Around the NBA 13

[Liver_Pooty]

Him out of the east would be nice.

[yosemiteben]

If you guys had to rank your top five most likely destinations for Giannis who are you going with?

If I'm MIL, I'm prioritizing picks and young players. If they do something like swapping for KAT, they aren't getting better anytime soon. No player for player swap they can realistically get will outperform Giannis.

Ranking from MIL perspective if Giannis isn't picky (ignores salary filler / non-needle movers):

(1) Houston - Sengun + picks
(2) Miami - Ware + Herro + picks
(3) Toronto - Barnes + Dick + picks
(4) Utah - Markannen + picks
(5) San Antonio - Harper + Vassell + Johnson + picks

Houston and Utah trades would probably just be to flip for more picks.

[fatlever]

Sadly it will probably be to Lakers for Reaves, expiring and a pick or 2.

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

[KingCat]

Sadly it will probably be to Lakers for Reaves, expiring and a pick or 2.

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

Honestly I hope they do it cause it will make their title chances worse in the long run. Giannis has low key become incredibly injury prone the last few years, especially during playoff time. The idea of LeBron, Luka, and Giannis completing a playoff run is comical.

[Diop]

I forgot Memphis got 4 firsts for Bane! Christ Orlando, what were you thinking?

Memoiis should be in a decent situation after the Ja trade

[Diop]

If you guys had to rank your top five most likely destinations for Giannis who are you going with?

If I'm MIL, I'm prioritizing picks and young players. If they do something like swapping for KAT, they aren't getting better anytime soon. No player for player swap they can realistically get will outperform Giannis.

Ranking from MIL perspective if Giannis isn't picky (ignores salary filler / non-needle movers):

(1) Houston - Sengun + picks
(2) Miami - Ware + Herro + picks
(3) Toronto - Barnes + Dick + picks
(4) Utah - Markannen + picks
(5) San Antonio - Harper + Vassell + Johnson + picks

Houston and Utah trades would probably just be to flip for more picks.

If youth is going to be tough to get, or Knicks becomes the known front runner I would go for Bridges and Kat, make knicks take some other big salary to make it work.

Disregard it would have to be OG instead of Bridges and the apron kills it.

If they decide to stay ok and try for playoffs as it can be better fiscally for teams, I would go Greek, Portis for KAT, Hart and Washington pick (which is just gonna be 2 seconds but including even a fake first makes deals seem more legit)

Deuce McBride has been playing well for knicks, I would probably swap him for one of the guards I don’t want.

Turner and KAT are an interesting pairing, Hart is a very solid role player.

[Braggins]

Let him cook!

Read on Twitter

?s=20
https://intheno.substack.com/p/keep-pounding-the-rock

"It’s evident that Borrego’s first directive has been to run, and the numbers confirm the visual shift. The Pelicans have been 4th in pace in the 11 games Borrego has coached thus far, up from 26th in the previous 12 under Green. The transition frequency has skyrocketed from 23rd to 5th! The seconds per offensive possession are down virtually across the board no matter the possessions start type."

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[luciano-davidwesley]

Let him cook!

Read on Twitter

?s=20
https://intheno.substack.com/p/keep-pounding-the-rock

"It’s evident that Borrego’s first directive has been to run, and the numbers confirm the visual shift. The Pelicans have been 4th in pace in the 11 games Borrego has coached thus far, up from 26th in the previous 12 under Green. The transition frequency has skyrocketed from 23rd to 5th! The seconds per offensive possession are down virtually across the board no matter the possessions start type."

Read on Twitter

?s=20

He's absolutely killing it. 1-12 with a highlight blow-out loss to Brooklyn.

I don’t get the nostalgia around this guy. He couldn't stop water coming out of a tap.

[Liver_Pooty]

Let him cook!

Read on Twitter

?s=20
https://intheno.substack.com/p/keep-pounding-the-rock

"It’s evident that Borrego’s first directive has been to run, and the numbers confirm the visual shift. The Pelicans have been 4th in pace in the 11 games Borrego has coached thus far, up from 26th in the previous 12 under Green. The transition frequency has skyrocketed from 23rd to 5th! The seconds per offensive possession are down virtually across the board no matter the possessions start type."

Read on Twitter

?s=20

He's absolutely killing it. 1-12 with a highlight blow-out loss to Brooklyn.

I don’t get the nostalgia around this guy. He couldn't stop water coming out of a tap.

Agreed. I do think he didn’t deserve to be fired when we did can him however.

[Braggins]

I can very easily explain why I'm nostalgic for Borrego.

Hornets last five seasons

2021/2022 ~ Borrego ~ 43 wins ~ 8th ORTG / 4th ppg ~ 5th pace
2022/2023 ~ Clifford ~ 27 wins ~ 30th ORTG / 27th ppg ~ 9th pace
2023/2024 ~ Clifford ~ 21 wins ~ 28th ORTG / 28th ppg ~ 22nd pace
2024/2025 ~ Lee ~~~~ 19 wins ~ 29th ORTG / 30th ppg ~ 23rd pace
2025/2026 ~ Lee ~~~~ 7 wins** ~ 20th ORTG / 21st ppg ~ 22nd pace

** ~ 7-16 current record

I think hes the best coach the Hornets have had in the 13 or so seasons Ive been following them. I also think Jay Triano was the best assistant in that span. I'm rooting for Borrego to succeed in New Orleans.

I think the way he has changed how New Orleans plays is interesting because it is similar to what he did in Charlotte and could be a positive sign for the future. I don't blame him for taking over a 2-10 team featuring 19 year old Jeremiah Fears and not turning them into a winning team in a few weeks.

[luciano-davidwesley]

There's being a winning team and there's going 1-12 lol.

I think i nice bit of context is required too. Borrego had a lot better injury luck than Clifford and Lee and that was before Miles Bridges decided to destroy his life and waste a season.

[Braggins]

I don't think Borrego is a miracle worker or necessarily an elite coach or anything. I suspect hes good enough to deserve one of the 30 head coaching jobs in the league. I also just like the way he coaches and appreciate that he got the Hornets to be competitive and fun to watch.

I always felt bad for him because I think the way he got fired in Charlotte was unfair and put a stink on him that set his career back significantly.

[Snidely FC]

re: Giannis

no one listed Brooklyn, presumably because Giannis wants to go to a winning team? but I have the Nets as my top dark horse, logic being Giannis wants to go to NY but trade with Knicks is unattractive whereas BKN has a cupboard full of young players and 1st rd picks (they own the Knicks 1st rd picks for the next 3 yrs). They can do some derivation of:

Michael Porter Jr, Nic Claxton, Nolan Traore, Danny Wolf, '26 BKN 1st, '27 BKN 1st, '27 HOU 1st, '28 NYK 1st, '29 NYK 1st

that's the kind of return I'd be looking for if I'm MIL, and despite Nets being a losing team currently it puts Giannis in the Big City on a team with cap space to quickly add free agents

[Snidely FC]

I don't think Borrego is a miracle worker or necessarily an elite coach or anything. I suspect hes good enough to deserve one of the 30 head coaching jobs in the league. I also just like the way he coaches and appreciate that he got the Hornets to be competitive and fun to watch.

I always felt bad for him because I think the way he got fired in Charlotte was unfair and put a stink on him that set his career back significantly.

He's starting Bryce McGowens at SG natch

[Diop]

Claxton got a triple double for Brooklyn, I haven’t watched them at all, but it’s definitely the passing that has me curious about his availability

[Braggins]

I don't think Borrego is a miracle worker or necessarily an elite coach or anything. I suspect hes good enough to deserve one of the 30 head coaching jobs in the league. I also just like the way he coaches and appreciate that he got the Hornets to be competitive and fun to watch.

I always felt bad for him because I think the way he got fired in Charlotte was unfair and put a stink on him that set his career back significantly.

He's starting Bryce McGowens at SG natch

I saw that. Apparently hes not playing too bad either. 11 ppg in his last 10 and shooting 50/50/75. Maybe he is a miracle worker lol.

[HornetJail]

How far we've fallen. A head coach that helps his players succeed instead of actively tanking them isn't a miracle worker, he's just an NBA level head coach.

And JB is probably the only one we've had in the last 15 years aside from the first Steve Clifford year before he got figured out.

[JustBuzzin]

re: Giannis

no one listed Brooklyn, presumably because Giannis wants to go to a winning team? but I have the Nets as my top dark horse, logic being Giannis wants to go to NY but trade with Knicks is unattractive whereas BKN has a cupboard full of young players and 1st rd picks (they own the Knicks 1st rd picks for the next 3 yrs). They can do some derivation of:

Michael Porter Jr, Nic Claxton, Nolan Traore, Danny Wolf, '26 BKN 1st, '27 BKN 1st, '27 HOU 1st, '28 NYK 1st, '29 NYK 1st

that's the kind of return I'd be looking for if I'm MIL, and despite Nets being a losing team currently it puts Giannis in the Big City on a team with cap space to quickly add free agents

Who's a FA next year?

Giannis is 31 he doesn't have time to wait on adding talent.

[Snidely FC]

re: Giannis

no one listed Brooklyn, presumably because Giannis wants to go to a winning team? but I have the Nets as my top dark horse, logic being Giannis wants to go to NY but trade with Knicks is unattractive whereas BKN has a cupboard full of young players and 1st rd picks (they own the Knicks 1st rd picks for the next 3 yrs). They can do some derivation of:

Michael Porter Jr, Nic Claxton, Nolan Traore, Danny Wolf, '26 BKN 1st, '27 BKN 1st, '27 HOU 1st, '28 NYK 1st, '29 NYK 1st

that's the kind of return I'd be looking for if I'm MIL, and despite Nets being a losing team currently it puts Giannis in the Big City on a team with cap space to quickly add free agents

Who's a FA next year?

Giannis is 31 he doesn't have time to wait on adding talent.

from JMAC's recent post in Fake Trade Thread:

Here is a FA breakdown

Notable UFA
Porzingis, Coby White, Norman Powell, LeBron, Tobias Harris, CJ McCollum, Cam Thomas, Quinton Grimes, John Collins, Rui Hachimura, Harrison Barnes and Vucevic.

Notable RFA
Jaden Ivey, Mathurin, Sochan, Duren, Mark Williams, Tari Eason and Walker Kessler.

Players with giant Player Options that will likely be accepted
Trae Young, Harden, Lavine, Wiggins, FVV, KCP

Nets have 40 million in cap space.

[Braggins]

The free agent class mostly sucks for the Hornets.

I would heavily consider throwing a decently big offer at Tari Eason. I don't know if the Rockets can afford to pay him with all the big contracts they have so they might not be able to match. Its kind of scary because of his injury history and his playstyle, but hes the exact type of player they need and probably the only good fitting player they have a chance of signing from this class.

I think if the Hornets renounce Sextons cap hold (or trade him) they can get to around 20 mil under the cap.