NBA Season 2024-25

[smicker16]

Houston makes a lot of sense for Giannis and they can pull it off.

They absolutely need to add a Durant or Giannis this offseason, especially if they lose this first round series. They need additional scoring and probably just a legit star since Jalen Green is just inconsistent.

The only player the Bucks would be interested in that Houston has is Sengun. Same for Phoenix if they were to move KD. I don?t see how that would work.

Not sure I agree - Jalen Green and Thompson both have good value.

For Giannis!? He just finished top 3 in MVP voting. Bucks would hang up the phone so fast.   

I don't think so. If Giannis asks out, that already takes away some leverage and realistically how many teams can pony up a better package for him besides Houston? Maybe OKC if they decide to go berserk since they have a ton of assets/picks too.

Or maybe the Bucks GM is a Nico Harrison 2.0 and sends him to LA for Reaves 

I certainly think Jalen Green/Amen Thompson, Whitmore and another bench player + picks is enticing. I would take that over Miami's offer.

I guess if they wanted Sengun, but not much more, Houston should still do it. Giannis > Sengun and you keep a lot of the others. Maybe FVV or Brooks goes to MIL in a salary-match but Houston can still have Giannis/Thompson/Green/Jabari + 1 of Brooks/FVV and a decent bench. Not bad.

If it's a Durant trade, no way HOU has to surrender a bunch besides a salary piece (FVV/Brooks), maybe 1-2 players and some picks. Nothing too crazy. Definitely not Sengun

Yeah for Giannis it will depend on if he demands out and to a specific place but Houston has some assets as they have some PHX picks they can dangle as trade bait along with Green/Thompson.

And agree on KD, they could trade for him very easily and I think that is going to happen this offseason. Wonder if they will have to give up both of the picks they own from PHX or only one of them though.

[Who]

I don't think Houston should go after Durant. He is too old. What is he now? 37 years old? Too small of a window to tear apart a young core for.

I am fine with trading for Giannis or any other younger star.

[Vermont Green]

ESPN talking bout Milwaukee moving on from Giannis.
Miami get Giannis & Connaughton
Bucks get Bam, Wiggins & picks

That's only thing that I could come up with? anyone else got anything?

I am trying to understand where MIL stands relative to the Aprons.  Per Spotrac, they are over the first apron but $2.7M under the second apron.  It is not entirely clear what that includes but I think it is based on assumptions about resigning players , not just based on the actual active contracts.

Giannis will make $54,126,380 in 2025/26, exactly what Tatum will make.  That is slightly more than the $53,142,264 that Brown will make in 2025/26 so I think this means there is no way we can trade Brown for him unless we get $984,116 under the second apron through other transactions, is that correct?  Fanspo trade machine shows us as $17.1M over the 2nd apron so we would have to end up net $18.1M less in a trade.

We would have to Trade Holiday to someone and take back less than $14.3M.  Let's just say that is Corey Kispert ($13.9M).  Just a Hypothetical here.  Then we could trade Brown for Giannis.  So the net of This would be:

Giannis and Kispert
for
Brown and Holiday

Again, I don't know what is figured in to Fanspo's assumption about our Apron level but if we did this, we would be hard capped to the 2nd apron I believe.  I am not sure we could even sign vet min players.

Bottom line, I don't see any way that a trade could be made around Brown for Giannis, the only realistic thing that Boston could consider.

[Who]

Some of the buzz around Amen Thompson is huge. People predicting he will lead Houston to an NBA title in the future. He is considered a possible future superstar / franchise player.

I wouldn't be surprised if Amen's trade value is actually higher than Sengun's trade value. Or at least that there will be a split among NBA GMs about which guy is more valuable.

[Neurotic Guy]

Some of the buzz around Amen Thompson is huge. People predicting he will lead Houston to an NBA title in the future. He is considered a possible future superstar / franchise player.

I wouldn't be surprised if Amen's trade value is actually higher than Sengun's trade value. Or at least that there will be a split among NBA GMs about which guy is more valuable.

Amen and his twin could end up being the best twin or brother duo ever. 

[Phantom255x]

If I had to guess, Plan A for Houston will be Giannis. Plan B is either Durant or Booker

Honestly Booker would be perfect for them too. Essentially swap out FVV or Brooks for Booker in the roster, and it makes a lot of sense. Booker can score and facilitate and has that playoff experience as well including reaching a Finals.

That Houston team desperately needs another legit 22-25+ PPG scorer. It was painfully evident last night too. Defense can only take you so far. Sengun had 26, 2nd highest player had 11 points and the team scored 85 total at home. Not good enough.

[SparzWizard]

Nico Harrison holds onto his job longer than Hawks' former GM Landry Fields, who was just fired earlier today.

Sheesh

[Who]

Nico Harrison holds onto his job longer than Hawks' former GM Landry Fields, who was just fired earlier today.

Sheesh

I did not understand that one.

Fields did a great job restructuring the team and building a new long term core to work around.

G: Trae
G: Dyson Daniels
F: Risacher
F: Jalen Johnson

That is a great mix to work with. Okongwu as well. Terrence Mann of the bench. They can add to that and create a title contender.

They looked a 48-52 win caliber team earlier in the season when they were healthy. A team on a par with Milwaukee, Indiana and New York. Add another piece and they are a 55+ win team.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Nico Harrison holds onto his job longer than Hawks' former GM Landry Fields, who was just fired earlier today.

Sheesh

I did not understand that one.

Fields did a great job restructuring the team and building a new long term core to work around.

G: Trae
G: Dyson Daniels
F: Risacher
F: Jalen Johnson

That is a great mix to work with. Okongwu as well. Terrence Mann of the bench. They can add to that and create a title contender.

They looked a 48-52 win caliber team earlier in the season when they were healthy. A team on a par with Milwaukee, Indiana and New York. Add another piece and they are a 55+ win team.

Man we have different views of that Hawks roster. I like some of the players, but they look like a sub-500 team to me.

Also, even though its basically just me, I refuse to sell my land on Nico Island.

[Who]

Mikal Bridges starting off on Cade again. Instead of OG. OG is the better defensive matchup. Why does Mikal keep getting the nod?

[Who]

Those DET uniforms are nice. I love the trim on the side.

DEEE-TROIT BASKETBALL

[Who]

Lovely backdoor cut by Mikal. Fantastic finish on the reverse layup alley oop off the pass from Josh Hart.

[Who]

Cade Cunningham has a beautiful game. If he could shore up his offensive efficiency a bit, he would be a top 10 player in this league.

--------------------------------

His TS% on the season is 56.5% which is better than I expected it to be. Only -1.0% rTS% below league average.

Cade started the season at 55.1% TS% which is around the number I was expecting to see (-2.4% rTS%) but he finished the season with a 59.8% TS% after the All-Star break. If he is scoring with that efficiency, he is approaching Luka levels.

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I forget who I was listening to who said this but they were talking about conversations they have had with the Pistons coaching staff and how Cade is now asking for tougher defensive assignments. Trying to improve his D. Trying to take more responsibility on D.

I thought his defense improved a lot this season. He went from abysmal to adequate. He still had the odd off-night where he went back to being a garbage dumpster on D but generally speaking he was decent on the season.

Great to hear he is pushing himself to improve even further on D. Not just accepting minimal defensive responsibility but trying to become an above average defender.

[Who]

Strange to see NY relying on Cam Payne and Landry Shamet. Two guys who should be 3rd stringers instead are their 8th and 9th men.

Knicks only got 7 real players. The 5 starters, M Robinson, and M McBride.

[Who]

Brunson, Towns and Mikal have 31 of NY's 35pts.

The rest of the team are giving them nothing on offense. OG, Hart, McBride. They gotta step up.