2018 NBA Catch-All - LeBron Fallout Edition

The way his whole thing has gone this season and the people around him who now apparently have a lot of influence, I think you would need to be a little desperate to trade for Kawhi.

So perfect for the Lakers then. It will be Miami all over again. LeBron, George, and Leonard and a bunch of guys. Still not enough to beat GS though.

If Kawhi is healthy, I think that Lakers club could compete with GS.

Let's talk about how awful Durant is again.

Was a FA didn't make a big scene. Legitimately fled OK for a better situation.

Sure all the uncompetitive stuff but....

Heard an analysis of KD that pointed out how much he wants to become his best basketball self. He's not Kobe or MJ looking to define his legacy by rings. He wants to be the best basketball players he can be. The person talking about this compared him to Bird as an ultimate team player, who could do tons of stuff and could fit into any scheme/team.

Personally, I love his approach. Seems much more balanced as a person than these sad old guys that lose their identity when they're done as a pro.

I really like KD as he seems to have no basketball ego. Definitely has some off-the-court tendencies that are a little odd (uses multiple twitter accounts to defend himself against randoms, for example) but on the court, very much willing to do whatever is needed without complaining.

jowner wrote:

Let's talk about how awful Durant is again.

Was a FA didn't make a big scene. Legitimately fled OK for a better situation.

Sure all the uncompetitive stuff but....

Quite different situations. 73 win team vs. lottery team. LeBron and George also going there, that's just speculation at this point.

That said I'm very disappointed in Kawhi. He comes off as petty or fragile here.

Blind_Evil wrote:
jowner wrote:

Let's talk about how awful Durant is again.

Was a FA didn't make a big scene. Legitimately fled OK for a better situation.

Sure all the uncompetitive stuff but....

Quite different situations. 73 win team vs. lottery team. LeBron and George also going there, that's just speculation at this point.

That said I'm very disappointed in Kawhi. He comes off as petty or fragile here.

The injury treatment makes a huge difference. If the Spurs messed up his treatment or advised a course of treatment that got him back short term at the potential cost of his long term health, that could be behind this.

Yeah, that would be a big deal. I just doubt it's the case. The Spurs are known for being the first team to rest players in the interest of long term health. They are one of the two teams that motivated the league to try and make rules around resting healthy players.

The other end is rumors about Kawhi's advisers. They reportedly are unprofessional, and think he's getting shorted on endorsements because he plays in San Antonio. Rather than because he doesn't speak much or show emotion on the court. I also have read that they don't think SA can build a championship team now.

Since we lack hard facts, I just lean toward the more plausible explanation. I don't think the Spurs are the kind of organization that would alienate their superstar for short term gains.

Just wanted to say for posterity, I have never been more sure of a draft thing than Trae Young being a bust.

Anyone else watching the draft?

I didn't watch any college basketball this year and I've been way too busy with family stuff recently to take in any draft coverage, so I have no idea who's good in the draft. I'm passing. I'll be curious to read about it tomorrow.

All I know is that your post about Trae Young caused me to go look him up. Look up some highlights and stuff like that. That's it.

Blind_Evil wrote:

Anyone else watching the draft?

Yes. What a f’ing disaster, starting with the over the top, game style intros for the Green Room players and their guests, to the uncomfortable interviews, Trae Young’s AC/DC inspired shorts suit, to the Footlocker add that guarantees I will never shop there. Basically, one of the most glorious drafts ever on the unintentional comedy scale.

I like the intros

Someone tell Mitt Romney that the Jazz didn't actually draft Ted Cruz.

I think the best unintentional comedy is Chauncey Billups always comparing each player to another player of the same race.

Grayson Allen to Utah? Ugh.

Stele wrote:

Grayson Allen to Utah? Ugh.

Do you harbor an irrational and blinding rage for him, like Lebron?

It makes sense to me. Quintessential Duke guy goes to coach from the Duke tree.

Dirty tripping, grabbing, fouling piece of sh*t, whiny little crybaby. Yeah plenty of rational hatred. He intentionally tried to hurt two of my players in multiple games. f*ck Grayson Allen. No way I can ever cheer for trash like him.

Also he looks like Ted Cruz. Biology didn't help him one bit there.

James Harden MVP.

Genuinely mind-blowing that, in three consecutive years, the OKC Thunder drafted three eventual MVP winners, but only managed to retain one of them.

I wonder, if they knew then what we know now, whether they'd have still split up? Then again, part of the reason the league is the way it is now is because Durant left anyway.

Seattle says, "F you, OKC!"

Thing is, Westbrook and Harden wouldn't have won MVP if they stayed together. Same as how Curry and Durant probably won't win another so long as they're playing together.

So maybe Donovan Mitchell can win rookie of the year next year.

What a joke.

Not as bad as Dwane Casey winning coach of the year...

Stele wrote:

So maybe Donovan Mitchell can win rookie of the year next year.

What a joke.

How many games did Ben Simmons play last year? How many did Mitchell play this year?

So, funny stories:

PG-13 signs a max deal with the Thunder.

CP3 reportedly signs a max deal with the Rockets.

KDTrey reportedly to sign a one plus max deal with the Warriors.

Still no word on what the Spurs will do with Kawhi or if LeBron's jaunt to LA this evening means anything as of yet.

Pretty surprised about Paul George. I hardly found their early bounce at the hands of Utah encouraging for their future. Maybe they hope to lure someone great next summer when Carmelo is off the books.

Also, I wonder how Houston plans to replace Ariza.

Same about George. I read his body language late in the playoffs as not enjoying watching the Westbrook show. Guess I read that wrong.

He definitely looked tuned out to me...