Around the League: Week 3 10/29-11/4

[JCSunsfan]

Funny thing is that the Suns fan wanted him as a pg. But Doncic as a pf would have been perfect alongside Ayton.

[ShelC]

Doncic is the kinda of guy you throw out there and say, "Go play". He never could've guarded PGs so you'd have to cross match defensively. He was always going to be a playmaking SF/PF.

[O_Gardino]

I still can't understand why the Cavs gave that contract to Love. I thought for sure he was gone for a winning team this season.

So they can try to compete for the playoffs in the weak East while also keeping the player's value if they decide to rebuild and trade him. Otherwise they are looking at a Jimmy Butler scenario where the player is good but his value is low due to his contract status.

I think Love's value in a trade is low because of that monster contract.

Isn't he going to making less than Booker? In comparison to Wall's contract, it seems manageable.

30 million per through 2022-2023. Sure, it'll probably be less that Booker, but he's not nearly as good as Booker. Is he even going to be playing regular minutes by then?

[O_Gardino]

Funny thing is that the Suns fan wanted him as a pg. But Doncic as a pf would have been perfect alongside Ayton.

I think literally everyone who liked him on this site wanted him as a forward.

[In2ition]

I still can't understand why the Cavs gave that contract to Love. I thought for sure he was gone for a winning team this season.

So they can try to compete for the playoffs in the weak East while also keeping the player's value if they decide to rebuild and trade him. Otherwise they are looking at a Jimmy Butler scenario where the player is good but his value is low due to his contract status.

I think Love's value in a trade is low because of that monster contract.

Isn't he going to making less than Booker? In comparison to Wall's contract, it seems manageable.

30 million per through 2022-2023. Sure, it'll probably be less that Booker, but he's not nearly as good as Booker. Is he even going to be playing regular minutes by then?

I wonder the same thing.

[TOO]

Funny thing is that the Suns fan wanted him as a pg. But Doncic as a pf would have been perfect alongside Ayton.

I think literally everyone who liked him on this site wanted him as a forward.

I wanted him as a lead ball handler to pair with Booker, I think it would have been dynamite. Your wings are set for 10yrs there. Not sad we took Ayton, he's been tremendous for us.

[Xylus]

Is it still possible to draft both Ayton and Doncic?

[Superbone]

Is it still possible to draft both Ayton and Doncic?

Not sure what your question is. Is time travel possible? I wonder if there is anything we could have done to come out of that draft with both. Would JJ + Milwaukee pick + our 2019 1st round pick have got it done? Probably not, right?

[Superbone]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2512 ... der-option

Bender has a chance to choose his own destination next summer. For Bender, the goal will be to find a more stable organization with a willingness to invest in him at a lower salary for the long view. The pressure of getting chosen fourth overall in the draft will subside outside of Phoenix, and it will become easier for Bender to work his way through expectations that'll no longer dictate he has to become a star.

"I am 20, and I will keep working to be the best NBA player I can be and make it in this league whether it's with Phoenix or another team," Bender told ESPN.

Bender averaged 6.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 25 minutes a game last season but has fallen out of the playing rotation this season.

Houston also leaning against picking up Chriss' option.

[Superbone]

Conley’s Grizzlies beat Wall’s Wiz tonight.

[pickle]

Funny thing is that the Suns fan wanted him as a pg. But Doncic as a pf would have been perfect alongside Ayton.

I think literally everyone who liked him on this site wanted him as a forward.

Really don't think that matters, whether he's a pg or a pf. He can handle the ball on offense and direct the offense. He's big enough and tough enough to rebound like a pf on the other end. I'm open to being creative in terms of who guards whom on defense. I agree with what Shel said. Doncic is talented enough that you just throw him out there and say, go make good things happen.

[pickle]

Also, I know that my proposal in another thread of sending out Booker for the second/third pick plus assets was not popular (say Booker for third pick, Taurean Prince, and Atlanta's first in the 2019 draft), but what about if we had traded down with the first pick, Ayton for Doncic and Giles, or Ayton for Doncic and Taurean Prince, and then gave Capela that max offer we were threatening? There were options.

But yeah, that ship has sailed so there's no point dwelling on them again. Let's just look at the team we have now, with Ayton Booker Warren Bridges Jackson Okobo Melton as our key pieces moving forward. Hopefully Jackson doesn't fizzle out like our two PFs.

[ShelC]

The only "key" pieces for me on that list are Booker and Ayton. I certainly like the other guys but wouldn't turn down the right deal by not including them.

On a separate note, I caught the Raptors-Sixers game last night and while it looked like a blowout, the Sixers made a nice run late in the game which made the 4th Qtr very good but the Raptors were able to hold them off. A few observations: The Raptors are very good and are a very tough team. I thought Lowry would sulk and have another down year due to age, the DeRozan trade, a little burnout but he's still a tough SOB who's the heart of that team. Hard to get a read on Leonard but he's doing his thing and maybe there is a chance they keep him. Nurse has their offense rolling with some very good sets and Danny Green hit some very big shots late. Their bigs still aren't great but got off because the Sixers have no inside presence except Embiid.

The Sixers are a dangerous team and play some really good basketball at times, but Simmons couldn't hold onto the ball last night (11 turnovers) and you don't have to guard him outside of the paint. I do like the potential of his backdown/post-up game and that may be the best way to get offense out of him because he's just not comfortable shooting. The Sixers also have no depth behind Embiid and Saric, tho Amir Johnson had some good moments in his 12 minutes, and they still don't know what to do with Fultz. Covington and Redick are essential to their team. I actually wish we had 3 Robert Covington's on our team. But again, outside of those two, not much depth if Fultz isn't effective and McConnel can't crack 10minutes.

[UglyTruth]

Is it still possible to draft both Ayton and Doncic?

Sure, if you’re willing to give up Booker for it.

[UglyTruth]

Funny thing is that the Suns fan wanted him as a pg. But Doncic as a pf would have been perfect alongside Ayton.

Suns play positionless basketball so PG or PF would not matter.

LeBron James played Pg for the Cavs but I’m sure he was listed as a PF. He was the lead ball handler and that’s what matters.

Doncic could’ve had a similar role here.

Doncic at #1 and Mitchell Robinson at #31 and we could’ve had

Doncic
Booker
Bridges
Warren
Robinson

[The Bobster]

Can't believe there are still people who would rather have Doncic than Ayton.

[Indy]

Can't believe there are still people who would rather have Doncic than Ayton.

I am not sure there will be a clear winner this season, or even in 5. And someone that was in Camp Doncic before the draft, I am thrilled with what Ayton has shown us so far.

[Cap]

It’s not just Ayton and Doncic. This looks like it might turn out to be the most amazing draft ever. What these kids are doing at their age is just incredible.

http://bkref.com/tiny/qCWRs

Code: Select all

                          
Per 36 minutes
                                                                                                         
Rk          Player  Season Age G GS  MP  FG  FGA  FG%  3P 3PA  3P%  2P  2PA  2P%  FT FTA  FT% ORB DRB  TRB AST STL BLK TOV  PF  PTS
1    Deandre Ayton 2018-19  20 6  6 187 9.0 14.1 .644 0.0      0.0 9.0 14.1 .644 2.1 2.5 .846 2.1 9.8 11.9 4.4 0.8 0.8 1.3 3.5 20.2
2    Marvin Bagley 2018-19  19 8  0 186 7.5 14.1 .534 1.0 1.7 .556 6.6 12.4 .531 3.1 5.6 .552 4.5 6.6 11.0 1.9 1.4 1.9 3.9 3.7 19.2
3    Mohamed Bamba 2018-19  20 7  0 144 4.2  8.2 .515 1.2 3.2 .385 3.0  5.0 .600 0.2 1.2 .200 2.0 7.5  9.5 2.0 0.5 3.5 1.2 2.3 10.0
4      Luka Doncic 2018-19  19 7  7 250 7.2 15.7 .459 2.7 7.1 .388 4.5  8.6 .517 3.5 4.8 .727 1.0 5.5  6.5 4.0 0.9 0.4 4.3 1.9 20.6
5    Jaren Jackson 2018-19  19 6  4 136 6.6 14.3 .463 0.5 3.4 .154 6.1 10.9 .561 4.5 5.6 .810 2.1 6.1  8.2 2.1 1.9 1.6 1.9 6.9 18.3
6       Trae Young 2018-19  20 7  7 220 7.4 17.2 .429 2.6 7.7 .340 4.7  9.5 .500 4.6 6.1 .757 0.5 2.8  3.3 7.5 0.7 0.3 3.4 2.5 21.9

[Indy]

It’s not just Ayton and Doncic. This looks like it might turn out to be the most amazing draft ever. What these kids are doing at their age is just incredible.

http://bkref.com/tiny/qCWRs

Code: Select all

                          
Per 36 minutes
                                                                                                         
Rk          Player  Season Age G GS  MP  FG  FGA  FG%  3P 3PA  3P%  2P  2PA  2P%  FT FTA  FT% ORB DRB  TRB AST STL BLK TOV  PF  PTS
1    Deandre Ayton 2018-19  20 6  6 187 9.0 14.1 .644 0.0      0.0 9.0 14.1 .644 2.1 2.5 .846 2.1 9.8 11.9 4.4 0.8 0.8 1.3 3.5 20.2
2    Marvin Bagley 2018-19  19 8  0 186 7.5 14.1 .534 1.0 1.7 .556 6.6 12.4 .531 3.1 5.6 .552 4.5 6.6 11.0 1.9 1.4 1.9 3.9 3.7 19.2
3    Mohamed Bamba 2018-19  20 7  0 144 4.2  8.2 .515 1.2 3.2 .385 3.0  5.0 .600 0.2 1.2 .200 2.0 7.5  9.5 2.0 0.5 3.5 1.2 2.3 10.0
4      Luka Doncic 2018-19  19 7  7 250 7.2 15.7 .459 2.7 7.1 .388 4.5  8.6 .517 3.5 4.8 .727 1.0 5.5  6.5 4.0 0.9 0.4 4.3 1.9 20.6
5    Jaren Jackson 2018-19  19 6  4 136 6.6 14.3 .463 0.5 3.4 .154 6.1 10.9 .561 4.5 5.6 .810 2.1 6.1  8.2 2.1 1.9 1.6 1.9 6.9 18.3
6       Trae Young 2018-19  20 7  7 220 7.4 17.2 .429 2.6 7.7 .340 4.7  9.5 .500 4.6 6.1 .757 0.5 2.8  3.3 7.5 0.7 0.3 3.4 2.5 21.9

Yeah, one of the last 7SOL podcasts had David talking about the likelihood that all top 10 picks might be starting by the end of the year. Crazy.

[O_Gardino]

I wanted Doncic and JJJ was #3 for me. Jackson isn't having the impact I thought he would have, and I've very surprised at his early shooting trouble. Once his shot starts falling, and he learns when to stay on his feet, he'll be fine.

How about Bagley and Bamba's FT%?

Young is still what he was in college, which is better than a lot of people thought he would be.