Around the NBA (4.0) *Non-Celtics Talk*

[soxfan2003]

He has been for a while. Kevin is a mental midget afraid of the moment.

He’s a 2x finals mvp and has hit dagger shots for them every time he’s been there. While he may be the most insecure superstar we have ever seen- he’s not afraid of the moment

Couldn't care less what Durant has done after joining a 73 win championship team who didn't have to lose a top 3 player (arguably top 4 - Iggy) to sign him. It's like a varsity team playing a junior varsity team or the US team in the Olympics. The balance of talent is so out of whack that you can not use those games to argue anything.

I agree with a good portion of what your write here but I think you go a bit too far. You are right that the Warriors kept top 4 players for sure when they signed KD. But they did lose players 5(Bogut) and 6(Barnes) which is significant when they were quality players. Losing a a little younger Bogut for the playoffs a few years earlier, may have cost the Warriors a legit chance at another Finals appearance. That Warriors team regular season record was deceiving. Team was ready to peak in playoffs and Bogut gets hurt.

That all being said, KD was not guarded like a star is normally guarded in the last 2 finals since Curry and Klay to a lesser extent drew so much defensive attention. I really don't put much weight on those MVPs when judging KD since the defense against him was a joke for a superstar player.

That being said KD has performed well on the big stage when the fight was more even like with OKC in the NBA Finals against the Heat or with OKC in the western playoffs against the Spurs. I don't think he is afraid of the big moment at all. I just think his Finals MVPs are not what they are cracked up to be. I think the guy is/was more than capable of getting a legit finals MVP.

For the record, I don't blame him for leaving for the Warriors at all. I just think he deserves "moderate" criticism for how he has acted since then. Can't be trying to say you are the best player in the world when in fact you are not even the best player on your own team. That player Steph Curry has been sacrificing all along for you so I think some of the stuff KD has said/implied is disgraceful. And him screaming at Draymond Green was childish.

He could truthfully stick up for himself and say I joined the Warriors since I realized I would be the final missing piece to a truly historically great team. I know that I am one of the best players in the NBA and perhaps best ISO scorer in the NBA but I can learn to play off ball with the Warriors a bit more.

Most of the hate against him would still be there but if he did that I would totally respect the guy because us fans listen to pundits too much and place too much emphasis on titles.

In KD's shoes, I would not want to play with IT in Boston over the Warriors or Westbrook in OKC. I would say the hell with it, I am going for the titles like Lebron did. I realize KD joined a better team but Lebron with Miami joined a team that was close to a lock to win titles if their big 3 stayed healthy.

[sam_I_am]

KD’s legacy is nearly cemented. He was up 3-1 in WCF to GS and choked it away. He then left to jump on bandwagon. Although he has been insanely good in GS and has racked up some nice trophies, the team easily beat Houston without him and crushed it in WCF without him. They don’t need him to be finalists and he absolutely needed that team to get there. Curry, not KD, is the successor to Lebron as generations greatest player.

If he goes to NYK with Kyrie it’s just not going to go well.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Directly into the veins, please;

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"There was one time when Kobe, who I worked with for 18 years, was going back to play in Madison Square Garden, and he had just seen 'The Dark Knight,'" Pelinka said. "Obviously, you guys saw that movie, and he's like, 'Hey, hook me up with dinner with Heath Ledger, because he got so locked into that role. I want to know how he mentally went there.' So, he had dinner with Heath, and he talked about how he locks in for a role.

"And Kobe used some of that in his game against the Knicks."

"The Dark Knight" was released in July 2008, six months after Ledger died. A source with direct knowledge said no such arrangement was made and no dinner ever took place.

There's actual video of it. Omg.

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[greenroom31]

For those who want to tinker with Houston trades:

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[Darth Celtic]

For those who want to tinker with Houston trades:

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that team is great, just not great enough to beat the GSW. Probably be best to wait until after GSW blows up or not.

[3D Chess]

that team is great, just not great enough to beat the GSW. Probably be best to wait until after GSW blows up or not.

Seems that ship has sailed. They are offloading MDA's staff, guys that are friendly with the current roster. Seems MDA's days are numbered too. Morey is going for a re-tool regardless of what happens with the Warriors.

[Darth Celtic]

that team is great, just not great enough to beat the GSW. Probably be best to wait until after GSW blows up or not.

Seems that ship has sailed. They are offloading MDA's staff, guys that are friendly with the current roster. Seems MDA's days are numbered too. Morey is going for a re-tool regardless of what happens with the Warriors.

what value does the rest of the roster have? Capela is good, system guy too, and was worth a lot more making 3 mil, now that his extension kicked in, what can you get for him?

Eric Gordon had some games in the playoffs, but he's a 30 year old 6'4" shooting guard with a per of 12 making 14m a year.

Chris Paul is like 50 years old and makes his age in salary for the next 3 years.

I know they want to retool, but can they, and would it be an improvement, or a roster reset for 2 years?

[3D Chess]

that team is great, just not great enough to beat the GSW. Probably be best to wait until after GSW blows up or not.

Seems that ship has sailed. They are offloading MDA's staff, guys that are friendly with the current roster. Seems MDA's days are numbered too. Morey is going for a re-tool regardless of what happens with the Warriors.

what value does the rest of the roster have? Capela is good, system guy too, and was worth a lot more making 3 mil, now that his extension kicked in, what can you get for him?

Eric Gordon had some games in the playoffs, but he's a 30 year old 6'4" shooting guard with a per of 12 making 14m a year.

Chris Paul is like 50 years old and makes his age in salary for the next 3 years.

I know they want to retool, but can they, and would it be an improvement, or a roster reset for 2 years?

Totally agree with you, but they also have no options to improve the roster without making pretty major changes, and they know what they have isn't going to cut it. Morey has never been the type to sit on his hands.

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[greenroom31]

that team is great, just not great enough to beat the GSW. Probably be best to wait until after GSW blows up or not.

Seems that ship has sailed. They are offloading MDA's staff, guys that are friendly with the current roster. Seems MDA's days are numbered too. Morey is going for a re-tool regardless of what happens with the Warriors.

what value does the rest of the roster have? Capela is good, system guy too, and was worth a lot more making 3 mil, now that his extension kicked in, what can you get for him?

Eric Gordon had some games in the playoffs, but he's a 30 year old 6'4" shooting guard with a per of 12 making 14m a year.

Chris Paul is like 50 years old and makes his age in salary for the next 3 years.

I know they want to retool, but can they, and would it be an improvement, or a roster reset for 2 years?

How about a trade centered around Chris Paul for Hayward if Kyrie leaves? CP3's contract is for one extra year (admittedly at a painful $44M) but it's not like Hayward is some prize teams are targeting either.

[Grooverider]

Seems that ship has sailed. They are offloading MDA's staff, guys that are friendly with the current roster. Seems MDA's days are numbered too. Morey is going for a re-tool regardless of what happens with the Warriors.

what value does the rest of the roster have? Capela is good, system guy too, and was worth a lot more making 3 mil, now that his extension kicked in, what can you get for him?

Eric Gordon had some games in the playoffs, but he's a 30 year old 6'4" shooting guard with a per of 12 making 14m a year.

Chris Paul is like 50 years old and makes his age in salary for the next 3 years.

I know they want to retool, but can they, and would it be an improvement, or a roster reset for 2 years?

How about a trade centered around Chris Paul for Hayward if Kyrie leaves? CP3's contract is for one extra year (admittedly at a painful $44M) but it's not like Hayward is some prize teams are targeting either.

Hard pass..you want an old broken down CP3 on a max contract? **** that. Hayward has a much better chance of rounding out to form.

[greenroom31]

what value does the rest of the roster have? Capela is good, system guy too, and was worth a lot more making 3 mil, now that his extension kicked in, what can you get for him?

Eric Gordon had some games in the playoffs, but he's a 30 year old 6'4" shooting guard with a per of 12 making 14m a year.

Chris Paul is like 50 years old and makes his age in salary for the next 3 years.

I know they want to retool, but can they, and would it be an improvement, or a roster reset for 2 years?

How about a trade centered around Chris Paul for Hayward if Kyrie leaves? CP3's contract is for one extra year (admittedly at a painful $44M) but it's not like Hayward is some prize teams are targeting either.

Hard pass..you want an old broken down CP3 on a max contract? **** that. Hayward has a much better chance of rounding out to form.

If they added in some other picks or pieces as part of deal where we sent Hayward I'd consider it. And by the way, you're crazy if you think anyone in Houston would be salivating at the prospect of getting Gordon.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Lol at anyone who trades for Chris Paul.

Spoiler:

Danny loves Chris Paul though, and if Kyrie leaves, I wouldn't put it past Danny to trade Hayward or Horford for CP3. Ugh

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

How about a trade centered around Chris Paul for Hayward if Kyrie leaves? CP3's contract is for one extra year (admittedly at a painful $44M) but it's not like Hayward is some prize teams are targeting either.

Hard pass..you want an old broken down CP3 on a max contract? **** that. Hayward has a much better chance of rounding out to form.

If they added in some other picks or pieces as part of deal where we sent Hayward I'd consider it. And by the way, you're crazy if you think anyone in Houston would be salivating at the prospect of getting Gordon.

cyberx from clutchcity (Rockets insider who has called a few things before, but take it with a grain of salt. I dunno his track record) did mention that Ainge had apparently called Houston in December offering up Hayward for the same package that Houston was offering Minnesota for Jimmy Butler. I believe, at that time, it was expirings and 1st round picks.

[SmartWentCrazy]

Seems that ship has sailed. They are offloading MDA's staff, guys that are friendly with the current roster. Seems MDA's days are numbered too. Morey is going for a re-tool regardless of what happens with the Warriors.

what value does the rest of the roster have? Capela is good, system guy too, and was worth a lot more making 3 mil, now that his extension kicked in, what can you get for him?

Eric Gordon had some games in the playoffs, but he's a 30 year old 6'4" shooting guard with a per of 12 making 14m a year.

Chris Paul is like 50 years old and makes his age in salary for the next 3 years.

I know they want to retool, but can they, and would it be an improvement, or a roster reset for 2 years?

How about a trade centered around Chris Paul for Hayward if Kyrie leaves? CP3's contract is for one extra year (admittedly at a painful $44M) but it's not like Hayward is some prize teams are targeting either.

Am all for this move. I’m afraid Hayward may be Grant Hill 2.0 and never recover to his previous level and would have no problem selling him for CP3, who moved a hell of a lot better after his injury.

Plus, I have zero doubts that Tatum and Brown would respect CP3 significantly more than they respect Hayward.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Hayward would make much more sense in a Conley deal, something along the lines of Hayward & 14 for him. Very nice Kyrie replacement, but only if AD comes to Boston, otherwise, I expect Kyrie and Horford gone... Horford ring chasing somewhere.

[SmartWentCrazy]

CP3 screams “future Knicks PG” to me

[Celtics_History_Lesson]

Every decade there has to be a Chris Paul to Boston trade rumor?


Draft pick Chris Paul to Boston, Paul Pierce to Portland?


Angry veteran Chris Paul to Boston, Rondo and many other pieces to New Orleans?


Now, broken-down and elderly and crazy-overpaid Chris Paul to Boston, Houston would get a trade exception and a future second rounder?

If Houston wanted to accept less, they could get Yabu and a first rounder and a trade exception? Obviously if a giant trade exception for Boston to use appears it will mean the roster has imploded.


Good that Houston is providing some news in the boring part of the offseason before the draft, but they have few things to trade, and big reasons not to trade for them.


Paul to the Lakers, who then sign Carmelo and Wade, is now slightly possible, but Miami if they don't want cap-room a year from now could send out Dragic if he opt in for his deal plus another player for Paul.



Capela to Boston?

Don't think Rockets take Smart and Williams.

Not trading Horford or Tatum.

Do think Williams can do a lot of what Capela does anyway.




Nene?

If they want Yabu and Semi, get the deal done.

[La Flame]

I have Jimmy Butler going to Mavs

[ddb]

if Ainge is inquiring with Morey it's to see if Harden is available and at what price point. Harden is not going to be traded and that conversation likely shifted to "you open to be a 3rd team in an AD to Boston deal with Griff & I?" if CP3 ends up getting dealt then Rozier is their next PG.

[reload141]

if Ainge is inquiring with Morey it's to see if Harden is available and at what price point. Harden is not going to be traded and that conversation likely shifted to "you open to be a 3rd team in an AD to Boston deal with Griff & I?" if CP3 ends up getting dealt then Rozier is their next PG.

We'd go from like dead last in FT's to #1 if we somehow acquired Harden...

Still sucks when we dealt for Jeff Green that Harden was our #1 target but Presti wouldn't go for it