2008-09 NBA Thread

[A.J.]

With the finals ending tonight with the Spurs sweeping the Cavs to win the 2006-07 NBA Championship it now leads us to the offseason of the NBA. This is the place to talk about moves teams are doing and free agents and the 2007 NBA draft as who will go first Greg Oden or Kevin Durant to the Trial Blazers.

I have to say that we will see the Dallas Mavericks re-tool their team and i really cant wait for the draft as this is one of the deepest drafts since 2003. The top 5 teams in the draft could easily get a franchise player that could help their team out.

Anyone else have any other ideas for the draft of the beginning of the offseason?

 

[Don Killuminati]

I think Oden will be drafted first but I don't think he is that great. Durant I think will be something in the NBA. He scored more points than Oden, got more assists, got alot of rebounds, and I think he even had more blocks than Oden. Oden just isn't as good of an overall player hes just taller and Durant is 6'7" so it's not like he's short so I think Durant is better.

As a Cavs fan I hope they improve. I think Daniel "Boobie" Gibson will get better and might even start over Hughes. Speaking of Hughes we could even trade him to get more depth because he hasn't been the best in Cleveland. I think the Cavs can still make the Finals because the East isn't very strong and if they make a couple moves in the offseason I think they could beat the Bulls, Heat, or Pistons when their not self-destructing. They kinda got lucky this year with the Heat having D Wade not at 100%, the Bulls just being horrible against the Pistons, and the Pistons playing their worst and mentally breaking down.

As a really early prediction for the Finals nest year I think it will be Cavs vs. Mavs but this is really early and alot of things could happen in the offseason.

 

[A.J.]

Well with the Draft next week its starting to become over shadowed by the trade rumors of Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. Looking at the past few days Kobe Bryant has been really putting all his effort to get traded from the Lakers. Then there is this video about him trashing the Lakers orginaztion and Andrew Bynum and all I have to say about this is that the Lakers better get rid of him as there i sno point keeping a guy that will become a posion to the team. Though some will argue that its better to keep him and force him there as he sells tickets, but why keep a guy that doesnt want to be there.

Then when you talk about what teams he can go to the only team that makes any sense is the Chicago Bulls and so it gets me thinking so Kobe will follow MJ as becoming a Bull. I dunno this who situation is a mess and it will take at least 3 to 4 teams to pull off such a trade. Then if you get Kobe you have to make sure you will win and make a good solid playoff run as if you dont he can become a free agent in two years and leave your team high and dry. So i dunno about this but it makes for an interesting summmer but Kobe needs to stop being a diva.

 

[Don Killuminati]

I don't think Kobe will be traded. The management said they aren't going to and that's the smart thing. He seems to cool off a few days later and says he wants to stay so it's not even worth considering. If he does end up on the Bulls I'd be really surprised.

I do however think Garnett will be traded. He's been in Minnesota for a long time and I think it's time for them to just go into rebuilding. They haven't made the playoffs since 03-04 so their current team is pretty much lost. I really can't say where he'll end up but maybe the Bulls or the Knicks. His rumors are overshadowed by Kobe's so I don't really know whos interested in him.

 

[A.J.]

The Garnett situation is a hot topic but like you said is being overshadowed by Kobe ordeal. They have talked about Boston and New York as possibilities, but even those are pushing it. Though Minnesota needs to the pull the trigger as they can get some good young talent to build and work with if not all that get some draft picks.

The best way to KG to get out of Minnesota be to ship him in a 3 team deal as a straight deal with just one team is too much as the numbers are hard to work out. But I think Boston can do it as they have the pieces and picks, but if the Bulls dont get Kobe they do have pieces to trade for KG.

But moving both players will take a lot of work and i expect it to go all off-season long.

 

[Don Killuminati]

Man we've been the only 2 people in this thread.

I've recently kinda rethought how I feel about Oden. Durant I know will be a LeBron or D Wade type player in the league and score alot. But ususally it takes a great center on a team to win a championship. If you look at the history of championships so many of them had that dominating center. I think that's one of the big reasons Wade won his Finals and LeBron didn't. While Wade stood out the most in the Finals, Shaq helped out alot on defense and without him I don't think they could've came back like they did with just Wade. And Z is a good center for the Cavs hes more of a scorer than blocking shots although he does get rebounds.

I think Oden can be like Shaq and by blocking shots and intimidating the other team defensivly. And Blazers or whoever gets him can be pretty good in maybe 4 or 5 years if they build around him. So I would say if you already had a good center you could get Durant and he could be the big scorer for the team. But in the Blazers position I think taking Oden and building around him is the way to go.

 

[A.J.]

ya I know where are all the other NBA or at least basketball fans at?

Oden will be number 1 as Portland needs a center for the future. If they do take Oden it will remind me of the Spurs with their twin towers as the Blazers will Oden and Aldridge in the midde. Plus the Blazers have the Rookie of the year in Brandon Roy who i belive will continue to grow and become a solid basketball player. But ya Oden will be a dominant big man, but i just dont see the scoring side of him as i feel he be more defense and will once in while go on a scoring streak. I predict his carrer will be 10.0 ppg, 14.2 rpg, and 2.3 blks per game. solid numbers but will need roy to become a break out star.

With Durant you rgoing to get 20 plus a night and prolly 10 boards a game. I feel he will make the most impact right off the bat, but in the long run he will need the help around him to make his team a winner. Oden can help a team win as he has the better defense and from what we saw the last fewyears is that defense wins championship and flashy offensive gets eliminated early.

 

[Don Killuminati]

I think If Garnett ends up in Boston they could push for the playoffs next year. I think that they'll probably trade the T Wolves the 5th pick they have and maybe another player like Jefferson. But with as weak as the East is Pierce and Garnett could make the Celtics a good team there.

Also there's a rumor that the Cavs could get Rashard Lewis from the Sonics or Shawn Marion from the Suns so it looks like the Cavs are working to get their offense better and be able to put up a better fight if they make the Finals again.

 

[wotdoiput]

Ok, OK I cant let you two guys have all the fun, so I htought Id join in.

I think that Oden is going to be the number one pick, no ifs buts or maybes. Is he better than Durant? Some personal opinons really, to me no he isnt, for many of the reasons that Don has already mentioned. However Oden plays a position that everyone wants and a lot of teams need. Whereas Durant plays a position were there is a lot of depth. To me either way it will be a win win situation cos they are both going to be very good players, but atm a good centre will always be picked over a good wing player.

My interest lies with exactly what Atlanta are going to do, not because I like them, but because I wonder if they will fill there glaring weakness's. They have that many 6'9 iish forwards that it is ridiculous. What they need is a PG, but to me taking Conley at 3 is a bit of a stretch. So will they draft on need or who is the best player left? Either way they are still smashing there head against a wall about not drafting Chris Paul.

On a national note Aussie point guard Aaron Bruce has dropped from the draft and is going back to college. Brad Newley is in the draft again, and at least in Australia he is an extremely good player. Do I htink he will get drafter? Doubtful, late second rounder at best, but he has been getting some good reviews out of the draft camps. I hope he doesnt cos the Adelaide 36ers need him

 

[Don Killuminati]

Well Garnett stopped all of the Boston talk by saying he doesn't want to play there and he'd leave after a year when he could option out. So it looks like the East will continue to be horrible. Not that Garnett would have turned it all around but if he had success some West superstars would come to the East to see if they could make a team great and eventually it would level out.

He says he wants to go to the Suns which I wouldn't want to see. I don't want to see the rich get richer and the poor get poorer but thats how it usually works. He could probably help that team get the championship that has evaded them these past years when they've been so good. It would be a good move by him to go there because it's his best chance to get a ring immediatly I think.

He could go to alot of places now though. I think that since Boston is out of the picture more teams will approach them with a deal. I could think the Suns, Knicks, Mavs, or Cavs being posibilities, with the last two being stretches with Cleveland talking about other guys and the Mavs more interested in the Kobe mess.

 

[A.J.]

Garnett now looks like trading him i sgoing be harder then we all thought. I really can't see why he wouldn't want to go Boston as the eastern conference is weak and him and Paul Pierce could easily made some impact in the east.

Keving wanting to go to Phoenix would suck as you said Don," the rich gets richer", but it could work. As phoenix would have to part with Shawn Marion most likely and Leandro barbosa and throw in a draft pick or two. But it could work if Phoenix wants to get the most while they can as Nash is not getting any younger. Barbosa is great but he is not a leadert at point hes more a shotting guard than a point guard.

All the other teams i dunno i dont see it working as Dallas would have to give a josh howard up and I dont see that. Knicks who wants their garbage, and Cavs dont have any real peices to offer expect if they want a Larry hughes, but we all know they will want Gibson as well. So Phoenix could do but will they? I dont think they will but he looks to be easier to trade then a Kobe.

 

[Don Killuminati]

It looks like now the Suns are talking about trading Stoudemire for Garnett which is trade in the Sun's shoes I would not do. Stoudemire is 24 while Garnett is 31. They already are looking at Nash getting older and they don't need to have 2 superstars that won't be around in a few years.

If they plan to win now then they should make the trade so they could win possibly next season. But they could still win next season with Stoudemire and then they'd still have a superstar after Nash. I really think Stoudemire is good and they don't need Garnett that much.

It really just depends on how much they want to win right now or if they want to make some cheaper moves or maybe nothing at all because I think they could still win it all with what they have now. IMO they probably would be champions right now if they hadn't had that suspension mess during the Spurs series. So I wouldn't do this in the Sun's position because it's just not necesary.

 

[A.J.]

Hasn't been crazy these last few days with all the trades that could happen for Kevin Garnett? I swear each there is a new deal for him and yet by the end of that we back at ground zero and he is still in Minnesota. Honestly, he is being way to picky on where he wants to go and from the looks the teams that do want him they can not strike a deal with Minnesota.

Then the draft is tommrow and and its looks like Oden is number one and durnat is two and after that its a mess. I mean Atlanta could take Conley as they need a point guard but they coudl Al Horford and then if hes there Acie LawIV with the 11th pick. So I dunno this draft is still for me not that great as that talent is there but will it carry over to the pro level and that we will have to wait and see. Least after tommorow will know where some teams stand and then its on to free agency period and that will be interestings as you Rashard Lewis and Chanucey Billiups that two big name free agenst on the market.

 

[JoshK1985]

Biggest steal of the draft is going to be Glen Davis in the second round.. His stock dropped alot this season due to injuries and how LSU fell off. But he will be something decent in the NBA..

 

[wotdoiput]

Really looking forward to the draft tomorrow, of course Ill be at work but ill be logged on to various sites to try and see whats going on. Hopefully this thread hots up !!

I think after Oden and Durant go 1,2 things ill get very interesting indeed. Seems to be a lot of wheeling and dealing being tried and there also seems that the guys most likely to go between picks 3-10 could go in any order to anywhere.

As to the alleged close trade of getting Garnett to Phoenix, which would send Stoudemeire to Atlanta and draft picks and junk to Minnesota. Well for Atlanta it seems great to get the post presence they so need, but they do lose draft picks .. but hey Stoudemire is only 24. Minnesota? well if its true they get what they can for Garnett, which I guess isnt a bad thing because he is obvioulsy going to opt out if he stays. If they get draft picks they can begin to rebuild. While on one hand its good for Phoenix to get Garnett, i think its a mistake to get him if you have to give up Stoudemeire, a guy who is 24 compared to 31 and who has the best infront of him.

If this trae goes thru and Phoneix dont win the title in the next 2 years, they have just let their future go to go after something that they arent that far away from.

 

[Don Killuminati]

Yeah this thread has been only 3 posters so far so it better get better after the draft.

I actually don't care much about this draft. One thing is because the Cavs don't have a pick. THe second though is that while it has alot of talent I really don't think it's as great as people are saying. I think alot of these first rounders will just end up as role players. Not that they'll be bad but really the only two "superstars" are Oden and Durant. Some other guys will be good but I'm not as high on guys like Conley as some. But it is the best since 03. I'm looking forward to free agency to heat up though with guys like Billups that will be free agents.

 

[wotdoiput]

Well Oden and Durant one and two as expected.

Hawks take Horford. Suerely they are going to have to trade one or more of their forwards to try and get a PG that can run the show, an experienced one at that even if they pick Law up later in the draft.

 

[Don Killuminati]

Oden one. Durant two. Nothing really excititing. Like I said this draft just doesn't matter much to me. Noah went to Chicago which is pretty cool I guess. But that makes it harder for the Cavs to make the Finals again so not cool. Whatever I just really don't find the NBA draft exciting usually. I like seeing what happens in free agency and trades more.

 

[wotdoiput]

Well report is that the number 5 pick Jeff Green has been traded by the celtics to the Sonics for Ray Allen. What does everyone think of it? Is it true? I only know from websites.

Also Don, you dont have tunnel vision on the excitement of the draft because of the lack of involvment of the Cavs? I was interested with the middle part more than the first two picks. But Altlanta surely have to make a trade.

 

[Don Killuminati]

Haha yeah I guess the Cavs are really all I care about in the NBA. I don't know I just haven't really been following all of the draft analysis on ESPN and stuff and I guess that just makes it seem less exciting when your not looking at all of that stuff and your team has no picks. It's like being poor and watching other people walk in front of you, show you their new money, and leave.

 

[A.J.]

Well from what i have seen so far the draft is going to what all the experts figured will happen. The celtics will trade Jeff Green along with Wally Z and Delonte West to Seattle for Ray Allen. Its a ok deal just Allen is 32 so Boston didnt help themselves much and New York made a trade but still New York has no idea what they doing.

 

[wotdoiput]

My main worries for the celtics getting Allen, is like you said AJ Allen is 32, and what impact will acquiring Allen have on the development of Gerald Green?? Will it be positive for a negative?

 

[A.J.]

Well with Allen being there he could help make Green a better shooter as Ray is one of the best shooters there are in the league. It does look nice as Green will be their 6th man and thats an awesome guy to have come off the bench. But still not a great deal for Boston but they be in the east so they could make the playoffs.

The Knicks deal is good as now they have Curry and Randolph in the middle but the big question is whether Randolph be on good behavior in NYC. But the blazers getting Frye is a great pick up and i'm really liking this young team that the Blazers are building.

Rest of the draft has been boring nothing real exciting.

 

[Don Killuminati]

I think the Celtics could make the playoffs next year. Allen could help them enough to steal the 8th seed maybe. I mean the East is so bad most teams really have at least a shot to fight for a seed. So its an ok trade as their at least looking better and as you said that Green off the bench will be great.

But were still the only people here. I thought more people would post in here for the draft.

 

[A.J.]

Well the draft wasnt so bad but still seems like most it was the trades that make it the best and well Jason Richardson going to Charlotte wasa good move by Golden State as they get relif in the cap area and they can re-sign some of the players they have like Mat Barnes and work the free-agent market. But Portland had another good draft night as they are building a great team there and i expect them to buy out steve francies contract. But good draft for Portland.