Around the League: The Offseason

[carey]

Whoever our resident night owl is get ready to take over posting news. I'm already tired and will be crashing somewhat soon.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/AdamMKaufman/status/881001493108621313 WHY!? That OKC deal wasn't going any damn where. It would be hilarious if Presti turned around and just ransomed PG to Boston now.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/16WinsARing/status/881008538708869121 Why would Reddick sign for just one year? Even if it is $20M?

[carey]

https://twitter.com/TonyD1070/status/881008855337119744 If this happens and Pels strike out on Lowry then that opens up Knight to NOLA as I've suggested a few times.

[Split T]

Why would Jrue go to Indiana? He'd be better off in NO

[carey]

Why would Jrue go to Indiana? He'd be better off in NO

It's where Lauren is from. Also if you were unaware Jrue took a leave of absence from the Pelicans to be with her when she had brain surgery to remove a tumor. They also have a newborn so I would think this is all about being closer to her family.

[Split T]

I knew about the brain tumor. Didn't know she was from Indiana. Makes more sense now

[Mori Chu]

Oladipo went to Indiana in college, didn't he? So sending him to the Pacers is bringing him back "home."

[Hermen]

That's a solid start to free agency.
- If I'm Indiana's owner I'm probably looking for a new front office. No way this is all they could get. Did they not see how the Wolves handled the Love trade?
- I wonder what OKC is planing. Is there any reason to believe George will resign there? How soon can they trade him again?
- A solid get for Utah in Rubio, but wasn't Hayward close with Hill? I feel sorry for the Jazz, it seems like they did a very good rebuilding job, but if Hayward leaves who's scoring for them?
- I'm not a fan of Jeff Teague. It will be interesting to see how the Wolves do this year.

[bajanguy008]

Jrue stays
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/881100165343461376

[bajanguy008]

This has to be the only reason which still makes it silly
https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/status/881142467784884226

[ShelC]

Pritchard is a really knowledgeable and savvy exec who has a tendency to shoot himself in the foot. I also can't believe Donnie and ownership would sign off, unless it was strictly his call.

[carey]

If Boston doesn't land Hayward their offseason will be a miserable failure. This is why the "accumulate assets to trade for a star" plan was always a flawed one. It's extremely difficult to do. Boston had a treasure trove of assets and couldn't get teams to bite. Stars are hard to come by and teams rightfully don't want to give them up.

[ShelC]

This is why the "accumulate assets to trade for a star" plan was always a flawed one.

Tell us about it.

[Split T]

Except butler, George, and cousins were all traded for nickels and dimes. Boston could have easily beat those offers. They either are not offering their top assets or teams just don't want to deal with them. At this point, Boston might just be better off letting IT walk next year and building a team with all these draft picks. Unless AD ever comes available.

[carey]

I don't know what the over 38 rule is but apparently Nene is really, really pissed off about it.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/MarcJSpearsESPN/status/881188941176504320

[Mori Chu]

If Boston doesn't land Hayward their offseason will be a miserable failure. This is why the "accumulate assets to trade for a star" plan was always a flawed one. It's extremely difficult to do. Boston had a treasure trove of assets and couldn't get teams to bite. Stars are hard to come by and teams rightfully don't want to give them up.

Respectfully, I don't really agree with this. We just saw several top NBA stars traded for bits and pieces. It just happened not to be Boston's particular bits and pieces. And from the rumors I was reading, Boston was being overprotective about not being at all willing to give up Jaylen Brown or Tatum or some other marginal assets. If you have the assets to trade for a star but then are unwilling to part with any of them, of course teams won't be as likely to deal with you.

Boston's rebuild has been a smashing success, and they may continue to get better and better. They still have oodles of draft picks, and lots of young talent, and cap space to sign a big FA. They are a consensus top-2 team in the East. They will be a genuine threat to beat Lebron and the Cavs for years to come and will likely end up in the NBA Finals in the next 2-3 years. They're doing a great job.

Nothing about the current situation suggests that Boston has erred in their process of building their team. The strongest criticism you can make about their roster is that they are likely about to commit to an undersized PG who doesn't love sharing the ball in I.Thomas. But he just gave them 30 ppg, so you can't really say that they should do otherwise.

[Split T]

The West vs East battle is getting ridiculous. Butler, George, and Teague have all moved west and CP3, Griffin, and Jrue have all stayed out west. It's possible Hayward stays in Utah, and Millsap heads to Minny or Denver. I think we might be looking at 11 of the top 16 coming from the west. Would get even crazier if Lowry and Ibaka leave Toronto.

West will have GS in tier 1, then Houston, SA, and OKC in tier 2. Utah, if they keep Hayward, and Minny in tier 3. Then Denver, Portland, Memphis, LAC, and NO fighting for the 7 and 8 seeds.

East will have Cleveland, who would be the only team in the wests tier 2, then Boston, Washington, and Toronto, if they keep Lowry, in tier 3. Then Milwaukee and Miami at 5 and 6. 7th and 8th seeds will be a best of the crap teams contest. Philly probably gets one of the spots and maybe Charlotte for the other? Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, Brooklyn, Orlando, Knicks, and Indiana all look pretty terrible.

[Split T]

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/881243180880076803 Philly could be interesting if they're healthy.