Thoughts in General, Rumors, etc 3.0

[HornetJail]

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Is there still time to turn this tank bank in the right direction?

So Horford's just not going to play, at all, for the rest of the season?

Sounds like a Drummond plus cheese special.

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This sounds more like a Batum situation, only OKC is opting to sit him a year earlier than CHA did with Batum. Nobody is touching that contract, it makes zero financial sense to buy him out prior to the season before it ends, but the team doesn't plan to play him, so he's just gonna be a mentor and rest up till he gets a trade or a 2022 offseason buyout.

Probably a smart decision for everyone. It basically bypasses the "I'm an old vet stuck on a bad team so I no longer GAF" stage of Batum's career that completely cratered the value he once had.

[pacers33granger]

Nobody should be asking a buyout guy to win his matchup--you just want him to hold his own for the 15-18 mpg he plays in the playoffs. Dieng can do that. Drummond is much more likely to be a destructive force than a help.

Great he grabs a bunch of rebounds. Hasn't help a single one of his teams on the defensive glass and offensive rebounding is rather overrated as a thing--particularly with the shorter shot clock now. Doesn't offset you never want him intentionally touching the ball on offense--which he will demand or that he's a bad defensive player.

We really have to get past looking at 15/15 and thinking it means much of anything. How you effect games matters. The recording of the stats you accumulate doesn't.

It's precisely the latter part I think that people are overrating to and over correcting for. Despite having added Grant and Bey, the Pistons are worse, not better. The Cavs are not appreciably better without Drummond.

Conversely, if Drummond had been willing to come off of the bench for the Cavs, there's little doubt in my mind the Cavs would've been better for it.

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Isn't this one of the main issues though? And not just being willing to come off the bench, but being willing to sacrifice at all? Because otherwise, he's at best simply a replacement level center and at worst an active detriment. He can certainly make a career out of that as long as he's healthy and has already made a ton of money. He has a lot to prove though and guys who had faaar more impact like Dwight had to go through the ringer to prove it.

[Devilanche]

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Is there still time to turn this tank bank in the right direction?

Never too late to try . How many games against the bottom 3 and Orlando do we still have ?

[jbk1234]

Nobody should be asking a buyout guy to win his matchup--you just want him to hold his own for the 15-18 mpg he plays in the playoffs. Dieng can do that. Drummond is much more likely to be a destructive force than a help.

Great he grabs a bunch of rebounds. Hasn't help a single one of his teams on the defensive glass and offensive rebounding is rather overrated as a thing--particularly with the shorter shot clock now. Doesn't offset you never want him intentionally touching the ball on offense--which he will demand or that he's a bad defensive player.

We really have to get past looking at 15/15 and thinking it means much of anything. How you effect games matters. The recording of the stats you accumulate doesn't.

It's precisely the latter part I think that people are overrating to and over correcting for. Despite having added Grant and Bey, the Pistons are worse, not better. The Cavs are not appreciably better without Drummond.

Conversely, if Drummond had been willing to come off of the bench for the Cavs, there's little doubt in my mind the Cavs would've been better for it.

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Isn't this one of the main issues though? And not just being willing to come off the bench, but being willing to sacrifice at all? Because otherwise, he's at best simply a replacement level center and at worst an active detriment. He can certainly make a career out of that as long as he's healthy and has already made a ton of money. He has a lot to prove though and guys who had faaar more impact like Dwight had to go through the ringer to prove it.

I mean, it's one of MY main issues, but I'm not convinced the playoff teams recruiting him care.

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[Norm2953]

Are any of these buyout guys going to consider Portland? The Portland board loves the idea
of Dieng, who can play a bit of PF and would give Portland another big body in case Nurkic
goes down (again). Portland has 13 guys under contract with Dame's cousin as a two way
player and needs to add someone to meet the league minimum.

[Buzzard]

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[Texas Chuck]

Miami whiffing on all the buyout bigs feels like a real problem. I like Bjelica and Ariza is gonna give you everything he's got, but when they are your 2nd and 3rd bigs, yikes. So all that insistence that Butler isn't playing the 4 feels silly. I think a better question might be come playoff time does he play anything else?

[aguiar95]

Miami whiffing on all the buyout bigs feels like a real problem. I like Bjelica and Ariza is gonna give you everything he's got, but when they are your 2nd and 3rd bigs, yikes. So all that insistence that Butler isn't playing the 4 feels silly. I think a better question might be come playoff time does he play anything else?

Yeah, I have that feeling too. They have to avoid PHI, they already have the blueprint to beat MIL and I actually like their perimeter defense against BRO.

[HartfordWhalers]

The East gap between 4/5 and 6 is huge if you believe in team records and the clear top 3. And then you have the drop off to 7 and in the play in.

I'm fully going on record as doubting the current 4/5 teams staying in that area, and I don't even think Charlotte will be able to avoid the playin. Atlanta, Boston and Miami I would still have as the next teams when the season ends. And Toronto, although maybe Thibs Knicks hang around 7 or 8.

East is still wildly unsettled, but we are at the time of sorting.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Yeah I made the assumption that Miami was going to get LMA, but without that their deadline looks a lot worse unless Oladipo turns it around real quick. I think Dieng would be great in Miami though if they can pull that off. I don’t think it leaves Miami currently in a non contender tier though.

And Boston’s decision to not pursue a big man upgrade and in fact trade a starter instead looking still mind boggling after being dominated down low by a G Leaguer last night.

[Texas Chuck]

Miami whiffing on all the buyout bigs feels like a real problem. I like Bjelica and Ariza is gonna give you everything he's got, but when they are your 2nd and 3rd bigs, yikes. So all that insistence that Butler isn't playing the 4 feels silly. I think a better question might be come playoff time does he play anything else?

Yeah, I have that feeling too. They have to avoid PHI, they already have the blueprint to beat MIL and I actually like their perimeter defense against BRO.

Yep the Nets have to fear Miami the most. Miami only scared of Philly. Bucks are arguably the best team in the conference still but they have issues with all the other 3 contenders.

But the Nets really can't count on having but Harden for sure come playoff time and while he is an incredible regular season player, he's not been very reliable in the playoffs. They got crowned way too soon. Imagine where they would be right now had they not made the Harden trade.

Heat need to get in the opposite side of the bracket from the Sixers and hope the Nets or Bucks knock them off.

[Mavrelous]

Miami and ATL will be at the 4/5 IMO, I tend to think Charlotte will also avoid play-in, Knicks, Celtics, Bulls and Pacers 7-10.
The Lakers will not drop past 6, Dallas, GSW, Spurs and Grizz 7-10.

[Texas Chuck]

Man Dallas sucks without Luka. Like really really sucks.

[SmokeyPaw]

Like the Dieng signing by SA. Played well for the wolves a year ago when we would play him.

[MoneyTalks41890]

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I like this pickup for the Bucks who still badly need good players

[HartfordWhalers]

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I like this pickup for the Bucks who still badly need good players

Me too. I also had missed Rivers being cut.

[ejftw]

I'm surprised Dieng chose San Antonio over Miami and the Clips, but it is what it is. Not really a need for the Clips, but would have been a nice insurance policy in case Ibaka or Zu miss time or end up in foul trouble.

I'd be just as content with Chris's, unless Whiteside becomes available.

[bondom34]

TBH I'd probably have Rivers as an upgrade on Augustin.

[MoneyTalks41890]

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No surprise

[Scoot McGroot]

I'm surprised Dieng chose San Antonio over Miami and the Clips, but it is what it is. Not really a need for the Clips, but would have been a nice insurance policy in case Ibaka or Zu miss time or end up in foul trouble.

I'd be just as content with Chris's, unless Whiteside becomes available.

Chriss is injured, and out for the season.