Offseason Thread

[Roy H.]

LeBron James is expected to announce his retirement in advance as he wants a 'retirement tour'

?He would want the recognition, ceremonies, and celebration of his career across the league rather than quietly retiring in an offseason.?
(via Chris Fedor)

Trying to be like Kobe lol

The constant need for adulation.

[Who]

LeBron James is expected to announce his retirement in advance as he wants a 'retirement tour'

?He would want the recognition, ceremonies, and celebration of his career across the league rather than quietly retiring in an offseason.?
(via Chris Fedor)

Trying to be like Kobe lol

No surprise. He has been saying this for a few years now. I always think of Kareem in terms of a retirement tour. I did not even realize Kobe got one.

[Who]

Is there a chance that Simons takes a step forward playing with better talent? He was the 2nd banana to somebody who played the same offensive role as him. I feel like being surrounded by elite or positive defenders (bracketed by Brown and White) should help him out.

I think A Simons offense is largely locked in. He is a top shooter and a very good scorer. But he doesn't get to the rim or the FT line that often. It makes him reliant on his outside shot. Limits his overall scoring efficiency & prolificacy (scoring volume) & consistency. I'd also say he has topped out (by and large) as a passer / playmaker. Just not a natural passer. A scoring guard.

His defense has some range for improvement. I don't think he will ever be able to be a competent defensive SG but he does have enough height, length and quickness to defend the PG position adequately to well. Especially if he adds a bit more strength.

I still like Jason Terry (great shooter) as a comp for A Simons. I have for a few years. A Simons reminds me a lot of Terry. And Terry gave Dallas many good years. A Simons can do the same for Boston or another team. He is a good player. Especially if he gets his defense a bit. I'd love to see him become an average defensive PG which is realistically achievable for him.

[tazzmaniac]

Shams Charania: Pelicans forward/center Derik Queen underwent surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.

[Birdman]

Shams Charania: Pelicans forward/center Derik Queen underwent surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.

Trade gets worst for New Orleans

[Who]

Caleb Houstan and Atlanta Hawks have agreed to a one-year deal.

Gave Orlando some decent minutes as a shooter. SG. I was surprised they didn't give him more minutes / opportunities given their lack of shooting.

[Moranis]

Wade, Dirk, and Kobe all got one in recent years.  And while I'm not sure Duncan made it known, I believe pretty much everyone believed he was going to retire as well and he sort of got one as well.

Happens in baseball all of the time, including recently Chipper, Papi, Jeter, Rivera, Cal, Gwynn, Griffey, and Ichiro.  Aaron, Berra, and of course Gehrig all got one as well.

While a bit different in the NFL because they play so few games, I think everyone knew Brady was done as well and he was sort of honored for that.

It really isn't a big deal if the player actually knows.  I think most of the time they just don't know till the final season ends. 

[Who]

Joel Embiid has embraced a more cautious approach to his knee rehabilitation following his second surgery in 14 months. Embiid is prioritizing long-term health over rushing back to the court for the upcoming season with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Embiid underwent his latest knee procedure in April after months of uncertainty and recurring swelling issues. Embiid told ESPN's Dotun Akintoye in late June that he would not push his recovery timeline, marking a significant departure from previous injury management approaches.

"We're not going to push anything," Embiid said. "For my whole career, I felt like we never took that approach."

The 76ers' organization had previously expressed optimism about Embiid's availability for training camp in September. However, the 30-year-old center declined to commit to any specific return date during recent interviews.

"We don't have a timeline," Embiid stated. "Hopefully, sooner rather than later."

[Who]

The Phoenix Suns had interest in a trade of Kevin Durant to the Minnesota Timberwolves that would have included Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, Terrence Shannon Jr. and the No. 17 pick in the draft, sources tell ESPN. If the Suns made that trade instead of the one they executed with the Houston Rockets, they would have tried to keep Bradley Beal.

Trade talks were described as being in-depth, but Durant did not have the Wolves on his short list of preferred teams and that led to the deal falling apart.

[Vermont Green]

Is there a chance that Simons takes a step forward playing with better talent? He was the 2nd banana to somebody who played the same offensive role as him. I feel like being surrounded by elite or positive defenders (bracketed by Brown and White) should help him out.

I think A Simons offense is largely locked in. He is a top shooter and a very good scorer. But he doesn't get to the rim or the FT line that often. It makes him reliant on his outside shot. Limits his overall scoring efficiency & prolificacy (scoring volume) & consistency. I'd also say he has topped out (by and large) as a passer / playmaker. Just not a natural passer. A scoring guard.

His defense has some range for improvement. I don't think he will ever be able to be a competent defensive SG but he does have enough height, length and quickness to defend the PG position adequately to well. Especially if he adds a bit more strength.

I still like Jason Terry (great shooter) as a comp for A Simons. I have for a few years. A Simons reminds me a lot of Terry. And Terry gave Dallas many good years. A Simons can do the same for Boston or another team. He is a good player. Especially if he gets his defense a bit. I'd love to see him become an average defensive PG which is realistically achievable for him.

This is what I have been thinking/hoping, play him more as a combo guard, leaning more to the ballhandling aspect.  We are going to need that without Tatum.  White and Brown are not the guys to initiate the offense.  It is an opportunity for Simons to have the ball in his hands more but not necessarily take more shots.  Then have him primarily defend the opposing PG which in general should not present as much of a size disadvantage for him.

This can be a try out of sorts for him.  He has gone about as far as he is going to go if his primary role is scoring guard.  If he can show the league that he can be effective as a combo/point guard (that can score too), he will have more opportunities.  And the Celtics may decide that Simons as a ball-handling combo guard is something the team needs for 2026-27 and beyond.

[slamtheking]

The Phoenix Suns had interest in a trade of Kevin Durant to the Minnesota Timberwolves that would have included Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, Terrence Shannon Jr. and the No. 17 pick in the draft, sources tell ESPN. If the Suns made that trade instead of the one they executed with the Houston Rockets, they would have tried to keep Bradley Beal.

Trade talks were described as being in-depth, but Durant did not have the Wolves on his short list of preferred teams and that led to the deal falling apart.

I like that deal for PHX quite a bit.