NBA 2015/16 thread

Bovidae

OKC makes a move:
 
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.
 
Sounds like a good deal for OKC.

barbarian

That's a good trade for OKC. Rate Oladipo, and Ibaka clearly has regressed in the Thunder line-up the last few years.

ACT Crusader

Lakers will make a play for Barnes and he may still get close to a max deal.

raznomore

Oladipo is a huge signing for OKC. If KD stays it has to be seen as a major coup. Ibaka had fallen off massively as an inside force. No they have great perimeter defender as well interior with adams 
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canefan

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Lakers will make a play for Barnes and he may still get close to a max deal.
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Physically he ticks a lot of boxes but I'm not sure he is worth it based on his playoffs performance.

barbarian

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.

canefan

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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.
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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

Baron Silas Greenback

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.
 
You would then have a lineup of
Durant
Westbrook
Horford
Roberson
Adams
 
Oladipo
Kanter
Payne
Sabonis
Morrow
Collison
McGary
 
 
Now THAT is a great squad.

canefan

They could do with a knock down shooting guard to spread the floor. Roberson can do a lot of things but he was exposed in the playoffs as a guy who can't shoot a high enough percentage from the arc. Surely they can get someone who can park up on the 3 point line and drain 3's

Bovidae

There was talk of moving Roberson to PF, where his lack of outside shot wouldn't be such an issue. He would be undersized but is very athletic and can rebound so it might work.
 
BSG, no Waiters? He is a free agent, but I'd expect OKC to re-sign him.

Baron Silas Greenback

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There was talk of moving Roberson to PF, where his lack of outside shot wouldn't be such an issue. He would be undersized but is very athletic and can rebound so it might work.
 
BSG, no Waiters? He is a free agent, but I'd expect OKC to re-sign him.
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Maybe, but if they want Horford... it is him or Kanter.

Stockcar86

Spongebob

mariner4life

canefan

Take that man straight to In N Out burger!

Bovidae

Durant is going to meet with OKC, then 5 other teams (Warriors, Spurs, Heat, Celtics and Clippers).
 
The smart money is for KD to sign a 1 yr deal with the Thunder and try to win it all next season. Both he and Westbrook would be free agents in 2017.

Baron Silas Greenback

OKC will be shitting brick now. Looks like Durant might be heading out of town.
 
If he goes to Warriors, I will think a lot less of him. Just seems to be showing a quitters mentality.
Is legacy would take a hit, as would his bank balance.

barbarian

Seems like it's now a decision between GSW and OKC, though I haven't seen anything solid to suggest he's leaving.
 
Not sure how him leaving OKC would be a 'quitters mentality'. He'd be chasing rings, pure and simple. And that in itself would define his legacy - if he wins said rings then the move will have been the right one. If not, he looks like an idiot.
 
Unlike Lebron, Cleveland and 'the decision', KD doesn't have the 'home town' thing hanging over him, which gives him a little more freedom and means the backlash won't be as strong if he leaves.
 
My money is still on him signing a one-year deal with OKC and giving it one last shake with a stronger roster.

mariner4life

dudes are getting paid this year. Some outrageous sums being thrown around at average players.

Baron Silas Greenback

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Seems like it's now a decision between GSW and OKC, though I haven't seen anything solid to suggest he's leaving.
 
Not sure how him leaving OKC would be a 'quitters mentality'. He'd be chasing rings, pure and simple. And that in itself would define his legacy - if he wins said rings then the move will have been the right one. If not, he looks like an idiot.
 
Unlike Lebron, Cleveland and 'the decision', KD doesn't have the 'home town' thing hanging over him, which gives him a little more freedom and means the backlash won't be as strong if he leaves.
 
My money is still on him signing a one-year deal with OKC and giving it one last shake with a stronger roster.
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I think it is showing that cannot be the guy to lead a contender to the title. He would be quitting on his team, a team that was within touching distance of the title.
I dont have an issue in this way with him leaving for Boston, going to GSW is just a low move IMO. I think he is getting bad advice if he does goes to GSW. But that will be proven in years to come. He wins a title? So what? They won a title without him, and they have the best regular season ever. 
 
It is a pro game, but this is just a bullshit move, I think you underestimate how the PR of this would go down. The backlash would be worse in long run. Le Bron didnt leave to a championship team, he contributed to building it.

barbarian

The carrot with GSW is to be a part of an all-time great team (well that's how it would be pitched to him, anyway). He could start an extended title-winning run, and finish with three or four rings to go on top of his MVP title. 
 
He goes, he gets into the Finals. Regularly. He stays, and he might get to the Finals, but it will be harder. But the pay-off would undoubtedly be greater if he does. It's a real trade-off.
 
I think there will be backlash, but it won't nearly be as much as Lebron. Because KD just doesn't inspire the same level of passion as Lebron, for better or worse. He's not tied to Oklahoma City in the same way Lebron was tied to Cleveland.
 
The backlash will be more broadly directed at the NBA, and the creation of another 'super team' despite a salary cap designed largely to prevent such a thing from happening.

The Silver Fern

NBA 2015/16 thread