NBA Off-season 2016 thread

[Al Bundy]

The Cavs came back and smacked the very soft Warriors down. Lebron proved he was the best player by far in the league. The NBA draft on June 23rd.

1 Philadelphia 76ers
2 Los Angeles Lakers
3 Boston Celtics
4 Phoenix Suns
5 Minnesota Timberwolves
6 New Orleans Pelicans
7 Denver Nuggets
8 Sacramento Kings
9 Toronto Raptors
10 Milwaukee Bucks
11 Orlando Magic
12 Utah Jazz
13 Phoenix Suns
14 Chicago Bulls
15 Denver Nuggets
16 Boston Celtics
17 Memphis Grizzlies
18 Detroit Pistons
19 Denver Nuggets
20 Indiana Pacers
21 Atlanta Hawks
22 Charlotte Hornets
23 Boston Celtics
24 Philadelphia 76ers
25 Los Angeles Clippers
26 Philadelphia 76ers
27 Toronto Raptors
28 Phoenix Suns
29 San Antonio Spurs
30 Golden State Warriors

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by New World Order

No you're not.

Lebron's run is over before it started.

He loves this because, like he said, the pressure isn't on Lebron. He's in a no lose situation and that's how KCC wants it.

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by staylor26

He loves this because, like he said, the pressure isn't on Lebron. He's in a no lose situation and that's how KCC wants it.

It will solidify he isn't in Jordan's class.

We can finally put it to rest.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by New World Order

It will solidify he isn't in Jordan's class.

We can finally put it to rest.

What if the Cavs were to win it again?

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Kanter and Oladipo are more than capable young offensive players/scorers

They also have an offensive stretch 4 in Illyasova and an ascending defensive big in Adams.

They have a nice front court. They need wings badly, Presti should swing a trade for a good wing and they would be right back in it

I totally forgot about their new players they just got my bad. I agree with Hamas and I think they will be similar to Portland and Minnesota. If Gasol comes back healthy Memphis is probably a Top 4 team in the West again.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

What if the Cavs were to win it again?

You see it.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Stephen A Smith has been acting like a petulant child on twitter.

He should read your posts during the playoffs for pointers.

[RobBlake]

if James wins against the warriors again and goes to the finals a 7th straight time.. then he will deserve all the praise.

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

What if the Cavs were to win it again?

Would need to win 'it' more than one time.

Still, Jordan conquers Lebron in just about every category.

[chiefzilla1501]

Not sure why people are giving Durant shit, other than OKC fans, who deserve to be pissed. This isn't the same as Lebron. Durant is a good player but he's probably not going to be in the same conversation as the all-time greats like Jordan. So I don't think he'll be "demoted" on the list because he flocked toward a winner.

Unfortunately, with basketball, I really wonder how much sponsorships have to do with this too. With Durant having a massive Nike contract, I'd have to imagine they were more than nudging him to pick somewhere like Golden State. Interesting that Under Armour's golden boy and one of Nike's biggest golden boys will play for the same team.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

That's not true. Most true NBA superstars almost always resign with their teams. They may leave later when they are past their prime but most don't do what Durant is doing. He is taking the easy way out.

OKC did everything they could for him. They drafted him and built their team around him and WB. They gave him Westbrook and Harden as well. A little loyalty would be nice instead of leaving to a team that just beat you...

He doesn't want the pressure of leading an NBA team to a championship. He'd rather play with the best instead of beat the best. It's pretty obvious.

Presti got rid of Harden. Also, Oklahoma is a shithole, while CA is pretty damn nice.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

What if the Cavs were to win it again?

I personally don't think LBJ will ever be on Jordan's level. MJ is in my opinion the best player ever in any sport.

But there isn't any question that he belongs in the same conversation as all the other non-Jordan greats.

Needs to evolve his game as he ages and hasn't done that yet. It will be interesting to see where that takes him. But even with a few more championships, I don't see him besting MJ. I just don't think there's even been a clutcher player in any sport than MJ.

[KC_Connection]

If he wanted to play with the best instead of beat the best, he probably should have gone to Cleveland instead.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Wolves should offer Rubio and Muhammed for Westbrook. Presti might be dumb enough to do it.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Unfortunately, with basketball, I really wonder how much sponsorships have to do with this too. With Durant having a massive Nike contract, I'd have to imagine they were more than nudging him to pick somewhere like Golden State. Interesting that Under Armour's golden boy and one of Nike's biggest golden boys will play for the same team.

Jerry West has the magic touch. Also I am curious if Westbrook told KD he wasn't going to resign next year.

[dirk digler]

http://theundefeated.com/features/st...join-warriors/

Kevin Durant didn’t say a lot during his meeting with the Golden State Warriors last Friday. The NBA’s most coveted free agent, however, did have one particular question that he posed to the Warriors’ core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala while at a mansion in The Hamptons:

Could he mess up the Warriors’ team camaraderie and chemistry?
The very well-prepared Warriors collectively answered a question with a question and their team motto in mind.

“We asked him how many championships do you think we can win with the way the team is now? How many championships can you win without us? How many do you think we can win together?” Green told The Undefeated.

The Warriors’ motto through their 2015 NBA championship run and their devastating loss in the 2016 NBA Finals to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers was “Strength In Numbers.” And it’s that mentality that certainly played a role in Durant offering early fireworks to the NBA world on the Fourth of July with news that he would be departing the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the already supremely talented Warriors.

The Warriors not only brought their core four players, but coach Steve Kerr, general manager Bob Myers, owner Joe Lacob and assistant general manager Kirk Lacob, too, to talk to Durant. Having been USA Basketball teammates with him, Curry and Iguodala were most confident and comfortable speaking to Durant from a players’ standpoint about what life as a Warrior would be like on the court for him. Green also said they sold Durant on “culture, dynasty and style of play” with a team that won an NBA-record 73 games last season without him.

It must not be forgotten that Durant strongly had previously said winning was most important to him in his free-agency decision and a friend said he had previously inquired about Bay Area life. The Warriors also told the 2014 NBA MVP that open 3-pointers were awaiting him in Golden State, along with all their other weapons. They added that unselfishness and a will to not just win, but to win championships, was waiting for him in Oakland, California, too. With Durant, perhaps these already score-thirsty Warriors could be even more imposing than Magic Johnson’s “Showtime Lakers” or Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls.

“We told him he didn’t have to change who he is. He doesn’t have to change how he plays. We will get him shots. If he shot 40 percent from 3-point line contested, how would he shoot wide open?” Green said.

The Warriors’ meeting with Durant lasted about two hours with the “main pitch” being winning championships together, Green said. Green added that he felt very good about that meeting since the vibe in the room was perfect with the right mix of voices. Even so, Curry apparently felt it necessary to send Durant a message hours after the meeting Friday night to reassure him about his commitment to “Strength In Numbers” and unselfishness.

According to a person who saw the text messages, Curry told Durant in a text message that he could care less about who is the face of the franchise, who gets the most recognition or who sells the most shoes (Curry is with Under Armor, Durant with Nike). The two-time NBA MVP also told Durant that if Durant won the MVP award again he would be in the front row of the press conference clapping for him. In closing, Curry’s message to Durant was that all he truly cared about was winning championships and he’d like to do that as his teammate.

To push the Warriors’ sales pitch even further, Durant got a phone call from Hall of Famer and Warriors consultant Jerry West on Saturday. West had previously convinced the now retired NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. According to ESPN’s Chris Broussard, West told Durant that he would be the perfect fit for the Warriors at small forward and that West’s own 1-7 record in the NBA Finals with the Lakers still haunts him. Durant lost his lone NBA Finals appearance in 2012.

When asked what was the key to landing Durant, one high-ranking Warriors executive said: “Jerry West … Everyone telling [Durant] he’d be on equal footing. No stars.”

Green woke up on the Fourth of July liking the Warriors’ chances, but also would not have been surprised if Durant returned to Oklahoma City. Green, however, got the stunning word about Durant’s decision just “20 seconds before it went public” via a text message from his new teammate’s childhood friend and business manager, Charlie Bell. Less than a minute later, Green’s phone was wildly abuzz with congratulatory text messages.

The “Strength In Numbers” sales pitch worked as the Warriors’ immediately became next season’s championship favorite with Durant saying yes to their “brotherhood.”

“I’m excited about the opportunity to add one of the best players in the world to our team and welcome him to our brotherhood,” Green said. “This will be some of the best times of our lives and I’m looking forward to it.”