2014 NBA Free Agency and Draft

[zelezo vlk]

...still don't see your point. Maybe I'm missing something.

I think he's saying that Melo screwed the Knicks over because he said he wanted to go there and told everybody that he only wanted to play for the Knicks. He then panicked after everyone realized the NBAPA would force a lockout and a new CBA. With the uncertainty behind what the new max salary contracts would be, he forced a trade to NY during the season so he could sign an extension before the CBA. The trade gutted NY.

K Love is not the same situation because he's a Cali boy and it is very much a possibility he goes to the Lakers or really anywhere else with the cap room. He's not a lock to go to Cleveland.

 

[gkIrish]

...still don't see your point. Maybe I'm missing something.

Melo could have just outright signed with the Knicks the following season for the max without the Knicks losing anything they weren't already going to lose to free agency. The Cavs are going to have to trade young pieces to sign Love as I outlined in my previous post.

Additionally that trade was made at the halfway point of the season IIRC so it made even less sense to trade a bunch of young players for half a season's worth of one player. The Cavs should make the trade now and allow KLove & Lebron to develop chemistry.

 

[gkIrish]

I think he's saying that Melo screwed the Knicks over because he said he wanted to go there and told everybody that he only wanted to play for the Knicks. He then panicked after everyone realized the NBAPA would force a lockout and a new CBA. With the uncertainty behind what the new max salary contracts would be, he forced a trade to NY during the season so he could sign an extension before the CBA. The trade gutted NY.

K Love is not the same situation because he's a Cali boy and it is very much a possibility he goes to the Lakers or really anywhere else with the cap room. He's not a lock to go to Cleveland.

Said it better than I tried to.

That might actually get Ray Allen though, no?

Yeah maybe. But Ray Allen was a shell of himself last season. I meant the 2012 Ray Allen in my previous post.

 

[tussin]

Yeah except the Heat didn't have a point guard worth mentioning. Kyrie fits the Dwade role. The Cavs need a Ray Allen.

I don't see Kyrie as a DWade comp and Love certainly is not Ray Allen (who was an underrated defender throughout his career). Kyrie is a Chalmers on steroids. He will play as a really good point guard with scoring ability. Wiggins is an uber-athletic slasher with the ability to become a better shooter than Wade ever was.

Interestingly, the best Heat team of the past 4 years was the one that swept OKC. If you remember, that team had a core of uber-athletic guys (with shooters plugged in as role players) and was built on super defense and fast break ability. Where does Love fit into that equation?

 

[tussin]

Yeah maybe. But Ray Allen was a shell of himself last season. I meant the 2012 Ray Allen in my previous post.

Ray Allen's 2013/14 stats were actually very similar to the 2012/13 season. Either way, he was a role player in both seasons.

 

[gkIrish]

I don't see Kyrie as a DWade comp and Love certainly is not Ray Allen (who was an underrated defender throughout his career). Kyrie is a Chalmers on steroids. He will play as a really good point guard with scoring ability. Wiggins is an uber-athletic slasher with the ability to become a better shooter than Wade ever was.

Interestingly, the best Heat team of the past 4 years was the one that swept OKC. If you remember, that team had a core of uber-athletic guys (with shooters plugged in as role players) and was built on super defense and fast break ability. Where does Love fit into that equation?

2012 SPURS >>> 2011 Thunder. Kevin Love does everything Chris Bosh but better. In case you didn't notice, Bosh just spots up outside the post on every offensive play.

 

[zelezo vlk]

2012 SPURS >>> 2011 Thunder. Kevin Love does everything Chris Bosh should've done but better. In case you didn't notice, Bosh just spots up outside the post on every offensive play.

FTFY. K Love is a great 3 point shooter and can swallow up the boards, but Bosh is a better defender and can play small ball 5, which I don't think K Love can do. Love is also a good passer for a big man.

 

[woolybug25]

I don't see Kyrie as a DWade comp and Love certainly is not Ray Allen (who was an underrated defender throughout his career). Kyrie is a Chalmers on steroids. He will play as a really good point guard with scoring ability. Wiggins is an uber-athletic slasher with the ability to become a better shooter than Wade ever was.

Interestingly, the best Heat team of the past 4 years was the one that swept OKC. If you remember, that team had a core of uber-athletic guys (with shooters plugged in as role players) and was built on super defense and fast break ability. Where does Love fit into that equation?

I feel like you are undervaluing Love. The guy is a better player than Ray Allen by a large margin. Ray Allen is on the verge of retirement, Love is an all star in the prime of his career. Shoot... even Allen's best attribute, the 3 ball, Love shot twice the attempts and was the same % of accuraty last year. Love shot 505 shots from behind the line and Allen shot 309 attempts both for 38%. So I am not sure what you mean by the Love/Allen comparison. Not to mention they play different positions.

Wade can't stay healthy, period. So right now... I would personally take Kyrie over Wade today as well.

 

[tussin]

Melo could have just outright signed with the Knicks the following season for the max without the Knicks losing anything they weren't already going to lose to free agency. The Cavs are going to have to trade young pieces to sign Love as I outlined in my previous post.

Additionally that trade was made at the halfway point of the season IIRC so it made even less sense to trade a bunch of young players for half a season's worth of one player. The Cavs should make the trade now and allow KLove & Lebron to develop chemistry.

True. They will have to get rid of pieces either way, but if they wait it out it won't be Wiggins and it might not be Bennett either.

Regardless of the motive, it's still similar to the Knicks/Melo scenario. A trade results in gutting the depth and youth of the team. All of their young guys are gone. I highly doubt that Love is going to sign with the Lakers over the Cavs. No one is going to turn down the chance to play with LBJ to sign with the Lakers and play with no one.

The Warriors are the only threat to the trade going away and all indications are that they absolutely refuse to include Thompson in any discussions (lol). The TWolves also won't make that trade until they are absolutely sure that Wiggins is off the table. So the Cavs still hold all the cards.

I disagree with your second point. LBJ can play with anyone at any time. He's not a ball stopper like Melo. The Cavs chemistry won't be disrupted if the trade happens midway though the year.

 

[gkIrish]

Tussin and other people that don't want to trade Wiggins:

It just surprises me that you don't want to go for the title this season considering Lebron isn't actually signed after next season. Wiggins might be a better player down the road than KLove but it's impossible to argue Wiggins > KLove now. Even if you told me that Wiggins would eventually be a top 15 player three years down the road, I think I would still make the trade if it meant I would be the favorite in the East.

 

[tussin]

I feel like you are undervaluing Love. The guy is a better player than Ray Allen by a large margin. Ray Allen is on the verge of retirement, Love is an all star in the prime of his career. Shoot... even Allen's best attribute, the 3 ball, Love shot twice the attempts and was the same % of accuraty last year. Love shot 505 shots from behind the line and Allen shot 309 attempts both for 38%. So I am not sure what you mean by the Love/Allen comparison. Not to mention they play different positions.

Wade can't stay healthy, period. So right now... I would personally take Kyrie over Wade today as well.

I didn't mean to say that Allen is better than Love. I agree Love is much better. I just meant that they are completely different types of players. I didn't initially make that comparison, GKIrish did (or at least he insinuated it by saying the need a Ray Allen type).

 

[gkIrish]

I didn't mean to say that Allen is better than Love. I agree Love is much better. I just meant that they are completely different types of players. I didn't initially make that comparison, GKIrish did (or at least he insinuated it by saying the need a Ray Allen type).

I said they need a SG like Ray Allen rather than a SG like Wiggins. I'm not comparing Klove to a SG.

 

[tussin]

Tussin and other Cavs fans that don't want to trade Wiggins:

It just surprises me that you don't want to go for the title this season considering Lebron isn't actually signed after next season. Wiggins might be a better player down the road than KLove but it's impossible to argue Wiggins > KLove now. Even if you told me that Wiggins would eventually be a top 15 player three years down the road, I think I would still make the trade if it meant I would be the favorite in the East.

Disclosure: I'm not a Cavs fan, just enjoy playing GM like all of you.

Re: LBJ not being signed. He has no intention of leaving. He didn't sign long term because of the impending new TV contract which will increase max contracts in 2 or so years.

I'm not arguing that Wiggins is better than Love. In a vacuum, Love is better.

1) Make trade now. Sacrifice Wiggins, other depth, and picks for Love. You have a great team no doubt but again, you have no depth and no first round picks. What happens when Kyrie and/or Love get hurt? Both don't have a track record of health.

2) Hold off on trade / hope to sign Love in offseason. Get to evaluate the current team and see how Lebron plays with all the young guys. Maybe one of them turns into a stud. Could LBJ turn Waiters into a Wade type player? Probably not, but he did make Mo Williams an All-Star. Wiggins could turn into a Scottie Pipper type guy. Shit, even Bennett could end up amazing. Is LBJ and Waiters, Wiggins, Thompson, and Bennett better than LBJ and Love? Maybe. So let it play out half a season and see what you have.

 

[tussin]

I said they need a SG like Ray Allen rather than a SG like Wiggins. I'm not comparing Klove to a SG.

I think Wade-style SG is way more important to the Lebron's teams than Ray Allen (who only started 9 regular season games as Heat player).

 

[woolybug25]

I think Wade-style SG is way more important to the Lebron's teams than Ray Allen (who only started 9 regular season games as Heat player).

I don't. I think Lebron has always been more concerned about having a perimeter guy he can kick to and that can kick it inside to him as well. Miller is that guy, imo.

 

[tussin]

I don't. I think Lebron has always been more concerned about having a perimeter guy he can kick to and that can kick it inside to him as well. Miller is that guy, imo.

What's harder to get? You can address outside shooting every year via free agency. Wades don't grow on trees.

 

[sparkyND]

The window of opportunity will eventually close for Lebron, just maybe not in the immediate future. K-Love would be fantastic for the Cavs in their pursuit of championships given Lebron is in his prime. The trade for K-Love, even if the team has to give up Wiggins, makes a lot of sense given the style of play and Lebron's desire to play with him. Again, proven commodity trumps any and all potential. Wiggins is a highly touted prospect but he remains just that, a prospect who has yet to play a single game in the NBA. Maybe Wiggins is the second coming of MJ. But we've heard a lot of players being touted as the next MJ who've had respectable careers but never reached that level.

Having said that it makes no sense for the Cavs to trade Wiggins for Love if Love does not agree to an extension beforehand. They're risking too much here and I do believe Love is favorable to an extension with Cleveland because of the Lebron factor there; get paid and be in a position to win championships. What more can a pro athlete ask for.

Lebron's wishes/desire to play with Love matters only to the point of team chemistry and on-court play. GM definitely has to consider other factors such as team payroll and how it will affect the team not just the upcoming season but future seasons as well. He will always have the organization's best interest at heart.

My question is, how much influence does David Blatt have in this matter? He's been awfully quiet regarding trades and what type of players he wants for his system. Some coaches have more say in this matter than others, ex. Pop or Van Gundy.

 

[irishfan]

What happened to the Celtics? Weren't they in this as well. Just offering first rd picks instead of players?

Ya, Celtics have 9 first round picks over the next 4 years so they've certainly got the Cavs and the Warriors beat there. However, they don't have a prospect like a Wiggins or a Klay Thompson to offer, which is what the Wolves want. The Wolves don't want to trade for picks and developmental guys or role players.

If the Warriors and Cavs are unwilling to give up Thompson and Wiggins, then I bet he ends up going to Celtics. Apart from Rondo (who I don't think they'll trade ever) they've got 4 solid players (Bradley, Green, Sullinger, Olynyk) and two recent 1st rounders (Smart/Young) plus the future picks. They can't give up a bonafide star like a Wiggins or Thompson but they can offer a great deal.

 

[NDinL.A.]

What happened to the Celtics? Weren't they in this as well. Just offering first rd picks instead of players?

Yeah, they're not giving enough.

 

[Buster Bluth]

If the Warriors and Cavs are unwilling to give up Thompson and Wiggins, then I bet he ends up going to Celtics. Apart from Rondo (who I don't think they'll trade ever) they've got 4 solid players (Bradley, Green, Sullinger, Olynyk) and two recent 1st rounders (Smart/Young) plus the future picks. They can't give up a bonafide star like a Wiggins or Thompson but they can offer a great deal.

The part not being factored in with that scenario is, does Love want to go to Boston? He effectively had a no-trade clause.

My position is that it's silly to trade Wiggins for Love if Love wants to come to Cleveland. He's expressed interest in teaming up with Lebron. He is a west coast guy, so Golden State does worry me, but Boston doesn't unless there is something I don't know.

For the Cavs, having love in addition to the three-headed backcourt monster of Irving/Wiggins/James is just a home run team. That team wins not one, not two, etc etc. They're just way too close to assembling that to blink.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"I’m white. I’m short. Other people can do what I do." - Aaron Craft on why he's disliked (via <a href="https://twitter.com/SherwoodStrauss">@SherwoodStrauss</a>)

<a href="http://t.co/10XmRInWeb">http://t.co/10XmRInWeb</a></p>— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/statuses/490169705890844672">July 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Well when you put it that way

 

[irishog77]

I can't envision any scenario through trade or free agency where Love ends up in Boston.

 

[gkIrish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"I’m white. I’m short. Other people can do what I do." - Aaron Craft on why he's disliked (via <a href="https://twitter.com/SherwoodStrauss">@SherwoodStrauss</a>)

<a href="http://t.co/10XmRInWeb">http://t.co/10XmRInWeb</a></p>— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/statuses/490169705890844672">July 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Well when you put it that way

Omg this is the most stupid comment I've ever seen. Ohio State fans loved him BECAUSE he was short and white. Dude was the most overrated player in college basketball the last few years IMO. Can't shoot. Turns the ball over way too much. He would miss 2 out of 5 free throws in the last 2 minutes and then hit a shot to tie it that wouldn't have even been there if he didn't miss the free throws. This happened all the time (I watched almost all their games).

 

[Grahambo]

The part not being factored in with that scenario is, does Love want to go to Boston? He effectively had a no-trade clause.

My position is that it's silly to trade Wiggins for Love if Love wants to come to Cleveland. He's expressed interest in teaming up with Lebron. He is a west coast guy, so Golden State does worry me, but Boston doesn't unless there is something I don't know.

For the Cavs, having love in addition to the three-headed backcourt monster of Irving/Wiggins/James is just a home run team. That team wins not one, not two, etc etc. They're just way too close to assembling that to blink.

I could be way off but I don't think they'd have the cap room for him if they wait? So ideally, yeah, that's what I'd do. Don't do what the Knicks did and panic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lakers waiving guard Kendall Marshall, but have interest in bringing him back on a new deal if he clears waivers, league sources tell Yahoo.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/490191364488167424">July 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Free agent guard Xavier Henry is nearing agreement on a 1-year deal to return to the Lakers, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/490192348538621952">July 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[sparkyND]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Free agent guard Xavier Henry is nearing agreement on a 1-year deal to return to the Lakers, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/490192348538621952">July 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I have no clue as to what the Lakers are trying to do this season. Not really tanking and not really trying to win either. Sure they will have a lot of salary cap after this season but that is about it I think. Wonder what Kobe thinks of all this.

 

[ResLife Hero]

I have no clue as to what the Lakers are trying to do this season. Not really tanking and not really trying to win either. Sure they will have a lot of salary cap after this season but that is about it I think. Wonder what Kobe thinks of all this.

Yeah, as a Lakers' fan, I'm confused as hell. This tweet about summed it up for me:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>There is a greater than 0 chance that the Lakers are making decisions using a psychic clam right now</p>— J. D. Hatings (@basquiatball) <a href="https://twitter.com/basquiatball/statuses/490192251406925824">July 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[irishog77]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lakers waiving guard Kendall Marshall, but have interest in bringing him back on a new deal if he clears waivers, league sources tell Yahoo.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/490191364488167424">July 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Don't understand this at all. He was one of only a couple players on that roster that made sense, money-wise.

But I guess if you're going to pay something like $25 million for Nash and Lin, then they need to find savings somewhere.

Does anybody know how much the Lakers are picking up on The Booze's contract?

 

[ResLife Hero]

Don't understand this at all. He was one of only a couple players on that roster that made sense, money-wise.

But I guess if you're going to pay something like $25 million for Nash and Lin, then they need to find savings somewhere.

Does anybody know how much the Lakers are picking up on The Booze's contract?

$3.25M

Carlos Boozer to join Los Angeles Lakers - ESPN Los Angeles