NBA 20-21, COVID and stuff

[Gil Dobie]

If he's still there next year.

He's likely here now - it was either him or the coach, and they fired the coach. Besides, it was always going to be a tall order not to be here next year - that $30M+ cap hit, even if he was traded, would've at least doubled the highest historical cap hit. He's here for next year and he gets the chance to prove that Pederson was purposely hindering his play, or not.

Hurts look pretty good too. But the O-Line could use some help and an upgrade at running back and receiver. Probably depends on who the new coach is.

[GannonFan]

He's likely here now - it was either him or the coach, and they fired the coach. Besides, it was always going to be a tall order not to be here next year - that $30M+ cap hit, even if he was traded, would've at least doubled the highest historical cap hit. He's here for next year and he gets the chance to prove that Pederson was purposely hindering his play, or not.

Hurts look pretty good too. But the O-Line could use some help and an upgrade at running back and receiver. Probably depends on who the new coach is.

Nothing wrong with Miles Sanders.

[Gil Dobie]

Hurts look pretty good too. But the O-Line could use some help and an upgrade at running back and receiver. Probably depends on who the new coach is.

Nothing wrong with Miles Sanders.

He's a good back, but he's not great.

[GannonFan]

Nothing wrong with Miles Sanders.

He's a good back, but he's not great.

They're not upgrading that position through the draft though. Not this year.

[JALMOND]

Details being worked out, but Harden is out in Houston. Sounds like,

Harden to Nets
Levert to Pacers
Oladipo to Rockets
Jared Allen to Cavs

Other players and picks to be named soon.

[Gil Dobie]

Details being worked out, but Harden is out in Houston. Sounds like,

Harden to Nets
Levert to Pacers
Oladipo to Rockets
Jared Allen to Cavs

Other players and picks to be named soon.

Back with Durant. How will Harden and Kyrie get along? Should be interesting for sure. If it works out, they could be a good match for the Lakers.

[JALMOND]

Details being worked out, but Harden is out in Houston. Sounds like,

Harden to Nets
Levert to Pacers
Oladipo to Rockets
Jared Allen to Cavs

Other players and picks to be named soon.

From Michael Shaprio, SI.com

https://www.si.com/nba/2021/01/13/james ... uster-deal

[GannonFan]

Details being worked out, but Harden is out in Houston. Sounds like,

Harden to Nets
Levert to Pacers
Oladipo to Rockets
Jared Allen to Cavs

Other players and picks to be named soon.

Back with Durant. How will Harden and Kyrie get along? Should be interesting for sure. If it works out, they could be a good match for the Lakers.

Chemistry is a big question, not to mention off the court distractions (if Harden could get in trouble in Houston he'll have plenty of opportunities in the NYC metro area). Still a long way until the playoffs start, so we'll see.

[UNI88]

Look at the follow up from Bilnation below ...

[tweet][/tweet]

[GannonFan]

Exactly. Plenty of temptation/distraction for Harden.

Also, Houston did really well considering they were forced into trading Harden. Oladipo's a nice pickup (still a huge step down from Harden, but at least something), and they get as many picks as you could get. Sure, most won't be lottery picks, but there's still gold to find later in the first round if you're good at it.

[Gil Dobie]

Indiana gets Baby Durant and a 2nd rounder for Oladipo.

[JALMOND]

Exactly. Plenty of temptation/distraction for Harden.

Also, Houston did really well considering they were forced into trading Harden. Oladipo's a nice pickup (still a huge step down from Harden, but at least something), and they get as many picks as you could get. Sure, most won't be lottery picks, but there's still gold to find later in the first round if you're good at it.

i believe Oladipo is on an expiring contract as well. The difference between Oladipo's contract status and McCollum's is apparently what killed any chance the Blazers had in getting Harden.

Oh, and I believe this was the first "Peyton's Play Pen"...

https://www.stadiumsofprofootball.com/s ... /rca-dome/

[JALMOND]

Blazers' Nurkic fractures his right wrist, out indefinitely.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/307 ... ana-pacers

With Collins out as well, Blazers vaunted front line is now down two players.

[Gil Dobie]

Now Towns has Covid, game cancelled tonight.

[JALMOND]

Anyone interested in buying an NBA team? The values of all 30 NBA teams, per Sportico.

https://www.sportico.com/valuations/tea ... 234620502/

Blazers right in the middle at 15th. Top 5 are Knicks, Warriors, Lakers, Brooklyn and the Celtics.

[JALMOND]

Blazers' Nurkic fractures his right wrist, out indefinitely.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/307 ... ana-pacers

With Collins out as well, Blazers vaunted front line is now down two players.

McCollum out at least 4 weeks with a fracture in his foot. From Jamie Hudson, NBC Sports Northwest.

https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/tra ... roken-foot

[JALMOND]

Blazers finding out what Portland State figured out about COVID...You can do everything to keep yourself safe and ready to play, but you can't help it if your opponents want to be idiots. Blazers' game with Memphis tonight has been postponed due to COVID within the Grizzlies team.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/307 ... ct-tracing

[Gil Dobie]

Blazers finding out what Portland State figured out about COVID...You can do everything to keep yourself safe and ready to play, but you can't help it if your opponents want to be idiots. Blazers' game with Memphis tonight has been postponed due to COVID within the Grizzlies team.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/307 ... ct-tracing

Probably due to the Timberwolves or visa versa.

[JALMOND]

Blazers finding out what Portland State figured out about COVID...You can do everything to keep yourself safe and ready to play, but you can't help it if your opponents want to be idiots. Blazers' game with Memphis tonight has been postponed due to COVID within the Grizzlies team.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/307 ... ct-tracing

Probably due to the Timberwolves or visa versa.

The Grizzlies announcers mentioned the Timberwolves, but the league traced it to the game they played against the Sixers on Saturday. Interesting that the league let them play on Monday in Phoenix. Memphis has to play on MLK day, you know.

[JALMOND]

Blazers-Grizzlies game in Portland Friday is also postponed.

https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021 ... azers.html

Grizzlies next three games are postponed.

[UNI88]

Blazers-Grizzlies game in Portland Friday is also postponed.

https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021 ... azers.html

Grizzlies next three games are postponed.

Postponing games while CJ is out is good for the Blazers.

[JALMOND]

Blazers-Grizzlies game in Portland Friday is also postponed.

https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021 ... azers.html

Grizzlies next three games are postponed.

Postponing games while CJ is out is good for the Blazers.

if both are rescheduled for the second half of the season (schedule still TBD), Blazers should have both McCollum and Nurkic back.

Postponing three games at once reflects a bit of a departure from the NBA policy regarding COVID. Usually they will wait until that day's testing has been done before determining if the game will be played or not. Grizzlies must believe they will not have a full squad for a week.

[JALMOND]

Blazers starting lineup opening night...

Damian Lillard
CJ McCollum
Derrick Jones, Jr.
Robert Covington
Jusuf Nurkic

Where they are now...

Lillard, still playing relatively healthy
McCollum, out fractured foot
Jones, out sprained foot
Covington, out concussion
Nurkic, out fractured wrist

Blazers starting lineup now.

Damian Lillard
Gary Trent, Jr.
Rodney Hood
Carmelo Anthony
Enes Kanter

[Gil Dobie]

Blazers starting lineup opening night...

Damian Lillard
CJ McCollum
Derrick Jones, Jr.
Robert Covington
Jusuf Nurkic

Where they are now...

Lillard, still playing relatively healthy
McCollum, out fractured foot
Jones, out sprained foot
Covington, out concussion
Nurkic, out fractured wrist

Blazers starting lineup now.

Damian Lillard
Gary Trent, Jr.
Rodney Hood
Carmelo Anthony
Enes Kanter

Timberwolves wish they had that lineup

Start the season
Malik Beasley
D'Angelo Russell
Karl Anthony Towns
Jake Laymen
Josh Okogie

Last game
Malik Beasley
Naz Reid
Jarred Vanderbilt
Ricky Rubio
Josh Okogie

[JALMOND]

Once again, Lillard has to do everything and other teams are not letting him start. The double-teams are picking him up before half-court this season. Teams are selling out, letting anyone else beat them. And Kanter, Melo, Hood and Lillard are not strong defenders so teams are just running unchecked to the basket.

This year, we were supposed to be a fringe championship contender. Now we are just trying to survive. Lillard will want to play 40+ minutes every game and Stotts may let him, but if Lillard goes down, we're toast.