Discussing Other Teams' Moves - Part 6

[bondom34]

I bet bondom34 is happy

[queridiculo]

Props to Westbrook for not selling out and making a statement.

He probably signed the contract with **** You Kevin.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

This one is a stunner. I did not see Westbrook staying after KD flew the coop.

[LyricalRico]

This one is a stunner. I did not see Westbrook staying after KD flew the coop.

Exactly, I would not have predicted this if you asked me 1,000 times. I fully expected a trade before the season started.

Then again, he's only really locked in for 2 years and they could find themselves in the same position next summer of having to make a move (Blake Griffin?) or potentially trade him. But OKC has at least bought themselves an extra year to convince Westbrook to really commit longterm.

[pcbothwel]

This one is a stunner. I did not see Westbrook staying after KD flew the coop.

Exactly, I would not have predicted this if you asked me 1,000 times. I fully expected a trade before the season started.

Then again, he's only really locked in for 2 years and they could find themselves in the same position next summer of having to make a move (Blake Griffin?) or potentially trade him. But OKC has at least bought themselves an extra year to convince Westbrook to really commit longterm.

With their current roster and cap holds for Dipo, Adams, and Roberson they have about 10M in cap space. I assume the dump Kanter to sign Griffin and move Sabonis into the backup 4/5 role that Kanter currently serves.
Westbrook / Payne
Dipo / Abrines
Roberson / Singler
Griffin / Sabonis / McGary
Adams / Sabonis / McGary

[payitforward]

The Cavaliers have signed Kay Felder, having bought their way into R2 of the draft to pick him. Their GM expressed confidence that he can move into the role played by Delavadova.

Put that with Golden State buying into R2 to pick Patrick McCaw, whom they have signed too.

The 3d best team in the league, the Oklahoma Thunder, also bought into R2 in order to pick Daniel Hamilton. I don't think they've signed him yet -- and don't know whether they will.

I'm trying to recollect whether any other teams bought into R2 this year.

[montestewart]

The Cavaliers have signed Kay Felder, having bought their way into R2 of the draft to pick him. Their GM expressed confidence that he can move into the role played by Delavadova.

Put that with Golden State buying into R2 to pick Patrick McCaw, whom they have signed too.

The 3d best team in the league, the Oklahoma Thunder, also bought into R2 in order to pick Daniel Hamilton. I don't think they've signed him yet -- and don't know whether they will.

I'm trying to recollect whether any other teams bought into R2 this year.

Doesn't neatly qualify, but Portland chose (and signed) Terp Jake Layman with a 2nd they got from the Magic in exchange for $1.2 million and a complicated 4-team 2nd round pick swap in 2019.

Interesting that McCaw, chosen @ #38, cost the Warriors $2.4 million, and Felder, chosen @ #54, cost the Cavs $2.4 million. I would have figured the higher pick would have cost a little more. I don't know whether that means the Warriors are just better at this or it was a matter of timing. (Can't find any reports on what the Hamilton pick cost.)

[payitforward]

...Portland chose (and signed) Terp Jake Layman with a 2nd they got from the Magic in exchange for $1.2 million and a complicated 4-team 2nd round pick swap in 2019.

Interesting that McCaw, chosen @ #38, cost the Warriors $2.4 million, and Felder, chosen @ #54, cost the Cavs $2.4 million. I would have figured the higher pick would have cost a little more. I don't know whether that means the Warriors are just better at this or it was a matter of timing. (Can't find any reports on what the Hamilton pick cost.)

Yes, the $2.4m price for both picks does seem a little odd -- all the more so given the Portland deal you cite at $1.2m, though the rest of the deal may have figured in somehow.

One way to view this is that GS and Cleveland both saw this draft as very very deep. And if they were right, then it's particularly worth noting Ernie saying that he didn't see players available in R2 worth buying a pick.

Another way to look at it is that w/ $$ flying out the door for FAs who fell far short of being great players, the $$ a R2 pick cost you to sign -- even figuring in the $2.4m to buy the pick -- started to look like a more and more rational risk.

[LyricalRico]

Not a "move" (yet) but an update on Rudy Gay:

According to an associate, the Heat is among teams that very much appeal to Sacramento forward Rudy Gay, who has been available in trades. But Miami likely lacks the tradable assets to acquire him if it wanted to and his $14.2 million player option for 2017-18 is worrisome. Players signed this month in free agency cannot be traded until Dec. 15.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2016/08/your-olympic-tv-primer.html

Reads like the interest is only one way so far, especially after Riles went bargain hunting for guys like DWill and Waiters. It'll be interesting to see if Gay gets moved and for what.

[Ruzious]

The Cavaliers have signed Kay Felder, having bought their way into R2 of the draft to pick him. Their GM expressed confidence that he can move into the role played by Delavadova.

Put that with Golden State buying into R2 to pick Patrick McCaw, whom they have signed too.

The 3d best team in the league, the Oklahoma Thunder, also bought into R2 in order to pick Daniel Hamilton. I don't think they've signed him yet -- and don't know whether they will.

I'm trying to recollect whether any other teams bought into R2 this year.

I got verbally eviscerated at the Bucks forum (that forum's gone downhill, imo) for suggesting that Felder would have been a better acquisition for them than Delly - considering their salaries and where the Bucks are in their development. Delly had a huge game for Australia against Serbia, so the vocal Bucks fans are more sure than ever that he was an excellent acquisition.

McCaw sounds good, but I'm not familiar with Daniel Hamilton.

[payitforward]

Delly is one of those guys who everyone thinks is underrated, but he's actually not underrated. And, because people think he's underrated, they overrate him.

How long until training camp? I'm starting to lose my mind....

[keynote]

Not cool, Grizzlies' PA -- now ex-Grizzlies' PA. Not cool.

http://deadspin.com/report-grizzlies-fired-pa-announcer-after-accusations-1785061641

Rick Trotter has been calling Memphis Grizzlies games since 2006, but the team announced they’d fired him this afternoon after the Shelby County Sheriff’s office put out a warrant for his arrest. The warrant lists three charges for photographing persons without consent, issued today.

Memphis police confirmed that their department issued the four-count warrant Tuesday, adding that there were at least three reported victims. The warrant alleges that Trotter was “making upskirt videos of church members,” apparently “while services were going on.”

Trotter got the job with the Grizzlies after he sent them in a demo tape. He had no previous experience in broadcasting. The Grizzlies said that they fired Trotter in July, but didn’t announce it until today.

The team offered no further comment. Trotter worked at Downtown Church until May, when he was let go.

[LyricalRico]

(Ben Simmons) has the size of a power forward, the athleticism of a wing, and the passing ability of a point guard. In theory, you'll be able to throw a lot of different looks and lineups around him to allow him to keep the opponent struggling to match up. It may not happen right away because Simmons will have to go through the typical rookie struggles, but that's the idea down the road.

However, his green nature to the NBA won't keep Sixers coach Brett Brown from trying the rookie at the point guard position this season.

"I can't wait for the season to begin and all over the place I'm very, very excited to start our season," Brown said. "I think [Simmons] is going to have some taste of [point guard] for sure. He'll dictate that himself when he rebounds and leads the break. I've said it many times, I think the NBA point guard is the hardest position in the NBA.

"He's never played point guard, let alone NBA point guard, so what do you think he's going to be? He has a real good chance to be that. I think initially we're going to play him in different positions and that [point guard] will certainly be one of them.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/brett-brown-ben-simmons-will-play-some-point-guard-his-rookie-season/

I realize how excited Brett Brown must be to finally have some legit NBA talents, with a potential superstar in Simmons, to work with. But is it really in the players' best interest to constantly move them around in the lineup and change their responsibilities from game to game, or even intragame? Why not let him master one position first and then move on?

I sort of feel the same way about Greek Freak in Milwaukee. Sure, it's cool to see a 7-footer run the offense and he obviously CAN do it. But SHOULD he be doing it? Is that the best thing for the longterm development of both him and the team? Really open to opinions on this one.

[tontoz]

LA signing Yi?

When we first signed Yi CCJ called him the "Chinese tornado of suck". I had that in my sig for awhile before CCJ made me take it out because he didn't want to offend any Chinese fans.

[dckingsfan]

(Ben Simmons) has the size of a power forward, the athleticism of a wing, and the passing ability of a point guard. In theory, you'll be able to throw a lot of different looks and lineups around him to allow him to keep the opponent struggling to match up. It may not happen right away because Simmons will have to go through the typical rookie struggles, but that's the idea down the road.

However, his green nature to the NBA won't keep Sixers coach Brett Brown from trying the rookie at the point guard position this season.

"I can't wait for the season to begin and all over the place I'm very, very excited to start our season," Brown said. "I think [Simmons] is going to have some taste of [point guard] for sure. He'll dictate that himself when he rebounds and leads the break. I've said it many times, I think the NBA point guard is the hardest position in the NBA.

"He's never played point guard, let alone NBA point guard, so what do you think he's going to be? He has a real good chance to be that. I think initially we're going to play him in different positions and that [point guard] will certainly be one of them.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/brett-brown-ben-simmons-will-play-some-point-guard-his-rookie-season/

I realize how excited Brett Brown must be to finally have some legit NBA talents, with a potential superstar in Simmons, to work with. But is it really in the players' best interest to constantly move them around in the lineup and change their responsibilities from game to game, or even intragame? Why not let him master one position first and then move on?

I sort of feel the same way about Greek Freak in Milwaukee. Sure, it's cool to see a 7-footer run the offense and he obviously CAN do it. But SHOULD he be doing it? Is that the best thing for the longterm development of both him and the team? Really open to opinions on this one.

I think they should leave him as the point SF. Let him guard SFs but let him run the offense.

They should surround him with players that can stretch the court. At PF: Saric & Landry are fine. Hollis Thompson shot pretty well - let Henderson come off the bench. I don't really understand the T.J. McConnell/Sergio Rodriguez PGs on the court at the same time. But I guess we know they need a PG. I would just go after a 3&D PG.

[LyricalRico]

(Ben Simmons) has the size of a power forward, the athleticism of a wing, and the passing ability of a point guard. In theory, you'll be able to throw a lot of different looks and lineups around him to allow him to keep the opponent struggling to match up. It may not happen right away because Simmons will have to go through the typical rookie struggles, but that's the idea down the road.

However, his green nature to the NBA won't keep Sixers coach Brett Brown from trying the rookie at the point guard position this season.

"I can't wait for the season to begin and all over the place I'm very, very excited to start our season," Brown said. "I think [Simmons] is going to have some taste of [point guard] for sure. He'll dictate that himself when he rebounds and leads the break. I've said it many times, I think the NBA point guard is the hardest position in the NBA.

"He's never played point guard, let alone NBA point guard, so what do you think he's going to be? He has a real good chance to be that. I think initially we're going to play him in different positions and that [point guard] will certainly be one of them.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/brett-brown-ben-simmons-will-play-some-point-guard-his-rookie-season/

I realize how excited Brett Brown must be to finally have some legit NBA talents, with a potential superstar in Simmons, to work with. But is it really in the players' best interest to constantly move them around in the lineup and change their responsibilities from game to game, or even intragame? Why not let him master one position first and then move on?

I sort of feel the same way about Greek Freak in Milwaukee. Sure, it's cool to see a 7-footer run the offense and he obviously CAN do it. But SHOULD he be doing it? Is that the best thing for the longterm development of both him and the team? Really open to opinions on this one.

I think they should leave him as the point SF. Let him guard SFs but let him run the offense.

They should surround him with players that can stretch the court. At PF: Saric & Landry are fine. Hollis Thompson shot pretty well - let Henderson come off the bench. I don't really understand the T.J. McConnell/Sergio Rodriguez PGs on the court at the same time. But I guess we know they need a PG. I would just go after a 3&D PG.

It's funny, I was just talking to a coworker yeaterday about Simmons. We were both like "it's great that he can pass...but who's he going to pass to?" Agree that 3&D needs to be a priority for them. Once they decide which bigs they're gonna keep, it'll be intersting to see who they target when shopping the odd man/men out.

[dckingsfan]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/brett-brown-ben-simmons-will-play-some-point-guard-his-rookie-season/

I realize how excited Brett Brown must be to finally have some legit NBA talents, with a potential superstar in Simmons, to work with. But is it really in the players' best interest to constantly move them around in the lineup and change their responsibilities from game to game, or even intragame? Why not let him master one position first and then move on?

I sort of feel the same way about Greek Freak in Milwaukee. Sure, it's cool to see a 7-footer run the offense and he obviously CAN do it. But SHOULD he be doing it? Is that the best thing for the longterm development of both him and the team? Really open to opinions on this one.

I think they should leave him as the point SF. Let him guard SFs but let him run the offense.

They should surround him with players that can stretch the court. At PF: Saric & Landry are fine. Hollis Thompson shot pretty well - let Henderson come off the bench. I don't really understand the T.J. McConnell/Sergio Rodriguez PGs on the court at the same time. But I guess we know they need a PG. I would just go after a 3&D PG.

It's funny, I was just talking to a coworker yeaterday about Simmons. We were both like "it's great that he can pass...but who's he going to pass to?" Agree that 3&D needs to be a priority for them. Once they decide which bigs they're gonna keep, it'll be intersting to see who they target when shopping the odd man/men out.

That's is a really good point actually, they probably need to trade one of Noel, Embiid, Okafor and Holmes? BTW, I forgot about Bayless. Bayless, Thompson and Saric would spread the court nicely. That would give him plenty of room to operate.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

LA signing Yi?

When we first signed Yi CCJ called him the "Chinese tornado of suck". I had that in my sig for awhile before CCJ made me take it out because he didn't want to offend any Chinese fans.

$8m for Yi.

This may be the single worst contract I've ever seen.

I'd rather spend $8m on a soft pretzel.

[verbal8]

LA signing Yi?

When we first signed Yi CCJ called him the "Chinese tornado of suck". I had that in my sig for awhile before CCJ made me take it out because he didn't want to offend any Chinese fans.

$8m for Yi.

This may be the single worst contract I've ever seen.

I'd rather spend $8m on a soft pretzel.

Maybe it is not all guarranteed, but still it doesn't make sense. That is 10 times wha the Mavs paid him.

[LyricalRico]

LA signing Yi?

When we first signed Yi CCJ called him the "Chinese tornado of suck". I had that in my sig for awhile before CCJ made me take it out because he didn't want to offend any Chinese fans.

$8m for Yi.

This may be the single worst contract I've ever seen.

I'd rather spend $8m on a soft pretzel.

Yep, way too much for a guy that I assume they had no competition for. Where is Kupchak on the GM ranking list at this point? He was a meddling commish away from pulling off a brilliant trade for Chris Paul, but ever since then not much has gone right in LA.