The Around The NBA Thread

[jc23]

Kahwai gone now? i know it looks bad but its just not going to happen in clipper land.

[sco]

Wait, we're hoping to contend by hoping our guy develops into a not-quite-as-good version of Kawhi?

[Michael Jackson]

Kahwai gone now? i know it looks bad but its just not going to happen in clipper land.

No I was told specifically on this board that Kawhi is never leaving because he bought real estate in San Diego.

The possibility of him being gone is going up, and since these guys get to force where they go he might be wearing purple and yellow next year. It doesn’t look like the Clippers are just a tweak away from intending. Second year in and they still have no chemistry. The Nuggets who have 4 different starters from a year ago has better chemistry. It’s pretty baffling but the Clippers aren’t much better than Washington right now.

[Michael Jackson]

Cam Payne has been amazing for the Suns. Really disliked him when he was here but it’s cool to see his game has developed

Cam Payne should be tweeting what Hutch is tweeting.

[Andi Obst]

The Clippers intentionally lost against the Rockets and the Thunder (!!!) to get this matchup and avoid the Lakers until the Conference Finals. A franchise that has never been in the Conference Finals planned for just that round before the first round even started.

Please Mavs, FINISH THEM!

[ChiefILL53]

Wait, we're hoping to contend by hoping our guy develops into a not-quite-as-good version of Kawhi?

Kawhi damn near had 50, I don't think he's the problem lol.

The clippers are kinda similar to the bulls except they have two superstars (if you still consider PG a superstar). They needed help distributing cuz of last year and I never thought they would need help defensively, but here we are. They might also need some shot makers as well cuz Kawhi's D hasnt been the same since his offensive role increased.

Bulls just have two stars in their situation. Distribution (limiting turnovers really), defense, and getting to the line. So if Paw becomes half as good as Kawhi, that becomes big for the team because he can actually fill some of those holes. The real question is, whether the offensive role is gonna be prioritized over defensive role.

Sent from my HD1907 using RealGM mobile app

[MGB8]

Well, looks like Kahwi (player option) and/or Paul George (via trade) may be available much more quickly than people expected...

Though I doubt the Bulls would see either.

[MGB8]

Meanwhile, Tim Hardaway Jr. continuing to validate me wanting the Bulls to sign him over Wade (or dump Wade in the 2nd year to sign him - I don't remember which). After becoming a passable/decent defender in Atlanta (carrying over to the Knicks) - he's become a very solid, if not elite, starting level wing. Last two seasons especially, with TS of 58% and 59% on good volume.

Just turned 29 - almost a year younger than Alec Burks (who gives you a little more playmaking though it hasn't shown up in the stats much - and Hardaway tends to give more consistent offensive output) and more defensively oriented Bullick - but may be more expensive. Wonder what these guys get in the offseason. MLE? MLE+?

[MrFortune3]

I don't know, I wouldn't have guessed it, but a 1st-round loss this season is hard to ignore.

The series isn't over yet, but yes, it would be a huge setback for the Clippers to lose in this first round. It wouldn't be good for Kawhi's legacy, either. On the one hand, he has two Finals MVPs and unquestionably dominated in leading his 2019 Raptors to the title. On the other hand, he has never been in the running for a regular-season MVP, and getting bounced in two straight playoffs while leading what has been thought to be a loaded superstar team isn't a very good look.

I mean, of course he's going to in the HOF and all that, just saying that in terms of enhancing his argument for where he stands among the all-time greats, two years worth of load management during the regular season and then getting taken down early in the playoffs wouldn't be helpful.

The load management is a semi problem. It messes with the team chemistry.
Toronto could handle it because they were a tight knit group and wanted a championship more than anything. Los Angeles doesn't have that toughness and cohesion. It's like watching a far less lethal Bucks team before this current iteration.

[Red8911]

Kahwai gone now? i know it looks bad but its just not going to happen in clipper land.

Knicks fans already think Kawhi is going to NY, they started their sht again lol. Series isn’t over yet but even if they do lose I don’t see Kawhi leaving. LA was always his plan and didn’t he just buy a house there? Clippers will definitely make changes if they get eliminated this early, maybe trade away Paul George. I would be very surprised Kawhi just left.

[jc23]

Kahwai gone now? i know it looks bad but its just not going to happen in clipper land.

Knicks fans already think Kawhi is going to NY, they started their sht again lol. Series isn’t over yet but even if they do lose I don’t see Kawhi leaving. LA was always his plan and didn’t he just buy a house there? Clippers will definitely make changes if they get eliminated this early, maybe trade away Paul George. I would be very surprised Kawhi just left.

they will never learn.

[sco]

Kahwai gone now? i know it looks bad but its just not going to happen in clipper land.

Knicks fans already think Kawhi is going to NY, they started their sht again lol. Series isn’t over yet but even if they do lose I don’t see Kawhi leaving. LA was always his plan and didn’t he just buy a house there? Clippers will definitely make changes if they get eliminated this early, maybe trade away Paul George. I would be very surprised Kawhi just left.

they will never learn.

Sure, but I'm not sure if we're the pot or the kettle in the old analogy, but we're one of them.

[kodo]

Since when has Kawhi every prioritized winning a championship?
Won a title with the Spurs. Considered the best organization in the NBA. Demanded to be traded.
Won a title with the Raptors. Considered one of the best organization in the NBA. Left in FA.

The guy literally said this:

You know, once I got together with my team and we put the pros and cons down, it was never about winning a championship,” Leonard said to Yahoo Sports. “It was about what the future has to hold. And for me, myself and my family, that's what type of decision I had to make. It’s no discredit to Toronto, I just wanted to play at home. I wanted to do that before I got traded there

More on that topic:

“So once the summer comes, you got three months to either go see family, train and do your other business obligations. There’s really no time to see them, to see your family. I love my family. Over the last five or six years, I’ll go back home and see my family, my nieces and nephews, and they’re talking, playing, shooting basketballs, and I’m like, ‘Dang, I missed all this. Y’all talking already. What? You’re doing this?’ So it’s like, ‘Man, where the hell have I been?’ It feels like you been in a matrix or something."

“For me, it was a family situation more so than a basketball decision. Basketball is going to be here long without me, so I feel like when we’re here, we just have to make sure we share it with our loved ones, and that’s one of the big reasons why I came to the Clippers.”

Stars can change their minds on a whim, so I wouldn't be surprised if he moves teams again. But by his own words, Kawhi never left Toronto because he thought leaving was the best way for him to a win a title, that would have been illogical since he just won one there and he'd be in the East.

[Michael Jackson]

Since when has Kawhi every prioritized winning a championship?
Won a title with the Spurs. Considered the best organization in the NBA. Demanded to be traded.
Won a title with the Raptors. Considered one of the best organization in the NBA. Left in FA.

The guy literally said this:

You know, once I got together with my team and we put the pros and cons down, it was never about winning a championship,” Leonard said to Yahoo Sports. “It was about what the future has to hold. And for me, myself and my family, that's what type of decision I had to make. It’s no discredit to Toronto, I just wanted to play at home. I wanted to do that before I got traded there

More on that topic:

“So once the summer comes, you got three months to either go see family, train and do your other business obligations. There’s really no time to see them, to see your family. I love my family. Over the last five or six years, I’ll go back home and see my family, my nieces and nephews, and they’re talking, playing, shooting basketballs, and I’m like, ‘Dang, I missed all this. Y’all talking already. What? You’re doing this?’ So it’s like, ‘Man, where the hell have I been?’ It feels like you been in a matrix or something."

“For me, it was a family situation more so than a basketball decision. Basketball is going to be here long without me, so I feel like when we’re here, we just have to make sure we share it with our loved ones, and that’s one of the big reasons why I came to the Clippers.”

Stars can change their minds on a whim, so I wouldn't be surprised if he moves teams again. But by his own words, Kawhi never left Toronto because he thought leaving was the best way for him to a win a title, that would have been illogical since he just won one there and he'd be in the East.

Wait so he isn't coming to the Bulls?

[Michael Jackson]

Knicks fans already think Kawhi is going to NY, they started their sht again lol. Series isn’t over yet but even if they do lose I don’t see Kawhi leaving. LA was always his plan and didn’t he just buy a house there? Clippers will definitely make changes if they get eliminated this early, maybe trade away Paul George. I would be very surprised Kawhi just left.

they will never learn.

Sure, but I'm not sure if we're the pot or the kettle in the old analogy, but we're one of them.

While I don't expect either outcome to be likely but if I had to bet between NYK or the Bulls I'm putting money on NYK getting him.

[Michael Jackson]

Announcers just said Washington getting Gafford was a theft. Said it was the greatest gift Chicago ever gave. To be fair no one said that at the trade deadline but it looks good right now for them.

[kulaz3000]

Announcers just said Washington getting Gafford was a theft. Said it was the greatest gift Chicago ever gave. To be fair no one said that at the trade deadline but it looks good right now for them.

He is a solid role player, and will continue to have a roll throughout his career provided he stays healthy. But I wouldn't go as far as calling it theft, the moment he gets a massive contract, he will go from being underrated to being overrated. Right now, in terms of his production and what he gets paid, makes him seem like a value player which he is. Plus, he just has a much better and more defined role with the WIzards, which happens - some players just fit a different system better than others, but this is why he is more of a role player.

[Leslie Forman]

People always drastically overrate these run/jump centers who get lots of dunks when they're cheap, but then they get paid and suddenly it's "why did we give this dude with no skills who just dunks a ton of money?"

[Michael Jackson]

Announcers just said Washington getting Gafford was a theft. Said it was the greatest gift Chicago ever gave. To be fair no one said that at the trade deadline but it looks good right now for them.

He is a solid role player, and will continue to have a roll throughout his career provided he stays healthy. But I wouldn't go as far as calling it theft, the moment he gets a massive contract, he will go from being underrated to being overrated. Right now, in terms of his production and what he gets paid, makes him seem like a value player which he is. Plus, he just has a much better and more defined role with the WIzards, which happens - some players just fit a different system better than others, but this is why he is more of a role player.

They are on his jock tonight. Mentioned it again next time he got the ball. Then mentioned it again when hutch checked in saying he was also part of the great Gafford trade. It’s crazy I’ve never heard a narrative like that pushed that hard for a 2nd year 2nd round guy on a barely playoff team during a postseason national broadcast. It felt like an agenda for some reason or some really likes Gafford

[kulaz3000]

Announcers just said Washington getting Gafford was a theft. Said it was the greatest gift Chicago ever gave. To be fair no one said that at the trade deadline but it looks good right now for them.

He is a solid role player, and will continue to have a roll throughout his career provided he stays healthy. But I wouldn't go as far as calling it theft, the moment he gets a massive contract, he will go from being underrated to being overrated. Right now, in terms of his production and what he gets paid, makes him seem like a value player which he is. Plus, he just has a much better and more defined role with the WIzards, which happens - some players just fit a different system better than others, but this is why he is more of a role player.

They are on his jock tonight. Mentioned it again next time he got the ball. Then mentioned it again when hutch checked in saying he was also part of the great Gafford trade. It’s crazy I’ve never heard a narrative like that pushed that hard for a 2nd year 2nd round guy on a barely playoff team during a postseason national broadcast. It felt like an agenda for some reason or some really likes Gafford

Well that trade coincided with their winning streak, so it fits a nice narrative.