In-season NBA news thread

Auger34

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lovegtm

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That was my first thought. If that's the case, there's really nothing (short of him being banned for life) that's off the table.
I mean....if that story is true, it crosses into some incredibly dangerous territory. Can't have a guy like that in the league, on a number of levels.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I would believe that story more if known fabricator, hometeam fanboy, and unethical reporter Bob Kravitz were not a key source of info. His track record literally makes it more likely he is wrong or misstating something than that it’s quality reporting.

that in no way excuses possible underlying conduct, but I need someone credible to be associated with it before I really consider it anything more than a random messageboarder report. If Amick clarifies what is his reporting that would be different

of course if NBA is going to act on it they will do a real investigation
 

TrapperAB

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Silver didn’t have to say “we found new info” when reporters kept asking about Ja. He could have been tight-lipped and insisted that the league wanted to focus on the Finals, and the Morant situation would become the focus after the champ was crowned. That he said what he said is pretty damn damning.

They had to have found something significant for Silver to say anything at all. So it’s the parking lot or something like it. Which is all kinds of fucked up.

I’m guessing a full season suspension, with a “do anything like this again and you’re banned for life” addendum.

(And yet, with a sports league and players union involved, punishments are rarely as severe as I expect them to be, which means a half a season and vague language around what happens with another offense.)
 

DannyDarwinism

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I would believe that story more if known fabricator, hometeam fanboy, and unethical reporter Bob Kravitz were not a key source of info. His track record literally makes it more likely he is wrong or misstating something than that it’s quality reporting.

that in no way excuses possible underlying conduct, but I need someone credible to be associated with it before I really consider it anything more than a random messageboarder report. If Amick clarifies what is his reporting that would be different

of course if NBA is going to act on it they will do a real investigation
Kravitz aside, the league confirmed they did an investigation after members of the Pacers organization complained, and several members of Ja’s entourage was banned from games as a result:

“NBA Security and league investigators conducted an investigation interviewing numerous eyewitnesses and reviewing video surveillance following allegations made by the Indiana Pacers organization regarding a postgame incident on Jan. 29. While we substantiated that a postgame situation arose that was confrontational, based on interviews and other evidence gathered, we could not corroborate that any individual threatened others with a weapon,” league spokesperson Mike Bass said told The Athletic. “Certain individuals involved in the postgame situation and a related matter during the game that night have been subsequently banned from attending games in the arena. If additional information becomes available related to the postgame situation, the league office will conduct a further review.”
 

Tony C

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Even if it's less than a full season suspension, I very much hope it includes equivalent suspension for the playoffs -- i.e, if he's out for half the season he should also be out for half the playoffs.
 

the moops

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Even if it's less than a full season suspension, I very much hope it includes equivalent suspension for the playoffs -- i.e, if he's out for half the season he should also be out for half the playoffs.
How does one get suspended for 1/2 of the playoffs when you never know how many playoff games one is going to play?
 

TrapperAB

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Every other game? Just the road games?
It's a peculiar, yet intriguing, conundrum, right? When the players see the regular season as an inconvenience, and believe that the playoffs are all that really matter, a 40-60 game suspension doesn't mean much. Sure, it's a lot of money... and if the player is good enough, the team might be in a precarious position in the standings... but 20 games is enough to prep for the playoffs, and then you've possibly got a really dangerous 8 seed on your hands.

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense for the league to suspend Morant for a year (including the playoffs). Only way for the punishment to have any bite. And if Silver is serious about keeping the NBA and its players away from being linked with gun/gang culture, then he needs to come down hard.
 

Cellar-Door

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lol, just realized on that Chris Haynes piece.... LeBron was ineligible to be traded last year because of the CBA extension rules.... so either someone in DAL leaked they don't know how the CBA works (doubtful) or Haynes just reposted a text from Klutch or somebody without bothering to check if it was possible.
 

ifmanis5

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In case you were wondering... Not a merger like the PGA but growing foreign investment was greenlit.
View: https://twitter.com/rwindrem/status/1666126229613817887

NBA recently changed its investment rules to specifically permit sovereign wealth funds to buy pieces of its franchises. NBA franchises are growing in value, have been great investments. By broadening who can invest, it lets owners take big profits. (Emir of Qatar big hoops fan
 

PedroKsBambino

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Really interesting they value him such that waiving him makes sense for them. Not sure they are wrong, but still interesting.

Paul also has an intersting choice - if he wants a title, he has a small set of obvious options. As the president of NBAPA, though, he has some incentive to maximize salary which is a completely different set of teams.

We'll see what he does---I don't judge him either way, but will be quite interesting. I'm not sure there is a 'goldilocks' option but perhaps someone will suggest one...is there a sign and trade option perhaps?
 

Swedgin

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Really interesting they value him such that waiving him makes sense for them. Not sure they are wrong, but still interesting.

Paul also has an intersting choice - if he wants a title, he has a small set of obvious options. As the president of NBAPA, though, he has some incentive to maximize salary which is a completely different set of teams.

We'll see what he does---I don't judge him either way, but will be quite interesting. I'm not sure there is a 'goldilocks' option but perhaps someone will suggest one...is there a sign and trade option perhaps?
Worth noting that neither Shams or Woj are on the same page as Haynes. They are both reporting that Paul and the Suns are in discussions about his future with the team and that several options are on the table.
 

Cellar-Door

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Really interesting they value him such that waiving him makes sense for them. Not sure they are wrong, but still interesting.

Paul also has an intersting choice - if he wants a title, he has a small set of obvious options. As the president of NBAPA, though, he has some incentive to maximize salary which is a completely different set of teams.

We'll see what he does---I don't judge him either way, but will be quite interesting. I'm not sure there is a 'goldilocks' option but perhaps someone will suggest one...is there a sign and trade option perhaps?
NBA has less incentive to maximize dollars compared to other sports because the total $ is the same not matter what and the max is the max, so unlike say baseball or Football where things like $ and guarantees can help set markets/standards for other players, in the NBA the rules around contracts are so set that no individual changes anything for anyone else.
 

benhogan

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As the president of NBAPA, though, he has some incentive to maximize salary which is a completely different set of teams.

We'll see what he does---I don't judge him either way, but will be quite interesting. I'm not sure there is a 'goldilocks' option but perhaps someone will suggest one...is there a sign and trade option perhaps?
NBAPA
CJ McCollum
, President.
Grant Williams, First Vice President.
Harrison Barnes, Secretary-Treasurer.

Chris Paul will continue to do what he has always done. Look out for Chris Paul
 

Cellar-Door

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An interesting thought kicking around NBA twitter writers.....

If the Suns actually waive Paul (they haven't yet)..... the Spurs should just claim him. Why not? They have to add a ton of salary to meet the higher floor next year, there isn't much of anything for FA that would want to go there and are on their timeline, and a vet PG to help Wemby and company develop might be useful.
 

Justthetippett

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An interesting thought kicking around NBA twitter writers.....

If the Suns actually waive Paul (they haven't yet)..... the Spurs should just claim him. Why not? They have to add a ton of salary to meet the higher floor next year, there isn't much of anything for FA that would want to go there and are on their timeline, and a vet PG to help Wemby and company develop might be useful.
This would be great for SA. But for Paul, doesn't he want to keep chasing that ring? I'm not sure he'd be psyched. Lakers or something would make more sense for him.
 

PedroKsBambino

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NBA has less incentive to maximize dollars compared to other sports because the total $ is the same not matter what and the max is the max, so unlike say baseball or Football where things like $ and guarantees can help set markets/standards for other players, in the NBA the rules around contracts are so set that no individual changes anything for anyone else.
That's true of max guys---but I observe that many other salary levels have 'precedents' and that's generally how the connected guys they refer to players in tiers or by comps. So as I see it, it's not different than NFL other than the top being capped (which I agree is a big difference)

This is a more interesting question going foward too, because some of the cap guys believe the new CBA is going to gut the middle class and create a 'stars and scrubs' like salary structure. Too soon to say, but getting some solid mid-tier contracts out there would be good for players generally
 

Cellar-Door

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This would be great for SA. But for Paul, doesn't he want to keep chasing that ring? I'm not sure he'd be psyched. Lakers or something would make more sense for him.
What he wants wouldn't really come into it... oh sure he could threaten to retire or something, but the claim just gives SA his contract. I would guess avoiding a claim by HOU/SA, etc. is probably one part of the Suns' leverage.
 

nattysez

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I'm still wrapping my mind around this. The value for OKC seems too low.

In a rare trade involving an NBA Finals participant, the Denver Nuggets are acquiring a 2024 first- and second-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick in a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder for a protected 2029 first-round pick, sources told ESPN on Friday.

As the Nuggets try to maximize this championship window, they'll get the least favorable of Oklahoma City's first-round picks in the 2024 draft, and the 37th pick in the June 22 draft, sources told ESPN.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37826075/sources-nuggets-get-package-picks-deal-thunder
 

Euclis20

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I imagine the pick is lightly protected in 2029. Basically OKC has so many draft picks and assets now, they can package them for a shot at a potentially juicy pick in 2029 if the Nuggets are bad by then.
Yeah, OKC isn't going to have a ton of developmental minutes available next year. They've got a ton of young talent already on the roster, plus Holmgren should be back, and they've still got a couple of picks this year (and they may actually want to start winning games at some point, not throw minutes at someone drafted late in the 1st round just because). They could have held the pick and used it as part of a major trade package for an actual star, but it makes some sense that they traded it for a lotterly ticket that could pay out depending on how the Jokic/Murray core looks in a few years (those two will be 33 and 31, maybe not the worst bet in the world).
 

HomeRunBaker

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This would be great for SA. But for Paul, doesn't he want to keep chasing that ring? I'm not sure he'd be psyched. Lakers or something would make more sense for him.
Yeah stuff like that isn't going to happen to someone like Paul. Maybe he can finally stick it to Stern's grave by finally ending up a Laker.
 

JM3

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The Thunder still have 12 & 50 this year, & next year they'll have the best 3 1sts between Thunder/Rockets (top 4 protected)/Clippers/Jazz (top 10 protected) & the Nuggets get the worst.

So it makes a fair amount of sense, if the '29 protection is light enough.

It would backfire pretty hard if the Clippers & Thunder aren't very good & the other 2 don't convey, though.
 

BigMike

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The Thunder still have 12 & 50 this year, & next year they'll have the best 3 1sts between Thunder/Rockets (top 4 protected)/Clippers/Jazz (top 10 protected) & the Nuggets get the worst.

So it makes a fair amount of sense, if the '29 protection is light enough.

It would backfire pretty hard if the Clippers & Thunder aren't very good & the other 2 don't convey, though.
I am somewhat surprised they gave up 37 instead of 50 this year, but ultimately not sure it matter much, and could see why Denver would want 37.

With the new CBA, have a steady stream of first round picks is going to be of value. Somewhat dependent on what the protections are on the future Denver pick. Looks like a good deal for both teams
 

TripleOT

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djbayko

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Forgive me if this is in one of the other threads already. This has been making the rounds lately. For all you SAS haters like me, this is gold.

SAS: "Jokic isn't known for having some kind of dominant post game. It's not his game".
JJ Redick: "Stephen A., we have got 10 years of tracking data. You know what the most efficient half court play is? In 10 years? A Nikola Jokic post-up."

Here's the kicker. After Redick calls him out on this, SAS says that Jokic reminds him more of a player like Kevin McHale -- only one of the greatest post players in the history of the NBA.

View: https://streamable.com/3cfmj4
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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I'm still wrapping my mind around this. The value for OKC seems too low.



https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37826075/sources-nuggets-get-package-picks-deal-thunder
OKC seems to have passed the break-even point where they have little room for additional picks with the glut of young talent. And the rest of the league is aware of this and is probably asking for 75 cents on the dollar for their near-term picks. It's either an overseas stash pick or trade them (non-lotto picks) off to spread their portfolio over future drafts.
 

chilidawg

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Forgive me if this is in one of the other threads already. This has been making the rounds lately. For all you SAS haters like me, this is gold.

SAS: "Jokic isn't known for having some kind of dominant post game. It's not his game".
JJ Redick: "Stephen A., we have got 10 years of tracking data. You know what the most efficient half court play is? In 10 years? A Nikola Jokic post-up."

Here's the kicker. After Redick calls him out on this, SAS says that Jokic reminds him more of a player like Kevin McHale -- only one of the greatest post players in the history of the NBA.

View: https://streamable.com/3cfmj4
That SAS has a prominent role in society makes me sure the end is nigh.
 

HomeRunBaker

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That SAS has a prominent role in society makes me sure the end is nigh.
Speaking of JJ, he had Doris Burke on his Pod this week. At the end, he questioned her feelings on Celtics fans believing she was a Sixers homer. The meat and potatoes around her response was that the arena was so loud when Philly scored that she had to raise her voice to rise above the crowd whereas she could speak in normal tone when Boston scored.
 

nighthob

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I'm still wrapping my mind around this. The value for OKC seems too low.
Have you forgotten what happened to Ainge at the end? When he had so many firsts backed up that he couldn't get value for them? The Thunder can't afford to add all those players over the next two years to a roster already overloaded with development projects. So now they're in the phase where they're sending them out in hopes that a future pick produces something.