2018 NBA offseason and summer league

[Steve Minkin]

Current betting lines on LeBron's next team.

Los Angeles Lakers +200
Philadelphia 76ers +350
Miami Heat +500
New York Knicks +750
Houston Rockets +1000
San Antonio Spurs +2000
Cleveland Cavaliers +3000
Golden State Warriors +5000
Boston Celtics +5000
Chicago Bulls +7500
Oklahoma City Thunder +7500
Washington Wizards +10000
Field (Any Other) +1000

I'm guessing the Warriors part ways with the Swag Champ, Zaza, Looney, and West (he's such a great presence they may try to keep him, if he wants to play another year, but he's running out of gas). I think they'll keep McCaw, Cook and Jones and will look for veteran help to back up the Iguodala/ Livingston roles.

[The G Man]

Current betting lines on LeBron's next team.

Los Angeles Lakers +200
Philadelphia 76ers +350
Miami Heat +500
New York Knicks +750
Houston Rockets +1000
San Antonio Spurs +2000
Cleveland Cavaliers +3000
Golden State Warriors +5000
Boston Celtics +5000
Chicago Bulls +7500
Oklahoma City Thunder +7500
Washington Wizards +10000
Field (Any Other) +1000

I'm guessing the Warriors part ways with the Swag Champ, Zaza, Looney, and West (he's such a great presence they may try to keep him, if he wants to play another year, but he's running out of gas). I think they'll keep McCaw, Cook and Jones and will look for veteran help to back up the Iguodala/ Livingston roles.

I can't conceive of LeBron going to the Knicks. It's doubtful he'd go to SA, but I would love to see him do it. I haven't thought about Miami but LeBron could take a haircut there and still come out way ahead financially due to the lack of a state income tax.

Is LeBron willing to go to a franchise where he'd be part of a coach's system as opposed to running the franchise like he did in Cleveland? Maybe in Miami, where he's already thrived under Riley but in Philly or LA? That's up to him and the franchise he joins.

Cook and Jones are under contract and neither has much trade value. McCaw regressed before his injury so he'll probably be back for his cap hold of $1.7M but if somebody offers much more, I doubt they match it.

The next big event after LeBron may be Anthony Davis, who can walk in two years. Horford's contract will be up then and so will Draymond's though he might sign an extension before that.

[The G Man]

This is why the Lakers are the current favorites to land LeBron.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/le ... spartandhp

It's possible that CP3 will leave Houston to join him if he goes to LA but Paul George is more likely.

[The G Man]

Steve Kerr told Zach Lowe that the Warriors plan to go young next year beyond their four all-stars, Iggy, and Livingston. I think there's a small chance that McGee could come back for the minimum if nobody offers more to play center with Bell and Jones we'll see. He also thought that West exaggerated, that there is no huge secret story about the Warriors. Definitely no big fights among players. The players celebrated after game 4 at Morton's. They were outside at 4 AM smoking cigars when Charles Oakley crashed the party. He got into a big argument with Draymond about whether his Knicks could have defended the pick and roll.

Lowe told Kerr that Bill Simmons told him before game four that there was a rumor that LeBron had a fracture in his hand but Kerr had no idea until LeBron disclosed it after the game.

[Steve Minkin]

Nerlens Noel is available, might be a good fit for the Dubs if he's healthy again. I always liked him with Philly, before they began stockpiling centers.

I'm hoping the team finds a good young center, so Bell can stay at power forward where I think he can become a terror.

[The G Man]

Nerlens Noel is available, might be a good fit for the Dubs if he's healthy again. I always liked him with Philly, before they began stockpiling centers.

I'm hoping the team finds a good young center, so Bell can stay at power forward where I think he can become a terror.

I think Noel gets more than the minimum, which would presumably rule out the Dubs, who have a pressing need for a wing. It's possible that JaVale comes back on another minimum deal with Jones and Bell and the Warriors break camp with just three centers. Bell is unlikely to play PF next to another non-shooting big. If he learns to shoot, that could change. 74% of his FGA were at the rim this season.

[The G Man]

Kawhi wants out, preferably to the Lakers. If any other team trades for him, they risk losing him.

I could see Lavar going to SA and Kawhi, CP3 and LeBron to the Lakers.

Ball, Deng and Kuzma could be traded for Leonard.

I think CP3 makes more sense than Paul George in this scenario.

[Steve Minkin]

Magic draft pick Mohamed Bamba has a wingspan of 7 feet, 10 inches.

Just for the record, the late Manute Bol's was 8'6".

[Steve Minkin]

MVP -- Harden
ROY -- Simmons
MIP -- Oladipo
DPY -- Gobert

I know this is based the regular season, but I think all of the above except Oladipo underperformed in the playoffs, leaving a bit of a sour taste about the whole awards business.

And the Clippers just sent Austin Rivers to Wizards for Marcin Gortat.

[jon abbey]

I think all of the above except Oladipo underperformed in the playoffs, leaving a bit of a sour taste about the whole awards business.

this happens more often than not, especially with the MVP, it's why they don't know when to have the awards ceremony. for a long time, they did it in the second round of the playoffs, but it looked bad when the recipient was generally getting his ass kicked at that point. basically it's fundamentally stupid to give regular season awards in a league where the best teams are generally holding back for the playoffs, but you guys have heard me rant about this for many years now.

[The G Man]

My awards would have gone to:

I would have picked AD over Gobert and Stevens over Casey.

That's based on the regular season but what good is Gobert's great regular season defense if he can't guard on the perimeter? Houston made him look bad.

Vecsey on the trade: Clippers’ management separated Austin Rivers from his father. Is that even legal?

[Steve Minkin]

Golden State of Mind is reporting that Green and Durant (who pushed for SwaggyP last off-season) are now lobbying for Jamal Crawford to return to the Bay, and that Steph is aboard with the plan.

WHY? Terrible idea.

[The G Man]

Golden State of Mind is reporting that Green and Durant (who pushed for SwaggyP last off-season) are now lobbying for Jamal Crawford to return to the Bay, and that Steph is aboard with the plan.

WHY? Terrible idea.

I agree that it's a terrible idea. You should have confidence that Bob Myers is too smart to sign him.

[Steve Minkin]

The subject of threepeats came up at the dance last night. Nothing between the four threepeats and Boston's eightpeat.

Should note that Mikan's three-peat made it five championships in six years for him.

1952–1954 Minneapolis Lakers
1959–1966 Boston Celtics (8)
1991–1993 Chicago Bulls
1996–1998 Chicago Bulls
2000–2002 Los Angeles Lakers

[The G Man]

Steve, Nate Duncan, one of the best NBA Twitter analysts, has a Twitter feed for people who tweet about the Warriors.
https://twitter.com/NateDuncanNBA/lists/warriors

Durant signing 1+1 with GS, $30M, saving the team $5M plus much more in tax penalties but he'll be a free agent next year. The Knicks plan to go after him then, maybe Kyrie, too.

LeBron is almost certainly going to the Lakers, PG is attending a Russell Westbrook party tonight and is expected to stay in OKC.

Spurs want Ingram, Kuzma and more in a trade with the Lakers. They don't want Lonzo but LeVar has said nasty stuff about LeBron. Maybe Lonzo goes with Ingram and then is rerouted to a third team.

DAJ is expected to sign with Dallas.

Jamal Crawford may sign for the minimum with GS, though I hope not.

There will be an interesting three team race in the West next year if the Lakers get Kawhi and a two team battle in the East.

[jon abbey]

saw a rumor of Kyle O'Quinn to GS, he is fun to root for so I would be in favor of that marriage.

Durant and Kyrie and a hopefully fixed Porzingis and a handful of young guys, now you're talking. someone someday is going to bring a title to MSG and they will be forever a hero in NYC. it may not be in my lifetime, but also there are rumors of Dolan selling, so anything is possible, to quote Kevin Garnett.

[The G Man]

saw a rumor of Kyle O'Quinn to GS, he is fun to root for so I would be in favor of that marriage.

Durant and Kyrie and a hopefully fixed Porzingis and a handful of young guys, now you're talking. someone someday is going to bring a title to MSG and they will be forever a hero in NYC. it may not be in my lifetime, but also there are rumors of Dolan selling, so anything is possible, to quote Kevin Garnett.

MSG is being split into two companies, one holding only the Knicks and Lakers. Dolan denies he did that to sell the sports piece, but he's more into music these days so we can hope. Jon would excite you more, the Jets winning the Super Bowl or Dolan selling the Knicks by the end of next season, assuming we all like the new owner?

[The G Man]

Ariza to Phoenix for $15M/1 is a big blow to Houston. The Rockets had to give CP3 four years at higher salaries than Harden each year.

If Kawhi doesn't get traded to the Lakers, the Warriors will be big favorites to return to the finals for the fifth consecutive time.

One more thing for dreamers. Rich Kleiman, a life-long die-hard Knicks fan, is KD's agent

Melo is definitely going to be sent packing. The Thunder payroll with taxes is $290M after re-signing PG and Grant but drops to $180M if they stretch Melo.

[Harold Baines]

Melo is definitely going to be sent packing. The Thunder payroll with taxes is $290M after re-signing PG and Grant but drops to $180M if they stretch Melo.

Who would want him at this point? Even the once plus side of his game is gone, and he lacks the self-awareness to change in any way.

George staying in OKC restores just a little faith in humanity.

[The G Man]

Melo is definitely going to be sent packing. The Thunder payroll with taxes is $290M after re-signing PG and Grant but drops to $180M if they stretch Melo.

Who would want him at this point?

Only a bad GM but there are a few of them. The Wizards?