The Basketball Thread

[Ganymede]

@arkandel

I said it from the start of the season: J.R. Smith is terrible, his contract is terrible, his play is terrible, and he needs to be jettisoned from the Cavs.

[Arkandel]

@ganymede Sure, but who's going to trade for him? His contract is really bad for what he does.

The Cavs are screwed. Their salary cap is dragging them down.

[buttercup]

So at the end of the Season we (my sons and I) did our basketball road trip. Saw the Bucks, Bulls, Pistons, Cavs, and Grizzlies.

We loved it. Had a blast. Thought I would share

[BobGoblin]

@arkandel

When you let an excellent GM leave (Griffin) you'll struggle to get any decent deal done. But who am I kidding, Griffin left because he was tired of taking orders from James.

[Arkandel]

@bobgoblin said in The Basketball Thread:

@arkandel

When you let an excellent GM leave (Griffin) you'll struggle to get any decent deal done. But who am I kidding, Griffin left because he was tired of taking orders from James.

I think what's important to understand here is that what LeBron is after isn't necessarily the same thing the Cavaliers are after.

LeBron wanted to win then, right then, during his prime. He didn't care what the team would be like after his final contract with them - he's playing for a legacy. His legacy. So handing out big contracts to better bond with his teammates and ensure they give 100% without thinking about bailing or having an agenda for their next paycheck was important to him.

The team had to make a choice about going along with this by bailing their future or risking the guy who just got Cleveland its first professional title in sports ever, and did.

The funny thing? It was probably worth it. Even from a financial point of view, the impact LeBron had on Cleveland's economy has been massive. They're still well ahead. It's just that their next 3-4 seasons after he's gone will suck big time.

[ThatGuyThere]

@arkandel said in The Basketball Thread:

The team had to make a choice about going along with this by bailing their future or risking the guy who just got Cleveland its first professional title in sports ever, and did.

First title if over 50 years but not ever, the Browns do have 4 NFL championships but the most recent was in 1964. And before the Browns, the Indians did win two World Series Titles the most recent of which was in 1948.
Cleveland has a very depressing sport history but they do have a few titles to point to.

[ThatGuyThere]

Wow not even the gentelmen's sweep but the full on go home in four. You have to wonder how this impacts LeBron's thoughts on where to go next year.

[Arkandel]

@thatguythere "BBHF"

[Tempest]

@thatguythere Boston. It'd be hilarious.

[Deleted]

Knowing Lebron, he probably wants to go to the Warriors.

He's gotta chase the easiest ring possible after all.

[Tyche]

@tempest said in The Basketball Thread:

@thatguythere Boston. It'd be hilarious.

But then Kyrie would demand to be traded.

[Warma Sheen]

I can't believe the Cavaliers lost that series... Nailbiter. Heart-breaker.

[ThatGuyThere]

My honest thoughts before the finals were that if the Cavs put up a good fight he stays, I just can't see him going out west when if he stays in the east he has a much easier road to the finals each year. After the sweep I could see him going to Philly, since I think he will stay in the east, and Boston really doesn't have the cap space to fit him.
Besides the Rockets I don't really see him going anywhere in the West and I am not sure how well he would fit.

[BobGoblin]

I don't know how he fits with houston

[Arkandel]

What I love about the NBA is how much fun the off season is. And where LeBron signs will define the free agency.

But there are so many other questions too.

• Around Christmas Boogie was definitely getting a max offer from the Pelicans. Now they might not even keep him since Mirotic did so well... but who will take the risk and where will he end up at?

• CP3... 'nuff said. Coordinating with LeBron to get to the Lakers? Snatched by Philly? Something else?

• Kawhi has one more year, but there's no way the Spurs will let him walk away for nothing next summer if they can't get a guarantee out of him. What do you trade for a top-3 player who hasn't played in eight months?

And so on.

[ThatGuyThere]

One theory i heard that was an interesting thought, is LeBron re-upping and going somewhere with Kawhi next year. though after the way the finals turned out I am not sure he would want to stay another year in Cleveland.

[Ganymede]

@thatguythere

He is not staying in Cleveland.

He did what he said he would. He tried to bring a team to another Championship on his back, only to have the dumbest motherfucker in the world screw up a chance to stab the Warriors in the face on home turf.

I'd say that the team quit on him, but that would presume they were putting any effort at all at any point.

If LeBron ends up back in Cleveland, it will be because he's done seeking a ring with his friends. It will be because the Cavaliers jettison everyone older than Clarkson for draft picks and young talent. Because the only place I see LeBron is one where he is surrounded by that kind of talent, and lots of it.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him in Toronto, actually, to go for a single shot at bringing a Championship to the North, thus cementing his legacy.

[Deleted]

@ganymede Maybe he can squeeze onto the Warriors. Gotta get those rings.

[Arkandel]

@ganymede said in The Basketball Thread:

If LeBron ends up back in Cleveland, it will be because he's done seeking a ring with his friends. It will be because the Cavaliers jettison everyone older than Clarkson for draft picks and young talent. Because the only place I see LeBron is one where he is surrounded by that kind of talent, and lots of it.

They can't. That's one of the things people talk about, but they can't. Their salary cap and contract situation is dire; they have one good draft pick but it's a front-loaded draft; no one after 4-5 is projected to become a star.

Kevin Love's a great player but his stock right now is low - no team wants a power forward who can't play good defense badly enough to send serious pieces back.

And those are the good news; from that point it's all shit, all the way to the bottom. LeBron got Tristan Thomson and J.R. Smith paid, and they have two and one years left on their contracts IIRC; would you trade anyone good for these guys if you were a GM?

The rest... Korver is going to be 37 years old, Hill is almost always injured and his production wasn't great, Hood forgets to show up and he's hardly a piece... Nance Jr. is trying hard but he's what he is, a jumper with no range.

Who can they move to make room? They are the most expensive roster in basketball, well into luxury tax territory. Hell even in LeBron leaves they are still going to pay luxury tax! They are screwed.

He gone.

[Ganymede]

@arkandel said in The Basketball Thread:

They can't. That's one of the things people talk about, but they can't.

They also said Vegas wouldn't contend for the Stanley Cup.

Kevin Love's a great player but his stock right now is low - no team wants a power forward who can't play good defense badly enough to send serious pieces back.

Then don't ask for serious pieces. Ask for cash or picks.

LeBron got Tristan Thomson and J.R. Smith paid, and they have two and one years left on their contracts IIRC; would you trade anyone good for these guys if you were a GM?

No, so don't ask for it. Ask for cash or picks.

The rest... Korver is going to be 37 years old, Hill is almost always injured and his production wasn't great, Hood forgets to show up and he's hardly a piece... Nance Jr. is trying hard but he's what he is, a jumper with no range.

Korver's out. Hood? Serviceable. Nance? Workable. But they work, can contribute 8-10 PPG, which is just fine and higher than what Thompson brings on a consistent basis.

You underestimate the value of a fire sale, and what it can do.

That said, LBJ on Toronto? Very possible, and they have the sort of lineup that caters to him. You'd make an instant 3-star team, with a potential fourth star in Ibaka.