2017 NBA Free Agency

[Grizalltheway]

Never has the talent discrepancy between the east and west been higher.

I knew this would happen after we killed Tupac.

I thought that was cancelled out with Biggie?

[93henfan]

I knew this would happen after we killed Tupac.

I thought that was cancelled out with Biggie?

No, that's when it started going downhill for us east coast niggaz.

[Gil Dobie]

Still talk of the Timberwolves doing a trade of Aldrich and a draft pick for Miles.

[Gil Dobie]

Kyrie has the Timberwolves on his wish list, and they could use a point guard. I would trade Wiggins to get him.

[Gil Dobie]

Kyrie has the Timberwolves on his wish list, and they could use a point guard. I would trade Wiggins to get him.

I remember Jimmy Butler saying there was a player better than himself, that would be willing to join the Wolves. Butler also said Irving told Butler not to go to Cleveland, as everything was messed up there.

[clenz]

Kyrie should have pulled his a while back when moves could have been made to get him - Rubio, Deng plus $. Now? It would have to involve sending Wiggins "back" to Cleveland. That's a hard no.

Teague could be trade bait but he can't be traded until Dec 15.

I saw an interesting proposition that involved 4 teams that worked with cap numbers. Wolves get Kyrie, Cavs get Melo and then Deng and a few other players are swapped between New York and Houston

[Gil Dobie]

Kyrie should have pulled his a while back when moves could have been made to get him - Rubio, Deng plus $. Now? It would have to involve sending Wiggins "back" to Cleveland. That's a hard no.

Teague could be trade bait but he can't be traded until Dec 15.

I saw an interesting proposition that involved 4 teams that worked with cap numbers. Wolves get Kyrie, Cavs get Melo and then Deng and a few other players are swapped between New York and Houston

Wonder if this is being orchestrated by Lebron. Kyrie states he wants to be traded and the Cavs get Melo. IMO, Kyrie is way better than Melo, but if the Wolves get him in a swap, I'm fine with that, especially if they just give up Deng and maybe Aldrich and others from the bench. Still like Tyus on the Wolves though, for the local appeal.

[clenz]

Here's the deal I saw earlier.



That's a lot of moving parts to make happen but is the best case scenario for Minnesota.

This also allows them to use Teague or Tyus as trade bait come deadline time

I'd rather keep Tyus as well. A decade younger, local draw, and a serviceable back up.

Irving- Teague - Jones
Butler - Crawford
Wiggins
Gibson - Bjelica
KAT - Aldrich/Deng (which ever isn't traded. I'd like to keep Deng but won't be able too if involved with Irving) - Patton

Still need wing depth but Irving can swing to the 2 and Butler and go to the wing to create a rest rotation that way.

Bazz is still sitting out there as a free agent. Wolves can't offer him what he wants but maybe he'd take less to be back with that kind of roster.

As they sit now the Wolves are a 3-6 seed. Irving can make it a 2-3 seed.

[Gil Dobie]

Here's the deal I saw earlier.



That's a lot of moving parts to make happen but is the best case scenario for Minnesota.

This also allows them to use Teague or Tyus as trade bait come deadline time

I'd rather keep Tyus as well. A decade younger, local draw, and a serviceable back up.

Irving- Teague - Jones
Butler - Crawford
Wiggins
Gibson - Bjelica
KAT - Aldrich/Deng (which ever isn't traded. I'd like to keep Deng but won't be able too if involved with Irving) - Patton

Still need wing depth but Irving can swing to the 2 and Butler and go to the wing to create a rest rotation that way.

Bazz is still sitting out there as a free agent. Wolves can't offer him what he wants but maybe he'd take less to be back with that kind of roster.

As they sit now the Wolves are a 3-6 seed. Irving can make it a 2-3 seed.

I could see Timberwolves replacing Jones with a draft pick they have for next year. Jones would probably thrive playing with Lebron.

[clenz]

I'm so torn on the potential of losing Wiggins for Irving. The fact we kept Wiggins while picking up Butler was huge. He's 21. So much upside. We could lock him up for like 6 years with his next contract.

On the flip side - Kyrie, Butler and Kat is noice.

[Gil Dobie]

Windhorst, who appears to have the inside scoop at Cleveland, thinks the Cavs are after Wiggins, and of course a few throw in players.

[Gil Dobie]

Latest on Irving, Minnesota and Phoenix are talking to Cleveland.

[clenz]

Latest on Irving, Minnesota and Phoenix are talking to Cleveland.

It sounds like those are the only two teams with pieces to get him.

I'm not sure the Wolves want to give up Wiggins - and I'm not sure most of the fan base does either. If there was more wing depth, and Kyrie would commit to a long term deal, it'd be one thing but the wing depth isn't there. Though I suppose Teague can run point, Kyrie is as much a 2 as he is a 1 and Jimmy can play the 3.

The Wolves also don't have a full roster, which makes a 3-1 difficult. I've heard rumors that Minnesota/Cleveland might be able to work a deal for Gorgui Dieng, Tyus Jones, Cole Aldrich, and presumably, a draft pick of some sort. The money works, but that is a massive depth killer.

[Gil Dobie]

A couple questions about Irving. How good is he and will he be injury free?

[tribe_pride]

A couple questions about Irving. How good is he and will he be injury free?

1st question is fair regarding whether he can lead a team

2nd one though, in 3 of the past 4 years he has played 71+ games which is as good as many other stars. At least some of games not played in the 71+ game years were "resting" games.

[Gil Dobie]

Some crazy stories out there, like the one that Lebron discussed the trade with Irving before he talked to ownership.

[Gil Dobie]

Steph mocking Lebron at Harrison Barnes wedding as Irving laughs.

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[Gil Dobie]

Talk now of Irving to the Wolves in December, when Jeff Teague is eligible to be traded.

[clenz]

Talk now of Irving to the Wolves in December, when Jeff Teague is eligible to be traded.

Makes the most sense.

It allows Wiggins his max deal and staying
It allows the Wolves to make room, cap and roster wise, by unloading Teague. At that point Deng, Aldrich or someone else will be able to be unloaded as well.

[89Hen]

Watching the snail trail last night I noticed that there are now a TON of NBA games on Christmas day. Let me ask you NBA fans... do you look forward to these? I can't think of a worse thing to do on Christmas than watch the NBA. I think I'd rather watch Bob Ross paint for 8 hours than watch a single game.

Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors (3 p.m. ET, ABC)
Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics (5:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

[Gil Dobie]

Watching the snail trail last night I noticed that there are now a TON of NBA games on Christmas day. Let me ask you NBA fans... do you look forward to these? I can't think of a worse thing to do on Christmas than watch the NBA. I think I'd rather watch Bob Ross paint for 8 hours than watch a single game.

Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors (3 p.m. ET, ABC)
Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics (5:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

Great basketball day and usually some great match ups. The only game that might suck, is the first one. Only a couple good teams on the least coast. I get it, you are not interested in basketball, so it's not interesting to you. I played basketball in high school, intramural and city league. Enjoy the games.

I've had NHL and NBA season tickets in the past and I'm not going to bash the NHL to make the NBA look better, like some people do. To each his own.

[89Hen]

I've had NHL and NBA season tickets in the past and I'm not going to bash the NHL to make the NBA look better, like some people do. To each his own.

Yes, I dislike basketball for several reasons. I just wonder if many people really look forward to five regular season games on Christmas day (all meaningless games). Honestly, I think the NFL has possibly overdone Thanksgiving. I loved having the Lions and Cowboys host a game each during the day. That was plenty and the third night game seems too much IMO.

NHL? Not really relevant in this discussion, but since you mention it... they too have overdone the outdoor games. One game on New Year's Day was perfect. To now have 3-4 outdoor games a year has watered it down.

[Gil Dobie]

I've had NHL and NBA season tickets in the past and I'm not going to bash the NHL to make the NBA look better, like some people do. To each his own.

Yes, I dislike basketball for several reasons. I just wonder if many people really look forward to five regular season games on Christmas day (all meaningless games). Honestly, I think the NFL has possibly overdone Thanksgiving. I loved having the Lions and Cowboys host a game each during the day. That was plenty and the third night game seems too much IMO.

NHL? Not really relevant in this discussion, but since you mention it... they too have overdone the outdoor games. One game on New Year's Day was perfect. To now have 3-4 outdoor games a year has watered it down.

I wouldn't watch all 5 games. Maybe Golden State and Timberwolves games. I can watch most sports, except made up stuff like rhythmic gymnastics.

I'll take a line from Jim McKay: the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat... the human drama of athletic competition.

[clenz]

Last years Christmas day game ratings averaged about a 3 or 4 overnight neilson rating.

Lakers Clippers and Wolves Thunder were just a 1.1 each though.

Wolves Lakers will be much higher this year. You've got the Ball family and the fact the Wolves should be pretty fucking good.

[GannonFan]

I've had NHL and NBA season tickets in the past and I'm not going to bash the NHL to make the NBA look better, like some people do. To each his own.

Yes, I dislike basketball for several reasons. I just wonder if many people really look forward to five regular season games on Christmas day (all meaningless games). Honestly, I think the NFL has possibly overdone Thanksgiving. I loved having the Lions and Cowboys host a game each during the day. That was plenty and the third night game seems too much IMO.

NHL? Not really relevant in this discussion, but since you mention it... they too have overdone the outdoor games. One game on New Year's Day was perfect. To now have 3-4 outdoor games a year has watered it down.

The people that really love the NBA love the Christmas games. I'm not that ardent of a fan as they are, but with the Sixers becoming relevant again I have to say we're likely to watch the Sixers/Knicks game. I have noticed the kids are much more into the NBA than I am - they already know when the NBA 2k18 game is coming out (as opposed to Madden which skews to an older demographic than the NBA game). The NBA is in an upswing right now, hard to deny that.