NBA 2020-2021 - v. 2021 Finals: Milwaukee and Giannis rule the basketball world

[black_biff_stadler]

I'm curious to see what it'll look like in the 2021 playoffs if we can get a matchup between the possibly recovered Warriors and the now-gelled and reigning champ Lakers.

[T-ski]

Bucks completely overpaid to acquire Jrue Holiday.

I don’t know in what world Holiday is three 1st round picks better than Eric Bledsoe and George Hill.

[Nekov]

Bucks completely overpaid to acquire Jrue Holiday.

I don’t know in what world Holiday is three 1st round picks better than Eric Bledsoe and George Hill.

I agree that they overpaid, but Holiday runs miles around both Bledsoe and Hill. He is a floor general who can generate plays for himself and others and is quite good on defense as well. The Bucks needed someone who could take the ball out of Giannis' hands and actually run plays. The starting lineup for the next year looks great with him and Bogdanovic, though I don't know what they will have left on the bench.

[Samsara]

Bucks completely overpaid to acquire Jrue Holiday.

I don’t know in what world Holiday is three 1st round picks better than Eric Bledsoe and George Hill.

Well, they weren't paying for JUST Holiday. They were paying to convince Giannis to stay. It's the message "we're going to do everything to give you the best team" so he signs the supermax (I think he's eligible, right?) with them.

For Holiday alone, yeah, that's too much. But for the Bucks' situation, I get it.

Being a fan of a small market team myself, I'm not sure how Milwaukee is going to afford to keep everyone though. I didn't look up their cap numbers, but it seems to me that they are going to be cap busted the moment Giannis signs. I just don't think it's feasible to have three top-tier salary players and still have a really good roster. Not for teams like Milwaukee and Minnesota.

The Wolves flirted (pre-Disney Bubble) with thinking about adding Devin Booker. But in retrospect, it was smart they didn't try (obviously he's no longer available). I just don't think they can afford three max deals and still field a roster that can win consistently. They simply don't make enough money to justify paying the repeater tax over and over again from going over the cap. And no one is going to choose to come play with DLo and KAT for the minimum. Neither will they do it for Giannis. You have to win first before you have that Lebron or KD pull.

I think the key for the smaller market teams is to get two max guys, and then stockpile assets, draft wisely, and see if you can develop young talent you can control for a while (hoops fans, remember the names Naz Reid and Jordan McLaughlin). Here's hoping my Wolves do something great tonight.

I'm so on the fence now regarding Ball and Edwards. I hate what I am reading about Edwards. And I just don't LIKE Ball.

[T-ski]

The Bucks are definitely all in right now, and yes, they don’t make this trade without the knowledge Giannis is signing long term.

They have to know Jrue is willing to extend because if he bails on them after this season (has a player option for 21-22) they’ve put themselves in a really bad spot even with Giannis in tow. If/when Jrue extends they will have very little in terms of cap space so it’ll be vets looking for a ring on the minimum to play with this core.

Excited for the draft, I usually have some friends over and make a night of it as I’m that big of a dork, but alas, Covid ruins another thing.

[dparrott]

Official season start date is Dec. 22

[Samsara]

Very pleased with the Timberwolves draft.

Edwards was the right choice. Fingers crossed he won't be Wiggins pt. 2. But as a 6-5, 230 lbs., bruiser who can score on anyone, he's exactly the scoring machine we need as a third option. And his defensive promise will be great.

Getting Rubio for our 17th pick rights a wrong. Rubio could never shoot, but he's better now, and a ball wizard as every Wolves fan knows. He has a great rapport with Coach Saunders and KAT, and will be a great backup to DLo if he gets injured. They can also play together, which will be valuable in Saunders' system.

I don't know much about Leandro Balmoro, but word is he's a ball handling wizard and great defensive wing. At 6-7, he's tall and versatile. I think that's great value at pick 23 that should blossom into a rotation player.

Jaden McDaniels is a project at pick 28. But he's a 6-10 forward who is going to put on weight (he's only listed at 200 lbs). He can already handle the ball well, which is a trend you see with the Timberwolves right now. Saunders loves multiple ballhandlers on the floor. But if his frame fills out, we could have a really versatile F in the years to come.

Overall, I give the TWolves draft (including the trade to re-acquire Rubio), an A-/B+ grade. We added great ball handlers and passers, got our third scoring option, and slightly improved our defensive ability. All pluses. On the downside, the team  has no real power forwards. Rumor is, James Johnson is going to OKC in the Rubio deal, to make the salaries match. We literally have no other PFs on the roster except Naz Reid (a budding PF/C combination that is essentially KAT's backup and almost a complete copy of his skill set at Center).

So we haven't addressed our very big need at the 4. And we still need to get better shooting and defense.

Rumor has it we're looking at bringing Lauri Markkanen home. Stupid Thibs, when he made the Butler trade, traded that pick and Lavine to the Bulls for Butler. Well, Markkanen is a 7-ft power forward who has range for days. Would be great next to KAT. But I've heard nothing but a rumor at this point.

So we need to address the Power Forward position.

Final Grade - somewhere between A-/B+

[Nekov]

I don't know much about Leandro Balmoro, but word is he's a ball handling wizard and great defensive wing. At 6-7, he's tall and versatile. I think that's great value at pick 23 that should blossom into a rotation player.

He still needs a little development, specially on the physical side, but he is a fantastic prospect. I've read that you guys will let him stay at least one more year in Barcelona which should be great for him.

[Samsara]

I don't know much about Leandro Balmoro, but word is he's a ball handling wizard and great defensive wing. At 6-7, he's tall and versatile. I think that's great value at pick 23 that should blossom into a rotation player.

He still needs a little development, specially on the physical side, but he is a fantastic prospect. I've read that you guys will let him stay at least one more year in Barcelona which should be great for him.

I'm glad you're familiar with him. Good to hear someone else who knows ball thinks he's promising. I agree, another year with Barcelona will help him gain strength for sure. Plus, with no G-League likely this year (which is where I thought they may send him), it makes sense to let him play another year with Barcelona.

[T-ski]

The trade/no trade of Bogdan Bogdanovic is the most bizarre thing ever and is so Milwaukee Bucks.

[jingle.boy]

Yay! VanVleet is a Raptor for four more years.

[dparrott]

Heat, Nets and Hornets are all doing a decent job.  Should be an interesting east!

[jingle.boy]

Nets are gonna have helluva talented team, that’s for sure. Can they gel tho??

[TAC]

Nets are gonna have helluva talented team, that’s for sure. Can they gel tho??

Why, who'd they get?

[King Postwhore]

C's just signed Tristian Tompson.

[TAC]

Yay, now we gotta look at the Kardashians courtside.

[TAC]

C's just signed Tristian Tompson.

And Jeff Teague. An upgrade over Brad Wannamaker.

[King Postwhore]

I was just going to point this out. Rumor has it Hayward trade to Charlotte can still happen. 

[jingle.boy]

Nets are gonna have helluva talented team, that’s for sure. Can they gel tho??

Why, who'd they get?

Nothing new, just stating the obvious.

[King Postwhore]

Tim, you do know the 2 players that are healthy for them this year?  Chad is right. Can they put it together minus egos?

[T-ski]

$30M a year for Hayward is awful.

Come back in two years and tell me I’m wrong.

[Samsara]

C's just signed Tristian Tompson.

And Jeff Teague. An upgrade over Brad Wannamaker.

Negative. Have you watched Teague the last few years? He went from an All Star PG four or five years back with the Hawks, to a PG who literally over-dribbles and then drives into traffic instead of passing to open guys for shots. I was a huge fan of the Wolves bringing in Teague. And then I watched him play every game. 

Teague is exactly what you DON'T WANT if you want an offense predicated on ball movement.

[Samsara]

$30M a year for Hayward is awful.

Come back in two years and tell me I’m wrong.

Agreed. Although as the market showed, everyone wants shooting. Smart financial move on Hayward's part. Surprised he got 30/year. I figured he'd decline his 34 mil option, and then get a three year deal for 60. I was off on that for sure.

[King Postwhore]

C's just signed Tristian Tompson.

And Jeff Teague. An upgrade over Brad Wannamaker.

Negative. Have you watched Teague the last few years? He went from an All Star PG four or five years back with the Hawks, to a PG who literally over-dribbles and then drives into traffic instead of passing to open guys for shots. I was a huge fan of the Wolves bringing in Teague. And then I watched him play every game. 

Teague is exactly what you DON'T WANT if you want an offense predicated on ball movement.

They needed a vet backup when they sit the starters for a bit. No big minutes for him.

[TAC]

C's just signed Tristian Tompson.

And Jeff Teague. An upgrade over Brad Wannamaker.

Negative. Have you watched Teague the last few years? He went from an All Star PG four or five years back with the Hawks, to a PG who literally over-dribbles and then drives into traffic instead of passing to open guys for shots. I was a huge fan of the Wolves bringing in Teague. And then I watched him play every game. 

Ok, then it's be my turn this year.

Wanamaker was a fine player but he really didn't add anything to this team.

[Samsara]

Tim,

https://larrybrownsports.com/basketball/karl-anthony-towns-frustrated-jeff-teague/527672

Teague is the blur in the middle of two defenders, with Towns continuing to clap his hands for the ball as Teague drove into the double-team. Pretty much sums Teague up.

[TAC]

I can't open it for some reason on this ancient laptop I'm using, but I get it. We'll see what happens.


Teague will likely be laying second unit, where Wanamaker really had no impact on the game.

[Azyiu]

AD has finally agreed to a 5-year $190M max deal

Meanwhile, I think the RW for Wall trade is a do nothing trade. Neither team really get better, but it was sort of necessary since both players are so unhappy with their $hit-uation. 

[Samsara]

Yep on AD. A formality. Not sure if all the details of that contract are public yet, but I'd be curious to know when the "out" for him is in the contract. I am going to guess the same time as LBJ. I know LBJ just signed a two-year extension, but all these guys have outs built in.

I actually like the Westbrook-Wall trade for both teams. Washington gets Westbrook, a future Hall of Famer who will make a dynamic pair with Beal, and reunites Westbrook with Coach Brooks. Beal, for the first time in two years, won't have to shoulder the entire load, and that Wizards team is better than most people think. I can see them as the 5 seed in the East, and one that could very easily advance in the playoffs. And all it cost them was a former All Star PG who has been out of basketball due to injury for two years, and a first round pick. Smart move by the Wizards.

Houston gets back the shorter supermax deal and guaranteed money (which is all you can hope for on those supermax things -- get the one that has the least years left on it) and a former all star PG in Wall who is now fully healthy and has something to prove. If he has a great comeback year (and I think he will - 18 ppg, 9apg), he becomes more tradeable after this season as a rental to a team. AND Houston grabs another first round pick, which is needed after they traded a lot of their picks.

Win-win, as far as I can see.

[T-ski]

The Russ/Wall trade is a wash. The contracts are equally bad, the pick Houston gets is very minor compensation in case Wall isn’t able to perform post injury. It’s nothing more than a change of scenery move.

[MinistroRaven]

Yep on AD. A formality. Not sure if all the details of that contract are public yet, but I'd be curious to know when the "out" for him is in the contract. I am going to guess the same time as LBJ. I know LBJ just signed a two-year extension, but all these guys have outs built-in.

"Davis’ deal includes an early termination clause prior to the fifth year"

Source: https://www.nba.com/news/anthony-davis-to-re-sign-with-lakers-on-5-year-deal

[Azyiu]

While we are on AD and LeBron... LeBron is going to give up #23 for AD, and he will wear #6 going forward.

[TAC]

This way he gets two numbers retired by the Lakers just like Kobe.....



And I see Kyrie wasted no time being a douche on media day. Good luck Nets!

[Azyiu]

Not exactly. When AD came to the Lakers before last season LeBron had planned on giving him #23 and going back to #6 (which he wore in MIA) but Nike wouldn't allow it for business reasons. Not a Kobe thing initially, but whatever the case his numbers going to be retired wherever he plays, I guess? 

[black_biff_stadler]

Lebron should just wear a different number every game, get them all retired, and troll the teams he plays for by making them have to resort to using letters, hieroglyphs, or some other system of characters to "number" their jerseys.