2022-2023 NBA Season Discussion

[Jeffx]

NBA Draft Preview (and other NBA News) with Brian Geltzeiler - Mike Francesca Podcast

Lots of good stuff...I didn't know about the rift between Devin Booker and his teammates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4mIYBWXTrw

[Jeffx]

Knicks continue to be the best comedy show in NY;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534lU9169IQ

[Andrew]

Sounds like they're taking a gamble on next year's Draft. Shrewd if it pays off, difficult to get excited about in the interim.

[Jeffx]

Sounds like they're taking a gamble on next year's Draft. Shrewd if it pays off, difficult to get excited about in the interim.

The buffoonery never ends;

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/100 ... peless-bet

[Andrew]

Did they hire John Paxson and Gar Forman by chance? Because when all their moves are laid out like that, it really seems like a GarPax Special.

[Phil89]

OKC rookies Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams recreating the spider-man pointing meme

[Andrew]

That's awesome.

[Jeffx]

Back to mediocrity for Brooklyn. I wouldn't trade Durant's b!tch azz to a top-seed team like Phoenix or Miami. Nets management kissed KD & Kyrie's butts for two years and got nothing for their investment.

https://www.nba.com/news/reports-kevin- ... -from-nets

[Andrew]

The KD and Irving to the Lakers rumours evoke memories of ridiculous franchise mode trades. I don't see how LA gets that done without giving up Anthony Davis.

[Murat]

The Utah Jazz are clearing the house. If they could solve the defensive issues they had with players not from France and not above 7 feet, maybe this blow up would not happen. Sad to see that the team is on the way to be disassembled.

[Andrew]

As good a time as any to post a reminder that Stephen A. Smith once declared Donovan Mitchell to be the best player in Jazz history.

[Jeffx]

The KD and Irving to the Lakers rumours evoke memories of ridiculous franchise mode trades. I don't see how LA gets that done without giving up Anthony Davis.

This is one of the few times I side with management over players. Nets should tell them, we'll trade you when and where WE want. KD is a first ballot HOFamer, but he's the softest superstar I've ever seen in my 40+ years of following the NBA. Moral of the story is, before you give the keys of your franchise to a player, make sure that player has the iron will/winning mentality of a Jordan, Bird, Magic, Duncan.

Did I miss something? When did Rudy Gobert become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

Complete free agent tracker - what do you think of the Bulls moves so far, Andrew?

https://www.nba.com/news/every-reported ... -deal-2022

[Chino]

Man I thought Brooklyn Nets will do a better job of rebuilding the last few years but they are back where they started. Possibly worse when they had a young core who were willing to play. Basically gave up everything to get nothing. Too much power and influence by their core superstars and it did not end well.

[Jeffx]

Man I thought Brooklyn Nets will do a better job of rebuilding the last few years but they are back where they started. Possibly worse when they had a young core who were willing to play. Basically gave up everything to get nothing. Too much power and influence by their core superstars and it did not end well.

They should have known better with Kyrie, considering his history. And I have no respect for Kevin Durant. He's shown that he's a quitter who can't lead. But he showed his azz when he pulled the weakest free agent move in NBA history by going to Golden State.

[Andrew]

This is one of the few times I side with management over players. Nets should tell them, we'll trade you when and where WE want. KD is a first ballot HOFamer, but he's the softest superstar I've ever seen in my 40+ years of following the NBA. Moral of the story is, before you give the keys of your franchise to a player, make sure that player has the iron will/winning mentality of a Jordan, Bird, Magic, Duncan.

Did I miss something? When did Rudy Gobert become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

Complete free agent tracker - what do you think of the Bulls moves so far, Andrew?

https://www.nba.com/news/every-reported ... -deal-2022

I agree. Considering he's got years left on his deal, he doesn't exactly have leverage. Or at least, he shouldn't. With what Ben Simmons pulled last season, more players are probably going to sit out and sue to get paid anyway. I can see it leading to another lockout, and this time, it'll definitely be the players' fault.

Like you, I'm leery of siding with management over players, and historically speaking, teams have had an unfair amount of control over a player's career. Player empowerment is good, at least in theory. In practice, we're seeing childishness and unprofessionalism. It's also really only the stars that are empowered, and they always had some degree of leverage. KD siding with Kyrie and his nonsense makes it even more ridiculous. If anyone's to blame for the situation, it's Kyrie. Be upset with him, not management that had to deal with the situation he put them in. But that's KD for you.

Rudy Gobert sure got paid! I'm not sure about him and KAT being a great fit, though KAT is versatile and likes to operate on the perimeter, so it's not unthinkable. Twin tower duos are always interesting, too. He's certainly no Kareem, though!

Retaining Zach LaVine was huge, I'm very pleased they didn't lose him. The other moves are unspectacular, but solid. I know a lot of people are of the mind that the game has evolved and a more traditional big like Drummond is useless, but I don't think that rim protection and rebounding will ever be unnecessary; particularly rebounding, as that's still important even if players aren't attacking the paint. Control the boards, and you stand a better chance at controlling the game. That hasn't changed, regardless of any "evolution". The main thing for the Bulls will be staying healthy. They've got the talent to compete and do better, but needless to say, it doesn't mean much if those players are in street clothes.

[Jeffx]

Kudos to Adam Silver, and he's right;

https://www.si.com/nba/2022/07/13/kevin ... s-nba-nets

[Andrew]

Again, it feels like we're heading towards a lockout with stars holding teams to ransom, and it's not going to be pretty.

I understand players trying to use whatever leverage they can, and that loyalty has to be mutual, which it certainly isn't from the teams' perspective. However, I also think that "player empowerment" is a misnomer. The stars certainly have plenty of leverage, but it's always been that way. LeBron has firm control over his destiny; the Kyle Kuzmas of the league that will get traded when he decides he wants better teammates are definitely not similarly empowered. With stars refusing to play, even after being given exactly what they want, a lockout seems inevitable.

[Jeffx]

Durant's returning to Brooklyn;

https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/kev ... ors-rumors

[Andrew]

I like how they've phrased it as him agreeing to return, when he was already under contract. Speaks volumes.

[Jeffx]

Chet Holmgren done for the season, what a bummer;

https://www.si.com/nba/2022/08/25/chet- ... per-report

[Andrew]

That's tremendously bad luck. It's going to be interesting to see whether it scares players away from taking part in these pro-am leagues moving forward, or if teams will try to dissuade them (as much as they're legally able to).

[Jeffx]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/345 ... n-mitchell

Not upset that the Knicks didn't trade for Mitchell. Ainge was trying to pull a Red Auerbach and fleece us.

Don't want to lose RJ - for once, let's develop our own players.

[Andrew]

Apparently there's talk that the Bulls are considering moving DeMar DeRozan. Looks like there are some Bulls fans in favour of the idea, talking about how he's old and not a long-term solution. Granted, he's at the tail end of his prime, but he's 33 and still playing at a high level. That some fans want AK to go all GarPax and blow everything up with mindless, short-sighted moves is bewildering. I'm not saying that further moves aren't necessary to reach the next level, but the biggest problem last year was Lonzo Ball going down with injury, leaving them without their best playmaker. Again, consider all possibilities and be careful about who you label as being untouchable, but it seems like a knee-jerk reaction. Let's see how things play out, especially once (if?) the team gets healthy.

[Jeffx]

How dumb is Ime Udoka? It never fails, men always fumbling the bag just to get p-sleeve. He had it all and threw it away.

I don't know why dudes like him get married in the first place.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/346 ... ources-say

[Andrew]

Officially suspended for the season.