THE PLAY MUST JUSTIFY THE PAY

[Mori Chu]

THE PLAY MUST JUSTIFY THE PAY

IF THE TEAM DON'T FIT, THEN THEY MUST QUIT!

[Kryptonic]

“ That's totally inappropriate. It's lewd, lascivious, salacious, outrageous!” - Jackie Chiles

[iLLmatic]

So the players are actively ignoring the coach and he's sitting there allowing it? Still a coaching problem.

Star players had the last head coach shipped out of town. Now we're onto the next head coach and the problems still remain.

[specialsauce]

THE PLAY MUST JUSTIFY THE PAY

IF THE TEAM DON'T FIT, THEN THEY MUST QUIT!

A SUPERMAX DEAL DEMANDS A SUPERMAX BEAL

[specialsauce]

So the players are actively ignoring the coach and he's sitting there allowing it? Still a coaching problem.

No, star players are playing like dog shit and the supporting cast isn't good enough to carry the extra weight.

Ding ding ding.

Interesting that only 2 people are wanting to stay the course thus far.

I hope the front office is not delusional thinking "if we just stay healthy things will be different this year."

[specialsauce]

DEMAND MORE OF THOSE WHO ARE IN DEMAND

IF BOOKER IS DONE HE CAN NO LONGER BE A SUN

[TOO]

[TOO]

Kevin Durant will probably be the greatest player this franchise will ever see.

[Carno]

Geesh.. It's too early for this. I'm not thrilled with the team's performance without KD, but they have been great with him. We have a better chance to win a title in the next 2-3 years with keeping this team, i.e. the Big Flaccid <=3 (the one = was intentional!). I don't care how they play in December. The time to ask this question is post all-star break.

[wpmiller42]

Yeah, I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet. It's not like we're getting crushed. We've lost some close games, which is a problem for sure, but not insurmountable.

These two injuries to KD and Nurk have hit us where we're most vulnerable - size. I think I'd look at adding Biyombo to the bench who I think can still rebound and defend. A couple other things I'd quietly make some calls on:

Beal straight up for Butler. I do like Beal a lot, but his skill set overlaps with Booker's too much and I think Butler gives us a bit more of an edge. Maybe this is a trade that works out for both teams.

What would it take for Indiana to give up Myles Turner? If they're at risk for losing him for nothing, would they consider Nurk and our remaining 1st rounder?

I'm definitely annoyed with some of these losses, but I'm not panicking yet. Only a couple of these games were really bad, lack of effort losses.

[specialsauce]

Turner makes too much, can't trade Nurk for him.

Our problem is not Myles Turner. Our problem is we are paying two guys an absolute premium who can't fucking beat a team led by Goga Bitadze. We could put Pat Burke out there at center and a backcourt of Beal and Booker should get the job done. If they can't, then why the fuck are we paying them $50M each??? There are plenty of cheaper players in the league who would do well as a #2 and #3 guy, while leaving us cap space to significantly upgrade our #4-8 players.

[Superbone]

Turner makes too much, can't trade Nurk for him.

Our problem is not Myles Turner. Our problem is we are paying two guys an absolute premium who can't fucking beat a team led by Goga Bitadze. We could put Pat Burke out there at center and a backcourt of Beal and Booker should get the job done. If they can't, then why the fuck are we paying them $50M each??? There are plenty of cheaper players in the league who would do well as a #2 and #3 guy, while leaving us cap space to significantly upgrade our #4-8 players.

I admit that they both have looked very average as of late. I hope they are examining themselves and know they are getting paid too much for what they're giving us on the court.

[SunsSince92]

Geesh.. It's too early for this. I'm not thrilled with the team's performance without KD, but they have been great with him. We have a better chance to win a title in the next 2-3 years with keeping this team, i.e. the Big Flaccid <=3 (the one = was intentional!). I don't care how they play in December. The time to ask this question is post all-star break.

Keeping this team together for another 2-3 years isn't going to get us anywhere. The big 3 experiment is almost a season and a half in and we are nowhere near consistent enough to be in contention for a championship. Yes we looked decent when KD was playing to start the season, but if two thirds of your big 3 can't keep it going whilst the other one is out, you don't have a big 3, you have an aging (albeit great) superstar and an (overpaid) supporting cast. KD is already picking up frequent injuries this season and Beal is proving to be just as fragile as he was last year.

I think you have to explore your options when it comes to moving two of the three. My preference would be Booker and Beal but I'd be happy to move Durant if the return was enticing enough. Sitting pat and hoping that this miraculously comes together over the next two years when we'll have lost Jones and Morris and replaced them with scrubs feels negligent.

[Split T]

If you decide to break it up and it’s not just Beal, I think you move all 3…

Can Houston send back enough salary to take KD and Book for all our picks, their picks, Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith?

[Charlie Smithy!]

If you decide to break it up and it’s not just Beal, I think you move all 3…

Can Houston send back enough salary to take KD and Book for all our picks, their picks, Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith?

Why not Jabari parker?

[Split T]

Throw him in as well haha

[Charlie Smithy!]

Whatever happened to him anyway?

[Split T]

I remember he came and worked out for us a year or 2 ago. I think he’s playing in Europe. Just googled it, he’s on FC Barcelona with a lot of former nba guys. Seems to be playing quite well, one of their top scorers.

[ShelC]

I'm not throwing the towel in on Book yet.

And one of the issues with Houston's young players is that, maybe aside from Jabari Smith, guys like Thompson and Eason might be too similar to Dunn? You could do Adams, Smith, Thompson, Eason and Tate for KD but we'd have to clear some roster spots to take back that many players. Also not sure Houston makes that deal after seeing how we gutted our young core for KD to "win now". They have a good thing going with a young core bought in. Unless KD and Ime are close enough to convince the FO and ownership to make the deal, Houston probably passes?

[Split T]

It seemed Houston made a lot of moves to position themselves to be the trade partner for us if we want an out. I can’t imagine they’d say no.