2015 NBA Draft and Free Agency

[Gil Dobie]

It's looking more and more like the Wolves are taking Karl-Anthony Towns. Never know what's going to happen draft day. One thing for sure, it's better to have a basketball guy pick in the draft over David (Jonny Flynn over Steph Curry) Kahn.

[bluehenbillk]

The Sixers will find a way to screw things up...

[clenz]

The Sixers will find a way to screw things up...

It's part of their 80 year plan to suck and draft someone really tall every year

[grizband]

Yeah, is it screwing up if you're not really trying?

[Gil Dobie]

Being Reported that Towns is the #1 pick. Also hearing the Wolves are dumping Anthony Bennett.

Pioneer Press Link

Karl-Anthony Towns reportedly left Minneapolis after a workout with the Timberwolves last weekend that he will be the first overall pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.

According to SNY.tv, an unidentified source said, "It's done, he's going to Minnesota."

The Kentucky center and near-consensus No. 1 pick worked out at the Wolves' practice facility across the street from Target Center on Friday and Saturday.

Duke post Jahlil Okafor and Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell, who are also considered top picks, also worked out for the Wolves last week, and Wolves executives were seen with Russell at Thursday's Twins game.

SNY.tv's source is quoted as saying Wolves president of basketball operations "Flip Saunders was big on Jahlil Okafor for a minute there, and after Karl came in, he decided to work out for them. He only worked out for them, and it's a wrap. It's a wrap. They just told him they're going to take him No. 1."

[GannonFan]

It should work out for the Sixers either way then - I never wanted Towns, but I would take Okafor if he's there (kind of like Embiid, so insurance if Embiid never is healthy, plus he's a better post player offensively than Embiid and pairs up with with Noels) and I would take Russell if he's there since I think he's the shooter they need.

[Gil Dobie]

Rumors the Lakers are offering their #2 pick, Randle and Clarkson for Cousins. Vlade says it's not happening though.

[Gil Dobie]

Lakers are considering Okafor a PF at 6' 9.5".

Link
Unfortunately for the Lakers, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal won’t be walking through that door.

Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, regarded as their obvious choice at No. 2 in the draft, won’t be next in their line of great centers unless he grows or the NBA shrinks.

Sparing themselves any illusions, the Lakers regard the 6-9 1/2 Okafor as more of a power forward than a center, league sources say.

With No. 1 Minnesota expected to take Karl Towns, Okafor may still be the Lakers’ pick–and would play center for them–but they would take him knowing he’ll be undersized, if a prodigy as a post player, compared to a full-size center like Towns.

[Gil Dobie]

Timberwolves get Towns with the first pick and Tyus Jones in a trade with Cleveland. The last trade with Cleveland worked out pretty good for the Wolves. Love may end up in Portland.

[clenz]

Timberwolves get Towns with the first pick and Tyus Jones in a trade with Cleveland. The last trade with Cleveland worked out pretty good for the Wolves. Love may end up in Portland.

Wolves fleeced Cleveland on yet another trade.

[Gil Dobie]

Timberwolves get Towns with the first pick and Tyus Jones in a trade with Cleveland. The last trade with Cleveland worked out pretty good for the Wolves. Love may end up in Portland.

Wolves fleeced Cleveland on yet another trade.

They Kevin Loved them again.

[Gil Dobie]

Scathing article on Aldridge coming from the Oregonian

Link

[Seahawks08]

So it's either the Spurs, Warriors, or Cavs next year. The rest of the NBA can go home.

[dbackjon]

So it's either the Spurs, Warriors, or Cavs next year. The rest of the NBA can go home.

And maybe the Clippers.


But 99% likely, barring a rash of injuries, that one of those teams will win.

[Gil Dobie]

So it's either the Spurs, Warriors, or Cavs next year. The rest of the NBA can go home.

And maybe the Clippers.


But 99% likely, barring a rash of injuries, that one of those teams will win.

OKC could be in the mix too. Wild Wild West

[clenz]

Minnesota for the 8 seed...calling it now

[Gil Dobie]

And now David West to the Spurs!

[clenz]

Bucks on the move?
T'Wolves finally to the east?

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/06/milwau ... na-funding" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Milwaukee Bucks president Peter Feigin said Monday that the NBA could buy the franchise and relocate it if Wisconsin's state legislature does not approve public funding for a new arena in Milwaukee.

Addressing the legislature's finance committee at an informal hearing, Feigin warned that the NBA could purchase the team and move it “Las Vegas or Seattle,” according to the Milwaukee Business Journal.

The Bucks hope to begin construction on their new arena this year but are waiting for the state to approve $250 million in public funds. Construction needs to begin by October or November to prevent the NBA from beginning a search for new owners, Feigin said.

The Bucks' lease at their current arena expires in 2017 and the NBA does not want the team to extend it, Feigin said.

The arena is expected to cost $500 million to build, with Bucks ownership contributing $150 million. Former Bucks owner Herb Kohl, an ex-United States senator, will pay $100 million. The remaining $250 million will be publicly funded, including up to $220 million potentially coming from the so-called “jock tax.”

Because of its aging arena and small market, Milwaukee has long been rumored as a franchise that could be relocated. When the team was sold last April, new owners Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry vowed to keep the team in Milwaukee.

Memphis would be the hold up on the T'Wolves moving east

[GannonFan]

Bucks on the move?
T'Wolves finally to the east?

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/06/milwau ... na-funding" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Milwaukee Bucks president Peter Feigin said Monday that the NBA could buy the franchise and relocate it if Wisconsin's state legislature does not approve public funding for a new arena in Milwaukee.

Addressing the legislature's finance committee at an informal hearing, Feigin warned that the NBA could purchase the team and move it “Las Vegas or Seattle,” according to the Milwaukee Business Journal.

The Bucks hope to begin construction on their new arena this year but are waiting for the state to approve $250 million in public funds. Construction needs to begin by October or November to prevent the NBA from beginning a search for new owners, Feigin said.

The Bucks' lease at their current arena expires in 2017 and the NBA does not want the team to extend it, Feigin said.

The arena is expected to cost $500 million to build, with Bucks ownership contributing $150 million. Former Bucks owner Herb Kohl, an ex-United States senator, will pay $100 million. The remaining $250 million will be publicly funded, including up to $220 million potentially coming from the so-called “jock tax.”

Because of its aging arena and small market, Milwaukee has long been rumored as a franchise that could be relocated. When the team was sold last April, new owners Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry vowed to keep the team in Milwaukee.

Memphis would be the hold up on the T'Wolves moving east

They could be, but Memphis works well with New Orleans and the Texas teams. If the Bucks move, that would create a gap in the Central Divsion, and Minnesota does fill that better geographically than Memphis would. If you move Memphis it might mean you have to move a third team, maybe OKC, to fill Memphis's spot and have the Bucks take OKC's spot in that division. Minnesota moving would be easier.

[clenz]

Bucks on the move?
T'Wolves finally to the east?


Memphis would be the hold up on the T'Wolves moving east

They could be, but Memphis works well with New Orleans and the Texas teams. If the Bucks move, that would create a gap in the Central Divsion, and Minnesota does fill that better geographically than Memphis would. If you move Memphis it might mean you have to move a third team, maybe OKC, to fill Memphis's spot and have the Bucks take OKC's spot in that division. Minnesota moving would be easier.

I know Minnesota has, for some time, wanted into the East for geography reasons. A division with OKC, Portland, Utah and Denver just doesn't do it for Minnesota compared to Chicago (share NFL, NHL and MLB conference and divisions with), Indy and Detroit (share NFL and MLB conference and divisions with used to share NHL) and Cleveland (share baseball division).

The longest trip in that Division is Cleveland - less than 2 hours by plane - is closer in air travel and road miles than the closest team in their current division.

Along with the geography/natural rivals it moves the team to the Eastern Conference, where they'd have a much better chance to compete for a playoff spot. Last years Wolves team wasn't any/much worse than the Bucks, a playoff team in the East

The win%, point differential, fg%, etc... were all better against the East as well

[GannonFan]

They could be, but Memphis works well with New Orleans and the Texas teams. If the Bucks move, that would create a gap in the Central Divsion, and Minnesota does fill that better geographically than Memphis would. If you move Memphis it might mean you have to move a third team, maybe OKC, to fill Memphis's spot and have the Bucks take OKC's spot in that division. Minnesota moving would be easier.

I know Minnesota has, for some time, wanted into the East for geography reasons. A division with OKC, Portland, Utah and Denver just doesn't do it for Minnesota compared to Chicago (share NFL, NHL and MLB conference and divisions with), Indy and Detroit (share NFL and MLB conference and divisions with used to share NHL) and Cleveland.

The longest trip in that Division is Cleveland - less than 2 hours by plane - is closer in air travel and road miles than the closest team in their current division.

Along with the geography/natural rivals it moves the team to the Eastern Conference, where they'd have a much better chance to compete for a playoff spot. Last years Wolves team wasn't any/much worse than the Bucks, a playoff team in the East

I don't disagree, and that's why I think if the Bucks moved it would be easy to switch Minnesota to the East. I think they fit better than Memphis does since Memphis serves a purpose in the West by allowing a full division of teams in the LA/TX area.

[GannonFan]

Oh, and Okafor is looking mighty fine for the Sixers in the summer league so far. Basically a steal for the Sixers at #3 - Okafor was the prize of the draft from last year up until the few weeks leading up to the draft. The kid's the real deal, not crazy to think that he could get close to 20/10 as an average in his first year. Come 2017-18, watch out for the Sixers.

[Gil Dobie]

Looks like the Timberwolves finally made the right choice with Towns being rookie of the year.

[GannonFan]

Looks like the Timberwolves finally made the right choice with Towns being rookie of the year.

Don't think they had a chance to mess it up - both Towns and Okafor will be stars in the league for the next decade.