hootie249

This!!!! All these years after LeBron left. They have made some good decisions and some bad ones. However they do 3 things we didn't do for years. They try to move on from mistakes as quickly as possible. They get shooters,even if those guys are undrafted. They make adjustments,Duncan isn't hitting someone else goes in.Player can't guard a traffic cone? Gone.

The big thing to note...if we move up, besides Victor every high level pick needs the ball in their hands. It could be a problem moving forward if it happens. Scoot,Amen,Miller some of the biggest names in the top ten like Whitmore and Black. They need the ball. It's why if you really believe in our current players i think lucking into Hendricks and Cason would be amazing, if we are keeping them all 4 cheap rookie years. If you are best player available getting Scoot,Amen or Miller could send us into super team mode. Getting Wembanyama would still be best as that would catapult us into Shaq/Penny status again. Just draft a shooter with the Bulls pick and let things work themselves out.

Turning one or both picks into an actual NBA player has to be on the table. Cam in some ways is exactly what we need. Another wing who can shoot. And most importantly he doesn't need the ball in his hands or high usage. Problem is getting wings means we are comfortable going forward with Fultz and Cole and they pretty much have to be paid after this next season if we are keeping them.

This guy has some good observations on every first round player. There are dozens of these videos but this one is a good primer if you don't know much about these players yet.

Monday in the NBA! Old guys strike back! LOL! Also Mo can't even get a freaking minute and LeBron and AD are getting pummeled out there!

Wolves stay alive! Anthony looking like a star. Warriors tie it up, could have been an all time mistake by Curry. Cavs look like they are in trouble.

That would be weird for the Nets to try a third time what worked so bad the last two times. However i am a sucker for a good trade scenario. If the Blazers made the trade more as a favor to Dame then trying to sucker the Nets i could see that working. Anyway as far as Cam just taking a look at his offensive numbers they are elite as a role player on fairly high usage. I have not watched enough games to see if he sucks on defense or not. The numbers say he is decent. NY should just match and try to build a team around him and Bridges. Anyone can be traded even Ben Simmons and Joe Harris. If i learned anything these last few years is there isn't an untradeable contract. It's more about a teams willingness to make a tough decision.

Is he unrestricted? Also makes sense because of the Bertans and Duncan Robinson contracts. I don't think the Nets retain him. He is a good young piece but i think they ride out Bens contract and look for flexibility. Even with hardly any true free agents these days, the Nets can reshape the team in two short years. Just trade Ben and Joe or let the contracts end while keeping Bridges.

Upvote to you. It was a good signing. It was a pure free agent signing. Not a trade which is going to be pretty rare moving forward. Wasn't a star either, although he was in college and is one moving forward. It's all about identifying talent and giving them the freedom to get there. Also it's 100% about the player wanting to be better.

Oladipo was hurt last night. Could be the end of the line for him. Looked like a serious knee injury.

I sense a rebuild coming. Before anyone asks we really don't need any Raptors that are currently signed. OG is a 3 and d that fits on every team. However he is a Klutch sports guy with an opt out after the next season. He would fit on our team but screw whatever the Raptors would ask for a guy that's overrated. Pascal has only one year and is too expensive not needed. Gary and Fred have options they are expected to opt out of so free agents. Nick Nurse is probably not a good fit as a coach right now. So good luck Raptors, i hear they are hiring the disgraced former Celtic Coach.

Having good PG play is very important. Look how well Memphis plays with Tyus Jones when Ja is out. Monte is another one of those guys who gets overlooked. Good solid player.

Too early to make much of all this except it looks like the Warriors are in trouble. Let's see how the next 3 days go. Afternoon radio sports guys nailed all 3 games last night. Said Bucks would have no problem winning without Giannis and would smoke the heat. Lakers would probably lose in a second game let down and Wolves would play better but lose late in the Denver game. I don't know how Anthony Davis doesn't dominate more at his size but the modern game is so much different then the 90's.

Yeah, anyone who has been here for the last 12 years knows all of you are infinity times better then any former magic executive. Current guys are on the clock. The Bulls trade gets them close, what they do this draft can possibly make me respect them more then you guys.

Won't happen. It will be like that year we wanted a point guard in the second and all of them went like 27-33. This kid will be a first rounder simply because he will look amazing at the combine. If move up because of the lottery i could see them trading the bulls pick back and maybe picking him. In fact if we move up i can seriously see us trading the Bulls pick back to save money or even trading it away to get a cost controlled player. We move up to 1-4 all of a sudden we have a ton of money in expensive rookie contracts with possibly two players needing to be extended. In fact after the lottery i think it will be the first time they might make a trade before the draft. It is hard to imagine them drafting and keeping all these young guys. They might prefer the only drafting one first rounder and getting a decent second rounder or using the two picks to get a more cost controlled player late. Edit just checked, it was 2018 and guess who was picked right before we picked Melvin Frasier? Jalen Brunson,Devonte' Grahm and Jevon Carter. And i remember a few of you guys wanting Jevon or Jalen. Imagine that. Also Mitchel Robinson and Gary Trent went right after.

I've got another one besides obvious Evan and Tross. Still laughing at the Magic giving Evan all those starting minutes and Thibodeau won't even let Evan on the floor most nights. I mean, most of us knew it at the time, the guys here are real NBA fans. We all knew we had a roster of back ups and 4th or 5th starters. Even though i have lightened my heart when it comes to Gordon he is still at best the 4th or 5th most important Nugget. Anyone watch the game? It was late.

Terrence Ross did nothing in a playoff game. This is the time to remember that body types mean nothing if a player can't play,won't play or doesn't play defense. T-Ross is a 6 foot 6 guard with mad hops. You all saw him for six years when he has an unguarded lane to the basket. Looks like he might be good. Unplayable. Evan Fournier is a 6 foot 6 guard that can hit a 3 point shot. Is unplayable in Boston and New York. Not hurt at all, just doesn't pass the ball or play defense. Remember this when we draft or offer a free agent contract. it's not all about size or other ****. Can they play basketball?

Pretty sure he is an unrestricted free agent. Damn checked he is restricted. Oh well offer him 15 million a year...lol Edit found this little gem. https://www.spotrac.com/news/next-contract-series-austin-reaves-1816/

About Signing Fred. Vanvleet would be a good pickup at 18 million a year or less. Problem is the players have all the power and always seem to get more then we think. Of course he wants more then the almost 20 mil he is making. I don't think the market will be there for him. No way his agent can ask for more then Brunson just got paid. Remember, unlike young guards like Poole and Simmons, Brunson was a true free agent and he just blew the doors off and he makes 25 million a year. Fred shot much better in the second half, close to his career average. Again for the non believers, Fred is the kind of veteran guy you want, he does play both sides of the floor. But he is not worth more then 20 million a season. If our gm's let the market run it's course and don't rush out to sign somebody i could see the two sides make a reasonable deal. They could just sign him to a two year deal so it's up when we have to pay Franz and Banchero. This is the scenario i see if we are truly interested in Fred. Edit. The real problem is Cole just had a great second half. Another vet guard would put either his or Suggs future in jeopardy. They won't get enough shots. If Fultz stays healthy there is no doubt he will be the guy we keep and both Cole and Fultz would have to be given contracts this coming year. It's hard to see room for everybody although obviously Harris would be the first to go.

Hoping for the best for Vuc. I have no idea where he would want to play. I think he would do well on Toronto, however who knows if they blow up the team or not. It's playoff time! Some of the best first round series in years!

Yeah the Bulls swept the Heat and i have a feeling they will just throw in the towel. I know the Heat are known for playing hard and having team pride but there is no way Lowry has back to back great games and they are so old. I can see the Bulls winning. Also the freaking Raptors,LOL! They missed 18 free throws! Og Anunoby was exposed a bit. He really is just a glue guy who is limited offensively. You play a guy like that 42 minutes his flaws get exposed. The Raptors were just dangling him in a trade because this next year is his last year under contract. And Scottie is a younger,better version of him. I actually like Vanvleet and Gary Trent. They do so much for what they are, just can't pay them more then their worth. They are 15-18 million dollar a year role players. And Fred has that Dog in him. Missing the free throws really hurt but Fred pulled down 12 boards while dishing 8 assists and only 3 turnovers. He is amazing at his size. I will be watching he Bulls game on Friday, cross your fingers. I don't think i can root for the Heat though.

I agree he looked really good in the second half of the season. Since the years over here are Paolo and Jabari's stats straight from NBA reference. https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?player_id2=smithja05&player_id1=banchpa01&sum=0&request=1&utm_campaign=2023_01_wdgt_player_comparison&utm_source=bbr&utm_medium=sr_xsite&utm_id=banchpa01 They were used differently, just want to point out Jabari was the shooter but like most big men struggled as a rookie to shoot it from deep. In case nobody goes back and looks almost all big men struggle, go look up the super stars like Lebron,Luka,PG,Gianiss etc. Paolo is the better pick anyhow because you can see he will be a guy who creates his own shot and shots for others. It's up to him to work on 3's,efficiancy and how he uses his size to get easy buckets. For comedy if you look closely on that chart you can see Chet's numbers right below Jabari's. LOL!!!! Don't tell me injury and body type are not a concern.

Trae is a great offensive player. If we were talking about adding him to the Buddy Ball team four years ago i would be all aboard. It's not four years ago. We do need more offense but now we want two way players. Trae is never going to be good on the defensive end. We need to add guys like Desmond Bane and JJJ. The Grizzles aren't trading them any time soon but look around the league for similar players. Offensively we have two creators and two developing scorers. We need to add one more but paying Trae a max and giving up assets won't make us a contender. Heck he barely made the Hawks a playoff team.

It's why i am really not interested in the Thompson twins or Scoot. For the posters who only want shooters, how do you feel about Hawkins? Jordan Hawkins just won a national championship,looked clutch,hit 3's and free throws at a fantastic rate and has actual NBA size for a shooting guard. If we are picking 6,7 or 8 and need the best shooter isn't he the best choice? I'm just posing this question because i know people get stuck on mock drafts. We all know every year half the top ten are complete busts. If you like a guy take him when you can! I want guys who complement the guys we already have. That's why i would probably love it if we got Hendricks and Hawkins. Not projected to be stars but neither looks like a project or bust either.

I want one of Walker,Whitmore or Hendricks with the first pick and one of Dick,Hawkins or Wallace with the second pick. My reasoning, if we don't pick in the top 5 i know our Gm's like size,the few top forwards are going to be gone by the Bulls pick. The rest of the draft after pick 8 is chock full of sg/sf type players. Also, i will be the first to say it. If we get the second pick i do not want Scoot but i understand why everyone would. I think he is one of the those players that will take time to be a star and will need the ball in his hands a lot. It would probably slow the growth of the other guys plus he wouldn't work at all with Fultz. The lottery is May 16th. See you guys that day, go Magic! Also i am moving to Denver so i'm about to be a huge Nuggets fan these playoffs.