The NBA thread

[team filler]

[benjipwns]

Justin Trudeau should just run on having won an NBA championship

always forget how small the population is, had to check when the Raptors owner said this was for all the "36 million"

[team filler]

https://twitter.com/ThompsonScribe/status/1139385841166327810

[benjipwns]

as much as I'd like this Warriors run to be completely over if even just for a year I hope Klay will be fine by next season at the worst, Boogie's an interesting FA that nobody's really been talking about too... no Durant iso ball makes the Warriors more fun anyway

I want the Sixers to keep everybody and we run these three teams (plus Raptors and Bucks) back again at top of the East...plus Oladipo will be back! I like that four.

The Golden State Warriors came up short in the NBA Finals and saw superstar Kevin Durant suffer a serious injury, leaving a question mark on what's next for the Warriors' dynasty.

Yet, for now, the Warriors -- not the champion Toronto Raptors -- are the favorites to win next year's title.

Golden State, at +280, sits atop the odds to win the 2019-2020 NBA title at Caesars Sportsbook. The Los Angeles Lakers are next at +500, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks (+600) and LA Clippers (+600).

The Raptors, who topped the Warriors on Thursday in Game 6 to win the championship, are +1,000 to win next year's title.

2020 NBA Title Odds
TEAM   OPENING ODDS
Warriors   +280
Lakers   +500
Bucks   +600
Clippers   +600
Raptors   +1,000
Rockets   +1,000
76ers   +1,200
Celtics   +1,200
Knicks   +1,200

no Nuggets

[benjipwns]

Jonas Valanciunas, the No. 5 pick in 2011, became the centerpiece of the Marc Gasol deal -- Toronto's version of the 2004 Detroit Pistons' (perhaps the Raptors' closest analog as a convention-busting champion) Rasheed Wallace acquisition.

(Lowry in this analogy is Chauncey Billups -- the late-blooming star point guard. The Pistons even moved on from an accomplished coach in Rick Carlisle the year before their title run, and hired Larry Brown -- just as Toronto fired Casey and replaced him with Nick Nurse.)

[team filler]

as much as I'd like this Warriors run to be completely over if even just for a year I hope Klay will be fine by next season at the worst, Boogie's an interesting FA that nobody's really been talking about too... no Durant iso ball makes the Warriors more fun anyway

I want the Sixers to keep everybody and we run these three teams (plus Raptors and Bucks) back again at top of the East...plus Oladipo will be back! I like that four.

The Golden State Warriors came up short in the NBA Finals and saw superstar Kevin Durant suffer a serious injury, leaving a question mark on what's next for the Warriors' dynasty.

Yet, for now, the Warriors -- not the champion Toronto Raptors -- are the favorites to win next year's title.

Golden State, at +280, sits atop the odds to win the 2019-2020 NBA title at Caesars Sportsbook. The Los Angeles Lakers are next at +500, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks (+600) and LA Clippers (+600).

The Raptors, who topped the Warriors on Thursday in Game 6 to win the championship, are +1,000 to win next year's title.

2020 NBA Title Odds
TEAM   OPENING ODDS
Warriors   +280
Lakers   +500
Bucks   +600
Clippers   +600
Raptors   +1,000
Rockets   +1,000
76ers   +1,200
Celtics   +1,200
Knicks   +1,200

no Nuggets

no supersonics either

[eleuin]

 

[El Babua]

Would have loved to see game 7!

Congrats Raptors fans!

[agrajag]

congrats to lifelong Toronto Raptors fan Benji-sales

[team filler]

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1139404947940765698

[benjipwns]

Twitter's sports reporter blue checkmark medical experts seem to be confused between not knowing until after surgery and that it's a "good" kind of tear so he should be back not far into next season, hope it's that and he's not out for the year like Durant

hope Boogie comes back now and they do some Boogie-Curry fun for a few months, we will have never really seen a combo like that considering Boogie's ball handling and three point ability, not to mention it being a guard like Curry is

[team filler]

curry/boogie buddy comedy>>>>>>>>>>>>>championships

[benjipwns]

they should trade Durant's contract for Anthony Davis too

[team filler]

trade for bron

[Stoney Mason]

Woke up to news of Klay's acl injury. 

What a crazy year for both Klay and Durant to be free-agents and both with significant injuries. I can't remember something like this for such high profile players.

[BisMarckie]

Sounds like the Warriors literally just fell apart


Canadians showing they're the same trash as Americans

I'll never get American sports fans. They sit on their asses the whole game and barely make any noise. They have this embarassing stuff like cheerleading or other dance acts and teams blast music the whole game to get the crowd going.

But once their team won they think. "Hey! Let's loot this 7/11!"

[Akala]

Maybe in like Indiana 

[El Babua]

Feel bad for Klay and KD.

Even if the Warriors managed to pull through game 6, they would have gotten massacred in 7.

I dont see any other team in the East Kawhi should consider other than Toronto. His West options are a little more interesting .

[team filler]

benj got doxxxed

https://twitter.com/m_layton/status/1139714923087486976

[team filler]

https://twitter.com/MagicJohnson/status/1140042973435985920


https://twitter.com/RavineFiends/status/1140024528426299392

[Stoney Mason]

Fuck yeah!

[Stoney Mason]

I hate use the cliche but I think this is a good trade for both teams. The Lakers get a top three level talent to pair with Lebron. Davis is still only 26 so that's perfect for him to take the load as Lebron declines. Two of those level quality players should help attract good vets who are ring chasing for cheap.

For the Pelicans, they get to reset everything around Zion. Ingram was at times frustrating to watch, but he has a ton of talent. All ball needs to do is work on his shot and he can be a very good player. He already is a really good playermaker and defensive player. People sag off of him because the shot though. I think Hart is a good role player.

[jakefromstatefarm]

I feel oddly...good for both teams?

[Akala]

Aside from his shot I like Zos game. I still want to trade him on on draft night. 

The main issue is his dad without Bron being there to shut him down. He’s gonna Fucking flourish in NOLA. We have a history of history when it comes to colorful charlatans. 

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[team filler]

[TEEEPO]

nbastreams has been banned

[team filler]

 

[benjipwns]

starting a change.org petition to protest the tampering by LeBron and the Lakers

[benjipwns]

All-Star center Al Horford of the Boston Celtics will decline to exercise his $30.1 million option for the 2019-20 season and become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell ESPN.

Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Kawhi Leonard's offseason intentions lean more toward signing with the Clippers than the Lakers.

Feisty veteran guard Patrick Beverley is planning to grant the Dallas Mavericks a recruiting meeting at the June 30 opening of NBA free agency

LaVar Ball was condemned by ESPN for the comment he made to First Take host Molly Qerim Rose on the show on Monday. In a statement issued to USA TODAY and other outlets, a spokesperson for the network said: “LaVar Ball’s comment to Molly Qerim Rose was completely inappropriate and we made him aware of that.” Ball was making an appearance on the show when Qerim Rose said she wanted to “switch gears” and move on to another topic — to which Ball responded: “You can switch gears with me anytime.”

alright lets get nuts

[benjipwns]

The Washington Wizards are preparing to offer Toronto Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri a deal that could approach $10 million annually and deliver him the opportunity for ownership equity, league sources tell ESPN.

https://twitter.com/Rachel__Nichols/status/1141107803970363392

 

[Stoney Mason]

nbastreams has been banned

 

Good to see they have a policy on this but not on racism on the platform.

[benjipwns]

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded guard Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz for Grayson Allen, Kyle Korver and Jae Crowder, the 23rd pick in Thursday's draft and a future first-round pick, league sources told ESPN.

The Jazz will send a protected 2020 first-round pick to the Grizzlies, league sources told ESPN. That pick will convey as a late lottery pick in 2020 or 2021, or become a lightly protected pick from 2022 to '24.

[Akala]

Why is everyone saying Beal to Pels today?

I mean I’d take it. 4th pick seems a bit unsettled today too.

[benjipwns]

another blockbuster

The Milwaukee Bucks are trading guard Tony Snell and the 30th pick in Thursday's NBA draft to the Detroit Pistons for forward Jon Leuer, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

[benjipwns]

https://twitter.com/stephenasmith/status/1141680401855000577

[benjipwns]

Kevin Durant is reportedly down to deciding between the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors in free agency.

Sources close to both the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving believe they’re “close” to a done deal – if it’s not already done.

the Horford rumors seem to have him going to Dallas if Kawhi stays in Toronto, or joining him on Clippers

the Heat paid almost $2 million for one of the Hawks second rounders (#44)

[agrajag]

wow and Heat is trying to trade for J.R.? The Heat stay losing 

[benjipwns]

In the immediate aftermath of the Los Angeles Lakers’ trade for Anthony Davis this past weekend, just about everyone assumed that the deal would be structured in such a manner that they could add a third max-salaried superstar in free agency.

Except, when it comes to these Lakers, assumptions are extremely dangerous.

According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Lakers did not realize an accounting error that left them without max cap space until after they agreed to their trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then called back in an attempt to rectify the mistake.

As it stands now, the Pelicans have not relented. And why would they when doing so would hinder their own ability to build a competitive roster over the next month?

You see, the Lakers could have created $32.5 million in cap space — enough to sign a player with 7-9 years of NBA service to a max deal (i.e., Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, etc.) — if they negotiated July 30 as the trade completion date. That way, they could draft the No. 4 pick for New Orleans, sign him to a first-year salary of $8.2 million, wait the requisite 30 days to trade him, and then use his contract to match salaries in an even swap for Davis.

Waiting until July 30 complicates matters for the Pelicans, who would have less cap space of their own with which to pursue free agents. It also impacts their ability to add the No. 4 pick to their summer league roster or shop the pick to a third team.

Instead, the deal is scheduled to be completed when the moratorium is lifted on July 6, reportedly at the Lakers’ behest. In that scenario, they will absorb Davis’ contract into cap space and be left with $23.7 million to pursue free agents — less than the maximum salary for players of any experience (i.e., D’Angelo Russell).

What’s worse: The Lakers could have still created $27.8 million in cap space — enough to pursue a max-level player with up to six years of experience — if they insisted Davis decline a trade kicker that will increase his salary by $4.1 million. Except, according to Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck, they never bothered to ask.

The Lakers are now scrambling to create more cap space between now and the start of free agency. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, they are shopping the only players left on their roster not named LeBron or Kyle Kuzma — Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones — in an effort to shed more salary. Wagner was their first-round pick last year and showed some promise as a rookie.

[team filler]

 

[Joe Molotov]

The Lakers are now scrambling to create more cap space between now and the start of free agency. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, they are shopping the only players left on their roster not named LeBron or Kyle Kuzma — Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones — in an effort to shed more salary. Wagner was their first-round pick last year and showed some promise as a rookie.

I hope no teams are going to fall for these obviously made up names.

[Akala]

Nah

[team filler]

lebron writing the contracts now 

[benjipwns]

apparently the Cavaliers are going to just give J.R. Smith his salary to go away

[Brehvolution]

... and take the pipe with him.

[team filler]

https://www.facebook.com/MexicanAdamSchefterOfficial/videos/327519361495374/

happy pride month 

[Stoney Mason]

[team filler]

https://twitter.com/KwaniALunis/status/1143683506008203264

 

[team filler]

https://twitter.com/doesnt_o/status/1143756681706389505

 

[Stoney Mason]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27054891/rockets-eyeing-sign-trade-butler


https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1143906064779362306

[Stoney Mason]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27059802/sources-nba-talks-fewer-games-season-event

Cutting the season to like 70 games has made good sense for awhile for a number of reasons. Fuck the records. Nobody cares about records for the NBA in that way.

I've never understood this idea of a mid-season cup that makes any kind of sense though. Everybody mentions soccer but culturally basketball has no tradition for such a thing. I don't understand why anyone would care without adding some cheesy gimmick to it like how baseball did their all star game game with home field advantage in the past.

Also not a fan of that play-in game for the playoffs spots. The college basketball situation is nothing like the pro basketball season situation so trying to gimmick your way into fake heat from it doesn't work to me.

[Brehvolution]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27054891/rockets-eyeing-sign-trade-butler


https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1143906064779362306

Curious considering he won't play next season anyway. Why not take the money?

[Stoney Mason]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27066586/sources-celtics-front-runners-sign-kemba

[Stoney Mason]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27054891/rockets-eyeing-sign-trade-butler


https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1143906064779362306

Curious considering he won't play next season anyway. Why not take the money?

He will probably take the security of a long term deal. Especially now that he is injured. Teams will be willing to still give him a long term contract even with the injury so might as well take that security.

[Akala]

Yep, especially if he holds any sort of grudge with how it went down. I would lol.

I like Kemba to Celtics. Probably not enough to get them over Philly but good fit and they should be competitive. Predicting Kawhi leaves and Butler and Harris stay put, but we'll see. FA looking fun.

[benjipwns]

The Rockets going so hard after Butler seems insane. Especially since the Warriors might not be in their way at all this year.

Then you factor in that the testiness between Harden and Paul is simply rooted in that both feel more trusting in themselves having the ball, something that Butler's spent the last three years on three separate teams indicating he wouldn't help in the slightest.

[Akala]

They know they aren't built for the playoffs as it stands. 

[benjipwns]

The hell lineup is over, everybody's getting big again yet mobile. Seems absurd to dump somebody like Capela plus three other lineup guys (even if you can probably scrounge up slightly cheaper versions in the end) just to get another ball dominant wing.

The team just dumped Melo, MCW, James Ennis, Brandon Knight and Chriss, paying out first rounders to do it, at the deadline last year to get under the luxury tax. This would be dumping the other half of the roster and winding up facing the luxury tax!

[benjipwns]

Alternatively, they could look to trade DeRozan (perhaps for a reunion with Dwane Casey in Detroit, for the expiring deals of Reggie Jackson and Langston Galloway plus young shooter Luke Kennard and two future first-round picks)

fucccckkk no

[BisMarckie]

Bulls interested in Julius Randle.

That‘s what that team needs, another good but not great scorer who can‘t play defense.