The Official NBA Regular Season Thread—-21/22 Edition

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by brothertona

The East will be rough next year

https://twitter.com/btoporek/status/...098903044?s=20

Sexton/Garland/Okoro/Mobley/Allen

We’re coming for that 8th spot

[bigjbasketball]

Originally Posted by brothertona

The East will be rough next year

https://twitter.com/btoporek/status/...098903044?s=20

When you look at it like that, it is kinda crazy that one of those teams isn’t making the playoffs. Here’s the full list - which of these teams do you think won’t make it?

Nets
Bucks
Heat
Hawks
Sixers
Celtics
Bulls
Pacers
Knicks

I think the easy answer would be the Pacers, but they definitely have the talent to be a playoff team. I’d be willing to bet that one of last year’s playoff teams will have a disappointing season and get left out. I just don’t know which one that is yet…

[daeve]

Originally Posted by bigjbasketball

When you look at it like that, it is kinda crazy that one of those teams isn’t making the playoffs. Here’s the full list - which of these teams do you think won’t make it?

Nets
Bucks
Heat
Hawks
Sixers
Celtics
Bulls
Pacers
Knicks

I think the easy answer would be the Pacers, but they definitely have the talent to be a playoff team. I’d be willing to bet that one of last year’s playoff teams will have a disappointing season and get left out. I just don’t know which one that is yet…

Of those teams, seems like Pacers, 76ers, Celtics all still have moves to make. I think depending on how those shake out, that could determine a lot for the 5-8 seeds.

Unless Morey pulls off something nobody is seeing yet, or Dame literally demands a trade there, I don't see how they improve. It's looking like getting rid of simmons will be a lateral move now, at best...and might make them a slightly worse regular season team but maybe more balanced for the playoffs.

I think the top 4 will be Nets, Bucks, Hawks, and Heat...at least as it stands now.

[daeve]

Oladipo back to Miami... nice pickup for them, they have depth and a bit of a higher ceiling than they did last year as long as Lowry hasn't lost a step

[PelicanFly]

Originally Posted by daeve

Oladipo back to Miami... nice pickup for them, they have depth and a bit of a higher ceiling than they did last year as long as Lowry hasn't lost a step

I wonder if he will stay in the starting lineup or become their 6th man after giving Duncan all that money...

Lowry/Oladipo/Butler/PJ/Bam ?
Lowry/Oladipo/Duncan/Butler/Bam ?

[yiguiri2002]

Bulls signed Tony Bradley on a min deal. Decent backup center.

If they can turn Lauri into 2 more rotation pieces (big and wing), I can see them challenging for home court advantage. Let's do it Arturas.

[daeve]

Originally Posted by PelicanFly

I wonder if he will stay in the starting lineup or become their 6th man after giving Duncan all that money...

Lowry/Oladipo/Butler/PJ/Bam ?
Lowry/Oladipo/Duncan/Butler/Bam ?

I think he'll accept a 6th man type role at least in the beginning, to preserve health.

Lowry-DRob-Butler-PJ-Bam is a pretty balanced squad

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by daeve

Of those teams, seems like Pacers, 76ers, Celtics all still have moves to make. I think depending on how those shake out, that could determine a lot for the 5-8 seeds.

Unless Morey pulls off something nobody is seeing yet, or Dame literally demands a trade there, I don't see how they improve. It's looking like getting rid of simmons will be a lateral move now, at best...and might make them a slightly worse regular season team but maybe more balanced for the playoffs.

I think the top 4 will be Nets, Bucks, Hawks, and Heat...at least as it stands now.

Luckily (for regular season purposes) they were the 1 seed, so they don't need to improve at all to lock up a playoff spot. They could take a step back or run Embiid, Simmons, and Tobais back out and still have a playoff spot locked.

[daeve]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Luckily (for regular season purposes) they were the 1 seed, so they don't need to improve at all to lock up a playoff spot. They could take a step back or run Embiid, Simmons, and Tobais back out and still have a playoff spot locked.

I'm basing this on the fact that I don't think there is a chance they open the season with simmons.... do you see a way for them to patch things up? It wasn't just his teammates, it was also the coach, and then fans burning his jersey outside the arena. I'd say it's maybe a 5% chance he comes back.

We know he doesn't have much mental fortitude and we know how the hometown Philly crowd can be... and we know how 'hard' Ben works on his jumper... so putting all those factors together, I only see big-time downside to bringing him back. I think other GMs know this, and this is why Morey is going to have a tough time moving him.

But something will give way eventually. Hield+Bagley? Works out contractually... and then take on schroeder or some other overlooked pg.

would the Philly Phaithful be terribly upset with a starting lineup of Curry-Hield-Thybulle-Harris-Embiid?

bench : schroeder-maxey-shake-Bagley-Drummond

[Kingofkings1281]

Originally Posted by daeve

I'm basing this on the fact that I don't think there is a chance they open the season with simmons.... do you see a way for them to patch things up? It wasn't just his teammates, it was also the coach, and then fans burning his jersey outside the arena. I'd say it's maybe a 5% chance he comes back.

We know he doesn't have much mental fortitude and we know how the hometown Philly crowd can be... and we know how 'hard' Ben works on his jumper... so putting all those factors together, I only see big-time downside to bringing him back. I think other GMs know this, and this is why Morey is going to have a tough time moving him.

But something will give way eventually. Hield+Bagley? Works out contractually... and then take on schroeder or some other overlooked pg.

would the Philly Phaithful be terribly upset with a starting lineup of Curry-Hield-Thybulle-Harris-Embiid?

bench : schroeder-maxey-shake-Bagley-Drummond

I think they would be more than happy with that team.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by daeve

I'm basing this on the fact that I don't think there is a chance they open the season with simmons.... do you see a way for them to patch things up? It wasn't just his teammates, it was also the coach, and then fans burning his jersey outside the arena. I'd say it's maybe a 5% chance he comes back.

We know he doesn't have much mental fortitude and we know how the hometown Philly crowd can be... and we know how 'hard' Ben works on his jumper... so putting all those factors together, I only see big-time downside to bringing him back. I think other GMs know this, and this is why Morey is going to have a tough time moving him.

But something will give way eventually. Hield+Bagley? Works out contractually... and then take on schroeder or some other overlooked pg.

would the Philly Phaithful be terribly upset with a starting lineup of Curry-Hield-Thybulle-Harris-Embiid?

bench : schroeder-maxey-shake-Bagley-Drummond

Originally Posted by Kingofkings1281

I think they would be more than happy with that team.

It still gets them in the playoffs.

It's hard to see a scenario right now beyond Lillard that makes them more of a title contender, but again, this team had the best record in the East last year. Beyond major injuries, it's hard to see how that roster, or any roster in which they get some value back for Simmons doesn't make them a playoff team.


BTW... it doesn't get much discussion, but I still don't hate the D'angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and picks for Simmons + parts deal.

6ers get scoring they need, TWolves get defense and a guy to distribute to Edwards and KAT (also KAT being a guy that can stretch the floor a bit).

[bberns]

Originally Posted by tjforce

It still gets them in the playoffs.

It's hard to see a scenario right now beyond Lillard that makes them more of a title contender, but again, this team had the best record in the East last year. Beyond major injuries, it's hard to see how that roster, or any roster in which they get some value back for Simmons doesn't make them a playoff team.


BTW... it doesn't get much discussion, but I still don't hate the D'angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and picks for Simmons + parts deal.

6ers get scoring they need, TWolves get defense and a guy to distribute to Edwards and KAT (also KAT being a guy that can stretch the floor a bit).

That is a great trade idea.

[daeve]

Originally Posted by tjforce

It still gets them in the playoffs.

It's hard to see a scenario right now beyond Lillard that makes them more of a title contender, but again, this team had the best record in the East last year. Beyond major injuries, it's hard to see how that roster, or any roster in which they get some value back for Simmons doesn't make them a playoff team.


BTW... it doesn't get much discussion, but I still don't hate the D'angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and picks for Simmons + parts deal.

6ers get scoring they need, TWolves get defense and a guy to distribute to Edwards and KAT (also KAT being a guy that can stretch the floor a bit).

yeah the reason I see that as less likely is because KaT + DLo seem very close... I don't think it would go over well with KaT, and [at least for now], he's their main star and they do cater to him... just like Philly is trying to do with Embiid.

Plus they moved Rubio quickly, and I saw that as a big vote of confidence in DLo... though I guess if they want simmons as a pg, then that would also make sense [moving Rubio].

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by daeve

yeah the reason I see that as less likely is because KaT + DLo seem very close... I don't think it would go over well with KaT, and [at least for now], he's their main star and they do cater to him... just like Philly is trying to do with Embiid.

Plus they moved Rubio quickly, and I saw that as a big vote of confidence in DLo... though I guess if they want simmons as a pg, then that would also make sense [moving Rubio].

I think the bigger issue is that DLo/Edwards/KAT just didn't appear to work.

Even if you count games KAT played last year, they were 18 and 32. And this is with KAT and Edwards being pretty darn productive.

Something needs to change, and running it back gives you almost no hope of that change coming any time soon. At the very least Simmons gives you hope for a different dynamic, a huge upgrade defensively, and big upside if he ever gets his head out of his a$$ and shoots a bit.

If it doesn't work, blow it all up in 2 years by trading a 27 year old Towns with 1 year left and a 27 Simmons with 2 years left, and you still have a 22 year old Edwards to build around.

[daviswr7]

Eric Paschall to the Jazz for a second rounder. Like the pickup for UT.

[tjforce]

Danny Green back to the 76ers.

So far these guys are just running it back. That could all change quickly, or we could end up with the biggest cluster in the league come October.

[Mahomie]

Originally Posted by daviswr7

Eric Paschall to the Jazz for a second rounder. Like the pickup for UT.

also frees up a spot on the GS roster...

👀

[brothertona]

The Sixers are waiting on Portland which makes sense. Morey usually gets his guy and if he wants Lillard he'll get him. It will be expensive of course but I have a hard time not seeing it happen especially when his competition the Knicks don't have the assets.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by brothertona

The Sixers are waiting on Portland which makes sense. Morey usually gets his guy and if he wants Lillard he'll get him. It will be expensive of course but I have a hard time not seeing it happen especially when his competition the Knicks don't have the assets.

Ultimately, that's it.

The risk is if Lillard says he doesn't want to leave. He's the top guy in the franchise's history, so you don't move him unless he demands out.

Could Philly make a godfather package that the Blazers couldn't refuse? I'm not sure... but I imagine it would look like: Simmons, Thybulle, and a plethora of picks.

[daeve]

just looked at salaries to be sure, and a Wiggins-Wiseman-Kuminga-Poole package matches Dame's salary too...

Dame-Curry-Klay-Dray-Looney would just be so silly, but not really any less so than when KD was there... and not really any less so than the other superteams already out there.

[asujbl]

I’ve already watched enough 30 second practice clips on Twitter to confidently say Evan Mobley is a star

Write that down

[brothertona]

I mean the Warriors offer is strong but man it makes so little sense long term and I understand their window is hilariously short but I wouldn't trade Wiseman and Kuminga honestly.

[JustinVerlander07]

Originally Posted by daeve

just looked at salaries to be sure, and a Wiggins-Wiseman-Kuminga-Poole package matches Dame's salary too...

Dame-Curry-Klay-Dray-Looney would just be so silly, but not really any less so than when KD was there... and not really any less so than the other superteams already out there.

KD is amazing, but if Lillard was on the team, man...

I mean he takes 10 3's a game. Durant takes 5-6. and like Curry, Lillard has no issues with where he's shooting from. It would be fun to watch, he matches up with the current cores aging pattern, but they really should continue to hold out for Beal to want out. Put Curry/Klay/Lillard out of the floor together, sure your defense is going to be meh, but you put Draymond with the ball in his hands and run a screen for one of them and it's all out chaos at that point.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by asujbl

I’ve already watched enough 30 second practice clips on Twitter to confidently say Evan Mobley is a star

Write that down

Ohhhh! Saw that....

He can move, pass, shoot. Fantastic

[daeve]

Masai re-signing in Toronto

....and LouWill back to Hawks on a friendly 1/5 deal