2013 Official NBA Off-season Movement & Rumors (Merged threads)

Have to disagree with you there. Mitch came out and said that the hiring of MDA had Nash in mind. It was more of a Jim Buss/Nash thing than anything else, IMO. I don't see Kobe written all over the MDA hiring. Kobe supported it once it was announced, yeah, but it screams it was a Nash move.

 

Yup. RT @ESPNNBA On @SportsCenter, @Chris_Broussard reports Dwight Howard has had change of heart, is now 50-50 on decision to leave Lakers

End this drama already, Jesus.

 

Its not even that he wants to be a Laker, he's having issues walking away from $30 million.

 

I think it is a little too much, but I guess its not completely nuts. Will address Klay below.

One of the Bay Area beat writers believes GS refused to give up Barnes or Klay as well. Interesting if true.

As far as Klay; I never drank the kool aid on him as much as other W's fans did. Ray Allen comparisons are absurd and even Alan Houston/Michael Redd were too much for me. However I think hes developed quite differently from those guys. His defense is really what sets him apart. Its not elite but its really solid and hes especially good at guarding smaller guards. Like Nate Bishop points out, hes pretty godamn inefficient on offense. Some of that has to do with a very high volume of 3's, but even taking that into consideration hes just not very efficient. BUT he is fairly dynamic on offense. Hes a very good shooter but hes not just a spot up shooter, he can come off screens or hit them off the dribble. He can post smaller players. His ability to penetrate isn't that good but he will break down a defense when they overplay to guard his jumper and he passes pretty well on the drive. Whats very encouraging is that his defense, finishing at the rim, and shot selection have improved a lot over his two years in the league.

Comparing him to a guy like Wes Matthews or Sefolosha or Bruce Bowen or someone like that is apples to oranges. Yeah they're all 3 pt/defense oriented players, but Klay's more dynamic. You can run plays for Klay because he can get a good shot off a screen and he can attack or make a play for someone else off a screen and roll. If he gets a mismatch on a bigger or smaller player he can get a pretty good shot out of it an iso. That's not to say hes a dominating offensive player, but IMO it makes him more than a role player. People who buy the hype will remind you that hes only in his second year and hes still improving. I'd say hes got a shot at being a Rip Hamilton kind of player. Quality starter, not a guy you build around, but just a solid basketball player who can go off but not like a Kobe would. I think Klay's already a better defender than Rip, obviously better 3 pt shooter but the midrange game isn't as good and he still needs to improve his shot selection.

And if you're asking about Klay vs Barnes, its hard to pick. I also don't see Barnes becoming a guy you build around, bit damn if he doesn't show some flashes sometimes. Guys a hell of an athlete, the mid-range game is coming along as advertised, 3 pt shot has improved over the course of the year, defense is meh but he puts in good effort. Lots of GS fans think his ceiling is Jamal Mashburn. Its hard to predict. He doesn't really make players around him better but as far as his one on one scoring ability and potential it blows Klay out of the water. Klay's just got a way about him where despite the godawful efficiency numbers you like his feel for the game and just that hes sort of a pure basketball player. Barnes is sort of awkward and raw but soooo strong and athletic with a nice first step and a nice mid-range game, but his defense and passing are lacking.