2019-20 Around the NBA Thread

[QPR]

I don't have to hear about Kawhi being the best player in the league anymore, right?

Imagine if LeBron went out like that.

[Pillendreher]

I would be lying if I told you that this Clippers exit didn't amuse me. It's too bad the Lakers don't seem to be having problems so far. Every "Let's collude and form another superteam" squad deserves an early exit in the postseason. Maybe that will finally stop this godforsaken trend.

[ThunderBolt]

Read on Twitter

Things just keep getting better

[jake_swivel]

Things just keep getting better

Yeah, but I think it’d be an even bigger disaster if they have a mediocre season before Harden forces a trade. His value drops a ton with an opt out looming.

I still have a hard time believing they can get rid of russ’ contract despite the clippers/knicks rumors. Don’t see how the clips could get it done and balmer seems smart enough to understand russ isn’t the missing piece. And aside from the glitz, I really don’t get russ in New York.

[ThunderBolt]

Things just keep getting better

Yeah, but I think it’d be an even bigger disaster if they have a mediocre season before Harden forces a trade. His value drops a ton with an opt out looming.

I still have a hard time believing they can get rid of russ’ contract despite the clippers/knicks rumors. Don’t see how the clips could get it done and balmer seems smart enough to understand russ isn’t the missing piece. And aside from the glitz, I really don’t get russ in New York.

Moving Harden and keeping Russ might be ideal for our picks.

[ThunderBolt]

Read on Twitter

Lol.

[CROklahoma]

We can take him for additional 1st rounder ;P

[ThunderBolt]

We can take him for additional 1st rounder ;P

No way. I want young guys to develop, not sit around and watch Russ jack up threes.

[jake_swivel]

On the plus side, if they start their rebuild now, we have their pick swap next year.

On the downside, they are going to get a great package for harden and this year might have been the last opportunity to be able to get out from underneath russ’ contract. If they are going to rebuild, starting right this second is the best option.

[jake_swivel]

Oh, and anyone who trades for russ’ contract is out of their damn mind. They won’t be getting any picks back as compensation either. Just seems so unlikely.

[ThunderBolt]

On the plus side, if they start their rebuild now, we have their pick swap next year.

On the downside, they are going to get a great package for harden and this year might have been the last opportunity to be able to get out from underneath russ’ contract. If they are going to rebuild, starting right this second is the best option.

It seems like the best player they could get for harden is Simmons. I like Simmons but it’s going to take some work to build a true contender around Simmons. I don’t think he can carry a team like harden can. Simmons and Russ playing together would be comical. Seems like I if they start the rebuild now the worst case scenario (other than our pick not converying if they are in the top 4) is that it’s in the early 20s and likely late teens. My point is regardless of what happens, the odds are that things get better for the thunder even if it’s only slightly.

[jake_swivel]

Heh, I hadn’t thought about a possible russ/Ben pairing. That got a genuine laugh out of me.

[Galloisdaman]

On the plus side, if they start their rebuild now, we have their pick swap next year.

On the downside, they are going to get a great package for harden and this year might have been the last opportunity to be able to get out from underneath russ’ contract. If they are going to rebuild, starting right this second is the best option.

It seems like the best player they could get for harden is Simmons. I like Simmons but it’s going to take some work to build a true contender around Simmons. I don’t think he can carry a team like harden can. Simmons and Russ playing together would be comical. Seems like I if they start the rebuild now the worst case scenario (other than our pick not converying if they are in the top 4) is that it’s in the early 20s and likely late teens. My point is regardless of what happens, the odds are that things get better for the thunder even if it’s only slightly.

I think OKC and HOU should be trying to steal Ben away from Philly for CP3 or Russ.

Yes Ben does not shoot 3's but what Ben does is only take shots that he will actually make. He also is a good defender. I look at Ben as a combo PG/PF. Ben with Harden is an interesting combo.

[jake_swivel]

I think OKC and HOU should be trying to steal Ben away from Philly for CP3 or Russ.

Yes Ben does not shoot 3's but what Ben does is only take shots that he will actually make. He also is a good defender. I look at Ben as a combo PG/PF. Ben with Harden is an interesting combo.

I see zero possibility of pairing Ben with Harden in either direction. Westbrook isn't on the same planet as Simmons, value-wise.

[Galloisdaman]

I think OKC and HOU should be trying to steal Ben away from Philly for CP3 or Russ.

Yes Ben does not shoot 3's but what Ben does is only take shots that he will actually make. He also is a good defender. I look at Ben as a combo PG/PF. Ben with Harden is an interesting combo.

I see zero possibility of pairing Ben with Harden in either direction. Westbrook isn't on the same planet as Simmons, value-wise.

Philly fans have been down on Ben. Never meant for it to be a 1 for 1 trade. There have been plenty of trades in sports history that were not thought possible. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for 3-4 good but not star players may not have been thought possible either before it happened.

[jake_swivel]

I think OKC and HOU should be trying to steal Ben away from Philly for CP3 or Russ.

Yes Ben does not shoot 3's but what Ben does is only take shots that he will actually make. He also is a good defender. I look at Ben as a combo PG/PF. Ben with Harden is an interesting combo.

I see zero possibility of pairing Ben with Harden in either direction. Westbrook isn't on the same planet as Simmons, value-wise.

Philly fans have been down on Ben. Never meant for it to be a 1 for 1 trade. There have been plenty of trades in sports history that were not thought possible. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for 3-4 good but not star players may not have been thought possible either before it happened.

You're right. It just seems way more likely we see a Harden/Embiid and Simmons/Westbrook pairing based on the teams' assets.

[ThunderBolt]

On the plus side, if they start their rebuild now, we have their pick swap next year.

On the downside, they are going to get a great package for harden and this year might have been the last opportunity to be able to get out from underneath russ’ contract. If they are going to rebuild, starting right this second is the best option.

It seems like the best player they could get for harden is Simmons. I like Simmons but it’s going to take some work to build a true contender around Simmons. I don’t think he can carry a team like harden can. Simmons and Russ playing together would be comical. Seems like I if they start the rebuild now the worst case scenario (other than our pick not converying if they are in the top 4) is that it’s in the early 20s and likely late teens. My point is regardless of what happens, the odds are that things get better for the thunder even if it’s only slightly.

I think OKC and HOU should be trying to steal Ben away from Philly for CP3 or Russ.

Yes Ben does not shoot 3's but what Ben does is only take shots that he will actually make. He also is a good defender. I look at Ben as a combo PG/PF. Ben with Harden is an interesting combo.

I just don’t see any realistic way to get Ben from Philly now that morey is there.

[Galloisdaman]

I see zero possibility of pairing Ben with Harden in either direction. Westbrook isn't on the same planet as Simmons, value-wise.

Philly fans have been down on Ben. Never meant for it to be a 1 for 1 trade. There have been plenty of trades in sports history that were not thought possible. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for 3-4 good but not star players may not have been thought possible either before it happened.

You're right. It just seems way more likely we see a Harden/Embiid and Simmons/Westbrook pairing based on the teams' assets.

Harden with Embiid would be amazing but how do you see that happening?

[Galloisdaman]

It seems like the best player they could get for harden is Simmons. I like Simmons but it’s going to take some work to build a true contender around Simmons. I don’t think he can carry a team like harden can. Simmons and Russ playing together would be comical. Seems like I if they start the rebuild now the worst case scenario (other than our pick not converying if they are in the top 4) is that it’s in the early 20s and likely late teens. My point is regardless of what happens, the odds are that things get better for the thunder even if it’s only slightly.

I think OKC and HOU should be trying to steal Ben away from Philly for CP3 or Russ.

Yes Ben does not shoot 3's but what Ben does is only take shots that he will actually make. He also is a good defender. I look at Ben as a combo PG/PF. Ben with Harden is an interesting combo.

I just don’t see any realistic way to get Ben from Philly now that morey is there.

I think the Philly fans, media and maybe even coaches got down on Ben last season. Is Morey high on Ben? Some says Ben can't play with Joel. I think people are overreacting to a disappointing season.

[ThunderBolt]

I think OKC and HOU should be trying to steal Ben away from Philly for CP3 or Russ.

Yes Ben does not shoot 3's but what Ben does is only take shots that he will actually make. He also is a good defender. I look at Ben as a combo PG/PF. Ben with Harden is an interesting combo.

I just don’t see any realistic way to get Ben from Philly now that morey is there.

I think the Philly fans, media and maybe even coaches got down on Ben last season. Is Morey high on Ben? Some says Ben can't play with Joel. I think people are overreacting to a disappointing season.

I think Morey probably has an accurate opinion on Ben which is why he wouldn't trade him to OKC. Morey wants to win now and Ben's value is closer to Harden than CP3.