NBA News: Offseason

[INFORMER]

And Boris to the Jazz.

I love the supporting cast they're putting around their young players. JJ, George Hill, and Boris. I (of course) wasn't crazy about them giving up a lotto pick for Hill, and Boris could always show up and not give a crap (Gobert being there might help prevent that), but these were sound moves.

[INFORMER]

Zaza took a ring chasing discount.

No reason to knock him though. He's sacrificing A LOT of money to play a key role a championship contender.

[INFORMER]

Whoa, so I'm going to temper my enthusiasm just a bit after seeing what the Jazz gave up for Diaw: the draft rights to Olivier Hanlan. That could come back to bite them; he could turn out to be a player. That trade could be sneaky good for the Spurs. Props to them for getting something back of value in a salary dump.

[In2ition]

The Knicks signed some euro guy I've never heard of, INF probably loves it.
https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/750408265184317440

Why?

Ok, I'll bite. Why what?

[INFORMER]

I don't get TOO's post. So I'm asking he is saying what he is saying.

[Cap]

That you often like European players that the rest of us haven't even heard of.

[SDC]

Nuggets have reportedly offered D Wade 2yrs/50mil. I don't see how this makes much sense with Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Mudiay in that backcourt, but I'm rooting for it. Think it will start the demise of Miami....

losing wade is less damaging than losing deng, joe johnson and tyler johnson (he's now the starting SG for brooklyn)

Disagree. Not only is Dwayne Wade, despite declining noticeably, better then all those guys right now, but he also helps lure other talent there.

that was 6 yrs ago.

[INFORMER]

That you often like European players that the rest of us haven't even heard of.

Often? I think 3 of the 10-12 or so prospects I liked for this draft were from Europe. And we all know how much I loved it when Ryan drafted Bogdon.

I don't get it.

[SDC]

Nuggets have reportedly offered D Wade 2yrs/50mil. I don't see how this makes much sense with Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Mudiay in that backcourt, but I'm rooting for it. Think it will start the demise of Miami....

losing wade is less damaging than losing deng, joe johnson and tyler johnson (he's now the starting SG for brooklyn)

Disagree. Not only is Dwayne Wade, despite declining noticeably, better then all those guys right now, but he also helps lure other talent there.

i'm saying losing all three of them collectively (deng, jj, tj) is worse.

[carey]

I don't get it.

I'll speak more plainly for you. You have a rep on the board as knowing more about Euro prospects than anyone else here. You've often pulled names out of the air that we've not heard of and been an early adopter of many a Euro player.

[Ring_Wanted]

As a basketball fan I hate this.

Yep, and that's a problem for the league. One fan base is happy. Every other one is not.

And everybody will watch.

[Split T]

west power rankings

1 warriors
2 spurs
3 clippers
4 grizzlies
5 ...

out of the playoffs:
dallas, OKC

potential playoff teams:
suns, twolves, rockets, blazers, kings, jazz, pelicans

I think jazz and blazers are fairly safe playoff teams. Of the thunder keep Westbrook, they will be too. The 8th seed should be pretty wide open, but I'd give rockets and pelicans the best shot. Nuggets could surprise, especially if they land wade.

I think Minny is a year away, but I could see them giving it a nice run, maybe a 38-40 win season. I don't trust the kings at all and would be shocked if they aren't a bottom 3 team in the west. Dallas is a 35 win team. Lakers will be bad, unless they land Westbrook.

I hope we aren't in the playoffs because I think that would mean a lot of the bled/knight/Tucker/Dudley/chandler lineup. Booker, bender, Chriss, Warren, len, and ulis need to be given a lot of free reign to make mistakes.

Tier 1 - Warriors (65+ wins)
Tier 2 - Spurs and clippers (55+ wins)
Tier 3 - Jazz, Grizzlies, Blazers (48-52 wins)
Tier 4 - Thunder (45 wins)
Tier 5 - Rockets, Pelicans (40+ wins)
Tier 6 - Twolves, nuggets (37-40 wins)
Tier 7 - Mavs, suns (32-36 wins)
Tier 8 - Lakers, kings (sub 30 wins)

[TOO]

I don't get it.

I'll speak more plainly for you. You have a rep on the board as knowing more about Euro prospects than anyone else here. You've often pulled names out of the air that we've not heard of and been an early adopter of many a Euro player.

This.

[Shabazz]

What reason do you guys have to be high on the Grizzlies?

[SDC]

westbrook doenst have the leadership ability to carry the OKC roster to a playoff spot, even though they have some decent talent.

[Split T]

What reason do you guys have to be high on the Grizzlies?

They've been pretty solidly in that 50+ win range for awhile now. They fell a bit last year, but that was due to injuries. Conley/Allen/Parsons/Randolph/Gasol is a solid starting 5. They may struggle with injuries again, but I made my predictions based on a fairly healthy season.

[Shabazz]

What reason do you guys have to be high on the Grizzlies?

They've been pretty solidly in that 50+ win range for awhile now. They fell a bit last year, but that was due to injuries. Conley/Allen/Parsons/Randolph/Gasol is a solid starting 5.

I'm not impressed. Gasol's coming off a pretty catastrophic injury for a big man his age/weight to suffer. Randolph's been slipping for a while now. Parsons can't stay healthy and was a bad overpay.

I don't think they're a playoff team next year (as presently constructed). Certainly not a top-tier one.

[Hermen]

Zaza took a ring chasing discount.

No reason to knock him though. He's sacrificing A LOT of money to play a key role a championship contender.

It wasn't a knock. I was just being captain obvious.

[O_Gardino]

west power rankings

1 warriors
2 spurs
3 clippers
4 grizzlies
5 ...

out of the playoffs:
dallas, OKC

potential playoff teams:
suns, twolves, rockets, blazers, kings, jazz, pelicans

I think jazz and blazers are fairly safe playoff teams. Of the thunder keep Westbrook, they will be too. The 8th seed should be pretty wide open, but I'd give rockets and pelicans the best shot. Nuggets could surprise, especially if they land wade.

I think Minny is a year away, but I could see them giving it a nice run, maybe a 38-40 win season. I don't trust the kings at all and would be shocked if they aren't a bottom 3 team in the west. Dallas is a 35 win team. Lakers will be bad, unless they land Westbrook.

I hope we aren't in the playoffs because I think that would mean a lot of the bled/knight/Tucker/Dudley/chandler lineup. Booker, bender, Chriss, Warren, len, and ulis need to be given a lot of free reign to make mistakes.

Tier 1 - Warriors (65+ wins)
Tier 2 - Spurs and clippers (55+ wins)
Tier 3 - Jazz, Grizzlies, Blazers (48-52 wins)
Tier 4 - Thunder (45 wins)
Tier 5 - Rockets, Pelicans (40+ wins)
Tier 6 - Twolves, nuggets (37-40 wins)
Tier 7 - Mavs, suns (32-36 wins)
Tier 8 - Lakers, kings (sub 30 wins)

Houston is in. No question. They will play with a lot more energy this season. Harden may win MVP.

[Mori Chu]

This D-Wade free agency "news" is so dumb. There is *NO WAY* he is going to ever sign with Denver or Milwaukee. Not in a million years. Miami should call his bluff and low-ball him. The dude wants to retire in Miami and live out his days in the warm Florida sun. These meetings are just posturing because he wants a bigger contract.