Around the League: Week 20 3/9-3/15

[In2ition]

Craig Hodges calls out Michael Jordan over 'cocaine circus' comments in 'The Last Dance' documentary

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/crai ... cumentary/

"One of the things as players we call this a fraternity," Hodges said. "So I'm watching the first episode and I was upset about the 'cocaine circus.' That bothered me because I was thinking about the brothers who are on that picture with you who have to explain to their families who are getting ready to watch this great Michael Jordan documentary event and they know you're on the team, and now you've got to explain that to a 12-year-old boy."

At this point, would the 12 yr old be the grandson of the teammates he played with? Hodges is being a little sensitive, imo.

[ShelC]

Yea really that stuff was 35 years ago. I'd just be like "It was the 80s".

[Split T]

Hodges just seems upset he’s not in the documentary. He wasn’t even on that cocaine team

[Superbone]

18 year anniversary

Can't have that without this:

[O_Gardino]

Speaking of practice, did anyone else catch this interview with Rex Chapman last year?

Apparently, KJ didn't like practicing and didn't like how hard Nash worked in practice.

[Superbone]

No, I didn't. Thanks for posting.

[Superbone]

I'm really glad Rex turned his life around.

[Mori Chu]

Rex Chapman's twitter feed is absolutely bonkers.

[Superbone]

He even admits to have been a drug addict during the interview. So glad he cleaned up. I like his openness.

[INFORMER]

On a different subject, I heard on some podcast that Lauri Markannen wants out of Chicago. Do we want him and for what assets? Personally I'm willing to put up the first round pick this year and maybe Okobo, though I don't know if that's enough for the Bulls. I think he can hold down the starting spot, and if we can get Saric back for a decent contract, we'd have a complete roster for the first time since ... the Dragic and Frye days?

Gambo thinks it will take a good player like Kelly plus a 1st.

Then the Suns should walk away. Oubre is better than Markannen, so Oubre + 1st is a non-starter. The same applies to a Oubre/Aaron Gordon deal.

Inf, what is your scouting report on Markannen? And on Oubre, since I'm asking...

I love Oubre so I probably wouldn't do that deal either, but interested in your take in more detail.

I like Markannen and think he could work next to Ayton. He has the shooting range, just needs to work at consistently capitalizing on it. There could be some defensive issues, and his rebounding isn't reliable yet, but he kind of reminds me of Tom Chambers.

Oubre is someone that has won me over to a certain extent. I hate that he isn't a productive passer, but I appreciate the work he has put in to improve. He has the attitude, energy, and aggressiveness we need, and I think he takes some of the burden off of Booker. His next contract scares me a bit, but the money situation in the NBA in general is a big question mark now that is appears COVID-19 is going to have a significant economic toll on the NBA.

[virtual9mm]

On a different subject, I heard on some podcast that Lauri Markannen wants out of Chicago. Do we want him and for what assets? Personally I'm willing to put up the first round pick this year and maybe Okobo, though I don't know if that's enough for the Bulls. I think he can hold down the starting spot, and if we can get Saric back for a decent contract, we'd have a complete roster for the first time since ... the Dragic and Frye days?

Gambo thinks it will take a good player like Kelly plus a 1st.

Then the Suns should walk away. Oubre is better than Markannen, so Oubre + 1st is a non-starter. The same applies to a Oubre/Aaron Gordon deal.

Inf, what is your scouting report on Markannen? And on Oubre, since I'm asking...

I love Oubre so I probably wouldn't do that deal either, but interested in your take in more detail.

I like Markannen and think he could work next to Ayton. He has the shooting range, just needs to work at consistently capitalizing on it. There could be some defensive issues, and his rebounding isn't reliable yet, but he kind of reminds me of Tom Chambers.

Oubre is someone that has won me over to a certain extent. I hate that he isn't a productive passer, but I appreciate the work he has put in to improve. He has the attitude, energy, and aggressiveness we need, and I think he takes some of the burden off of Booker. His next contract scares me a bit, but the money situation in the NBA in general is a big question mark now that is appears COVID-19 is going to have a significant economic toll on the NBA.

We're going to be shocked how far the salary cap crashes.

[Split T]

Gambo thinks it will take a good player like Kelly plus a 1st.

Then the Suns should walk away. Oubre is better than Markannen, so Oubre + 1st is a non-starter. The same applies to a Oubre/Aaron Gordon deal.

Inf, what is your scouting report on Markannen? And on Oubre, since I'm asking...

I love Oubre so I probably wouldn't do that deal either, but interested in your take in more detail.

I like Markannen and think he could work next to Ayton. He has the shooting range, just needs to work at consistently capitalizing on it. There could be some defensive issues, and his rebounding isn't reliable yet, but he kind of reminds me of Tom Chambers.

Oubre is someone that has won me over to a certain extent. I hate that he isn't a productive passer, but I appreciate the work he has put in to improve. He has the attitude, energy, and aggressiveness we need, and I think he takes some of the burden off of Booker. His next contract scares me a bit, but the money situation in the NBA in general is a big question mark now that is appears COVID-19 is going to have a significant economic toll on the NBA.

We're going to be shocked how far the salary cap crashes.

Will anyone have cap space? Especially if the rest of the season doesn’t get played. The cap was supposed to go up about 8 million I believe...we already had the China stuff that was going to drop it. Not playing the playoffs could drop it significantly. Feels like a terrible time to be a free agent. Nothing but mid level deals and resigning with current teams probably. No one is going to be turning down those player options.

[virtual9mm]

Then the Suns should walk away. Oubre is better than Markannen, so Oubre + 1st is a non-starter. The same applies to a Oubre/Aaron Gordon deal.

Inf, what is your scouting report on Markannen? And on Oubre, since I'm asking...

I love Oubre so I probably wouldn't do that deal either, but interested in your take in more detail.

I like Markannen and think he could work next to Ayton. He has the shooting range, just needs to work at consistently capitalizing on it. There could be some defensive issues, and his rebounding isn't reliable yet, but he kind of reminds me of Tom Chambers.

Oubre is someone that has won me over to a certain extent. I hate that he isn't a productive passer, but I appreciate the work he has put in to improve. He has the attitude, energy, and aggressiveness we need, and I think he takes some of the burden off of Booker. His next contract scares me a bit, but the money situation in the NBA in general is a big question mark now that is appears COVID-19 is going to have a significant economic toll on the NBA.

We're going to be shocked how far the salary cap crashes.

Will anyone have cap space? Especially if the rest of the season doesn’t get played. The cap was supposed to go up about 8 million I believe...we already had the China stuff that was going to drop it. Not playing the playoffs could drop it significantly. Feels like a terrible time to be a free agent. Nothing but mid level deals and resigning with current teams probably. No one is going to be turning down those player options.

I also think we'll see lots and lots of deals with existing teams that are just higher than the mid-level deals that other teams can offer. The Suns are going to be in great shape because they didn't sign many deals under what turned out to be a temporarily high cap except Booker's.

[Mori Chu]

Even if the cap does crash, they'll add in a bunch of exceptions and things to help teams wiggle around it.

[O_Gardino]

A lower cap would impact rookie scale salaries, too, wouldn't it? This could turn out to be a great year to have multiple picks, or maybe more kids stay in school and the draft class gets even weaker.

[ShelC]

It's all relative tho right? Lower cap is due to lower revenue, which is less money for owners to spend. It's not like the owners are bringing in the same money while the players are paid less. Everything would be scaled up or down accordingly for both sides.

[O_Gardino]

Yeah, that's how I understand it. All those salary numbers are tied to the previous year's revenue.

[specialsauce]

On a different subject, I heard on some podcast that Lauri Markannen wants out of Chicago. Do we want him and for what assets? Personally I'm willing to put up the first round pick this year and maybe Okobo, though I don't know if that's enough for the Bulls. I think he can hold down the starting spot, and if we can get Saric back for a decent contract, we'd have a complete roster for the first time since ... the Dragic and Frye days?

Gambo thinks it will take a good player like Kelly plus a 1st.

Then the Suns should walk away. Oubre is better than Markannen, so Oubre + 1st is a non-starter. The same applies to a Oubre/Aaron Gordon deal.

Inf, what is your scouting report on Markannen? And on Oubre, since I'm asking...

I love Oubre so I probably wouldn't do that deal either, but interested in your take in more detail.

I like Markannen and think he could work next to Ayton. He has the shooting range, just needs to work at consistently capitalizing on it. There could be some defensive issues, and his rebounding isn't reliable yet, but he kind of reminds me of Tom Chambers.

Oubre is someone that has won me over to a certain extent. I hate that he isn't a productive passer, but I appreciate the work he has put in to improve. He has the attitude, energy, and aggressiveness we need, and I think he takes some of the burden off of Booker. His next contract scares me a bit, but the money situation in the NBA in general is a big question mark now that is appears COVID-19 is going to have a significant economic toll on the NBA.

Lies, fake news, conspiracies

Only things he takes away from Book and DA are wins

[Indy]

Gambo thinks it will take a good player like Kelly plus a 1st.

Then the Suns should walk away. Oubre is better than Markannen, so Oubre + 1st is a non-starter. The same applies to a Oubre/Aaron Gordon deal.

Inf, what is your scouting report on Markannen? And on Oubre, since I'm asking...

I love Oubre so I probably wouldn't do that deal either, but interested in your take in more detail.

I like Markannen and think he could work next to Ayton. He has the shooting range, just needs to work at consistently capitalizing on it. There could be some defensive issues, and his rebounding isn't reliable yet, but he kind of reminds me of Tom Chambers.

Oubre is someone that has won me over to a certain extent. I hate that he isn't a productive passer, but I appreciate the work he has put in to improve. He has the attitude, energy, and aggressiveness we need, and I think he takes some of the burden off of Booker. His next contract scares me a bit, but the money situation in the NBA in general is a big question mark now that is appears COVID-19 is going to have a significant economic toll on the NBA.

Lies, fake news, conspiracies

Only things he takes away from Book and DA are wins

He is 4th on the team in win shares...

Book at 6.0
Rubio and Mikal tied at 4.1
Kelly at 3.6

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Lies, fake news, conspiracies

Only things he takes away from Book and DA are wins

He is 4th on the team in win shares...

Book at 6.0
Rubio and Mikal tied at 4.1
Kelly at 3.6

It's so typical of the actual fake news, to use those words accusing actual facts of being untrue!!!

Modern times...