Official NBA Off-Season Thread. New 2012-2013 Thread Has Been Made. Please Post In There

[85wasagreatyear]

Idc idc idc

 

[finallyfamous]

I still got bulls vs heat in the ecf, and mavs vs okc in the wcf

 

[buc em]

Unless a Dwight trade to the Nets happens or Melo and Amare somehow click and become a dominant duo then it's pretty much in the books that the ECF is going to be Boston vs Miami again. As for the West, unless an injury to an important player happens it's also basically in the books that it's going to be the Lakers vs Thunder. Chris Paul or Dirk would have to be playing out of their minds to change that. I'd like to see the Grizz do it, but I don't think Z-Bo is that same player he was 2 years ago anymore and him and Gay aren't a good combo.

 

[mmg]

I got Heat vs Celtics / Nets in ECF.....

Dwill
JJ
Crash
Humpty
Lopez

that team gonna cook

 

[datznasty]

Well, in OKC we still have the issue of keeping Harden, Ibaka, and Maynor and if we are going to let them play the whole season out go into restricted free agency, extend early, flip at the deadline for a cheaper (rookie contract) replacement, or what the plan is there. I agree though if we play the whole season out with the same roster, although I would be hesitant to write the Spurs off so quickly.

General consensus believed around here now is James will be here. Ibaka and Maynor, would like to, but have to see if and how it's possible, but James will be made a priority.



http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/08/harden-pretty-a-hundred-percent-pretty-sure-hes-staying-in-okc/

James Harden is currently busy trying to do the whole gold medal thing. Which means the Thunder’s biggest offseason question marks have been placed on hold. Both Harden and Serge Ibaka are eligible for extensions, but with them playing basketball, those things aren’t priority right now.

After the dust settles in London, things will advance one way or another. And while a lot of people fret over Harden and Ibaka and the Thunder’s future cap situation, one person seems to be fairly certain there’s nothing to worry about: James Harden. As he told Sam Amick of SI.com: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...olympics-nba-notebook/index.html?eref=writers

“I’m pretty, a hundred percent, I’m pretty sure that I’m going to be in Oklahoma City,” Harden said with a reported small stutter. “I’ll let my agent and Mr. Presti and [Thunder owner Clay] Bennett discuss all that, so I’ll let them handle that and stay out of it for right now and worry about the USA Olympics.”

Harden was then asked if the thought of being a featured player with a more prominent role was at all intriguing to him.

“I love winning,” he said. “We have some great guys over here, something special, something I don’t think any other team in the NBA has – young guys who got drafted basically together, year after year after year. We’ve got something special, so I’m focused on what we have and trying to win a championship with these guys.”

Amick notes he talked to Harden about this at Team USA’s July training camp in Las Vegas, meaning he said this before he told Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic that he’d consider playing for the Phoenix Suns if he reaches free agency. http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/07/james-harden-says-hed-consider-the-suns-in-free-agency/

But by the sounds of it, Harden has no intention to do that. Obviously a lot of that falls on what the Thunder offer because if it’s a max deal or even close to it, Harden is likely to sign on without thinking much about it.

At the same time, he’s hinted as possibly taking less money to remain with the Thunder. “This is something special here,” he said. “A dynasty is being built here. So we’re winning, we’re having fun and we’re brothers. The other stuff, you can’t buy it.”

As we all know, what happens with Harden impact Ibaka. And vice versa. But in order to keep both, you have to keep at least one and I’d presume that would begin with Harden. His importance to the team is undeniable, and that’s just not on the floor or off the bench. He balances the top of the roster and that’s an incredibly valuable thing to the structure of the team. Plus, he’s a 22-year-old Olympian that just won Sixth Man of the Year. So yeah, he can ball.

We’ll see what happens after London and there’s a chance to really get to work on this stuff. But one thing’s for certain: Harden’s pretty kinda sorta pretty much positive sure he’s not going anywhere.

 

[mmg]

Honestly, you need to keep the Beard, dont get me wrong i like Iblocka, but what scares you most ? Harden / KD / Russy comin at you or KD / Russy / Iblocka?

and if perkins is healthy he can help make up a little for that loss

 

[datznasty]

I agree. That's why Presti went out of his way this offseason to visit James and promise him he wasn't getting traded when all that Bradley Beal stuff was out there and then someone on Twitter had James convinced he had been traded to the Hornets for Eric Gordon and he posted a "Goodbye and thank you to OKC, will miss you" on Instagram.

It's not a lot of guys out there who can block 10 shots in a game, block dunks, and be the help defender Ibaka is but James Harden is a borderline all star game changer type of guy who can win you games, and amazingly humble relative to his talent level which is a rare combination. We can get an Ekpe Udoh or even a minimum guy like Pops the Whale Killer in here and certainly it would be a downgrade, but not nearly as much as if we had to draft a James Harden replacement in the late 1st or late 2nd plus the fact that we would have to wait and that's no bueno with KD coming up in 2016 to be unrestricted.

Same time though, I think we should win at all costs because of that. I don't think dudes are going to go broke and the increased money making potential of having a championship has to offset any losses to some extent. I've been a season ticket holder 3 and a half seasons and they have hicked prices twice already. Winning > fiscal responsibility.

 

[ill steelo]

Pacers have a 2nd round ceiling unless Granger returns to his '09 form or George tightens his handle to where he can be more than a 3 & D guy.

 

[datznasty]

Stackhouse stay getting dunked on in summer games

 

[Bert.]

straight murdered him

Stack needs to retire already

 

[dipsetgeneral]

Heat and OKC are gonna be the favorites for the next four years. Boston and Chicago are the only threats to Miami.

Lakers, Clippers, and Spurs are the only threats to OKC.

 

[buc em]

Yeah Stackhouse definitely needs to retire because he's going to be protecting the rim all the time........

But really though, I can't believe he's still playing. And PJ Hairston has been killin at the NC Pro-AM.

 

[bhzmafia14]

The West is going to be a 4-5 team race and it all depends on who gets hot at the right time. Obviously, OKC is the favorites. They have proven that they can beat the Spurs, who haven't did much to change their team. Did the Lakers do enough to beat them? Adding one of the worst defensive PG's in the league may not help the cause. But, their offense should run like a well oiled machine.

If you want to be OKC, your defense has to be one of the best, 1 or 2 guys that can carry the team in a series and youth. Spurs showed last year that a good offense and so-so defense will not beat them in a series. That's the main advantage Memphis has over the other teams in the West. They will end up having the best defensive team in the West next year. I believe they were the best or 2nd best last year. Their main issue is on the offensive end and if ZBO and Marc can dominate throughout the playoffs with Rudy being there to help. 3 point shooting would be another issue, that's hopefully improved with new additions this offseason.


If the Clippers can improve defensively, they will have a good chance as well. A motivated Odom and Hill are good additions. I don't care for Crawford too much. But, they will always have a chance with a healthy Paul. Griffin injury probably slowed down the progression he was making this off-season as well.

Outside of these 5 teams (OKC, LAL, MEM, SAS, LAC), I don't see anyone else being a major threat. Of course, injuries happen and this may change as the season progresses. Denver really lacks any kind of go to player down the stretch. Dallas will be good, but they have no kind of chemistry and more importantly, Dirk may not have that fire this season. Teams like Golden State and Minnesota will improve and be pushing for the 8th seed. The twolves could get a little higher depending on Roy's health throughout the season and how good he will actually be.

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

That dunk was aight....Not really a fan of those throw the ball in the rim dunks. I wanted to see him really bang on him.


Stackhouse still trying to redeem that lashing he took from Jordan when he came into the League.

 

[wavy bone]

Adrian Wojnarowski: Orlando and the L.A. Lakers are engaged in 4-way talks with Denver and Philadelphia on a Dwight Howard blockbuster, league sources tell Y!

Here we go againnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn - DMX

 

[mmg]

Bynum ain't going to Denver, maybe Philly cause he's from south jersey I believe.

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

If Woj is reporting it then I'm much more inclined to believe it than if it were someone like Broussard.

 

[blazers21ntnp]

Bynum ain't going to Denver

Obvious.

 

[finallyfamous]

The hell

 

[T0INE]

Denver and Philly involved now?

So random.

 

[finallyfamous]

Those are 4 interesting teams, tho..

Could be a huge trade going down, but let's just see..

Can't assume it'll even happen.

 

[blazers21ntnp]

Howard/Harrington to Lakers
Iguodala to Denver
Bynum to Philly
Gasol/Afflalo to Orlando

 

[finallyfamous]

damn so Gasol & Bynum?

 

[henz0]

mavs vs okc in the wcf

 

[blazers21ntnp]

Harrington, if he can stay healthy, would be a nice fit with Nash. He wouldn't be anywhere near as effective as Gasol in the pick-and-roll, but would be tough to defend in the pick-and-pop with his range. But, Al won't be ready for training camp after multiple off-season surgeries, and is aiming to be ready for the first game of the season.

I hate the rumored deal for Denver.