NBA 2018-2019

It goes deeper than just the 3 ball for me. Neutering defense makes offensive accomplishments less impressive. If you are going to go hardline on the holding on the perimeter, banging off the ball then bring balance to it. Take away the illegal screens, push offs, rip throughs, start calling some of the more ridiculous carrying/traveling violations that they ignore. 135-139 scorelines with no defensive resistance(allowed) is boring, might looks good in a 4 mins highlight package but I miss proper contests with an edge.

I hope the playoffs stay closer to a more traditional basketball feel, but the regular season is an orgy of stat padding.

NFL and NBA have gone the same way with everything slanted towards scoring and a more casual appreciation of the game.

Well said. I'm not a hard core basketball fan but making it easy for offense takes away from value of offense.
 
Big win for my Denver. I didn't catch the game but I see that Harris only played 8 mins... Does anyone know what happened?
 
The league is going to be so good when KD leaves. I actually can't wait.
 
The league is going to be so good when KD leaves. I actually can't wait.

Indeed. Him being at Warriors is the only league why it won't be the best season in ages. The quality across the league has been incredible this year, there are literally five bad teams (only one in the West) and even they have some exciting talent to watch.

If it wasn't for Durant at Warriors I could see 8-10 teams challenging for the championship this year.
 
I wouldn't mind him joining the Knicks or Wizards. You'd have a wide open West and four or five contenders in the East for the first time in a long, long time (76ers, Celtics, Bucks, Durant's team and the Raptors if Leonard decides to stick around in Toronto).
 
I wouldn't mind him joining the Knicks or Wizards. You'd have a wide open West and four or five contenders in the East for the first time in a long, long time (76ers, Celtics, Bucks, Durant's team and the Raptors if Leonard decides to stick around in Toronto).

He has absolutely no way to get on that Wizards team plus they are so dysfunctional he probably would not like to be there anyway. Him going to the Knicks has been rumored for a while but one thing I am not convinced about is whether he would really believe they could become competitive with him on the team. Their team is really short of talent, then again Porzingis will come back (remains to be seen in what shape and how injury will affect him) and they are probably getting a top 5 draft pick next year so a lot will change.

I think realistic options for him are Lakers, Clippers and Knicks. In that order.

It's interesting how Bucks will reshape after this season. Basically the only certainties for next year are Giannis and Ilyasova, the rest of their core is out of contract next Summer: all of Bledsoe, Middleton, Lopez and Brogdon. They won't be able to re-sign Brook for sure, Middleton will probably get a max which he isn't worth, Brogdon will be due a big pay rise and Bledsoe will probably be looking for a long term deal.
 
He has absolutely no way to get on that Wizards team plus they are so dysfunctional he probably would not like to be there anyway. Him going to the Knicks has been rumored for a while but one thing I am not convinced about is whether he would really believe they could become competitive with him on the team. Their team is really short of talent, then again Porzingis will come back (remains to be seen in what shape and how injury will affect him) and they are probably getting a top 5 draft pick next year so a lot will change.

I think realistic options for him are Lakers, Clippers and Knicks. In that order.

It's interesting how Bucks will reshape after this season. Basically the only certainties for next year are Giannis and Ilyasova, the rest of their core is out of contract next Summer: all of Bledsoe, Middleton, Lopez and Brogdon. They won't be able to re-sign Brook for sure, Middleton will probably get a max which he isn't worth, Brogdon will be due a big pay rise and Bledsoe will probably be looking for a long term deal.
In principle, the Wizards are a better team than the Knicks right now and it's his hometown franchise. I know next to nothing about cap space and contracts but I thought they could afford him if they shipped Beal or Porter?

I don't really want him on the Lakers, but I don't want him on the Clippers either, so I hope he goes to the East (but does not join the 76ers or another contender).
 
In principle, the Wizards are a better team than the Knicks right now and it's his hometown franchise. I know next to nothing about cap space and contracts but I thought they could afford him if they shipped Beal or Porter?

I don't really want him on the Lakers, but I don't want him on the Clippers either, so I hope he goes to the East (but does not join the 76ers or another contender).

Nope. Assuming $108million cap space for 2019-20, they have $116.5million in guaranteed contracts for 6 players and you need to calculate $500k per each roster spot remaining, so $4.5million for 9 of them. That's $121million and $13million above the cap limit.

Porter will make $27.3million next year, Beal will make $27.0million. Even if you move one of them without any long term salary in return this will only get them around $14million below the cap which isn't enough to sign Durant. If they move both of them then there would be around $40million so probably enough if you renounce everybody but then you are signing him into a team that only has John Wall, Ian Mahinmi, Dwight Howard and Troy Brown Jr. Not a fecking chance.

The elephant in the room is that Wall deal that will make him $37.8million next year and Mahinmi who will make $15.5million. They won't be flexible as long as they have Wall on that team.

He won't go to Sixers unless they let Butler go.
 
I think realistic options for him are Lakers, Clippers and Knicks. In that order.
After his comments the other day the Lakers are certainly off the table.

"So much hype comes from being around LeBron from other people," Durant said. "He has so many fanboys in the media. Even the beat writers just fawn over him. I'm like, we're playing basketball here, and it's not even about basketball at certain points.

"So I get why anyone wouldn't want to be in that environment because it's toxic. Especially when the attention is bulls--- attention, fluff. It's not LeBron's fault at all; it's just the fact you have so many groupies in the media that love to hang on every word. Just get out of the way and let us play basketball."
 
Seems like he's fed up with everyone at this point - he even reacts on Istagram to posts calling him a snake, and I think only this week he's said twice to fans in the stands "just shup up and watch the game" or something along those lines.

Can't say I feel sorry for him.
 
People are going to get disappointed when he signs a long contract with Dubs.
 
Seems like he's fed up with everyone at this point - he even reacts on Istagram to posts calling him a snake, and I think only this week he's said twice to fans in the stands "just shup up and watch the game" or something along those lines.

Can't say I feel sorry for him.
I could be wrong but he sure looks a lot happier now that Steph is back. I think the 11 games where he was out (going 5-6) gave KD a taste of what it would be like if he went to somewhere like the Knicks, Wizards etc... and it wouldn't be pretty.
People are going to get disappointed when he signs a long contract with Dubs.
I really don't think this is off the table at all. From his comments to Ric Bucher he seems to really want to stick it to LeBron since he feels that he (KD) gets all this criticism and James gets all the praise. IMLTHO there would be no better place than the Dubs to continually do this.
 
Durant with the 76ers would be incredible

Simmons, Embiid and Durant :drool:
 
Seems like he's fed up with everyone at this point - he even reacts on Istagram to posts calling him a snake, and I think only this week he's said twice to fans in the stands "just shup up and watch the game" or something along those lines.

Can't say I feel sorry for him.

The second one was said as a joke, if you see the video you can tell.
 
I could be wrong but he sure looks a lot happier now that Steph is back. I think the 11 games where he was out (going 5-6) gave KD a taste of what it would be like if he went to somewhere like the Knicks, Wizards etc... and it wouldn't be pretty.

I really don't think this is off the table at all. From his comments to Ric Bucher he seems to really want to stick it to LeBron since he feels that he (KD) gets all this criticism and James gets all the praise. IMLTHO there would be no better place than the Dubs to continually do this.
He definitely looks happier since Steph came back, and is finding himself in a new role where he is becoming more an assist machine and playmaker rather than a shooting player (he even mentioned that Steph is advising him to become more strategic on his shooting). No better team to do this than the Dubs.

And well everyone knows that Green is a bit crazy, so I don't think that Durant will keep a grudge over that episode.

If they win the title, I think that he'll stay. If not and things go ugly, then he'll opt out IMO.
 
After his comments the other day the Lakers are certainly off the table.

"So much hype comes from being around LeBron from other people," Durant said. "He has so many fanboys in the media. Even the beat writers just fawn over him. I'm like, we're playing basketball here, and it's not even about basketball at certain points.

"So I get why anyone wouldn't want to be in that environment because it's toxic. Especially when the attention is bulls--- attention, fluff. It's not LeBron's fault at all; it's just the fact you have so many groupies in the media that love to hang on every word. Just get out of the way and let us play basketball."

I don't pay any attention to what he says. If Davis goes to Lakers (I think he might actually go there within the next two months at this rate) and Durant smells a championship in LA, he will go there.

Bookies seem convinced Davis will start next season at Lakers BTW. I'm becoming convinced too, New Orleans seem to be going nowhere and this is their last chance to get a big haul.
 
People are going to get disappointed when he signs a long contract with Dubs.

Yeah that would suck so much. The league is so good otherwise that it would be a shame if we lost 2-3 more years to this absolute nonsense.
 
I don't pay any attention to what he says. If Davis goes to Lakers (I think he might actually go there within the next two months at this rate) and Durant smells a championship in LA, he will go there.

Bookies seem convinced Davis will start next season at Lakers BTW. I'm becoming convinced too, New Orleans seem to be going nowhere and this is their last chance to get a big haul.
I'd rather him than Leonard. One of the best big man in the league entering his prime going to the Lakers, where have I seen that before :drool::drool:
 
Kawhi is a better player, but I would take AD to Lakers ahead of him too. Lakers are already stuck on 2-3-4 positions with James, Ingram, and Kuzma there.

Lonzo - Ingram - Kuzma - James - AD is almost Warriors level. Especially with their young three players going to improve.
 
Kawhi is a better player, but I would take AD to Lakers ahead of him too. Lakers are already stuck on 2-3-4 positions with James, Ingram, and Kuzma there.

Lonzo - Ingram - Kuzma - James - AD is almost Warriors level. Especially with their young three players going to improve.
How could the Lakers acquire AD without giving up one of Ingram or Lonzo?

I'm just reading he has apparently appointed a new agent as well, Rich Paul, which is the same one LeBron has.
 
Only KD would lack the self awareness to see what joining LeBron would do to his legacy.
 
Kawhi is a better player, but I would take AD to Lakers ahead of him too. Lakers are already stuck on 2-3-4 positions with James, Ingram, and Kuzma there.

Lonzo - Ingram - Kuzma - James - AD is almost Warriors level. Especially with their young three players going to improve.

AD is better than Kawhi.

They wouldn’t have this core though, they would need to trade at least two for Davis. I think the trade at minimum would be Ingram, Kuzma, KCP (as salary filler) and a couple of first round picks. Most likely they would also need to include one of Ball and Hart. You can be almost sure that they would get another big free agent next year too.
 
Last edited:
Try and get rid. I'm not sure how the salaries work, but I'm sure they can get rid of his contract.

They don’t even need to try, Butler’s deal ends at the end of this season.
 
How could the Lakers acquire AD without giving up one of Ingram or Lonzo?

I'm just reading he has apparently appointed a new agent as well, Rich Paul, which is the same one LeBron has.

I think the deal would be Ingram, Hart, Kuzma, KCP and two first round picks. That has to be an offer to beat the Celtics. If I were Lakers I would prefer to give Lonzo instead of Hart and Kuz.
 
He should've kicked Harden in the head and made it worth it.

I like MWP more and more for this.
 
AD is better than Kawhi.

They wouldn’t have this core though, they would need to trade at least two for Davis. I think the trade at minimum would be Ingram, Kuzma, KCP (as salary filler) and a couple of first round picks. Most likely they would also need to include one of Ball and Hart. You can be almost sure that they would get another big free agent next year too.
Yeah, for whatever reasons thought that AD is on his final year on his contract. They definitely need two good young players + something else to get him.

I think that Kuzma is the best of their young core, so better to trade Ingram and Lonzo.
 
Yeah, for whatever reasons thought that AD is on his final year on his contract. They definitely need two good young players + something else to get him.

I think that Kuzma is the best of their young core, so better to trade Ingram and Lonzo.

Yeah with LBJ there they don't really need Ball.
 
Yeah with LBJ there they don't really need Ball.
Plus they already have Rondo who is a decent PG.

Anyway, I think that Kuzma is better than Lonzo anyway, so it makes sense to keep the better player. Kuzma can do everything.
 
Plus they already have Rondo who is a decent PG.

Anyway, I think that Kuzma is better than Lonzo anyway, so it makes sense to keep the better player. Kuzma can do everything.

He can't defend. Lonzo can.