NBA free agency

[ronsmac]

A lot of money is being thrown around to hit the salary cap floor. The elite player and the rookies get screwed. How much would Durant command if there wasn't a max? 40 mil 50 mil a year? Same thing with Simmons. If there wasn't a draft and rookie slot what could he get on the open market? I'd think at least 20 mil a year. Especially if Mozgov can get 16 mil per and he rode the bench the entire 2nd half of the season. I doubt one person in America will go watch a game because of Mozgov but tens of thousands want to see Durant. I'm not even going to think what Lebron could get on an open market with no cap this year.

[Robert Fischer]

Some of these contracts look really bad.

Timofey Mosgov's was mosgov-awful ... $16M/yr for strong backup center, on a team that has more holes than swiss cheese?

Jeremy Lin's 12M/yr is Linsane. At least in this case Lin can be used to sell to Asian markets via the NY market, so there is potential to capitalize.

Bradley Beal 25M/yr is a raw beal. 2nd or 3rd scoring type for a team that doesn't seem to really have high expectations

Joakim Noah - i honestly have noah idea whether he will stay healthy and earn his 18M/year


some of these awful stretched puns were also very bad

[barahona44]

Some of these contracts look really bad.

Timofey Mosgov's was mosgov-awful ... $16M/yr for strong backup center, on a team that has more holes than swiss cheese?

Jeremy Lin's 12M/yr is Linsane. At least in this case Lin can be used to sell to Asian markets via the NY market, so there is potential to capitalize.

Bradley Beal 25M/yr is a raw beal. 2nd or 3rd scoring type for a team that doesn't seem to really have high expectations

Joakim Noah - i honestly have noah idea whether he will stay healthy and earn his 18M/year


some of these awful stretched puns were also very bad
Are you Fischering for compliments? :)

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

Are you Fischering for compliments? :)

Never trust a chess player to make sense.

[ronsmac]

Joe Johnson and Al Jefferson look like steals compared to all of these other contracts. Tristan Thompson's contract suddenly doesn'tt ook so bad.

[cj]

Joe Johnson and Al Jefferson look like steals compared to all of these other contracts. Tristan Thompson's contract suddenly doesn'tt ook so bad.

I'd pass on Joe Johnson personally. There is a reason he landed in Utah...nobody else wanted him.

[ronsmac]

I'd pass on Joe Johnson personally. There is a reason he landed in Utah...nobody else wanted him.Joe's not great but 11 mil a yr is damn near minimum wage the way money is being thrown around. If he scores 7 pts a game they've got their monies worth. Mozgov was total trash all year but at least he seems like a nice guy. 16 mil a year for riding the pine. A lot of people may not believe there's a God but I know Mozgov believes. How about Conley? Zero allstar games and 150 mil including 40 plus mil the final year. Durant should sue the players union. He should get 1 billion if Conley gets 150 million.

[cj]

Joe's not great but 11 mil a yr is damn near minimum wage the way money is being thrown around. If he scores 7 pts a game they've got their monies worth. Mozgov was total trash all year but at least he seems like a nice guy. 16 mil a year for riding the pine. A lot of people may not believe there's a God but I know Mozgov believes. How about Conley? Zero allstar games and 150 mil including 40 plus mil the final year.

Big men always get overpaid. For every 7 Johnson scores he'll give up 11.

[ronsmac]

Big men always get overpaid. For every 7 Johnson scores he'll give up 11.I guess Al Jefferson's agent forgot to ask for the big man bonus.

[cj]

I guess Al Jefferson's agent forgot to ask for the big man bonus.

He's old and very injury prone. He's also going to a decent team IMO that he can help. I think he wanted that more than money.

[ronsmac]

He's old and very injury prone. He's also going to a decent team IMO that he can help. I think he wanted that more than money.When did Utah become decent? I drove througj Utah once, can't imagine living there unless ordered to do so by a judge. They did allow multiple wives at one time. That would have been cool as long as you had big money.

[ronsmac]

He's old and very injury prone. He's also going to a decent team IMO that he can help. I think he wanted that more than money.
My bad. I don't know why I thought he went to Utah

[ronsmac]

When did Utah become decent? I drove througj Utah once, can't imagine living there unless ordered to do so by a judge. They did allow multiple wives at one time. That would have been cool as long as you had big money.
Disregard this idiotic post.

[ronsmac]

I hope Lebron changes his mind and matches Delly's offer sheet from Milwaukee. Delly is the type of player you need during an 82 game season. 38 mil for 4 yrs isn't too bad.

[ronsmac]

Almost 24 million a year for Harrison "biggest reason the Cavs won the title" Barnes.

[Robert Fischer]

Almost 24 million a year for Harrison "biggest reason the Cavs won the title" Barnes.


I guess this is a great time to have a well-connected agent and/or be a serviceable player.

Most NBA teams make lousy roster moves on a consistent basis, but this year it's magnified with the salary inflation.

[lansdale]

Tomorrow's is supposed to be decision day for Durant - think he stays in OKC, as many have said. Haralbob believes he's going GSW.

Spurs may land P. Gasol. Don't think that moves the needle. Unless Durant leaves OKC, power balance of the west looks to remain the same.

[Valuist]

Its official: Durant to Golden State.

[ronsmac]

Its official: Durant to Golden State.
It looks like it'll be the Cavs vs the Warriors for the 3rd yr in a row.

[Valuist]

Only a two year deal. At a total of $54 million. Have to believe the record 73 wins is in danger.

[Secondbest]

Have to believe the record 73 wins is in danger.
Don't be so sure

[ronsmac]

Golden St. is now the biggest preseason favorite since the merger.

[lansdale]

Admit I'm shocked by this. Trying to remember something this big in the NBA -- -- had to go back to Wilt joining the Lakers, which I'm sorry to say I remember well, although the NBA then was not nearly as popular as now. And apparently it was West's speech to Durant on Saturday, about that very event, and an emotional speech about what it meant to his own career to finally win it, that sold Durant on the move.

Haralbob had a funny tweet -- 'Okay, anybody have anything else we can do from November until June?' I think it's not impossible that we see the first ever undefeated team in the NBA. Something to think about -- since Barnes is now headed for Dallas, and Bogut and Ezeli have to be moved to clear cap space, how much of an impact will that have -- probably only Bogut. Will be interesting to watch how this develops.

My condolences to cj and OKC fans -- a very tough break. Assuming now that WB also will be gone next year.

[cj]

My condolences to cj and OKC fans -- a very tough break. Assuming now that WB also will be gone next year.

I'm fine. I'm disappointed but life goes on. I'll still go to the games as long as they are entertaining and the Thunder are legitimately trying to win. I learned long ago not to hitch my happiness to sports teams.

[highnote]

Dellavedova -- 4 years, 39 million. Not bad for a kid from Australia who made it to the NBA and averaged 7 points per game last year!

[classhandicapper]

I'm fine. I'm disappointed but life goes on. I'll still go to the games as long as they are entertaining and the Thunder are legitimately trying to win. I learned long ago not to hitch my happiness to sports teams.

IMO, this was bad for the entire league. It's going to be close to impossible to beat them for 4-5 years barring injuries or extreme luck. The best positioned team may be the 76ers. :lol: By the time their young players and picks are peaking in 5-6 years, maybe GS will start to decline.

OKC still has a decent team, but you have to start worrying about Westbrook next year. It increases the probability that he'll want to leave to join forces with someone else in another city.

[Valuist]

Don't be so sure

The more I think about, I agree. The Warriors season over/under win total last year was 59 1/2. They made a clear attempt at the record, and Curry was healthy virtually the entire regular season. We know he's had ankle problems in the past, and it could take awhile to get the chemistry right, with only one basketball and all those scorers. The Heat "only" won 58 games the first year Lebron went there.

I'm guessing around 67 1/2 for the over/under number.

[Valuist]

Sounds like Bogut will be going to Dallas.

[highnote]

IMO, this was bad for the entire league. It's going to be close to impossible to beat them for 4-5 years barring injuries or extreme luck. The best positioned team may be the 76ers. :lol: By the time their young players and picks are peaking in 5-6 years, maybe GS will start to decline.

OKC still has a decent team, but you have to start worrying about Westbrook next year. It increases the probability that he'll want to leave to join forces with someone else in another city.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. (I hope.) :D

[magwell]

This is like Chad, Todd or Baffert picking up another 10 stake horses.... smh

[ronsmac]

Admit I'm shocked by this. Trying to remember something this big in the NBA -- -- had to go back to Wilt joining the Lakers, which I'm sorry to say I remember well, although the NBA then was not nearly as popular as now. And apparently it was West's speech to Durant on Saturday, about that very event, and an emotional speech about what it meant to his own career to finally win it, that sold Durant on the move.

Haralbob had a funny tweet -- 'Okay, anybody have anything else we can do from November until June?' I think it's not impossible that we see the first ever undefeated team in the NBA. Something to think about -- since Barnes is now headed for Dallas, and Bogut and Ezeli have to be moved to clear cap space, how much of an impact will that have -- probably only Bogut. Will be interesting to watch how this develops.

My condolences to cj and OKC fans -- a very tough break. Assuming now that WB also will be gone next year.6 years ago there was an event even bigger. Better news for Durant. The Based God has lifted his curse .

[Secondbest]

The more I think about, I agree. The Warriors season over/under win total last year was 59 1/2. They made a clear attempt at the record, and Curry was healthy virtually the entire regular season. We know he's had ankle problems in the past, and it could take awhile to get the chemistry right, with only one basketball and all those scorers. The Heat "only" won 58 games the first year Lebron went there.

I'm guessing around 67 1/2 for the over/under number.
Sounds about right.
Team won 73 with out Durant.The whole team dynamic is changed. They had a good thing, why change it?

[HalvOnHorseracing]

When did Utah become decent? I drove througj Utah once, can't imagine living there unless ordered to do so by a judge. They did allow multiple wives at one time. That would have been cool as long as you had big money.
I know you pulled this one back, but I'd say the drive along I-70 from Green River to Richfield is as pretty a drive along an interstate as you could find. The national parks and monuments in Utah - Moab, Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Zion and Canyonlands are spectacular. Bryce Canyon is one of the coolest places you'll ever go. Decent skiing too, if you are into that. You know - Utah, a great place to visit, but.....

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/BryceCanyon-Amphiteatre1.jpg

[menifee]

The more I think about, I agree. The Warriors season over/under win total last year was 59 1/2. They made a clear attempt at the record, and Curry was healthy virtually the entire regular season. We know he's had ankle problems in the past, and it could take awhile to get the chemistry right, with only one basketball and all those scorers. The Heat "only" won 58 games the first year Lebron went there.

I'm guessing around 67 1/2 for the over/under number.

I would love to bet that under if that is the case. There's only one basketball and so many possessions in a game. Sometimes these dream teams take awhile to figure out how to work together.

[classhandicapper]

I would love to bet that under if that is the case. There's only one basketball and so many possessions in a game. Sometimes these dream teams take awhile to figure out how to work together.

There is going to be some diminishing returns from this combination. The thing that Durant does best is score in high volume with extreme efficiency. That's exactly what Thompson and Curry do best. There are only so many shots in a basketball game. To the extent that Duran't shots replace Harrison Barne's shots, the offense will be better. But at a certain point, some of his usage is going to come from Thompson and Curry. So it's close to a net zero swap on those shots. "Maybe" their individual efficiency rates will rise even more because it's harder to guard them, but all of them are already bumping up against historical high efficiency rates for non centers. I guess what I am saying here is that Durant's value as a scorer was higher in OKC teamed up with Westbrook (a lower efficiency scorer) than it will be in GS teamed up with the splash brothers. Of course Durant also does other things better than Barnes, so he'll add value there also.

[Valuist]

Season over/under win total opened at 68 1/2 at the Westgate.

Horses for Courses, if you read this and happen to be in a Reno sportsbook in the next 3 months, check on the Warriors number. It's not uncommon for Bay area teams to have their numbers padded to the upside, as they get a lot of Bay area money.

[classhandicapper]

Season over/under win total opened at 68 1/2 at the Westgate.

Horses for Courses, if you read this and happen to be in a Reno sportsbook in the next 3 months, check on the Warriors number. It's not uncommon for Bay area teams to have their numbers padded to the upside, as they get a lot of Bay area money.

Another thing to keep in mind is that getting off to such a great start gave GS an incentive to go for the win record. So instead of resting players by giving them a night off here or there when they were tired, on a back to back, or had a minor issue, they were playing. They tried sitting them out in the 4th quarter of games when they were way ahead instead. I don't think they are going to do that again this year. I think they are going to make sure they go into the playoffs a very fresh team. So there may be a couple of extra losses here or there when a couple of the starters sit out.

[Secondbest]

With a chance to put the warriors away three times Durant came up small especially in game six fourth quarter.He's a top player but I think GS is a bet against now.

[Valuist]

Another thing to keep in mind is that getting off to such a great start gave GS an incentive to go for the win record. So instead of resting players by giving them a night off here or there when they were tired, on a back to back, or had a minor issue, they were playing. They tried sitting them out in the 4th quarter of games when they were way ahead instead. I don't think they are going to do that again this year. I think they are going to make sure they go into the playoffs a very fresh team. So there may be a couple of extra losses here or there when a couple of the starters sit out.

That is correct. The media out here started talking about the 73 wins around Thanksgiving. I do think they learned their lesson. The 2007 Patriots and 2015-16 Warriors; nobody cares how many regular season wins because they didn't finish the deal.

The Bulls team never really prioritized single season wins. If they wanted to, that 72 win team probably could've gotten 75.

[Secondbest]

Let us not forget the 2001 Seattle Mariners.116 wins lost to Yankees in ALCS and noboby remembers them.

[Valuist]

Let us not forget the 2001 Seattle Mariners.116 wins lost to Yankees in ALCS and noboby remembers them.

And as a Cub fan, those 115 win predictions were bringing back memories of that Mariners team. In the interim, they've lost enough games where 100 wins is no longer a certainty.

[Robert Fischer]

There is going to be some diminishing returns from this combination. The thing that Durant does best is score in high volume with extreme efficiency. That's exactly what Thompson and Curry do best. There are only so many shots in a basketball game. To the extent that Duran't shots replace Harrison Barne's shots, the offense will be better. But at a certain point, some of his usage is going to come from Thompson and Curry. So it's close to a net zero swap on those shots. "Maybe" their individual efficiency rates will rise even more because it's harder to guard them, but all of them are already bumping up against historical high efficiency rates for non centers. I guess what I am saying here is that Durant's value as a scorer was higher in OKC teamed up with Westbrook (a lower efficiency scorer) than it will be in GS teamed up with the splash brothers. Of course Durant also does other things better than Barnes, so he'll add value there also.

well said

It's possible that the Warriors will simply adapt to the addition of Durant, and continue playing mastermind basketball.

What's going to be difficult about that is the fact that they do not have to.

They can play sloppy and win.

Is Durant going to want to refine his game?
Will Durant want to turn down options where he can be productive (maybe not at the ultra-high efficiency that GSW had last year, but good by any standards), - in exchange for ultra-high efficiency looks on other possessions within the flow?

Is Durant going to want to learn Draymond's role for when Draymond is sitting and he's in??

Either way, the warriors can always run sort of a simplified 4-man version of their offense, off the ball, and let Durant play his game.

[Secondbest]

And as a Cub fan, those 115 win predictions were bringing back memories of that Mariners team. In the interim, they've lost enough games where 100 wins is no longer a certainty.
No one knows what will happen in October but when the media starts crowning champs before a game is played the it rarely ends up that way

[lansdale]

Warriors picked up Zaza Pachulia yesterday and David West today to fill some of their big man losses with Bogut and Ezeli. Neither is great and West seriously can't run, but latter move is probably to be able to bang with Cleveland bigs next Finals. Will Tracy McGrady, Karl Malone and Gary Payton be next?

[cj]

No one knows what will happen in October but when the media starts crowning champs before a game is played the it rarely ends up that way


Barring injuries nobody is going to beat the Warriors now in a series. No way, no how.

[lansdale]

Barring injuries nobody is going to beat the Warriors now in a series. No way, no how.

Surprised that you're the one saying this, but I don't see how anyone who's actually been following the NBA for the last few years could think otherwise. Neither Curry nor Durant are guys with serious ego problems -- both care more about winning a championship than their individual numbers, which they know will go down this year.

[Robert Fischer]

Knicks have a new team now :eek:

Core= Melo, Porzingis

New Faces = Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, Brandon Jennings, Willy Hernangomez, and Mindaugas Kuzminskas

starting 5

PG- Derrick Rose = low% high volume shooter, scorer, good on-ball defender, quick athlete, Russell Westbrook warrior mentality

SG - Courtney Lee = prototypical SG body, excellent shooter(some potential to stretch floor in proper system), ability to slash when defense breaks down, otherwise average player

SF - Carmelo Anthony = All star level player, smooth play sometimes criticized for lack of fire, has consistently produced

PF - Kristaps Porzingis = stretch 4 with big potential, inconsistent, will benefit from having other options around him, can flip flop into the bench rotation for more of a scoring option vs. 2nd stringers, rim defender in some situations

C - Joakim Noah = consumate team player , hustle , leadership


Bench
pg-brandon jennings = poor man's derrick rose
Mindaugas Kuzminskas = smart sf/pf who can handle the ball and pass. (reminds me of a homeless man's Tom Chambers)
Willy Hernangomez - backup big
Kyle O'Quinn - bum with an epic beard, well liked by players
Lance Thomas - journeyman wing
?whoever else i'm tired of making this post now?


GO KNICKS
GO KNICKS

[Secondbest]

Knicks have a new team now :eek:

Core= Melo, Porzingis

New Faces = Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, Brandon Jennings, Willy Hernangomez, and Mindaugas Kuzminskas

starting 5

PG- Derrick Rose = low% high volume shooter, scorer, good on-ball defender, quick athlete, Russell Westbrook warrior mentality

SG - Courtney Lee = prototypical SG body, excellent shooter(some potential to stretch floor in proper system), ability to slash when defense breaks down, otherwise average player

SF - Carmelo Anthony = All star level player, smooth play sometimes criticized for lack of fire, has consistently produced

PF - Kristaps Porzingis = stretch 4 with big potential, inconsistent, will benefit from having other options around him, can flip flop into the bench rotation for more of a scoring option vs. 2nd stringers, rim defender in some situations

C - Joakim Noah = consumate team player , hustle , leadership


Bench
pg-brandon jennings = poor man's derrick rose
Mindaugas Kuzminskas = smart sf/pf who can handle the ball and pass. (reminds me of a homeless man's Tom Chambers)
Willy Hernangomez - backup big
Kyle O'Quinn - bum with an epic beard, well liked by players
Lance Thomas - journeyman wing
?whoever else i'm tired of making this post now?


GO KNICKS
GO KNICKS
Yes but can they play the triangle?

[classhandicapper]

Barring injuries nobody is going to beat the Warriors now in a series. No way, no how.


I just ordered several voodoo dolls from Amazon. ;)

[Valuist]

Butler/Wade/Rondo. Already the second best team in the East.

[cj]

Butler/Wade/Rondo. Already the second best team in the East.

I think that is extremely optimistic. I thought the Thunder would be bad at threes this year and they will, but the Bulls might actually be worse.

[classhandicapper]

The Bulls have some very good individual players, but they are not constructed very well at this point. They have almost no outside shooting. Plus, Wade has clearly slipped a couple of notches even if he was very good in the playoffs.

Guys like Lopez and Taj Gibson are both better than given credit for because the public focuses so much attention on scoring and shot creation, but how are you going to create space with Wade, Butler, Rondo, Gibson, and Lopez on the floor at the same time. They need shooters badly. Now that they gave up Calderon and Dunleavy (not that either was very good overall), they have even less shooting.

[classhandicapper]

The Knicks roster is the best constructed roster the Knicks have put together in a very long time.

The problem is that Rose has been BAD for the last 3 years and they are counting on him recovering better form and staying healthy based solely on the fact that he was more athletic and efficient as a scorer in the 2nd half of the season last year than he was in the first (small sample).

The other problem is that even though Noah will probably recover better form after shoulder surgery, Lopez was massively better than given credit for after a slow start to the season last year. So even if the Noah they are getting is still quite a bit better, if they get him for only 65 games (Lopez played all 82) it's a wash. They need Noah to be good AND healthy to actually accrue extra wins.

The rest of Jackson's deals were excellent.

I love the Courtney Lee signing. That's a definite upgrade over Afflalo.

I was never a big fan of Brandon Jennings, but at 5m a year coming off the bench in case Rose gets hurt, I love it. That an upgrade over the backup PG play they had last year.

The 2 guys they brought in from the Spanish league are both excellent signings for off the bench.

Porzingis is almost certainly going to improve with Rose and Jennings making plays for him instead of Calderon, not to mention just improving in general.

Even Melo cold have an up year with better PG play and a year more removed from his surgery.

It all depends on health. If they remain healthy, they could be a middle playoff team.

[Robert Fischer]

The Knicks roster is the best constructed roster the Knicks have put together in a very long time.

The problem is that Rose has been BAD for the last 3 years and they are counting on him recovering better form and staying healthy based solely on the fact that he was more athletic and efficient as a scorer in the 2nd half of the season last year than he was in the first (small sample).

The other problem is that even though Noah will probably recover better form after shoulder surgery, Lopez was massively better than given credit for after a slow start to the season last year. So even if the Noah they are getting is still quite a bit better, if they get him for only 65 games (Lopez played all 82) it's a wash. They need Noah to be good AND healthy to actually accrue extra wins.

The rest of Jackson's deals were excellent.

I love the Courtney Lee signing. That's a definite upgrade over Afflalo.

I was never a big fan of Brandon Jennings, but at 5m a year coming off the bench in case Rose gets hurt, I love it. That an upgrade over the backup PG play they had last year.

The 2 guys they brought in from the Spanish league are both excellent signings for off the bench.

Porzingis is almost certainly going to improve with Rose and Jennings making plays for him instead of Calderon, not to mention just improving in general.

Even Melo cold have an up year with better PG play and a year more removed from his surgery.

It all depends on health. If they remain healthy, they could be a middle playoff team.

Rose and health are both huge keys.
I think Rose and Butler kind of got into a competition in Chicago. I don't think Rose had a comfort zone. There was pressure about him calling his own number too much in the mid-range game. At the same time he's an alpha guard, so he was forcing the issue against the grain.

Knicks don't match up with the super teams, but this roster has a potential to gel as a real team. There's the right mix of egos and abilities.

Rose and Melo are a nice combo and both have a respect for each other to cede when necessary.

May well be injury plagued and fall apart, but it would be something good to watch if these guys stay healthy, play a relatively efficient style, and really gel into the kind of playoff team that nobody wants to play.

[Valuist]

Rose was ranked 44th out of 50 point guards in offensive efficiency. Getting rid of him, at a big number is a plus. Rondo is a legit point guard.

McDermott and Brooks are 3 point threats. We aren't talking about them having to compete with the Warriors and Spurs; let's not forget how weak the East is.

BTW, San Antonio was 25th in the league in points from 3 pointers last season and they won 68 games. I've never been a believer in the credos team "must do this, or do that".

[Redbullsnation]

Free agency is gonna be be even more crazier next year!!

[Redbullsnation]

The Knicks roster is the best constructed roster the Knicks have put together in a very long time.

The problem is that Rose has been BAD for the last 3 years and they are counting on him recovering better form and staying healthy based solely on the fact that he was more athletic and efficient as a scorer in the 2nd half of the season last year than he was in the first (small sample).

The other problem is that even though Noah will probably recover better form after shoulder surgery, Lopez was massively better than given credit for after a slow start to the season last year. So even if the Noah they are getting is still quite a bit better, if they get him for only 65 games (Lopez played all 82) it's a wash. They need Noah to be good AND healthy to actually accrue extra wins.

The rest of Jackson's deals were excellent.

I love the Courtney Lee signing. That's a definite upgrade over Afflalo.

I was never a big fan of Brandon Jennings, but at 5m a year coming off the bench in case Rose gets hurt, I love it. That an upgrade over the backup PG play they had last year.

The 2 guys they brought in from the Spanish league are both excellent signings for off the bench.

Porzingis is almost certainly going to improve with Rose and Jennings making plays for him instead of Calderon, not to mention just improving in general.

Even Melo cold have an up year with better PG play and a year more removed from his surgery.

It all depends on health. If they remain healthy, they could be a middle playoff team.

I'm beginning to love you, mate :)

(I'm a Knicks fan)

[cj]

I would like to hear how Courtney Lee is an upgrade over Aaron Aflalo. I think they are very similar, but I wouldn't consider Lee any kind of upgrade. I checked the stats and they seem to match my opinion.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&p1=leeco01&p2=afflaar01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

[Robert Fischer]

I would like to hear how Courtney Lee is an upgrade over Aaron Aflalo. I think they are very similar, but I wouldn't consider Lee any kind of upgrade. I checked the stats and they seem to match my opinion.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&p1=leeco01&p2=afflaar01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

They are amazingly similar!

It took me a while to find any statistical advantage for Lee.

He's a bit stronger statistically in the advanced defensive statistics.
Lee is also significantly better in the playoffs statistics.


I honestly haven't studied both players to form personal scouting opinions.
Lee does have a reputation as a strong perimeter defender.
Here is an article (http://www.atthehive.com/2016/3/6/11167418/courtney-lees-impact-as-a-perimeter-defender)
Opponents shooting percentage when defended by Lee
FG =33.9% , 3PT = 20.8%


Opponents normal shooting percentage FG 43.1% 3PT 35.6%

so maybe Lee is a little stronger vs. competition and a better perimeter defender.

Other than that, the fact that from what little I saw of Knicks games, Affalo looked like a journeyman bench player.

I don't have high hopes for Lee, but he looks like he could blend in without costing the team (in terms of points, not dollars)

[lansdale]

A looming trade of Westbrook to the Celts is all over the media -- looks real. One sports guy claiming the details are being worked out. Supposedly WB had told Durant he was gone next year even before KD left, and he apparently also turned down the extension, so I guess OKC has no choice but to move him before the deadline. Celts seem most logical place -- the most tradeable assets. Still no confirmation yet, but interesting to follow.

[azeri98]

Butler/Wade/Rondo. Already the second best team in the East.
The pacers will be 2nd in the east with the raptors 3rd.

[cj]

A looming trade of Westbrook to the Celts is all over the media -- looks real. One sports guy claiming the details are being worked out. Supposedly WB had told Durant he was gone next year even before KD left, and he apparently also turned down the extension, so I guess OKC has no choice but to move him before the deadline. Celts seem most logical place -- the most tradeable assets. Still no confirmation yet, but interesting to follow.

These reports are what "other GMs expect" to happen. There are no real reports that Westbrook is being shopped at all. I have no idea where you saw a report about Westbrook telling Durant he wouldn't come back. I haven't seen that anywhere and no way it would slip by the OKC media.

As for the extension, of course he turned it down. It would make no sense financially for him to extend now. The Thunder would be foolish not to offer it to him but there was no expectation he would sign right now.

That said, if Westbrook indicates to Presti he is going to leave, or even leaning that way, the Celtics are the best trade partner they could find. But at this point it all looks like pure speculation to me.

[barahona44]

A looming trade of Westbrook to the Celts is all over the media -- looks real. One sports guy claiming the details are being worked out. Supposedly WB had told Durant he was gone next year even before KD left, and he apparently also turned down the extension, so I guess OKC has no choice but to move him before the deadline. Celts seem most logical place -- the most tradeable assets. Still no confirmation yet, but interesting to follow.
Boston would have to empty the truck to get Westbrook, so unless he is willing to sign a new contract extension, this isn't going to happen.He wants Los Angeles, Ainge isn't trading their two picks from the Nets, both of which have a strong potential of being a top 3, if not #1 overall, for one year of Westbrook.

[lansdale]

These reports are what "other GMs expect" to happen. There are no real reports that Westbrook is being shopped at all. I have no idea where you saw a report about Westbrook telling Durant he wouldn't come back. I haven't seen that anywhere and no way it would slip by the OKC media.

As for the extension, of course he turned it down. It would make no sense financially for him to extend now. The Thunder would be foolish not to offer it to him but there was no expectation he would sign right now.

That said, if Westbrook indicates to Presti he is going to leave, or even leaning that way, the Celtics are the best trade partner they could find. But at this point it all looks like pure speculation to me.

Was this really just the media going into echo chamber mode over the Howard Beck piece -- starting to look like it. Wondering if Ainge jut floated this through proxies in Las Vegas. The WAPO version of the story does make it sounds as though WB is being shopped, but hard to tell if that's just their spin on Beck.

The WB/KD story is one I saw at the time of the Durant move -- the story claimed that while in the decision process, KD asked WB about his plans -- WB said he would play one more year then leave, and this, along with KD's inability to persuade Horford to come to OKC were both factors in his decision to leave. Didn't think much about when I saw it, since KD was gone, and don't remember the source. I'll check around.

I don't know what the deal is with WB -- he isn't publicly looking to get out, like Love was but, at the same time, he hasn't said he's committed to staying in OKC AFAIK. As many have said, if he wanted to force a deal, like Love, he could do it.