This is going to be an offseason that will be probably even more entertaining that the whole season of basketball that preceded it. So, we basketball fans should feel blessed.

 

First, LeBron. Yes, there’s that.

 

Second, I read that the Lakers’ championship odds jumped from 20-1 to 6-1 thanks solely to the rumor that Kawhi wants to leave San Antonio in favor of some other team (probably the Lakers, probably also because of LeBron). So ****’s pretty weird already.

 

My prediction prior to today was that LBJ was going to San Antonio. I’m not sure that prediction is shaken, honestly. But my first question is: will Kawhi honestly turn down a supermax deal? I mean, really? It’s not like he’s leaving the Magic or some stupid team. Something’s going on, and it’s about to get real.

It's hard for me not to see the Lakers getting all three of LBJ, George and Leonard.  Leonard may recoup what he loses from the supermax deal in marketing from playing for his hometown Lakers.  

We are two speculative posts into thisthread and I hate the NBA more already.

Paul George stays in OKC. Did not see that one coming.

Aaaaaand, Derrick Rose stays in MN. Did see that one coming. Wonderful.

 

Aaaaaand, Derrick Rose stays in MN. Did see that one coming. Wonderful.

At least it's just a one year deal.

Why is the basketball S**T on the BASEBALL board?

 

Why is the basketball S**T on the BASEBALL board?

Yeah it's SOOO ANNOYING. It's definitely worth making a comment about.

 

First world problems I guess.

Why is the basketball S**T on the BASEBALL board?

You seem lost.

Ah, the NBA...where the first day of free agency is 10 times more interesting than the playoffs.

Why is the basketball S**T on the BASEBALL board?

Definitely more productive than just ignoring the TIMBERWOLVES forum, if you don't want to see BASKETBALL discussion.

 

Aaaaaand, Derrick Rose stays in MN. Did see that one coming. Wonderful.

He looked pretty competent in the playoffs.  The Twolves need a bench.

He looked pretty competent in the playoffs. The Twolves need a bench.

In truth, yes, he did display shades of competence in the playoffs. I guess he’s on a minimum contract, so whatever.

So if Lebron comes to the Lakers the smart thing to do would be to sell on Jimmy Butler right now...correct?

 

Not saying it will happen, but that's the smart play now.

With LeBron going to LA, what better time than now to ditch the West vs. East playoff format? The Western conference finals is pretty much the NBA finals now.

 

Whoever comes out of the East will get slaughtered by whoever wins the West.

With LeBron going to LA, what better time than now to ditch the West vs. East playoff format? The Western conference finals is pretty much the NBA finals now.

Whoever comes out of the East will get slaughtered by whoever wins the West.

Probably, but the Celtics roster is pretty ridiculous too. It will be weird not having Lebron in the East though for sure.

Boogie to the Warriors.

 

I’ll eat my word happily if I’m wrong, but I just don’t see this working for them. Seems almost uncharacteristically desperate for GS, in the wake of the Lebron decision. A statement move.

 

So if Lebron comes to the Lakers the smart thing to do would be to sell on Jimmy Butler right now...correct?

 

Not saying it will happen, but that's the smart play now.

Or find a way to move Wiggins and build around Butler and Towns. 

 

A guy can dream....

**** it. Go Lakers. Why not?

The NBA is so broken.  Time to totally blow up their "salary cap" and all the absurd exceptions that come with it.

 

This kind of thing damages their product.

 

Or find a way to move Wiggins and build around Butler and Towns. 

 

A guy can dream....

 

I worry about Butler being an injury time bomb.  With how bleak the West looks - I'd be shopping him hard right now.

 

The NBA is so broken.  Time to totally blow up their "salary cap" and all the absurd exceptions that come with it.

 

This kind of thing damages their product.

Agreed.  I was just about to post something along similar lines.  Though I'm not sure what the solution is. 

 

I worry about Butler being an injury time bomb.  With how bleak the West looks - I'd be shopping him hard right now.

Fair enough. Thibs will find a way to run Butler into the ground if he hasn't already. Honestly, Thib's fascination with molasses offense might have something to do with how ineffective Wiggins can be, but that still doesn't explain his god awful defense. 

 

I get why you'd want to move Butler, but unless they get a haul in return I just don't see this team making any sort of noise with Wiggins as their second best player. Without Jimmy the Wolves are at best fighting for a low playoff seed and drafting around 16-20, i.e. NBA purgatory, and at worst they're a bottom 10 team. 

Fair enough. Thibs will find a way to run Butler into the ground if he hasn't already. Honestly, Thib's fascination with molasses offense might have something to do with how ineffective Wiggins can be, but that still doesn't explain his god awful defense.

 

I get why you'd want to move Butler, but unless they get a haul in return I just don't see this team making any sort of noise with Wiggins as their second best player. Without Jimmy the Wolves are at best fighting for a low playoff seed and drafting around 16-20, i.e. NBA purgatory, and at worst they're a bottom 10 team.

 

Without Jimmy they are in the lottery, but I would hope to land some talent for him. It's time to aim 2-3 years down the road.

 

Truth is, Wiggins is a negative asset, he can't be moved. Jimmy has one year left and I don't think he stays. And I'm not sure I want to stick 4 years and 130M in him even if he does.

Edited July 3, 20188 yr by TheLeviathan

Agreed. I was just about to post something along similar lines. Though I'm not sure what the solution is.

 

I'd start with either having a cap or dont. This Frankenstien hybrid is having the opposite of the intended effect. (Competitive balance)

 

Go the NFL/NHL model or MLB. I'd argue the NHL model would fit basketball really well.

Edited July 3, 20188 yr by TheLeviathan

 

I'd start with either having a cap or dont. This Frankenstien hybrid is having the opposite of the intended effect. (Competitive balance)

Go the NFL/NHL model or MLB. I'd argue the NHL model would fit basketball really well.

Right, the mid-level/trade exceptions, bird rights, etc. etc.  

 

I am a bit surprised the phenomenon of stars joining together hasn't come to fruition in other sports.  Perhaps part of it is, that the NBA has only five starters/players-on-the-court, so each star has arguably close to one-fifth leverage, while in the NFL and MLB, it's no where near that close.   

 

Though one could imagine where a bunch of free agent MLB starters came to be free agents at the same time, and all formed the same rotation...

Edited July 3, 20188 yr by PseudoSABR

Agreed. I was just about to post something along similar lines. Though I'm not sure what the solution is.

Hard to know what they can do when players accept contracts way under market value to build super teams.

 

Is there any intrigue at all to watch the regular season? Golden State is all but guaranteed to win the title again. The rest are playing for 2nd place.

 

Hard to know what they can do when players accept contracts way under market value to build super teams.

Is there any intrigue at all to watch the regular season? Golden State is all but guaranteed to win the title again. The rest are playing for 2nd place.

I think the solution is to get rid of at least 4 teams maybe 8, Minnesota being the first to go, No star player wants to come here thus making it impossible for them to actually compete in this NBA.

I think the solution is to get rid of at least 4 teams maybe 8, Minnesota being the first to go, No star player wants to come here thus making it impossible for them to actually compete in this NBA.

True. For Minnesota their current strategy is really the only way they can compete for a couple of years. Get lucky with a couple of #1 overall picks, trade for a good player, and hope for the best. They won't ever be able to recruit a stud FA.

Hard to know what they can do when players accept contracts way under market value to build super teams.

Is there any intrigue at all to watch the regular season? Golden State is all but guaranteed to win the title again. The rest are playing for 2nd place.

A hard cap would still fix a lot of this.