NBA 2015/16 thread
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<p>Justifies Laureus award going to the All Blacks.</p>
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Trade season is all go, the Knicks trade for Derek Rose and send a bunch of flotsam in return. They love their once great oft-broken stars don't they? (Amar'e Stoudamire anyone?). Probably good for Chicago and Rose to turn a page. Dwight Howard is lurking hoping for one more big contract, frankly I don't think he's worth it but some desperate team will pony up the cash for him. His best days (like Rose) are behind him
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<p>Strong rumours that both the Warriors and Spurs are going to make a play for Durant. If KD ends up in Oakland their starting 5 will be <strong>very</strong> scary. Add Durant in place of Barnes and you might as well give GSW the title now. How they fit everybody under the salary cap is another story.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="590606" data-time="1466629625">
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<p>Strong rumours that both the Warriors and Spurs are going to make a play for Durant. If KD ends up in Oakland their starting 5 will be <strong>very</strong> scary. Add Durant in place of Barnes and you might as well give GSW the title now. How they fit everybody under the salary cap is another story.</p>
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<p>Someone is taking a hometown discount big time. Or they are brown bagging like they do in the NRL....</p> -
<p>The cap is set for a massive rise next season, so getting Durant is not as unlikely as it may seem. And he won't be taking a 'hometown' discount (hometown is DC) but more of a 'I want a ring' discount.</p>
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<p>They'd have to dispense with Harrison Barnes, and probably a few of their role players like Festus Ezeli, Shaun Livingston, maybe Andrew Bogut too. </p>
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<p>If Durant wants to come, they will make it happen. The ball is in his court, and frankly I really doubt he'd leave OKC. </p> -
<p>yea Barb, that chat is the cap rise will allow a few super teams to be created around the league. The only question is how does a coach control all the egos who will not like getting to take all the shots? </p>
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<p>Durant is worth throwing all of the money at. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="590657" data-time="1466637439">
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<p>The cap is set for a massive rise next season, so getting Durant is not as unlikely as it may seem. And he won't be taking a 'hometown' discount (hometown is DC) but more of a 'I want a ring' discount.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>They'd have to dispense with Harrison Barnes, and probably a few of their role players like Festus Ezeli, Shaun Livingston, maybe Andrew Bogut too. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>If Durant wants to come, they will make it happen. The ball is in his court, and frankly I really doubt he'd leave OKC. </p>
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<p>I didn't mean Durant, I meant other players on the GSW taking a pay cut or getting shipped as you say</p> -
<p>Ah OK.</p>
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<p>Yeah won't be any pay cuts, will just be clearing the decks to bring in big names.</p>
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<p>Barnes will be the interesting one- was terrible in the Finals, but that kind of showed his value to the team. He is a key cog in the lineup. They do need him, or someone like him, who can stretch the defence, shoot 3s and defend well.</p>
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<p>The question is if he wants to take $25m+ at a terrible team, or $15m at the Warriors.</p> -
<p>Curry will be due a big pay rise soon. He's only the 5th highest paid on the team.</p>
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<p>Barnes is a free agent. He turned down a 4 yr-$64 million extension earlier in the year to test the market - oops!</p>
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<p>The NBA’s salary cap will rise from $US70 million to a projected $US89 million. But there aren't that many quality free agents available.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="590671" data-time="1466639474">
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<p>Barnes will be the interesting one- was terrible in the Finals, but that kind of showed his value to the team. He is a key cog in the lineup. They do need him, or someone like him, who can stretch the defence, shoot 3s and defend well.</p>
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<p>The question is if he wants to take $25m+ at a terrible team, or $15m at the Warriors.</p>
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<p>If I'm the GSW GM I'm playing hardball because Barnes did not shine at money time. His no show in the finals would not have helped his value with other teams</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="590689" data-time="1466640557">
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<p>Barnes is a free agent. He turned down a 4 yr-$64 million extension earlier in the year to test the market - oops!</p>
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<p>Otherwise known as the JR Smith manouvre</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="590701" data-time="1466641801">
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<p>If I'm the GSW GM I'm playing hardball because Barnes did not shine at money time. His no show in the finals would not have helped his value with other teams</p>
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<p>No, that's right. But it's delicate. He is still a good player, who fits well in their system. And there aren't too many guys like him out there. </p>
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<p>So they won't offer top dollar (which he could probably get with the cap rise and the dearth of good free agents), but they won't hold back either. Three horrible games doesn't necessarily make him a horrible player.</p>
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<p>Talk is GSW will make a play for Dirk Nowitzki if they can't get Durant. Either guy would certainly fill a gap in their lineup- a big who can be a shooting threat anywhere on the court. Not sure Dirk would leave Dallas, like Durant and OKC.</p> -
<p>OKC makes a move:</p>
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<p>The Orlando Magic acquired forward Serge Ibaka in a multiplayer trade Thursday night with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder received guard Victor Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to power forward Domantas Sabonis (son of Arvydas), who was taken with the 11th pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night.</p>
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<p>Sounds like a good deal for OKC.</p> -
<p>Lakers will make a play for Barnes and he may still get close to a max deal.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="591148" data-time="1466749145">
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<p>Lakers will make a play for Barnes and he may still get close to a max deal.</p>
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<p>Physically he ticks a lot of boxes but I'm not sure he is worth it based on his playoffs performance. </p> -
<p>I just think Barnes will struggle being top or 2nd banana. He's been fourth banana at GSW, and struggled there. So taking big money to go to a shitty team (eg the Lakers), he gets the pressure that comes with it, the expectation that he should chalk up 20+ points a game. And I doubt he can handle that.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="591816" data-time="1466863393">
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<p>I just think Barnes will struggle being top or 2nd banana. He's been fourth banana at GSW, and struggled there. So taking big money to go to a shitty team (eg the Lakers), he gets the pressure that comes with it, the expectation that he should chalk up 20+ points a game. And I doubt he can handle that.</p>
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<p>As a Lakers supporter I don't want him there. We need a strong locker room presence to try and help these kids along, Barnes doesn't strike me as being that guy</p> -
<p>Jalen made an interesting point about the trade. If Durant resigns, and they get rid of a few pieces like Illyasova and Singler. Then they would have the chance to sign Horford. Donovan was hi college coach and they are tight.</p>
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<p>You would then have a lineup of</p>
<p>Durant</p>
<p>Westbrook</p>
<p>Horford</p>
<p>Roberson</p>
<p>Adams</p>
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<p>Oladipo</p>
<p>Kanter</p>
<p>Payne</p>
<p>Sabonis</p>
<p>Morrow</p>
<p>Collison</p>
<p>McGary</p>
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<p>Now THAT is a great squad.</p>
