2023 Offseason thread

[daeve]

Don't want to muck up the Playoff thread, but for most teams in the league it's the offseason already... and with that, some pretty big news from a couple hours ago:

[Wojnarowski] ESPN Sources: Ime Udoka has agreed to a deal to become the next Houston Rockets coach.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by daeve

and with that, some pretty big news from a couple hours ago:

I guess this should answer the age-old questions:

-can superior coaching supersede ill-roster construction?
-was Ime superior in the first place? (Boston seems to be on a similar trajectory this year under rookie HC experience)

[daeve]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

I guess this should answer the age-old questions:

-can superior coaching supersede ill-roster construction?
-was Ime superior in the first place? (Boston seems to be on a similar trajectory this year under rookie HC experience)

I don't know the answer to either of those questions, but it should be an interesting experiment. He gets a lot of young talent that currently doesn't play very well together, so it'll be up to him to shape them into something.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by daeve

I don't know the answer to either of those questions, but it should be an interesting experiment. He gets a lot of young talent that currently doesn't play very well together, so it'll be up to him to shape them into something.

Yeah, I think the plus here is that he seems like a really good player coach that connects with everyone. If he can keep his Wranglers zipped, I think this is about as good a hire as Houston could have hoped for. JG showed some late season signs of chilling out a bit on the offensive end, and with Sengun and JSJ flashing signs they could be a nice Wemby/Scoot away from vaulting out the depths of purgatory.

[Dame]

Ime should expect internal growth plus significant roster changes. Rockets have a TON of cap space ($59 mil ?)which should make their stamp in the open market and possibly another Top 5 pick in this upcoming draft. It’s obvious that they’re not going to roll with the same roster next season.

They already have 8-9 players under rookie contracts? Can’t have those guys again filling those minutes and expect different results. Need those vets, pronto.


Van Vleet, OG, Harden and Jaylen Brown have all been pinging around and some
were linked to Houston iirc.

[mfw13]

Biggest offseason questions:

- What does Philly do if they get knocked out by the Celtics again? Fire Doc?

- What do the Warriors do in order to avoid salary cap hell? Trade Klay or Poole? What does Dray decide to do?

- What do the Clippers do? Run it back again with two oft-injured older stars?

- Does OKC think that they are close enough to contention to trade some of their future picks for a star/superstar?

- Do the Pels still think that they can build around Zion, or do they trade him?

[ninjacookies]

Honestly intrigued to see if Lillard finally makes the move for a last real run at a title.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Biggest offseason questions:

- What does Philly do if they get knocked out by the Celtics again? Fire Doc?

- What do the Warriors do in order to avoid salary cap hell? Trade Klay or Poole? What does Dray decide to do?

- What do the Clippers do? Run it back again with two oft-injured older stars?

- Does OKC think that they are close enough to contention to trade some of their future picks for a star/superstar?

- Do the Pels still think that they can build around Zion, or do they trade him?

And what do the Bucks do if they get knocked out by Miami?

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by mfw13

And what do the Bucks do if they get knocked out by Miami?

The Bucks are like the Spurs.

They sack up and go again next season.

[daeve]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Honestly intrigued to see if Lillard finally makes the move for a last real run at a title.

He was decidedly not incognito when he was at the Philly/Bklyn game the other night... I think he's on the move. Unless it was a masterful ploy by Morey to get Harden at a discount.

[oldgoldy97]

Blow this Wolves team up.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by daeve

He was decidedly not incognito when he was at the Philly/Bklyn game the other night... I think he's on the move. Unless it was a masterful ploy by Morey to get Harden at a discount.

I'd be over the moon if they could finagle him in a package with Bridges. Portland'll finally secure it's first non-drafted young star not past his prime.

[oshmeehan]

Bucks need to make a move for Dame.

Giannis did pick him #1 in the All-Star Draft.....

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by daeve

I don't know the answer to either of those questions, but it should be an interesting experiment. He gets a lot of young talent that currently doesn't play very well together, so it'll be up to him to shape them into something.

He did nothing with Nesmith, tho he did let him stand around, spar Jaylen, and take Smart notes.

[ninjacookies]

Brooks to the Shandong Stars for Yanyuhang and Yuan considerations.

[brothertona]

Interesting piece in the Athletic

However, it is a lottery, and the Pistons will (and have been) preparing for all outcomes.

I think there’s a real possibility Detroit would look to trade the No. 5 pick if that’s where it landed. Would I bet money on it? No. However, the organization may be more interested in getting a more-proven commodity and/or move a contract (and get a later pick) over selecting at No. 5. (Maybe there’s a DeAndre Hunter trade the Pistons could work out with Atlanta, assuming the Hawks consider shaking things up.)

If Detroit does keep the pick, I think it goes with Walker, who is the best player on the board and fits what the Pistons want to be about culturally. He defends, can play across the frontcourt, put the ball on the floor and has potential shooting chops at the NBA level. There’s a little bit of a crossover with Isaiah Stewart, but you can’t go wrong with multiple guys like that on your basketball team.

As a Hawks fan I'm absolutely intrigued by what Quin and Landry do this off-season. Obviously JC is gone, I think the Hawks/Mavs could do a Capela for #10?

I think they'd largely be looking at Cason Wallace/Taylor Hendricks/Dereck Lively/Kyle Filipowski. They don't have the space to be a free agent player and honestly don't have the pieces to go after anyone big unless they move Trae.

[KhalDrogo]

Has Jason Kidd been fired yet?

[oldgoldy97]

I guess his name is Tim Kahnelly. Maybe he can get Nurk to play small forward.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by brothertona

Interesting piece in the Athletic

However, it is a lottery, and the Pistons will (and have been) preparing for all outcomes.

I think there’s a real possibility Detroit would look to trade the No. 5 pick if that’s where it landed. Would I bet money on it? No. However, the organization may be more interested in getting a more-proven commodity and/or move a contract (and get a later pick) over selecting at No. 5. (Maybe there’s a DeAndre Hunter trade the Pistons could work out with Atlanta, assuming the Hawks consider shaking things up.)

If Detroit does keep the pick, I think it goes with Walker, who is the best player on the board and fits what the Pistons want to be about culturally. He defends, can play across the frontcourt, put the ball on the floor and has potential shooting chops at the NBA level. There’s a little bit of a crossover with Isaiah Stewart, but you can’t go wrong with multiple guys like that on your basketball team.

As a Hawks fan I'm absolutely intrigued by what Quin and Landry do this off-season. Obviously JC is gone, I think the Hawks/Mavs could do a Capela for #10?

I think they'd largely be looking at Cason Wallace/Taylor Hendricks/Dereck Lively/Kyle Filipowski. They don't have the space to be a free agent player and honestly don't have the pieces to go after anyone big unless they move Trae.

I don’t think anyone the Hawks would consider trading at this point (besides Trae) is worth a lottery pick. Hunter would fill a hole for Detroit but why pay a guy $20m a year when you can probably draft someone nearly as good at 5?

If you’re Detroit would you rather have Taylor Hendricks on a rookie deal or Hunter (who’s not getting any better) at 20m+ a year?

I don’t think Jarace fits that roster at all. I don’t buy him as an NBA shooter at all and he’s an undersized big man. He’s really not much different than Stewart and a Walker/Duren front court would be pretty terrible imo.

I don’t hate the Capela for #10 idea but not really sure he makes the Mavs that much better at this point

[brothertona]

@jcardstore

That was my view on the Hunter piece - he's solid - but also for the Hawks you've now lost your best defender and let's say you take Hendricks - it's for all intents and purposes at best a lateral move. Capela for #10 I think likely gets the Hawks a Cason Wallace which finally provides them a POA defender and still keeps you at #15 where you can grab a Lively to back-up Onyeka.
JC you're just hoping someone is willing to take the contract and give you either salary relief and a 1st or a player with defensive chops or shooting and putting Jalen/Bey in at PF for next year.

[oldgoldy97]

My, how the Hawks have fallen.

[brothertona]

Weird place, your biggest hope is massive development in AJ Griffin/Jalen Johnson/Onyeka Okongwu. If they become strong regulars you're back as a darling that hints at the margins of the top 3 or 4 and maybe gets lucky during an off year.

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

My, how the Hawks have fallen.

[Kobefan]

I don't think the Hawks will trade those players for draft pieces, unless they are trading Trae as well. Trading those solid players for draft pieces is a sign of a soft rebuild, and judging from Trae's attitude, I don't think he'll be happy if the Hawks choose to start over with rebuild.

As for the OKC, I think they will eventually need to trade away their boatloads of draft picks. They can't keep on churning over players. They will eventually need to keep and develop their players, and not to mention that some of the promising young players will eventually need an extension contract. However, I don't think this off season is the time for them to trade for players cause they need to see how well Chet jells with the team. If he does well and the OKC becomes a very good playoff team, then trade all the picks for a superstar to become a contender.

[oldgoldy97]

I’d take Chet and a pick for KAT.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

I’d take Chet and a pick for KAT.

Yea so would every other team in the NBA

2k wouldn’t even let you do that trade