2010/2011 NBA Thread

[gunnar hendershow]

Meacon, you were basically setting off fireworks in the Raw chat when I told you.

[Meacon Keaton]

That's because I don't remember the last time I was this happy at this point of the basketball season.

[gunnar hendershow]

Yeah well I'm a Wizards fan. My best memory is the 2010 draft lottery.

[The Heartbreak Kid]

I know where I'm going during Spring Break...

Madison Square Garden! Awwww yeeaaaah!

[Toe]

I want to see who they can put around Anthony and Stoudemire next season.

[SilentHitman]

Never really been a fan of the Nuggets but I'm glad to see two great UNC point guards on the same team.

[maninblack]

Kudos to the Knicks for finally getting rid of Curry!

I'm on the side of the fence which thinks they gave up too much to make the trade happen, though :-\

[naiwf]

Apparently Sloan and Deron Williams didn't like each other, and I guess he's stepping down to give the Jazz a chance to re-sign Williams when his deal runs out next season. I guess this is somewhat similar to the Young/Fisher power struggle that just exploded with the Titans in the NFL. The Jazz had better hope it doesn't end up with them losing both guys by next summer.

Forget about next summer, try 13 days later.

Deron Williams has been traded to the Nets in exchange for Favors, Harris and 2 # 1 draft picks. I don't really see how this is that much of an upgrade for New Jersey considering that Harris was an All Star PG not too long ago and they just gave up a guy they drafted 3rd this year and 2 future 1st rounders. The Knicks probably shouldn't have said they were interested in Williams

Edited February 23, 2011 by naiwf

[ROZAY]

Posted what naiwf did ten minutes earlier. Very surprising move. The Nets also got Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Troy Murphy, who will likely be bought out.

Edited February 23, 2011 by The Aztec Warrior

[Blaze09]

It's takes NJ out of it for CP3 (who is the one I think the Knicks really want), so it's probably a good play in the end.

[Pizza]

As a Raptors fan, I look forward to this excellent opportunity to be 4th place in the division for years to come.

[naiwf]

It's takes NJ out of it for CP3 (who is the one I think the Knicks really want), so it's probably a good play in the end.

From what I've seen, Williams hasn't signed an extension in Jersey so there's still the chance that he too will be a free agent next summer. I'd prefer CP3 myself simply because I think he fits the system better, but Williams has the better build for playoff runs so I was hoping that both guys would be available. Having said that, I think CP3 would be more likely to sacrifice some money to come play for the Knicks so we'll see. I know it's stupid, but if they can't get a PG and managed to land Dwight Howard that would be the most awesome Knicks team I've ever seen. Dwight could average 10 blocks a game just covering for all of the guys that zoom right by STAT and 'Melo. Hell, I could play point for those guys. "Here's the play, I'm just going to throw the ball somewhere near the hoop and you guys can go get it!"

Edited February 23, 2011 by naiwf

[Maxx]

Good lord that is an awful trade for New Jersey.

[Red Devil-Taker316]

I have no idea how anyone thinks that's an awful trade for New Jersey. Nevermind that Deron Williams is better than Carmelo Anthony, but Deron is one of the best point guards in the game (I don't think the best though). He is the kind of player New Jersey can build around (they still have 3 first round picks around them I believe), and Deron cannot take the extension that Melo is getting, so it is not like Deron will just bolt.

Deron Williams is at the end of the top 10 players in the NBA. Melo barely cracks the top 15.

And I don't even like Deron Williams for the most part.

Edited February 23, 2011 by Red Devil-Taker316

[naiwf]

I have no idea how anyone thinks that's an awful trade for New Jersey. Nevermind that Deron Williams is better than Carmelo Anthony, but Deron is one of the best point guards in the game (I don't think the best though). He is the kind of player New Jersey can build around (they still have 3 first round picks around them I believe), and Deron cannot take the extension that Melo is getting, so it is not like Deron will just bolt.

Deron Williams is at the end of the top 10 players in the NBA. Melo barely cracks the top 15.

And I don't even like Deron Williams for the most part.

Is Deron Williams better for a team than Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and 2 first round picks? Is he going to want to play for a lottery bound team this year and next and then sign an extension to play for a lottery team in Brooklyn from 2012-2015/2016?

[Toe]

Williams is a 20 point, 10 assist guy. He can dominate the game and score at will at times. I think he is as important to a team as Carmelo, and I think this move sets the Nets up to make a playoff run next season.

[Meacon Keaton]

It's takes NJ out of it for CP3 (who is the one I think the Knicks really want), so it's probably a good play in the end.

From what I've seen, Williams hasn't signed an extension in Jersey so there's still the chance that he too will be a free agent next summer. I'd prefer CP3 myself simply because I think he fits the system better, but Williams has the better build for playoff runs so I was hoping that both guys would be available. Having said that, I think CP3 would be more likely to sacrifice some money to come play for the Knicks so we'll see. I know it's stupid, but if they can't get a PG and managed to land Dwight Howard that would be the most awesome Knicks team I've ever seen. Dwight could average 10 blocks a game just covering for all of the guys that zoom right by STAT and 'Melo. Hell, I could play point for those guys. "Here's the play, I'm just going to throw the ball somewhere near the hoop and you guys can go get it!"

That would be the most glorious team of all teams. Also, Christ, it's weird being on the same side as you.

Good lord that is an awful trade for New Jersey.

Indeed. My initial reaction was 'lol nets'

Nevermind that Deron Williams is better than Carmelo Anthony

lol

[Maxx]

Well lets start with there's no guarantee he's going to re-sign with them, so they might have just given up all of that, for nothing.

He's an upgrade at a position they didn't need to upgrade at. He's better than Harris, sure, but Devin Harris is an above average point guard. Throwing Favors into the mix makes it even worse, as he's shown a lot of promise this season. They went from having Harris/Favors/Lopez to build around, to having Williams/Lopez, and nothing else in coming because they coughed up two first rounders, that will very likely be lottery picks. I'm not sure if they're protected, but if they aren't, this is an awful move for New Jersey.

Prokharov wanted so desperately to land a big name player, that he finally just pulled the trigger recklessly. Williams hasn't agreed to sign an extension, there's nothing saying he will, especially when he's going to be hugely in demand if he goes into free agency. They couldn't convince LeBron to sign, they couldn't convince Melo to sign, what makes you think they're going to convince Deron to stick around? Playing out the rest of the season on a sub .500 team? Yeah, real enticing.

Also, I can't believe a deal between Jersey and Utah didn't involve AK47.

[Toe]

How much money will the Nets have this off-season to spend on free agents?

[Maxx]

Less than they had last year and look what that got them.