ATL: Preseason edition (Is Hayward worth $50mm pg15)

[GrandAdmiralDan]

I think a Mossy Oak Camo trimmed in Blaze Orange would be pretty cool if done right.

As long as we aren't playing the theme out too far and marking the basket stanchions with deer urine, I'd have no problem with that

[SupremeHustle]

Do you agree with this? From: http://www.nba.com/news/2013-14-nba-gm- ... :nbahpt13a

Which player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2013-14?

1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans -- 27.6%

2. Andre Drummond , Detroit -- 10.3%

3. Derrick Favors, Utah; Paul George, Indiana; Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City -- 6.9%

Also receiving votes: Bradley Beal, Washington; James Harden, Houston; Tobias Harris, Orlando; Gordon Hayward, Utah; Kyrie Irving, Cleveland; DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers; Jeremy Lamb, Oklahoma City; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio; Kevin Love, Minnesota; Klay Thompson, Golden State; Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto; John Wall, Washington

Last year: Klay Thompson -- 13.3%

[DanoMac]

Do you agree with this? From: http://www.nba.com/news/2013-14-nba-gm- ... :nbahpt13a

Which player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2013-14?

1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans -- 27.6%

2. Andre Drummond , Detroit -- 10.3%

3. Derrick Favors, Utah; Paul George, Indiana; Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City -- 6.9%

Also receiving votes: Bradley Beal, Washington; James Harden, Houston; Tobias Harris, Orlando; Gordon Hayward, Utah; Kyrie Irving, Cleveland; DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers; Jeremy Lamb, Oklahoma City; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio; Kevin Love, Minnesota; Klay Thompson, Golden State; Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto; John Wall, Washington

Last year: Klay Thompson -- 13.3%

I absolutely do. Davis is going to have a huge year, IMO. Don't know how Paul George finished 3rd, you would think his breakout season was either of the last 2 years. Can he really 'break out' any more?

Some random ass choices on there. Kevin Love? WTF?

[emunney]

Do you agree with this? From: http://www.nba.com/news/2013-14-nba-gm- ... :nbahpt13a

Which player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2013-14?

1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans -- 27.6%

2. Andre Drummond , Detroit -- 10.3%

3. Derrick Favors, Utah; Paul George, Indiana; Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City -- 6.9%

Also receiving votes: Bradley Beal, Washington; James Harden, Houston; Tobias Harris, Orlando; Gordon Hayward, Utah; Kyrie Irving, Cleveland; DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers; Jeremy Lamb, Oklahoma City; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio; Kevin Love, Minnesota; Klay Thompson, Golden State; Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto; John Wall, Washington

Last year: Klay Thompson -- 13.3%

I agree with some of it, but I see a bunch of guys on there who've already broken out. The only way James Harden breaks out is if somebody locks him in a cage, and also the cage would have to be made of something breakable like pasta.

[CanadaBucks]

See the Nuggets are gauging interest/value of Faried. Kind of reminds me of when the Raptors had Jerome "JYD" Williams. Fan favourite, hustle guy who you don't really want to overpay. What would you give Faried for a four year deal?

[Ayt]

If I were Utah, I wouldn't be signing either to $48 to $50mm contracts. Utah is still at least one stud away from having a core you'd go forward with. I'd be keeping my options open. Frankly, I'd rather have only Larry Sanders at 4/$44 plus the flexibility you get than to have both Favors and Hayward on my team tied up at $100 million.

Ehh, favors is gonna go 15/10/2 with good defense this year and Hayward will have bigger volume numbers since they are actually gonna give him the ball offensively instead of mo Williams chucking, I'd expect 18/5/6 or something along those lines. Saves the team a bunch of cash when they'd get max offers next year. Also your point about George having a higher ceiling is correct, which is also why there is 40 million difference in contracts.

6 assists? There is no way he averages that many.

[CanadaBucks]

102-72 San Antonio...at the end of 3

[Badgerlander]

See the Nuggets are gauging interest/value of Faried. Kind of reminds me of when the Raptors had Jerome "JYD" Williams. Fan favourite, hustle guy who you don't really want to overpay. What would you give Faried for a four year deal?

Taj Gibson money? 4/38mil

[CanadaBucks]

See the Nuggets are gauging interest/value of Faried. Kind of reminds me of when the Raptors had Jerome "JYD" Williams. Fan favourite, hustle guy who you don't really want to overpay. What would you give Faried for a four year deal?

Taj Gibson money? 4/38mil

I'd trade him before I paid him that, too many holes in his game. I'd take Taj over him in a flash.

[whatthe_buck!?]

He will kill someone at some point, I don't doubt that.

Sam Smith saw Artest up close covering the Bulls. In years past he wrote a column or two where he said he felt Artest was too mentally unstable to be in the league and that the NBA was playing with fire by allowing him to stay around. And this was before the Brawl in the Palace (10-year anniversary next month I think).

That clip of Psycho T ready to get in someone's face until he realizes it's Artest is hilarious.

But yeah, I remember that Sam Smith article. I also recall a thread we had prior to a season starting, I think the 2005-2006 season, where people were also including a "wild card" prediction to go along with more standard NBA predictions. I remember midranger went with something to the effect of "Ron Artest will kill himself or someone else this season"

That always stuck with me, because I didn't see it as some unrealistic reach to be edgy. If anything like that would happen, who would be surprised?

He's definitely well within the Tyson Zone. After he got a long term contract from the Lakers he finally got the psychiatric care he desperately needed and mellowed out a bit (by his standards). If he had never gone to a top notch organization like the lakers and had all that help from not only the Zenmaster but also from top notch mental health professionals I think he would've been out of the league years ago and possibly would be dead or in jail. Personally, I'm still mad that he broke Jordan's ribs in the offseason Jordan was preparing to come back with the wizards (or maybe that was in between Jordan's two wizards seasons, can't remember exactly). Not saying that Jordan would have been significantly better if that hadnt have occurred but it definitely couldn't have helped...

[Rockmaninoff]

See the Nuggets are gauging interest/value of Faried. Kind of reminds me of when the Raptors had Jerome "JYD" Williams. Fan favourite, hustle guy who you don't really want to overpay. What would you give Faried for a four year deal?

It's funny you mention Toronto, because I think their GM should fleece Denver right now for Faried and maybe Mozgov.

I think Toronto is a deep bigs rotation away from being a very solid team, and Denver is falling apart.

[Baddy Chuck]

Bradley Beal looks **** amazing this preseason.

[Ayt]

Look at who played tonight.

Bradley Beal looks **** amazing this preseason.

Yep. I was really, really high on him after how well he played last year at such a young age as a SG.

[Wonka]

Look at who played tonight.

In 1 minute of action so far, I would honestly like to see him be able to put in 18 minutes a game. Seems like a stand up guy.

[Ayt]

Dipo has looked really good in the PS.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEVGr4TFTNE[/youtube]

I like how he handled the double in the post at around 2 min.

[SpursNBucks]

I was thinking 8 or 9 a year prior to this coming out, I still wouldn't go over that if I was the Jazz but there's more than just talent involved in this one.

ETA-Sorry he's not close to the same caliber as Paul George though.

Yes he is. Sure George is a better athlete, defender and rebounder but Hayward is a significantly better shooter, and is a more versatile offensive player who can run the offense, play off ball or as a PnR handler. He scores at a better rate than George and turns the ball over less. They are most certainly similar caliber players and its silly that members of a board with as many smart posters as this one can't see that.

I didn't read every post after this, but really? George is on a whole different level-- it's not even close-why is this comparison being made? Hayward is not worth anything close to that kind of coin. The ONLY thing Hayward does better is his outside shot- and it's not like he is lights out. His overall game is pretty weak.

The Jazz have been a fine franchise, but not really doing that well with their recent decisions. For a 3rd overall pick Kanter is kind of just decent, I think over-rated (it was a weak draft). Favors is their best player, but even in his case I don't quite see super star-another 3rd overall pick. Not a Trey Burke fan- his deficiencies will show up in the NBA. Should have traded Millsap. They are not a good team and will be in the lotto discussion.

[Buck You]

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400491590

I'm probably late but joe alexander on the warriors? lol

[Wonka]

The Thunder look pretty terrible tonight. Reggie Jackson especially.

[paul]

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400491590

I'm probably late but joe alexander on the warriors? lol

It gets weirder - pretty sure he hasn't laced up a sneaker yet because he's got a fracture in his lower leg, and despite that and some other guys getting cut he's still there.

[paul]

Bogut with the big oop from Iggy.