NBA Offseason/Draft/Free Agency

[matt72582]

We've already had a few trades... Hoping for more Draft Night trades!

Also, with the new deal, every team will be under the salary cap, enabling all 30 teams to get a max player, as well as next year.

[NedStark09]

Is it fair that the kicks get a draft pick when they will be getting derek rose. yes i know he is not what he once was but is there any player in the draft he could not replace as a slot in this years draft.

[rauldc14]

Well they don't have a first round pick anyways.

[seanc]

Durant talk as well. Watch out, Sean's about to get excited about the NBA again.

[rauldc14]

Durant will resign for one more year with Thunder.

[seanc]

You don't know! You're not my real mom!

[matt72582]

Is Henry Ellenson any good? I didn't watch college.

[Fabulous]

OKC fleeced the Magic.

[matt72582]

Oladipo is younger, and the Thunder don't need Ibaka as much with Steven Adams and Enes Kanter. AND, they get the 11th pick (Sabonis) AND they get Ilyasova, who played for the Pistons - the guy led the league in charges, which is the best defensive move. You give the opposition a team foul, you give the offensive player a foul, and unlike blocks which usually go out of bounds, you got possession, and it shows toughness, sacrificing for your team.

[rauldc14]

Is Henry Ellenson any good? I didn't watch college.

Development project. I watched him. He has some skills but is raw.

[jiraffejustin]

As good as the Thunder trade is for them, it's still gonna feel weird without Serge. None of that matters if KD doesn't stick around, though.

[doubledenim]

I guess the Magic/Thunder trade was all about numbers, because it sure as hell doesn't make sense from a talent standpoint. If it works, I see them being better than the Harden years. Oladipo should be a major scoring threat without the ego. Throw in a Sabonis, everybody loves a Sabonis.

I probably hate Orlando more (at this moment), because they are just another NBA dumping ground team charging fans flex-pricing rates to see other teams come through like the circus.

Oh yeah. I don't believe in second teams :rolleyes: but the T-Wolves are my "Western" team. Please let them pull it together, without Tibs burning them out.

[matt72582]

I'm a big Tibs fan - sounds like he's trying to get Jimmy Butler...

I wonder if this helps/hurts Durant staying.

[NedStark09]

OKC best chance at a title was when had harden, westbrook, durant and Ibaka. Durant is gonna leave but next year so he can take himself and westbrooke too the lakers too join Lebron

[Camo]

Durant is gonna leave but next year so he can take himself and westbrooke too the lakers too join Lebron

The hell? Is this actually something that is being talked about or is this more of your wild speculating? Lebron in the Lakers sounds like the weirdest thing ever. Lebron, Durant and Westbrook in the same team sounds unbeatable.

[matt72582]

Lebron is staying in Cleveland. The Lakers are years away from doing anything, they were the 2nd worst team in the league. Durant is meeting with the Warriors and the Spurs.

[matt72582]

Sounds like most of the big named free agents are staying with their team, but the Pistons get Ish Smith... DJ Augstin goes to Orlando.. Jeremy Lin goes to the Nets, but for 12 million a year, wow.

Looks like Joakim Noah might go to the Knicks.

[doubledenim]

Sucks that the Hornets lost Lin to the Nets. He was a big part of their very tiny success this year.

[matt72582]

I can't believe Mosgov (who didn't even play) got 64 million for 4 years with the Lakers - which tells me LA won't be getting anyone important, so they have to overpay.

Joakin Noah is going to get a 4-yr 72 million to sign with the Knicks -- a true winner, the guy is one of the best when healthy. Plays with so much heart, one of the great defenders, a great passer, etc..

[Upton]

Mozgov is a loser he is a giant man but his hands are too small

Noah attempting layups last year took twenty years off all Bulls fans' lives

Dwight Howard likes candy too much and will be a perennial boring 6/7 seed in Atlanta

The center position is dead and all NBA players are overpaid except for Lebron

[matt72582]

Ha ha ha!!! ^

Joe Johnson goes to the Jazz for 11 mil a year (2 yrs) - probably his poorest contract in years.. Jazz now have him, George Hill (for the draft pick) and a team that almost made the playoffs.

[matt72582]

Some new moves.... Durant is undecided, but Rondo going to the Bulls is a good move. He doesn't want to shoot much, but I'm curious how him and Butler can play. Both good defenders, so who knows.

Dallas is giving Harrison Barnes the max, but GS can match - I think they are waiting to see if they can get Durant, which some beat writers think it's likely. I think he'll stay in OKC.

[cricket]

There's a lot of hope here in Boston that Durant will choose the Celtics.

[doubledenim]

And the bombshell drops! I don't see the GSdubs being a great fit.

Enjoy next year Russ.

[jiraffejustin]

kill me, kill me now

[Yoda]

https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/status/18688294600

[doubledenim]

http://i.imgur.com/KHzOIvQ.png

Burn.

In other news...NBA will start playing with 2 balls next year.

[doubledenim]

Waiting to see Wade sign with Thunder now...

[seanc]

I don't blame these guys for wanting rings but super teams have basically killed everything but the finals for me.

[Fabulous]

If you can't beat them, join them.

[matt72582]

Durant certainly is choosing the easy way out. I'll definitely be rooting against GS (I did this year as well)

[doubledenim]

With all the sports media firing back up after the holiday, they are saying he left because he knows Westbrook is going to.

[matt72582]

With all the sports media firing back up after the holiday, they are saying he left because he knows Westbrook is going to.

I wonder... It could be a nice excuse for him. They were up 3-1, ready to go to the Finals, and now he signs with the team that just won 73 games. I think because Durant left, there's a chance Westbrook would, depending on how the season goes. However, I see Westbrook more tough, a guy who wouldn't leave a situation. I think he will try to see how it is being the "man", captain, leader, etc..

[Upton]

I don't blame these guys for wanting rings but super teams have basically killed everything but the finals for me.

NBA has always been dominated by a couple of teams at a time because one player can be so much more impactful compared to other sports. This case isn't all that egregious. Golden State signed a marquee player in free agency after building one of the best teams in NBA history, mostly through the draft, but you still can't say for sure that they'll roll to the finals. Who was predicting pre-season that the '11 Mavs would reach the finals, let alone beat that Heat team?

[matt72582]

I can't wait for the regular season to start!

[matt72582]

I think the Spurs made a bad move trading Diaw for a 2nd round pick.. They sign Gasol for 2 yrs, 40 million I think. However, he's NEVER wanted to play Center, and Aldridge plays the 4. I think Duncan is retiring, greatest power forward ever.

Nuggets have offered Wade 2 years for 50 million.. Sounds like he'd sign for less with Miami, if it's 3 year, 60 million. They lost Deng, they might not have Bosh..

[Upton]

Spurs had to dump Diaw to be able to sign Gasol

[doubledenim]

Wade situation will be interesting to follow. Go to a loser for another $5mil a year or kiss Riley's ring for less and at least be competitive?

[matt72582]

For some reason, I think Wade will stay. He does this every contract, trying to up his price. I don't think the Heat are near contention, but Miami has nice weather, and he might wanna join the rare club of staying with one team his entire career.

[matt72582]

Wade to sign with the Bulls!

I thought he'd stay in Miami, but if there was a team he would go to, it'd be his hometown. I wonder how the rotation will work out.

Rondo is the point guard. Wade and Butler are both 2's. I'm guessing Butler will guard the better player, and maybe play the 3? Wade is a good defender, but older and slower, so who knows what kind of match-ups they'll go with it.

[rauldc14]

I didn't think it was official yet.

[jiraffejustin]

The NBA is going to look a lot different next year.

[rauldc14]

The NBA is going to look a lot different next year.

Not really. The end result will still be Cavs/Warriors :p

[jiraffejustin]

You know what I mean :p

[matt72582]

Warriors lose Barbosa to the Suns... They got Durant, and a heck of a deal for Pachulia, the starting lineup is set, but they had a great bench last year, and have lost almost everyone. I don't think they are automatic to win.

[rauldc14]

Warriors lose Barbosa to the Suns... They got Durant, and a heck of a deal for Pachulia, the starting lineup is set, but they had a great bench last year, and have lost almost everyone. I don't think they are automatic to win.

Well, nothing is automatic, but the odds are overwhelmingly in their favor.

Who needs a bench with that lineup? How many minutes was Barbosa going to play? 10-15?

[NedStark09]

Why is Durant the Villain Joining Thompson , And Curry and Low Blow Green but Lebron can Join Bosh and Wade and people forgive him. Durant did this because people were saying if durant didnt start getting rings he wasnt really anthing special. Thats what Stephen A Smith and other basketball people say at ESPN. But now Durant Goes too a championship team. I think thats allot of pressure and takes allot a guts too stick too what he said he wanted too do.

[doubledenim]

This whole Durant thing will blow over when football starts. The sports news cycle doesn't have anything else to focus on right now. Durant doesn't receive the level of vitriol that Lebron does. He didn't have a, "I'm taking my talents to the west coast moment either."

What about those Hornets? Roy Hibbert is going to dominate the East! Wubba lubba dub dub!

[Upton]

Derrick Rose should take a page out of Hillary's book and stop saying/recalling so many things

http://deadspin.com/derrick-rose-testifies-says-text-message-gave-him-cons-1787555761

[Mandwa Mona Rudao]

Derrick Rose should take a page out of Hillary's book and stop saying/recalling so many things

http://deadspin.com/derrick-rose-testifies-says-text-message-gave-him-cons-1787555761

He is doing fine. I take an honest athelete over a fake one anytime.

[Upton]

Sure, well as a Knicks fan I'd like to root for guys guilt-free without having to think about them saying stuff like “In my mind, she consented every time we had sex. Why wouldn’t she do it that one time?"

Anyway this seems likely to get dismissed because she withheld that text and the Knicks will struggle to win 40 games for the rest of the decade so very depressing all around

[matt72582]

My Pistons are starting with Reggie Jackson out for up to 8 weeks, but this might be a good chance to see what Ish Smith can do.

I'll be rooting against the Warriors, lol. Besides the Knicks, I'm interested in Chicago, and the other teams that made major trades. I've been watching a bit on NBA TV (preseason)

[Mandwa Mona Rudao]

Sure, well as a Knicks fan I'd like to root for guys guilt-free without having to think about them saying stuff like “In my mind, she consented every time we had sex. Why wouldn’t she do it that one time?"

Why should Rose feel guilty about what he said?