The NBA basketball thread 2013-2014

[MtlJeff]

I think Minnesota has got to be really, really , really happy here. I couldn't believe the final trade

So i'm sure the talking heads will bump into each other trying to out-gush themselves about Kevin Love and Cleveland. Does anyone realize that Minnesota just got what might end up being the best return ever for a clearly departing free agent? There was no question Love was leaving, the Warriors had clearly indicated they wouldn't give up Klay Thompson... the Wolves had zero leverage and no competition to jostle up the price for Love

yet they get TWO #1 picks (not first round picks, #1 [i]OVERALL [/i]picks) aswell as a 26 year old averaging 14-6 on a reasonable contract for 2 more years. That's crazy talk....i mean it's good if you get 2-3 first round picks for a superstar, let alone back-to-back #1 overall selections aswell as a 26 year old whose return is in line with say someone draft in the 6-10 range.

I just can't believe no one is talking about this...If you're a Wolves fan this is probably better then the best case scenario you had in your head

[MtlJeff]

i'll take it a step further....given the Wolves difficulty in signing free agents, i actually think i'd rather this team then the one they would have had just re-signing Kevin Love. I actually like this package better then Love. (which is what i said about Cleveland too, who could've just kept Bennett and Wiggins and traded for Young)

Rubio, Lavine, Wiggins, Young, Pekovic (with Dieng and Bennett off the bench) is a pretty exciting team with a few guys with very good potential. Not a bad re-start considering the Love teams never made the playoffs

[gambit]

Exciting and talented for sure, but there will be plenty of bumps in the road for the next year or two. If Minnesota stays the course and just says screw the wins and losses, our guys are going to get better by experience for a couple of years I think that's the best way to go about it. Lets see how patient wolves fans are.

[mnplayer]

[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1408820573' post='9994035']
I think Minnesota has got to be really, really , really happy here. I couldn't believe the final trade

So i'm sure the talking heads will bump into each other trying to out-gush themselves about Kevin Love and Cleveland. Does anyone realize that Minnesota just got what might end up being the best return ever for a clearly departing free agent? There was no question Love was leaving, the Warriors had clearly indicated they wouldn't give up Klay Thompson... the Wolves had zero leverage and no competition to jostle up the price for Love

yet they get TWO #1 picks (not first round picks, #1 [i]OVERALL [/i]picks) aswell as a 26 year old averaging 14-6 on a reasonable contract for 2 more years. That's crazy talk....i mean it's good if you get 2-3 first round picks for a superstar, let alone back-to-back #1 overall selections aswell as a 26 year old whose return is in line with say someone draft in the 6-10 range.

I just can't believe no one is talking about this...If you're a Wolves fan this is probably better then the best case scenario you had in your head
[/quote]

It really is incredible. He would have gone to Cleveland or GS for absolutely nothing at the end of the year or scraps at the trade deadline. I really don't know why Cleveland didn't wait 1 year to retain Wiggins and Bennett but I'm not complaining. Most people(me included) would have been ok with a straight swap for Wiggins. Not giving up Bennett to get Young is huge as well and I don't think enough people are talking about that either. I'm thrilled with this trade, and it seems that Wiggins isn't devastated to be traded here(actually seems pretty happy with the move) so that's a step in the right direction.

[MtlJeff]

with everything said and done now....did Minnesota and Cleveland have 2 best offseasons in the NBA?

How awesome is it that 2 small market teams, and 2 teams that took part in the biggest trade of the offseason, arguably had the 2 best summers??? I mean how often can you say that?

Cleveland gets Kevin Love and Lebron, when going into the offseason few people thought Lebron was a real possibility. Whatever you think of the Love trade and whether it was necessary. Cleveland is very very happy

Meanwhile, Minnesota went from lame duck, losing-our-best-player for MAYBE Klay Thompson....to landing back-to-back #1 picks including the top selection in what might be the best draft in 10 years, and a 15-6 guy in Thad Young who is only 25. They also drafted superdunker Zach Lavine

I mean i REALLY want to see the Wolves on league pass....who saw that coming?

[TheGameChanger]

Lebron needs more help.

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='TheGameChanger' timestamp='1411804461' post='10192863']
Lebron needs more help.
[/quote]

I actually think his first 1-2 years in Cleveland will be his best teams though unfortunately, unless the cap goes up a huge amount after the new TV deal and Lebron doesn't want it all for himself.

Otherwise you're talking 65M+ to 3 guys, and eventually you'll need to pay Thompson, Waiters, DellaDova etc....Verajao won't be re-signed unless he takes way less.

After the first 1-2 years it's Irving/Lebron/Love and veteran minimums every year, like Miami became. Unless there's major changes with the next lockout agreement. People are projecting the cap go up to 80M but that says nothing about the Luxury tax. We dont know, maybe the cap will go up to 80M but the luxury tax will be the same number. Maybe the owners will push for a hard cap if they have to concede a higher one

Not to mention Lebron's camp said he wouldn't sacrifice money anywhere. It could be very hard for Cleveland to add anyone....which is why the trade made me a bit nervous as a cleveland fan. Miami won 2 of 4 years, Cleveland would take that, but you never know...Lebron's got more miles, Wade and Bosh played D...who knows

[mnplayer]

I agree 100%, after two years Cleveland is Miami 2.0. I think it helps that Love won't be too different from what we saw in MN, and is more comfortable doing what they asked Bosh to do. And they really need Kyrie to stay healthy, but right now he's looking pretty fragile. I still think Kyrie, Love, LeBron, + veteran mins are better than what Miami had the past couple of years when you consider Wade's injuries and how much Bosh changed his game. I'm actually really excited to see how Bosh plays this year in Miami, I really hope he goes back to being primarily a post player.

[MtlJeff]

^^^ Bosh said he planned on playing more post this year. That seems to be in the cards.

Overall i'm not as super excited about this year because i genuinely believe only 3 teams can win, with a possible 4th depending on Derrick Rose but that's a long shot given his recent history.

But there's some intriguing storylines, at the forefront of them is Irving and Love's willingness to sacrifice numbers for defense and little things. But i'm also very intrigued to see what Bosh will do. I really think he could have a 25-8 year and make second team all NBA, it's not out of the question. Bosh plays D, and can score, and can shoot the midrange shot. He was 24-11 in Toronto and is a smarter player now with a better midrange shot.

[TheGameChanger]

[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1411937907' post='10201081']
^^^ Bosh said he planned on playing more post this year. That seems to be in the cards.

Overall i'm not as super excited about this year because i genuinely believe only 3 teams can win, with a possible 4th depending on Derrick Rose but that's a long shot given his recent history.
[/quote]
As a Bulls fan. I'm not to excited about the coming season. The Roster is too injury prone.

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='TheGameChanger' timestamp='1411994868' post='10204575']
[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1411937907' post='10201081']
^^^ Bosh said he planned on playing more post this year. That seems to be in the cards.

Overall i'm not as super excited about this year because i genuinely believe only 3 teams can win, with a possible 4th depending on Derrick Rose but that's a long shot given his recent history.
[/quote]
As a Bulls fan. I'm not to excited about the coming season. The Roster is too injury prone.
[/quote]

The Bulls potential is awesome but i agree that if you're a bulls fan it's hard to get psyched

They have 3 defensive superstars, Pau Gasol, a possible big help from McDermott's shooting, and in theory, Derrick Rose

that's quite a team....potentially

[gambit]

I think a 2014-15 thread needs to be started. I'd do it, but it just wouldn't feel right.

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='gambit' timestamp='1412036021' post='10208895']
I think a 2014-15 thread needs to be started. I'd do it, but it just wouldn't feel right.
[/quote]

done, give me a few

[eddie47]

It's an exciting time to be a warriors fan! I'm not saying it's a lock they are going to win it all (or make the finals for that matter), but they have just enough talent and if they get hot shooting they can make a long run in the playoffs! Everyone seems to like each other, the two players they lost was more than made up for with the signing of iguodala, and because of that they're defense got a whole lot better! The one major issue that can derail this team is injuries. Losing curry and/or bogut for any extended period of time and they are 1st round and done (I think they have enough good players where they make the playoffs even without one or both of them). By all reports though, bogut is finally healthy and i'm hoping that under armor makes a better shoe that can protect curry's ankles than nike did! Read about the nba players wingspan 

 

[MtlJeff]

I'm pretty sure somewhere in these threads i said Wiggins was going to be really good

 

It took 5 years---But who's laughing now. Mwhahahahahahaha!

[TiScape]

4 hours ago, MtlJeff said:

I'm pretty sure somewhere in these threads i said Wiggins was going to be really good

 

It took 5 years---But who's laughing now. Mwhahahahahahaha!

Maple Jordan! It took 5 years (kinda like the revival of this thread 😂) and getting out of Minnesota! 😜 He still hasn’t lived up to the initial hype (very few do). He’s definitely much better in a supporting role than as ‘the man’. That’s Stephs role and it’s working out pretty well. GO DUBS!! 🙌🏼🏀

 

Edited February 2, 2022 by TiScape

[MtlJeff]

6 hours ago, TiScape said:

Maple Jordan! It took 5 years (kinda like the revival of this thread 😂) and getting out of Minnesota! 😜 He still hasn’t lived up to the initial hype (very few do). He’s definitely much better in a supporting role than as ‘the man’. That’s Stephs role and it’s working out pretty well. GO DUBS!! 🙌🏼🏀

 

 

I'm happy for him. As you say, just getting drafted #1 doesn't mean you'll be a super star. He took his lumps in Minnesota and became a hollow scorer.

 

He was a really big deal in Canada. We were all really rooting for him. Not sure if you remember , but he was a legit super prospect on par with any of the big names of the past 20 years. He was arguably the first internet super prospect

 

Whatever happens to him, i'm really glad he finally found a home and role. Being an elite 3 and D guy and allstar---It's no small feat. Maybe he was never an MVP---But he did do this. Good for him.

[TiScape]

15 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

 

I'm happy for him. As you say, just getting drafted #1 doesn't mean you'll be a super star. He took his lumps in Minnesota and became a hollow scorer.

 

He was a really big deal in Canada. We were all really rooting for him. Not sure if you remember , but he was a legit super prospect on par with any of the big names of the past 20 years. He was arguably the first internet super prospect

 

Whatever happens to him, i'm really glad he finally found a home and role. Being an elite 3 and D guy and allstar---It's no small feat. Maybe he was never an MVP---But he did do this. Good for him.

Absolutely Mtl!