Exclusive Around the NBA: February, 2026! (18 Viewers)

[SharpesTriumph]

Utah is not making a run -- they want a lotto pick to add to what they are building and they should and if they do not then Ainge is stupid and one thing he is not is stupid.

JJJ and Lauri is a damn good forward Duo.

They have a lot of pressure to win now as the fanbase is super sick of the tanking. Sort of like the Blazers. Mgmt might now be on board with trying to win since they gave up 3 picks for JJJ.

Wouldn't shock me if they just play to win and if they get a few wins try to make a run at us for the playin. But if they don't win soon they might pull the plug on the season. I think we'll find out soon with how they do in the next two weeks.

 

[Ripcity4life77]

They have a Top 8 protected pick if they get 9 or worse that pick goes to OKC so it's in there best interest to tank right now -- Period

enuff said --

 

[SharpesTriumph]

They have a Top 8 protected pick if they get 9 or worse that pick goes to OKC so it's in there best interest to tank right now -- Period

enuff said --

Ahh great point - your right I overlooked that. Yes this is the final season and then will become 2nd rounders owed.

I bet your right - Utah keeps up the tank then.

So really Kings, Pelicans, Jazz, Mavs, Grizzlies are all likely out for the playin?

Clippers probably will lose trying to integrate Garland as well as his injury risk.

Yeah this makes the playin MUCH easier for the Blazers this season. Maybe even 9th spot or even jumping GS to 8.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Its funny how pick protections can kind of become a self fulflilling prophecy where teams end up tanking for a half decade or longer.

Utah has sucked for 5 years to hold onto that pick
We've sucked for 5 years to hold onto the pick we owe Chicago

Kind of seems like it would be better to just have a higher cutoff for protection (like lets say top7 for our pick) and then its eliminate after that first season. It either goes to the other team or not.

I'm so sick of hearing how we need to lose to keep our pick, I bet Jazz fans think similar.

Chicago is also probably sick of thinking they might get a pick this draft - but then no every year they don't.

 

[THE HCP]

 

[RR7]

for pushing a mascot? Rolo got out of the league just in time!

 

[SharpesTriumph]

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Did he get training from Robin Lopez?

 

[blazerkor]

Weird

 

[THE HCP]

Weird

 

[blazerkor]

I should have just waited for the smart people to explain away my confusion.

 

[THE HCP]

I should have just waited for the smart people to explain away my confusion.

FAMS…..that would be a LOOOOONNNGGGGGGG wait!

 

[Quatro44]

SGA now hurt with abdominal strain, will miss the All-Star game. Now 2 from team world have to get replaced.

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out through All-Star break

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be sidelined until after the All-Star break due to an abdominal strain.

www.espn.com

 

[THE HCP]

SGA now hurt with abdominal strain, will miss the All-Star game. Now 2 from team world have to get replaced.

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out through All-Star break

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be sidelined until after the All-Star break due to an abdominal strain.

www.espn.com

Do they HAVE to be foreign players?

 

[blazerkor]

Do they HAVE to be foreign players?

How ever it shakes out the foreign born team needs at least 9 ready to play as well as two US born teams that need 9 players each who are ready to play.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

How ever it shakes out the foreign born team needs at least 9 ready to play as well as two US born teams that need 9 players each who are ready to play.

Its 8 per team - 24 players total (12 from each conference).

Kawhi was already added and Towns was put on the world roster.

But now they probably need another world player - unless they can add a US player and like Towns move someone over. Sengun would be an obvious pick to simply add to the world and might also be most deserving regardless of country.

 

[e_blazer]

How ever it shakes out the foreign born team needs at least 9 ready to play as well as two US born teams that need 9 players each who are ready to play.

Shoot, they can just play Go Fish with the Blazers' roster to fill out the world team.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Welcome to 50 minutes ago

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Harden, AD, Chris Paul? This is 2018's most amazing trade deadline!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Shoot, they can just play Go Fish with the Blazers' roster to fill out the world team.

Clearly you're rooting for the US team

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Harden, AD, Chris Paul? This is 2018's most amazing trade deadline!

Don't sell Mike Conley short!

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Forgot about Kris Middleton too!

 

[Quatro44]

Do they HAVE to be foreign players?

I think with the rosters set, they would replace SGA with a foreign player. They already moved Towns over to team world and they could move Norm over too, but I think its too late to swap the rosters (new rules so don't really know). Sengun seems logical replacement.