Around the League: Week 16 (1/30 - 2/5)

[JeremyG]

The Nets are proceeding in talks throughout the league as though they're determined to find a deal for Irving ahead of the NBA trade deadline Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, sources said. Brooklyn has been working to find deals that can keep the Nets in contention with the relatively imminent return of All-NBA star Kevin Durant, who has been out since mid-January with an MCL sprain.

[Split T]

Clippers can give them some real rotation guys…still think giving Toronto something they want to send FVV to Brooklyn would be the ideal outcome for Brooklyn. Not sure Toronto really wants to play ball like that though.

Clips don’t really have a pg to send though. Reggie Jackson has fallen off. But Jackson, Kennard, Covington would work salary wise.

[Split T]

I also kinda just wonder if all the suns/clippers/Mavs talk is being exaggerated to get LAL to give up both 1sts

[Mori Chu]

Hmm.

[Split T]

Thought this was interesting…

Warriors - Curry
Blazers - Dame
Bucks - Giannis
Nuggets - Jokic

There some discussion about Phoenix…it’ll surely be Book one day, but is it him yet? Or is it Barkley/Nash?

Ja probably gets there one day. How about KD for the Nets? Or is it Kidd?

[SunsRIt]

Thought this was interesting…

Warriors - Curry
Blazers - Dame
Bucks - Giannis
Nuggets - Jokic

There some discussion about Phoenix…it’ll surely be Book one day, but is it him yet? Or is it Barkley/Nash?

Ja probably gets there one day. How about KD for the Nets? Or is it Kidd?

Kareem and Drexler may have a problem with your list.

[MightyMoog]

Greatest Blazer was Walton. Drexler would be second.

[Split T]

My thoughts on Bucks/Blazers

Kareem is 3 MVPs and 1 title
Giannis is 2 MVPs and 1 title

Pretty close, but Giannis is the franchise leader in points and blocks. He will also become the franchise leader in assists within the next couple games. He’ll become the franchise leader in rebounds next year, and he’s got a shot at the steals record if he hangs around a few more years. He also hasn’t bailed on Milwaukee, that counts. So he takes Milwaukee for me.

I do think there’s a case for Drexler over Lillard. That’s probably some recency bias, stats are very close and I think Portland was probably actually more of a contender during Drexlers days. Lillard is the franchise scoring leader and will take over the assist lead soon. Drexler has steals. Walton didn’t play enough, even if he reached the highest peak.

[The Bobster]

When Booker wins an MVP we'll talk.

Nationals/76ers - Wilt Chamberlain
Bucks - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bulls - Michael Jordan
Cavaliers - LeBron James
Celtics - Bill Russell
Braves/Clippers - Bob McAdoo
Grizzlier - Pau Gasol
Hawks - Bob Pettit
Heat - LeBron James
Bobcats/Hornets - Kemba Walker
Jazz - Karl Malone
Royals/Kings - Oscar Robertson
Knicks - Walt Frazier
Lakers - Magic Johnson
Magic - Shaquille O'Neal
Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki
Nets - Julius Erving
Nuggets - Nikola Jokic
Pacers - Reggie Miller
Hornets/Pelicans - Chris Paul
Pistons - Isiah Thomas
Raptors - Vince Carter/Chris Bosh
Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon
Spurs - Tim Duncan/David Robinson
Suns - Charles Barkley
Sonics/Thunder - Kevin Durant
Timberwolves - Kevin Garnett
Trail Blazers - Bill Walton
Warriors - Wilt Chamberlain
Packers/Zephyrs/Bullets/Wizards - Elvin Hayes

[The Bobster]

My thoughts on Bucks/Blazers

Kareem is 3 MVPs and 1 title
Giannis is 2 MVPs and 1 title

Pretty close, but Giannis is the franchise leader in points and blocks. He will also become the franchise leader in assists within the next couple games. He’ll become the franchise leader in rebounds next year, and he’s got a shot at the steals record if he hangs around a few more years. He also hasn’t bailed on Milwaukee, that counts. So he takes Milwaukee for me.

I do think there’s a case for Drexler over Lillard. That’s probably some recency bias, stats are very close and I think Portland was probably actually more of a contender during Drexlers days. Lillard is the franchise scoring leader and will take over the assist lead soon. Drexler has steals. Walton didn’t play enough, even if he reached the highest peak.

Kareem is consider by some to be the great player all-time and his best days were as a Buck, so I'm going with Kareem. For now at least.

And Bill Walton was better than Drexler or Lillard.

[Split T]

I took longevity into consideration…but I get going with who reached the highest peak.

[Split T]

When Booker wins an MVP we'll talk.

Nationals/76ers - Wilt Chamberlain
Bucks - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bulls - Michael Jordan
Cavaliers - LeBron James
Celtics - Bill Russell
Braves/Clippers - Bob McAdoo
Hawks - Bob Pettit
Heat - LeBron James
Bobcats/Hornets - Kemba Walker
Jazz - Karl Malone
Royals/Kings - Oscar Robertson
Knicks - Walt Frazier
Lakers - Magic Johnson
Magic - Shaquille O'Neal
Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki
Nets - Julius Erving
Nuggets - Nikola Jokic
Pacers - Reggie Miller
Hornets/Pelicans - Chris Paul
Pistons - Isiah Thomas
Raptors - Vince Carter/Chris Bosh
Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon
Spurs - Tim Duncan/David Robinson
Suns - Charles Barkley
Sonics/Thunder - Kevin Durant
Timberwolves - Kevin Garnett
Trail Blazers - Bill Walton
Warriors - Wilt Chamberlain
Packers/Zephyrs/Bullets/Wizards - Elvin Hayes

Wilt over Curry? That’s really the only one I have a problem with. Wilt played 6 years with the warriors and had 1 mvp and 0 titles. Curry is at 14 years, 2 MVP’s and 4 titles.

Erving is the clear answer if you count the ABA, not sure who you’d say if you don’t…Kidd?

[The Bobster]

NBA MVPs by Franchise -

76ers - Chamberlain (3), Erving (1), Iverson (1), Malone (1)
Bucks - Abdul-Jabbar (3), Antetokounmpo (2)
Bulls - Jordan (5), Rose (1)
Cavaliers - James (2)
Celtics - Russell (5), Bird (3), Cousy (1), Cowens (1)
Braves/Clippers - McAdoo (1)
Hawks - Pettit (2)
Heat - James (2)
Jazz - Malone (2)
Royals/Kings - Robertson (1)
Knicks - Reed (1)
Lakers - Abdul-Jabbar (3), Johnson (3), Bryant (1), O'Neal (1)
Mavericks - Nowitzki (1)
Nuggets - Jokic (2)
Rockets - Malone (2), Harden (1), Olajuwon (1)
Spurs - Duncan (1), Robinson (1)
Suns - Nash (2), Barkley (1)
Timberwolves - Garnett (1)
Trail Blazers - Walton (1)
Sonics/Thunder - Durant (1), Westbrook (1)
Warriors - Curry (2), Chamberlain (1)
Packers/Zephyrs/Bullets/Wizards - Unseld (1)

[The Bobster]

Wilt over Curry? That’s really the only one I have a problem with. Wilt played 6 years with the warriors and had 1 mvp and 0 titles. Curry is at 14 years, 2 MVP’s and 4 titles.

Erving is the clear answer if you count the ABA, not sure who you’d say if you don’t…Kidd?

Yes, Wilt over Curry. Curry had a lot of help winning those 4 titles. Wilt with the Warriors - 41.5 points, 22.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists

For the Nets I guess it would be Kidd or Buck Williams, but nobody jumps out.

And I thi you can also argue Moses Malone over Hakeem for the Rockets, and Wilt over Erving for the 76ers.

The Knicks are kind of a toss-up with Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing.

[Split T]

Magic, Hornets, Pels, Pistons, Pacers, Grizzlies, Raptors, Nets… Those the franchises that have never won an mvp.

Think you missed Cavs - Lebron(2)

[Split T]

Wilt over Curry? That’s really the only one I have a problem with. Wilt played 6 years with the warriors and had 1 mvp and 0 titles. Curry is at 14 years, 2 MVP’s and 4 titles.

Erving is the clear answer if you count the ABA, not sure who you’d say if you don’t…Kidd?

Yes, Wilt over Curry. Curry had a lot of help winning those 4 titles. Wilt with the Warriors - 41.5 points, 22.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists

Was in the silly stats era though with a frenetic pace. 41/22 would translate to less today. I don’t think you’d get many warriors fans to agree with it being Wilt…of course he only played 1 year in the bay so that may not be fair. I’d still vote Curry

[The Bobster]

Magic, Hornets, Pels, Pistons, Pacers, Grizzlies, Raptors, Nets… Those the franchises that have never won an mvp.

Think you missed Cavs - Lebron(2)

I did. Fixed.

The Pistons did have Bobby McDermott in the early 1940's, who was widey-considered to be the best pro player before George Mikan.

The Pacers had Mel Daniels who was ABA MVP twice and George McGinnis who was onece, and it can be argued both were better than Miller.

The Nets had Erving of course (3 ABA MVPs) and Rick Barry before joining the NBA. Both are probably better than any Net up to Kevin Durant.

[The Bobster]

Wilt over Curry? That’s really the only one I have a problem with. Wilt played 6 years with the warriors and had 1 mvp and 0 titles. Curry is at 14 years, 2 MVP’s and 4 titles.

Erving is the clear answer if you count the ABA, not sure who you’d say if you don’t…Kidd?

Yes, Wilt over Curry. Curry had a lot of help winning those 4 titles. Wilt with the Warriors - 41.5 points, 22.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists

Was in the silly stats era though with a frenetic pace. 41/22 would translate to less today. I don’t think you’d get many warriors fans to agree with it being Wilt…of course he only played 1 year in the bay so that may not be fair. I’d still vote Curry

You also won't find anyone saying Curry is the greatest player ever, but you will with Wilt.

Wilt has a higher PER, better WS per 48 Min, asnd it took Curry 860+ games to match Wilt's Warriors for FGM (in 429 games), so you have to wonder where he would be without the 3-point shot.

[Superbone]

[Wally_West]