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Saturday, February 01, 2014

OT: NBA February 2014

In total, 14 former Lakers are under contract with other teams—more if training camp invites and traded draft picks are included:
Charlotte Bobcats: Ramon Sessions, Josh McRoberts, Jannero Pargo and Chris Douglas-Roberts (training camp invite)
Cleveland Cavaliers: Earl Clark
Clippers: Matt Barnes, Antawn Jamison
Houston Rockets: Dwight Howard, Patrick Beverley (drafted 42nd overall in 2009, traded immediately to the Miami Heat)
Indiana Pacers: Andrew Bynum
Miami Heat: Toney Douglas (drafted 29th overall in 2009, traded immediately to the New York Knicks)
Milwaukee Bucks: Caron Butler
Minnesota Timberwolves: Ronny Turiaf
New York Knicks: Metta World Peace
Oklahoma City Thunder: Derek Fisher
Phoenix Suns: Gerald Green (training camp invite)
San Antonio Spurs: Shannon Brown
Utah Jazz: Malcolm Thomas (training camp invite)
Washington Wizards: Trevor Ariza

Bitter Mouse Posted: February 01, 2014 at 04:05 PM | 740 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: nba

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401. Athletic Supporter can feel the slow rot Posted: February 17, 2014 at 03:46 PM (#4658115)

flip

402. robinred

Posted: February 17, 2014 at 03:51 PM (#4658117)

I am not a Dunk Contest kind of guy (too old now maybe) but I got a real kick out of Wall's dunk. It was funny, goofy, and impressive.

403. smileyy Posted: February 17, 2014 at 03:56 PM (#4658119)

That's pedophile porn star cop to you, mister.

404. Fear is Moses Taylor's Bacon Bits Posted: February 17, 2014 at 04:40 PM (#4658146)

Yeah, I'm surprised we didn't have any All Star weekend discussion here. Which is better than drawing LBJ to Cleveland conclusions based on last night (there are multiple of this article today). My favorite part of the whole weekend was Reggie Miller calling Kenny Smith an idiot for picking Bellinelli to win the 3pt contest after Marco airballed his second shot, only to go on and win the whole thing.

I still don't like the sleeved jerseys, but they looked less obnoxious last night; probably because they weren't for existing team jersey/colors.

405. Booey Posted: February 17, 2014 at 04:44 PM (#4658150)

Conceding that it's a "joke", anyone who actually thinks that Gasol and Russell look like homeless guys is either visually unfamiliar with the homeless, and/or with the concept of "scraggly beards."

Beards aren't all homeless looking. Harden's beard is awesome, and even Pau's own brothers' beard makes him look like he should be chopping wood in the Alaskan wilderness and fighting bears for salmon (which is also awesome). But yeah, in a lighthearted, poking fun sort of way, if you're a public figure and you're going to sport facial hair that's scraggly or weak (I'm looking at you, Melo and Paul Pierce - I was able to grow a better mustache in Junior High), you should expect the jokes. I've had just about every type of semi reasonable facial hair you can imagine at one point or another, and I generally think the comparisons are funny.

406. Booey Posted: February 17, 2014 at 04:57 PM (#4658154)

Yeah, I'm surprised we didn't have any All Star weekend discussion here.

Just curious, what's everyone's interest level WRT All Star weekend every year? I have a hard time with the "just stand there on D and take turns dunking for 3 quarters" mindset of the ASG participants. Fourth quarter is usually pretty interesting, I guess.

Didn't see the dunk contest, but overall I guess I'm mostly in the 'Meh' camp with rr. It's not just that most of the best dunks have already been done over the years again and again, but the field of participants is generally pretty 'blah' too. I think I'd have a lot more interest if the majority of the big stars weren't one and done. A contest that included a half dozen or so true superstars might be pretty cool.

407. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 17, 2014 at 06:02 PM (#4658184)

Just curious, what's everyone's interest level WRT All Star weekend every year? I have a hard time with the "just stand there on D and take turns dunking for 3 quarters" mindset of the ASG participants. Fourth quarter is usually pretty interesting, I guess.

which is unfortunate because my DVR stopped recording halfway through the 3rd quarter. but at least i got to fastforward through whoever it was that performed at halftime.

408. Fear is Moses Taylor's Bacon Bits Posted: February 17, 2014 at 06:47 PM (#4658205)

but at least i got to fastforward through whoever it was that performed at halftime.

I watched most of the first half, then moved on to other things. But my twitter feed suggested that halftime was actually pretty damn good. More in Ziller's column.

409. PJ Martinez Posted: February 17, 2014 at 08:54 PM (#4658252)

I don't really get these Memphis/Minnesota talks.

410. NJ in DC Posted: February 17, 2014 at 09:28 PM (#4658267)

Hilariously awkward interview of KD by Bill Simmons. Simmons kept trying to push the narrative and KD was not having it. At all. Money exchange:

"You seem...I don't want to say you're icy this season...but there's definitely...I don't know...there's, there's a hyper focus with you this year that seems a little different, like you're just, you're tired of..."
"What was, what was it years before...it wasn't?"
"Yyyyeeeeah...you were happy, I mean definitely enough..like definitely...taking these little steps, but now it just seems like you just want to win the title, that's it, that's all you're thinking about"
"I always just wanted to win the title."
"So what's different? Why do you seem different now?"
"Nothing's different."
"So I'm imagining everything?"
"Yep."

411. PJ Martinez Posted: February 17, 2014 at 09:51 PM (#4658282)

It's only 10 games, but "Rondo is shooting 37.8 percent from behind the arc and is averaging 3.8 3s per 36 minutes, 2.9 per game. His per-game and per-36 attempts are both more than three times his career averages."

412. robinred

Posted: February 17, 2014 at 09:58 PM (#4658285)

Rumors!

Brooklyn and Cleveland discussing Jack for Terry.
New York trying to get Jeff Teague or Kyle Lowry.
Lakers and Brooklyn discussing Jordan Hill going to BRK, who would use the DPE.

413. robinred

Posted: February 17, 2014 at 10:00 PM (#4658287)

Did Simmons ask if Durant finally has the F-U edge?

414. Crispix reaches boiling point with lackluster play Posted: February 17, 2014 at 10:44 PM (#4658306)

Simmons: So, are you guys doing so well because you've finally figured out which one of you is the Alpha Dog?
Durant: What?
Simmons: So, do you guys have a better chance this year because the Heat and Spurs are both falling victim to The Disease Of More?
Durant: What?
Simmons: So, are you concerned about momentum? I mean, if you have momentum now, some other team might have momentum when the playoffs come around.
Durant: What?
Simmons: The West is so much better than the East, so it won't be hard to win. I'm guessing you're approaching this as one of those Milton Berle Games.
Durant: What?
Simmons: So, the James Harden trade. Worst trade ever, or by far the worst trade ever? I just can't tell you how much I hated that trade. You must have been so upset.
Durant: That only applies to last season, he would have left by now anyway.
Simmons: What?

415. NJ in DC Posted: February 17, 2014 at 11:17 PM (#4658315)

Durant also volunteered "The Servant" as a nickname for himself, which is just...you know what, here's what one commenter on a Thunder blog had to say about that:

Without reading all 782 previous posts, I think it's fairly safe to say I'm the 783rd person to say that "The Servant" is probably the worst nickname ever. Was "The Lackey" or "The Lickspittle" or "the Brownnoser" not available?

416. robinred

Posted: February 18, 2014 at 12:07 AM (#4658323)

Maybe he meant to say "The Savant."

Plus The Slim Reaper and Durantula are actually pretty good nicknames.

417. NJ in DC Posted: February 18, 2014 at 12:17 AM (#4658326)

[416] I think Durantula is clunky, but Slim Reaper is mindblowingly good. Durant keeps saying he thinks Slim Reaper is too dark though.

418. Athletic Supporter can feel the slow rot Posted: February 18, 2014 at 01:36 AM (#4658334)

It's only 10 games, but "Rondo is shooting 37.8 percent from behind the arc and is averaging 3.8 3s per 36 minutes, 2.9 per game. His per-game and per-36 attempts are both more than three times his career averages."

Wasn't someone on this board really worried about Rondo (will he ever be the same) after 5 games post-comeback?

419. NJ in DC Posted: February 18, 2014 at 03:00 AM (#4658343)

Watched the LeBron special on NBAtv and was thinking about his comments about how he wants to win DPOY/thinks he should have in the past. It's pretty clear that (a) Hibbert should/will win this year and (b) he's slipped some on that end IMO. As a result, I decided to look back and see how the voting went. In '12 he finished he finished 4th in the voting, but I think a case could be made he should have won. That was pretty well covered at the time though. However, what was surprising to me was that he seems to have an excellent case for winning in '07 but he didn't even receive a single vote for DPOY.

Other things that jumped out, Dikembe looks like an overrated defender and Camby winning in '07 was pretty crazy.

420. RollingWave Posted: February 18, 2014 at 05:45 AM (#4658352)

Wasn't someone on this board really worried about Rondo (will he ever be the same) after 5 games post-comeback?

That was me, but he's also at career lows inside the Arc and shooting a hilarious .500 from the line, I'm going to say that a guy who's still shooting free throw like garbage is unlikely to sustain a good 3 point %.

But I am very interested in seeing Rondo in other settings.

421. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 18, 2014 at 12:49 PM (#4658490)

The Sixers play at the league’s fastest pace, jack a ton of 3s, and break out something like a full-court press during stretches of every game. It was fun for a while, but they’ve become very hard to watch as we enter the stretch run. Their style of play almost has a numbing effect. “Oh, another missed 3 with 18 seconds left on the shot clock and no potential rebounder under the rim.”

Philly simply doesn’t have the talent to compete this way, or any way. The Sixers’ bench is a D-League team, and both Michael Carter-Williams and Evan Turner have been slumping from the field for weeks. Their press functions more as a mechanism for easy opponent layups.

The Sixers insist playing fast isn’t a tanking ploy, and I believe them. There are those around the league who argue playing fast and launching 3s is the wave of the NBA’s future, and that it will make the league more exciting. I can see that. But a bad team playing this way is horrid to watch.

422. Len Lansford, Carney Barker Posted: February 18, 2014 at 12:59 PM (#4658498)

Brooklyn and Cleveland discussing Jack for Terry.

From 'veteran sixth man' to 'will trade for used bag of practice balls.' I'm still at something at a loss as to how it seemed everything imploded.

423. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 18, 2014 at 01:43 PM (#4658524)

I thought the halftime show was only okay, but am a big fan of Janelle Monae - who was one of the performers in question - and EW&F have earned a lot of goodwill.

Agree with Ziller on the kudos to the (Hawks(!)') organist - definitely a highlight of the game for me.

Crispix, your 414 made me smile.

424. AROM Posted: February 18, 2014 at 02:27 PM (#4658545)

Was "The Lackey" or "The Lickspittle" or "the Brownnoser" not available?

"The Lackey" has been taken as anyone who watched the last game of the world series (last year or 2002) should know. Not sure on the others.

425. smileyy Posted: February 18, 2014 at 02:56 PM (#4658557)

Anything is better than my nickname of "Deo" for him. Catchphrase: "That's the smell of victory!"

426. andrewberg Posted: February 18, 2014 at 03:06 PM (#4658561)

I thought the halftime show was only okay, but am a big fan of Janelle Monae - who was one of the performers in question - and EW&F have earned a lot of goodwill.

Agree. I loved the assortment of people. Way more fun than the Super Bowl halftime show.

I don't really get these Memphis/Minnesota talks.

Yeah, I'm thoroughly confused. For those who didn't click, the general idea was Barea and Budinger for Prince and T. Allen. The presumption is that the Wolves would somehow add Andre Miller to back up Rubio if they traded Barea. Allen is a better defender than Brewer, but you definitely can't pair them in a lineup with Rubio. That would be Detroit-level shooting. If Allen and Martin play together, that makes more sense, but then the whole second unit is basically poor shooting 6'8 guys (Brewer, Cunningham, Tufiaf, LRBAM). I think the Wolves are better than their record, but with the games they have lost this year, it seems crazy to push all in for this year.

427. Fear is Moses Taylor's Bacon Bits Posted: February 18, 2014 at 03:15 PM (#4658571)

Sounds like the Bulls aren't interested in moving Dunleavy, which makes sense to me. He has a lot of trade value both now, and in the offseason, and will provide plenty of value to the Bulls next year if they kept him.

The Bulls also still have a pretty good chance of getting to the 2nd round again, which is a noble goal (though the worrier in my just is concerned about those extra minutes on Noah). Unfortunately, they're much less entertaining this year without NateRob and Bellinelli.

428. Famous Original Joe C Posted: February 18, 2014 at 03:32 PM (#4658579)

That was me, but he's also at career lows inside the Arc and shooting a hilarious .500 from the line, I'm going to say that a guy who's still shooting free throw like garbage is unlikely to sustain a good 3 point %.

Okay, yeah, he's 3 for 6 of free throws this season. I know he's 62% for his career and 65% last year, so he's not great and never will be, but I disagree that you can be a decent three point shooter while being mediocre on free throws - Bruce Bowen, among many others, would beg to differ. Note that I also doubt that Rondo, who has made less than 1 in 4 threes for his career (granting that a great number of those are end of shot clock desperation types) is suddenly a 38% three point shooter, just that its not out of the realm of possibility that he could improve there even while remaining a lousy foul shooter.

Again, granting that we have stupidly small sample so far, it seems that Rondo's overall FG% is down because he's essentially traded a couple shots at the rim per game for a couple of threes - and given he's shot 59% at the rim from 2010-2013 (14 for 28 this year), that's driving his overall shooting % down. Seems to me like a reticence/inability to drive to the basket since the injury as this also jibes with his decline in FT per game from about 3 to less than 1 this season. Not clear, even if that is the case, if this is him still not being 100%, or easing himself back in, or not wanting to risk injury on a team going nowhere, or what. His TS% is .482 vs. .497 over the past three previous seasons, though, so not a huge loss in overall efficiency. His per 36 averages are ~11/5/11 for 2010-13, and ~13/6/9 this year. PER is 16 vs. an established level of about 18.

Long story short: it's way too early to say anything definitive about post-injury Rondo but there's not much evidence in the early returns to say that he's lost something significant to injury.

429. Fear is Moses Taylor's Bacon Bits Posted: February 18, 2014 at 03:48 PM (#4658586)

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker will be out "for the foreseeable future" with "a variety of maladies," coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday. Parker had been sidelined with stiffness in his lower back but played in Sunday's All-Star Game, finishing with four points, two rebounds and one assist. "He doesn't have a pulled hamstring or anything, but he's got a lot of little things," Popovich said.

Strange that he played Sunday.

430. smileyy Posted: February 18, 2014 at 03:56 PM (#4658594)

All in all, I like guys who, when selected to All-Star games, play in them. I'm guessing Tony Parker wasn't going 100% in that game.

431. Fear is Moses Taylor's Bacon Bits Posted: February 18, 2014 at 05:48 PM (#4658690)

Same here, and this could just be Pops resting him. But if he was really hurt enough to miss multiple games before and after, seems like the Spurs might have wanted him to skip it. Parker also has a much better chance of getting hurt during the other All Star festivities than he would during your average San Antonio weekend, I'd reckon.

432. Bitter Mouse Posted: February 18, 2014 at 05:52 PM (#4658697)

Speaking of the wolves. Oh we weren't, too bad.

Anyway pretty interesting article on the Timber Wolves and perhaps why they have had a bad season despite their talent and other factors that make them look like they should be much better. It also talks about the Heat and Spurs in fair depth, so it is not just for the pathetic types (like me) that root for the Team on the Tundra.

433. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: February 18, 2014 at 06:11 PM (#4658707)

Iowa at Indiana postponed tonight, due to metal rail of some kind falling from the rafters onto the seats below. There's video footage of this, definitely would've hurt someone badly. No truth to the rumor that this was a banner Crean was trying to raise for beating Kentucky in 2011.

434. Jimmy P Posted: February 18, 2014 at 06:25 PM (#4658715)

435. Crispix reaches boiling point with lackluster play Posted: February 18, 2014 at 07:21 PM (#4658737)

Evan Turner to new #33 Kevin Grow: "The guy who had that number last year never wore it."

436. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 18, 2014 at 10:27 PM (#4658794)

i'm rooting for something like this for the sixers at the deadline.

the kings get turner, who should be a good glue guy who's young and has some chemistry with demarcus cousins.
the clippers get spencer hawes, who will be a humongous upgrade over their current backup bigs.
and the sixers get ben mclemore from sacramento, picks from los angeles and various mediocre veterans from both.

437. RollingWave Posted: February 19, 2014 at 05:10 AM (#4658856)

Oh look, everyone's hurt in the West, maybe the Rockets could make a run at the 2nd seed now , only 2 games out... ok 2.5 after the Spurs wooped the Clippers in LA behind the mighty Patty Mills.

438. NJ in DC Posted: February 19, 2014 at 07:47 AM (#4658860)

Patty Mills has secretly been spectacular all year. Going to be interesting to see what happens with him in free agency. The Spurs are amazing.

439. Paul D(uda) Posted: February 19, 2014 at 09:21 AM (#4658874)

Simmons posted his list of the 30 worst contracts in the NBA>

I like Simmons, but it's a good example of why he's criticized - the intro is way to long and there are some pretty obscure references.

That said, it's interesting food for thought.

440. andrewberg Posted: February 19, 2014 at 01:11 PM (#4658991)

I got to watch most of the MIA-DAL game and the SA-LAC game last night. It is so fun to watch Lebron when he has a game like that. Dallas was hanging around and even leading due to tons of offensive rebounds. Lebron came in after a rest about 4 minutes into the 4th, down 3, already with 30 points, and launched a personal 8-0 run. He nailed two long threes and did a heat check from about 6' behind the arc. By that time, Birdman and Bosh got more energetic on the boards and they took over.

I think SA did so well against the Clippers because Paul is less than 100%. He could not shoot from range, so the Spurs played him like Rondo and went under all the screens. It made it a lot easier to manage the offense (other than Blake, who is playing SO well right now). The Mills thing is interesting because it seems like he just fits into the system really well. He makes good decisions and takes the shots he should take. There are a bunch of guys filling roles for them who do that and it makes them look like a football team with guys filling their lanes.

441. AROM Posted: February 19, 2014 at 01:43 PM (#4659022)

It is so fun to watch Lebron when he has a game like that. Dallas was hanging around and even leading due to tons of offensive rebounds. Lebron came in after a rest about 4 minutes into the 4th, down 3, already with 30 points, and launched a personal 8-0 run.

Yes it is. Watching Lebron with the confidence he's been playing with (there's a noticeable difference pre and post the 2012 game 6 against the Celtics) is like watching Jordan. I hope those young enough to not have watched Jordan in his prime can appreciate it. Because once Lebron leaves, you don't know how long it will take for the next ONE to show up.

I'm not really a Heat fan, or was I a Bulls fan back in the day, but I root for those teams because I want to see greatness.

442. NJ in DC Posted: February 19, 2014 at 02:11 PM (#4659043)

Because once Lebron leaves, you don't know how long it will take for the next ONE to show up.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but...~~The Servant~~ Kevin Durant is alive and kicking. Not that LeBron isn't awesome, as a self-proclaimed LeBron fanboy...he clearly is, but KD has shown that he can get to that Jordan/James level but only time will tell how long he can keep it.

443. outl13r Posted: February 19, 2014 at 04:16 PM (#4659182)

My experience from watching Miami Heat games over the last 3 seasons is most tend to follow this pattern [opponent quality doesn't seem to make a difference]: MIA enter 4th qtr in a very close game, likely down. LBJ sits for the first few minutes of the 4th (sometimes his break comes at the end of the 3rd, sometimes it starts a couple mins into the 4th). He re-enters the game like a bat outta hell with the Heat down 4-10 points and they try to play catch up from there.

If someone has access to the data, I would like to see if this is actually happening or if it's just confirmation bias on my part. Unless the data disagrees with me, in which case I don't want to see it. I'd also be curious to see if this is something that has been going on more frequently since the Finals loss to DAL.

444. NJ in DC Posted: February 19, 2014 at 04:40 PM (#4659207)

[443] Points per 40 min in 4th Quarter and OT & FG%

1. L. James 36.8 (57.1)
2. K. Durant 33.1 (43.4)
3. S. Curry 31.8 (46.7)
4. K. Irving 31.8 (42.3)

Those numbers are career highs for James in the MIA era. Source.

445. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 19, 2014 at 05:53 PM (#4659259)

Patty Mills has secretly been spectacular all year. Going to be interesting to see what happens with him in free agency. The Spurs are amazing.

fun fact: mills is an australian who plays for the spurs.
fun fact: current sixers coach brett brown is a former spurs assistant who coaches the australian national team.

446. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 19, 2014 at 05:56 PM (#4659260)

Mills is real useful, but I think you need to team him with a taller guy who can make plays (for SA - it's Ginobili).

447. Manny Coon Posted: February 19, 2014 at 06:03 PM (#4659268)

fun fact: mills is an australian who plays for the spurs.
fun fact: current sixers coach brett brown is a former spurs assistant who coaches the australian national team.

This is like how Tony Parker owns the French team that their first round pick played for. The Spurs are really well connected internationally and it's definitely helped find some guys who can play.

448. The District Attorney Posted: February 19, 2014 at 06:28 PM (#4659287)

All in all, I like guys who, when selected to All-Star games, play in them.

I dunno, I think Simmons' point that Goran Dragic got screwed is a fair point. Parker would still be considered a "six-time All-Star" if he bowed out, but Dragic would have gotten to play.

There isn't a PR person on the planet who could come up with something as image-enhancing as "say you want your nickname to be 'The Servant'."

I have no clue why the Knicks would want Teague, or why the Cavs would want Terry. I'd actually say the former at least makes more sense than the latter. I realize the Cavs desperately want to make the playoffs this year, but unfortunately it's not as simple as increasing the average team age.

449. Fear is Moses Taylor's Bacon Bits Posted: February 19, 2014 at 06:37 PM (#4659294)

I realize the Cavs desperately want to make the playoffs this year, but unfortunately it's not as simple as increasing the average team age.

They're shopping Deng already. So I wonder if they've realized it's just not going to happen this year.

450. Fear is Moses Taylor's Bacon Bits Posted: February 19, 2014 at 06:50 PM (#4659304)

Also, this:

The Brooklyn Nets have traded Jason Terry and Reggie Evans to the Sacramento Kings for Marcus Thornton.

From Pelton's analysis:

In basketball terms, this deal doesn't really cost the Nets anything. The hit is entirely financial, and it's not small. Because the Nets are in the highest possible bracket of the luxury tax, they'll pay 3.75 times the additional salary they've taken on, which comes to a little more than $2.7 million this season and $3.6 million next year.

Add in the salary itself and the Nets are spending an extra $7.5 million or so thanks to this trade.

Do they really think they're going to do something in the playoffs this year? I mean...

451. Russlan is fond of Dillon Gee Posted: February 19, 2014 at 07:06 PM (#4659317)

Durant is a fantastic player and all but there's something wrong with anyone that would prefer The Servant to the Slim Reaper. The latter couldn't be any better while the former could hardly be worse.

452. Manny Coon Posted: February 19, 2014 at 07:46 PM (#4659341)

Durant is a fantastic player and all but there's something wrong with anyone that would prefer The Servant to the Slim Reaper. The latter couldn't be any better while the former could hardly be worse.

Considering his ridiculous back tattoo, I assume he means something like a servant of God or Christ in a Christian sort of way; in that context the name makes decent enough sense for him I think.

453. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 19, 2014 at 08:15 PM (#4659356)

Durant is a fantastic player and all but there's something wrong with anyone that would prefer The Servant to the Slim Reaper. The latter couldn't be any better while the former could hardly be worse.

"the servant" is still probably a better nickname than "uncle" thomas robinson.

454. NJ in DC Posted: February 19, 2014 at 10:32 PM (#4659410)

Excited to see what Marshon Brooks does under D'antoni.

455. thok Posted: February 19, 2014 at 11:05 PM (#4659428)

Apparently Steve Blake is the new Jarrett Jack.

456. puck Posted: February 19, 2014 at 11:18 PM (#4659434)

Maybe everyone should call Durant "Koko." You're not supposed to nickname yourself.

457. JJ1986 Posted: February 20, 2014 at 10:56 AM (#4659548)

Spencer Hawes to Cleveland for two second round picks.

458. Crispix reaches boiling point with lackluster play Posted: February 20, 2014 at 11:31 AM (#4659571)

In the Sixers strategy of trying to get really good play out of the players they want to trade, while still losing all their games by hiring unbelievably bad players for the rest of the roster, the first part seems to have fallen short.

459. AROM Posted: February 20, 2014 at 11:45 AM (#4659586)

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but...The Servant Kevin Durant is alive and kicking. Not that LeBron isn't awesome, as a self-proclaimed LeBron fanboy...he clearly is, but KD has shown that he can get to that Jordan/James level but only time will tell how long he can keep it.

Durant's having a better season than Lebron right now and should be the MVP. He's an incredible player. But I don't think he's quite there yet, with "there" being the conversation for single greatest player to ever live.

Jordan. Lebron. Russell.

460. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 11:57 AM (#4659600)

Earl Clark also to Philly in the Hawes deal.

461. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 12:14 PM (#4659611)

You know, Fredette could help Philly. Mind you, a lot of things could help them and I wouldn't give up an asset for him - but that's not a bad fit on offense for them, alongside MCW (or Wroten).

462. JJ1986 Posted: February 20, 2014 at 12:14 PM (#4659612)

After last year, I thought Clark would make a good PF on an up-tempo team. Signing him to play the 3 on a slow team was an awful idea.

463. Crispix reaches boiling point with lackluster play Posted: February 20, 2014 at 01:09 PM (#4659648)

I'm glad the Sixers got a player back who is currently playing basketball games, instead of adding insult to injury by "adding" Eric Bledsoe or Landry Fields.

Especially with #462, he seems like a good fit. Although for all we know, Arnett Moultrie could be a good PF on an uptempo team. Or Nerlens Noel! Remember him?

464. outl13r Posted: February 20, 2014 at 01:19 PM (#4659661)

Or Nerlens Noel! Remember him?

I remember him. He's been more valuable this year than the #1 pick in this years draft...

465. The District Attorney Posted: February 20, 2014 at 01:29 PM (#4659670)

Random Bill James (Kansas fan) basketball thoughts from his mailbag:

Definitely surprised [Michael] Beasley hasn't been better. He was very comparable to Kevin Durant in college. . .I saw them both play in college. No, I don't have any understanding of what has happened to him.

I think most people would agree that [Joel] Embiid has moved ahead of [Andrew] Wiggins. Embiid is 7 foot tall or close to it and very quick, able to block shots without fouling, strong enough to stick back a rebound. Wiggins is 6-8, quick, smooth, unusually agile for a man that big and has a nice mid-range and long-range shot, but he is thin and lacks the arrogance on the floor that characterizes the LeBrons and Kobe Bryants of the world. Certainly based on what I know and what I understand, I would guess that Embiid would be a better NBA player. The rest of the KU team is similar: Bizarrely athletic, but inexperienced and not cohesive.

WHo do you think will be the better pro, Wiggins or Embiid?

In the first 2-3 years, Wiggins. Longer range, it could be either. Embiid has athletic ability that I don't know that I've ever really seen before in a 7-footer. He's had some plays, for example, where there was a pass. ..what appeared to be an entirely safe, almost routine pass. . .and Embiid came flying out of the air, seemingly from nowhere, to steal the pass in mid air. He'll block shots that can't be blocked. He's less ready for the NBA. He brings the ball down and starts his shot not merely from his waist, but from a crouch, and the ball gets knocked out of his hands before he gets the shot off an extraordinary percentage of the time. He tries to block almost every shot, and frequently abandons the rebound, just giving away a weak side rebound, because he was trying to block a shot on somebody else's man. He IS an extraordinary shot blocker, so it does pay off sometimes, but if it's me. . .I want my big guy to rebound first and try to block the shot 5-8 times a game. He's trying to block the shot 30-50 times a game. He lifts weights. . you have to lift weights, at Kansas. . .and he is developing the shoulder muscles that are the first things that come in with weight lifting, but I still think that he isn't really strong head to toe in the way that an older player would be, or the way that some college players are. The same is true of Wiggins. ..Wiggins has some shoulder strength, but isn't really strong top to bottom. But Wiggins is very quick, excellent defender, excellent shooter, knows how to get to the foul line. First 3-4 games, I would have said "Embiid". But Wiggins, as he has gotten more comfortable, has shown more NBA readiness, at least to my eyes.

[on Bill Russell's "Mt. Rushmore"/"basketball is a team game" response]

He turned down the Hall of Fame, then? He's giving back all of his NBA MVP Awards?

Bill Russell is a great man and a great player, but I don't celebrate holier than thou ####.

466. NJ in DC Posted: February 20, 2014 at 01:47 PM (#4659677)

@chadfordinsider Sixers have 9 2nd Rd picks

...is that even legal?

467. smileyy Posted: February 20, 2014 at 01:51 PM (#4659684)

He lifts weights. . you have to lift weights, at Kansas

This is such a cute antiquated quote.

I mean, I assume every major school has a pretty rigorous weight-lifting regimen. There's some ADs and coaches who need to be fired if not.

468. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 20, 2014 at 01:54 PM (#4659687)

@chadfordinsider Sixers have 9 2nd Rd picks

...is that even legal?

i think they only have 7 2nd round picks. the other two picks are going to be in the top 10.

469. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 20, 2014 at 01:56 PM (#4659690)

also, this:

David Aldridge?@daldridgetnt·35 secs
Wizards will give Philly a second-round pick next year. Denver will give Philly the other second-rounder in 2016, per source.

so, they still only have 5 2nd round picks this year.

470. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:00 PM (#4659695)

@HPbasketball 3m
"We'll give you Evan Turner and eight second rounders for Rondo. No?'

471. Crispix reaches boiling point with lackluster play Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:14 PM (#4659705)

So the Sixers get two 2nd round picks in a trade involving Eric Maynor, Jan Vesely, and Andre Miller. Did the Sixers give up anything? Did they trade one 2nd round pick for two 2nd round picks? Or what?

472. outl13r Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:22 PM (#4659715)

So the Sixers get two 2nd round picks in a trade involving Eric Maynor, Jan Vesely, and Andre Miller. Did the Sixers give up anything? Did they trade one 2nd round pick for two 2nd round picks? Or what?

They took on Eric Maynor and his contract as well.

473. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:24 PM (#4659720)

yep

sessions back to milwaukee, with jeff adrien for gary neal and luke ridnour

474. AROM Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:27 PM (#4659727)

It will be interesting. I don't know what I'd do with that many second round picks. Not enough roster space to keep most of them.

Maybe: I'll give you a second rounder if I can swap my #8 pick for your #7. Then the next guy, I'll give you a second rounder if I can swap my #7 pick for your #6. Rinse and repeat.

475. jmurph Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:31 PM (#4659730)

They took on Eric Maynor and his contract as well.

Don't they technically have to give something up? I don't see anything leaving Philadelphia.

476. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:34 PM (#4659734)

Don't they technically have to give something up? I don't see anything leaving Philadelphia.

i believe washington also gets a trade exception equal to the value of maynor's salary.

477. just plain joe Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:38 PM (#4659736)

I mean, I assume every major school has a pretty rigorous weight-lifting regimen. There's some ADs and coaches who need to be fired if not

.

I would not be surprised if every DI team had weight training for basketball players. Here the University of Evansville, a school with 2500 students that is an annual also ran in the MVC, just spent millions of dollars upgrading their athletic facilities. In theory all students have access to the weight room and the strength equipment but the vast majority of the time gets booked by the athletic teams.

478. Fear is Moses Taylor's Bacon Bits Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:40 PM (#4659737)

I don't know what I'd do with that many second round picks. Not enough roster space to keep most of them.

Take a bunch of foreign players and stash them. Hope to hit the jackpot with a few.

Maybe: I'll give you a second rounder if I can swap my #8 pick for your #7. Then the next guy, I'll give you a second rounder if I can swap my #7 pick for your #6. Rinse and repeat.

It's going to take a helluva lot more than 1 2nd round pick to move up in the first round this year, even one spot. More likely, they can use 2 2nd rounders to move up in the 2nd round, etc.

Don't they technically have to give something up? I don't see anything leaving Philadelphia.

After the Hawes deal (and before this one), the Sixers were over $11mil below the salary floor. They have a TON of cap room to use in these deals. They could probably take on a max deal without trading anything, if they wanted (and someone wanted to give a player away).

Hey, take Boozer. He'll put up numbers, but he won't really help you win.

479. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 02:44 PM (#4659742)

DEN sends Jordan Hamilton to HOU for Aaron Brooks.
Roger Mason sent with $ from MIA to SAC; they'll likely waive him.

480. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 20, 2014 at 03:17 PM (#4659773)

for those who don't remember (because why would you), this was the sixers 2nd round last year:

35: draft glenn rice jr.
trade glenn rice jr to washington for picks 38 and 54.
38: draft nate wolters
trade nate wolters to milwaukee for pick 43 and future 2nd round pick
42: draft pierre jackson
pierre jackson traded to new orleans in jrue holiday/nerlens noel deal
43: draft ricky ledo
trade ricky ledo to dallas for future 2nd round pick
54 draft arselan kazemi

481. Crispix reaches boiling point with lackluster play Posted: February 20, 2014 at 03:41 PM (#4659805)

So last year they started out with two picks, made five selections, and ended up with two future picks and Arselan Kazemi.

With five picks, they could draft 15 players, get five future picks, and get ten Arselan Kazemis!

482. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 03:47 PM (#4659813)

Seconds are nice chits - you could convert their haul into a first, no prob, if that's what you wanted to do.

483. Bitter Mouse Posted: February 20, 2014 at 03:47 PM (#4659815)

It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Not STEAGLES and Cripix, the idiot is the GM, churning and doing nothing. And yes I have seen similar years from my Wolves, just recently in fact..

484. jmurph Posted: February 20, 2014 at 03:58 PM (#4659831)

Are Phoenix and the Lakers seriously going to end the day without making the extremely obvious Okafor/Gasol deal?

485. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:00 PM (#4659836)

483/BM: Eh - it's not dumb when Morey does it.

Rumor: Antawn from LAC to ATL
JaVele out for year with surgery

486. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:09 PM (#4659844)

Not STEAGLES and Cripix, the idiot is the GM, churning and doing nothing. And yes I have seen similar years from my Wolves, just recently in fact..

i'm not a huge believer in what the sixers are doing, but things in hinkie's favor:
1, this is only year 1 for him, so it's not as if he's going on year 7 of a 3 year plan.
2, he cut bait with andrew bynum when a lot of people (including myself) would have doubled down.
3, he drafted MCW when a lot of people (including myself) were not fans of his.
4, he's willing to make bold, aggressive moves. that's not a good thing in and of itself, but it does leave open various doors.

487. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:09 PM (#4659845)

Moreover, Jordan Hill really ought to go somewhere.

488. Bitter Mouse Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:10 PM (#4659846)

483/BM: Eh - it's not dumb when Morey does it.

Well and San Antonio regularly finds great players in the second round (seemingly), but I still look at the second round as a wasteland. We judge reality by what we see, and when the Wolves do it it is truly Sound and Fury signifying nothing (except the occasional owner pay day, as the accumulate enough money to pay for buying out Rambis and sending him packing).

489. King Mekong Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:17 PM (#4659852)

Love the Daye De Colo trade for SA, they've been needing a useful backup SF and he has the potential to be one on a minimum salary contract.

490. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:18 PM (#4659853)

BYRON!!!

491. NJ in DC Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:35 PM (#4659858)

Woj just broke Granger to Philly.

492. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:35 PM (#4659859)

granger ¯\_(?)_/¯

493. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:36 PM (#4659861)

Top of the 2nd is more valuable than bottom of the first.

Acquiring Mullens = tanking.

494. JJ1986 Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:37 PM (#4659864)

Woj:

Philadelphia is sending Evan Turner as part of a package to the Pacers for Danny Granger, league source tells Yahoo Sports.

495. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:39 PM (#4659867)

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

(signed, a guy who couldn't trade turner from his fantasy team)
(co-signed, danny granger)

496. STEAGLES is all out of bubblegum Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:40 PM (#4659868)

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA 1 minute ago
Indiana has traded Danny Granger to the 76ers for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen, league sources tell Yahoo.

Dan Woike @DanWoikeSports 1 minute ago
Deals: Byron Mullens & future 2nd to PHI for conditional 2nd....Jamison and cash to ATL for draft rights to Cenk Akoyl.

497. Der-K: Hipster doofus Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:45 PM (#4659873)

It's Mullens + future 2nd = conditional 2nd. (which i imagine means nothing). Mullens has a cheap p-opt for next year.

498. King Mekong Posted: February 20, 2014 at 04:58 PM (#4659887)

There must be some picks heading to PHI right? Otherwise why make that trade.

edit: the Granger trade

499. outl13r Posted: February 20, 2014 at 05:03 PM (#4659890)

There must be some picks heading to PHI right? Otherwise why make that trade.

edit: the Granger trade

To get closer to/above the salary floor?

500. Crispix reaches boiling point with lackluster play Posted: February 20, 2014 at 05:03 PM (#4659892)

No not Lavoy! Come back Lavoy… Wait, he probably will be waived and come back.

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