- Dec 27, 2014
- 35,501
- 78,054
⭐ OFFICIAL 2020-2021 NBA Off-Season Thread: Olympics begin 7/23; NBA Draft 7/29⭐
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by MVP,
- Start date
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- Mar 21, 2010
- 22,895
- 26,768
For the life of me I can’t understand the hype behind MPJ, they keep throwing him out as this centerpiece trade chip
- Sep 5, 2010
- 92,795
- 129,071
I would dump Barton if I were the Nuggets. I'm not sure how they plan on keeping him past this season.
- Jun 24, 2013
- 32,356
- 34,860
Chess not checkers lol
They know Simmons hasn’t improved a lick in 4 years. They just being patient to get that one glimmer to up that value
- Sep 5, 2010
- 92,795
- 129,071
NBA teams are going to need a James Harden trade soon
Some teams were going to talk themselves into it; the situation was just too ripe. There was a blockbuster coming.
In the summer of 2018, Masai Ujiri kept thinking about the difference between a good team and a great team.
The Toronto Raptors president had built good teams; he even won the NBA Executive of the Year Award in his third season as general manager of the Denver Nuggets. He built a bunch of 50-win teams. He built teams that won division titles. He built teams that went to the conference finals.
But Ujiri asked himself: Had he truly ever built a great team in Toronto -- one that legitimately could win it all?
As he spent days mulling over what could have been the riskiest move of his career, he finally came to grips with the answer and then executed the trade for Kawhi Leonard.
At the moment, the NBA has a bloated middle class. There is a large group of teams, maybe as many as a dozen, that are on the edge of contention. They have a star or two. They have a path to maybe reach the second round of the playoffs or maybe even the conference finals, if things fall just right. They are good; they are not great.
This is where James Harden comes in, and why his future could shape how this NBA season plays out.
The Houston Rockets -- who have seen the ransom of assets that players such as Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday got on the trade market with only one season remaining on their contracts -- have set and maintained a high asking price for Harden, who has two seasons and more than $90 million remaining on his deal.
The Rockets can see the lay of the land too, and new general manager Rafael Stone knows that a superstar with two seasons under contract is a premium asset. Routinely over the past few years, teams trading stars have been able to pull out the combination of young players, lightly protected or fully unprotected picks and pick swaps in deals for star-level players.
In the Eastern Conference, for example, there are seven teams that could probably whiteboard themselves into the conference finals: the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and the hot-start Indiana Pacers. The reality is, at least three of them mathematically aren't even going to make the second round. Then there is the collection of teams that will be fighting to make the play-in tournament; there's more contenders than spots.
This means jobs could be at stake come the summer. And there's Harden sitting there now, playing well, even though he is not in good shape and is displaying, to put it kindly, limited motivation. And with so many teams feeling they're in contention, it promises to be a seller's market at the trade deadline, perhaps juicing interest even more.
It is not a coincidence that a number of teams such as the Celtics, 76ers, Heat, Nets and Raptors -- teams that are in the "good not great" zone -- have at least made a courtesy call to the Rockets, sources said. Even the Bucks, sources said, at least had an internal conversation about it and ran it past Giannis Antetokounmpo before deciding not to get involved. They had to; with the current landscape, Harden's eventual destination is on the mind of everyone in this tightly packed race.
Of course, the West has similar stories. The Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers might see themselves at the top of the contender list, but there are teams around them that have been dancing on the Harden periphery. The Portland Trail Blazers reportedly are monitoring, and so are the Nuggets, who have interest in getting involved in a deal even if they don't end up with Harden, sources said. There could be more if the situation plays out a little.
It is not unusual for there to be a lot of teams interested when a star pops up on the market. It's not unusual for it to take a while for offers to develop; the league changes in some way every day. But this particular set of circumstances make this situation particularly intriguing to watch.
Harden doesn't have the championship résumé of Leonard, but Harden is absolutely the type of player who can change a team's fortunes in the short term. Get him and a good team just might turn into a great team. And he is available -- the only such difference-making player who fits that bill. As this season unfolds and the pressure to distance from the pack naturally increases, the desire for a player like Harden is going to grow in some places. There are front offices that are having the same debates that Ujiri had before the 2018-19 season: Is now the time to make the riskiest move hoping for a payoff?
A blockbuster could be coming.
Some teams were going to talk themselves into it; the situation was just too ripe. There was a blockbuster coming.
In the summer of 2018, Masai Ujiri kept thinking about the difference between a good team and a great team.
The Toronto Raptors president had built good teams; he even won the NBA Executive of the Year Award in his third season as general manager of the Denver Nuggets. He built a bunch of 50-win teams. He built teams that won division titles. He built teams that went to the conference finals.
But Ujiri asked himself: Had he truly ever built a great team in Toronto -- one that legitimately could win it all?
As he spent days mulling over what could have been the riskiest move of his career, he finally came to grips with the answer and then executed the trade for Kawhi Leonard.
At the moment, the NBA has a bloated middle class. There is a large group of teams, maybe as many as a dozen, that are on the edge of contention. They have a star or two. They have a path to maybe reach the second round of the playoffs or maybe even the conference finals, if things fall just right. They are good; they are not great.
This is where James Harden comes in, and why his future could shape how this NBA season plays out.
The Houston Rockets -- who have seen the ransom of assets that players such as Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday got on the trade market with only one season remaining on their contracts -- have set and maintained a high asking price for Harden, who has two seasons and more than $90 million remaining on his deal.
The Rockets can see the lay of the land too, and new general manager Rafael Stone knows that a superstar with two seasons under contract is a premium asset. Routinely over the past few years, teams trading stars have been able to pull out the combination of young players, lightly protected or fully unprotected picks and pick swaps in deals for star-level players.
In the Eastern Conference, for example, there are seven teams that could probably whiteboard themselves into the conference finals: the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and the hot-start Indiana Pacers. The reality is, at least three of them mathematically aren't even going to make the second round. Then there is the collection of teams that will be fighting to make the play-in tournament; there's more contenders than spots.
This means jobs could be at stake come the summer. And there's Harden sitting there now, playing well, even though he is not in good shape and is displaying, to put it kindly, limited motivation. And with so many teams feeling they're in contention, it promises to be a seller's market at the trade deadline, perhaps juicing interest even more.
It is not a coincidence that a number of teams such as the Celtics, 76ers, Heat, Nets and Raptors -- teams that are in the "good not great" zone -- have at least made a courtesy call to the Rockets, sources said. Even the Bucks, sources said, at least had an internal conversation about it and ran it past Giannis Antetokounmpo before deciding not to get involved. They had to; with the current landscape, Harden's eventual destination is on the mind of everyone in this tightly packed race.
Of course, the West has similar stories. The Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers might see themselves at the top of the contender list, but there are teams around them that have been dancing on the Harden periphery. The Portland Trail Blazers reportedly are monitoring, and so are the Nuggets, who have interest in getting involved in a deal even if they don't end up with Harden, sources said. There could be more if the situation plays out a little.
It is not unusual for there to be a lot of teams interested when a star pops up on the market. It's not unusual for it to take a while for offers to develop; the league changes in some way every day. But this particular set of circumstances make this situation particularly intriguing to watch.
Harden doesn't have the championship résumé of Leonard, but Harden is absolutely the type of player who can change a team's fortunes in the short term. Get him and a good team just might turn into a great team. And he is available -- the only such difference-making player who fits that bill. As this season unfolds and the pressure to distance from the pack naturally increases, the desire for a player like Harden is going to grow in some places. There are front offices that are having the same debates that Ujiri had before the 2018-19 season: Is now the time to make the riskiest move hoping for a payoff?
A blockbuster could be coming.
i totally understand the argument and you may very well be correct, but im riding with simmons till the wheels falls off fam and been since day 1 in here
only 4 games in and 3-1 so far with a very tough match up tn. Sixers never beat the magic so it seems
ill take a 17-8-9 game from ben tonight with 3 steals and a block
also DANNY GREEN IS TRASH.. i can avg 4 pts for 15M
- Sep 18, 2003
- 61,863
- 134,075
yeah but this 16/8/8 has been going on every season. Pascal, Jaylen, ingram and others have all leveled up. Ben hasn’t. And he’s going to put a cap on your team. Good luck
- Dec 27, 2014
- 35,501
- 78,054
With the Magic emerging as the top contender in the east....
lawdog1
Supporter
- Sep 14, 2000
- 60,156
- 72,639
Last edited:
- Mar 16, 2010
- 147,079
- 179,437
- May 19, 2016
- 18,846
- 18,039
Pippen was always low key insecure
- Jan 30, 2007
- 28,535
- 43,641
- Mar 31, 2011
- 72,975
- 117,201
Forgot how saying I don’t think someone is going to be a SUPERSTAR is considered slander. GoofyAmbulance chasers get a bad rap, but I don’t know about calling a man “lower tier” when he clearly has more resources than you.
Jacob Emrani would also like a word (although I will say that I have had the unfortunate occasion of meeting him and he is a complete jerk).
(Also See Celino and Barnes [RIP] they made more money as personal injury attorneys than two-bit will ever see in 5 lifetimes). But let Two-Bit Law Cat tell it and it’s “lower tier” ...as he sits in his Mar Vista studio apartment.
The personal injury guys that you see advertising on TV aren’t of the white shoe firm variety, but they have almost always won huge settlements for their clients and build their businesses by putting that money into advertising. Its a smart business move. Conventional attitudes towards PI attorneys usually amount to the critics being broke and jealous, although they'd never admit it.
Here’s a really good read on that if you’re interested: Cellino and Barnes
Mark Cuban was making excuses for him. Something along the lines of since Slovenia was on lockdown, Luka couldn’t do much in the brief offseason.
Which is complete BS because Cuban could have easily over nighted that fat *** a Peloton.
It took you less than 5 games to walk back that Lamelo slander from a week ago?
- Nov 29, 2012
- 7,636
- 13,506
He mad he got roasted for getting underpaid. Ain’t no one’s fault but his.
- May 19, 2016
- 18,846
- 18,039
He got hustled left and right
Mj used to show up early to the gym to put up shots
arena grew like sound/ engineers were also in there getting stuff ready for the game , also showing the blue red and white car around the stadium (if u been to any game u know)
MJ knew what car would win and bet Scottie $500 during the game. Got him every time
Mj used to show up early to the gym to put up shots
arena grew like sound/ engineers were also in there getting stuff ready for the game , also showing the blue red and white car around the stadium (if u been to any game u know)
MJ knew what car would win and bet Scottie $500 during the game. Got him every time
yobyellav
formerly cord15
- Sep 12, 2006
- 12,934
- 9,811
5 games into the season. Everyone kinda has to be bunched together due to number of games played unless you’re undefeated or winless.
- Mar 24, 2001
- 44,833
- 66,536
What ever team that lands James harden will win the championship. Including houston
- Mar 31, 2011
- 72,975
- 117,201
Have seen them twice now. Their offense looks night and day compared to what they were doing previously with the greatest coach of all time Nate McMillan. Working through Sabonis but much more free flowing than it seemed last year. Think they are going to shoot more 3s too. Dipo looks healthy again as well. They’re going to be tough to beat because they defend well too.My guy standing for his Magic
Apparently Brogdon didn't get along with McMillan and the new coach has overhauled their offensive philosophy. Haven't watched much of them yet but I see the numbers. I think they got a good shot of staying in
But Atlanta no matter what they should really be able to make the Play In
lawdog1
Supporter
- Sep 14, 2000
- 60,156
- 72,639
- Nov 26, 2015
- 24,441
- 22,120
.
- Nov 26, 2015
- 24,441
- 22,120
Scottie is probably the only former player/teammate that could get away with voicing his displeasure with MJ, and MJ actually accepting it.
- Sep 5, 2010
- 92,795
- 129,071
The Harden Protocol.
- Nov 26, 2015
- 24,441
- 22,120
Dude, this was hard to read, are you drunk this early? Anyway, great story. Where did you read this??
- Jun 7, 2011
- 18,210
- 21,989
Complete garbage network. They have the nerve to put their articles behind a paywall
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