The 2024-2025 NBA Season

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster

OKC got Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and four first-round pick swaps in exchange for a 29 year old Paul George.

Dallas received an injury prone Davis, who will be 32 in a few months, Max Christie and ONE first round pick for their 25 year old perennial MVP candidate that just led them to the finals last year.
 
I saw this come up online today, speaking of the Cavs

the best parallel would be if the Cavs coming off that 07 Finals run decided to trade LeBron for Kevin Garnett. That’s basically what just happened. Crazy
Jumpstarting the process of getting the three #1s in 4 years to lure Luka back home.
 

FRV4

Hall of Fame
I just realized Lakers will beat the Celtics if they play in the finals now which is likely. Looks like I’m holding onto my Tatum rookie auto for a few more years. If they went back to back I was about to make a bag
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
I just realized Lakers will beat the Celtics if they play in the finals now which is likely. Looks like I’m holding onto my Tatum rookie auto for a few more years. If they went back to back I was about to make a bag

Celtics won't be in the finals this year. Team is buns. Got content with one title.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
It really looked like we would have a dynasty there for a minute

Nah, I knew the Jays were not dynasty material. I am just happy Boston won at least once.

If they were dynasty material they'd have won before last year. Had plenty of chances to do it.

They waited too long to change the core up. Least they didn't wait til time ran out I guess.
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
I don’t care what the official Twitter reports say.

I believe LeBron ordered the code red.
I’m not even trying to defend him here, but why? They immediately get worse by losing their rim protection and roll man. Not only that, they add the one guy in the NBA who is lazier on defense than him and needs the ball even more. And that guy isn’t even healthy. I just don’t see the angle.

Luka is a down the road win for the Lakers. But LeBron is not a down the road player, he’s almost certainly retiring next year.
 

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
non sequitor. Why did Minnesota traide
I’m not even trying to defend him here, but why? They immediately get worse by losing their rim protection and roll man. Not only that, they add the one guy in the NBA who is lazier on defense than him and needs the ball even more. And that guy isn’t even healthy. I just don’t see the angle.

Luka is a down the road win for the Lakers. But LeBron is not a down the road player, he’s almost certainly retiring next year.
Rumor is that Doncic is up to around 270 lbs. Around the same weight as AD.

He may not play much D, but now he can be a bigger pick in the pick & roll. He can also roll more easily now... on the ground.
The scales are balanced in this trade.
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
I’m not even trying to defend him here, but why? They immediately get worse by losing their rim protection and roll man. Not only that, they add the one guy in the NBA who is lazier on defense than him and needs the ball even more. And that guy isn’t even healthy. I just don’t see the angle.

Luka is a down the road win for the Lakers. But LeBron is not a down the road player, he’s almost certainly retiring next year.
If I’m LeBron, I’m thinking:

“Hey Rob. Damn. I can play at a high level, but I just don’t have the legs to play 2-way for a whole playoff game anymore.

Give me a guy who can let me rest with my hands on my knees for 20 seconds at the start of each offensive posession. That will give me enough oxygen to play elite D in the fourth quarter of closeout games again.”
 

fundrazer

G.O.A.T.
Fox to the Spurs, Zach Levine to the Kings apparently
Yeah, just came here to post this. I guess Spurs needed someone who can create offense for himself, but I've never been sold on Fox. He's good for some points props every once in a while, but he's a fringe all star level player. (Also I know Fox has said he didn't plan to resign in SAC and that San Antonio was his preferred destination, but feel like they could have gotten someone better maybe)

Not sure what to make of the Lavine part of the deal.
 
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Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Difference between me and Kral is Kral changes his opinions based solely on wins/losses. I do not. I stay resolute, I still have the same opinion I had before they came back on the hospital/G League sixers. This team has played .500 ball for 2 straight months. Holiday looks old, Horford looks ancient. Porzingis is held together by gorilla glue and big league chew. The Jays are inconsistent. The 3's are not falling anywhere near the clip they were last year, nor is there any defensive intensity. Derrick White has regressed. Considerably.

Now there are some saving grace(s), like I don't think the East is that good besides Cleveland. And the West is largely unproven. Could they still go on a run? Sure.

Stop using the word 'dynasty' with the Jays though. I stick to what I said. If they wanted to be a dynasty, it would not have taken this long to get to 1. That is not even worthy of a discussion until they win again. If they win again.
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
Difference between me and Kral is Kral changes his opinions based solely on wins/losses. I do not. I stay resolute, I still have the same opinion I had before they came back on the hospital/G League sixers. This team has played .500 ball for 2 straight months. Holiday looks old, Horford looks ancient. Porzingis is held together by gorilla glue and big league chew. The Jays are inconsistent. The 3's are not falling anywhere near the clip they were last year, nor is there any defensive intensity. Derrick White has regressed. Considerably.

Now there are some saving grace(s), like I don't think the East is that good besides Cleveland. And the West is largely unproven. Could they still go on a run? Sure.

Stop using the word 'dynasty' with the Jays though. I stick to what I said. If they wanted to be a dynasty, it would not have taken this long to get to 1. That is not even worthy of a discussion until they win again. If they win again.
Tatum is still a top 5 player and they have the best defense in the league when they want. That window is still wiiiiide open
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
**** we missed out on Fox
Yeah, just came here to post this. I guess Spurs needed someone who can create offense for himself, but I've never been sold on Fox. He's good for some points props every once in a while, but he's a fringe all star level player. (Also I know Fox has said he didn't plan to resign in SAC and that San Antonio was his preferred destination, but feel like they could have gotten someone better maybe)

Not sure what to make of the Lavine part of the deal.
Who was available or somewhat possible that was better than Fox? (Sans Luka) I think his 3 ball is a little inconsistent but he’s still cracked
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Handwringing sandbagging and jinxing all over the place. NBA thread is back baby

Only Kral does that stuff. I say what I actually feel. Like Kral is not actually scared of the Warriors. We all know this.

I give the Celtics their props when they deserve it. Last year I erred on the side of caution because the Jays hadn't won anything yet. I simply haven't been impressed with them this year. I didn't expect them to destroy the league or anything in the regular season. But constantly being in dogfights with teams down several players is unacceptable to me.

I am an overly harsh critic of my teams, I won't deny that. Serves me well though. The math with sports is simple -- you will probably not end up the champion. It is extremely hard to win even one. I am grateful they won once. Really am. Having tempered expectations is always a good thing.

But anyone talking dynasty was crazy. We are a long way away from that being any type of discussion.

This team has a chance, but I have seen a lot of the bad habits that stopped them from winning for so long until last year crop back up. I had hoped with the departure of Smart, Williams squared, Brogdon etc. that it was gone for good. But no, not quite.
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
Only Kral does that stuff. I say what I actually feel. Like Kral is not actually scared of the Warriors. We all know this.

I give the Celtics their props when they deserve it. Last year I erred on the side of caution because the Jays hadn't won anything yet. I simply haven't been impressed with them this year. I didn't expect them to destroy the league or anything in the regular season. But constantly being in dogfights with teams down several players is unacceptable to me.

I am an overly harsh critic of my teams, I won't deny that. Serves me well though. The math with sports is simple -- you will probably not end up the champion. It is extremely hard to win even one. I am grateful they won once. Really am.

But anyone talking dynasty was crazy. We are a long way away from that being any type of discussion.
giphy.gif

Team is buns. Got content with one title.
Been still loling at that gif for like a day now so good dunno why it’s so funny
 

fundrazer

G.O.A.T.
**** we missed out on Fox

Who was available or somewhat possible that was better than Fox? (Sans Luka) I think his 3 ball is a little inconsistent but he’s still cracked
Spurs have the luxury of not having to make a move right now though.

Fox is not a good 3pt shooter, not even a good free throw shooter if I recall, not really a facilitator, and not a good defender (although he's gotten better).
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
giphy.gif


Been still loling at that gif for like a day now so good dunno why it’s so funny
That’s the only human reaction to being a Duke fan

Only Kral does that stuff. I say what I actually feel. Like Kral is not actually scared of the Warriors. We all know this.

I give the Celtics their props when they deserve it. Last year I erred on the side of caution because the Jays hadn't won anything yet. I simply haven't been impressed with them this year. I didn't expect them to destroy the league or anything in the regular season. But constantly being in dogfights with teams down several players is unacceptable to me.

I am an overly harsh critic of my teams, I won't deny that. Serves me well though. The math with sports is simple -- you will probably not end up the champion. It is extremely hard to win even one. I am grateful they won once. Really am. Having tempered expectations is always a good thing.

But anyone talking dynasty was crazy. We are a long way away from that being any type of discussion.

This team has a chance, but I have seen a lot of the bad habits that stopped them from winning for so long until last year crop back up. I had hoped with the departure of Smart, Williams squared, Brogdon etc. that it was gone for good. But no, not quite.
I just don’t believe in the Cavs, Bucks, Magic, Pacers, Knicks, etc. I mean the Knicks just got pieced up by a 40 year old last night. All they need to do is play well for one series.

But yeah it has been disappointing. Jaylen especially. He’s 10% more jacked but seemingly 10% worse at basketball
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
That’s the only human reaction to being a Duke fan


I just don’t believe in the Cavs, Bucks, Magic, Pacers, Knicks, etc. I mean the Knicks just got pieced up by a 40 year old last night. All they need to do is play well for one series.

But yeah it has been disappointing. Jaylen especially. He’s 10% more jacked but seemingly 10% worse at basketball
Jaylen Brown being worse at basketball is an antonym for disappointing
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
giphy.gif


Been still loling at that gif for like a day now so good dunno why it’s so funny

Is .500 basketball for 2 + months not buns? I don't need them to be the 1 seed or anything. I just need them to not be buns. With the talent they have, buns is a fair term for them. The excuse green teamers kept using was Porzingis being out. Well he's been back a long time now and they're still playing .500 ball.
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
Spurs have the luxury of not having to make a move right now though.

Fox is not a good 3pt shooter, not even a good free throw shooter if I recall, not really a facilitator, and not a good defender (although he's gotten better).
Agree with all except the last
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
Is .500 basketball for 2 + months not buns? I don't need them to be the 1 seed or anything. I just need them to not be buns. With the talent they have, buns is a fair term for them. The excuse green teamers kept using was Porzingis being out. Well he's been back a long time now and they're still playing .500 ball.
Yeah I wouldn’t really use buns to describe any defending champ who’s the #2 seed in their conference. Al Horford is like 1000 years old sure and Kornet and Hauser are memes but come on Jrue Holiday Derrick White Kristaps Porzingis Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum and even Payton Pritchard. I would love to definitively declare that 50% of those guys are irrelevant but I don’t think there’s a world where a squad like that is buns
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
It was almost 2 full months from today last year for the Celtics to hit the amount of losses they have this year. I definitely didn't expect a repeat performance, but didn't expect this many losses either. It would be one thing if it was against good teams. It usually is not.
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
It was almost 2 full months from today last year for the Celtics to hit the amount of losses they have this year. I definitely didn't expect a repeat performance, but didn't expect this many losses either. It would be one thing if it was against good teams. It usually is not.
Two 2pt games against the Pels are strongly arguing in your favor
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Yeah I wouldn’t really use buns to describe any defending champ who’s the #2 seed in their conference. Al Horford is like 1000 years old sure and Kornet and Hauser are memes but come on Jrue Holiday Derrick White Kristaps Porzingis Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum and even Payton Pritchard. I would love to definitively declare that 50% of those guys are irrelevant but I don’t think there’s a world where a squad like that is buns

It doesn't mean they are permanently buns, just that they have been buns for 2+ months. They are creating bad habits that I am not convinced you can just flip a switch for. Celtics aren't built like that. Cavaliers have had the flip switched all year. It's hard to catch up to that intensity.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Maybe the Celtics prove me wrong and prove they can sandbag and turn it on in the real games. I will admit I was wrong if that was the case. I definitely believe there is some sandbagging going on. I don't think they really care about seeding. And I don't either. But I would like to see some more thorough beatdowns of teams that should get them.
 

Better_Call_Raul

Hall of Fame
I don’t care what the official Twitter reports say.

I believe LeBron ordered the code red.
LeBron is not calling the shots here.

Nick Wright says his very trusted highly placed sources tell him that LeBron had no idea.

Sir Charles concurs and says this was a message from Lakers to LeBron: "While you are the star, we are looking to the future."

LeBron and AD are the most exciting attraction in the NBA. LeBron is not asking for that breakup.

The other mystery is whether Luka knew. There have been zero indications that Luka wanted out of Dallas. If that is the case, and even though it is probably a bad trade (AD is injury prone and erratic) you must tip your hat to Mavs for making a daring bold move that nobody on the planet expected.
 
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onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
On the Lakers, Luka is going to be like the big walnut in Plants vs Zombies. He will be a giant, immovable pick for Lebron James.

The extra weight he gained will be an assssset.
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
According to ESPN Research, the trade of Fox and LaVine means that four players averaging 20 points per game have now been traded by the deadline, the most before any deadline in NBA history.

This is also the first time that three players who had scored at least 10,000 career points with their previous franchise (Doncic, LaVine, Fox) changed teams midseason in a single season in NBA history.
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
weird that the Kings had to make the decision between Fox and Haliburton and eventually end up with neither
 
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