NBA Draft & Off-Season News 2016

[Holz]

I've had some time to think about it now. Saw the news at about 3:30 this morning and couldn't get another wink of sleep - this is the craziest thing to happen to the NBA I think maybe ever. A 73 win team adding a top 3 player without losing any of their best 3. Yes the Warriors will be awesome, but we already knew that, this is taking it to another level. This is the greatest basketball team ever assembled. How are teams supposed to compete when Golden State are trotting out the Olympic team?

KD earned the right to be a free agent, he gave amazing service to Oklahoma City. If leaving was best for him, then no one can have a problem with that at all. But for the sake of the league did it really have to be the Warriors.. I know that its a great place, and who wouldn't want to play there.. But as an NBA diehard this is a disaster. No one in the west can compete with this team. Maybe Cleveland can win a couple of games in the finals if Golden State are injured but that's about it. People will say that the Heat didn't win in their first year together, but this is on another level to that team. LBJ and Wade both needed the ball to be effective and there wasn't much shooting - they needed a while to figure it out. This team, everyone can just be themselves. KD is used to playing with a high volume guard, Curry can be the best off-ball threat in the league, Klay is a sniper, and Draymond can be their 3rd creator and obviously elite on D. No one should say "Oh but they lost Barnes, Bogut and Ezeli", those guys are trash and can be replaced at a far less cost. Look, they already got Pachulia for a bargain. Barnes is basically Brandon Rush. And there will surely be some more veterans coming to join this team. They lost next to nothing in order to pull this off, and might not even pay the luxury tax this year!

Can't say I feel too sorry for OKC. They've had a very good run. Just when you didn't think the Harden trade could look any worse, it does. You'd say Durant stays if Harden is there. Heck you might even say that if they had turned the two first round picks they gave up for Waiters and Kanter for a competent 3 and D guy, he could have stayed. They hired a rookie head coach, who I know coached excellently - but they didn't exact resemble a team going all out to keep their best player. I mean, they just made a trade a week ago that makes their team worse this year! Hopefully they do the smart thing and trade Russ before he bolts. Hey OKC, here is Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Brooklyn's first round pick!

I can't blame him for leaving, or going to Golden State, the macro result of it though is just a shame.

serious question here how can the chris trade be blocked and this go through.

I know its not a trade but still.

I dont think they are unbeatable, not sure how they will all gel with 3 guys who like to shoot.

if Wade goes to the cavs it would be the greatest shoot out ever

Klay Curry Durrant v Wade Irving James.

Ill take the right side if healthy.

[RiOtChEsS]

Geez, now rumours coming out that Wade is going to the Cavs?!?  Possible sign and trade for Love!  :o

Westbrook and Love are best mates, Riley could be up to something here...Westbrook, Bosh, Love, Whiteside...little top heavy so don't think it will happen, but but insurance if Bosh can't play.

As much as i love Wade i'd do this deal without thinking too hard about it

[RiOtChEsS]

All we need now is Russell Westbrook to demand a trade an all hell will break loose :D

[RiOtChEsS]

All we need now is Russell Westbrook to demand a trade an all hell will break loose :D

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David AldridgeVerified account
‏@daldridgetnt
Told emphatically by league source there's no chance Russell Westbrook will do a renegotiation/extension of his contract (one yr remaining).

Oooooooooh i can feel it, the drama is just gettin started 8)

[Holz]

Geez, now rumours coming out that Wade is going to the Cavs?!?  Possible sign and trade for Love!  :o

Westbrook and Love are best mates, Riley could be up to something here...Westbrook, Bosh, Love, Whiteside...little top heavy so don't think it will happen, but but insurance if Bosh can't play.

As much as i love Wade i'd do this deal without thinking too hard about it

As much as im not a love fan do we really straight swap a healthy 27 year old for a 34 year old guy with his body breaking down. doesnt make much sense.

what makes more sense is wouldnt it be smarter to say trade love for Noel then pick up Wade as a free agent.

Irving Wade James TT Noel

TT Noel would be terrors on the boards and blocks.

[jvalles69]

There is "no chance" Russell Westbrook will do a renegotiation or extension of his contract, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com.

[RiOtChEsS]

Geez, now rumours coming out that Wade is going to the Cavs?!?  Possible sign and trade for Love!  :o

Westbrook and Love are best mates, Riley could be up to something here...Westbrook, Bosh, Love, Whiteside...little top heavy so don't think it will happen, but but insurance if Bosh can't play.

As much as i love Wade i'd do this deal without thinking too hard about it

As much as im not a love fan do we really straight swap a healthy 27 year old for a 34 year old guy with his body breaking down. doesnt make much sense.

what makes more sense is wouldnt it be smarter to say trade love for Noel then pick up Wade as a free agent.

Irving Wade James TT Noel

TT Noel would be terrors on the boards and blocks.

Wade's agent is meeting with Cavs tonight :o

http://en.yibada.com/articles/137942/20160704/nba-trade-rumors-cavaliers-dwyane-wade-agent-met-monday-sign-and-trade-deal-involving-kevin-love-possible.htm#ixzz4DVvJ595L

[Holz]

Geez, now rumours coming out that Wade is going to the Cavs?!?  Possible sign and trade for Love!  :o

Westbrook and Love are best mates, Riley could be up to something here...Westbrook, Bosh, Love, Whiteside...little top heavy so don't think it will happen, but but insurance if Bosh can't play.

As much as i love Wade i'd do this deal without thinking too hard about it

As much as im not a love fan do we really straight swap a healthy 27 year old for a 34 year old guy with his body breaking down. doesnt make much sense.

what makes more sense is wouldnt it be smarter to say trade love for Noel then pick up Wade as a free agent.

Irving Wade James TT Noel

TT Noel would be terrors on the boards and blocks.

Wade's agent is meeting with Cavs tonight :o

http://en.yibada.com/articles/137942/20160704/nba-trade-rumors-cavaliers-dwyane-wade-agent-met-monday-sign-and-trade-deal-involving-kevin-love-possible.htm#ixzz4DVvJ595L

is there a financial reason they trade for wade instead of signing him. dont really understand the cap, whether they can just pick him up as a free agent.

would like to see cavs get more then just wade due to injury and age.

Bosh Winslow Love Whiteside Dragic looks real good.

[RiOtChEsS]

Im absolutely salivating at the possibilities...

Sort the Bosh contract, free up cap room to sign or re-sign a star

Trade Wade for Love, instantly makes us a younger balanced team and gives Richardson and Winslow more minutes to develop

Trade Dragic and pieces for Westbrook to make a Westbrook, Love, Whiteside trio

[RiOtChEsS]

Geez, now rumours coming out that Wade is going to the Cavs?!?  Possible sign and trade for Love!  :o

Westbrook and Love are best mates, Riley could be up to something here...Westbrook, Bosh, Love, Whiteside...little top heavy so don't think it will happen, but but insurance if Bosh can't play.

As much as i love Wade i'd do this deal without thinking too hard about it

As much as im not a love fan do we really straight swap a healthy 27 year old for a 34 year old guy with his body breaking down. doesnt make much sense.

what makes more sense is wouldnt it be smarter to say trade love for Noel then pick up Wade as a free agent.

Irving Wade James TT Noel

TT Noel would be terrors on the boards and blocks.

Wade's agent is meeting with Cavs tonight :o

http://en.yibada.com/articles/137942/20160704/nba-trade-rumors-cavaliers-dwyane-wade-agent-met-monday-sign-and-trade-deal-involving-kevin-love-possible.htm#ixzz4DVvJ595L

is there a financial reason they trade for wade instead of signing him. dont really understand the cap, whether they can just pick him up as a free agent.

would like to see cavs get more then just wade due to injury and age.

Bosh Winslow Love Whiteside Dragic looks real good.

Cavs only have a 3.5m mid tier exception in their cap, which is why its a sign and trade deal

Dont forget the initial LeBron deal took care of Cleveland, this deal wont leave Miami high and dry either

[jvalles69]

Im absolutely salivating at the possibilities...

Sort the Bosh contract, free up cap room to sign or re-sign a star

Trade Wade for Love, instantly makes us a younger balanced team and gives Richardson and Winslow more minutes to develop

Trade Dragic and pieces for Westbrook to make a Westbrook, Love, Whiteside trio

Why couldn't James Ennis still be around.  :'(

[My Chumps]

I have never been so irrationally angry in my life with this decision.

I've had some time to think about it now. Saw the news at about 3:30 this morning and couldn't get another wink of sleep - this is the craziest thing to happen to the NBA I think maybe ever. A 73 win team adding a top 3 player without losing any of their best 3. Yes the Warriors will be awesome, but we already knew that, this is taking it to another level. This is the greatest basketball team ever assembled. How are teams supposed to compete when Golden State are trotting out the Olympic team?

KD earned the right to be a free agent, he gave amazing service to Oklahoma City. If leaving was best for him, then no one can have a problem with that at all. But for the sake of the league did it really have to be the Warriors.. I know that its a great place, and who wouldn't want to play there.. But as an NBA diehard this is a disaster. No one in the west can compete with this team. Maybe Cleveland can win a couple of games in the finals if Golden State are injured but that's about it. People will say that the Heat didn't win in their first year together, but this is on another level to that team. LBJ and Wade both needed the ball to be effective and there wasn't much shooting - they needed a while to figure it out. This team, everyone can just be themselves. KD is used to playing with a high volume guard, Curry can be the best off-ball threat in the league, Klay is a sniper, and Draymond can be their 3rd creator and obviously elite on D. No one should say "Oh but they lost Barnes, Bogut and Ezeli", those guys are trash and can be replaced at a far less cost. Look, they already got Pachulia for a bargain. Barnes is basically Brandon Rush. And there will surely be some more veterans coming to join this team. They lost next to nothing in order to pull this off, and might not even pay the luxury tax this year!

Well said dude. My thoughts exactly! Although I think Bogut is a big loss. After he went down with injury it showed his importance. Zaza has had one decent season :-X

Can't say I feel too sorry for OKC. They've had a very good run. Just when you didn't think the Harden trade could look any worse, it does. You'd say Durant stays if Harden is there. Heck you might even say that if they had turned the two first round picks they gave up for Waiters and Kanter for a competent 3 and D guy, he could have stayed. They hired a rookie head coach, who I know coached excellently - but they didn't exact resemble a team going all out to keep their best player. I mean, they just made a trade a week ago that makes their team worse this year! Hopefully they do the smart thing and trade Russ before he bolts. Hey OKC, here is Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Brooklyn's first round pick!

I can't blame him for leaving, or going to Golden State, the macro result of it though is just a shame.

This is where we differ; I feel a lot for OKC. I wouldn't have felt a thing, and was in fact a big advocate of KD leaving before the playoffs for the reasons you outlined - seemed like the organisation had done jack shower for him in regards to building a team. Get a decent 3&D guy! Get a centre! Get a coach who can actually coach!
And then this post-season, it all seemed to click. Adam's became an absolute beast. Donavon made some super good moves outta nowhere, and they had the chance to clinch the series against a historically great team three times. Fans would've begun to believe for the first time in a long time when they went 3-1 up.
But they got done, ah well, better team etc, and a serious weakness was exposed with Waiters + Roberson's inability to hit crucial open shots. Here's where my empathy for the franchise stems: uncharacteristically, instead of resting on their laurels like the previous 5 seasons, they made a very ballsy move to bring in someone with a far more reliable jumper, a good defender and a mate of KD's in what was a terrific acquisition.
Maybe I've too quickly dismissed the seasons of inept management (Harden etc) in light of these recent events, but to leave after that season makes me bleed for OKC. They are now bound to be a mediocre organisation; they will never get as good through the draft as they were. 

[Andrew3747]

I won't even be surprised if GSW lose still. I assume this means Klay Thompson's role is stepped down less.

[My Chumps]

Im absolutely salivating at the possibilities...

Sort the Bosh contract, free up cap room to sign or re-sign a star

Trade Wade for Love, instantly makes us a younger balanced team and gives Richardson and Winslow more minutes to develop

Trade Dragic and pieces for Westbrook to make a Westbrook, Love, Whiteside trio

Who plays the wings if Winslow goes in the trade? Deng, Green, Johnson all gone, maybe Richardson too.

Tell ya what tho, I feel like dominant big men may be the way to combat the Warriors next year. Really muscle them on the boards ala Adams in the WCF. Whiteside + Love (and potentially Bosh) would be those dudes.

With Durant's move I find myself barracking for every team to be as good as possible. Somebody's gotta take it up to them! I may have declared basketball dead in the heat of the moment earlier today

[Jay]

@Chumps - You raise some great points, perhaps I was too harsh. This OKC team was incredible, made the conference finals with ease every year they were healthy. I agree that in these playoffs especially that it all came together for them. Disposing of an all-time elite team in the Spurs like they were mediocre, then they obviously should have beaten Golden State when they went up 3-1. If KD goes back there, Id say they'd have as good a shot as any to win the title. I guess that you can say now that he's basically assured a title this year rather than simply a solid probability, but still.. I was hoping if he didn't come to Boston, that'd he would go back to OKC for a year and have one last go at it. And if it doesn't work, fine, seek your other options, but they were so damn close. The best part of this NBA season was that we had two series in a row of evenly matched teams going at it for 7 games. We can say goodbye to that now.