NBA 20/21 season thread

Apisith

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We’ve gone from CP3 to Russ and now to Wall. And netted out we gave up 1 first round pick and 2 pick swaps for the privilege. What a disaster.
 

nighthob

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On the bright side if Wall’s healthy this year we’ll get another pick from the Knicks when we exile him there.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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This seems like a deal aimed at improving chemistry rather than win totals even accounting for the delta between their production.

Frankly, if you are a fan of either club you should probably be fine with this trade. Its not likely to change either team's prospects this year at least. And maybe a change of scenery is beneficial for all involved.
 

Kliq

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I'll have to see how healthy Wall is, but seems like a win for Washington. Russ' contract is still bad, but he is at least healthy and will play at a pretty high level, especially if Washington can space the floor for him. I think that's a playoff team in the East, plus they get a pick.
 

Cellar-Door

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This seems like a deal aimed at improving chemistry rather than win totals even accounting for the delta between their production.

Frankly, if you are a fan of either club you should probably be fine with this trade. Its not likely to change either team's prospects this year at least. And maybe a change of scenery is beneficial for all involved.
The true winner of this deal is the strip clubs and poker rooms of HOU
 

the moops

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I'll have to see how healthy Wall is, but seems like a win for Washington. Russ' contract is still bad, but he is at least healthy and will play at a pretty high level, especially if Washington can space the floor for him. I think that's a playoff team in the East, plus they get a pick.
HOU gets the pick, not WAS
 

DannyDarwinism

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He takes a lot of shit, much of it deserved, for his shot selection and decision-making, but Russ will always be one of my favorite players from this era, so I’m excited to get to watch him more, even if his days of open court terror and tomahawk dunks are mostly past. Also, from the accounts I’ve read, he’s a thoughtful guy who generally treats people well, even when the can’t do anything for him, so he’s easy for me to root for.

If Harden ends up on Brooklyn, I’m pretty sure I’d root for the Lakers in a series against that team, which is something I never thought I’d say.
 

Average Game James

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That Washington team will score assuming Russ and Beal can share the ball somewhat, but the defense is going to be atrocious. Russ and Bertans are both brutal, and Beal/Rui/Bryant are below average at best. Washington-Atlanta games could end up 140-135 next year.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Both so flawed that it's really hard to know. That first is interesting as it's 2023, so you might be post-Beal and last year of Westbrook's contract (and thus a time he might be dealt/bought out in theory). But given protections it's still likely just a mid-1st with a little upside.

If Wall is back to being somewhat healthy he's probably closer to helping Washington actually win than Westbrook will be---to me his fit ithere s not great. But given Wall's physical uncertainty getting someone who can play and contribute for him is useful. Westbrook is so ball-dominant....that said, Wash can put Bryant/Bertans/Beal around Westbrook and that's a lot of spacing.

No idea what the Beal-Wall relationship is, but I don't love the potential of Westbrook-Beal. Maybe it works for a year or two?

I guess if you're Washington you take the shot, in part for the pick and the probably you get a guy who is on the court.

Does this signal Houston is going to try to keep Harden?
 

radsoxfan

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If you think Kemba's knee is bad, Wall's is almost certainly worse. And that's not even the injury most people are worried about.

Not good for Houston, though admittedly Russ isn't any great prize. I'd still rather have him than Wall though.
 
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mcpickl

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I thought I remember reading a while back that Wall's trade kicker isn't even legal because it puts him above the max allowed salary? No idea if I am making that up though
It is voided because he's already over the max.

Incredible trade for Washington IMO.

Going from Wall to Russ for only one pick that at the absolute best could be the 9th pick 5 years from now, is good business
 

Swedgin

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Yikes, 8.8% in a random sampling.... did they all vacation in the Dakotas?

Those are big numbers, most estimates are around 2-3% of the country being currently infected right now.
The Dakotas would be over the moon for a sub 10% positivity rate. The national average is 10.2 at present.
 

slamminsammya

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Yikes, 8.8% in a random sampling.... did they all vacation in the Dakotas?

Those are big numbers, most estimates are around 2-3% of the country being currently infected right now.
I can't decide if being youth wealthy athletes should make them prone to taking more risks or fewer. On the one hand, I bet most of them feel invincible by virtue of being young and in incredible shape. On the other hand, long term impacts to their lungs or anything else are going to be much more expensive than for the average person.
 

slamminsammya

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The Dakotas would be over the moon for a sub 10% positivity rate. The national average is 10.2 at present.
The national average is percent of tests that are positive yes? That is an importantly different statistic since this was a sample of all players whereas there is some huge selection bias in the national numbers.
 

radsoxfan

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The Dakotas would be over the moon for a sub 10% positivity rate. The national average is 10.2 at present.
That's not what the NBA is doing. They are screening EVERYONE. So their positive rate should be close to the percentage of truly infected people in the entire population.

South Dakota has had positive rates over 50% when they test people that come for testing (i.e sick people).

This page has an estimate of current infected people in the US. They have North Dakota at 7.2% and South Dakota at 7.1%. Wyoming is the highest in the US at 7.6%.

They estimate as of November 17th (all the data is delayed 2 weeks), 2.5% of the US was currently infected. This number is very different than percentage of tests that comes back positive.


https://covid19-projections.com
 

nighthob

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That Washington team will score assuming Russ and Beal can share the ball somewhat, but the defense is going to be atrocious. Russ and Bertans are both brutal, and Beal/Rui/Bryant are below average at best. Washington-Atlanta games could end up 140-135 next year.
The Wizards are going to score a lot of points with those shooters around Westbrook. Washington/Atnalta games are going to be tons of fun. It's going to be like watching All Star games from the 80s.

If Harden ends up on Brooklyn, I’m pretty sure I’d root for the Lakers in a series against that team, which is something I never thought I’d say.
But what if it's a three way deal where Kyrie ends up in Cleveland or Madison Square Garden?
 

DannyDarwinism

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But what if it's a three way deal where Kyrie ends up in Cleveland or Madison Square Garden?
If Kyrie ends up having to watch from Cleveland as Harden lights up Brooklyn with his woulda-been, coulda-been Batman while he berates Andre Drummond for setting a screen too low, I will stake out every bar in Prospect Heights just on the hope of buying Sean Marks a beer.
 

fairlee76

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He takes a lot of shit, much of it deserved, for his shot selection and decision-making, but Russ will always be one of my favorite players from this era, so I’m excited to get to watch him more, even if his days of open court terror and tomahawk dunks are mostly past. Also, from the accounts I’ve read, he’s a thoughtful guy who generally treats people well, even when the can’t do anything for him, so he’s easy for me to root for.

If Harden ends up on Brooklyn, I’m pretty sure I’d root for the Lakers in a series against that team, which is something I never thought I’d say.
+1 on your feelings about Russ. He’s this generation’s AI to me. Must-watch for the energy he brings to the game.
 

chilidawg

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He takes a lot of shit, much of it deserved, for his shot selection and decision-making, but Russ will always be one of my favorite players from this era, so I’m excited to get to watch him more, even if his days of open court terror and tomahawk dunks are mostly past. Also, from the accounts I’ve read, he’s a thoughtful guy who generally treats people well, even when the can’t do anything for him, so he’s easy for me to root for.

If Harden ends up on Brooklyn, I’m pretty sure I’d root for the Lakers in a series against that team, which is something I never thought I’d say.
Yeah I'm with you. Just love the unbridled energy that he plays with. I'll be following and rooting for the Wizards this year.
 

E5 Yaz

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Any chance the Wizards move Westbrook along elsewhere?
 

lovegtm

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Man, this has to mean Harden is being actively shopped. He’s not going to be willing to play on the remnants of this gutted roster.
 

lovegtm

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I started researching the Rockets this morning, expecting the future to be bleak due to the CP3/Westbrook trade. It's actually anything but.

One note about the Rockets picks that were sent to OKC: they're all protected for picks 1-4, and the 2025 swap is protected 1-10. In addition, if they don't convey this year's pick because it's 1-4, the obligation is extinguished. Similarly, the 2024 1st rounder becomes 2 2nds if it doesn't convey.

Now that they've taken on Wall, they pretty clearly (imo) have no path to contention and need to deal Harden for all the picks, and then do a Philly-style tank to maximize their chances of not conveying the pick this year. After that, they can just be normal bad to avoid league sanctions. They then have their own pick in 2022 and 2023. At that point, they can decide where they are in 2024 and whether it's worth it to tank to try to keep the pick.

Houston actually has a pretty good path forward if they deal Harden asap to get assets and avoid wins. They can quickly accumulate more assets by clearing things out to be a salary dumping ground.

Source: https://tradenba.com/teams/Thunder/21/draft-picks
 

Cellar-Door

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I think HOU might blow it up at the deadline, but I think they are really showing that they are building around Harden.

Wood was a steal, and the Wall/Westbrook deal is clearly about moving a player (yet another) who Harden couldn't coexist with. Wall is probably never going to be the same, but if he's decent he's also less of a personality to challenge Harden. The Rockets are honestly going to be in the "not quite a contender" tier all year. I don't think they sell everything off though.


Edit- also, the Rockets aren't dumping Woods in January. IF they sell Harden off, they'll let Wood put up massive numbers and make that newly signed deal look even better.
 

the moops

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Don't we kind of already have one in Grant? Also, Tucker turns 36 in May. Not sure how much he has left. I'd obviously take him if they'd be willing to give him away for almost nothing.
I would certainly throw some distant highly protected pick and Edwards or something for a year of Tucker. We do kind of have one on Grant, but at this point Tucker is better. But I also would love to see a Smart, Brown, Tatum, Grant, Tucker defense
 

benhogan

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I think HOU might blow it up at the deadline, but I think they are really showing that they are building around Harden.

Wood was a steal, and the Wall/Westbrook deal is clearly about moving a player (yet another) who Harden couldn't coexist with. Wall is probably never going to be the same, but if he's decent he's also less of a personality to challenge Harden. The Rockets are honestly going to be in the "not quite a contender" tier all year. I don't think they sell everything off though.


Edit- also, the Rockets aren't dumping Woods in January. IF they sell Harden off, they'll let Wood put up massive numbers and make that newly signed deal look even better.
Woods was an absolute heist. What the hell is the Pistons new GM doing?

I agree, the only way Woods gets moved if its a complete yard sale (Harden, Tucker, Gordon also moved) where Rockets Mgmt just starts making deals to show immediate wins
 

benhogan

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Wood seems like such an obvious fit, a long stretch 4. No one like that on the current roster. Theis/Thompson, Wood, Tatum, Brown and Smart would be a great starting 5.
Woods would be 6th man extraordinaire for the Celtics

Cellar Door is probably right, its a pipe dream
 

CreightonGubanich

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I don't understand this move for Houston unless they're dealing Harden. They dealt Russ for perhaps the only point guard who's worse off the ball than he is. You'd have to actively try to make a fit this bad from a basketball standpoint. If you're really building around Harden, he should be your point guard.

Still, I'd be surprised if they traded Harden before the season. What a mess.
 

The Social Chair

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The Lebron, Davis, and Bam extensions seem to indicate Giannis is staying in Milwaukee. That would be great for the league.
 

the moops

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I think HOU might blow it up at the deadline, but I think they are really showing that they are building around Harden.
I am not sure HOU knows what they are doing. They signed Wood - good move. They moved off of Covington though, and he seemed like an excellent fit next to Harden. And now the Wall move.
 

lovegtm

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I am not sure HOU knows what they are doing. They signed Wood - good move. They moved off of Covington though, and he seemed like an excellent fit next to Harden. And now the Wall move.
It makes the most sense if they’re trying to tank while not lowering leverage in a possible Harden trade too much.

It’s hard for me to imagine that the Houston front office isn’t 100x more familiar with their future pick obligations than I am, and the strategy jumps off the page within about 30 seconds of analysis.

Houston doesn’t have to be the 2014-2018 Nets unless they want to be.
 

Cellar-Door

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I don't understand this move for Houston unless they're dealing Harden. They dealt Russ for perhaps the only point guard who's worse off the ball than he is. You'd have to actively try to make a fit this bad from a basketball standpoint. If you're really building around Harden, he should be your point guard.

Still, I'd be surprised if they traded Harden before the season. What a mess.
It's not about Basketball fit, it's.... we need to move Russ to keep Harden happy, nobody wants that money, except WAS who will give us a pick (that might be good) and John Wall's identical contract. If you need to move Russ this is what you get. Then you hope Wall looks great coming off injury (unlikely) so you can flip him into a couple players to a team like the Knicks.