Around The NBA : 21-22 Edition

Wingy · Post #1901 » by **Wingy** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 2:09 pm

DuckIII wrote:This Pacers/Kings trade has me perplexed. Great for Indy no matter what. But when I look at it from the Kings side, one time I’ll hate it and the next time I’ll think it makes a lot of sense. And I keep going back and forth.

I love Hali. I had him as the #4 prospect in his class, wanted him at #4, and his career to date looks very promising and he appears to be a terrific person and leader as well. So I can see why people would be critical of dealing him.

In the other hand, we all knew since draft night Sacto was going to trade one of their 3 point guards to balance out the roster. And getting a young Allstar like Sabo in return while keeping all your picks is a pretty darn good result.

I don’t know. I hope it works out for Sacto. I like a lot of their players and their fans deserve better than they get.

Who knows if it’s right, but I think that’s the key as to why the Kings chose Hali: no picks needed.

Mitchell’s not a good enough prospect to get that deal done, and Indy was probably asking for picks to come with Fox due to his big downturn this year.

This seems like a solid deal both sides to me. People are underselling how hard it is to find a big as good as Sabonis...or Vuc. I’ve started to say recently...when Vuc is gone and we have some JAG center, we’re suddenly going to appreciate what he brought a whole lot more. Heck even the Pacers may learn this lesson soon moving the focus from Sabonis to Turner.

jc23 · Post #1902 » by **jc23** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 2:09 pm

FriedRise wrote:What do you guys think the Lakers are gonna do?

They're essentially a play-in team now, a few games under .500. That Westbrook trade really screwed them up. They're for the most part healthy too so it's not like they have injuries to blame (unless you count on Kenrick Nunn to turn the season around).

Nobody's touching that Westbrook contract so they're stuck with that, and they don't really have any other assets to improve. THT is their best trade asset and you're not gonna get much for him. Their path forward is probably to blow it up, but then again are you really gonna trade LeBron and AD?

What a mess.

Their future picks are starting to become very valuable, we all know lebron is never in it for the long haul.

Post #1903 » by **DuckIII** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 2:47 pm

FriedRise wrote:What do you guys think the Lakers are gonna do?

They're essentially a play-in team now, a few games under .500. That Westbrook trade really screwed them up. They're for the most part healthy too so it's not like they have injuries to blame (unless you count on Kenrick Nunn to turn the season around).

Nobody's touching that Westbrook contract so they're stuck with that, and they don't really have any other assets to improve. THT is their best trade asset and you're not gonna get much for him. Their path forward is probably to blow it up, but then again are you really gonna trade LeBron and AD?

What a mess.

Can’t trade LeBron unless he demands it. Basically they will just do whatever LeBron asks them to do until he retires. They want to claim him as a “Laker” lifer and he obviously wants to run and grow his empire out of LA permanently.

My guess is they try to do the only thing they really can do: move AD.

FriedRise · Post #1904 » by **FriedRise** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 2:59 pm

DuckIII wrote:
FriedRise wrote:What do you guys think the Lakers are gonna do?

They're essentially a play-in team now, a few games under .500. That Westbrook trade really screwed them up. They're for the most part healthy too so it's not like they have injuries to blame (unless you count on Kenrick Nunn to turn the season around).

Nobody's touching that Westbrook contract so they're stuck with that, and they don't really have any other assets to improve. THT is their best trade asset and you're not gonna get much for him. Their path forward is probably to blow it up, but then again are you really gonna trade LeBron and AD?

What a mess.

Can’t trade LeBron unless he demands it. Basically they will just do whatever LeBron asks them to do until he retires. They want to claim him as a “Laker” lifer and he obviously wants to run and grow his empire out of LA permanently.

My guess is they try to do the only thing they really can do: move AD.

A skilled big with size
Can play the 4 and 5 positions
Is a rim protector, can block shots
Is a good rebounder
Is an elite defender
From Chicago
Still only 28

Hmmm... I just can't quite pin point where he might be a good fit.

BullChit · Post #1905 » by **BullChit** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 3:07 pm

FriedRise wrote:
DuckIII wrote:
FriedRise wrote:What do you guys think the Lakers are gonna do?

They're essentially a play-in team now, a few games under .500. That Westbrook trade really screwed them up. They're for the most part healthy too so it's not like they have injuries to blame (unless you count on Kenrick Nunn to turn the season around).

Nobody's touching that Westbrook contract so they're stuck with that, and they don't really have any other assets to improve. THT is their best trade asset and you're not gonna get much for him. Their path forward is probably to blow it up, but then again are you really gonna trade LeBron and AD?

What a mess.

Can’t trade LeBron unless he demands it. Basically they will just do whatever LeBron asks them to do until he retires. They want to claim him as a “Laker” lifer and he obviously wants to run and grow his empire out of LA permanently.

My guess is they try to do the only thing they really can do: move AD.

A skilled big with size
Can play the 4 and 5 positions
Is a rim protector, can block shots
Is a good rebounder
Is an elite defender
From Chicago
Still only 28

Hmmm... I just can't quite pin point where he might be a good fit.

Haha we don't have any players to trade who are old enough to be allowed into the retirement village.

Wingy · Post #1906 » by **Wingy** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 4:20 pm

FriedRise wrote:
A skilled big with size
Can play the 4 and 5 positions
Is a rim protector, can block shots
Is a good rebounder
Is an elite defender
From Chicago
Still only 28

Hmmm... I just can't quite pin point where he might be a good fit.

Unfortunately there's the missing 'made of glass' bullet point

FriedRise · Post #1907 » by **FriedRise** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 4:48 pm

Wingy wrote:
FriedRise wrote:
A skilled big with size
Can play the 4 and 5 positions
Is a rim protector, can block shots
Is a good rebounder
Is an elite defender
From Chicago
Still only 28

Hmmm... I just can't quite pin point where he might be a good fit.

Unfortunately there's the missing 'made of glass' bullet point

Great point.

I'd say he fits like a glove here.

MAQ · Post #1908 » by **MAQ** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 5:31 pm

FriedRise wrote:
Wingy wrote:
FriedRise wrote:
A skilled big with size
Can play the 4 and 5 positions
Is a rim protector, can block shots
Is a good rebounder
Is an elite defender
From Chicago
Still only 28

Hmmm... I just can't quite pin point where he might be a good fit.

Unfortunately there's the missing 'made of glass' bullet point

Great point.

I'd say he fits like a glove here.

Yeah...not quite the same, but good effort.

Although it does seem like DJJ may make the all glass team.

2weekswithpay · Post #1909 » by **2weekswithpay** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 6:46 pm

Little Nathan wrote:
2weekswithpay wrote:
qianlong wrote:why so much hate for the kings trade? yes they traded a nice player, but he was a bit redundant with fox and mitchel and if healthy Sabonis is definitely the best player in the deal.

People love potential. Kings also got rid of Hield's bad contract without giving up any of their draft picks if that matters.

Potential? I'd take Hali over Sabonis right now.

Hali is a tall two-way guard who can really shoot it. Not just spot-up, his pull-up game is also already much better than I ever thought it could be. He's been the best Kings guards this season and it hasn't been close. I'm not trading him for Sabonis, who is an extremely questionable fit next to Fox on offense (both can't shoot) and defense (Fox is bad, Sabonis is among the worst defenders at his position). Don’t get me wrong, Sabonis is probably the better player right now. But to me even that is pretty close. When you consider the team building aspect…I take Hali all day, every day.

I don't think you'd be wrong in taking Haliburton over Sabonis for those reasons. Haliburton is a great player and has a lot of what you'd want in a modern guard while still being on his rookie contract. However, I just don't see future stardom in him or him being irreplaceable although being a fringe all-star and an extremely good complementary player is still very valuable. I'm pretty sure the Kings would've preferred to keep Haliburton over Fox but that option probably wasn't available.

You can create space without shooting well from deep. Fox can't shoot 3s but he's fine from midrange and Sabonis is arguably the second best playmaking big after Jokic. The short roll game with these two would be hard to stop. The Kings still have two valuable assets in Barnes and Holmes that they can move for picks or players that complement the current roster better. Not saying the Kings won the trade or anything but I don't see this as one of those Lol KANGz type of trades.

MrSparkle · Post #1910 » by **MrSparkle** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 9:36 pm

LateNight wrote:
qianlong wrote:why so much hate for the kings trade? yes they traded a nice player, but he was a bit redundant with fox and mitchel and if healthy Sabonis is definitely the best player in the deal.

I get it - but they traded (arguably) their best PG because they couldn’t trade the one they overpaid. Just admitting defeat. Might work for them - but I get why fans are posed

Just seems like a headless chicken operation.

I actually like Fox and Sabonis as a pair. That's just not the kind of trade I make to have Fox prove his contract. Seems like they didn't have enough faith in Fox, since they shopped him, but since they couldn't find value, they settled on building around him?

Also think Barnes is just not a core piece to build around. I would've sold high on him.

But oh well. On to a repeat rinse of their 2010-2015 shenanigans, when they also had young talents at the PG spots and super talented C. Gave away Isaiah Thomas. Decided to double down on Collison and added Rondo. Kept trying to make Rudy Gay work (cough, Barnes) - good player but not nearly good enough to help carry a young team. Lot of busts: McLemore/Bagley, Stauskas, etc.

I'm no Kings expert, but based on limited watching, stats, and fan-say, Haliburton just isn't a guy I'd give up. Kinda runs the risk of that I. Thomas scenario playing out again.

FriedRise · Post #1911 » by **FriedRise** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 11:01 pm

Read on Twitter

All of us this week (during work).

Post #1912 » by **Ice Man** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 11:03 pm

MrSparkle wrote:\I'm no Kings expert, but based on limited watching, stats, and fan-say, Haliburton just isn't a guy I'd give up.

Yep. I've defended the trade, but the truth is that very young players who are already good, and who have the potential to become perennial All Stars, are trade-market gold. Jimmy Butler was better than Sabonis and nobody in the league was willing to trade an emerging star like Haliburton for him. I remember vividly, the Knicks laughed at the idea of dealing Porzingis for him. (And now I laugh at the Knicks.) Which is why the Bulls had to settle for a package that they did.

The Kings should have gotten more.

nitric0 · Post #1913 » by **nitric0** » Wed Feb 9, 2022 11:45 pm

What's with the delayed game threads? Tip off in 1 hour and still no GT

cool007 · Post #1914 » by **cool007** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 6:01 am

Wow Lakers lost to the depleted and tanking Blazers team even without their scapegoat Westbrook not playing.

Lakers are a lost cause. I really hope no team takes Westbrook and his contract. Let them rot.

Another thing is I know a TON of media and fans are really on what Kings are doing but I actually like their team a lot more now.

Sabonis is already and all-star player (basically) and now Fox can just go off without having to worry about if this is going to be his team or Hali's team. I personally rather have Fox than Hali anyway. Also, Barnes fit very well with Sabonis.

Now they can trade Bagley and try to get something back and then build from there.

One more, Steph Curry has been just a basic star player since he broke his 3pt record back in December. Luckily Klay is back and Green will be back soon.

Repeat 3-peat · Post #1915 » by **Repeat 3-peat** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 6:47 am

I love the Sabonis fit for the Kings. Davion Mitchell has started to play well as of late. Hali is fantastic, but Sabonis is a legit all star caliber player that is still 25 years old.

jc23 · Post #1916 » by **jc23** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 7:09 am

pullin for the Kangs and Ugly baby mascot team now, would be hilarious if the lakers missed the play in.

Wingy · Post #1917 » by **Wingy** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 12:31 pm

LOLakers.

Wingy · Post #1918 » by **Wingy** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 12:36 pm

Repeat 3-peat wrote:I love the Sabonis fit for the Kings. Davion Mitchell has started to play well as of late. Hali is fantastic, but Sabonis is a legit all star caliber player that is still 25 years old.

Just highlights, but seemed like Sabonis already showing some quick chemistry with his new team. Pretty good connection with their fwd Metu. As if they got a just entering his prime, little bit better than Vuc type player. I get if people like the deal better for the Pacers, but I don’t get why some act like the Kings fleeced themselves.

samwana · Post #1919 » by **samwana** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 1:38 pm

Wingy wrote:
Repeat 3-peat wrote:I love the Sabonis fit for the Kings. Davion Mitchell has started to play well as of late. Hali is fantastic, but Sabonis is a legit all star caliber player that is still 25 years old.

Just highlights, but seemed like Sabonis already showing some quick chemistry with his new team. Pretty good connection with their fwd Metu. As if they got a just entering his prime, little bit better than Vuc type player. I get if people like the deal better for the Pacers, but I don’t get why some act like the Kings fleeced themselves.

i agree, you have to give to get.

hali is really good, so is sabonis.

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Post #1920 » by **DuckIII** » Thu Feb 10, 2022 2:40 pm

Harden being a huge baby, not showing up on time to practices or games like he did in Houston, but won’t formally demand trade due to concerns about the public perception.

God, I can’t wait until this guy either retires or becomes a laughingstock scrub like Russ (I actually like Russ). I can’t think of a single superstar ever that I disliked as much. Melo was close, but as weird as it is to say it about another hugely overrated crybaby, he had a lot more class than Harden.