2009/2010 NBA Thread

[alldaws1]

Let me simplify this, trading your back up PG, your back up 2 guard, a big off of the bench and losing a guy who CAN play the 4 for a 32 year old 2 guard is pants on head retarded when having a big frontline was your biggest asset. Gutting your bench for Vince Carter when you already have Vince Carter (read: Lewis) on your team makes no sense.

It wasn't just for Vince Carter, we got Ryan Anderson as well so there's the big off the bench. Alston was never going to be our back-up PG this season with Nelson healthy.

A big frontline we may have had but it didn't really play like one when four of the guys prefer to stay outside and shoot jumpers. The bench hasn't been gutted, either. Losing Alston means nothing because we didn't have Nelson for the most part last season. We're basically replacing Alston with a better PG. Battie leaving is replaced by Anderson and he didn't play that much anyway. Lee is replaced by a better player in VC. As Livid said, it doesn't improve the Magic significantly but it's a good move to fill the gap of Turkoglu leaving which presumably this trade was made to cover.

Re-signing Gortat is a must, though.

[erperro]

Rubio already wants out of Minnesotta and wants to come back to Spain. Somehow I knew it...

[El Presidente]

By hearing David Kahn talking about the possibility of Rubio and Flynn in the backcourt, I was actually starting to kind of like that pick, those guys actually might be able to play well together. Although Stephen Curry would've probably been a better pick for them. Either way, they knew Rubio wanted to know for sure that he would be a starting point guard in the NBA, and picking Jonny Flynn right behind him certainly doesn't re-assure him of anything. So yeah, I wouldn't be surprised now if the Wolves lost Rubio before the season started.

Also, how the fuck did Sam Young and Dejuan Blair not get drafted until 36 and 37? Especially Sam Young, the Grizzlies got a huge steal in him, much like they did last year late in the first round with Darrell Arthur. And Dejuan Blair was pretty much exactly was San Antonio needed right now. You can't let a championship caliber team partially fill one of its only needs through the second round of the draft. AND they even got Jack McClinton with the 51st pick. How come the Spurs always have to come up with these late first and second round picks that'll most likely turn out to be solid pros?

[naiwf]

By hearing David Kahn talking about the possibility of Rubio and Flynn in the backcourt, I was actually starting to kind of like that pick, those guys actually might be able to play well together. Although Stephen Curry would've probably been a better pick for them. Either way, they knew Rubio wanted to know for sure that he would be a starting point guard in the NBA, and picking Jonny Flynn right behind him certainly doesn't re-assure him of anything. So yeah, I wouldn't be surprised now if the Wolves lost Rubio before the season started.

Also, how the fuck did Sam Young and Dejuan Blair not get drafted until 36 and 37? Especially Sam Young, the Grizzlies got a huge steal in him, much like they did last year late in the first round with Darrell Arthur. And Dejuan Blair was pretty much exactly was San Antonio needed right now. You can't let a championship caliber team partially fill one of its only needs through the second round of the draft. AND they even got Jack McClinton with the 51st pick. How come the Spurs always have to come up with these late first and second round picks that'll most likely turn out to be solid pros?

Blair fell because he has bad knees and a weight issue. As for Young, you've got me on that one.

The Spurs draft room is not run by trained monkeys worried about freeing up 2010 cap space and luxury tax thresholds so they have an advantage over at least 75% of the teams in the league.

[El Presidente]

Blair's weight shouldn't be that much of an issue, look at big baby in Boston. He's going to be very similar I think. He's never going to be a great NBA player, but he's definitely going to be a solid role player for his career if he can avoid being hurt. There's a shitload of teams that need big men too, I was surprised to see him go that late. If anything, though, I was more surprised that the Kings didn't pick him at 31, and the Pistons didn't pick him at 35.

Sam Young, though. Seriously, the Hornets, Mavs, Kings, Wolves, or Knicks should've been all over that. Especially the Wolves. After they had already picked two point guards, why not get a swing man? What's the point of getting Wayne Ellington? Do they really trust Corey Brewer and Ryan Gomes that much? It just doesn't make much sense.

Honestly, when you think of what the Woves COULD have ended up with, they didn't really make too much of an upgrade. They could've easily ended up with Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry, and Sam Young. That's who they should've ended up with. That way they could go with Rubio/Curry/Gomes/Love/Jefferson as ther starting five next season, with Sam Young as their sixth man. But of course, they had to go and be the Wolves. Honestly, they've made some of the worst draft decisions lately. They could've had either Brandon Roy or OJ Mayo right now, who were CLEARLY going to be better NBA players than Randy Foye and Kevin Love. It kind of upsets me how much the Wolves fuck themselves over. In an interview David Kahn was talking about how in 3-4 years this team's going to be a contender, but that's complete bullshit. This team SHOULD be a contender right now, if it wasn't for their shitty decision making and their inability to hire a successful coach since Flip Saunders left. It just bothers me that some teams just make such terrible decisions. The Suns are starting to become just as annoying. I wonder if they can come back next year with an entirely new roster.

[naiwf]

Blair's weight shouldn't be that much of an issue, look at big baby in Boston. He's going to be very similar I think. He's never going to be a great NBA player, but he's definitely going to be a solid role player for his career if he can avoid being hurt. There's a shitload of teams that need big men too, I was surprised to see him go that late. If anything, though, I was more surprised that the Kings didn't pick him at 31, and the Pistons didn't pick him at 35.

Sam Young, though. Seriously, the Hornets, Mavs, Kings, Wolves, or Knicks should've been all over that. Especially the Wolves. After they had already picked two point guards, why not get a swing man? What's the point of getting Wayne Ellington? Do they really trust Corey Brewer and Ryan Gomes that much? It just doesn't make much sense.

Honestly, when you think of what the Woves COULD have ended up with, they didn't really make too much of an upgrade. They could've easily ended up with Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry, and Sam Young. That's who they should've ended up with. That way they could go with Rubio/Curry/Gomes/Love/Jefferson as ther starting five next season, with Sam Young as their sixth man. But of course, they had to go and be the Wolves. Honestly, they've made some of the worst draft decisions lately. They could've had either Brandon Roy or OJ Mayo right now, who were CLEARLY going to be better NBA players than Randy Foye and Kevin Love. It kind of upsets me how much the Wolves fuck themselves over. In an interview David Kahn was talking about how in 3-4 years this team's going to be a contender, but that's complete bullshit. This team SHOULD be a contender right now, if it wasn't for their shitty decision making and their inability to hire a successful coach since Flip Saunders left. It just bothers me that some teams just make such terrible decisions. The Suns are starting to become just as annoying. I wonder if they can come back next year with an entirely new roster.

I think you mistook his quote for being a playoff contender when he clearly meant a contender for the # 1 pick in the lottery in 2013/14

[El Presidente]

Haha. You forgot to mention, they'll draft a sure all-star, but will trade him on draft night for an average rookie with not much upside and an average vet that has already hit his peak and can't even contribute to the team as much as he could've three years before. And then, after a few years of total failure, they'll realize that they made some terribe decisions, so they'll trade everyone they got away once again, for draft picks. And basically that same process will keep repeating itself for the next 10-15 years.

Note: They'll probably still be trying to deveop Sebastian Telfair as their starting point guard throughout.

[livid]

And let's face it, Blair's 6'7" and 270 lbs. He's too big to play the 3 and too short to play the 4. Add that with the bad knees and the possible weight issues and that's why he fell. Am I surprised? Yeah, I thought he would at least go in the first round but I can definitely see why he slipped.

[JStarr]

And let's face it, Blair's 6'7" and 270 lbs. He's too big to play the 3 and too short to play the 4. Add that with the bad knees and the possible weight issues and that's why he fell. Am I surprised? Yeah, I thought he would at least go in the first round but I can definitely see why he slipped.

The 6'5" Hall of Famer Charles Barkley says that argument is "TURRIBLE!"

As for Blair, I'd agree he's not going to be a stud, but I do think he'll be that 6+ rebound-per-game guy off the bench who some seem to think is so difficult to replace. It's the Spurs, they shouldn't need that much more out of him. I see a bigger, stronger Udonis Haslem in him, which for the Spurs' purposes, would be a damn fine pick at #37.

[jrtdot]

So...would it be a stretch to wonder if the Raptors have a shot at Hedo now that Orlando has basically replaced him? Probably a big one but hey I'm a dreamer.

The Pacers will not pick up the option on the contract of Marquis Daniels, according to the Indianapolis Star.

The option on the guard's contract for the 2009-10 season was worth $7.5 million.

Daniels will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. It remains possible that Indiana could re-sign Daniels to a long-term deal at a lower annual rate.

RealGm

He is a pretty good SG/SF, not the best available but he can be good off the bench for any team. I think he might actually fit into the Raps but only as a backup because he is inconsistent, and that is why Larry Bird did not pick up his option.

[El Presidente]

Look at all the undersized power forwards that were questioned coming in the last few years - Paul Millsap, Glen Davis, Carl Landry, Darrell Arthur... They're all solid contributors for their teams. Dejuan Blair is definitely going to be a good role player for san antonio. He just reminds me of a Jason Maxiell/Glen Davis type and I personally would love to have one of those kinds of players on my team. The Kings should've drafted him instead of Jeff Pendergraph. Considering their only big on the bench is Ike Diogu..

Also, Marquis Daniels could even be a starter if he lands a big contract with a shitty team. You never know if he'll randomly end up in Sacramento or in Minnesota or something.

Edited June 27, 2009 by El Presidente

[livid]

I didn't say he wouldn't find a certain level of success in the NBA because I'm sure being on the Spurs will only help him more than if he were to go to a team like Chicago or Sacramento and he obviously has talent, otherwise he wouldn't have been as good in the Big East.

But you made my original point because out of the players you just mentioned, only Arthur was taken in the first round (and barely as it was at #27). They weren't drafted higher because teams question their ability to be able to play without having a size advantage, something that a majority of those players had while playing in college. It's just the nature of the draft.

[Trey]

In NBA related news, Bill Simmons rips Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy a new one, on Colin Cowherd's radio show after Dunleavy called him a joke.

Any idea where I can hear this?

[gunnar hendershow]

Bill Simmons vs. Mike Dunleavy has been brewing for awhile. Simmons is a season-ticket holder and is a Celtics fan, so when it comes time to watching the Clippers it is purely as a basketball fan. He hasn't liked what he's seen. Neither would I haha. It was hilarious when Simmons showed the photo of the Clippers represent at the Draft Lottery getting the number one pick and captioned it with "This was the worst thing to ever happen to Blake Griffin."

Yeah there's quite a few articles where he's ripped on Dunleavy. I'll have to hear this clip though.

[livid]

http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?id=4286905

That should work for you guys. And on this note, having not heard Simmons before, he sounds a lot different than I thought he would.

[Clawson]

He also ripped him a few new assholes on his Twitter.

[Troy Maskell]

Rubio already wants out of Minnesotta and wants to come back to Spain. Somehow I knew it...

Well really would anyone want to play in Minnesota if they could help it

[JStarr]

And...the Rockets are officially fucked.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-y...o&type=lgns

Rockets could lose Yao for season, if not longer

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports 1 hour, 46 minutes ago

As the NBA draft approached, the grim truth about Yao Ming’s(notes) broken left foot hung like an anvil over the Houston Rockets. The fear isn’t that he’s just lost for next season, but longer.

The Rockets and Yao’s reps are frightened over his future, and the concern is the most base of all: Does Yao Ming ever play again?

“The realization has hit them that this is grave,” one NBA general manager said.

For now, the Rockets have privately told league peers it could be a full season before Yao might be able to return to basketball. Multiple league executives, officials close to Yao and two doctors with knowledge of the diagnoses are describing a troubling re-fracture of his navicular bone. Three pins were inserted a year ago, but the foot cracked in the playoffs and isn’t healing.

“It sounds like he’s missing most of next season, if not the entire 82 games,” one league executive who has had recent discussions with the Houston front office told Yahoo! Sports. “That’s all that [the Rockets] will concede quietly, but they know it’s probably much worse.”

Houston general manager Daryl Morey refused comment on Monday and a team spokesman said the Rockets will not have further comment until Yao undergoes additional medical tests.

There’s no reason for the Rockets to disclose the severity of the injury, nor the uncertainty over Yao’s future. Before the Rockets go public with a dire diagnosis, they plan to send him to three more specialists this week, a source said. For now, the Rockets have season tickets and sponsorships to sell. For now, the Rockets will publicly decry these doomsday revelations as premature, but this is the reality that they’re working under within the organization.

This has turned into an impossible situation for the Rockets’ capable GM. Even if Yao plays again, Morey knows it’s just a matter of time until his lower body breaks down. His feet and ankles just can’t support the mobility of his 7-foot-6 frame.

With four surgeries in three years, the Rockets worried they were reaching a breaking point. Well, it’s here. After missing 86 games in the previous three seasons, the 28-year-old Yao missed a mere five this past regular season before injuring his foot during the Rockets’ second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

It wasn’t until last week when Houston issued a statement saying Yao’s fractured foot hadn’t healed properly, that he would be unavailable “indefinitely.” Prior to Thursday’s draft, Morey tried desperately to trade into the high lottery to take Spanish prodigy Ricky Rubio(notes). Houston needed a young star, but had too few assets to make a deal with Memphis or Sacramento. It seemed odd to teams that Houston had thrown Shane Battier(notes) and Aaron Brooks(notes) into offers within weeks of pushing the NBA champion Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals.

Now, the Rockets have tough decisions to make: Do they keep pushing Tracy McGrady(notes) and his expiring contract on the market or let the $22 million expire next summer? So far, Morey is getting offered bad contracts and junk talent for him. What’s more, does Houston re-sign Ron Artest(notes) to a $40 million-plus contract when contention is no longer viable? Why not create cap space for the summers of 2010 and 2011? Why not get younger now? Yao could opt out of his contract next summer, but odds are that Houston won’t be so fortunate.

The Rockets should do themselves a favor and just start over. That isn’t easy in a sophisticated and rabid NBA market like Houston, but what everyone long suspected has reached fruition: Yao and McGrady are no longer a faulty foundation, but a collapsed one. Houston needs to proceed with an understanding that they’re no longer chasing the Lakers, but beginning again.

Rest assured, Houston has long been fearful that Yao’s responsibilities to the Chinese national team were rapidly contributing to his breakdown, and perhaps they’ve finally been met. Yao wouldn’t have missed the Beijing Olympics for the world, but it was clear he wasn’t fully healed in those Games. The Rockets paid a price for his nationalism, his obligation and now the darkest fears are close to confirmation: It isn’t just a season on the brink for Yao Ming, but perhaps a career.

They're best off just parting ways with Artest. As he gets older, he may become less likely to keep quiet on a losing team. And at this point, no one's very likely to take T-Mac's bloated contract, so they may just have to put up with him one more year. But if there's no Yao to build around, it's time to blow up the roster.

[naiwf]

That sucks for Yao. I always liked him as a player, but his body started breaking down early on so this isn't much of a surprise. As for the Rockets, they took the '94 championship from my Knicks in devastating fashion so in some way this pleases me that they may end up enduring a decade of suffering like my team has put me through since '99

[thuganomic]

That sucks for Yao. I always liked him as a player, but his body started breaking down early on so this isn't much of a surprise. As for the Rockets, they took the '94 championship from my Knicks in devastating fashion so in some way this pleases me that they may end up enduring a decade of suffering like my team has put me through since '99

Ha. Too bad Morey is about a million times more competent than Isiah.