415 replies to this topic

[Jaime L]

Rhom, on 16 July 2012 - 08:15 AM, said:

I saw a quote from Melo come floating across the bottom line on either the NBA network or ESPN that said "Its not up to me if the organization wants to match a ridiculous contract like that..."


Ouch.

He may be right but it's a pretty ironic comment coming from him.

Cause let me know when Melo, with his max deal, leads his team beyond the first round of the playoffs.

Edited by Jaime L, 16 July 2012 - 11:22 AM.

[Slurktan]

Maithanet, on 16 July 2012 - 08:26 AM, said:

You can also believe that with weird contracts like the Lin 5-5-15 (million per year) deals, that there are going to be some players that are absolute POISON for the 2014 season, because they were overpaid in a single year to pry them loose from their current clubs.  If, for example, Lin develops a lingering knee issue, teams would be willing to trade 1st rounders to get rid of that contract.

That's not how the poison pill contracts work.  Well at least for the team signing them.  For example look at the Raptors 5-5-9 contract for Fields. That last year will be large if they try and trade him away.  However the signing team has their cap affected by the average of contract length, so the Raptors are out for 6.4 a year roughly as opposed to 5,5,9.  Not sure if I explained that right.

[Greywolf2375]

Rhom, on 16 July 2012 - 08:15 AM, said:

I saw a quote from Melo come floating across the bottom line on either the NBA network or ESPN that said "Its not up to me if the organization wants to match a ridiculous contract like that..."


Ouch.

Yeah, the spin is that he was talking about Houston and how they formatted the offer...but if a "clarification" has to be made...definitely ouch.

[Fez]

Nate Silver has a new piece up on Lin that boils down to "Pay him his money you stupid idiot".  I think my favorite paragraph though is this one:

Quote

As of late Monday morning, on the mere possibility that Lin might not be re-signed, MSG stock had lost about $50 million in market value — roughly as much as the salary and luxury tax that the Knicks would need to keep the dream alive for the next three years.

[Morpheus]

Mexal, on 16 July 2012 - 09:13 AM, said:

Knicks are going to suck again this year. Sigh.

Yes.
But losing Lin has very little impact on that fact either way.

[Relic]

Agree with Morph. Lin being on the team doesn't make em any better. Frankly the amount of attention Lin receieves really mystifies me.

Edited by Relic, 16 July 2012 - 07:19 PM.

[Morpheus]

I think he definitely made the Knicks fun for about 2 weeks, part of that was simply because they went from having no PG at all to having a passable PG and because Melo was out, but the Lakers and Mavs games were excellent. Teams appeared to have figured him out by the time he was injured, and there were a lot of games where he was just horrible. I don't have exceedingly high expectations for him going forward, I think he would be best as a second option behind another starting PG at this point.

I would have no problem if I was proven wrong and he plays like a star in the Rockets.

I think he chickened out at the end of last season, he had a minor injury and it looks like he  never returned out of fear of lessining his value in free agency if he played poorly in the playoffs. He is entitled to seek out the most money he can get, but not playing because he was "only 85%" is weak sauce.

[Triskele]

OK, OK.  I know it's only summer league, but Damian Lillard had a really nice second half in his debut.  Portland really needs him to be the real deal in part because he was the #6 pick and also because they have such a gaping void left in Felton's wake.

[Barristan the Boss]

FWIW, Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports says Lakers and Magic are meeting today regarding D12. Apparently Lakers are 'pushing hard' to get a contract extension commitment from Howard. Again, I stress, FWIW.

[Sir Thursday]

Trzysztof Trieślowski, on 16 July 2012 - 05:51 PM, said:

OK, OK.  I know it's only summer league, but Damian Lillard had a really nice second half in his debut.  Portland really needs him to be the real deal in part because he was the #6 pick and also because they have such a gaping void left in Felton's wake.

Felton certainly left a rather large hole .

ST

[Triskele]

Sir Thursday, on 17 July 2012 - 02:33 PM, said:

Felton certainly left a rather large hole .

ST

He really sucked balls for us.  But man, I'm excited about Lillard.  He looks like he might be legit.  I know you can't make too many conclusions just from a summer league game, but he's got the swagger.

[Morpheus]

Now the Knicks are pushing hard for Grant Hill. Do they get some kind of benefits and rewards for turning their bench into a retirement community?

UPDATE: Looks like that was old info, he signed with the Clippers.

Edited by Morpheus, 17 July 2012 - 03:30 PM.

[Jaime L]

Wizards amnesty Andary Blatche thus along with JaVale McGee and Nick Young finally scrubbing the lockerroom clean of all immature headcases ....that Grunfeld had diligently planned to build around 3 years ago. Awesome job, Ernie...glad you still work here. Wasn't like the last 3 years weren't the worst stretch in Wizards history (which is really saying something considering this franchise's history), oh wait, it totally was.

Anyway that's all history now that we have a lockerroom chock full of mature veterans ready to take John Wall and Bradley Beal under their collective wing... and teach them how to become grossly overpaid in the NBA like them.

Maybe I shouldn't be so cynical - Okafor and Ariza do actually play defense - something no Wizard has taken seriously on a night-in, night-out basis since the 1970s. This is progress...sad progress...but progress al the same.

[aeu]

Jaime L, on 17 July 2012 - 06:37 PM, said:

This is progress...sad progress...but progress al the same.

You (we?) went from having grossly overpaid players who don't care to having less grossly overpaid players who generally care. I would say that's progress indeed.

[Sir Thursday]

Trzysztof Trieślowski, on 17 July 2012 - 03:19 PM, said:

He really sucked balls for us.  But man, I'm excited about Lillard.  He looks like he might be legit.  I know you can't make too many conclusions just from a summer league game, but he's got the swagger.

I'll be interested to watch the Rockets-Blazers game tonight then! I am similarly high on the Rockets' prospects after seeing them in action - so I completely understand your Summer League optimism. Can't wait to watch Motiejunas vs. Leonard, should be a fun one. Suspect that Lillard will have his way with us at PG because Fortson (who we've been starting at PG), is a pretty horrific defender.

ST

[Relic]

Jaime L, on 17 July 2012 - 06:37 PM, said:

Wizards amnesty Andary Blatche thus along with JaVale McGee and Nick Young finally scrubbing the lockerroom clean of all immature headcases ....that Grunfeld had diligently planned to build around 3 years ago. Awesome job, Ernie...glad you still work here. Wasn't like the last 3 years weren't the worst stretch in Wizards history (which is really saying something considering this franchise's history), oh wait, it totally was.

Anyway that's all history now that we have a lockerroom chock full of mature veterans ready to take John Wall and Bradley Beal under their collective wing... and teach them how to become grossly overpaid in the NBA like them.

Maybe I shouldn't be so cynical - Okafor and Ariza do actually play defense - something no Wizard has taken seriously on a night-in, night-out basis since the 1970s. This is progress...sad progress...but progress al the same.

Honestly, your team doesn't look so bad, if your C and SF stay healthy. I say they are almost a lock to make the playoffs. If that happens i see Wall taking a few steps towards his true potential.

Edited by Relic, 17 July 2012 - 07:40 PM.

[Sir Thursday]

This Rockets-Blazers game has been really entertaining. Portland's backcourt has been fantastic (Lillard and Smith have got the gaudy points totals, but I thought Will Barton looked really good too). Houston has just been really fun to watch - as Sam Mitchell has been saying in commentary, it's great to see a team that's so willing to pass to each other. When Royce White gets it going...daaamn. There was one 40 foot underarm slingshot pass that was just out of this world. Terrence Jones and Motiejunas have been dominating Portland on the glass the number of offensive rebounds and tip-ins has just been ridiculous. Plus Lamb with his customary smooth 20 points...if it weren't for the fact that as it stands this is pretty much our first team, I'd be ecstatic about our prospects right now.

Unfortunately it appears that Nolan Smith has picked up a fairly serious injury with less than a minute left in the game. Hit his head on the stanchion I think (although it's hard to tell on the replay). I hope he's OK...seems pretty serious. He'd been playing so well, too .

ST

[Maithanet]

Jaime L, on 17 July 2012 - 06:37 PM, said:

Anyway that's all history now that we have a lockerroom chock full of mature veterans ready to take John Wall and Bradley Beal under their collective wing... and teach them how to become grossly overpaid in the NBA like them.

Maybe I shouldn't be so cynical - Okafor and Ariza do actually play defense - something no Wizard has taken seriously on a night-in, night-out basis since the 1970s. This is progress...sad progress...but progress al the same.

Meager progress is still progress!

Relic, on 17 July 2012 - 07:39 PM, said:

Honestly, your team doesn't look so bad, if your C and SF stay healthy. I say they are almost a lock to make the playoffs. If that happens i see Wall taking a few steps towards his true potential.

Not too much depth on the Wiz though, so injuries are a real threat.  But I agree that the starting 5 actually look like an NBA level of talent, which hasn't been true for a long time.

[Triskele]

ST - I didn't get to watch at all, but any scouting report on Lillard and Leonard would be appreciated

[Jaime L]

aeu, on 17 July 2012 - 06:51 PM, said:

You (we?) went from having grossly overpaid players who don't care to having less grossly overpaid players who generally care. I would say that's progress indeed.

You saying you're a Wizard fan now Aeu? Has Les Boulez worn you down over your time in DC?

Relic, on 17 July 2012 - 07:39 PM, said:

Honestly, your team doesn't look so bad, if your C and SF stay healthy. I say they are almost a lock to make the playoffs. If that happens i see Wall taking a few steps towards his true potential.

Yeah, maybe. I mean in the East we know the Heat, Bulls, Celtics, Nets, Knicks and Pacers are all almost assured to be playoff teams in some order barring drastic injuries. That leaves two spots open along with the assumption the Magic will vacate one spot (no question) and the Hawks the other (probably, although they still have Horford and Smith). I'd probably also put the 76ers in the 7th spot or slightly higher considering how well they play together and good defensive teams are always good for 41+ wins. So really it's a question of whether the Wizards can get past the Bucks or some other dark horse to steal a spot for their own.

Put a gun to my head and at this point I agree - the Wizards are most likely to be the 8th seed and the first sacrificial lamb for the Heat but I'm not too confident about it until I see this team of disparate parts able to gel and beat the teams they should beat. That said, the one reason for hope in my mind is if having professional teammates for the first time or a true running mate in Beal finally allows Wall to make the leap. That happens, I start to get excited again in Wizards basketball.