Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Ugh, Carroll's contract looks like a borderline albatross. Such a Masai thing to stand pat lol. Poetl looks interesting.

Keep it coming!

The Raptors, unfortunately, just didn't have much room to maneuver. That said, Masai is stockpiling some great young talent for you guys. Poetl, Trimble, Markkanen (coolest name in game?) and Justin Jackson are good prospects. Toronto's track record is iffy (Caboclo, I'm looking at you) but if they can get a winner among those four, they'll have a bright future ahead.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2017-18 Preview

October 20th, 2017

By Vonny Lee




The Wizards made a surprise run to the playoffs, ripping off 8 straight to make the postseason. There, they upset the Cavs, beat the 76ers, and hung tough in the conference finals. The team massively overshot any expectations, and the Wizards are completely aware of that. They played it safe in the offseason, not doing anything too crazy.

Improvement internally is where the Wiz will see the greatest benefits. Oubre looks ready to finally break out of his cocoon and fly. Marcus Smart looks good as a sixth man off the bench and may have found where he fits in the NBA. Thad Young and Brook Lopez both had bounce back years after dismal seasons before. The Wizards went out and signed one of the savviest, toughest veterans on the market in Taj Gibson to play the four (mercifully ending the reign of Amir Johnson as a starter) and drafted well in picking up Brimah.

Question: is it enough? The East was wacky and wild last season and certain teams took big swings in order to get back to the postseason (where anything can happen). Washington certainly has the talent and now that it has the experience of postseason play, it almost certainly can make a good run to the playoffs ... but there's always a chance the Wizards do Wizards things and mess things up. If they do, what do you think if your name is John Wall (with only two years left on his deal)?

[BlindSideNZ]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Congratulations are In order I believe lol.

Russ is back! Boy am I excited to see what he does without Durant.

Morris is an interesting pick up but I have faith. Just like the article says, if things go wrong we can all blame Morris haha.

Seriously though, looking great as always Trek

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2017-18 Preview

October 20th, 2017

By Vonny Lee



This is not your usual, familiar Clippers team. LA saw both Paul and Griffin opt out of their final contract years, unsurprising considering how much the cap has increased since they originally signed their contracts. It was considered a formality that they'd re-sign ... but only Griffin actually did.

Chris Paul had some serious contract demands (reports say he was looking for $29M in year one -- year one!) and the Clippers refused to budge from their $25M starting offer. Paul visited with both GM Danny Ferry and owner Steve Ballmer ... then took his things and went home. Chris Paul and the franchise he put on the map (remember, the Clips were nothing before him), were done.

Clippers nation was reeling. Paul's stance was understandable -- he was that valuable to the Clippers and, around the league, is still considered the best pure-point guard still playing. But Paul exited, tired of coming up against the West's powerhouse teams and going home, year after year. One source said he didn't want to become "the next John Stockton, with Blake as my Malone" and those words might be the most damning uttered by a current player in some time.

Jazz fans were angry. Clippers fans were stunned. Danny Ferry was ... well, he seemed relieved. Unshackled from Paul by Paul, Ferry could finally go about making the roster how he wanted it. And he went back to some familiar names.

Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver -- formerly of the Hawks, players Ferry knew well there -- were both signed at a decent discount. Teague's signing wasn't much of a surprise, as he's been itching to get out of the ATL for awhile now. Korver was a shock, as the Clips had JJ Redick, but Redick was also looking for serious money -- and he and Korver have basically the same skill set. Korver was cheaper, taller, and can play more positions -- sorry JJ.

Ferry then went to work filling out the Clippers bench, their biggest weakness since Paul, Griffin, and Jordan united. Enter in young free agents looking to make a name for themselves in Trey Burke and Caldwell-Pope (both players who were from the 2013 class -- that class continues to look worse), veteran David West (still searching for his first ring), and the brother of Jeff Teague, Marquis Teague (bench warmer and brother -- what multitasking).

Ferry has rebuilt the team's bench and its pecking order -- this is Blake's team now, no more Chris Paul, and the Clippers will rise and fall with Griffin.

[DevSwerve]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Where did CP go? [emoji33]


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[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2017-18 Preview

October 20th, 2017

By Vonny Lee



The 76ers overshot expectations last year by a few planets, making the playoffs, getting to the 2nd round, and giving a more experienced team (the Wizards) a run for their money before meeting their end. They were among the best feel-good stories in the league last year, so much so even Philly fans weren't that critical of the team -- they were just happy to matter again.

Sam Hinkie's process, with all its twist and turns, looked to have paid off. Rather than take an internal development route, the Sixers pushed their chips into the middle of the table; they are ALL IN. Philly decided it needed to improve the team and they made a few trades to do it.



First up -- saying adios to Tobias Harris. Harris wasn't bad for Philly -- quite the opposite, actually, as he performed admirably. Harris' issue stemmed with how he was being played, as he didn't -- and still doesn't -- like to play the four. Harris was vocal in his opposition at a few points last season, but quieted when the playoffs hit and and the 76ers got in.

Hinkie, though, didn't forget. So he shipped Harris off to the Suns (who themselves are retooling), added in Isiah Canaan (because the Suns needed some depth), and got back Brandon Knight. Knight, once more, finds himself on another team -- his third in four seasons. Knight's talent is unquestionable, but his mix with similar point guards (looking at you Bledsoe) was understandably tenuous. On Philly, night will be occupy the role of creator and scorer, something he thrived in -- he'll also be the starting shooting guard (for now).

With Knight there, Philly cleaned up its cap sheet with another trade.



It's a salary dump, plain and simple. Barea's two years left on his deal wasn't something Hinkie liked and the Pelicans were desperate to find a reliable, cheap backup point guard. Barea is that -- he also played with the Mavs a number of years and is very familiar with that division, which can't be overlooked. Cunningham will likely sit at the end of Philly's bench until the deadline, when he might be used to do something very Hinkie.

With that settled, the 76ers then went and dipped into free agency for a big name -- they came up with Zach Randolph. They had to overpay a bit to get him to come to Philly, but Randolph's time with the Grizzlies had come to an end. Z-Bo slots in as the veteran big man at the four, a low-post beast who'll unleash a number of nice-mid range looks. He doesn't provide quite the spacing Harris did, but Z-Bo's contract is cheaper (only $11M, only a year) and Z-Bo himself is at a point in his career where he's ready to be more of a teacher than a star.

Philly's taking a risk -- if things go south, expect Hinkie to swing some trades (that Randolph contract is short for a reason), but the 76ers will have roughly two months to figure it out. After last year's surprising success, Hinkie has earned a small-benefit of the doubt.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Where did CP go? [emoji33]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You will see. Trust me, it's good.

[Themayorofawsometown]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

It would be great to see Paul go back to the hornets

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[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2017-18 Preview

October 20th, 2017

By Vonny Lee




Say hello to your 2017-18 Warriors team, which largely looks the same as last year's team. It is, however, missing two key components: Andrew Bogut and Shaun Livingston. Both players were let go after their contracts came to an end, a decision that was difficult for Golden State, but expected.

The Warriors needed to retool their bench. Two years straight of playoff disappointment and multiple injuries to the bench unit had shown that the 2014-15 Warriors was a perfect storm of circumstances: the same variables couldn't be repeated. So, that in mind, the Warriors went about to find some help.

They promptly re-signed Speights to a one-year deal (shorter than Speights would have liked, but Speights loved Golden State and did what he had to to stay), then went out and looked for help at backup point guard.

Remember Rondo? Well, Steve Kerr does. Rondo was drafted by the Suns back when Kerr was a part owner in them -- Kerr had always wanted to coach Rondo and his presence on the Warriors, as the man who runs the second-unit offense, is an admittance by Rondo that his days as a starter are done.

The experience with the Suns (and then the Pistons) last year has humbled the former "*sshole" and Rondo is looking to win, plain and simple. That's something the Warriors have no problems doing.

The Warriors are also ready to debut Kevon Looney -- the unheralded, last pick of the 2015 draft from UCLA. Looney has waited patiently for his time and now he's going to be a big part of the Warriors' rotation. With Looney there, Rondo aboard, and a plethora of ring-chasing vets behind them (Scola, Calderon), the Warriors are positioned to try for another title.

If things don't start out well, the Warriors might try and ship off Harrison Barnes, who hasn't been stellar in the last two years of postseason play and frequently gets rotated out on certain matchups. Barnes is signed to a dirt-cheap deal and could easily fetch a difference making player, maybe even a 1st rounder too (depending on the team).

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2017-18 Preview

October 20th, 2017

By Vonny Lee



The Pistons were the hottest team entering the playoffs and played like it. After taking down Miami, they met the crippled Raptors in the second round -- it seemed like Detroit was going to make its way back to the conference finals, something it hasn't done since the last decade, but it wasn't meant to be: Toronto rallied, Detroit fell in six, and the Pistons were sent home.

SVG needed to find a point guard. Reggie Jackson was supposed to be that, but he simply couldn't do it; he was a far better two than a one. Rondo had been a stop-gap and he worked, but he was offensively offensive. The perfect one likely wasn't on the roster, so SVG went out and grabbed himself one in the draft.

He also picked up one in free agency, Ty Lawson. Lawson is an undersized one who shoots, passes, and is a blur. Lawson didn't have a very successful run in Houston, but he was never the primary ball-handler -- in Detroit, he will be that. His deal is team friendly (an team option after the second year) and he'll get to play with Drummond, a younger Dwight (and far more effective at this point).

It's a shrewd move on SVG's part. The way the contracts on his roster are constructed, the Pistons will either be ready to ascend to the top of the NBA in two years or be in position to rebuild on the fly.

The lingering question lies with Reggie Jackson; overall, he's been a disappointment in Detroit and if SVG could find a team to take him, he probably would. Unfortunately for the Pistons, Jackson's contract isn't pretty and SVG only has himself to blame. Keep an eye on how Jackson and Lawson interact: their chemistry together will make or break this season.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2017-18 Preview

October 20th, 2017

By Vonny Lee



NOLA's postseason was shot lived. After making it (despite a late-season slump), New Orleans were promptly dealt with in four games by the Clippers. Entering the offseason with cap space galore (with the surprise retirement of Joe Johnson) and decisions to make, NOLA had to take a hard look at itself: were Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans really the solutions at the one and two?

NOLA voted a solid YES for Holiday, signing him to a three year deal. They let Evans walk and went about replacing him with JJ Redick. Yes, the former sniper of the Clippers who had helped end their season signed with the Davis-led Pelicans, and did so for two guaranteed years. Redick's role in Alvin Gentry's offense will be similar to what it was in LA: shoot the rock well, make a few opportunistic plays on defense, and make opponents pay for collapsing on Davis and Holiday.

Joining him, via trade, is JJ Barea as backup point, but the biggest addition was through the draft. Through sheer luck (or David Stern manipulation from the sunny shores of whatever island paradise he's on now), the Pelicans landed the second overall pick. There they took Jayson Tatum, the dynamic star from Duke and an absolute stud. Tatum will instantly be the starter for this team at the three and he looks to be the running mate Davis has always wanted.

NOLA's goal for this year is simple: back to the playoffs, back to the WCF. Anything less will be seen as a failure. The roster is laden with veteran talent, a risk considering NOLA's past injury luck, but the urge to win is real. Anthony Davis has three years left on his deal and New Orleans is anxious.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2017-18 Preview

October 20th, 2017

By Vonny Lee



The Cavs fell well short of the Finals last season, being dispatched by the Wizards (!) of all teams in the 1st round. Consequences were swift in Cleveland: David Blatt was fired as soon as the Finals concluded. Tyrone Lue was hired in his place, a move many had been expected for nearly two years now. Cleveland then went about cleaning up their cap space.



The Cavs went and unloaded the overpaid and injury prone Mosgov; in return, they snagged the young Terrence Jones, a stretch four on a cheap deal that comes off the books in one year. Cleveland was forced to include their 2018 1st rounder (top-7 protected) in the deal, but seeing as how the draft class is viewed poorly by half the league, that was a price they were more than willing to pay.

The Cavs went about using the cap-relief to sign some free agents -- namely a center, and they picked up Cole Aldrich, not necessarily an improvement over Mosgov but far less injury-prone and used to playing with stars (thanks to his time with the Thunder, Knicks, and Clippers). Aldrich will stay in his lane and out of the way as LeBron, Irving, and Thompson attempt to rectify last season's failure.

But will it be enough? Since LeBron's return it seems the Cavs are getting worse, not better. The move to bring in Love, than ship him out, to bring in JR Smith, Mosgov, and Shumpert (and to see the first two leave), the firing of Blatt ... it all speaks to an organization that's catering to the will of their biggest star (LeBron) and little else. If the Cavs fall short of a title for the four straight year (and not even make it back to the Finals for the second year in a row) will Cleveland do anything?

Perhaps the better question is can Cleveland do anything? This season will be a fascinating one for sure.

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2017-18 Preview

October 20th, 2017

By Vonny Lee




The Spurs are looking at the end of the Tony Parker era. The last remaining member of the big three is 35 and he's not what he once was. San Antonio's embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Sonics left a bad taste in the organization's mouth, but the Spurs stayed the course.

In free agency, they made minimal signings -- in fact, the let go of a few longtime Spurs (Patty Mills in particular) and signed defensive presence Mason Plumlee. Plumlee isn't the best at anything, but he's above-average at many things and he's flexible, something the Spurs highly value. After Jordan Hill's short stay last season, the Spurs wanted to sign someone they were confident would fit well in their system: Plumlee was that guy.

The Spurs also went out and grabbed KJ McDaniels, a sure upgrade from Johnathan Simmons, and picked up Jerryd Bayless on the cheap.

Even with all that, the Spurs are no locks to be back in the playoffs. Despite having Aldridge, Leonard, and Parker, the Spurs have looked off since Aldridge's arrival. That brings us to our big question: is the Aldridge/Spurs marriage doomed to failure?

LaMarcus is surely talented, but Pop has never been a coach that lets talent alone dictate anything. Popovich is a taskmaster, a demanding tactician with rings to prove his worth. LaMarcus has seen his averages drop and hasn't seen much playoff success. He can opt out after this season and there's a feeling in some parts of the league that he will.

Doing so will not only be an indictment on him, but also a rare misstep for the Spurs -- who, before Aldridge, hadn't made a big free agent signing in over a decade.

[janmagn]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

Don't tell me it's the Lakers...

Lähetetty minun LG-H440n laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[trekfan]

Re: Second Coming: A SuperSonics Return

NBA 2017-18 Preview

October 20th, 2017

By Vonny Lee



The Orlando Magic find themselves at a crossroads. After a successful season which saw them make the playoffs, they almost upset the 1st seed in the 1st round. Luck, however, was not on their side and even after the Raptors lost Lowry, the Magic couldn't pull off the unlikely victory.

Entering the offseason, they had some questions. Was Payton the answer at the point? Was Aaron Gordon the answer at the four?

Orlando didn't do much to answer either of those questions in the offseason. They re-negotiated Gallinari's contract (guaranteeing him two-years), they signed Jordan Hill to back up Vucevic (a clear upgrade), and then drafted Ntilkina, a point guard with as many limitations as Payton at this point. Scott Skiles is still dealing with a very young roster and team, but he has the faith of ownership and he'll be relying on the young roster to excel in their third year together.

But what will the Magic do with Payton? The drafting of a point guard is generally a sign that an organization is preparing to make a move away from their current point guard and the Magic haven't exactly come out and guaranteed they wouldn't trade Payton -- in fact, the silence from the organization is damning. If Orlando starts poorly and the team takes a step back, they'll pull the trigger and deal Payton (and maybe others) in order to get back real-NBA talent. The Magic won't be looking for draft picks, they'll want difference makers in their quest to become playoff contenders.