Around The NBA: 2019-20 RESTART

[dice]

Looking at Jimmy's tweets with Embiid, they seem to be "ok" with each other. I wonder if there were issues with Ben and Jimmy as Ben was not improving his game or something else was going on. Or, was it Tobias as you wrote getting paid which pissed off Jimmy.

But, I thought the 76ers offered a full 5 year contract. Is that not true?

FWIW, Jimmy is not the greatest jumpshooter but he is good enough not to leave him open. He is no LeBron in athleticism and many other things but is LeBron a better jump-shooter than Jimmy? He is a better jumpshooter than Giannis and maybe as good as Kawhi. But, the bottom line is none of these athletic wings are not great jumpshooters.

I am not sure what Brand was looking for because an athletic wing type star is the toughest player to find and is the best option to win with the current rules. And, no wonder, most of the teams having success have one of those guys.

Everything I read says they didn't give him the full 5 yr he wanted. If any one can point me to an article where they did offer it, Im open to being corrected.

This quote from Friedell's ESPN article doesn't mention the years ...but, I am assuming max means 5 years. I don't know if the impasse means 4 vs 5 years or something else.

The Sixers had interest in bringing Butler back on a max extension, according to a league source, but after negotiations hit an impasse, they opted to lock up Tobias Harris on the first night of free agency.

conflicting reports:

https://www.google.com/search?ei=YYdEXqvWI4uGsAXl7avwDA&q=%22was+jimmy+butler+offered+the+full+max%22&oq=%22was+jimmy+butler+offered+the+full+max%22&gs_l=psy-ab.3...0.0..37543...0.0..0.89.89.1......0......gws-wiz.rT9tg8nNksM&ved=0ahUKEwjrioPWks3nAhULA6wKHeX2Cs4Q4dUDCAs&uact=5

[Ccwatercraft]

indy up 20 vs the bucks, half way thru 2nd q.

[MGB8]

Jonah Bolden playing minutes on the Suns, Christian Wood putsup big numbers on the Pistons, Richuan Holmes with a strong season (though hurt now) in Sactown, but none of those 4/5s were worth a look... we have Felicio!

Oh, and Kevin Porter looking like a player for Cleveland....

[Dan Z]

Zach LaVine even complimented Mokoka's shooting style.

"I always tell him you've got one of the prettiest shots in the world," LaVine said after the Pelicans loss. "If you see him shoot, his form and everything is perfect. I'm really happy for him and hopefully he gets some more time to be able to do that. Hopefully he gets some time when we're the team that's winning and it's not a blowout situation. He's been working his butt off and he brings it every day."

https://www.nba.com/bulls/features/adam-mokokas-unconventional-path-nba

[MrFortune3]

Read on Twitter

The billboard is back!!!

#FireGarPax

Maybe if the fans chant sell the team it'll make Reinsdorf get his head out of his ass.

[MrSparkle]

Zach LaVine even complimented Mokoka's shooting style.

"I always tell him you've got one of the prettiest shots in the world," LaVine said after the Pelicans loss. "If you see him shoot, his form and everything is perfect. I'm really happy for him and hopefully he gets some more time to be able to do that. Hopefully he gets some time when we're the team that's winning and it's not a blowout situation. He's been working his butt off and he brings it every day."

https://www.nba.com/bulls/features/adam-mokokas-unconventional-path-nba

At this time it’s more important for Boylen to showcase Arci’s SF abilities.

[MrSparkle]

Gotta say, all things aside, it must be brutal being Suns and Kings fans. Taking Luka would’ve been such an easy contending track, especially considering both teams have way more talent than the Mavs have (besides Luka).

I also double down on the thought that GarPax very likely might’ve made the same mistake.. possibly been allured by a Lauri/Ayton pairing or a Bagley/Lauri two-headed monster. Can’t have a PaxBulls season with only 1 PF prospect.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Gotta say, all things aside, it must be brutal being Suns and Kings fans. Taking Luka would’ve been such an easy contending track, especially considering both teams have way more talent than the Mavs have (besides Luka).

I also double down on the thought that GarPax very likely might’ve made the same mistake.. possibly been allured by a Lauri/Ayton pairing or a Bagley/Lauri two-headed monster. Can’t have a PaxBulls season with only 1 PF prospect.

Its like the Bears trading up to get Mitch Trubisky, while they could have easily had Mahomes or Watson.

The scary thing is the Bulls were trying to trade up.....to draft Bagley or JJJ

I think that would make me even sicker to my stomach.

[MrSparkle]

Gotta say, all things aside, it must be brutal being Suns and Kings fans. Taking Luka would’ve been such an easy contending track, especially considering both teams have way more talent than the Mavs have (besides Luka).

I also double down on the thought that GarPax very likely might’ve made the same mistake.. possibly been allured by a Lauri/Ayton pairing or a Bagley/Lauri two-headed monster. Can’t have a PaxBulls season with only 1 PF prospect.

Its like the Bears trading up to get Mitch Trubisky, while they could have easily had Mahomes or Watson.

The scary thing is the Bulls were trying to trade up.....to draft Bagley or JJJ

I think that would make me even sicker to my stomach.

Yeah.

Well, if 19 FRP (Coby) and Wendell would’ve been the cost for JJJ, that might’ve been ok, but yeah... skipping Trae and Luka would still be regrettable.

If I had to pick the top problem with Pax, it’s that he’s never valued play-making. Seems fixated on some kind beautiful team basketball concept that has never worked in any post-season for any of his teams, besides for when individual scorers got hot (Rose, Gordon).

I just don’t get it. I remembered lamenting how throughout the mid 00s , he settled on Kirk. Despite being traded a few times in his career, guys like Baron or Kidd were never on Paxson’s radar. Just like, lunar opposite of Paxson’s type of personality.

I hate to generalize, but besides Rose 1.7, Pax never brought in a playmaker.

[Dan Z]

Gotta say, all things aside, it must be brutal being Suns and Kings fans. Taking Luka would’ve been such an easy contending track, especially considering both teams have way more talent than the Mavs have (besides Luka).

I also double down on the thought that GarPax very likely might’ve made the same mistake.. possibly been allured by a Lauri/Ayton pairing or a Bagley/Lauri two-headed monster. Can’t have a PaxBulls season with only 1 PF prospect.

Its like the Bears trading up to get Mitch Trubisky, while they could have easily had Mahomes or Watson.

The scary thing is the Bulls were trying to trade up.....to draft Bagley or JJJ

I think that would make me even sicker to my stomach.

I don't think the Bulls had what was needed to trade up. The Hawks wanted Trae and they couldn't give them that. I do think the Bulls should've done a better job of tanking, but even if they did who knows what would happen.

I was surprised that both the Kings and Suns passed on Luka, especially since the Suns had Igor Kokoskov and Kings have Vlade.

[cool007]

Zach LaVine even complimented Mokoka's shooting style.

"I always tell him you've got one of the prettiest shots in the world," LaVine said after the Pelicans loss. "If you see him shoot, his form and everything is perfect. I'm really happy for him and hopefully he gets some more time to be able to do that. Hopefully he gets some time when we're the team that's winning and it's not a blowout situation. He's been working his butt off and he brings it every day."

https://www.nba.com/bulls/features/adam-mokokas-unconventional-path-nba

That's the leader right there.

[Dan Z]

Zach LaVine even complimented Mokoka's shooting style.

"I always tell him you've got one of the prettiest shots in the world," LaVine said after the Pelicans loss. "If you see him shoot, his form and everything is perfect. I'm really happy for him and hopefully he gets some more time to be able to do that. Hopefully he gets some time when we're the team that's winning and it's not a blowout situation. He's been working his butt off and he brings it every day."

https://www.nba.com/bulls/features/adam-mokokas-unconventional-path-nba

That's the leader right there.

I've said it before, but I hope the Bulls give Mokoka some playing time. The season is lost so why not see what we have in players like him?

[PaKii94]

https://www.nba.com/bulls/features/adam-mokokas-unconventional-path-nba

That's the leader right there.

I've said it before, but I hope the Bulls give Mokoka some playing time. The season is lost so why not see what we have in players like him?

Since he's a two way player, I think he's limited in the amount of NBA games he can play. Maybe they are saving him for the end when games don't matter so he can play extended minutes.

--

EDIT: Looking into it, limit is 45 days. Idk how many days Mokoka has been on the bench.

[Dan Z]

That's the leader right there.

I've said it before, but I hope the Bulls give Mokoka some playing time. The season is lost so why not see what we have in players like him?

Since he's a two way player, I think he's limited in the amount of NBA games he can play. Maybe they are saving him for the end when games don't matter so he can play extended minutes.

Two way players are limited? I know they go from the g league to the NBA, but isn't the goal to develop players who can hopefully produce on the NBA level?

My guess is that the team doesn't value Mokoka that much. I get it, he's the last player on the roster, but it sounds like he works hard and he had a good 5 minutes against the Pelicans so why not give him a few minutes here and there?

[umfan83]

How great is it that after a mostly mild winter we get a snowstorm and arctic cold blast right as basically every relevant NBA superstar descends upon our city. I mean I know they travel to Chicago in the winter for games throughout the season anyways, but its a nice reminder to the entire NBA world that there are better destinations to force a trade to.

Hopefully the clubs and private parties are hopping this weekend at least.

[Susan]

How great is it that after a mostly mild winter we get a snowstorm and arctic cold blast right as basically every relevant NBA superstar descends upon our city. I mean I know they travel to Chicago in the winter for games throughout the season anyways, but its a nice reminder to the entire NBA world that there are better destinations to force a trade to.

Hopefully the clubs and private parties are hopping this weekend at least.

The city is so pretty during a snowstorm.

[PaKii94]

I've said it before, but I hope the Bulls give Mokoka some playing time. The season is lost so why not see what we have in players like him?

Since he's a two way player, I think he's limited in the amount of NBA games he can play. Maybe they are saving him for the end when games don't matter so he can play extended minutes.

Two way players are limited? I know they go from the g league to the NBA, but isn't the goal to develop players who can hopefully produce on the NBA level?

My guess is that the team doesn't value Mokoka that much. I get it, he's the last player on the roster, but it sounds like he works hard and he had a good 5 minutes against the Pelicans so why not give him a few minutes here and there?

lmited by the NBA/2 way contract. It says "45 days" Idk what qualifies as days. game time? Or just being on the bench? I would assume it's game time.

[Andi Obst]

Since he's a two way player, I think he's limited in the amount of NBA games he can play. Maybe they are saving him for the end when games don't matter so he can play extended minutes.

Two way players are limited? I know they go from the g league to the NBA, but isn't the goal to develop players who can hopefully produce on the NBA level?

My guess is that the team doesn't value Mokoka that much. I get it, he's the last player on the roster, but it sounds like he works hard and he had a good 5 minutes against the Pelicans so why not give him a few minutes here and there?

lmited by the NBA/2 way contract. It says "45 days" Idk what qualifies as days. game time? Or just being on the bench? I would assume it's game time.

I believe it's 45 days with the NBA team. If he is with the team and doesn't play that still counts.

[Dan Z]

Two way players are limited? I know they go from the g league to the NBA, but isn't the goal to develop players who can hopefully produce on the NBA level?

My guess is that the team doesn't value Mokoka that much. I get it, he's the last player on the roster, but it sounds like he works hard and he had a good 5 minutes against the Pelicans so why not give him a few minutes here and there?

lmited by the NBA/2 way contract. It says "45 days" Idk what qualifies as days. game time? Or just being on the bench? I would assume it's game time.

I believe it's 45 days with the NBA team. If he is with the team and doesn't play that still counts.

Has he been with the NBA team that long? I still think they should give him some playing time. Boylen could play Shaq and Arci less for a few games. Maybe even Dunn. Unfortunately I don't really see this happening, but do think the team should use the rest of the season to figure out who are the keepers.

[MrSparkle]

lmited by the NBA/2 way contract. It says "45 days" Idk what qualifies as days. game time? Or just being on the bench? I would assume it's game time.

I believe it's 45 days with the NBA team. If he is with the team and doesn't play that still counts.

Has he been with the NBA team that long? I still think they should give him some playing time. Boylen could play Shaq and Arci less for a few games. Maybe even Dunn. Unfortunately I don't really see this happening, but do think the team should use the rest of the season to figure out who are the keepers.

Honestly, like I’ve said, I just don’t see the point of keeping Arci, Shaq, etc. Even Dunn and Valentine. This has to be the most empty calorie crowded backcourt in the NBA. You can add up all theirPERs and PPGs and APG and they barely edge out most starting guards lol.

We clearly need PG and wing upgrades in general. Seems silly to me to have 4+ below-average, situational/flawed young players blocking the guard rotation. They just sit, sit and sit on these guys.

I would rather have some old higher-tier veterans like Dragic or Patty Mills if we’re gonna be blowing cap on Thad Youngs and all these rookie salary prospects who can’t string together a good season. At least they’ll have something to show Zach and Coby.

But even worse, there are so many of these small guards on the roster, intriguing prospects like Mokoka who actually have wing size, they can’t buy a minute because of all the empty-calorie depth.

I’m stunned Paxson didn’t even give throw a bone ala the Kirk for Justin Holiday trade. Never mind talent trades, just organize the positional depth chart. It is an absolute clown show.