2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Who]

Montrezl Harrell got waived by Philly.

[Celtics2021]

Montrezl Harrell got waived by Philly.

No surprise.  He tore his ACL in the summer and is out for the year.

[radiohead]

Montrezl Harrell got waived by Philly.

No surprise.  He tore his ACL in the summer and is out for the year.

I believe he’s hoping to come back by the All Star Break.

[Celtics2021]

Montrezl Harrell got waived by Philly.

No surprise.  He tore his ACL in the summer and is out for the year.

I believe he’s hoping to come back by the All Star Break.

I’m sure he’s hoping to do that, but that doesn’t mean it’s at all likely.

[TheBig3]

NBA predictions

https://abc7ny.com/sports/nba-opening-night-experts-picks-for-east-west-and-nba-champs/13963300/

Final tally (East champs):Bucks 6, Celtics 4, Heat 1, Knicks 1.

Final tally (West champs):Nuggets 6, Warriors 3, Clippers 1, Lakers 1, Suns 1.

Final tally (NBA champs):Bucks 3, Celtics, 3, Nuggets 3, Heat 1, Suns 1, Warriors 1.

Which Player will ask for a trade:

Final tally:Embiid 5, DeRozan 2, Young 2, Towns 1.

[Phantom255x]

All begins tonight

[Roy H.]

Tony Jones: The Jazz informed forward Luka Samanic that he will be on the opening night roster, which increase his contract guarantee to $600k……a nice story for Samanic, who came to the Jazz late last season. Today was his cut/guarantee date. He has another in January – via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

I've said it before, but I'm not sure why the Celts took a flyer on Champagnie over Samanic.  I would have signed an established veteran over either, but if we wanted a marginal prospect why not keep the kid who was putting up big numbers in Maine?

[Who]

The West is a dogfight. They got no terrible teams. Everyone there is a playoff caliber team or a near playoff caliber team.

The two terrible teams from last year in Houston and San Antonio have improved considerably. Houston adding VanVleet, D Brooks, the top five pick Amen, and their youth are all a year older and wiser. They are probably the worst team in the West. That is a pretty decent team. San Antonio have impressive veteran depth behind Wemby, Keldon Johnson and their young guards.

I'm thinking Utah, Portland and Dallas are the three other teams to miss out on the playoffs & play-in. I actually what Utah have done. An unorthodox but difficult to matchup against team. Dallas have a great 1-2 punch but I do not like their supporting cast. Portland got a decent group of players. Better balance than last year. 8 deep. Not much difference between any of these bottom 5 teams.

Then you get to the playoff teams

Denver and Phoenix look to be the frontrunners. LAC, GSW and LAL as darkhorse candidates. Minnesota could be a darkhorse candidate. Towns missed most of last year. I expect them to do well this season. So 2 frontrunners and 4 darkhorse candidates. 

OKC and SAC have good young squads. Should be quite competitive. Not title contenders. SAC don't have the talent. OKC still need to develop. Probably need to acquire a center as well. 

That leaves Memphis. Oh, maybe Memphis will miss out. Adams out for the season. Morant out for 25 games. I did not like Smart for them. I do not like his fit on that team. Did not fix their problem area at SF or at backup SF/PF. They could be close to those bottom 5 teams. We could see all 6 teams at the bottom thinking they can win that final play-in spot. The parity & quality at the bottom is shocking.

[radiohead]

Tony Jones: The Jazz informed forward Luka Samanic that he will be on the opening night roster, which increase his contract guarantee to $600k……a nice story for Samanic, who came to the Jazz late last season. Today was his cut/guarantee date. He has another in January – via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

I've said it before, but I'm not sure why the Celts took a flyer on Champagnie over Samanic.  I would have signed an established veteran over either, but if we wanted a marginal prospect why not keep the kid who was putting up big numbers in Maine?

I’m with you. I really think Luka can be a rotational NBA player someday. Would have been nice if we got to keep him.

[Phantom255x]

Tony Jones: The Jazz informed forward Luka Samanic that he will be on the opening night roster, which increase his contract guarantee to $600k……a nice story for Samanic, who came to the Jazz late last season. Today was his cut/guarantee date. He has another in January – via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

I've said it before, but I'm not sure why the Celts took a flyer on Champagnie over Samanic.  I would have signed an established veteran over either, but if we wanted a marginal prospect why not keep the kid who was putting up big numbers in Maine?

I’m with you. I really think Luka can be a rotational NBA player someday. Would have been nice if we got to keep him.

LOL I read that and was like "huh, Doncic a rotational player??" then read the other posts above 

[Kernewek]

Tony Jones: The Jazz informed forward Luka Samanic that he will be on the opening night roster, which increase his contract guarantee to $600k……a nice story for Samanic, who came to the Jazz late last season. Today was his cut/guarantee date. He has another in January – via Twitter Tjonesonthenba

I've said it before, but I'm not sure why the Celts took a flyer on Champagnie over Samanic.  I would have signed an established veteran over either, but if we wanted a marginal prospect why not keep the kid who was putting up big numbers in Maine?

I’m with you. I really think Luka can be a rotational NBA player someday. Would have been nice if we got to keep him.

LOL I read that and was like "huh, Doncic a rotational player??" then read the other posts above 

Adjacent to this - I forget who it was, but one former NBA player recently referred to Doncic as the white James Harden, which could turn out to be a pretty prescient evaluation.

edit: it was Jeff Teague. Some small NSFW language.

[Donoghus]

NBA Communications
@NBAPR
As announced in March, the NBA is using Sony's Hawk-Eye technology this season to enhance officiating. Starting tonight, Replay Center officials have access to Hawk-Eye tools to determine ball flight and ball-in-cylinder to assist with goaltending and basket-interference reviews.

[RJ87]

NBA predictions

https://abc7ny.com/sports/nba-opening-night-experts-picks-for-east-west-and-nba-champs/13963300/

Final tally (East champs):Bucks 6, Celtics 4, Heat 1, Knicks 1.

Final tally (West champs):Nuggets 6, Warriors 3, Clippers 1, Lakers 1, Suns 1.

Final tally (NBA champs):Bucks 3, Celtics, 3, Nuggets 3, Heat 1, Suns 1, Warriors 1.

Which Player will ask for a trade:

Final tally:Embiid 5, DeRozan 2, Young 2, Towns 1.

I think Towns could definitely be on the move at some point. Minny is slated to be a luxury tax team for the 1st time in 20 years or so and they're not competitive enough to support. I wonder if they look to move him for an expiring and a pick or 2. Funny enough, Miami could be a good fit and they have Lowry's contract to facilitate a move.

[Moranis]

NBA predictions

https://abc7ny.com/sports/nba-opening-night-experts-picks-for-east-west-and-nba-champs/13963300/

Final tally (East champs):Bucks 6, Celtics 4, Heat 1, Knicks 1.

Final tally (West champs):Nuggets 6, Warriors 3, Clippers 1, Lakers 1, Suns 1.

Final tally (NBA champs):Bucks 3, Celtics, 3, Nuggets 3, Heat 1, Suns 1, Warriors 1.

Which Player will ask for a trade:

Final tally:Embiid 5, DeRozan 2, Young 2, Towns 1.

I think Towns could definitely be on the move at some point. Minny is slated to be a luxury tax team for the 1st time in 20 years or so and they're not competitive enough to support. I wonder if they look to move him for an expiring and a pick or 2. Funny enough, Miami could be a good fit and they have Lowry's contract to facilitate a move.

I think Towns is still worth more than an expiring and 1 or 2 late 1st's, but who knows anymore.

[RJ87]

NBA predictions

https://abc7ny.com/sports/nba-opening-night-experts-picks-for-east-west-and-nba-champs/13963300/

Final tally (East champs):Bucks 6, Celtics 4, Heat 1, Knicks 1.

Final tally (West champs):Nuggets 6, Warriors 3, Clippers 1, Lakers 1, Suns 1.

Final tally (NBA champs):Bucks 3, Celtics, 3, Nuggets 3, Heat 1, Suns 1, Warriors 1.

Which Player will ask for a trade:

Final tally:Embiid 5, DeRozan 2, Young 2, Towns 1.

I think Towns could definitely be on the move at some point. Minny is slated to be a luxury tax team for the 1st time in 20 years or so and they're not competitive enough to support. I wonder if they look to move him for an expiring and a pick or 2. Funny enough, Miami could be a good fit and they have Lowry's contract to facilitate a move.

I think Towns is still worth more than an expiring and 1 or 2 late 1st's, but who knows anymore.

Yeah, I don't really know how to gauge his value at this point, but the combo of his injury proneness and Minny's financial situation leads me to think they could take a lowball offer if they can move off the money.