2021 NBA Offseason Thread

[Jstock12]

Oladipo assigned to practice with the G-League squad.

His return is one of my most anticipated moments of the season.

That's an 18-9 squad as is. If he can somehow come back and get himself to full strength, woo boy. That team can go.

I know the odds of him returning to form aren't great this season. It takes normally a full season, if not more.

Make that 19-9, they just beat LeBron

 

[Joe Charboneau]

Malcom Brogdon is no joke. Why the Bucks let him go is beyond me. I take him over Bledsoe or Middleton easy.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

We tend to have a kind of narrow view of what "athleticism" consists of, where e.g. athleticism is jumping out of the gym and being ripped, rather than more subtle elements like quickness and coordination. Luka has incredible ability to change speeds, fantastic body control, and extremely quick reflexes...some genetic gifts there for sure.

Sure, I understand that. I just meant, Luka is not physically overwhelming his way into MVP contention. His size and height and quick twitch ability plus hand-eye coordination are surely special, but like you said, subtle...and he's just not a physical force in that way. I've heard about scouts or athletic training guys say he's 3+ years away from coming close to peak athletic condition and ENTERING the BEGINNING of his prime in NBA-terms which is scary. He's got an unbelievable basketball IQ, elite vision and passing ability.

And Porzingis is just an absolute perfect fit. He's kinda like this generations Euro-version of Bosh. That team will compete for titles. They just need to add the right guys around them. They could use a JJ Redick type( Tyler Herro, for example, was someone they wanted but didnt have the capital to get him in this draft). A Matisse Thybulle for sure. They're a team I could see pursuing Tristan esp with Powell shooting threes too now. He's a good fit on the interior, bring championship experience and toughness, etc.

I actually kind of am eyeing them as a possible trade destination for TT (or Iguodala). Hardaways salary matches, and goes one more season. But they owe 2021 and 2023 picks to the Knicks. The Cavs certainly would want real compensation for TT plus taking on another year of THJ. So not sure it fits unless we start talking 2025 picks, yikes.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Malcom Brogdon is no joke. Why the Bucks let him go is beyond me. I take him over Bledsoe or Middleton easy.

If they dont get the job done and Giannis leaves in 2021, this will end up being why. Middleton they had to keep. But they had no reason to extend Bledsoe that early before seeing him in the playoffs which was NOT pretty. They ended up salvaging a first rounder out of it but still. Brogdon has taken a leap.

 

[cavsfever]

Yeah, I can totally see why they kept Middleton but Bledsoe over Brogdon was inexplicable to me.

 

[MediumBaller]

Why didn't they just keep both? They had his bird rights. Can't be pinching pennies when you're trying to keep a player of Giannis's caliber happy.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Why didn't they just keep both? They had his bird rights. Can't be pinching pennies when you're trying to keep a player of Giannis's caliber happy.

Because not every small market midwest team has Dan Gilbert's subprime mortgage blood money propping their finances up. Some of those guys rely on their teams profit to buy things/live.. Hell, even the Buss Kids rely on the Lakers profit.

I get letting one go..I just dont understand jumping the gun on Bledsoe the way they did. They could have gotten a late first for him too probably. Brogdon also just aligned so well with Giannis' timeline. Like, in 5 years, Bledsoe is gonna be washed but Brogdon and Giannis could be entering their primes together as a 2 man all-star duo.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Yeah, I can totally see why they kept Middleton but Bledsoe over Brogdon was inexplicable to me.

I think they're better with George Hill over Bledsoe to be honest. In the playoffs at least. Brogdon's skillset is just so perfect to compliment Giannis, and he fits his timeline perfectly..

Like...the one way that team legit had to IMPROVE from last year was simply--Giannis getting better...Pat C, Donte D, etc getting better. Brogdon taking a LEAP which he has.

Bledsoes not getting better.

Brogdon-

Shoot- Check
Pass-Check
Defend- Check
Off-ball play- Check
Young-Check

Bledsoe-
Shoot- Ehh
Pass- Ehh
Defend- Check
Off-ball- Nah
Young- Nope, and iffy knees.

4/80 was too much for that dude at his age? ROY....was their 2nd best player in the playoffs ahead of Middleton....

Huge blunder by Milwaukee. I said it at the time too.

Bledsoe at like 16m or Brogdon at 21 for the next 3-4 years? I take Brogdon 10/10 times.

 

[Rich]

If they dont get the job done and Giannis leaves in 2021, this will end up being why. Middleton they had to keep. But they had no reason to extend Bledsoe that early before seeing him in the playoffs which was NOT pretty. They ended up salvaging a first rounder out of it but still. Brogdon has taken a leap.

See, this is hindsight.

We looked dumb as fuck not extending Delly early, right?

Now, imagine Bledsoe blows up in the playoffs. Now his number goes up and they look dumb for not extending him.

Sometimes there's just no right answer and not everything is a bad decision.

 

[Jordan]

I don’t care what anybody says about the Russ/Harden pairing. They work together and that Rockets team is a very legitimate contender in the West.

Teams will put their second best defender on Russ, but because of Harden, you can’t double Westbrook. House and Tucker can both shoot threes and Capela is even more dangerous with Russ there. Clippers had no answer when the Rockets started making open shots.

 

[Nathan S]

I don’t care what anybody says about the Russ/Harden pairing. They work together and that Rockets team is a very legitimate contender in the West.

Teams will put their second best defender on Russ, but because of Harden, you can’t double Westbrook. House and Tucker can both shoot threes and Capela is even more dangerous with Russ there. Clippers had no answer when the Rockets started making open shots.

Clippers missing a rim protector, perhaps? Don't have to double Westbrook (or commit as many fouls) if you have a shot blocker behind you in the paint.

 

[Cassity14]

I don’t care what anybody says about the Russ/Harden pairing. They work together and that Rockets team is a very legitimate contender in the West.

Teams will put their second best defender on Russ, but because of Harden, you can’t double Westbrook. House and Tucker can both shoot threes and Capela is even more dangerous with Russ there. Clippers had no answer when the Rockets started making open shots.

I just don't see it over a 7 game series. Neither Russ nor Harden have much of a track record recently with upping their performance in the postseason.

Hard disagree with your point on Capela. He and Westbrook on the floor together means you'll never have more than 3 good shooters. I'll take Chris Paul (maybe not today, but when they had him) over Westbrook to pair with Capela any day of the week.

Westbrook is the more talented overall player, but that fit is just too inconsistent. Hard to see them beating the Clippers 4 out of 7 times.

 

[Jordan]

Clippers missing a rim protector, perhaps? Don't have to double Westbrook (or commit as many fouls) if you have a shot blocker behind you in the paint.

I just don't see it over a 7 game series. Neither Russ nor Harden have much of a track record recently with upping their performance in the postseason.

Hard disagree with your point on Capela. He and Westbrook on the floor together means you'll never have more than 3 good shooters. I'll take Chris Paul (maybe not today, but when they had him) over Westbrook to pair with Capela any day of the week.

Westbrook is the more talented overall player, but that fit is just too inconsistent. Hard to see them beating the Clippers 4 out of 7 times.

I think Nathan is correct. Right now, Rockets are a bad matchup for the Clippers. If Clippers could get a big who would help prevent Westbrook from driving then you could effectively ignore Russ at the three-point line.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

LOL at the Rockets. How many times do we need to see Westbrook and Harden fail in the playoffs before we quit pumping them up as a contender?

 

[Dr. Claw]

Most exciting NBA season in... quite a few years.
Amazing what happens when you get Golden Piss + Durant out of the picture.