AROUND THE NBA THREAD. OCT 2021 edition

[Rastapopoulos]

I was reading LakersGround (for amusment, since I was curious to see if they were at all worried) and the Lakers fans helpfully noted something that I lost track of--KCP wasn't part of the supposed Hield deal. Not only that, they probably let Caruso go because they were absorbing Westbrook's gigantic deal.

So it was really Westbrook for Hield, KCP and Caruso. Killer--one of the worst deals in recent history, especially for an all-in contender.

Not that I think it will last, but check out Kyle Kuzma's line from last night:

(Not the shooting - more the rebounds and the plus/minus. FLINT REPRESENTING!)
Oh, and Harrell's:

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Not that I think it will last, but check out Kyle Kuzma's line from last night:
View attachment 41152
(Not the shooting - more the rebounds and the plus/minus. FLINT REPRESENTING!)
Oh, and Harrell's:
View attachment 41153

Westbrook was traded for Kuzma, KCP, and Harrell.

Is Westbrook the worst player of the 4?

 

[Hoopguru]

Gotta love Kanter's commitment to thumbing his nose at authoritarians, but I'm starting to worry for him...

Going to get interesting with the NBA & China relations.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Duarte started and had 27 points in his debut.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Haakzilla]

The Truth.

 

[Minstrel]

 

[SharpesTriumph]

The Truth.
View attachment 41185

That is an insult to Payton and Malone. On their final years they were much better than Melo and Westbrook are today.

 

[wizenheimer]

Duarte started and had 27 points in his debut.

my Duck bias at work, but I really wished the Blazers could have been in a position to draft Duarte. Just like I wished they could have drafted Dillon Brooks. I think Duarte will be one of those swiss-army knife players with good 3&D potential and decent passing skills

 

[andalusian]

F1 is racing in Texas this weekend. It's nice to see Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly enjoying an NBA game

Apparently, there is an official F1 and NBA cross promotion event happening.

The following looks very nice.



They are using next year's cars for the liveries. I have to admit that GSW car looks like it come right out of Mclaren, the Bulls (and if they do the Blazers) looks like a Ferrari car and the Bucks is clearly an Aston.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Somebody listen to this and tell me why our loss wasn't all bad

 

[handiman]

That is an insult to Payton and Malone. On their final years they were much better than Melo and Westbrook are today.

And played well enough for LA to still be heavy betting favorites entering the playoffs...right up until Malone's injury. You'd think Paul Pierce would remember those days better.

 

[Predator]

Somebody listen to this and tell me why our loss wasn't all bad

they both agreed the kings aren’t a bottom feeder and are actually a decent team

both agreed they’ve still got concerns about CJ and dame in the backcourt and defensively we made a lot of errors that are unforgivable

 

[Pinwheel1]

my Duck bias at work, but I really wished the Blazers could have been in a position to draft Duarte. Just like I wished they could have drafted Dillon Brooks. I think Duarte will be one of those swiss-army knife players with good 3&D potential and decent passing skills

Yep. I have been a bit leery on the other Duck players before they were drafted, but not him. Even Dillon who I loved at Oregon I was not sure if he was quick enough to guard SGs or big enough to play SF. But Duarte was a no-brainer. His whole senior season I was hoping to find a way we could get him. As you say a swiss -army knife. He is the type of player that fits with any team.

He broke a Pacer rookie debut record with his 27

 

[THE HCP]

Gotta love Kanter's commitment to thumbing his nose at authoritarians, but I'm starting to worry for him...

Love that dude, but put it this way, I never sat next to him on the team bus.

 

[THE HCP]

Westbrook was traded for Kuzma, KCP, and Harrell.

Is Westbrook the worst player of the 4?

STOP

 

[THE HCP]

The Truth.
View attachment 41185

PP is a hater. Google what LeBron did to him on his jersey retirement night in Boston. 'Bro ruined his night and he has never forgot that.

 

[Minstrel]

STOP

Agreed--I'd probably take Russell over Kuzma, but only barely.

Of course, that's without considering contracts.......

 

[THE HCP]

That is an insult to Payton and Malone. On their final years they were much better than Melo and Westbrook are today.

You must have a better memory than I. Would you compare Russ' averages last season to either Malone or GP for me.

 

[andalusian]

Love that dude, but put it this way, I never sat next to him on the team bus.

That's very kind of you. He clearly suffered enough.


#BAM

 

[THE HCP]

 

[wizenheimer]

it's pretty clear to me that Morey's focus is 'breaking' Simmons and winning the PR game. It's all about Morey's ego it seems

 

[Buffalo Custard]

it's pretty clear to me that Morey's focus is 'breaking' Simmons and winning the PR game. It's all about Morey's ego it seems

Has the 6ers' owner made any public statements about this? I would assume Morey must have their support in all this.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Has the 6ers' owner made any public statements about this? I would assume Morey must have their support in all this.

In fact, it has to be them telling him what to do. They own the damn team. Morey answers to his bosses

 

[Fairly-Hard]

In fact, it has to be them telling him what to do. They own the damn team. Morey answers to his bosses

You would think?
Could you imagine Olshey in this position with Paul Allen around? I would think Paul would jump in pretty quick. Balmer? Cuban?
The thing is they are owned by Harris Blitzer Entertainment, Josh Harris.
Tad Brown is the CEO and they also own the New Jersey Devils.

 

[AldoTrapani]

You would think?
Could you imagine Olshey in this position with Paul Allen around? I would think Paul would jump in pretty quick. Balmer? Cuban?
The thing is they are owned by Harris Blitzer Entertainment, Josh Harris.
Tad Brown is the CEO and they also own the New Jersey Devils.

Oh ya Paul Allen didn’t play he would have controlled the whole thing with his fingerprints all over it

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Oh ya Paul Allen didn’t play he would have controlled the whole thing with his fingerprints all over it

Good or Bad he definitely would be in the middle of it.

 

[Minstrel]

it's pretty clear to me that Morey's focus is 'breaking' Simmons and winning the PR game. It's all about Morey's ego it seems

I don't think it's about Simmons at all. I think Morey is always determined to increase championship probability and will refuse to trade, even if it's awkward for his team's players, if the only deals he's getting decrease that probability in his mind. Trading Simmons for a waffle iron takes Philadelphia completely out of the running for the Finals--this is a team that won the #1 seed last year with Simmons and barely lost to the eventual champion Raptors in a game 7 on a miracle bounce from Kawhi Leonard a couple years ago. Popular narrative now is that Simmons is trash and the 76ers are doomed with him, but that's clearly not true. Morey won't trade Simmons for anything less than what he believes Simmons' value is.

 

[theprunetang]

Um......

 

[DDolla]

Chuck just said… PORTLAND MAKE A TRADE!