RealGM

jc23 wrote:

MrFortune3 wrote:

PrimzyBulls81 wrote:With good draft pick or one good trade this team can and should make playoffs if everyone will be healthy.. Big IF for fragile Bulls!

We don't even need a trade. Just health, a good draft pick at #4 and a functional offense.

but when you look at the east the top 7 teams might stay the same. Atlanta could also make a leap if they can get a solid vet in there. Curious what happens with Indy and their grumpy 2 best players and what Toronto does with their ageing vets.

Orlando was the 8th seed last year, their roster construction is awful and Isaac is going to be out for awhile.
Probably not going to be a factor unless they get a PG and straighten out their rotation.

Of the playoffs teams that will be there next season. Milwaukee, Toronto, Boston, Miami all have the culture to remain in the playoff hunt and fight for the top seed.
Brooklyn will have to ease Kyrie and KD into the fold but they should on paper win and win big, especially given their coaching staff behind Nash.
Philly still has to fix their roster construction issues but the addition of Rivers should push them to contend at a higher level. Morey is creative as hell so he will find a way to make things happen.
Indiana...there are so many issues with that. They should win but if Turner and Oladipo force their way out, the rest is not enough without getting players back instead of draft picks.

Washington and Charlotte are not likely to factor into the equation. Atlanta needs a lot to move into playoff contention. Young and Collins are very good pieces, Capela helps but they need more. Has to come from their player development.

Agreed, making the playoffs in the EC just means edging out Orlando & Charlotte. The bar isn't particularly high.

Indiana looks poised for a rebuild IMO, firing a vet coach in McMillan and willing to let a no experience HC grow into the role, as well as possibly trading Dipo before he walks in FA. Not that he was great for them even when he did play.

TBH, before the Bulls fell apart with injuries we were in the neighborhood for 8th even with Boylen and cold-streak Markkanen and pre-ASB White. Just a very low bar in the EC.

kodo wrote:Agreed, making the playoffs in the EC just means edging out Orlando & Charlotte. The bar isn't particularly high.

Indiana looks poised for a rebuild IMO, firing a vet coach in McMillan and willing to let a no experience HC grow into the role, as well as possibly trading Dipo before he walks in FA. Not that he was great for them even when he did play.

TBH, before the Bulls fell apart with injuries we were in the neighborhood for 8th even with Boylen and cold-streak Markkanen and pre-ASB White. Just a very low bar in the EC.

Agreed.

@WindhorstESPN: The Phoenix Suns have had discussions about acquiring Chris Paul from the OKC Thunder, sources tell me & @TimBontemps. Story forthcoming.

Man, OKC is gonna get a top 10 pick for Paul??? (/Coby Voice) That's crazy, bruh! (/Coby voice).

when can teams start trading?

BahamaBull wrote:when can teams start trading?

On the 16th.

https://www.netsdaily.com/platform/amp/2020/11/6/21552261/nba-season-will-begins-december-22-trade-moratorium-ends-next-week

@ShamsCharania: The New York Knicks have shut down their facility after employees tested positive for coronavirus.

And so it begins.

Jcool0 wrote:

Read on Twitter

Sign me up for taking Rubio if they want.

Not a team I expected to want CP3, but they are on the cusp of making the playoffs though. I guess the big factor here is they have assets Presti would want in a rebuild, where I don't know what a team like the Clippers could offer.

Sign me up for taking Rubio if they want.

Yeah I like that thought. Would kill any chances for 2 max contracts in '21 though.

Here's Rubio last year:

13pts
8.8ast
4.7rbs
1.4stl
.863 FT%
.361 3PT% (career best)

Plus all the intangibles. One of the highest BBIQ's in the league and almost 15 years of high level PG experience although he's just 29. Great team guy, beloved in the community. By all accounts he was extremely valuable for the Suns last season.

This guy just can't catch a break - he keeps getting passed around because some GM will always come to the conclusion that he's only there until they "find someone better". At Utah, this approach backfired in a MAJOR way. Sending Rubio packing and bringing in Conley was an awful move, and now Phoenix is essentially looking to repeat it.

ZOMG wrote:Here's Rubio last year:

13pts
8.8ast
4.7rbs
1.4stl
.863 FT%
.361 3PT% (career best)

Plus all the intangibles. One of the highest BBIQ's in the league and almost 15 years of high level PG experience although he's just 29. Great team guy, beloved in the community. By all accounts he was extremely valuable for the Suns last season.

This guy just can't catch a break - he keeps getting passed around because some GM will always come to the conclusion that he's only there until they "find someone better". At Utah, this approach backfired in a MAJOR way. Sending Rubio packing and bringing in Conley was an awful move, and now Phoenix is essentially looking to repeat it.

He’s 30 and owed 17M this season and 17.8 next. Unless you are getting him for Thad and Sato (Next season guaranteed money of 10k) I’m not interested.

Rather just sign a cheap vet like DJ and let Coby run the show.

ZOMG wrote:Here's Rubio last year:

13pts
8.8ast
4.7rbs
1.4stl
.863 FT%
.361 3PT% (career best)

Plus all the intangibles. One of the highest BBIQ's in the league and almost 15 years of high level PG experience although he's just 29. Great team guy, beloved in the community. By all accounts he was extremely valuable for the Suns last season.

This guy just can't catch a break - he keeps getting passed around because some GM will always come to the conclusion that he's only there until they "find someone better". At Utah, this approach backfired in a MAJOR way. Sending Rubio packing and bringing in Conley was an awful move, and now Phoenix is essentially looking to repeat it.

It’s because he is mediocre. Solid pg but a lot of younger talented players playing his position.

Anklebreaker wrote:

ZOMG wrote:Here's Rubio last year:

13pts
8.8ast
4.7rbs
1.4stl
.863 FT%
.361 3PT% (career best)

Plus all the intangibles. One of the highest BBIQ's in the league and almost 15 years of high level PG experience although he's just 29. Great team guy, beloved in the community. By all accounts he was extremely valuable for the Suns last season.

This guy just can't catch a break - he keeps getting passed around because some GM will always come to the conclusion that he's only there until they "find someone better". At Utah, this approach backfired in a MAJOR way. Sending Rubio packing and bringing in Conley was an awful move, and now Phoenix is essentially looking to repeat it.

It’s because he is mediocre. Solid pg but a lot of younger talented players playing his position.

Well, the Suns are bringing in Chris Paul, who's old and declining, not to mention horrifically expensive. One major injury away from retirement.

And Rubio is not mediocre at what he does. He brings wins wherever he goes.

ZOMG wrote:

Anklebreaker wrote:

ZOMG wrote:Here's Rubio last year:

13pts
8.8ast
4.7rbs
1.4stl
.863 FT%
.361 3PT% (career best)

Plus all the intangibles. One of the highest BBIQ's in the league and almost 15 years of high level PG experience although he's just 29. Great team guy, beloved in the community. By all accounts he was extremely valuable for the Suns last season.

This guy just can't catch a break - he keeps getting passed around because some GM will always come to the conclusion that he's only there until they "find someone better". At Utah, this approach backfired in a MAJOR way. Sending Rubio packing and bringing in Conley was an awful move, and now Phoenix is essentially looking to repeat it.

It’s because he is mediocre. Solid pg but a lot of younger talented players playing his position.

Well, the Suns are bringing in Chris Paul, who's old and declining, not to menton horrifically expensive. One major injury away from retirement.

And Rubio is not mediocre at what he does. He brings wins wherever he goes.

Yeah. How do folks like Ball, but not Rubio (more)?

On the 2 MAX point, which is fair, but it feels like the same odds of playing to tank. If we had Rubio, I'd go all in on Wiseman.

sco wrote:Yeah. How do folks like Ball, but not Rubio (more)?

On the 2 MAX point, which is fair, but it feels like the same odds of playing to tank. If we had Rubio, I'd go all in on Wiseman.

Not sure if you're referring to Lonzo or LaMelo with the Ball comment. I don't see too many people liking Lonzo, and LaMelo is 19 and people are projecting him to be much better than Rubio when making this comment.

Rubio is a starting caliber PG, probably best fit to be the 3rd/4th best starter in the lineup and is probably paid appropriately for his level of talent.

Any player at that level is going to be a guy that isn't so interesting because you aren't really getting value above dollars. Their best fit is when they are on a loaded team. A guy like Iguodala, as an example, was exciting on the Warriors but not exciting anywhere else he was before or after.

Rubio could similarly be super effective on a team loaded with talent, but its hard to get guys like him on teams loaded with talent. Still to the broader point, I wouldn't pay 25M extra to have Chris Paul over Rubio and likely have to give up a 1st for my trouble.

If OKC got Rubio, a pick, and expiring deals for Paul, then they'd probably laugh their way to the bank.

ZOMG wrote:This guy just can't catch a break - he keeps getting passed around because some GM will always come to the conclusion that he's only there until they "find someone better". At Utah, this approach backfired in a MAJOR way. Sending Rubio packing and bringing in Conley was an awful move, and now Phoenix is essentially looking to repeat it.

The Mike Conley who gave Utah a super efficient 20PPG in the playoffs and who, had he not missed the first two games, they might have beaten Denver with?

Rubio is a trash scorer who nobody respects. You are always going to be putting a low ceiling on your team if your primary ballhandler is that poor of a scoring threat.

Russ wants out apparently. What are our thoughts?

ChiCitySPORTS#1 wrote:Russ wants out apparently. What are our thoughts?

I wish him well playing for the Knicks.

ChiCitySPORTS#1 wrote:Russ wants out apparently. What are our thoughts?

Would lose faith in the FO right away if we somehow traded for him or even declared an interest.