NBA Season/Playoffs 2025-26

[Who]

Otherwise, you're looking at something drastic like trading Evan Mobley for Giannis Antetokounmpo -- though two league sources say Cleveland has shown no interest in that move as of now.

It is looking like a bunch of teams won't be making strong offers for Giannis.

Houston look the best bet to up the ante and put together a strong trade package built around Sengun. Portland is still a possibility in terms of giving MIL back control of their 1st round picks but it doesn't sound like they will be offering much talent in addition to that.

Miami might just pull this off. Still early though.

Also, it is pretty clear BOS could get Giannis if they want him. A Jaylen Brown offer would blow these other offers out of the water.

[No Nickname]

Otherwise, you're looking at something drastic like trading Evan Mobley for Giannis Antetokounmpo -- though two league sources say Cleveland has shown no interest in that move as of now.

It is looking like a bunch of teams won't be making strong offers for Giannis.

Houston look the best bet to up the ante and put together a strong trade package built around Sengun. Portland is still a possibility in terms of giving MIL back control of their 1st round picks but it doesn't sound like they will be offering much talent in addition to that.

Miami might just pull this off. Still early though.

Also, it is pretty clear BOS could get Giannis if they want him. A Jaylen Brown offer would blow these other offers out of the water.

What do you think a Houston trade centered around Sengun would look like?

He's only 23 years old so I would have to imagine that it wouldn't take much more than a single 1st round pick and whatever flotsam and jetsam is needed to make the salaries work?

[Who]

The Ringer's Bill Simmons thinks the Milwaukee Bucks could land on the opposite end of a blockbuster trade with the Celtics this summer.

"I think Giannis (Antetokounmpo) wants to go to Boston, and I'm not sure Boston wants Giannis," Simmons stated.

"I think that's the push and pull right now." "I think he wants to stay in the East. I think a certain guy on the Celtics has the same shooting coach as him. I think there's a lot of respect for the organization. I just think that would be a team he would be interested in."

[Ilikesports17]

The Ringer?s Bill Simmons thinks the Milwaukee Bucks could land on the opposite end of a blockbuster trade with the Celtics this summer.

?I think Giannis (Antetokounmpo) wants to go to Boston, and I?m not sure Boston wants Giannis," Simmons stated.

"I think that?s the push and pull right now.? ?I think he wants to stay in the East. I think a certain guy on the Celtics has the same shooting coach as him. I think there?s a lot of respect for the organization. I just think that would be a team he would be interested in.?

This feels like 100% speculation. Not much different from you or I saying it.

[Who]

Otherwise, you're looking at something drastic like trading Evan Mobley for Giannis Antetokounmpo -- though two league sources say Cleveland has shown no interest in that move as of now.

It is looking like a bunch of teams won't be making strong offers for Giannis.

Houston look the best bet to up the ante and put together a strong trade package built around Sengun. Portland is still a possibility in terms of giving MIL back control of their 1st round picks but it doesn't sound like they will be offering much talent in addition to that.

Miami might just pull this off. Still early though.

Also, it is pretty clear BOS could get Giannis if they want him. A Jaylen Brown offer would blow these other offers out of the water.

What do you think a Houston trade centered around Sengun would look like?

He's only 23 years old so I would have to imagine that it wouldn't take much more than a single 1st round pick and whatever flotsam and jetsam is needed to make the salaries work?

Probably Reed Sheppard & picks & some cap filler.

Houston has some valuable future picks. They have Phoenix's 2027 1st rounder. They have swap rights with Brooklyn in 2027. It has another complicated 3-way swap pick in 2029 with Phoenix and Dallas. Houston have their own 1st rounders in 2027-2032.

So they can put together an attractive package of future picks in addition to Sengun. And an interesting young player in Sheppard. 

[jambr380]

The thing we need to remember about a Giannis trade is that he can basically choose his destination since he's a FA. It's great if HOU wants to trade Sengun or CLE wants to trade Mobley, but if Giannis doesn't want to play in HOU or CLE, then it's a non-starter. We've heard that he wants to stay East and heard rumblings about being in NYK, but is NYK really going to trade for him with their team in the Finals?

Miami and Boston seem to be the most obvious options with Miami already reportedly offering a competitive package and Giannis talking up Joe Mazzulla. If the Celtics aren't offering Brown, then perhaps we should pen in Giannis as a member of the Heat.

[Who]

The Ringer?s Bill Simmons thinks the Milwaukee Bucks could land on the opposite end of a blockbuster trade with the Celtics this summer.

?I think Giannis (Antetokounmpo) wants to go to Boston, and I?m not sure Boston wants Giannis," Simmons stated.

"I think that?s the push and pull right now.? ?I think he wants to stay in the East. I think a certain guy on the Celtics has the same shooting coach as him. I think there?s a lot of respect for the organization. I just think that would be a team he would be interested in.?

This feels like 100% speculation. Not much different from you or I saying it.

Yeah. Lot of speculation. I have the same feeling that BOS may not be interested in Giannis. That they are not willing to give up Jaylen.

[Who]

The thing we need to remember about a Giannis trade is that he can basically choose his destination since he's a FA. It's great if HOU wants to trade Sengun or CLE wants to trade Mobley, but if Giannis doesn't want to play in HOU or CLE, then it's a non-starter. We've heard that he wants to stay East and heard rumblings about being in NYK, but is NYK really going to trade for him with their team in the Finals?

Miami and Boston seem to be the most obvious options with Miami already reportedly offering a competitive package and Giannis talking up Joe Mazzulla. If the Celtics aren't offering Brown, then perhaps we should pen in Giannis as a member of the Heat.

There is a lack of destinations for Giannis in the East.

The rest of the up and coming teams are all largely locked and loaded at the PF position. Toronto has Scottie Barnes. Atlanta has Jalen Johnson. Indiana have Siakam. Orlando has Banchero.

If BOS, NYK, and CLE stay out of the Giannis chase ... does that leave Miami as the only playoff caliber team in the East going after Giannis?

The East might have limited options for Giannis / Milwaukee in the trade market.

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

Oh, maybe Charlotte. I forgot Charlotte. They have had problems at PF for years.

They could build a package around Brandon Miller or Kon Knueppel. Keep one, trade one. Move Miles Bridges back to SF. Giannis at PF. Use Josh Green and Grant Williams as cap filler. They have some wiggle room under the cap. That might be enough to absorb Giannis' big contract.

G: LaMelo, Tre Mann
G: Knueppel or B Miller, (free agent)
F: Miles Bridges, Sion James
F: Giannis, T Salaun
C: Diabate, Kalkbrenner

A Giannis & LaMelo duo. Miles Bridges as a 3rd scorer. Knueppel or B Miller as a 4th offensive option. Not much shooting there among the big men to provide spacing for Giannis.

[Who]

Keerthika Uthayakumar‬: Cavs have been outscored in almost every hustle stat this postseason. -123 in fast break points -72 in points off turnovers +4 in second chance points

-bluesky

This is what I was talking about during the game last night. That Cleveland have looked slow throughout the series with NY. That NY is out-quicking them. More defensive quickness, more quickness in transition, more quickness on drives, more quickness to loose balls.

Cavs look old and slow. Harden is obviously old and slow. But D Mitchell and J Allen look slow (but not old) throughout most of the playoffs. Strus is old and slow. J Tyson is young and slow. Merrill is small and unathletic. Mobley is their only real athlete in the starting lineup and Schroder the only real athlete off their bench. Keon Ellis is a good athlete as well but he didn't play much. Dean Wade is a solid athlete but he is more side to side quickness than end to end quickness, first step quickness, explosiveness.

This is why I am finding it hard to be optimistic about this group's chances moving forward. I feel this is the peak. This season. This is as good as it gets. Now things go downhill.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Otherwise, you're looking at something drastic like trading Evan Mobley for Giannis Antetokounmpo -- though two league sources say Cleveland has shown no interest in that move as of now.

It is looking like a bunch of teams won't be making strong offers for Giannis.

Houston look the best bet to up the ante and put together a strong trade package built around Sengun. Portland is still a possibility in terms of giving MIL back control of their 1st round picks but it doesn't sound like they will be offering much talent in addition to that.

Miami might just pull this off. Still early though.

Also, it is pretty clear BOS could get Giannis if they want him. A Jaylen Brown offer would blow these other offers out of the water.

I think if you are Milwaukee, I cannot see the point of trading for Mobley. He is an elite complimentary player, not someone who you can build your team around.

[Who]

Just looking at SGA and D Fox and wondering why can't De'Aaron Fox do what SGA does. Fox is even quicker than SGA. He has the handles. He is not as tall as SGA. 6-6 vs 6-3 but Fox is long and athletic. He can jump and get his shot off most of the time.

The main difference is just that midrange shot that SGA spent time mastering and Fox hasn't. He hasn't mastered the midrange or the long range jump-shots. He just has the driving shots. And is just about adequate at shots that are outside the paint.

[Moranis]

Just looking at SGA and D Fox and wondering why can't De'Aaron Fox do what SGA does. Fox is even quicker than SGA. He has the handles. He is not as tall as SGA. 6-6 vs 6-3 but Fox is long and athletic. He can jump and get his shot off most of the time.

The main difference is just that midrange shot that SGA spent time mastering and Fox hasn't. He hasn't mastered the midrange or the long range jump-shots. He just has the driving shots. And is just about adequate at shots that are outside the paint.

because SGA is better than Fox. Reminds me of the very famous quote about Drexler and MJ. Where people were wondering what Jordan could do that Drexler couldn't and the response was something like Nothing, Jordan just does it better. SGA is simply better than Fox, which is why he can do what he does and Fox can't (at least consistently)

[Who]

Just looking at SGA and D Fox and wondering why can't De'Aaron Fox do what SGA does. Fox is even quicker than SGA. He has the handles. He is not as tall as SGA. 6-6 vs 6-3 but Fox is long and athletic. He can jump and get his shot off most of the time.

The main difference is just that midrange shot that SGA spent time mastering and Fox hasn't. He hasn't mastered the midrange or the long range jump-shots. He just has the driving shots. And is just about adequate at shots that are outside the paint.

because SGA is better than Fox. Reminds me of the very famous quote about Drexler and MJ. Where people were wondering what Jordan could do that Drexler couldn't and the response was something like Nothing, Jordan just does it better. SGA is simply better than Fox, which is why he can do what he does and Fox can't (at least consistently)

Mastery and attention to detail = MJ & Drexler

MJ mastered his midrange and long two point shot. He became excellent at them. Drexler was good at them and good at the three point shot. Never mastered any one of them.

Same with the defense. MJ mastered defensive fundamentals and played with consistent effort & focus. Drexler did not. Drexler was an above average defender but never pushed himself to be a great defender.

Same with SGA and D Fox. SGA developed an excellent midrange shot which gave him a counter shot to take when teams walled off the rim from him. D Fox did not. He just has an adequate shot. He did not spend the time developing / improving his shot to become a lethal scorer. He instead decided he was happy enough at being a good scorer.

[Who]

Great stat on that TV graphic.

Bench scoring vs starter scoring in first 3 games of WCF

50-50 for OKC
80-20 for SAS' starters

[Who]

I am happy SAS left Wemby in longer in Q1 tonight. I thought that early sub killed them in Gms 2 and 3. No need for that guy to be coming out halfway through a quarter. Leave him in! He is too important.