NBA Thread 2011-12

[phatman]

Apparently the T-Wolves have also come to terms with an offer for Nicolas Batum... Believed to be 4years-$45 million with incentives that could push it past $50 million...

I don't see why Portland would match that offer... I don't think Batum is anywhere near worth a deal that big and honestly I think it's the worst deal so far of this off-season...

Quom, I still think the T-Wolves would have missed the playoffs last season... I think they probably would have finished 9th in the West... I hope Rubio comes back strong as he was before the knee injury but I think it'll take time for him to get his confidence back...

Edit -: Scratch that I completely forgot about the Omer Asik deal but still it's worth no where near as much as Batum's...

Edited July 6, 2012 by phatman

[Powerhart]

Man, it's good to be a limited bench player these days. You'd get millions from any team.

[Quom]

I like Batum, one of the best perimeter defenders, good from beyond the arc and still progressing. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's on the all-star team either this year or next with Rubio on the floor. Depending on Roy's knees we have a strong starting 5 and a 6 man who should progress into a good player. I couldn't have asked for much more. Ilyasova would have been a nice pick up but otherwise I think it has gone well. I have no issue with the Batum signing, it's Roy that has me most worried.

[Maxx]

Didn't even know who Batum was until I told you a few days ago

[Quom]

I knew who he was, I thought he was a three and you said he was a two. I then asked if he could create his own shot. Basically my knowledge of him was limited to defensive specialist who played for Portland, wasn't their biggest name and is in-between height wise. I wasn't aware his 3-pt% was as high as it is. Once I found that out I was sold. I'm personally not seeing a massive downside to signing him. I think the big issue comes when you sign a guy you expect to score a bunch to a huge deal, whereas defenders don't seem to lose the ability to guard until their body is breaking down.

My main concern was that he has never been 'the guy'. To me the T'wolves needed a 2 who can drive hard to the basket when Rubio hasn't managed to find an open player and the shot clock is running low. Rubio's running around is loads of fun, but it does lead to situations where he can't find an assist, can't make a shot and they needed someone who could grab the ball and penetrate and get the foul or the dunk. Ridnour and all the other fill in guards were only good for 3pt or jump shooting pretty much and most of that needed to be drawn up to work.

So when you throw Roy into the mix I am happier. I am shitting myself his knees will give out, but he has been a large part of a team in the past and has played with Batum, so hopefully he can play the locker room leader type, hopefully make some sort of impact and offer some maturity and leadership on the floor when it's needed from the guards.

The only major hole left is depth. Rubio cannot play for 40+ minutes a game, he moves non-stop. He's not the world's best defender, but he's a very good one and is always moving and active. They will now have new options but they also needed more options.

I would ideally like a 4 who plays tall so you can cover Pek or so Love can play out on the three point line as if he's a 3 when he feels like it. A Collison, Ilyasova, or Ibaka (wishful thinking) type player would be the icing on the cake.

[Maxx]

There's rumors they might be trying to make the Batum deal a sign and trade, with Derrick Williams and Martel Webster going to Portland. Now that's a deal I wouldn't do.

[Quom]

Fuck off, they can keep him. Like I said we need more options, not a massive amount gained in just swapping Beasley for Roy and Williams for Batum. The biggest need is a decent depth of players. I love Love but he's not Lebron or Wade, neither is Rubio (until he improves his FG%). We aren't getting past the first round without some depth. Either that or Adelman will need to bust his arse getting his second unit dying to come in and teat shit up like Sac had for a while.

[The Buscher]

Ray Allen agrees to sign with the Heat. Congratulations Heat, 2012-13 NBA Champions.

[Tyrone]

They now have a ridiculous amount of 3 point specialists...Ugh

[Colossus]

And they could add a true Defensive big man with Camby

[LL!]

Great pick up for the Heat. Woooooo!!!!

[Meacon Keaton]

Go away, LL!

[naiwf]

Ray Allen has officially entered bitch status. Michael Jordan's competitive spirit must be rolling around in his grave right now.

[Mofoticon]

There's rumors they might be trying to make the Batum deal a sign and trade, with Derrick Williams and Martel Webster going to Portland. Now that's a deal I wouldn't do.

The Blazers won't even go for that. They want Batum back under any circumstances, so they'll just match it and move on.

[wrathofcarnage]

There's rumors they might be trying to make the Batum deal a sign and trade, with Derrick Williams and Martel Webster going to Portland. Now that's a deal I wouldn't do.

The Blazers won't even go for that. They want Batum back under any circumstances, so they'll just match it and move on.

Pfft. Minnesota just throws in J.J. Barea to fill the Blazers hole at PG! Not one, not two, not three...

[Fait Accompli]

An interesting article detailing why Ray Allen left the Celtics for the Heat.: http://sports.yahoo....dGlvbnM-;_ylv=3.

[Powerhart]

Supposedly he and Rondo had some differences last season, and losing his starting job to Avery Bradley didn't help the Celtics very much. Still, I really don't like this move, the Heat are one big man away (Marcus Camby) to become a Big Five.

[gunnar hendershow]

Ray Allen isn't as big a pickup as we're making it. He will backup Wade under any and all circumstances. Mike Miller/Shane Battier/James Jones already filled the role as 3-point shooter. He's 37. Name the last 37 year old shooting guard to make a significant difference on a team. He will make shots, and those shots will feel important, but at the end of the day there's quite a few players in the league that could have the same impact for the Heat. At the end of the day, you can only have so many 3-point shooters on a team.

Celtics kept Jeff Green around for a year. He's a bit of a mystery coming into this year. Will he be a 15 pts/6 rbs guy as he was in OKC? Will he be more than that? Will he do less? He could wind up being a real big pickup when all is said and done with, and make a huge difference for the Celtics next season. It'll be interesting to see. I like him and Jason Terry as signings for Boston, both add a new dimension to the team that hasn't really been there. If they could find a way to add some more size inside they'd really be looking at being true contenders next year.

[naiwf]

Name the last 37 year old shooting guard to make a significant difference on a team.

Ray Allen shot the Celtics out of the playoffs

[livid]

Ray Allen isn't as big a pickup as we're making it. He will backup Wade under any and all circumstances. Mike Miller/Shane Battier/James Jones already filled the role as 3-point shooter. He's 37. Name the last 37 year old shooting guard to make a significant difference on a team. He will make shots, and those shots will feel important, but at the end of the day there's quite a few players in the league that could have the same impact for the Heat. At the end of the day, you can only have so many 3-point shooters on a team.

Yeah but both Miller and Jones are considering retirement. I don't think anybody is expecting Allen to do anything more than shoot but it's still a big a pickup because it's addressing an area where Miami may need help and even if not, Allen is still an upgrade over both anyways.