NBA Season 2024-25

[Moranis]

I like Hali, but the push to make him a top-ten player is ridiculous. He's just not consistent enough as a scorer to be at that level, especially as a poor defender, too.

Yeah Hali is clutch and having an otherworldly postseason, but I don't view him as a Top-10 player or even Top-15. In a lot of these games Siakam I feel is actually consistently scoring more and the others help a lot as well with the shooting. He's mainly averaging around 17-20 PPG consistently which isn't bad but definitely not a "superstar level". The clutch moments though have been superstar-like for sure

why don you need to score to be a superstar? Magic was never a prolific scorer and he is a top 10 player all time. Stockton was a top 10 player during his career.  Scoring a lot isnt required to be a top player.  That said, I don't think Haliburton is a top 10 player right now, though next year he very well might be as Tatum is hurt and others continue to get older.

[RodyTur10]

I like Hali, but the push to make him a top-ten player is ridiculous. He's just not consistent enough as a scorer to be at that level, especially as a poor defender, too.

Yeah Hali is clutch and having an otherworldly postseason, but I don't view him as a Top-10 player or even Top-15. In a lot of these games Siakam I feel is actually consistently scoring more and the others help a lot as well with the shooting. He's mainly averaging around 17-20 PPG consistently which isn't bad but definitely not a "superstar level". The clutch moments though have been superstar-like for sure

why don you need to score to be a superstar? Magic was never a prolific scorer and he is a top 10 player all time. Stockton was a top 10 player during his career.  Scoring a lot isnt required to be a top player.  That said, I don't think Haliburton is a top 10 player right now, though next year he very well might be as Tatum is hurt and others continue to get older.

Mostly agree. Evan Mobley is another guy eventually closing in on that top 10 while also never going to be a great scorer. Most impact-measuring stats have Tyrese Haliburton in their top 10 by the way.

For instance LEBRON this season (top 25):

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Luka Doncic
6. Anthony Davis
7. Victor Wembanyama
8. Tyrese Haliburton
9. James Harden
10. Donovan Mitchell
11. Evan Mobley
12. Jalen Williams
13. Jarrett Allen
14. Stephen Curry
15. Karl-Anthony Towns
16. Ivica Zubac
17. Derrick White
18. Anthony Edwards
19. Jimmy Butler
20. Darius Garland
21. Damian Lillard
22. Payton Pritchard
23. LeBron James
24. Isaiah Hartenstein
25. Domantas Sabonis

[Larry for 3]

Part of being a true superstar is taking over a game and leading your team to victory when needed. The Magic Johnson comparisons are off. Magic was a league MVP and finals MVP. He could score plenty. Steven A. is right on this one. Hali isn?t really a superstar. He has moments but he?s not a top 10 player, or ever will be. Hes not that type of player. I do like TH very much, just not that much.

[Vermont Green]

For instance LEBRON this season (top 25):

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Luka Doncic
6. Anthony Davis
7. Victor Wembanyama
8. Tyrese Haliburton
9. James Harden
10. Donovan Mitchell
11. Evan Mobley
12. Jalen Williams
13. Jarrett Allen
14. Stephen Curry
15. Karl-Anthony Towns
16. Ivica Zubac
17. Derrick White
18. Anthony Edwards
19. Jimmy Butler
20. Darius Garland
21. Damian Lillard
22. Payton Pritchard
23. LeBron James
24. Isaiah Hartenstein
25. Domantas Sabonis

Where is Brunson?  Did I miss him?

First, the thing with Magic, he COULD score 20-30 anytime he wanted.  He didn't always need to so he didn't.  You could say that there are similarities to Haliburton, but Haliburton at the current time is several tiers below Magic.  I would have Magic above anyone currently in the league right now.  I have Magic as top 3, top 5 all time, right there with Jordan or LeBron or anyone.

When you look at the Lebron list, the top 5 or 6 or so are pretty clear.  That group is clearly above everyone else, and Haliburton is not a peer of this group.  But when you look at 7-20 or 8-25 or whatever, he is right in there with this group.  Where exactly in this group is debatable, but I don't think it is debatable at this point that he is in this group.

[Neurotic Guy]

For instance LEBRON this season (top 25):

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Luka Doncic
6. Anthony Davis
7. Victor Wembanyama
8. Tyrese Haliburton
9. James Harden
10. Donovan Mitchell
11. Evan Mobley
12. Jalen Williams
13. Jarrett Allen
14. Stephen Curry
15. Karl-Anthony Towns
16. Ivica Zubac
17. Derrick White
18. Anthony Edwards
19. Jimmy Butler
20. Darius Garland
21. Damian Lillard
22. Payton Pritchard
23. LeBron James
24. Isaiah Hartenstein
25. Domantas Sabonis

Where is Brunson?  Did I miss him?

First, the thing with Magic, he COULD score 20-30 anytime he wanted.  He didn't always need to so he didn't.  You could say that there are similarities to Haliburton, but Haliburton at the current time is several tiers below Magic.  I would have Magic above anyone currently in the league right now.  I have Magic as top 3, top 5 all time, right there with Jordan or LeBron or anyone.

When you look at the Lebron list, the top 5 or 6 or so are pretty clear.  That group is clearly above everyone else, and Haliburton is not a peer of this group.  But when you look at 7-20 or 8-25 or whatever, he is right in there with this group.  Where exactly in this group is debatable, but I don't think it is debatable at this point that he is in this group.

Another surprise is no JB in the top 25 especially given that Derrick White shows up at 17 and Payton Pritchard goes 22.

[Moranis]

For instance LEBRON this season (top 25):

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Luka Doncic
6. Anthony Davis
7. Victor Wembanyama
8. Tyrese Haliburton
9. James Harden
10. Donovan Mitchell
11. Evan Mobley
12. Jalen Williams
13. Jarrett Allen
14. Stephen Curry
15. Karl-Anthony Towns
16. Ivica Zubac
17. Derrick White
18. Anthony Edwards
19. Jimmy Butler
20. Darius Garland
21. Damian Lillard
22. Payton Pritchard
23. LeBron James
24. Isaiah Hartenstein
25. Domantas Sabonis

Where is Brunson?  Did I miss him?

First, the thing with Magic, he COULD score 20-30 anytime he wanted.  He didn't always need to so he didn't.  You could say that there are similarities to Haliburton, but Haliburton at the current time is several tiers below Magic.  I would have Magic above anyone currently in the league right now.  I have Magic as top 3, top 5 all time, right there with Jordan or LeBron or anyone.

When you look at the Lebron list, the top 5 or 6 or so are pretty clear.  That group is clearly above everyone else, and Haliburton is not a peer of this group.  But when you look at 7-20 or 8-25 or whatever, he is right in there with this group.  Where exactly in this group is debatable, but I don't think it is debatable at this point that he is in this group.

Hali had 8 games over 30 points in the regular season and another 3 in the playoffs.  As a comparison Jaylen Brown had 9 in the regular season and 1 more in the playoffs.  The idea that he can't score when needed just isn't borne in reality.  He is definitely a pass first PG, but so ie Chris Paul, John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson and countless other great PG.  Hali is just in the minority these days where scoring PG are all the rage

[Who]

Darius Garland is out 4-5 months after surgery on his big toe. What the heck are they doing to his toe that he is out 4-5 months?

[Moranis]

Darius Garland is out 4-5 months after surgery on his big toe. What the heck are they doing to his toe that he is out 4-5 months?

fixing it?

[Roy H.]

A terrible incident for DeMarcus Cousins:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nba/article/demarcus-cousins-has-drinks-thrown-at-him-tries-to-fight-fans-after-wild-ejection-in-puerto-rico-basketball-league-125041992.html

It may be time to hang it up and work on his inner peace.

[Redz]

Darius Garland is out 4-5 months after surgery on his big toe. What the heck are they doing to his toe that he is out 4-5 months?

fixing it?

 

[slightly biased bias fan]

The Utah Jazz are expected to listen to trade offers for Walker Kessler, per Sarah Todd (Deseret News)

[DefenseWinsChamps]

The Utah Jazz are expected to listen to trade offers for Walker Kessler, per Sarah Todd (Deseret News)

Was this from two years ago or today? Or both?

When haven't they been listening to offers for him?

[Phantom255x]

The Utah Jazz are expected to listen to trade offers for Walker Kessler, per Sarah Todd (Deseret News)

Porzingis and 2 firsts for Kessler, Sexton and Senabaugh. Please help us out Father and Son Ainges' 

[Roy H.]

The Utah Jazz are expected to listen to trade offers for Walker Kessler, per Sarah Todd (Deseret News)

Porzingis and 2 firsts for Kessler, Sexton and Senabaugh. Please help us out Father and Son Ainges'

BOS trades: Jrue, picks
BOS receives: Smart, Kessler

UTA trades:  Kessler
UTA receives: Eubanks, picks

WAS trades:  Smart, 2nd rounders
WAS receives: Powell, Christie

LAC trades:  Powell, Christie, Eubanks, late 1st
LAC receives: Jrue

It doesn't save us any real money this season, though.  Just under $6 million.

[RodyTur10]

For instance LEBRON this season (top 25):

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Luka Doncic
6. Anthony Davis
7. Victor Wembanyama
8. Tyrese Haliburton
9. James Harden
10. Donovan Mitchell
11. Evan Mobley
12. Jalen Williams
13. Jarrett Allen
14. Stephen Curry
15. Karl-Anthony Towns
16. Ivica Zubac
17. Derrick White
18. Anthony Edwards
19. Jimmy Butler
20. Darius Garland
21. Damian Lillard
22. Payton Pritchard
23. LeBron James
24. Isaiah Hartenstein
25. Domantas Sabonis

Where is Brunson?  Did I miss him?

First, the thing with Magic, he COULD score 20-30 anytime he wanted.  He didn't always need to so he didn't.  You could say that there are similarities to Haliburton, but Haliburton at the current time is several tiers below Magic.  I would have Magic above anyone currently in the league right now.  I have Magic as top 3, top 5 all time, right there with Jordan or LeBron or anyone.

When you look at the Lebron list, the top 5 or 6 or so are pretty clear.  That group is clearly above everyone else, and Haliburton is not a peer of this group.  But when you look at 7-20 or 8-25 or whatever, he is right in there with this group.  Where exactly in this group is debatable, but I don't think it is debatable at this point that he is in this group.

Another surprise is no JB in the top 25 especially given that Derrick White shows up at 17 and Payton Pritchard goes 22.

Brunson is just outside the top 25, because of his defensive weaknesses.

O-LEBRON (so measuring only offensive contributions), he's 11th:

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Luka Doncic
5. Donovan Mitchell
6. Tyrese Haliburton
7. Jayson Tatum
8. Stephen Curry
9. Damian Lillard
10. Darius Garland
11. Jalen Brunson
12. James Harden
13. Devin Booker
14. Trae Young
15. Anthony Edwards

Jaylen Brown is 34th on the LEBRON-list by the way. It doesn't surprise me. Brown is not a great passer, a mediocre ball handler, a below average shooter and a weak team defender.