Around the NBA - July 2017 Edition

Dylan
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It was this moment when Otto Porter realized he was going to get a max contract offer of $106 Million in the

 

Interesting, I stated Lin is the best player we receive yet his ONLY talent is as scoring guard; something in which we have two of already. We don't need to replicate talent we already have. We need different talent, which includes being versatile, given the scoring nature of our backcourt.

Lin cannot play alongside CJ and Damian. He could play alongside one, not the other, and that is a stretch given his aggressive-score first style, which again, we already have guards that do that. However, Evan Turner CAN play alongside CJ or Damian being that he is more likely to defer, draw and kick/dish, and he also has the size to play SF. Once again, Lin does not - LIMITING.

Interesting, have you watched the Golden State Warriors? They rely on positional versatility and 'lack of defining' positions - according to their players, coach and owner. As a matter of fact, I would disagree. You have numerous players being taken out of games because they cannot play offense, defense, OR shoot a free throw. Coaches willingly take out their best players for more rounded players when the game is on the line. The entire face of the league is based on multi-positional players, hybrids, now where it was totally different just 5 years ago with clear positions. There is a clear reason for that. Being a great big man is worthless if the other big man runs by you all game long and you get tired. Also, it's pretty simple.

Vonleh = PF/C
Evan Turner = PG, SG, SF
Aminu - SF, PF

Between these three players : Two of them play SF. 2 of them play PF. 1 Plays Center. 1 plays PG. (Although I'd probably kill myself if he actually played there) Which means they provide us lineup versatility, as if we had more players. That is why people play hybrids. Because they have the skillset of 2 players that are not easily replaceable.

Say we have Noah Vonleh and ZBO as our PFs and Nurkic as our Center. Only these players.
ZBO is a clear PF, Nurkic a clear C.
Noah is a clear PF/C hybrid.

If we traded Noah for Shaq, we would say what the fuck? Who is going to be our backup PF, right, we have 2 centers (and 1 that is 45 and overweight?) So in essence, Noah covers 2 positions (and players) with his 1 slot, because we would now have to worry about providing a QUALITY, backup PF as well. Same concept. When you replace those 3 players, you really have to replace a PF/C, PG/SG/SF, and a SF/PF.

Your suggestion is replacing all of that with a backup PG/SG and a PF/C, which leaves us down a SF/PF (Aminu) and an additional SF (to makeup for Lin not being able to play SF) as well. But we gain Lin to cover the 10 minutes a game Napier gets.

Agreed, we don't need a PG/SG/SF hybrid like Turner, but we do need a 2/3 hybrid that can dribble and relieve pressure from CJ/Damian while maintaining the ability to play with both of them or one of them. This allows us to always have 2 ballhandlers on the court, and 3 when plays alongside CJ and Damian.

You pointed out the difference between ED and Vonleh right there; Vonleh also has a developing offensive game that I would take over ED. It allows Vonleh to be a better and more effective PnR defender which is imperative in this league.

So you've traded away a future 1st round pick, Crabbe, Vonleh, Ed Davis, Meyers Leonard, Evan Turner, Aminu for Jeremy Lin and Cap Space, which this franchise has a history of doing SO well with bundles of cap space (if we cleared 50 million we would be what, 20 mill under, which gets us no true difference makers if you've looked at the market lately. And we have such a great history with free agents, right, and no assets to top of it!

Trevor Booker is not worth Aminu and Noah Vonleh, good lord my friend.

So we get around 20 mill in cap space, which it is doubful we would do anything with, for all your efforts of destroying the team and losing our first round pick in the process. Kudos!

 

Teague
Butler
Wiggins
Gibson
KAT

The most improved team in the league. They're going to be the most physical team with that starting unit.

 

Allan Crabbe was a restricted free agent. The restricted free agent market hasn't set itself yet; but it appears so with Otto Porter receiving a max offer. KCP will be next. Considering Allan Crabbe was one of the top 3pt shooters last year, he probably would've received more money, actually, if you consider Joe Ingles, who his 5 years older, got 3 mill less than him. Teams value youth, development, and potential and Crabbe has it - and showed more than just potential by shooting 44% over the course of the season. Teams would invest in that. Otto Porter just got max. JJ got 23 mill. Shooters get paid, especially when they are young and in the mold of 2/3 & D, which is almost as coveted as stretch 4s. Crabbe, like it or not, got paid for years 2 and more, not year 1 and year 2 is arguable.

Evan Turner is not an average NBA player. He is above average. Just like Nic Batum, he is underrated because he isn't great at anything, a little inconsistent, and makes you want to bang your head against a wall occasionally - but his skillset is hard to find and replicate and he has his clear issue shooting. He is a poor mans Andre Igoudala in his prime. He would probably make slightly less given Iguoudala got 16/year, but with his youth, and would've probably had better stats had he stayed with the Celtics. I believe we overpaid slightly for Evan Turner, but I doubt he would've left Boston otherwise; and he is a great addition, assuming he FITS IN instead of FITS out.

The rest I don't know as much about, but I would bet Fournier would've received a couple pricey offers based on age and scoring ability. Deng & Mozgov I highly doubt.

 

Player 1 controller disconnected

 

I guess that a plus for TV rating.

 

LOL, I personally want no part of him. Anyone can correct me on this, but I don't think we have enough $$$ to offer him.

 

Batum is pretty much better across the board in every stat though

 

With a far inferior player though, right? Serious question

 

Minny front office - "what are three pointers?"

 

If they can slow down the 3 point offenses today and pound tge ball inside, it's not a bad plan.

 

They don't need a 3rd ball handler on the court with them. They need shooters.

 

There's more to being good than athleticism and shooting touch. He's too mentally fragine to play up to his contract.

I can't believe people still defend this dude.

 

I disagree. They want Dame and CJ to take more spot up jumpers. Hence a third ball handler at the SF spot. It's the reason Turner was brought in to begin with.

 

Turners not enough of a threat to get guards to completely sag off Lillard and McCollum in helpside in order to stop him. Its a good theory, but didn't materialize.

 

Nurk bro. Nurk.

Turner will be fine.

 

That's another team that will pass the Blazers!