The Official NBA 2022-23 Season Thread

[stevew]

Jordan Poole is the most Wizards wizard to wizard ever. Surprised they haven’t tried to add 5 years and 400 million to his existing deal.

[miami_fan]

From the golf thread.

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Is the coast clear for the NBA to go all in on the Chinese money now? Or maybe even the Middle Eastern money? ICYMI

NBA Courts Investment by Sovereign Wealth, Pension Funds

Qatari Investment Authority close to buying stake in Wizards, Capitals, Mystics: Sources - The Athletic

The coast is clear.

The NBA, NHL and WNBA are on the precipice of being the first North American professional sports leagues to receive an investment from a sovereign wealth fund. The Qatari Investment Authority, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, is close to buying a stake in Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics, sources briefed on the deal told The Athletic.

[cartman]

I think Gradey Dick is tanking his draft stock with the suit he picked to wear

[stevew]

Is this supposed to be some wizard of oz thing?

Ok nvmd that makes sense I guess

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by cartman

I think Gradey Dick is tanking his draft stock with the suit he picked to wear

Apologies for all of my cultural and geographic ignorance and biases but I would love to know how this young man decided that this was what he was wearing to the draft.

[stevew]

Wizard of Oz Kansas

[SirFozzie]

The official haul for Marcus Smart. I use Haul because, well, when you work through all the trades they made during the draft..

• Kristaps Porzingis
• Jordan Walsh
• 2024 R1 pick (GSW, top-4 protected)
• 2024 R2 pick (DAL)
• 2025 R2 pick (best of DET, GSW or WAS)
• 2026 R2 pick (best of MIN, NOP, NYK or POR)
• 2027 R2 pick (ATL)

That's a haul.

[stevew]

Desmond Bane is a good player but I just don’t see rushing out and committing a 5 year max extension to him. Let him get an offer next summer and match it.

[whomario]

Wembanyama barely being in the US and pretty much first thing that happens is him starting an all out war with Britney Spears Stans propably wasn't on anyones list of things likely to happen this week.
(She recognized him, walked up and tapped him on the shoulder, security hit her trying to push her back. Spears made a viral post about it, he then gave an Interview about the encounter "with that person" and you can guess how that went down ...)

[miami_fan]

I rather Wemby have to deal with this sort of stuff right now, during summer league. It is even better that he already has a support system that has practice for stuff like this with him on some level. I think he and that support system will be better off in the long term. Maybe if Zion had one of these early on, he wouldn’t be where he is at right now.

[stevew]

The security guy that decked Britney has gotta be a legend among security guy circles.

[Ksyrup]

This is a microcosm of Spears' life since like 2000 or so.

BREAKING: Las Vegas police say surveillance video shows Britney Spears inadvertently hit herself in the face after her hand was pushed off NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama. No charges will be filed. https://t.co/cbzS0p7mvO

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) July 7, 2023

[Ksyrup]

Mid-season form!

Russ is ready for next season ��

Wait till the end...pic.twitter.com/XCxpYqcRfX

— Buttcrack Sports (@ButtCrackSports) July 9, 2023

[Brian Swartz]

So it turns out the answer to 'when does Pop retire' is roughly speaking never/when his body forces him to. New 5-year extension, which would take him to nearly 80.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

So it turns out the answer to 'when does Pop retire' is roughly speaking never/when his body forces him to. New 5-year extension, which would take him to nearly 80.

Over/under on when the "game has passed him by" come out in full force? Midway through the 24-25 season?

[stevew]

Thoughts on this mid season tournament? I don’t hate the idea. It’s a neat idea. Maybe the winner of the in-season tournament should get a first round playoff bye? Add a few extra play-in games perhaps.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by stevew

Thoughts on this mid season tournament? I don’t hate the idea. It’s a neat idea. Maybe the winner of the in-season tournament should get a first round playoff bye? Add a few extra play-in games perhaps.

A complete eyeroll concept afaic.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Thoughts on this mid season tournament? I don’t hate the idea. It’s a neat idea. Maybe the winner of the in-season tournament should get a first round playoff bye? Add a few extra play-in games perhaps.

I think I am in the same place as you are. I just don't know what the "why" piece is for the teams and/or the players. As a club football fan, I like the idea of multiple competitions and multiple ways a season can be deemed successful depending on the team and where they may be in terms of team building etc. Especially for the good teams who have no chance of winning the NBA championship. For example, Sacramento's season last year plus a in season cup and the reward comes for winning it has a different feel than the #3 seed and a first round exit to the Warriors. Winning the in season cup may not be the goal of the current Boston Celtics team for example. I would not go as far as as a playoff bye but maybe an extra home playoff game in the first round? I also think there has to be some organizational reward as well. Something like being included in the lottery if the teams are not already in it or increased lottery odds if they are. Or maybe the cup winner is guaranteed a pick in the top ten of the draft.

[flere-imsaho]

From what I've read, they've patterned it specifically on the FA Cup, but they seem to have forgotten that the FA Cup starts in August with small teams waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the English football pyramid, and as a result almost every match as it progresses is strongly memorable to someone.

Like, there will be a League Two team that makes it to the 3rd round only to get annhiliated by Manchester City, but years later the fans will still talk about the time that their local team got to play at the Etihad and laugh about how their 33-year-old slow centre back got roasted by Haaland, who scored 5 before being substituted at half time.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

From what I've read, they've patterned it specifically on the FA Cup, but they seem to have forgotten that the FA Cup starts in August with small teams waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the English football pyramid, and as a result almost every match as it progresses is strongly memorable to someone.

Like, there will be a League Two team that makes it to the 3rd round only to get annhiliated by Manchester City, but years later the fans will still talk about the time that their local team got to play at the Etihad and laugh about how their 33-year-old slow centre back got roasted by Haaland, who scored 5 before being substituted at half time.

they know but they don't care because this cash grab will happen anyway. I do hope that it eventually turns into "let's run with our youth" and then it would be kind of fun if it were more of an U-23 tournament and teams could sign more players for that and it'd be fun if someone went on a Linsanity-ass run to win a NBA Cup, that would be lore for a team. But nobody cares about the players getting more money.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

From what I've read, they've patterned it specifically on the FA Cup, but they seem to have forgotten that the FA Cup starts in August with small teams waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the English football pyramid, and as a result almost every match as it progresses is strongly memorable to someone.

Like, there will be a League Two team that makes it to the 3rd round only to get annhiliated by Manchester City, but years later the fans will still talk about the time that their local team got to play at the Etihad and laugh about how their 33-year-old slow centre back got roasted by Haaland, who scored 5 before being substituted at half time.

I disagree with the FA Cup comparison at least for the current model. The current model is more like the revised Champions League that took place after the lockdown.

1. Six groups of five teams. 4 group stage games per teams.Two home, two away. Six group winners and two "wild cards" go to the knockout stage.

2. Knockout stage games are single elimination with the semis and finals being played in Las Vegas. This is similar to when the Champions League moved everything after the round of 16 to Portugal.

Now I think that the ultimate goal is to create a competition where international and maybe even G-League teams will also participate. That will probably have to wait for the Middle Eastern or Chinese money to truly start flowing into the U.S. game though.

[Ksyrup]

I have no idea what the purpose of an in-season tournament that just involves the teams in your league is. But then again, I ignore pretty much all soccer tournaments like this, and I actually follow the EPL. I just don't care (other than in the EPL, I recognize it helps for a team to do well for financial reasons, but aside from that...?).

But here... what's the point? No one in this country cares if your team won the tournament but got knocked out of the actual post-season in a play-in game, for instance. In fact, I could see this spawning a ton of negative (but funny) social media memes, along the lines of Butch Jones' "Champions of Life" crap. They almost have to attach some sort of post-season or financial component to it (for the organization, not just the players) for it really mean anything.

[miami_fan]

Did anyone besides the hardest of hardcore basketball fans care about four individual games between games 9 and 21 on a team's schedule? How about six maybe seven games before a team has play 25 games on their schedule? Because that is the tournament. Regular season games that they were playing anyway.

The NBA should be reducing the number of regular season games. We all know that. We also know that the owners have no desire to do that. The Heat have the Bucks, Knicks, Wizards and Hornets in their group. I still may not watch that Wizard game but I am much more likely to watch that Wizards game because of the tournament than I would without it.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I have no idea what the purpose of an in-season tournament that just involves the teams in your league is. But then again, I ignore pretty much all soccer tournaments like this, and I actually follow the EPL. I just don't care (other than in the EPL, I recognize it helps for a team to do well for financial reasons, but aside from that...?).

Because, critically, the FA Cup doesn't include just the EPL but in fact all clubs down to level 9 of the English football pyramid. Which means over half of the clubs that compete are semi-pro or amateur.

If you're a fan of a non-EPL team, it can be really cool if your team makes a run and kills a giant or two from a few tiers higher than you.

[Danny]

I think ive now come to the belief that Harden is more of a cancer than Kyrie.

[whomario]

Another sign of the Apocalypse, surely. Going undefeated 8-0 as well with maybe like 3-4 weak quarters throughout. Lots of guys had game of their life type performances but it's also been a real steady improvement for a lot of the role players over the last few years.
Fair share of drama involved, too though. Kleber quitting the team after being scolded by Schröder, Schröder getting into it with the coach, as well as Theis, during a timeout (which were all broadcast live with every word audible) only to react to it by turning a 15 point deficit into a 100-71 trouncing of Slovenia.

[stevew]

Signing the fumes of Tristan Thompson and getting a DUI is a helluva week for Koby Altman.

[miami_fan]

Sources - Blazers trading Damian Lillard to Bucks in 3-team deal - ESPN

Bucks get Dame

Suns get Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson

Blazers get Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, the Bucks' 2029 1st round pick and swap picks with the Bucks in 2028 and 2030

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Sources - Blazers trading Damian Lillard to Bucks in 3-team deal - ESPN

Bucks get Dame

Suns get Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson

Blazers get Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, the Bucks' 2029 1st round pick and swap picks with the Bucks in 2028 and 2030

This seems like one of those deals fans propose and don't really consider who the third team (Suns) gets. I guess they were real desperate to get out of the Ayton contract that they gave him before last season.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Reports say Blazers will look to immediately flip Holiday elsewhere, no interest in keeping him

[stevew]

Holiday to the Celts for Brogdon and some picks

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

This seems like one of those deals fans propose and don't really consider who the third team (Suns) gets. I guess they were real desperate to get out of the Ayton contract that they gave him before last season.

Desperate enough to take on the Nurkic contract. Do the Suns plan on playing any defense?

Full credit to Giannis for putting just enough stuff in the media to nudge the Bucks to bring Dame in. As much as I would have liked him to go to the Heat, I like the stuff they got back provided they get a decent haul for Holliday.

[whomario]

Wembenyama is just ludicrous to watch. Guy was out there eurostepping for a dunk from 20 feet out ...

Look, i fully guard myself against disapointment by expecting him to at best be Porzingis 2.0 including the injuries but until then ...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Kinda hard to not wonder if any of the charges against Kevin Porter, Jr will end up sticking.

[whomario]

[flere-imsaho]

He's the Erling Haaland of basketball.

[JPhillips]

His movement is so impressive for his size both on offense and defense.

[Atocep]

I know we've never seen a player like him, but I also don't think there's been a guy with his defensive ceiling that's entered the NBA in our lifetimes. His ability to stay in front of guys on the perimeter is incredibly impressive. He doesn't just rely on his length and let guys go by to block their shot from behind.

[Atocep]

Jaden McDaniels getting 5 years and $136 mil is absolutely nuts.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Jaden McDaniels getting 5 years and $136 mil is absolutely nuts.

23 year old who is already an elite wing defender and shot around 40% from three in his first year as a true starter for the T-Wolves. If his offense continues to improve, this will be a bargain.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Jaden McDaniels getting 5 years and $136 mil is absolutely nuts.

Never heard of him. Looks like a career 9 points game 4 rebounds game guy. Still young but way over paying.

[stevew]

The Wolves strike again.

[Brian Swartz]

Are we saying it's nuts because salaries in general are nuts, or because this specifically is nuts relative to the market?

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Are we saying it's nuts because salaries in general are nuts, or because this specifically is nuts relative to the market?

Paying this guy 27.2 million a year is nuts. I guess he is considered a high ceiling guy but man that is a lot for future output.

[Thomkal]

I'm more of a casual NBA fan these days with Rik Smits long gone from the league, but how about the Pacers putting up 143 points in their first game? Been a long time since I could feel excited about their prospects for a season.

[SirFozzie]

You do know that we have a pro/college basketball thread for the new season right? (laughs).. if people keep using this one, we might as well merge the two.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

You do know that we have a pro/college basketball thread for the new season right? (laughs).. if people keep using this one, we might as well merge the two.

Like I said, I'm a casual fan, I just saw the first NBA thread and went with it

[molson]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

I'm more of a casual NBA fan these days with Rik Smits long gone from the league, but how about the Pacers putting up 143 points in their first game? Been a long time since I could feel excited about their prospects for a season.

I haven't thought about Rik Smits for a long time but he was awesome and I enjoy that you were all "No Smits, no Thomkal."

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by molson

I haven't thought about Rik Smits for a long time but he was awesome and I enjoy that you were all "No Smits, no Thomkal."

Yes I'm very fickle that way

[stevew]

I think it was the most points since 1990. Im assuming, given the timeline of that, that Paul Westhead and the Nuggets were involved