2017 Offseason Thread

[Vni]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

I was trying to figure out another way of what I was trying to say. And what I'm getting at is that I don't think he's that franchise, #1 player, foundational piece like a KD, Lebron, Westbrook, Harden, Anthony Davis, KAT, etc. That's the more of the type of player I was talking about.


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Kat already getting listed amongst thoses guys ? Damn.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

My dude is really committed to taking Boston's #1 (and seemingly only) option and benching him.

Somebody OD'd on the Sunny-D.

[young22]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

My dude is really committed to taking Boston's #1 (and seemingly only) option and benching him.

Somebody OD'd on the Sunny-D.

See that's not what I'm saying. I don't think they should bench him, I think a 6th man role will be the way he wins a title, if he does.

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[King_B_Mack]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

z Revis cover your eyes bro.

2 things here.

1st, this dude is serious? He couldn't have said this **** a month ago and not completely screwed the Pacers over?

2nd, I really hope Thunder fans don't buy into that too much cause he's already made it clear that him saying anything about staying somewhere isn't worth the toilet paper you wipe your *** with.

http://ble.ac/2tJdt3H

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[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

See that's not what I'm saying. I don't think they should bench him, I think a 6th man role will be the way he wins a title, if he does.

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The 6th man comes off the bench, though.

[young22]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

The 6th man comes off the bench, though.

Yes, but that doesn't constitute benching someone. Was Harden benched in OKC? No.

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[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

z Revis cover your eyes bro.

2 things here.

1st, this dude is serious? He couldn't have said this **** a month ago and not completely screwed the Pacers over?

Paul George didn't owe the Pacers anything. Nothing. Not.One.Thing.


We have to stop with these ridiculous notions of loyalty in sports.

[ProfessaPackMan]

2017 Offseason Thread

Read that article this morning. Some good stuff in there:

Spoiler

George has discovered in the past several months what Durant and LeBron James already knew about superstar defections. “There’s no right way to handle it,” George says. “I get the frustration. I get why people are upset. But at the same time, I want the average fan to understand that we only get a small window to play this game and more than anything you want to be able to play for a championship. I wanted to bring that to Indiana. I really did. I love Indiana. That will always be a special place for me and I’m sorry for not holding on. But I wasn’t sure we’d ever get a team together to compete for a championship and that’s where all this came from.”


Throughout 2016, George followed the dog-eared free-agent playbook, betraying little about his future plans. “I straddled the fence,” he says. “‘Let’s see how this team shapes up and we’ll let you know.’ There was no, ‘Hey, I’m sticking around,’ and no, ‘Hey, I’m leaving.’” Not until June, after Pacers president Larry Bird resigned, did he sense a shift in the franchise and in himself. The core that reached the Eastern Conference Finals three years ago—George Hill, David West, Roy Hibbert—were all gone, as was the legendary architect. “Here I am, the last guy, and I kind of felt a rebuild coming,” George says. “I felt like the window had closed. I thought they were going in a different direction and I wanted to go in a different direction.” He didn’t ask for a trade. He told the Pacers he intended to sign elsewhere after his deal expired in ‘18. “I wanted them to have the opportunity to get something back if they didn’t want me to play that last year.”

George braced for a myriad of potential suitors: Boston and Cleveland, Miami and San Antonio. Oklahoma City was nowhere near his radar. But one of George’s closest friends is Reggie Jackson, and when the Thunder shipped him to the Pistons in 2015, Jackson was stunned to learn his destination. George knew that Presti, the OKC general manager, worked in secret. On the afternoon of June 30, a few hours before free agency dawned, Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard called George and informed him that he was off to Oklahoma. Jackson, despite his own turbulent exit from the Thunder, told his buddy that he would love it.

“I’m thrilled,” George says. “All I was asking for was a little help in Indy. Now I’m getting a lot of help in Oklahoma.” He and Westbrook talked briefly on the phone that first night. “I think I fit with how he plays and vice versa,” George says. “Being a knock-down shooter, I think I can spread the floor for him and run the floor with him. But I also think I can help get him easier opportunities, being able to drive and dish the ball out, so he can attack guys closing out on him.” Durant and Westbrook sometimes clashed, but George may be more tolerant of a ball-dominant point guard with a sharp edge and a quick trigger. He adored Monta Ellis, for instance.

The Thunder are obviously not as talented as the Warriors, but they could be best qualified to defend them, with the length and versatility of George, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams. “Our defense,” George says, “is going to be insane.” Head coach Billy Donovan has already flown to Los Angeles, and during a barbecue at George’s house, discussed strategy with his new star.

George is from the L.A. area, and by superficial measurements, Oklahoma City is about as far away as he can get. But George actually grew up in Palmdale, more than an hour from Hollywood, and his favorite pastime was fishing on lakes in the Antelope Valley. The Lakers, with their historic home-court advantage, have reason to believe they can sign George as a free agent next July. The Thunder, with their player-friendly culture and MVP floor general, have reason to believe they can make it a fight. Optimism abounds that OKC will soon re-sign Westbrook, another Angeleno, to a five-year extension.

“I grew up a Lakers and a Clippers fan,” George says. “I idolized Kobe. There will always be a tie here, a connection here. People saying I want to come here, who doesn’t want to play for their hometown? That’s a dream come true, if you’re a kid growing up on the outskirts of L.A., to be the man in your city. But it’s definitely been overstated. For me, it’s all about winning. I want to be in a good system, a good team. I want a shot to win it. I’m not a stats guy. I’m playing this game to win and build a legacy of winning. I’ve yet to do that. I’m searching for it. If we get a killer season in Oklahoma, we make the conference finals or upset the Warriors or do something crazy, I’d be dumb to want to leave that.”

George will get four eyefuls this season of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and the young Lakers. Superficial measurements will matter far less than max slots and won-loss records. “It’s too early for L.A.,” he says. “It would have to be a situation where the ball gets rolling and guys are hopping on. This guy commits, that guy commits. ‘Oh s---, now there’s a team forming.’ It has to be like that.” But the same is true for virtually every locale outside of Oakland. “I’m in OKC, so hopefully me and Russ do a good enough job and make it to the conference finals and love the situation, why not recruit someone to come build it with us? I’m open in this whole process.”

[jeremym480]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

I just don't think it'll work. I think it'd be better with him as the best 6th man of all time.

AB leaving really hurts - him and Klay are the only 2 guards that can lock up top point guards, and provide offense. Smart can't shoot.

They're stacked on the wing, but they lack a true #1 option. IT just isn't big enough, and Hayward isn't that great. They have guys who can be 2/3 options, but they have no chance unless they grab a true number 1.

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Ahh, the old "the player that you just got rid of was amazing and the new All-Star that you just acquired is not that great" routine. Let me guess what's next Hayward was just a stat stuffer for an average Utah team?

See that's not what I'm saying. I don't think they should bench him, I think a 6th man role will be the way he wins a title, if he does.

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If IT came off of the bench for the current Celtics, then he would still get the same amount of MPG and would still be on the playing at end of the game. The only thing that changes is that he wouldn't be on the floor at tipoff, which I'm sure he wouldn't be happy with since he basically carried the team last season. So how exactly does that improve Boston's chances of winning a title?

[TMagic]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Just to play devils advocate, for as good as IT has been on offense, he has been just as bad on defense

He is statistically the WORST player in the NBA on defense. With 400 some odd players, Isaiah is dead last in the league. So take that for what it's worth

[young22]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Ahh, the old "the player that you just got rid of was amazing and the new All-Star that you just acquired is not that great" routine. Let me guess what's next Hayward was just a stat stuffer for an average Utah team?





If IT came off of the bench for the current Celtics, then he would still get the same amount of MPG and would still be on the playing at end of the game. The only thing that changes is that he wouldn't be on the floor at tipoff, which I'm sure he wouldn't be happy with since he basically carried the team last season. So how exactly does that improve Boston's chances of winning a title?

Oh it won't happen with this current team. They don't have anyone else to be their number 1. But IT can't be your best player if you're gonna win a title. If he does win a title, it'll be when he has a 6th man role.

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[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Yes, but that doesn't constitute benching someone. Was Harden benched in OKC? No.

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What's Harden have to do with anything?

You want to take Boston's #1 option, best play-maker, and starter and move him to the bench as a 6th man?

It doesn't matter what position he plays - if they don't have the right pieces around him they won't win anything. That's how most teams work.

I understand he has some legitimate concerns about his height and defensive skill set, but while there are many things to prevent IT from winning a ring I very seriously doubt him being starting PG is one of them.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Ahh, the old "the player that you just got rid of was amazing and the new All-Star that you just acquired is not that great" routine. Let me guess what's next Hayward was just a stat stuffer for an average Utah team?

He was just another player to help Rudy score more points, actually.



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[roadman]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

Unless y'all get him an elite 2 way wing, elite rim protection, and a guard who can guard elite point guards. Nobody has all 3.

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We do, all 3 wrapped into one.

They call him, The Greek Freak.lol

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZJC772CTKHY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[young22]

Re: 2017 Offseason Thread

What's Harden have to do with anything?

You want to take Boston's #1 option, best play-maker, and starter and move him to the bench as a 6th man?

It doesn't matter what position he plays - if they don't have the right pieces around him they won't win anything. That's how most teams work.

I understand he has some legitimate concerns about his height and defensive skill set, but while there are many things to prevent IT from winning a ring I very seriously doubt him being starting PG is one of them.

Y'all really don't listen huh? I said no, Boston shouldn't make him a 6th man, cause he's their best player right now. But IT wil never be the best player on a championship team, because he can't play defense.

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