Official Speculation Thread ‘19-'20 I: Big decisions on the horizon

[pepe1991]

This overusage of wingspan as gospel of quality has to stop

There is high lottery pick drafted few years back who is 6'7, with 7 foot wingspan and was projected to be Jimmy Butler.... His name is Stanley Johnson.
Thon Maker 9,2 standing rach ,7'2 wingspan.
Wiggins 6'8- 7'0 wingspan


On polar opposite side, measured in 2011,

Jimmy Butler 6'7 --- 6'7 wingspan
Klay Thompson 6'7 --- 6'9 wingspan

They will probably suck on defense and be total scrubs

[basketballRob]

This overusage of wingspan as gospel of quality has to stop

There is high lottery pick drafted few years back who is 6'7, with 7 foot wingspan and was projected to be Jimmy Butler.... His name is Stanley Johnson.
Thon Maker 9,2 standing rach ,7'2 wingspan.
Wiggins 6'8- 7'0 wingspan


On polar opposite side, measured in 2011,

Jimmy Butler 6'7 --- 6'7 wingspan
Klay Thompson 6'7 --- 6'9 wingspan

They will probably suck on defense and be total scrubs

I know Stanley Johnson has a short wingspan, that's why I wasn't high on him. Jimmy Butler does have a short one but he's 6'8" playing SG.

[basketballRob]

Watch on YouTube

What a miserable conference. If i were Vucevic i would stay away from that organization. He us a millionare why make yourself unhappy ? How much is that worth?

It's pretty funny. He kept telling them he couldn't answer some questions until the appropriate time on free agency and they kept asking him. He doesn't get softball questions like they give in Orlando. If we were Boston we'd know the status of Bamba and Fultz already.

[NotACat]

Watch on YouTube

What a miserable conference. If i were Vucevic i would stay away from that organization. He us a millionare why make yourself unhappy ? How much is that worth?

It's pretty funny. He kept telling them he couldn't answer some questions until the appropriate time on free agency and they kept asking him. He doesn't get softball questions like they give in Orlando. If we were Boston we'd know the status of Bamba and Fultz already.

But we know where Fultz and Bamba are. Bamba has recovered and is going heavy in the weight room, pretty sure it was mentioned in the Okeke conference that he has put on a lot of weight. Fultz is working with our trainers and coaching staff very regularly, but they will not share any details regarding his return.

Why would our tight-lipped FO share detailed information about the health and timeline of players when we're not even in July yet when the preseason isn't till the end of September?

[basketballRob]

Watch on YouTube

What a miserable conference. If i were Vucevic i would stay away from that organization. He us a millionare why make yourself unhappy ? How much is that worth?

It's pretty funny. He kept telling them he couldn't answer some questions until the appropriate time on free agency and they kept asking him. He doesn't get softball questions like they give in Orlando. If we were Boston we'd know the status of Bamba and Fultz already.

But we know where Fultz and Bamba are. Bamba has recovered and is going heavy in the weight room, pretty sure it was mentioned in the Okeke conference that he has put on a lot of weight. Fultz is working with our trainers and coaching staff very regularly, but they will not share any details regarding his return.

Why would our tight-lipped FO share detailed information about the health and timeline of players when we're not even in July yet when the preseason isn't till the end of September?

I didn't hear anything about Bamba gaining weight or lifting weights. I missed that.

[Blue_and_Whte]

It's pretty funny. He kept telling them he couldn't answer some questions until the appropriate time on free agency and they kept asking him. He doesn't get softball questions like they give in Orlando. If we were Boston we'd know the status of Bamba and Fultz already.

But we know where Fultz and Bamba are. Bamba has recovered and is going heavy in the weight room, pretty sure it was mentioned in the Okeke conference that he has put on a lot of weight. Fultz is working with our trainers and coaching staff very regularly, but they will not share any details regarding his return.

Why would our tight-lipped FO share detailed information about the health and timeline of players when we're not even in July yet when the preseason isn't till the end of September?

I didn't hear anything about Bamba gaining weight or lifting weights. I missed that.

standard offseason workout like every player engages in.
Don’t worry someone will post a picture of Mo with his arms relaxed Next to a picture of him clearly flexing then declare he put on 47 pounds of muscle.

[jayrehme]

But we know where Fultz and Bamba are. Bamba has recovered and is going heavy in the weight room, pretty sure it was mentioned in the Okeke conference that he has put on a lot of weight. Fultz is working with our trainers and coaching staff very regularly, but they will not share any details regarding his return.

Why would our tight-lipped FO share detailed information about the health and timeline of players when we're not even in July yet when the preseason isn't till the end of September?

I didn't hear anything about Bamba gaining weight or lifting weights. I missed that.

standard offseason workout like every player engages in.
Don’t worry someone will post a picture of Mo with his arms relaxed Next to a picture of him clearly flexing then declare he put on 47 pounds of muscle.

Bamba needs to focus on core and lower body

[basketballRob]

Watch on YouTube

What a miserable conference. If i were Vucevic i would stay away from that organization. He us a millionare why make yourself unhappy ? How much is that worth?

It does sound like the media wants to know what big man are they going after.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Magic have until 6/29 to pick up Iwundu's option. Fully expect them to just a date to keep in mind.

Also seeing that team execs feel like they already know which deals are done and one said "it's the earliest players have decided and things should move extremely quick once FA opens" FO's should know what's going on and have backup plans already done and dusted.

[VFX]

So Nets are favored to land KD... that means D-lo is certainly not getting resigned in Brooklyn.

Also, multiple sources are saying Vuc is in play for Boston. Sacramento’s WCS said he wants out and they could possibly make an offer.

[j-ragg]

So Nets are favored to land KD... that means D-lo is certainly not getting resigned in Brooklyn.

Also, multiple sources are saying Vuc is in play for Boston. Sacramento’s WCS said he wants out and they could possibly make an offer.

I want to believe about Boston but it’s just hard to believe that they cleared Baynes 5 million into cap just to pay Vuc 20+. Maybe they just really like his game, who knows. It’ll probably be the sort of thing where if their plan A and B fail maybe C is to get a center like Vuc or trade for Steven Adams.

[OrlandoNed]

So Nets are favored to land KD... that means D-lo is certainly not getting resigned in Brooklyn.

Also, multiple sources are saying Vuc is in play for Boston. Sacramento’s WCS said he wants out and they could possibly make an offer.

I want to believe about Boston but it’s just hard to believe that they cleared Baynes 5 million into cap just to pay Vuc 20+. Maybe they just really like his game, who knows. It’ll probably be the sort of thing where if their plan A and B fail maybe C is to get a center like Vuc or trade for Steven Adams.

I think the Celtics are targeting 3 players in free agency with that cap room: Vucevic, Russell and Brogdon. The PGs are the priority targets, but Vucevic is the closest they can get to replicating Al Horford's skill set. With the other rumblings about Boston talking to Houston, I think they are looking to trade for a center like Capela or OKC's Adams as an alternative.

I think Plan A for the Celtics is to sign Russell or Brogdon, then trading for Capela or Adams.
If they whiff on Russell or Brogdon, Plan B is likely to sign Vucevic and re-sign Rozier. That's how I'm reading the tea leaves.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

So Nets are favored to land KD... that means D-lo is certainly not getting resigned in Brooklyn.

Also, multiple sources are saying Vuc is in play for Boston. Sacramento’s WCS said he wants out and they could possibly make an offer.

I want to believe about Boston but it’s just hard to believe that they cleared Baynes 5 million into cap just to pay Vuc 20+. Maybe they just really like his game, who knows. It’ll probably be the sort of thing where if their plan A and B fail maybe C is to get a center like Vuc or trade for Steven Adams.

I look at clearing Baynes money as a long term issue of them wanting to make sure they have a C for multi years in case this season doesn't go as planned. It also helps them sell the position as WIDE OPEN with no real competition.

[ezzzp]

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[MoMM]

didnt the Spurs build their team thru the draft? i dont think any team has all 12-15 players that were all drafted with no trades, thats just impossible.

Tim Duncan was drafted in 1997, Tony Parker in 2001, and Kawhi Leonard in 2011, that's a 14 year span, so actually a very bad example to prove the case of continuing to keep a roster full of young players ... That Magic team was the best example, but it did consist of 2 stars and one of the most dominant players to play the game.

Tony Parker, Manu Gibobli, Patty Mills. David Robinson. All their key players to their championships and just success in general were drafted.

you said no "successful team. I think it is a great case as an example.

You forgot about Scola, Udrih, Splitter, George Hill (later traded for #15, Kawhi), DaJuan Blair... all of them were important, at least as backup players and that's good value for a late 1st and/or 2nd round picks.

[tiderulz]

But we know where Fultz and Bamba are. Bamba has recovered and is going heavy in the weight room, pretty sure it was mentioned in the Okeke conference that he has put on a lot of weight. Fultz is working with our trainers and coaching staff very regularly, but they will not share any details regarding his return.

Why would our tight-lipped FO share detailed information about the health and timeline of players when we're not even in July yet when the preseason isn't till the end of September?

I didn't hear anything about Bamba gaining weight or lifting weights. I missed that.

standard offseason workout like every player engages in.
Don’t worry someone will post a picture of Mo with his arms relaxed Next to a picture of him clearly flexing then declare he put on 47 pounds of muscle.

[Skin]

So Nets are favored to land KD... that means D-lo is certainly not getting resigned in Brooklyn.

Also, multiple sources are saying Vuc is in play for Boston. Sacramento’s WCS said he wants out and they could possibly make an offer.

I just looked it up and D'Angelo has a 6'10 wingspan. That means he's officially in play for ORL.








I'm not doing this to myself. You guys can carry on wishing. I think if Russell isn't brought back that will mean the Knicks lost out on Kyrie and D'Angelo will choose NY. He LOVES that city.

Feel like we're gonna wait on Fultz... PG will be put on the back burner until next year. The draft is loaded with PGs.

[ezzzp]

Yeah, I'm not sure why there's some crazy debate about this. The Hawks are two years into their rebuild. It's like judging our team 2 years into our rebuild in which Oladipo was the only one to see any floor time. The Hawks are doing a great job at rebuilding quickly with assets that people value around the league. That much is undeniable. We'll see whether they will need to add more defensive pieces or if Hunter can be that guy for them, but it's a great start.

Oladipo wasn't the only one that saw floor time. Oladipo in his interview with Woj after his break out season said that the Magic were a mess because everyone wanted to be the guy and there was no one there to teach them how to actually win games in the NBA.

Its in years 3-5 of youth oriented rebuilds when they start to face serious issues with roles duplication, ego's, contract cycles, unmet expectations etc.

The first couple of seasons are the easy part; when raw stats are hyped by PR departments, when sucking at defense and being inefficient and not winning are excused as "growing pains." Its years 3-5 when expectations start to build and when the pile of L's start to dull the shininess of "youth movement and upside."

• Dwight Howard trade occurs on Aug 10, 2012

Year one of the rebuild 2012-13 season:

T Harris (20)...36.0 mpg in 27 games *acquired at trade deadline
N. Vucevic (22)...33.2 mpg in 77 games
M. Harkless (19)...26.0 mpg in 76 games
A. Nicholson (23)...16.7 mpg in 75 games
K. O'Quinn (22)...11.2 mpg in 57 games

Year two of the rebuild 2013-14 season:

N. Vucevic (23)...31.8 mpg in 57 games
V. Oladipo (21)...31.1 mpg in 80 games
T. Harris (21)...30.3 mpg in 61 games
M. Harkless (20)...24.4 mpg in 80 games
K. O'Quinn (23)...17.2 mpg in 69 games
A. Nicholson (24)...15.4 in 76 games
D. Dedmon (24)...14.6 mpg in 16 games

Year three of the rebuild 2014-15 season:

V. Oladipo (22)...35.7 mpg in 72 games
T. Harris (22)...34.8 mpg in 68 games *ufa at end of season / re-signs for 24% of cap deal
N. Vucevic (24)...34.2 mpg in 74 games *extension eligible / re-signs for 15% of cap deal
E. Payton (20)...32.2 mpg in 82 games
E. Fournier (22)...28.6 mpg in 58 games
A. Gordon (19)...17.7 mpg in 47 games *fractures foot in 2nd week of season
K. O'Quinn (24)...16.2 mpg in 51 games *rfa at end of season / signs with NYK
M. Harkless (21)...15.0 mpg in 45 games *extension eligible / traded to POR
D. Dedmon (25)...14.3 mpg in 59 games
A. Nicholson (25)...12.3 in 40 games

Year four of the rebuild 2015-16 season:

V. Oladipo (23)...35.7 mpg in 72 games *extension eligible / wants 25% of cap max, is traded at end of season
T. Harris (23)...32.9 mpg in 49games *traded at deadline
E. Fournier (23)...32.5 mpg in 79 games *RFA at end of season / re-signs for 17% of cap deal
N. Vucevic (25)...31.3 mpg in 65 games
E. Payton (21)...29.4 mpg in 73 games
A. Gordon (20)...23.9 mpg in 78 games *fractures jaw in summer misses tc-preseason
M. Hezonja (20)...17.9 mpg in 79 games
D. Dedmon (26)...14.3 mpg in 59 games *RFA at end of season / signs with SAS
A. Nicholson (26)...12.3 in 40 games *RFA at end of season / signs with WAS

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Yeah, I'm not sure why there's some crazy debate about this. The Hawks are two years into their rebuild. It's like judging our team 2 years into our rebuild in which Oladipo was the only one to see any floor time. The Hawks are doing a great job at rebuilding quickly with assets that people value around the league. That much is undeniable. We'll see whether they will need to add more defensive pieces or if Hunter can be that guy for them, but it's a great start.

Oladipo wasn't the only one that saw floor time. Oladipo in his interview with Woj after his break out season said that the Magic were a mess because everyone wanted to be the guy and there was no one there to teach them how to actually win games in the NBA.

Its in years 3-5 of youth oriented rebuilds when they start to face serious issues with roles duplication, ego's, contract cycles, unmet expectations etc.

The first couple of seasons are the easy part; when raw stats are hyped by PR departments, when sucking at defense and being inefficient and not winning are excused as "growing pains." Its years 3-5 when expectations start to build and when the pile of L's start to dull the shininess of "youth movement and upside."

• Dwight Howard trade occurs on Aug 10, 2012

Year one of the rebuild 2012-13 season:

T Harris (20)...36.0 mpg in 27 games *acquired at trade deadline
N. Vucevic (22)...33.2 mpg in 77 games
M. Harkless (19)...26.0 mpg in 76 games
A. Nicholson (23)...16.7 mpg in 75 games
K. O'Quinn (22)...11.2 mpg in 57 games

Year two of the rebuild 2013-14 season:

N. Vucevic (23)...31.8 mpg in 57 games
V. Oladipo (21)...31.1 mpg in 80 games
T. Harris (21)...30.3 mpg in 61 games
M. Harkless (20)...24.4 mpg in 80 games
K. O'Quinn (23)...17.2 mpg in 69 games
A. Nicholson (24)...15.4 in 76 games
D. Dedmon (24)...14.6 mpg in 16 games

Year three of the rebuild 2014-15 season:

V. Oladipo (22)...35.7 mpg in 72 games
T. Harris (22)...34.8 mpg in 68 games *ufa at end of season / re-signs for 24% of cap deal
N. Vucevic (24)...34.2 mpg in 74 games *extension eligible / re-signs for 15% of cap deal
E. Payton (20)...32.2 mpg in 82 games
E. Fournier (22)...28.6 mpg in 58 games
A. Gordon (19)...17.7 mpg in 47 games *fractures foot in 2nd week of season
K. O'Quinn (24)...16.2 mpg in 51 games *rfa at end of season / signs with NYK
M. Harkless (21)...15.0 mpg in 45 games *extension eligible / traded to POR
D. Dedmon (25)...14.3 mpg in 59 games
A. Nicholson (25)...12.3 in 40 games

Year four of the rebuild 2015-16 season:

V. Oladipo (23)...35.7 mpg in 72 games *extension eligible / wants 25% of cap max, is traded at end of season
T. Harris (23)...32.9 mpg in 49games *traded at deadline
E. Fournier (23)...32.5 mpg in 79 games *RFA at end of season / re-signs for 17% of cap deal
N. Vucevic (25)...31.3 mpg in 65 games
E. Payton (21)...29.4 mpg in 73 games
A. Gordon (20)...23.9 mpg in 78 games *fractures jaw in summer misses tc-preseason
M. Hezonja (20)...17.9 mpg in 79 games
D. Dedmon (26)...14.3 mpg in 59 games *RFA at end of season / signs with SAS
A. Nicholson (26)...12.3 in 40 games *RFA at end of season / signs with WAS

letting go of Jameer was and is to this day one of the stupidest decisions we made.. dude would've been that Vet G to help EP and Dipo. It's one of the reasons I hope we re sign DJ to a shorter 2/3 year Vet minimum once his deal runs out.

[pepe1991]

You have to have some vets in roster to keep heads straight and spirit high and to teach them to grind through nba season and give them trouble in practice, but also give them ( youth) right advices.

Suns experiment with youth roster only was complete faliure as Morris twin was fighting everybody .