Notice OFFICIAL Around The NBA Thread- November 2020

Keyword Old - That’s Neil Olshey middle name

 

Would love Millsap.

Can play with both Nurk and Collins pretty seamlessly.

 

This team doesn't share their business. We don't know if there will be trades this week or not and last we saw Hoodie was on track to be ready at the beginning of the year. So Hoodie may or may not be playing at full speed during training camp but he'll be available during the season for sure but he's definitely opting in.

 

At least let it happen first!

Also: you forgot Tolliver.

But also: we never seem to have more than one Old Geezer at a time, and if this is the only way we don't resign Carmelo then I'm A-OK with it.

 

Purely because of injuries - that would not have been the case with Nurkic, let alone Collins and Hood available.

 

Signing Millsap is right in line with what we've been hearing from Olshey. He thinks the team he had last year, if healthy and playing together for enough time to congeal was a contender (I disagree with him). So what I expected is that we would run the whole thing back. I expect Millsap and Zach to compete for the starting PF spot. Right now if we sign Milsap I think the rotation will be Dame, CJ, Ariza, Milsap, Nurk, Gary, Zach, Hoodie and Rio getting the bulk of the minutes with Nas, Wenyen and Ant getting more minutes than they did last season and our two draft picks toiling in Stotts' rookie purgatory. That being said, if this group stays healthy it is very potent offensively, theirs a ton of shooting, a ton of inside scoring, a ton of crafty players, really great interior defense and rebounding. It seems to be Stotts' and Olshey's philosophy that we will just concede the three (not too wise in today's NBA) and just depend on us out shooting our opponents and not let them get anything inside and be there to clean up their misses. I think this team if healthy will compete for the fourth spot in the West (no I don't think that Phoenix definitively pulled ahead of us today) and will likely make the second round of the playoffs before losing a competitive series. Should that be our goal? No, it should not but until Olshey sees that the ceiling of this team is a middling playoff team we can't expect any big moves. I hope I'm wrong. I hope we see team transforming moves in the next week and that the Millsap talk is a smokescreen but that would defy everything I've heard and felt from this team. Oh and don't feel bad for Dame, I love the guy but he's on the same page as Olshey and Stotts... he wants a chance and thinks he can win it all with these guys.

 

I was more just complaining about our lack of meaningful change. I'm sure they'll be great. They've done great gathering a plethora of assets. Meanwhile, we.........

..........what's a fan to do?

 

Yeah, I don't think so.

 

Good post. My question is what move would make us serious contenders for the next two years. My guess is you want to trade CJ for someone. Who is that someone?

 

I want to trade CJ and Ariza for Harris, Richardson and Philly's pick #21. I would then want Olshey to draft the highest upside guys I think even in Olshey's estimate that would be Poku if available at 16, Scrubb at 21 and then maybe N'Doye at 46. We would then sign a guy like Dunn or MCW with part of the MLE and Nerlens Noel with the rest getting the best young guy with the most upside with the BAE maybe that's Josh Jackson (this might be the guard with the full MLE and Noel with the BAE). That leaves you with a rotation of Dame, Gary, Richardson, Harris, Nurk, Zach, Hoodie, MCW or Dunn and Noel. We would still have minutes to develop Nas, Ant, possibly Jackson and a re-signed Wenyen. I think the rookies would sit and develop in practice as is Stotts' M.O. N'Doye would stay overseas if we get two guys with the MLE and use the BAE.

The fact is our defense would be elite on the perimeter and interior, our bench would be deep, we would shoot the three better than anyone in the league, we would be forced to run a more cohesive offense instead of all of the ball stopping iso plays. For those worried about "guys who can get their own shot" that's not so important if you are moving the ball and bodies on offense but for the sake of those who believe that iso is everything Harris is only a step below CJ at getting his own shot... the guy gets buckets. That being said both Harris and Richardson take and make open threes, both slash past over committing defenders when being closed out on... I expect Gary to do the same things. This is a way better compliment to Dame and Nurk's fantastic high pick and roll, especially if Nurk is hitting open threes and is committed to dunking the ball when he gets to the rim. I honestly think this team would be a big problem for the Lakers or anyone else in the league. Finally it will actually be Dame's team, he'll stop acquiescing to CJ as a co-leader and other best player and have a cast around him that actually complements his game completely.

 

Why? His last half season in Portland he played like he had lead in his shoes. I'm of the opinion he knew Aldridge was leaving and decided to just mail it in.

 

Rolo was just a meme anyway. He was never THAT good.

 

CP3,
Break a leg in Phoenix,
The Fans

 

#BAM

 

“Old” like LeBron?

 

That is not a horrible trade at all. I just don't think it accomplishes what you are your criticizing Neil for. Not sure it is a needle mover in order to win now. Does it beat the Lakers?

Philly did not meet expectations, with Harris and Richardson, so you are essentially saying that Dame, Gary, and Nurk are better than Simmons, Embiid, and Horford. That our core group could succeed where theirs could not with Richardson and Harris. Again I am not saying this would be a bad trade, just that I do not see much of an upgrade from the team we have now, IF healthy, and IF we add a solid vet PF.

BTW is Harris and Richardson even on the trading block?

 

I bet OKC would be willing to part with the Clippers 2022 first rounder and Rubio for that unprotected Minnesota pick in next year's draft. They might even be able to wrangle the second pick away from them if the threw multiple future first rounders at them. A SGA, Edwards back court would possibly be better than Maverick and Goose.

 

Philly (specifically Elton Brand who is still President of basketball ops) has been interested in CJ for a long time and with Morey there now I would think that interest would increase, CJ being a Morey type player. The only thing that Philly has said about not trading is Embiid and Simmons, so they're going to have to get players around them that complement them, CJ is what they need and Ariza would likely start and be a great mentor for all of their young 3 and D wings. You are right that Philly didn't live up to expectations last year but that had to do with chemistry issues, Horford, playing Harris at the three whereas his best position is the four. I do think that it's a needle moving trade for us not because either guy is a superstar and you can't expect to get an all star for CJ and Ariza but because our perimeter defense and ball stalling on offense which are maybe our only two real problems would be gone.