NBA 2015 Off-Season Thread

Hinkie addressed it yesterday. It's really bizarre how he explained it. Basically he has no pain, has been pain free for months and working out on it. The test they did just looked different than the others so they are trying to find out why.

Slaythe_sl said:

Couldn't be any happier with how the night went for the Wolves. Towns/Wiggins/Rubio is a solid core and I think at worst Tyus is a decent backup in the NBA. Maybe he can be enough of a floor general and a good enough shooter to make up for the lack of athleticism and be something more than that, but I definitely like him either way.

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So you still wish they'd kept Love and just let him expire? How is Lavine not part of the core?

I think Love will return. Towards the end of the season (and especially the first round of the playoffs) he was finally finding his identity on the team and making contributions. When he came back to watch from the sidelines, Cleveland really let him know that they appreciated him and it showed on his face that it made him feel welcome.

Besides, where is he going to go? Any time that can afford him won't be contending for a title for a couple of seasons. If all he cares about is winning, Cleveland is his team. If all he wants is money, Cleveland is still his team. If he wants to pad his stats all he has to do is look towards a team like the Knicks and Melo and see where that's gotten them.

I say he stays with Cleveland one more year. After that he might very well bolt but I'm feeling 8 out of 10 that he stays for another season. But the whole "Will Love stay or leave?" makes for extremely good drama and good click-bait so that's why we're getting swamped with these headlines.

I just want all the big men to end up anywhere but with the lakers.

Convo_sl said:

I just want all the big men to end up anywhere but with the lakers.

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Well if he thought Lebron treated him like an ass, Kobe would make his head explode.

My best guess is Love leaves for a team that isn't so passive-aggressive and dysfunctional as Cleveland, where he can not only put up stats, but be the star, and have a great chance at winning, and when he does Angelwatch will spin it like Love was a bitch anyhow and had no loyalty and Lebron was completely welcoming and the Cavs are better off without him.

Kobe is tough on guys, but direct and I would say fair. He has high expectations and if you fuck up he'll call you on it. If you play hard and help Kobe win, though, he's going to at least be respectful and try to get the best out of you, not conspicuously leave you out of pics on instagram and make passive-aggressive comments about you on twitter. I'm not saying Lebron would, just that's not Kobe's style. Just like Kobe would walk into management and tell them what they need to do to fix the team, not opt out and then make pussy comments like he's going to take a wait and see approach. Man up, Lebron, you pussy.... I mean, if Lebron did that kind of thing, of course, not saying he did or would!

I was actually happy that the Knicks went and took Porzingis. 7'1 big men without shoes that can shoot sure as hell do not grow on trees. His wingspan is 7'6 and he has the perfect attitude for NY (listen to his interviews). They asked him what's his favorite part about being drafted and he said that in NY they have Gyms that are open 24 hours a day unlike back at home and in Spain. Knicks are not in position to win now anyway and needed to swing for the fences. With a proper diet and weight lifting routine he can easily gain weight.

The trading shitty horrible Tim Hardaway Jr for the 19th pick to select Jerian Grant was a steal. THJR sucks nuts, can't play a lick of defense and his jumper is spotty as all hell. Grant is a do it all PG with great size (6'5), he played very well this season against Kentucky and Duke. Nice move.

Hopefully the Knicks can sign one of Aldridge, Gasol or Deandre Jordan but I doubt they will land one of them. A more realistic offseason would be signing Danny Green to play the 2, Robin Lopez at C and maybe David West (he would be big for the locker room but is on the older side). Would not mind Greg Monroe either but you would really need a defensive big to go along with him and Melo. If they sign Monroe and bring in a defensive big like Asik or Lopez then they will still have a huge hole at SG. SG position in pretty strong in this FA crop

popsicledeath_sl said:

My best guess is Love leaves for a team that isn't so passive-aggressive and dysfunctional as Cleveland, where he can not only put up stats, but be the star, and have a great chance at winning

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And which team can actually offer that? The Cavs and... A D-League team? A European team?

I'm sorry Lebron touched you in a no-no spot but you're head is up your ass.

I think it will be interesting to see how contract deals go down with Cleveland. I can see them overpaying someone like Thompson based on the idea that with Lebron, Love, and Irving maxed out they wouldn't be able to sign a free agent better than Thompson (but they can overpay for him). But, if Love goes, then they're still in a position to not get decent free agents and are stuck with an overpaid Thompson without Love.

Edit, related:Love and Lebron hanging out

Angelwatch_sl said:

And which team can actually offer that? The Cavs and... A D-League team? A European team?

I'm sorry Lebron touched you in a no-no spot but you're head is up your ass.

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First, you're acting like no other NBA team ever has a chance of winning a championship, despite the fact the last two champions were not the Cavs, nor Lebron, and in fact he lost to both of them. Now, granted, Warriors don't have the room, and Spurs don't seem to WANT Love (ouch?!). But anyone, especially in the NBA, even Lebron, will admit nothing is given and despite the odds and expectations nobody is a lock to win shit.

It's often been a knock against Love that he was just a stat hound who liked the attention of being a star. He could get far more of that from a different team. Yeah, he's said his goal is to win. Everyone says that. Even idiots like T-Mac and Melo who very clearly didn't have that insatiable need to win were smart enough to SAY that. Has Love actually done much of anything yet to prove that's actually in his makeup? I mean, didn't he already re-up with the T-Wolves once? Was it because they looked to be a sure thing? My feeling is Love wanted out, had an opportunity to do that with the Cavs when not many other opportunities were knocking, took it, thought maybe he'd get a championship in the meantime which only helps his stock, and shit went bad so I don't think it's a given he'll stay with the Cavs. Especially after being marginalized most of the season, and then getting hurt and having people say the Cavs were better off without him and that Lebron's friend Tristan who has the same agent was the better, cheaper option compared to Love. I

Couldn't he get stats, fame, money, and even winning with another franchise? Isn't it possible? Because he's not gotten many stats or recognition in Cleveland so far, that's for sure. And I don't think Love cares that much about winning he's willing to give all the rest of it up and basically become a glorified role-player who will never get much credit the way Bosh did.

So, yeah you can dismiss anyone who has anything to say about Love under the assumption they just hate Lebron, but that's a pretty awkward argument to make.

Love stays and Cavs win it all next year. My prediction

Convo_sl said:

Love stays and Cavs win it all next year. My prediction

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With or without bolstering their bench?

Wouldn't be too surprising if they stay healthy, though.

The bench would have been fine had love and Irvin stayed healthy. If they manage to just keep the team together, they are fine. As much as it sucks losing in the finals, it gave them the opportunity to analyze the strength and weaknesses of the thier roster. They will be that much better creating and solving matchup issues next year. Especially on defense.

There's no reason for Lebron to sign a multiyear deal. He's intentionally doing 1 year deals so they can sign free agents and then bird right him and go over the cap. Also he retains his pseudo-GM status with an opt out every year.