Around the NBA, 2017-18 Season thread

[kamaze]

I'm not on board with trading Booker to get a center. The frontcourt would still be weak because Acy would get more minutes and he's not as good. They'd have more rim protection but it would be fixing one leak just to let another one drip imo.

I would think chandler takes booker minutes and everything else stays the same no?

Booker fits the mold for this team. Hustle hard, high iq, and a good teammate I hear Chandler's been unhappy in PHX like you said he might not have much left.
Can he shoot threes? I don't remember him ever taking a shot outside 5 feet watching him in Dallas and NY.

[Prokorov]

I'm not on board with trading Booker to get a center. The frontcourt would still be weak because Acy would get more minutes and he's not as good. They'd have more rim protection but it would be fixing one leak just to let another one drip imo.

I would think chandler takes booker minutes and everything else stays the same no?

Booker fits the mold for this team. Hustle hard, high iq, and a good teammate I hear Chandler's been unhappy in PHX like you said he might not have much left.
Can he shoot threes? I don't remember him ever taking a shot outside 5 feet watching him in Dallas and NY.

He has 0 three point attempts in 17 seasons, so ill go with pobably not

does he need to? id view him as the compliment to jarret allen. 2 guys in there to defend, set screens, and be a threat for lobs inside.

id hate to see booker go. but i can see chandler making us better short term (improving our defense) and long term (mentor for allen).

again, this assume he can give you 20-22 solid minutes a night

[Prokorov]

man id love to have mirza back here. he would fit so much better with this regime. hits threes, runs, hustles... too bad

[NyCeEvO]

Can't believe Nawlins pulled that out. That would have been a bad look for them to lose tonight. I'm strangely pulling for them to be a Western dark horse.

For all the **** I'm giving Gentry, he at least seemed to have them playing a modern style tonight even though they have a more old school, throwback lineup.

I do wonder aloud if they are so poorly coached they just play to the style and pace of their opponent though and never really play their game or even have their own identity and style?

they have such a bad team outside of cousins and brow.

Holiday is overpaid trash. everyone else is bench fodder

Can't believe he got 5yrs/$125mil. That's crazy given his injury history.

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[vincecarter4pres]

Can't believe Nawlins pulled that out. That would have been a bad look for them to lose tonight. I'm strangely pulling for them to be a Western dark horse.

For all the **** I'm giving Gentry, he at least seemed to have them playing a modern style tonight even though they have a more old school, throwback lineup.

I do wonder aloud if they are so poorly coached they just play to the style and pace of their opponent though and never really play their game or even have their own identity and style?

they have such a bad team outside of cousins and brow.

Holiday is overpaid trash. everyone else is bench fodder

Can't believe he got 5yrs/$125mil. That's crazy given his injury history.

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I wouldn't call him trash when healthy though. He's a good player in his prime. Certainly not worth anywhere close to that contract though.

[vincecarter4pres]

Feel like the only possible move that's made is something where Whitehead, Acy and Skil are traded in a 3 for 1 for a random under the radar player on a small contract. Maybe someone signed for the Tax Payer's MLE, whose team is underperforming. Maybe someone with only this year or one more of rookie scale who would be a reclamation project. A guy like Speights from a few years ago, whom many thought would be a bust and out of the league, traded and he finds his niche. That kind of guy.

Or even like one of the Morris Twins. Someone like that.

[NyCeEvO]

Brook Lopez looks so lost and like such a stiff out there.

Lopez's preferred play style (despite incorporating the 3pt shot) is still far from what the Lakers want to do. Lopez is most effective when he's a major focal point of the offense. When he's "just another option", he doesn't do enough off the ball or create enough for others to be very effective.

I think his ideal spot is a 7th man gunning big man, who becomes a focal point when the starters are on the bench and the team can't run their free flowing offense.

This is what I and to a slightly different extent, Prok, were alluding to the last few years.

If Lopez didn't start to change his game a few years ago, he may or not still be in the league. But because he can shoot 3s now, he can still have a spot on an NBA roster, but he needs to have a team cater to skillset (which can be done if he's a reserve). Greg Monroe is Lopez's a bit more mobile, less offensively gifted, but better man-to-man defender counterpart. He too is a 7th man who can't really go up in the rotation because modern teams need more agile big men who can react quickly to ball movement.

He's going to be a free agent in a year where teams will be more cash strapped and thus more financially conservative in spending. I hope he'll be accepting of the reduced role and pay date that he's almost assuredly going to receive for his next contract.

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[shakendfries]

Mirza was so much more fun to root for than the heaping pile of sugar honey iced tea that was bogdan

[NyCeEvO]

Mirza was so much more fun to root for than the heaping pile of sugar honey iced tea that was bogdan

Bojan was terrible at defense, but he was literally the reason why we made it into the playoffs one year and avoided the lottery. He also netted us the 1st round pick last year that was used to get D'Angelo.

Considering that we weren't close to contending, I had little problem with Bojan's overall performance while a Net and I'm glad that trading him gave us the asset needed for Russell. No complaints here.

[vincecarter4pres]

Brook Lopez looks so lost and like such a stiff out there.

Lopez's preferred play style (despite incorporating the 3pt shot) is still far from what the Lakers want to do. Lopez is most effective when he's a major focal point of the offense. When he's "just another option", he doesn't do enough off the ball or create enough for others to be very effective.

I think his ideal spot is a 7th man gunning big man, who becomes a focal point when the starters are on the bench and the team can't run their free flowing offense.

This is what I and to a slightly different extent, Prok, were alluding to the last few years.

If Lopez didn't start to change his game a few years ago, he may or not still be in the league. But because he can shoot 3s now, he can still have a spot on an NBA roster, but he needs to have a team cater to skillset (which can be done if he's a reserve). Greg Monroe is Lopez's a bit more mobile, less offensively gifted, but better man-to-man defender counterpart. He too is a 7th man who can't really go up in the rotation because modern teams need more agile big men who can react quickly to ball movement.

He's going to be a free agent in a year where teams will be more cash strapped and thus more financially conservative in spending. I hope he'll be accepting of the reduced role and pay date that he's almost assuredly going to receive for his next contract.

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I came around last season as well on that. I really hope he winds up somewhere like San An, Golden State or even Washington in that type of role.

[TheNetsFan]

The DPE is a salary cap exception not a trade exception. the DPE can not be used in trades

It can be used in a trade, but can only return a player on an expiring contract, and can't be combined with other salary or cap space.We;d also need an open roster spot to accommodate anyone signed or traded for with the exception.

[vincecarter4pres]

Hoping to wake up to a Woj Bomb. Not even for us, I just like seeing trades and Bledsoe has to be dealt soon.

[Curns13]

Brook Lopez looks so lost and like such a stiff out there.

Lopez's preferred play style (despite incorporating the 3pt shot) is still far from what the Lakers want to do. Lopez is most effective when he's a major focal point of the offense. When he's "just another option", he doesn't do enough off the ball or create enough for others to be very effective.

I think his ideal spot is a 7th man gunning big man, who becomes a focal point when the starters are on the bench and the team can't run their free flowing offense.

This is what I and to a slightly different extent, Prok, were alluding to the last few years.

If Lopez didn't start to change his game a few years ago, he may or not still be in the league. But because he can shoot 3s now, he can still have a spot on an NBA roster, but he needs to have a team cater to skillset (which can be done if he's a reserve). Greg Monroe is Lopez's a bit more mobile, less offensively gifted, but better man-to-man defender counterpart. He too is a 7th man who can't really go up in the rotation because modern teams need more agile big men who can react quickly to ball movement.

He's going to be a free agent in a year where teams will be more cash strapped and thus more financially conservative in spending. I hope he'll be accepting of the reduced role and pay date that he's almost assuredly going to receive for his next contract.

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I came around last season as well on that. I really hope he winds up somewhere like San An, Golden State or even Washington in that type of role.

It wont happen, but I'd love him to come back for his last contract. $6-$8M to play 15-20 minutes, be the bench focal point and jack threes. Imagine a bench of Lin, LeVert, Harris, Acy and Brookie. Allen 22, Brook 15, Mozgov 11 mpg.

[Paradise]

Fultz with that My Player glitch in 2K release.

Watch on YouTube

[steady]

Interesting take by Curry on Dennis Smith Jr

Steph Curry's scouting report on Dennis Smith Jr.: "Super athletic guard that knows how to play the game. I think that's the most underrated aspect of his game, just the way he sees the floor, the way he tries to get his teammates involved. And he can shoot it. A lot of people fall in love with the way he can high fly and play above the rim at times, just his explosiveness, but the thing that's going to help him be a long-lasting pro and probably an All-Star one day in this league is his ability to play that five-man basketball and get other guys involved and use his strengths to open up looks for other teammates. You never know how a rookie is going to transition into that mindset, as a point guard especially, and he's shown that he can do that. I'm sure that'll continue and only get better."

[vincecarter4pres]

Interesting take by Curry on Dennis Smith Jr

Steph Curry's scouting report on Dennis Smith Jr.: "Super athletic guard that knows how to play the game. I think that's the most underrated aspect of his game, just the way he sees the floor, the way he tries to get his teammates involved. And he can shoot it. A lot of people fall in love with the way he can high fly and play above the rim at times, just his explosiveness, but the thing that's going to help him be a long-lasting pro and probably an All-Star one day in this league is his ability to play that five-man basketball and get other guys involved and use his strengths to open up looks for other teammates. You never know how a rookie is going to transition into that mindset, as a point guard especially, and he's shown that he can do that. I'm sure that'll continue and only get better."

I really like Frank Ntilikina for the long term, but I think the Knix whiffed big time passing on Dennis Smith Jr.

[MrDollarBills]

Mirza was so much more fun to root for than the heaping pile of sugar honey iced tea that was bogdan

Mirza would be a beast here with this team.

Bojan wasn't a bad player for us. He just sucked at defense.

[steady]

Over his first 4 regular season games, coming off the bench, DeAaron Fox has done this
15 points
5 assists
5 rebounds
1 steal
2 TOV
27 minutes

And we know he plays good defense.

[NyCeEvO]

Interesting take by Curry on Dennis Smith Jr

Steph Curry's scouting report on Dennis Smith Jr.: "Super athletic guard that knows how to play the game. I think that's the most underrated aspect of his game, just the way he sees the floor, the way he tries to get his teammates involved. And he can shoot it. A lot of people fall in love with the way he can high fly and play above the rim at times, just his explosiveness, but the thing that's going to help him be a long-lasting pro and probably an All-Star one day in this league is his ability to play that five-man basketball and get other guys involved and use his strengths to open up looks for other teammates. You never know how a rookie is going to transition into that mindset, as a point guard especially, and he's shown that he can do that. I'm sure that'll continue and only get better."

I really like Frank Ntilikina for the long term, but I think the Knix whiffed big time passing on Dennis Smith Jr.

I saw this back at NC State. DSJ and Tatum were both players who I thought should've garnered more press in the lead up to the draft. (IMO, Tatum should've been in the conversation for #1 and DSJ should've been a lock for top-5. I never understood the fascination with Josh Jackson.)

I thought DSJ should've easily been in the conversation with Fultz and Ball for who would become the best PG. He knew how to run a team as the best player and didn't use it as a crutch as much as Fultz did. IMO, he looked more composed/mature, was more explosive, and was more of a dynamic creator than Fultz.

If you're able to stand out in the ACC and go toe to toe with the likes of Duke and UNC, you're a problem. Fultz was given the built-in excuse that his team sucked and so there was no critique of him not being able to elevate his teammates like Ball or refuse to accept losing like DSJ.

I got this from watching one game and a bunch of highlights. It doesn't shock me that Curry would say this about him, but it's a little surprising that a superstar would heap this kind of detailed adulation on a rookie this early in his career.

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[shakendfries]

Interesting take by Curry on Dennis Smith Jr

Steph Curry's scouting report on Dennis Smith Jr.: "Super athletic guard that knows how to play the game. I think that's the most underrated aspect of his game, just the way he sees the floor, the way he tries to get his teammates involved. And he can shoot it. A lot of people fall in love with the way he can high fly and play above the rim at times, just his explosiveness, but the thing that's going to help him be a long-lasting pro and probably an All-Star one day in this league is his ability to play that five-man basketball and get other guys involved and use his strengths to open up looks for other teammates. You never know how a rookie is going to transition into that mindset, as a point guard especially, and he's shown that he can do that. I'm sure that'll continue and only get better."

I really like Frank Ntilikina for the long term, but I think the Knix whiffed big time passing on Dennis Smith Jr.

I saw this back at NC State. DSJ and Tatum were both players who I thought should've garnered more press in the lead up to the draft. (IMO, Tatum should've been in the conversation for #1 and DSJ should've been a lock for top-5. I never understood the fascination with Josh Jackson.)

I thought DSJ should've easily been in the conversation with Fultz and Ball for who would become the best PG. He knew how to run a team as the best player and didn't use it as a crutch as much as Fultz did. IMO, he looked more composed/mature, was more explosive, and was more of a dynamic creator than Fultz.

If you're able to stand out in the ACC and go toe to toe with the likes of Duke and UNC, you're a problem. Fultz was given the built-in excuse that his team sucked and so there was no critique of him not being able to elevate his teammates like Ball or refuse to accept losing like DSJ.

I got this from watching one game and a bunch of highlights. It doesn't shock me that Curry would say this about him, but it's a little surprising that a superstar would heap this kind of detailed adulation on a rookie this early in his career.

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There's a clip of DSJ washing Whitehead at a Steph Curry UnderArmor camp from a year or 2 back. It looks like even then DSJ showed up all the prospects that were invited, so it's no surprise Curry is familiar