Everything Off Season

[inthepaint]

Here's a plan B in case we fail on Giannis:

1. Philly falls short again and gets antsy. Lowry + picks for Embiid.
2. Westbrook & Beal butt heads, Beal asks out. OG + Norm + fillers & picks for Beal.
3. Give the keys to FVV & Flynn to run point.
4. Core of FVV/Beal/Siakam/Embiid (all age 27 & under)
5. Start planning the championship parades, with Covid gone for good

Let's think of that rather than the plandtamars scenario lol

[GOLDBLUM]

Let's think of that rather than the planetmars scenario lol

In the event of planetmars’ scenario coming to pass, I’d literally be going to live on planet mars.

And not in homage of our much celebrated RR poster — but to expressly get away from my interplanetary-level woes.

[GOLDBLUM]

If Giannis leaves, why would the Bucks take on the albatross salary of PG - an injury prone player on the wrong side of 30? Especially when they'd also want to be in tank mode and re-loading with picks. Problem is, OKC has all of the Clippers picks. Clippers would need to find a 3rd team with picks who believes that PG puts them over the top or makes them relevant (hello, Knicks).

That’s the way golden! I knew I could count on you when I needed you. Not like Dan who was prepared to let me die in a swamp of sadness.

Thanks golden, for making sure this ponyboy stays the course.

[LJ2]

Good to see that Goldblum is preparing for a new season of game threads

[planetmars]

If Giannis leaves, why would the Bucks take on the albatross salary of PG - an injury prone player on the wrong side of 30? Especially when they'd also want to be in tank mode and re-loading with picks. Problem is, OKC has all of the Clippers picks. Clippers would need to find a 3rd team with picks who believes that PG puts them over the top or makes them relevant (hello, Knicks).

I don't know.. Bucks feel like the typical small market team that needs money from ticket sales and not a push to tank and win that way. Middleton is 29 already. They have a lot of older players like Lopez and now Jrue (depending on if he sticks around). They did give up a lot of picks for Jrue too. PG is a dream for a small market team in my opinion. He was a top 3 player 2 seasons ago.

If it doesn't work out they could flip him. Only danger really is if he becomes washed. Unlike Russ or Wall though he can shoot. And is really elite at it. Bud could do a lot with him.

[chris]

a few days old now but the giannis comments on the status of signing the extension are hilarious. "it's out of my hands." lol. you're literally the only party with control here. anyhow, that tells me he's not signing it before the 21st.

[LJ2]

Kawhi's chronic leg injury plays a big factor here. Watching him completely fall apart in second halves of that Nuggets series feels like an omen of things to come. He's a great player but whether he can make it through 4 playoff rounds at a high level is now a question mark. Can't shake the feeling that Toronto got the most out of Kawhi he was capable of - that was his peak and it's all downhill from there.

Giannis is just entering his prime.

You may very well be correct about Kawhi's health going down hill. I think if we was on the Raptors he wouldn't have to do as much "heavy lifting" with Siakam, OG and FVV hitting their primes and Lowry still there to orchestrate things. I'd take either player if the option was there, but I'm just not sure if this Raptors roster is so different from the Bucks roster which Giannis has struggled with in the playoffs. We need a player who can break down a defense on their own and create for himself in the playoffs. Kawhi can do that.

[golden]

I don't know.. Bucks feel like the typical small market team that needs money from ticket sales and not a push to tank and win that way. Middleton is 29 already. They have a lot of older players like Lopez and now Jrue (depending on if he sticks around). They did give up a lot of picks for Jrue too. PG is a dream for a small market team in my opinion. He was a top 3 player 2 seasons ago.

If it doesn't work out they could flip him. Only danger really is if he becomes washed. Unlike Russ or Wall though he can shoot. And is really elite at it. Bud could do a lot with him.

[golden]

That’s the way golden! I knew I could count on you when I needed you. Not like Dan who was prepared to let me die in a swamp of sadness.

Thanks golden, for making sure this ponyboy stays the course.

lol. TBH.... that was Dan's answer when I proposed the 3-way trade: Lowry to Clippers, PG to Bucks, Giannis to Raps.

As long as Dan & I aren't debating Powell, FVV, Serge & Gasol.... we can get along. lol.

[S.R.]

Kawhi's chronic leg injury plays a big factor here. Watching him completely fall apart in second halves of that Nuggets series feels like an omen of things to come. He's a great player but whether he can make it through 4 playoff rounds at a high level is now a question mark. Can't shake the feeling that Toronto got the most out of Kawhi he was capable of - that was his peak and it's all downhill from there.

Giannis is just entering his prime.

In hindsight the Raptors were just the perfect set up, perfect roster, perfect management to deal with Kawhi & his issues. Health-wise, locker room-wise, I'm not sure he finds that again. A team like the Clippers needs a bit more mileage out of him and he runs down physically through the season. They need a bit more in the locker room from him, and it's just not there. And with both teams, Kawhi's special treatment caused some internal issues but the Raptors were mature enough, focused enough, and had the leadership to handle it and still get the job done. The Clippers don't and I think a lot of teams don't have the level of leadership that Masai/Nurse/Lowry/Gasol etc. brought to the table that season.

And don't forget in the Raptors run, Kawhi basically peaked in the second round. The rest of the team rebounded vs Milwaukee and Kawhi was hobbling around the court at the end of the playoffs, but the team was good enough to win (& KD was injured).

Kawhi got all the credit in the end because superstars drive NBA narratives. But that may very well have been the peak of Kawhi's career.

[Puffer]

Good to see that Goldblum is preparing for a new season of game threads

Preparing??? He's already in game shape. I can't imagine what it will be like when he peaks. I probably won't even bother watching the games.

[GOLDBLUM]

Preparing??? He's already in game shape. I can't imagine what it will be like when he peaks. I probably won't even bother watching the games.

In truth, LJ2's post sparked my inspiration.
The gifs were already flowing freely today. But I might not have thought to make a thread were it not for his post.

[007]

Knicks starting Payton-Burks-Barrett-Randle-Noel

Only one shooter for RJ to play with, his development is not being helped

[DogeLover1234]

Knicks starting Payton-Burks-Barrett-Randle-Noel

Only one shooter for RJ to play with, his development is not being helped

Im so curious what it would take to get Mitchell Robinson. One of the most intriguing young big men who seems to be totally undervalued by his own team

[The Great One]

Last year before the draft I said that RJ is just a smaller version of Thad Young. I still feel that way.