Around the NBA - April 2018

[Sarni]

It doesn't matter tho, they can't catch us.

They can. They could win the next two (at Miami, v Memphis) while we could lose the next two and end up with 35 losses to their 3.

It’s not even that far fetched that we could end up with no. 6 seed and play Utah with their homecourt advantage.

 

[SIeepwalker]

They can. They could win the next two (at Miami, v Memphis) while we could lose the next two and end up with 35 losses to their 3.

It’s not even that far fetched that we could end up with no. 6 seed and play Utah with their homecourt advantage.

We're at 32 loses now, the most we can get is 34

 

[blue9]

We're at 32 loses now, the most we can get is 34

34 losses could put us in the 5th seed if:
SAS wins out OR NOP wins out (both can't happen since they play each other)
UTH wins twice

I don't much care whether we have the 3rd or 4th seed, but if we slide into the 5th spot I'm gonna be pissed. This team (Tater Totts!!!) has not taken care of business and have put themselves in a very tenuous position.

 

[Sarni]

We're at 32 loses now, the most we can get is 34

Ah crap I though we had 33 already for some reason.

 

[DDolla]

I’m so sorry to everyone but here we go.... Let’s GO LAKERS!!!

 

[julius]

I’m so sorry to everyone but here we go.... Let’s GO LAKERS!!!

It's the first time I've wanted them to win, maybe ever.

 

[Sarni]

Teams in the East will be fighting to finish 7th which is funny. If you finish 8th you play Toronto which is terrible. Finish 6th though and you play 76ers who are on fire. 7th is the sweet spot, you play depleted Celtics.

 

[DDolla]

Lakers no match... this game is over and easy win for the Jazz

 

[Lukee]

Lakers no match... this game is over and easy win for the Jazz

or not?

 

[THE HCP]

We are all Laker fans today! Admit it!!!

 

[THE HCP]

Lakers down 4, 6 min left in the 2nd and Gobert picks up his 3rd. Thats good!

 

[DDolla]

Thanks Lakers for nothing, ugh!

 

[Labinot41]

Fucking lakers

 

[CupWizier]

Fucking lakers

I hate the lakers as much as anyone, but they are playing without Kuzma, Ingram and Ball.

 

[KingSpeed]

Ah crap I though we had 33 already for some reason.

Yeah dude. We have 48 wins. Only team that can top that is Utah. NOP and SA have tiebreaker with us. OKC doesn't.

 

[DDolla]

Now let’s wait if the Warriors rest their players and let Jazz sweep them or play all their all-stars and try to beat the Jazz.

 

[BonesJones]

Yeah dude. We have 48 wins. Only team that can top that is Utah. NOP and SA have tiebreaker with us. OKC doesn't.

Are you sure NOP does?

 

[DDolla]

Yeah dude. We have 48 wins. Only team that can top that is Utah. NOP and SA have tiebreaker with us. OKC doesn't.

We lose the tie break with NOP if we don’t win our division correct?

 

[Chris Craig]

We lose the tie break with NOP if we don’t win our division correct?

No cause NOP isn't winning theirs

 

[Chris Craig]

Yeah dude. We have 48 wins. Only team that can top that is Utah. NOP and SA have tiebreaker with us. OKC doesn't.

We own NOP

 

[Chris Craig]

Yeah dude. We have 48 wins. Only team that can top that is Utah. NOP and SA have tiebreaker with us. OKC doesn't.

As long as we beat Utah we own the tiebreaker with everyone that can catch us

 

[HolyBackboard]

Due to a better conference record, we own the tie-breaker over the Pelicans.

 

[BonesJones]

As long as we beat Utah we own the tiebreaker with everyone that can catch us

We beat Utah and no one can...

 

[H.C.]

GSW has been blown out twice by Utah this year.
I don't expect any help from GSW regardless whos playing.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

https://deadspin.com/report-mitch-kupchak-will-take-over-charlotte-hornets-1825093460

Do we want anyone from Charlotte? There's going to be a tremendous idiot in charge there.

 

[Sarni]

https://deadspin.com/report-mitch-kupchak-will-take-over-charlotte-hornets-1825093460

Do we want anyone from Charlotte? There's going to be a tremendous idiot in charge there.

I don’t think they have anyone worth taking. Their main mission for the next two years is clearing the salary, they have some very bad contracts there - Williams, MKG, Batum and Zeller all overpaid until the end of 2019-20.

 

[hoopsjock]

I don’t think they have anyone worth taking. Their main mission for the next two years is clearing the salary, they have some very bad contracts there - Williams, MKG, Batum and Zeller all overpaid until the end of 2019-20.

If it meant them giving up the 11th pick (currently) I'd definitely be willing to take on MKG or Zeller with the Trade Exception. Then we'd have a realistic shot at getting Mikal Bridges.

 

[Sarni]

If it meant them giving up the 11th pick (currently) I'd definitely be willing to take on MKG or Zeller with the Trade Exception. Then we'd have a realistic shot at getting Mikal Bridges.

It's an idea but I think in their position they cannot afford to let their 11th pick go, even if it means clearing the salary. Their only hope of improvement seems to be via the draft where they might acquire good players at team friendly deals. They can't acquire talent through trades, they are not a free agent destination even under normal circumstances and with no salary space it becomes even less doable.

 

[hoopsjock]

It's an idea but I think in their position they cannot afford to let their 11th pick go, even if it means clearing the salary. Their only hope of improvement seems to be via the draft where they might acquire good players at team friendly deals. They can't acquire talent through trades, they are not a free agent destination even under normal circumstances and with no salary space it becomes even less doable.

Yeah I know, it was just wishful thinking that they do something dumb. Although, could they resist this?

Batum for Turner and Layman
then
MKG or Zeller plus the 11th pick for cash considerations using the TPE

I cringe at the thought of bringing Batum back BUT this is how bad I want a top 12 pick in this draft. Charlotte could cut Layman. This would save them about $19 million next year and get rid of the extra year Batum has compared to Turner at over $27 million. I agree with you that they won't want to give up the pick but that is a ton of money they would save.

Edit: The year in between the two years I mentioned they'd save about $20 million too. That knocks a total of about $66 million off their books. They'd have to at least consider it.

 

[Sarni]

Yeah I know, it was just wishful thinking that they do something dumb. Although, could they resist this?

Batum for Turner and Layman
then
MKG or Zeller plus the 11th pick for cash considerations using the TPE

I cringe at the thought of bringing Batum back BUT this is how bad I want a top 12 pick in this draft. Charlotte could cut Layman. This would save them about $19 million next year and get rid of the extra year Batum has compared to Turner at over $27 million. I agree with you that they won't want to give up the pick but that is a ton of money they would save.

Edit: The year in between the two years I mentioned they'd save about $20 million too. That knocks a total of about $66 million off their books. They'd have to at least consider it.

Batum for Turner and Layman is a bad deal for them too. Batum is a better player, and they are both grossly overpaid even if Batum makes significantly more than Turner. Good point about the length of the contract though.

We could maybe throw in our pick into the equation to make it more realistic. I have no idea where our pick will land because of how close the standings are but it's safe to assume that Raptors, Celtics, Warriors, Rockets, Sixers and Cavs will end up with a better record than us so worst case scenario it will be no. 24. Quite likely that Pacers will also finish above us. No. 23 is not that bad a pick.

Hornets really have one clusterfuck of a roster. It's like ours in terms of having multiple bad deals you cannot get rid, only made worse by the fact that their star player is much worse than ours, and they don't really have a second option like we do with CJ (even if he's been crap this season). All of their overpaid dross is easily as bad as ours. Well maybe slightly better as Zeller is better than Meyers, Batum is better than Turner but the differences are not really night and day or anything.