The Most Important Off Season Ever (and NBA off-season discussion)

Wiggins is a lazy ass.  Watch him play.  He loafs a lot going up and down the court and has no interest in playing D.   Towns strikes me as a little different guy.  I think Butler and Kat are fighting for #1 status on the team and it appears Towns won out.  

Butler clearly isn’t comfortable not being the top dog so now he wants out.  And Thibs is at odds with ownership and the players. 

What a mess.

The only way I deal for Butler is if I know he’s around long term and he wants to be in a big market like LA or NY.  No way I make a deal for a rental because it would cost them plenty and given his injury history no guarantee he’s around most of the season anyway. 

Cavaet- I would make the deal if it included Bledsoe.  

Tough thing right now for Horst is what the impact of Budenholzer will be. If Budenholzer can get all star level play out of Schroeder and Teague, Bledsoe has more talent. He could get a lot more out of him. 

I doubt Butler is interested in Milwaukee. But maybe a 3 way deal? Probably no “there” there... 

First week of camp and Brogdon already taking shots at the old boss... says new coaching staff “very detail oriented, enthusiastic, positive” and also “just so different” while adding he can see this team reach ECF or beyond. 

This team is going to be very different... with the same players. 

Bucks trounce the Bulls in the preseason opener... and Parker hasn’t changed a bit. Completely aloof on defense, trying too hard on offense. 

He simply does not understand the game. It’s above him. He’s a great kid, great athlete, but the Bucks dodged a bullet. 

Music City posted:

Bucks trounce the Bulls in the preseason opener... and Parker hasn’t changed a bit. Completely aloof on defense, trying too hard on offense. 

He simply does not understand the game. It’s above him. He’s a great kid, great athlete, but the Bucks dodged a bullet. 

Agreed. He'll be very happy averaging 20-25 points a game (and giving up at least that many) for a lousy team.

As you say he's a good kid. If he stays healthy, I can see him eventually maturing into a 6th man type who can provide instant offense for a good team playing 20-25 minutes a game.  That's going to take some time for him to accept his limitations (because it seems he is never going to care enough to be able to play defense). 

But it’s not the same team or players. Not close. 

Lopez and Ersan add a whole new dimension in terms of spacing and outside shooting.  

DD is struggling with his shot but dude can ball.  He will make an impact. 

Then there’s Coach Bud.  He’s a much different cat. 

Looking forward to this season 

Tschmack posted:

But it’s not the same team or players. Not close. 

Lopez and Ersan add a whole new dimension in terms of spacing and outside shooting.  

DD is struggling with his shot but dude can ball.  He will make an impact. 

Then there’s Coach Bud.  He’s a much different cat. 

Looking forward to this season 

Fair enough... but the core is still Giannis, Middleton, Brogdon... and I’ll include Bledsoe because I still think he’ll be around. If Thon Maker can continue to elevate his game, he becomes part of that core. 

The accessory pieces are the guys you mention- they complement the core players because they offer what the team has needed- rebounding and 3 point shooting. 

Its no secret that under Kidd, the Bucks would go into catastrophic lapses and either allow leads to evaporate or bury themselves in opponent’s 3 point barrages and spend the whole game coming back only to lose late. That’s part the the quality of the bench but also the makeup of the team and what they were being taught. Now they have a professional basketball bench and a professional basketball coach that knows how to use them. 

Hey wasn’t trying to stir the pot but I do think this will be a different team with a different look. I tuned in to watch some of the Bulls game and some elements looked totally new or different.  

Not thrilled about Bledsoe but if Bud can get him motivated I think they should have a decent year. 

Not at all- the bench looks quite different, and your point is valid. 

And oh yeah the results look different- Christ they hoisted 45 3s! That’s definitely different. And still won points in the paint. 

Like Connoghton- 12 points, all 3s, 14 minutes. DiVincenzo’s shot will come, I think. He’s just not comfortable. But he’s an athlete. 

Its one preseason game, but it’s a glimpse. There’s a lot more out there now. And they’re with the times- they’re going to shoot 3s. 

I'm curious to see who Maker is without Kidd.  

Another blowout preseason win 125-107 overvthe Wolves. 13/36 from 3. Freakin John Henson hit a 3, for Pete’s sake. 

And this is what it means- they got out rebounded, only had 24 assist on 42 baskets, and only made 3 more baskets than Minnesota. Yet won by 18 because they hit 5 more 3s, and had driving lanes that lead to 36 free throws (made 28). Shot 45% from the floor. 

Spread the floor with shooting, and move the ball to exploit the eventual weakness. Giannis said they can move the ball even more. I agree..  

You see what they are going to do

Spread the floor and either drive to the hoop (draw a foul) or kick it out for a 3

Bledsoe and Giannis and DD are the drivers and Lopez, Brogdon, Middleton, Ersan, and Connaugton can all hit the long range shot.  Even some of the other backups can hit them

Bledsoe in particular looks like a different player 

Bucks barely lose to Thunder on the road despite the Big 3 not playing at all. 

Connaughton and Frazier shout they out of, then into, then out of the game again. The guys at Behind the Buck Pass really like Frazier- kind of a Brandon Jennings type with more D. Just can’t shoot. Has everything else though. Big time finisher. 

Nice project for Buds to mold. 

Wow a report surfacing that Houston is offering 4 1st round picks for Jimmy Butler 

What!?!?!?

That’s insanity...

even crazier?

Sex dungeons  

If the report is accurate the Rockets are clearly all in and you would also have to think the deal is contingent on Butler extending his contract.  

The only trade of this nature that even comes close was the Nets dealing multiple 1sts for Garnett and Pierce (how’d that work out New Jersey?)

Tschmack posted:

If the report is accurate the Rockets are clearly all in and you would also have to think the deal is contingent on Butler extending his contract.  

The only trade of this nature that even comes close was the Nets dealing multiple 1sts for Garnett and Pierce (how’d that work out New Jersey?)

They have to be all in. When you sign Chris Paul to a contract that will pay him (a small guard who relies on quickness) 160 million for his age 33-36 seasons until 2022 you don't have much of a choice.

If this is true, the Wolves should do this immediately, but I also see why the Rockets would do this and it probably says a lot about Carmelo Anthony. The Rockets are a much different team this year now that Ariza is gone. Ariza literally couldn't hit the broad side of the barn in the Game 7 loss last year to Golden State, but the guy could play defense. You replace his minutes (and some Mbah a Moute minutes during the season) with Carmelo Anthony and you are bound to get worse - especially at the defensive end. Butler immediately makes them tremendously better on defense. I don't think they can play Carmelo and Harden at the same time for defensive purposes.

Butler headed to Philly for Covington and Saric.  The Wolves are the Browns of the NBA.   Moronic owner, bad luck and bad trades over the years not to mention revolving door at head coach. 

Why they passed on multiple draft picks I have no idea.  Saric and Covington are OK players but not much else. 

Well, I don’t know about the T’Wolves getting younger- getting a couple quality veterans to go with their two young supposed stars is ok... and with Butler expiring after this year he doesn’t have as much value, especially considering concerns about his attitude. 

The Sixers were going nowhere with Embiid and Simmons alone.  Butler could make them dangerous.  

Minnesota is just a total mess.  

If Butthead screws his brain on straight, Sixers are now back in the conversation with Boston, Toronto & Milwaukee.

Sixers are praying Butler can help even them up with the 3 big dogs. 

It’s possible that the Butler move could backfire as he demands the ball a lot and there’s only so many basketballs to go around.   The Sixers lack good shooters and that’s not Butler. He is a very good defender but so was Covington.  And Covington won’t hog the ball like Butler. 

I am having doubts about Jimmy Butler in any role- he’s a guy that can really play, but his inflated view of himself has lead to his resentment of all the players who don’t work as hard. Which unfortunately is most...

It’s hard for me to believe a team with Butler and Wiggins and KAT barely made the playoffs and then got destroyed in the process.  But if you can’t get along and play as a team all the talent in the world doesn’t matter. 

It doesn’t appear that Simmons and Embiid are best buds and now you throw a hired gun like Butler into the mix?    I think it’s a big risk for Philly.