You've got to think: Warriors Suns Clippers Denver Memphis for starters. But Minny just got Gobert for basically chump change (and a bunch of picks), so they should be in there. That's 6. We SHOULD be better than: Spurs (Wembanyama here we come!) Houston (assuming they don't trade for KD like I say they should) OKC (although they could very easily make a Memphis-esque leap) Sacramento (unless Keegan Murray is REALLY good) So we're fighting with Dallas and New Orleans and the Lakers for the last 2 places. I really can't see us in the top 2 of those 4. So... good news: we've got a shot at Wembanyama!
Forgot Utah. Pretty excusable now. Be funny if they trade the last great French 7 footer and then draft the next one a year later.
Denver got worse. Blazers are just as good as if not better than Memphis healthy and Memphis just lost Melton and Anderson. The Lakers will suck again. We can be better than the Pelicans. Dallas just lost Brunson.
Warriors Suns Clippers Nuggets Grizzlies T-Wolves Mavericks Hornets ....we may be fighting with the Lakers and Kings for the 9/10 Play-in spots. Good thing we didn't remove the protection from the Lottery pick, although someone said @hoopsjock said that was all but done. If so, that could be an abject disaster. We are not that good and even if we bumped up to the #7/8 spots, we are still in the Play-in and anything could happen. Dame goes into Health & Safety protocols like Paul George, and we are back in the Lottery.
I don't see it. Besides, they're getting Murray back! Um, you do know what record they had last season, right? And they weren't playing Melton any more by the end. Well, that's the spirit, I guess...
2 options: 1.) Make the playoffs, convey our pick, godfather offer someone next year. 2.) Miss the playoffs, Dame plays well, trade Dame, rebuild. I'm fine with either.
I said that we had a deal in place already IF we needed future picks. The Blazers won't take that arrangement up unless they need to.
Memphis will miss Jaren for up to the first 2 months of the season. Also in line for the step-back season after a largely successful one. Dallas lost Brunson and could take a step back as they retool. I think people forget besides this last year when he was hurt, if you have Lillard you are winning 45+ games. Throw the best forwards he has ever had and some key defensive pieces. I think we'll be squarely 5-6 this year.
If Dame is playing well, they should be fighting for 7-5 spot. There's just too many variables with some of the other teams: Suns went out with whimper in the playoffs and CP3 looked pretty old by the end of their run. Mavs lot their 2nd best player. Nuggs still don't know what MPJ and Murray will play like post-injuries. Clippers will always be on injury watch with Kawhi Can Zion keep the weight off and stay on the court? Grizz will be without Jackson Jr for the start of the season. Lost Kyle Anderson in FA.
Best forwards he has ever had? Aldridge and Batum are a better duo than Grant and Little and it isn't close. Dallas did lose Brunson. But they also picked up Wood. I don't see Dallas missing the playoffs.
Unless the mystery man is something generationally special. I mean if Shaedon comes out and dominates the Summer League in a crazy way and then is schooling all of these guys in training camp... we'll have a really great team. That's obviously not the likeliest of situations though. If Ant somehow can translate what he was doing as a PG into an SG and both he and Dame can excel in Chauncey's defensive system which aren't likely going to be the case, we'll be fighting for home court instead of to get into the playoffs. I think that regardless of any of those things that Jerami Grant is going to have a career year. He can have all of the pressure taken off of him to be the man and get back to being efficient and concentrating on defense. But yeah, unless Ant, Shaedon or both surprise me, we'll likely be in the play ins and have a first round exit.
