NBA Offseason

[LBGetBack]

I don't disagree with any of that. I never claimed otherwise. My point is very simple - you see lots of players who are perfectly capable and talented enough to play defense, but just refuse to do so (Harden, Carmelo, etc). I'm saying if you're a good player offensively and known as a poor defender, that's a lack of effort, plain and simple.

And being a big MSU fan, I listen to local sports radio with Tom Izzo on nearly a weekly basis. He has talked about taking TE's and other lengthy football players from the school and using them to defend and rebound. He has talked about them not being the most talented, polished players, so he looks for the hardest workers because they tend to be good defenders despite not being traditionally talented guys.

Harden and Carmelo......two guys carrying the entire load offensively for their teams! Two years ago Melo lead the Knicks in points, rebounds, and assists! Only player in the league to do that! But yeah, he's "lazy" and "doesn't care". FOH. Melo is a solid on ball defender who for years with the Knicks also often had to battle bigger players in the post, defensively and did an admirable job of it. He's just not a great help defender. On ball? He BEEN solid and does the best he can.

I'm convinced y'all don't even watch these guys that you bash.

 

[Khalifa]

Oh LGBT is gone? I guess it was only a matter of time. Anyways Adrian Woj-bunch of letters has reported Kyrie is willing to sign an extension with Spurs if they can strike a deal. No surprise really as the Spurs are the class of the NBA, if not all sports. I doubt that happens though. 1) because of the severe lack of assests and 2) because I doubt Cavs send him to a team that could beat them with Irving. They still need to win a championship to maybe get Lebron to resign so it wouldn't make sense to send him to a serious contender. It is out of the East though so that helps but yeah I couldn't see him going to a legit contender. Maybe Boston only because they could offer IT (I know Cavs won't want him and it's unlikely Boston trades him) or a bunch of young assests.

Based on who can offer what and who needs him, I think Denver would have the best chance at getting him. It would hurt to lose Gary Harris but if you're getting a Kyrie Irving it's probably worth it, with or without and extension. How could he say no to being with Jokic at the end of the day.

 

[Da Prophet]

I can't wait for the All-Star game when the West score 500 points and LeBron + whoever the hell is left at this point in the East get pumped.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

I don't think Cleveland will put quite as much thought into which team gets Kyrie as who they get in return. Obviously that will be considered, but if they get enough back, I doubt they don't pull the trigger.

 

[Khalifa]

Servere... wtf. Obviously severe. Yeah Obviousky they want the most back but like you said, it'd be silly to not consider if you are reading him to a contender.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

The Cavs would be very happy to get Kyrie to SA if it means they could bounce GS from the Finals.

But ultimately this comes down to the return they can get for Kyrie.

 

[Slyfox696]

Servere... wtf. Obviously severe. Yeah Obviousky they want the most back

Someone's drunk.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I enjoy that such a simple argument over basketball turned into the blood feud of 2017

 

[Sai the Uganda Guy]

Poor kid couldn't accept he was wrong lol

 

[A11oftheLights]

Surely Kyrie doesnt get traded if these reports of Lebron being 100% gone are true. If Kyrie cant wait out the year for lebron to piss off and then be the man, is he really mature enough to be the guy you build a franchise around?

 

[Richard Blonoff]

I don't think they move him, because if they do they aren't going to get an ample return and LeBron looks like he is gone after the season. They aren't going to lose two stars and I don't think you can build a contender around Love.

There are times I feel bad for LeBron, having to play for Dan Gilbert.

 

[Khalifa]

Someone's drunk.

It's both a blessing and a curse having Thursdays off.

Surely Kyrie doesnt get traded if these reports of Lebron being 100% gone are true. If Kyrie cant wait out the year for lebron to piss off and then be the man, is he really mature enough to be the guy you build a franchise around?

I agree. If Lebron is going then why doesn't Kyrie want to contend for one more year and then have the keys to himself? Is it Cleveland he doesn't like? Maybe he wants to start a new chapter because if/when Lebron leaves then there's going to be that stigma they had from when james left the first time and maybe that's just such a locker room killer, but I dunno if Kyrie was taking over I'm not sure how much that would affect him.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

The problem for Cleveland is what kind of locker room will this coming year provide if both are there? They could alienate much more than one person in that scenario. Irving leaves because he's upset they didn't trade him. James leaves for whatever reasons he's going to leave. Then the team goes to crap and even your role players are likely leaving for contenders. Suddenly Cleveland is the basketball version of the Browns.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

The problem for Cleveland is what kind of locker room will this coming year provide if both are there? They could alienate much more than one person in that scenario. Irving leaves because he's upset they didn't trade him. James leaves for whatever reasons he's going to leave. Then the team goes to crap and even your role players are likely leaving for contenders. Suddenly Cleveland is the basketball version of the Browns.

Are you implying that they weren't already that before they lucked into LeBron?

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Good point but Irving has developed since then. But as I think about it anyway, even if they trade Irving, James is still leaving and they're screwed.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

Yeah, there was a report earlier today that LeBron has told his guys he is leaving after the season because of Gilbert. They need to keep Irving now. Irving has the potential to lead a team to the playoffs, especially with the East being so down, but he won't ever win a ring solo. Gilbert just needs to make it appear he is trying post LeBron and the fans will show up. I have a feeling he will try to move Love next off season, as well as moving JR Smith. Tristan Thomson will likely stick around because he was at least drafted by Cleveland, but this team is gonna fall hard. Cleveland fans are loyal though. No idea why, but they have supported some awful teams.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

If Lebron is leaving, why is he refusing to waive his no-trade clause? He may very well be leaving, but that's a move I don't understand. I would trade Irving anyhow. Get as much as you can for him. Who knows, maybe they believe Irving sticking around this year will make it so awkward that Lebron demands to be traded. Crazy, but Gilbert isn't all there.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

Because LeBron has an ego and is petty.

After the way Gilbert reacted when he left the first time, I wouldn't blame him if he never went back. He did go back though, and Gilbert did everything in his power to try to make James happy, including being way into the luxury tax to sign JR and TT to those big deals just because they are represented by James' agency. Yeah, he did fire Gilbert, a guy James liked, but he bent over backwards for James this go round and for some reason, LeBron isn't happy with him. Maybe it's a grudge from the first time, I'm not sure, but LeBron is determined to do that man no favors.

And when he does leave, he is going to spin it so Gilbert is the monster. By no means is he perfect, or even a good owner, but LeBron refuses to play the villain.

I look forward to it though, because it's going to be entertaining. I can't wait until Gilbert drops some line like "How can he be the king when he can't handle his own throne." Number one selling shirt in Cleveland next year.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

I don't think Gilbert will be stupid enough to act so childish like he did last time. Let's face it. Both guys were idiots last time. "The Decision" was one of the dumbest ideas ever. And Dan Gilbert's reaction to it was like a baby throwing a tantrum. Honestly, both of these guys come off as big kids.

While there certainly won't be open hugging going on between the two, I highly doubt we see the antics of 2010. James is still going to look bad, but everyone knows by now that Gilbert is an asshole.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

[YOUTUBE]6wh01uslfy4[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Da Prophet]

Apparently Kyrie is going to Boston.

 

[Khalifa]

Apparently Kyrie is going to Boston.

And for only IT. Are you kidding me? Oh wait just saw Crowder involved. That's a bit better. Actually that's pretty good for Cavs considering they still have the best player on the planet.

Fuck and the Brooklyn first round pick, unprotected. Throw the farm for Irving and make your biggest rival instead of probably selling half of what you did and get George or Hayward. I know Irving is special but they have now lost Bradley, crowder and Thomas as well as probably a top 3 pick.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

If James leaves next year, Boston should be set up to be the power in the East for a few years. Even if he stays in the East, chemistry takes a while and he's not getting any younger.

 

[Khalifa]

but yeah I couldn't see him going to a legit contender. Maybe Boston only because they could offer IT (I know Cavs won't want him and it's unlikely Boston trades him)

No worries. Having more of a thought on this trade, Cavs weren't getting a better player than IT a trade, whether he stays or not is another thing and adding Crowder is great for the Cavs. Then to get a probable top 3 draft pick is fantastic for the Cavs. Assuming James and Thomas leave, Love/Crowder/ Top 3 pick will contend in the East. It's a very good move and hard for them to get much better without another team shitting the bed. D is now a huge issue for the Cavs but with Crowder being the main defender now, having LbJ rest on D will do wonders, plus really Irving and Thomas aren't that different defensively, only height changes it.

For Boston you can look at it from 2 ways. I'll start with the negatives first. The team that came first last year traded IT, Bradley and Crowder their main core. Is chemistry going to be an issue. They also lose a massive pick while trading down on this draft. Sure they wanted Tatum but if the point guard wasn't their best position then they would've gone Faultz or Ball. That pick was meant to be used for a superstar absolutely but when you give your two main pieces on top of that, is that too much? The positive is their lineup now is Irving/Hayward/Morris/Horford, so on paper they look better. You get a top 5 guard in the game and more of a true superstar for a big market than Hayward.

If I'm a Denver fan I'd be upset though, not sure they will get a better player than Irving in the near future. Not sure Cavs would've even wanted it but Nuggets should've went hard. Just had a thought, if Pacers waited they could've traded George for Irving, maybe not but maybe at the same time.

Oh and also Dwayne Wade is expected to join Cavs, hectic.

 

[A11oftheLights]

It works out well for all parties involved. Kyrie gets to be the man, the cavs get a top pick without having to wait a year after Lebron leaves and the celtics now have a superstar. Lebron also gets some defensive help from Crowder. Overall I think the warriors have won this trade because I feel each team has taken 1 step forward two steps back