KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

TruePoint wrote:Draft is fixed. The NBA is trash.

Did anyone hear about this?

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/dikembe- ... 86171c8eea?

Yes, that's what I was referencing, or at least part of it.

I think it would be more of a story if a low-percentage team won the lottery.
He said the team with the highest odds would win it.
While interesting, I don't think it's a mega-story.
I, as well as everyone else, would have predicted that the 76ers probably win it.

Every top draft team landed exactly has they finished, what are the odds of that? Anyways, I heard Simmons doesn't wanna go to Philly, does he have a choice anyways? Lakers will take Ingram, who I think is the best player in the draft. Hopefully the Celtics get Murray or Hield, but honestly their best bet is to trade the pick away for a more experienced top player. Jimmy Butler? Cousins? We need a star in green.

Rhodymob05 wrote:Every top draft team landed exactly has they finished, what are the odds of that? Anyways, I heard Simmons doesn't wanna go to Philly, does he have a choice anyways? Lakers will take Ingram, who I think is the best player in the draft. Hopefully the Celtics get Murray or Hield, but honestly their best bet is to trade the pick away for a more experienced top player. Jimmy Butler? Cousins? We need a star in green.

Now that they've hired a new coach, I'd be surprised if Cousins is available, at least until the midway point. Likewise, I don't think Butler gets available unless things REALLY sour with the Bulls, or they lose their god damn minds. He's still young enough that he could be part of their next core of players, after they maybe have a worse year this year. I'd still try like hell if I'm Ainge to get either one, but man, it's depressing to again get pick #3 in what looks like a two-player draft.

re: Simmons, he doesn't really get a choice or going to Philly or not. The Sixers aren't going to panic like the Grizzlies did with Steve Francis years ago. I also think his agent will be able to sell him on the obvious benefits of being the new fish that saves Pittsburgh, I mean, Philadelphia... Philly has so many assets, plus cap room, that they can get in the playoff race fairly quick when they want to.

My Dunn call of months ago is going to come true.....best thing to a can't miss in the draft.

(unless we can pry Okafor away from Philly for the pic in which case sixers take both Simmons and Dunn)

Ingram is a stiff.....

I think Ingram will have more success than Simmons. Seems to be much more of a competitor.

hrstrat57 wrote:My Dunn call of months ago is going to come true.....best thing to a can't miss in the draft.

(unless we can pry Okafor away from Philly for the pic in which case sixers take both Simmons and Dunn)

Ingram is a stiff.....

I don't understand your line of thinking at all. You think Dunn is a can't miss, but you'd trade him for Okafor, who pretty much plays zero defense, could have character issues, and so far has played like the second coming of Al Jefferson? I'd rather just take someone at #3 than gamble on Okafor at this point, but I realize I'm more down on him than others.

Anybody watch the show on the '86 Celtics? Good stuff.

Pretty cool that the NBA draft commercials feature a great song by Dawes Band - "When my time comes"...one of many good ones by that group...and really fitting for the occasion.

I'll take Okafor above anyone in this draft.
Al Jefferson? He had some great years after he
left the Celtics.
Celtics haven't had a legitimate big man in years.
Brad Stevens can get though to Okafor, I'm sure.

Okafor is not a bad guy at all. He's a young man on an epically bad team who made a couple of poor decisions. He's more of an old school center who still has a lot of work to do on defense. The Sixers could likely get more for Noel.


And JR is a champion, and this interview is great-

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/6/20/1 ... n/11738113

There were a lot of rumors a few weeks ago about a Jeff Teague for Nerlens Noel swap ...
If you were Philly, would you want a player like Teague, or the #3 pick?
I tend to default to the player, especially one like Teague who has flashed the ability to be a fringe-All Star.
You'll get more upside from the pick but how long until that players reaches a comparable talent level?
Probably talking 2-3 years min.

rjsuperfly66 wrote:There were a lot of rumors a few weeks ago about a Jeff Teague for Nerlens Noel swap ...
If you were Philly, would you want a player like Teague, or the #3 pick?
I tend to default to the player, especially one like Teague who has flashed the ability to be a fringe-All Star.
You'll get more upside from the pick but how long until that players reaches a comparable talent level?
Probably talking 2-3 years min.

I'd much rather have the pick. You basically know what Teague is - an above average point guard available at a time when they're somewhat abundant in the NBA. The #3 pick could be a bust, but its most likely outcome is above-average NBA player, which is what Teague is. Like at #3, Dunn would be available barring a major shock at the top, and I'd rather roll the dice with Dunn than Teague.

Also, Atlanta doesn't have much trading leverage with Teague, since they have Schrodeur behind him and everyone knows they want to make a deal. I think a team could get him for a mid or even low-first round pick.

Noel or Okafor would be great for this team.

Tom Brady helping to recruit Durant....love it!

Horford signs with Celtics

I like it even if we don't get Durant but it certainly doesn't hurt our chances with him or other free agents next year.

Horford a good choice for coach Stevens offense....

I think Durant signs a one year contract with OKC, then signs with the Celtics next year. The Celtics still have the Nets 1st rounder next year and the Nets will probably be the worst team in the league. Still lots of assets. Still tons of cap room. They are set up to build a powerhouse. A very attractive option for Durant next year.

Summary of summer league performance.

http://www.celticsblog.com/2016/7/13/12 ... ment-98-94

I'm losing patience with these trade rumors, hurry up Danny!

Honestly at this point I would rather wait then get burned on a bad move.
IF getting someone like Westbrook only cost you 1 Brooklyn pick and maybe a lesser player, you can take that risk.
But how could you trade 3 or 4 major assets for 1 year?
And unlike any other sport, the odds of that making them a legit championship contender are still extremely small.
I would say the same thing about Griffin. He has a player option for 2018 that he would be stupid to pick up.
If he were to exercise that option, it makes it easier to make a bigger trade package but there is no way he would do that.
He can make $6 or $7 million more by going to free agency on a 1 year deal than picking up that option.
I know Felger and Mazz floated the idea, if you traded most of your assets for Westbrook-Griffin-Horford, would you do that?
As intriguing of a Big 3 as that would be, I would say no.
If you gut your roster and they leave after 1 year, you've set yourself back for a decade.
Legit, you would have no tradeable assets, no young players who could develop.
Just like the Sox, I'm not anti to trading any piece, you just have to make sure it's a good one, and in the NBA, that usually revolves more around control.

New season with pretty high expectations!

What a first game of the season for Anthony Davis
50 points, 16 rebounds, 7 steals, 5 assists, 4 blocks, 16-17 FTs
http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400899388

Do we need this thread AND a Celtics thread? Seems we can just have all NBA discussion in one thread, no?

Excited to see them get healthy, they looked pretty good last night but didn't have the depth to close out what should have been a comfortable finish. Things should get better when you slide everyone into more appropriate spots, I can't stand Jerebko but things look better with Olynyk in the picture and Smart is definitely a better alternative than the Brown/Green combo.

That's fine, merge if you like

Jaylen Brown has been fine so far, but that play in the last minute he definitely was too caught up in the moment.

It's so nice to watch a team where you know they have a good chance of winning on the road in OT. I was fairly confident the Celtics were going to win last night, despite being trained by URI to think that a tie game with 3 minutes left is an auto-loss.

"auto-loss"...GREAT term....

C's battling back from 20 down...great game

IT

29 4th qtr points

Yikes!

I love IT

A Celtic record and only two points short of Wilt's 4th quarter record of 31.

The NBA trade deadline is BRU-TAL

Did anyone else notice that...while we were away watching the NCAA's....Marcus Smart looks to have put on several lbs...?

Celtics are in trouble
The #1 Seed Celtics are now Down 2-0 to the 8th Seed Chicago Bulls. Next game 7pm in the United Center.

Regular season heroes,to playoff loser.
Lots of weaknesses exposed by a mediocre Bulls team.
Isiah Thomas is a great scorer, but how many points does he give up?
No real quality size or depth up- front.
No real second scorer.
No real power forward on the roster.
No rim protector. Bulls just go straight to the basket, all night.
Also, Brad Stevens seems to have made few adjustments in these
first two games.
Danny Ainge needs to pull the trigger on a big deal
this off season.
Guys like Ball and Fultz are not the answer to the
Celt's problems.

Stevens is 2-12 in playoff games

Celtics could be in deep trouble, assuming they don't come back this series.
Last season, there was plenty of plausible deniability.
Olynyk was hurt, missed much of the series.
Bradley was hurt, missed much of the series.
Crowder played, but had a bum ankle that limited his effectiveness.
Now, they've been hoarding these assets.
Afraid to bring in another star player, because they would gut all of these assets.
Figured they could wait it out, hope to get an overpayment with 1 or 2 players, and maybe a pick.
Pacers were smart, wanted 4 or 5 assets for Paul George, Celtics couldn't pull the trigger.
Now, down 0-2 in series, they lose this round, what value do any of the non IT assets have, besides the picks?
No way the C's could get that PG deal done, it would likely have to be both Nets picks + the best of the players.
What value could the Pacers or Bulls see in the lot of Smart, Bradley, Crowder, etc.?
Maybe some as a 6th, 7th, 8th man, but definitely don't see key piece, more like role piece.
This might box them in to the "slow" build process, where they have to keep and draft around IT.
Pray that the lottery hits twice, and that gives them the "Big 3."

Playoff basketball is a different animal......teams have to step up, and the Celtics aren't doing that.

Still too many holes to fill.

Also some teams [like the Cavs] mailed it in late to get healthy and ready for the postseason....I think Stevens is an excellent coach, but he still has more to learn when it comes to preparing his team to play this time of year.

Just hoping the Celtics don't make any panic moves because they went out in the 1st round. No matter what happened at the deadline they weren't getting past Cleveland.

I think the Celtics will make a major play for Paul George this offseason. There is the Ainge-Bird connection plus the inevitablilty of George leaving after the season.

No doubt the Celtics need some star power on their roster, but I think they made the right call to not make any huge moves, assuming they weren't blown away.

Ainge has made such lopsided trades in the Celtics favor the past few years that I think it's been increasingly hard for him to do business.

I'm growing increasingly confident the Cs will not make a play for PG. The concerns of him leaving after one season will make it very hard for them to put together an attractive package. They'd have to give up Smart, Bradley/Crowder, and 2017 1st just to start talks. Depending on this series, it may take more than that, although only have a year left drives down the price some. Think Butler is more realistic given his remaining term.

Neither George nor Butler solve their size, rebounding, or
rim protection problems.
I'd rather package for a Blake Griffin, who could provide
some needed muscle, rebounding and scoring,
not to mention a little star power.

I agree Rod but if you look at the big whose taken over in this series, it's been Robin Lopez whose on his 6th NBA team in 9 NBA seasons. Guys like him are out there to find, just have to be willing to invest in them which DA was not at the trade deadline. They also still have the 6'11 Zizic and the 6'8 Yabousele who played overseas this year. One anonymous GM made headlines in February for stating that he felt had Zizic come out this season, he would have been a Top 10 pick.

Rondo out indefinitely with fractured thumb....

Foregone conclusion.....Warriors and Cavs in the final. Celtics will likely win the Bulls series thanks to Rondo's injury.

He says he might play in game 6...but really it's his dominant hand, and one good whack by a Celtics defensive player and he's out, probably for good.

Broken bones don't heal in a week.

Larry Bird stepping down as President of the Indiana Pacers

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1926 ... ana-pacers