, little D) but I think he'd be a great addition to the Wolves, complementing Foye and Jefferson with his shooting. He's another vet who's young enough (turns 29 in August) to still be contributing when Foye, Al and this year's lotto pick are ready for prime time.
I think Dallas is the team most likely to undergo a massive change. They could quite easily be bounced in the first round again, after going to the Finals in '06. The Kidd deal (made to make Dirk happy) didn't work, they're suddenly old, and Avery Johnson has gone from coach of the future to someone who could be unemployed by the next All-Star break.
I also think Detroit could have a massive facelift. Joe Dumars is too smart to allow his assets to deteriorate too badly. He'll make bold moves if they can't get that second (elusive) ring.
On Milwaukee - if I ran the Wolves I'd be calling about Redd. I know some are down on him for being too much like Allen (big O, little D) but I think he'd be a great addition to the Wolves, complementing Foye and Jefferson with his shooting. He's another vet who's young enough (turns 29 in August) to still be contributing when Foye, Al and this year's lotto pick are ready for prime time.
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B Calrissian
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TrentTuckerForever wrote:Devil his due.
On Milwaukee - if I ran the Wolves I'd be calling about Redd. I know some are down on him for being too much like Allen (big O, little D) but I think he'd be a great addition to the Wolves, complementing Foye and Jefferson with his shooting. He's another vet who's young enough (turns 29 in August) to still be contributing when Foye, Al and this year's lotto pick are ready for prime time.
It is more like big scoring, NO D. If we can get him for Jaric/Walker/2nds/Boston pick (maybe McCants in place of the picks) that would be ok. Other than that it is not worth it.
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TrentTuckerForever
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Walker, Buckner and McCants for Redd works on the Trade Checker. That would remake the Bucks from a salary standpoint and give new Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles a couple of tough-minded guys in the backcourt. I'd be in favor of this deal if Mayo was gone in the draft and the Wolves took Lopez as the best available player:
Gomes/Jaric
Jefferson/Smith
Lopez
Redd/Brewer
Foye/Telfair
Could still use a veteran big, but that's starting to look like a team.
Gomes/Jaric
Jefferson/Smith
Lopez
Redd/Brewer
Foye/Telfair
Could still use a veteran big, but that's starting to look like a team.
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B Calrissian
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^ If that was the roster I would rather see Brewer start next to Redd. Having Redd/Gomes starting on the wings would have Lopez/Jefferson in foul trouble a lot. The Wolves would be wise to bring back Telfair in this situation.. it probably would be good to have as many ballhandlers/players that pass as possible if Mike BlackHole Redd is going to be on the team.
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TrentTuckerForever
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B Calrissian wrote:^ If that was the roster I would rather see Brewer start next to Redd. Having Redd/Gomes starting on the wings would have Lopez/Jefferson in foul trouble a lot. The Wolves would be wise to bring back Telfair in this situation.. it probably would be good to have as many ballhandlers/players that pass as possible if Mike BlackHole Redd is going to be on the team.
Good point, and Gomes had a lot of success playing the 4 next to Jefferson at the 5 this year. Either this lineup:
Brewer
Gomes
Jefferson
Redd
Foye
or this one:
Jaric
Gomes
Jefferson
Redd
Foye
...would get a lot of burn together, no doubt. As far as the BlackHole goes, just remember that Redd's a BlackHole who's averaged 25, 27 and 23 ppg the last three years WITHOUT a low post presence. If you were Redd, who would you defer to on the Bucks?
Nice Jawas, by the way.
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B Calrissian
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TrentTuckerForever wrote:...would get a lot of burn together, no doubt. As far as the BlackHole goes, just remember that Redd's a BlackHole who's averaged 25, 27 and 23 ppg the last three years WITHOUT a low post presence. If you were Redd, who would you defer to on the Bucks?
If we are going to have a player that scores and doesn't play D why not just save money and let McCants start. He could score 23-25 a game in a couple years. He could end up being a better player than Redd. We are a rebuilding team that has time to find out.
He and Williams should have been feeding the ball to Bogut for the past few years. They both only care about scoring. I take that back. Redd also cares about making the team pray before the game..
We all get it.. He wants to be a minister or whatever when he retires.. But how about a little seperation of church and basketball.If we are going to make a move for a big name, high paid player I would much rather it be Butler. We don't have much the Wizards would want but a three team trade could work.
Nice Jawas, by the way.
Thank you.
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TrentTuckerForever
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^ B, I was reading Bill Simmons' latest column (on the improvement of Rajon Rondo this seaso) and thought of this thread:
"Rondo had veterans such as Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, role models who provided the confidence and toughness he desperately needed, eventually springing him from his on-court shell and altering the course of his career. We always hear about the "value" of young teams adding veterans, but after watching the effects over the course of an 82-game season, it's probably impossible to exaggerrate the importance of polished, professional, competitive, proven veterans on young guys who don't know what the hell they're doing.
It's the little things that made the trades for Garnett and Allen (and to a lesser extent, the pick-ups of Sam Cassell, James Posey and P.J. Brown) so successful and altered the careers of Rondo, Leon Powe, "Big Baby" Davis and Kendrick Perkins, everyday moments that go beyond KG crouching over Powe after a dunk and happily punching him in the chest. For instance, my father read a story about Rondo watching last Saturday's playoff games at Allen's house and critiquing the point guards with him. Let's say Seattle never traded Allen and the Celtics were coming off another 24-58 season. What do you think Rondo would have done Saturday? Would he have been planted in front of a plasma studying those games, or would he have been headed to the Bahamas or Vegas with some buddies? Think of young NBA players like only-children and it makes more sense -- yeah, you can turn out fine when you're an only-child, but it's much easier if you have three older brothers giving you advice, looking out for you, molding you and believing in you."
THAT'S the difference between Redd and McCants, and that's the reason why I continue to advocate veterans for the Wolves. They help the young guys along in ways that can't be quantified.
"Rondo had veterans such as Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, role models who provided the confidence and toughness he desperately needed, eventually springing him from his on-court shell and altering the course of his career. We always hear about the "value" of young teams adding veterans, but after watching the effects over the course of an 82-game season, it's probably impossible to exaggerrate the importance of polished, professional, competitive, proven veterans on young guys who don't know what the hell they're doing.
It's the little things that made the trades for Garnett and Allen (and to a lesser extent, the pick-ups of Sam Cassell, James Posey and P.J. Brown) so successful and altered the careers of Rondo, Leon Powe, "Big Baby" Davis and Kendrick Perkins, everyday moments that go beyond KG crouching over Powe after a dunk and happily punching him in the chest. For instance, my father read a story about Rondo watching last Saturday's playoff games at Allen's house and critiquing the point guards with him. Let's say Seattle never traded Allen and the Celtics were coming off another 24-58 season. What do you think Rondo would have done Saturday? Would he have been planted in front of a plasma studying those games, or would he have been headed to the Bahamas or Vegas with some buddies? Think of young NBA players like only-children and it makes more sense -- yeah, you can turn out fine when you're an only-child, but it's much easier if you have three older brothers giving you advice, looking out for you, molding you and believing in you."
THAT'S the difference between Redd and McCants, and that's the reason why I continue to advocate veterans for the Wolves. They help the young guys along in ways that can't be quantified.
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B Calrissian
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Good point. I think Buckner is good for the team. Walker, not so much.
I think what you are saying has more to do with those young guys (like Rondo) being on a great team. Allen didn't do much to hype up the young guys while with the Sonics. KG was good with the youth, but he has a way different personality compared to Redd. Redd was not the leader that the Bucks needed this year. He didn't do what the coach wanted him do. He left Mo Williams walk all over Bogut. Redd is the type of big brother that only cares about himself. That is not what the young guys on this team need.
*I am all for a vet leader coming to this team. I just don't think that Redd is the right man for the job.
I think what you are saying has more to do with those young guys (like Rondo) being on a great team. Allen didn't do much to hype up the young guys while with the Sonics. KG was good with the youth, but he has a way different personality compared to Redd. Redd was not the leader that the Bucks needed this year. He didn't do what the coach wanted him do. He left Mo Williams walk all over Bogut. Redd is the type of big brother that only cares about himself. That is not what the young guys on this team need.
*I am all for a vet leader coming to this team. I just don't think that Redd is the right man for the job.
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is1531
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Memphis and the T-Wolves have their tickets to the 2009 lottery.Both teams received their tickets to the 2008 lottery one year ago. Miami will wait for injuries in November to order their lottery tickets in 2009. Seattle says, wait for me. they want thir tickets to the 2009 lottery.
Seattle will be way under the cap in 2009-2010 season. I suspect in around 2 years, the big game on TNT will be OKC vs Portland. How things can change.
By then, maybe the T-wolves will be one of those middle of the pack teams picking 16th.
Seattle will be way under the cap in 2009-2010 season. I suspect in around 2 years, the big game on TNT will be OKC vs Portland. How things can change.
By then, maybe the T-wolves will be one of those middle of the pack teams picking 16th.
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B Calrissian
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is1531 wrote:Memphis and the T-Wolves have their tickets to the 2009 lottery.Both teams received their tickets to the 2008 lottery one year ago. Miami will wait for injuries in November to order their lottery tickets in 2009. Seattle says, wait for me. they want thir tickets to the 2009 lottery.
Seattle will be way under the cap in 2009-2010 season. I suspect in around 2 years, the big game on TNT will be OKC vs Portland. How things can change.
By then, maybe the T-wolves will be one of those middle of the pack teams picking 16th.
I would hope so.
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