NBA News: Offseason

[Ring_Wanted]

I think Durant's keen to get the whole free agent experience, where he's courted by multiple teams. It is tough to get a read on what he'll decide though

You never know. LaMarcus and others have bolted against common wisdom. The King himself did. But I believe the Ibaka trade has been a move in the right direction for them and it's simply not possibly for it to not have the blessing of Durant unless Presti has gone insanely reckless.

[Ring_Wanted]

https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/746701462571524096 Hahha

[Ring_Wanted]

Also reading that Sergio Rodríguez is going to be back in the NBA. Supposedly signing with an undisclosed western conference team.

Major addition for any second unit.

[carey]

Also reading that Sergio Rodríguez is going to be back in the NBA. Supposedly signing with an undisclosed western conference team.

Major addition for any second unit.

Pick said the Nets are the favorite to land him. He's 30 now. Seems like a weird move.

[INFORMER]

I expect a big time resurgence and bounce-back year from him in Orlando because he will immediately be their best front court player (though I'm a Vucevic fan his offense is limited.)

Well first, I have no idea how Vucevic's offense is "limited." The guy averaged 18 ppg last season. Secondly, with Aaron Gordon blossoming, Ibaka may easily be the 3rd best player in that frontcourt.

[INFORMER]

I wonder if he's upset that they got rid of Ibaka. Were they good friends? I love that trade for OKC, but if Ibaka was his good friend, I could see him being upset at trading him for some rookie forward and other assets.

On Sportscenter at least, they were saying he wasn't pushing for an Ibaka trade but was OK with it and the FO wouldn't have made the deal had they felt it would have negatively impacted their chances of re-signing Durant. In fact, it may help their chances because Ibaka was a little unhappy with his role, especially with the emergence of Adams. Thunder felt good enough with Adams going forward that Ibaka became a bit more expendable, also wasn't the same player he was 3 years ago.

I'm still undecided on that trade. I have no problem with them moving Ibaka, and in a vacuum, I love what they got for him, but I'm not sure I like how those pieces fit their team. I'm not crazy about combining Oladipo and Westbrook in the same backcourt (very similar players) and I don't particularly like the pairing of Sabonis and Adams.

[carey]

I expect a big time resurgence and bounce-back year from him in Orlando because he will immediately be their best front court player (though I'm a Vucevic fan his offense is limited.)

Well first, I have no idea how Vucevic's offense is "limited." The guy averaged 18 ppg last season. Secondly, with Aaron Gordon blossoming, Ibaka may easily be the 3rd best player in that frontcourt.

It's limited to the elbows and around the basket: http://vorped.com/1-nba/2015-2016/playe ... shotchart/

I wasn't aware Aaron Gordon was blossoming just yet. I guess he did have a handful of 20 point games over the last 2 months of the season but he still can't really shoot. His shot chart is essentially all at the rim though he did shoot o.k. from 3 at the right corner but not enough to bring it up to even 30%. http://vorped.com/1-nba/2015-2016/playe ... shotchart/

[Ring_Wanted]

Also reading that Sergio Rodríguez is going to be back in the NBA. Supposedly signing with an undisclosed western conference team.

Major addition for any second unit.

Pick said the Nets are the favorite to land him. He's 30 now. Seems like a weird move.

Nets suck but money and playing time would be available for sure. Still, he is coming from one of the best european teams in recent memory, winning a ton. Nets would be a huge step back in that sense and he is 30.

NYK make more sense, even with Rose, whose health you can't trust anyway.

[Ring_Wanted]

I wonder if he's upset that they got rid of Ibaka. Were they good friends? I love that trade for OKC, but if Ibaka was his good friend, I could see him being upset at trading him for some rookie forward and other assets.

On Sportscenter at least, they were saying he wasn't pushing for an Ibaka trade but was OK with it and the FO wouldn't have made the deal had they felt it would have negatively impacted their chances of re-signing Durant. In fact, it may help their chances because Ibaka was a little unhappy with his role, especially with the emergence of Adams. Thunder felt good enough with Adams going forward that Ibaka became a bit more expendable, also wasn't the same player he was 3 years ago.

I'm still undecided on that trade. I have no problem with them moving Ibaka, and in a vacuum, I love what they got for him, but I'm not sure I like how those pieces fit their team. I'm not crazy about combining Oladipo and Westbrook in the same backcourt (very similar players) and I don't particularly like the pairing of Sabonis and Adams.

Maybe Dipo will play 6th man. Orlando played their best basketball last season that way, and surrounding Westbrook and Durant you need defense but also reliable shooting. At least Presti doesn't need to resign Waiters now.

[SDC]

Divac must love Bog Bog, thats why he made that trade with mcdo. wont be surprised if the serbian shooting guard change his mind and come to the nba anyway


Sent from my LG-E615

[SDC]

I wonder if he's upset that they got rid of Ibaka. Were they good friends? I love that trade for OKC, but if Ibaka was his good friend, I could see him being upset at trading him for some rookie forward and other assets.

On Sportscenter at least, they were saying he wasn't pushing for an Ibaka trade but was OK with it and the FO wouldn't have made the deal had they felt it would have negatively impacted their chances of re-signing Durant. In fact, it may help their chances because Ibaka was a little unhappy with his role, especially with the emergence of Adams. Thunder felt good enough with Adams going forward that Ibaka became a bit more expendable, also wasn't the same player he was 3 years ago.

I'm still undecided on that trade. I have no problem with them moving Ibaka, and in a vacuum, I love what they got for him, but I'm not sure I like how those pieces fit their team. I'm not crazy about combining Oladipo and Westbrook in the same backcourt (very similar players) and I don't particularly like the pairing of Sabonis and Adams.

Maybe Dipo will play 6th man. Orlando played their best basketball last season that way, and surrounding Westbrook and Durant you need defense but also reliable shooting. At least Presti doesn't need to resign Waiters now.

Hes an upgrade over their current starting sg

[carey]

Did you all see the reddit "investigation" about Thon Maker's age? About how he's supposedly 22-23 already, not 19? Many have claimed Serge Ibaka is much older than 26 as well.

[Mori Chu]

I hear he's got a bit of African in him.

</sarcasm>

[Sunsfan4life]

I wonder if he's upset that they got rid of Ibaka. Were they good friends? I love that trade for OKC, but if Ibaka was his good friend, I could see him being upset at trading him for some rookie forward and other assets.

On Sportscenter at least, they were saying he wasn't pushing for an Ibaka trade but was OK with it and the FO wouldn't have made the deal had they felt it would have negatively impacted their chances of re-signing Durant. In fact, it may help their chances because Ibaka was a little unhappy with his role, especially with the emergence of Adams. Thunder felt good enough with Adams going forward that Ibaka became a bit more expendable, also wasn't the same player he was 3 years ago.

I'm still undecided on that trade. I have no problem with them moving Ibaka, and in a vacuum, I love what they got for him, but I'm not sure I like how those pieces fit their team. I'm not crazy about combining Oladipo and Westbrook in the same backcourt (very similar players) and I don't particularly like the pairing of Sabonis and Adams.

This is pretty much how I feel. I think value for value, OKC won but dipo and sabonis aren't the best fits there. I sill would of done it if I were OKC, Ibaka has regressed the last 2 years and at the very least he needed a change of scenery. He's due a big pay day next yr.

[OE32]

I think OKC would do well to try to move Kanter for another rim protector. They have enough bruisers and guys who can score around the basket. Now they could use some length and agility. I just don't know who would be interested.

[TOO]

I'd trade Chandler for Kanter. I have always liked Kanter, terrible defense be damned. Maybe Len could learn some offensive assertiveness from the Turkish delight.

[carey]

I hear he's got a bit of African in him.

</sarcasm>

It kind of makes those videos of him crossing over 8th graders as an adult kind of hilarious.

[O_Gardino]

What are everyone's free agency predictions? Are we expecting any big moves? Horford, Whiteside, Derozan, Batum, Gasol, and Howard seem like the big names that could move.

I think Whiteside to the Knicks could be fun. I'd like to see the warriors bring in Joakim Noah, that could be really fun if he's healthy.

I'm worried that we will make some move that brings in talent but makes no sense in the big picture, like bringing in a vet who will get us a few wins but will take minutes from our young guys and make our pick worse. Gasol or Horford are examples of guys like that.

I skimmed overt this post when you first made it. Horford is 30 and will likely get a long max contract. Gasol is 36 and will want to play for a contender.

But, damn. Now all I can think is that Gasol might be the perfect vet to come in a teach the new kids. He is one of the best passing bigs of his generation (something Bender is ready to learn), and he is a balanced player. Knows how to play at the rim and also knows how to shoot. Good rebounder. Good team defender. And maybe ready to come to a team with a great training staff for some reduced minutes. Somebody tell him he's old and needs to start the final phase of his career, please!

[Superbone]

What are everyone's free agency predictions? Are we expecting any big moves? Horford, Whiteside, Derozan, Batum, Gasol, and Howard seem like the big names that could move.

I think Whiteside to the Knicks could be fun. I'd like to see the warriors bring in Joakim Noah, that could be really fun if he's healthy.

I'm worried that we will make some move that brings in talent but makes no sense in the big picture, like bringing in a vet who will get us a few wins but will take minutes from our young guys and make our pick worse. Gasol or Horford are examples of guys like that.

I skimmed overt this post when you first made it. Horford is 30 and will likely get a long max contract. Gasol is 36 and will want to play for a contender.

But, damn. Now all I can think is that Gasol might be the perfect vert to come in a teach the new kids. He is one of the best passing bigs of his generation (something Bender is ready to learn), and he is a balanced player. Knows how to play at the rim and also knows how to shoot. Good rebounder. Good team defender. And maybe ready to come to a team with a great training staff for some reduced minutes. Somebody tell him he's old and needs to start the final phase of his career, please!

That sounds good but I don't think we're what he's looking for. I'd think he'd want to be in the mix near the top of the playoffs.

[Cap]

What are everyone's free agency predictions? Are we expecting any big moves? Horford, Whiteside, Derozan, Batum, Gasol, and Howard seem like the big names that could move.

I think Whiteside to the Knicks could be fun. I'd like to see the warriors bring in Joakim Noah, that could be really fun if he's healthy.

I'm worried that we will make some move that brings in talent but makes no sense in the big picture, like bringing in a vet who will get us a few wins but will take minutes from our young guys and make our pick worse. Gasol or Horford are examples of guys like that.

I skimmed overt this post when you first made it. Horford is 30 and will likely get a long max contract. Gasol is 36 and will want to play for a contender.

But, damn. Now all I can think is that Gasol might be the perfect vert to come in a teach the new kids. He is one of the best passing bigs of his generation (something Bender is ready to learn), and he is a balanced player. Knows how to play at the rim and also knows how to shoot. Good rebounder. Good team defender. And maybe ready to come to a team with a great training staff for some reduced minutes. Somebody tell him he's old and needs to start the final phase of his career, please!

That sounds good but I don't think we're what he's looking for. I'd think he'd want to be in the mix near the top of the playoffs.

Even if he does decide that at this point in his career he wants to start to take a lesser role on the court and focus more on mentoring youngsters, I imagine he'd want to do that someplace he has a history. Or at least someplace he can count on ownership to appreciate the contribution.