NBA Offseason 2014

padraig_f

Dare_2_defy wrote: »

Looks like Mark Jackson is going back to the Analyst role at ESPN instead of coaching

I'm sick about that. Thought the ESPN broadcast was much improved after he left. Apparently he'll be in the booth for the conference finals.

buyer95

In news that will warm many the heart on here( Paully D, padraig f, I'm looking at you.) NBA.com reporting that the bulls have begun to start talking "buy out" with Real Madrid's Mirotic, widely considered the best international prospect not in the nba. http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/05/19/morning-shootaround-may-19/#spurs

For Forks Sake

buyer95 wrote: »

In news that will warm many the heart on here( Paully D, padraig f, I'm looking at you.) NBA.com reporting that the bulls have begun to start talking "buy out" with Real Madrid's Mirotic, widely considered the best international prospect not in the nba. http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/05/19/morning-shootaround-may-19/#spurs

ButtersSuki

Even more interesting for me (as a Celtics' fan - yes, I'm biased) was the story above it:

No. 1: URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/celtics-loom-as-intriguing-destination-for-kevin-love-211238504.html"]Celtics leading pack for Love?[/URL] — Just yesterday, Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that Minnesota Timberwolves might be getting used to the idea that Kevin Love might not want to stick around after the 2014-15 season and exercise his early termination option. Once that bit of information came to the NBA forefront, the knowledge of which suitors are most after Love has become more and more known. According to Wojnarowski, the Boston Celtics might present an appetizing deal to the Wolves and as the New York Post‘s Marc Berman reports, new Knicks boss Phil Jackson could be plotting for a way to bring Love to New York.

The Boston Celtics have emerged as an increasingly intriguing destination for Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love, and the Celtics’ draft position coming out of Tuesday night’s lottery could be telltale in determining the feasibility of a trade, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

If the lottery percentages hold to form, Boston would draft in the No. 5 slot, which could hold appeal to Minnesota in this talent-rich draft. If Boston moves up and cracks one of the top three spots, general manager Danny Ainge would have a more difficult decision to make on using the pick in a deal for Love.

Love’s representatives with Excel Sports are pushing Timberwolves president Flip Saunders to find a trade acceptable to them before the beginning of summer free agency in July – preferably by the June 26 NBA draft, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Love, 25, wants a chance to play for an immediate contender, but has an open mind about multiple destinations in the league, sources said. In six NBA seasons, Love has yet to reach the playoffs in Minnesota.

The Houston Rockets also plan to make a run at a trade for Love, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Officials believe Love’s close relationship and respect for coach Kevin McHale could give the Rockets an edge. Golden State, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago are among those also planning to pursue Love deals with an eye on signing him to a long-term extension.

Love has no veto power over a trade, but it is unlikely any team will unload significant assets for him without an assurance he’ll re-sign a max contract.

Houston doesn’t have the draft picks to offer Minnesota, but does have appealing young players in Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik to include in packages. McHale acquired Love for the T’wolves with a draft-night trade and coached him. Beyond McHale, Houston could offer Love an immediate chance to be part of a contender.

Love’s agent Jeff Schwartz and Ainge have a strong relationship and a good working history. Ainge helped another Schwartz client, Paul Pierce, get to a preferred trade destination in Brooklyn a year ago. The Celtics believe they can sell Love on becoming the next big Celtics star, and all the adulation that comes with that for a franchise that has won 17 NBA championships.

And here’s Berman’s report on how the Knicks are getting into the Love sweepstakes, too …

According to an NBA source, Knicks president Phil Jackson has been plotting to be involved in making something happen with Love via a trade.

However, the report stated rather than the Lakers and the Knicks being Love’s top two choices, the power forward is more interested in Golden State and Chicago. It’s unclear if Steve Kerr knew Love’s preference when he chose to coach the Warriors, but it’s very possible.

Adding Love to the Knicks’ mix with their 2015 cap space is one of the selling points for Anthony to stay in New York. It’s doubtful a team would trade Love for just a rental. Another source said the Lakers also will make a monster push at trading for Love, who played at UCLA.

The Knicks believe they have the expiring contracts — Tyson Chandler and Iman Shumpert in particular — the Wolves might want so Minnesota can keep cap space to go after the star-studded 2015 free agent class.
What do they Wolves have to say about all this chatter? Team owner Glen Taylor told Jerry Zgoda of the Star-Tribune that Minnesota has no plans to deal Love anytime soon:

Amid renewed media reports that three-time All-Star Kevin Love intends to leave Minnesota in July 2015 and the Timberwolves are reconsidering their position, Wolves owner Glen Taylor reiterated on Sunday the team doesn’t intend to soon trade him.

The Associated Press, citing two unnamed sources, reported Sunday that, with Tuesday’s draft lottery and the June 26 draft approaching, the Wolves are softening their position that they won’t trade Love and are open to the idea of doing so for the right deal.

“Not by the draft,” Taylor said before Sunday’s Lynx home opener at Target Center about such a possibility.

Saunders told WCCO Radio on Sunday morning that he hasn’t talked to Love’s representatives since the season ended in mid-April.

“We’re proceeding the same way, that Kevin is part of our team, that we have,” Saunders told WCCO. “You’re always trying to get your team better. There have been reports we’re actively trying to trade him, which isn’t true. What we’re actively trying to do is get our team better. When you do that, you look to see what’s out there no matter what it is or for anybody. We’re a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in 10 years. We’ve got to get better.”



I think it's highly unlikely he'll end up in Beantown given the amount of things that need to fall into place to make it happen but it's be like the 2nd coming of Bird if it did. It's been said for years he'll be a Laker, I don't see any reason to change that view just yet.

Paully D

buyer95 wrote: »

In news that will warm many the heart on here( Paully D, padraig f, I'm looking at you.) NBA.com reporting that the bulls have begun to start talking "buy out" with Real Madrid's Mirotic, widely considered the best international prospect not in the nba. http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/05/19/morning-shootaround-may-19/#spurs

Great news. I'm surprised if he wants to leave after losing the Euro finals for the second straight year and playing poorly last night though. I'd have been much more enthused about the chances of getting him over if they had won, but these talks are a positive step.

I see lots of talk on Twitter today from Bulls guys about potentially putting a trade package together including Mirotic, Butler, Boozer and our two first rounders this year.

ButtersSuki

Kevin Love trade rumours everywhere.............it could happen!

padraig_f

buyer95 wrote: »

In news that will warm many the heart on here( Paully D, padraig f, I'm looking at you.) NBA.com reporting that the bulls have begun to start talking "buy out" with Real Madrid's Mirotic, widely considered the best international prospect not in the nba. http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/05/19/morning-shootaround-may-19/#spurs

I was reading an article about it at the weekend, and I see the buyout is not totally straightforward...

Can the Bulls Bring Over Nikola Mirotic?

Probably more info there than most are interested in, but the nub is that he has a $3.4m buyout clause, and the Bulls can only pay $600k of it. He'd have to pay the other $2.8m himself.

Mirotic's incentive is he'd want to get the clock ticking on his 1st NBA contract, which must be a minimum of 3 years, so he can get to a potentially more lucrative second contract.

Given his European performance he might merit a contract of almost eight figures right away if he were on the open market. Ryan Anderson is in the midst of a four-year, $34 million contract, and Mirotic projects to be at least his equal as a player.

Another interesting part is the buyout amount is negotiable...

it is often the case that European teams are willing to negotiate a buyout down as a reward for excellent service and/or to maintain a reputation as a good place to play. It also is not necessarily the case that all of the buyout would be due immediately, or that it could not be paid over time.

They conclude that they still think a deal gets done, but it's not a given this year. I think next year would be a lot simpler as he has just a year to run on his contract.

padraig_f

The NBA never said the OKC-Clippers review was right or wrong, but...

NBA confirms it is in the process of building a centralized replay center for next season

“The central location will aid officials in the review of video replays during games in an effort to improve the accuracy and speed by which reviews are conducted.”

Would be a good change I think. Should help speed it up and the remote refs wouldn't be affected by home-court bias.

Nuri Sahin

Lakers are in talks with Mike Dunleavy.

Elsewhere, the Grizzlies have given permission to the Twolves to speak to their coach, Dave Joerger.

Nuri Sahin

The Cavs will try to trade Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett and future first round picks for Kevin Love, via ESPN.

Paully D

Nuri Sahin wrote: »

The Cavs will try to trade Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett and future first round picks for Kevin Love, via ESPN.

It's going to be so funny when he ****s off to a big market team and/or one that has a chance to win, after a year. The only way I could see him staying is if the Cavs get LeBron back or another couple of very highly rated free agents.

padraig_f

Nuri Sahin wrote: »

The Cavs will try to trade Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett and future first round picks for Kevin Love, via ESPN.

Would the Timberwolves take that? Doesn't look like a great haul to me.

ButtersSuki

Nuri Sahin wrote: »

The Cavs will try to trade Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett and future first round picks for Kevin Love, via ESPN.

Not enough. I'm a huge Love fan but I can't see him staying in Cleveland even if they up the offer, which they'll need to - and that includes upside on Bennett (which there will be).

Nuri Sahin

Nuri Sahin wrote: »

The Cavs will try to trade Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett and future first round picks for Kevin Love, via ESPN.

Can't see it happening but a kyre/an other/lebron/love/embid could be something else provided there excluded from the salary cap of coarse

D2D

Nuri Sahin wrote: »

The Cavs will try to trade Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett and future first round picks for Kevin Love, via ESPN.

Jesus Christ, just no on that. It's not worth losing Dion (who began to show what he can do when it counts), Tristan (who's been a rock for us since he became a starter), Bennett (needs minutes badly) and picks just to get K Love for what could be only a season.

stuchyg

Dare_2_defy wrote: »

Jesus Christ, just no on that. It's not worth losing Dion (who began to show what he can do when it counts), Tristan (who's been a rock for us since he became a starter), Bennett (needs minutes badly) and picks just to get K Love for what could be only a season.

Agreed, if I'm minny I bite their hand off for that deal. They are losing him to FA if they don't trade and personally I think waiters could be a v good SG in the near future. Couple that with the fact after Love leaves Cavland they are back to a lottery team and your onto a winner

stuchyg

stuchyg wrote: »

Agreed, if I'm minny I bite their hand off for that deal. They are losing him to FA if they don't trade and personally I think waiters could be a v good SG in the near future. Couple that with the fact after Love leaves Cavland they are back to a lottery team and your onto a winner

Given the cavs seem garinteed a number one pick in the lottery every year Maby it's not so bad to be in it

ButtersSuki

Someone will offer MORE than the Cavs. Wait and see.

Nuri Sahin

ButtersSuki wrote: »

The Celtics will offer MORE than the Cavs. Wait and see.

FYP, heh

D2D

Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams underwent successful surgery today on both ankles, General Manager Billy King announced today. The surgery was performed by Nets' foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Martin O'Malley.

“The arthroscopic surgery performed today on Deron's left ankle included the removal of spurs from the front and back of the ankle, as well as a cleaning out of his ankle joint,' said Dr. O'Malley. “In addition, Deron underwent a procedure on his right ankle to remove a loose bone fragment that was below his right ankle joint. Deron is expected to be on crutches for 4-6 weeks and then begin rehabilitation. He is scheduled to begin light court activities in August, which will progress to full basketball activities in September. Deron is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the beginning of training camp.”

D2D

NBA 2014 Global Games have been announced:

Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves will play at the Mexico City Arena on Nov. 12

Milwaukee Bucks vs. New York Knicks will play at The O2 in London on Jan. 15

ButtersSuki

Dare_2_defy wrote: »

NBA 2014 Global Games have been announced:

Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves will play at the Mexico City Arena on Nov. 12

Milwaukee Bucks vs. New York Knicks will play at The O2 in London on Jan. 15

Not sure I'm massively keen to go and see the Bucks........:(

astonaidan

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Not sure I'm massively keen to go and see the Bucks........:(

They will have either Embiid, Wiggins or Parker, just to have a look at them would be worth while

ButtersSuki

astonaidan wrote: »

They will have either Embiid, Wiggins or Parker, just to have a look at them would be worth while

Oh yeah, forgot about that........well, when you put it like that it becomes a different proposition entirely!

astonaidan

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Oh yeah, forgot about that........well, when you put it like that it becomes a different proposition entirely!

Im here to change peoples perspective on life, Im kinda like the Dali Lama but I curse more

ButtersSuki

astonaidan wrote: »

Im here to change peoples perspective on life, Im kinda like the Dali Lama but I curse more

Fo shizzle my ninja

ButtersSuki

Kevin Love spotted in Boston over the weekend :):)

ButtersSuki

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Kevin Love spotted in Boston over the weekend :):)

with rondo no less.

i don't want him to be honest all reports show us giving up 2 first rounders sully, kelly o and green it just seems like a lot for a guy who is a star but will not drag you to the playoffs and i don't know if his addition to the team would even make us a playoff team never mind a championship contender

Felexicon

Cali Angry Roller-skate wrote: »

with rondo no less.

i don't want him to be honest all reports show us giving up 2 first rounders sully, kelly o and green it just seems like a lot for a guy who is a star but will not drag you to the playoffs and i don't know if his addition to the team would even make us a playoff team never mind a championship contender

He would make you a 4th or 5th seed in the East straight away. Title contender? No

astonaidan

Felexicon wrote: »

He would make you a 4th or 5th seed in the East straight away. Title contender? No

Id fancy dragging a team to the playoffs in the east myself, Love will 100% do it

ButtersSuki

Cali Angry Roller-skate wrote: »

with rondo no less.

i don't want him to be honest all reports show us giving up 2 first rounders sully, kelly o and green it just seems like a lot for a guy who is a star but will not drag you to the playoffs and i don't know if his addition to the team would even make us a playoff team never mind a championship contender

Yup, saw the pics. Not saying Love will be a ticket to the finals on his own, but hi and Rondo as a starting point would be an awful lot better than where Boston are now, and I say that as a fan.

I'd trade the above for him, in a heartbeat.

GoldFour4

They played together at UCLA so it has to be taken with a grain of salt, they could just be hanging out during their offseason. Although this soon after he said he'd test free agency is intriguing.

Paully D

malistheman wrote: »

They played together at UCLA so it has to be taken with a grain of salt, they could just be hanging out during their offseason. Although this soon after he said he'd test free agency is intriguing.

They went to different colleges, didn't they? Love to UCLA and Rondo to Kentucky?

My first reaction was that they may be friends and could just be hanging out while Love is on a vacation, however, then I saw that Love's agent was with him and that's a whole different ballgame.

There's something in it IMO. Love is extremely unlikely to be back there for 2014 and even if he is, he won't be signing with Minny in 2015. They have their hands tied really and need to cash in while they still have the chance. I wouldn't be surprised to see Love popping up around different teams that may be interested in trading for him during the offseason. Though I think he'll be a bit more discreet with the next visits if they happen. This one probably a bit of ploy by him and his agent to make it crystal clear that he wants to be traded.

I think making a move for Love is a massive risk, though one I would make. You run the risk of something going wrong during the season and him deciding to sign elsewhere (which may happen even if everything goes well) which would be a disaster. I also don't know if the Celtics would be a good move for Love. They're got a lot of rebuilding to do, and while Love and Rondo would be a good base, they're still maybe the length of a new contract (4 seasons or so if everything goes right) away from being a contender IMO. I'm sure there's teams in a far better win now situation that would be interested in his services and could provide the first round pick and a couple of veterans that can provide leadership that Minny are asking for, according to Woj. The Warriors, Bulls and Rockets for example would be much better landing spots from a Championship winning point of view and could provide what is asked.

Woj also said the below a while back:

Sources say Love has stressed to the Timberwolves that he's desperate to get to a winning situation and that the constant losing has worn on him. Minnesota has not reached the playoffs in Love's six seasons and endured a particularly disappointing 2013-14 season, missing out on a top-eight spot in the West thanks in part to a number of close-game defeats.

The Celtics will be bounced early in the playoffs, while an improvement on Minny, it's hardly the winning situation that Love aspires to get to and IMO wouldn't change for a few seasons.

GoldFour4

Paully D wrote: »

They went to different colleges, didn't they? Love to UCLA and Rondo to Kentucky?

.

Yeah my bad, was thinking of Westbrook for some reason!

ButtersSuki

Whoa, not saying it's a quick fix, just a starting point. I don't think even the most optimistic Celtics fans think landing Love will be a ticket to the Finals next year, it won't.

I've been saying for a few years now I see him going to the Lakers - with Westbrook. May take a few years for that to happen (i.e. Both of them there at the same time, but I think it will).

That said, I think it would be a great move for him to come to beantown. It'll be the second coming of Larry Bird in the eyes of Boston fans.

if it did happen the big advantage is that it would more or less insure rondo resigns but they would need to get rid of gerald wall aces contract and take a run at a few players in 2015 to make it work otherwise i can't see either player resigning.

to be fair though id imagine ainge (despite what he's said to the media) would be slow to trade if love does not agree to extend

ButtersSuki

I think you have to have a guarantee he re- signs to do this deal

ButtersSuki

ButtersSuki wrote: »

I think you have to have a guarantee he re- signs to do this deal

i agree ainge said he would sign him for one year in the belief he would resign but i think thats risky as hell when your giving up so much and i would imagine its just talk

Paully D

Jesus Christ

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2014-06-02/taj-gibson-cousin-murdered-butcher-knife-stabbed-brooklyn-double-stabbing

The 6-year-old cousin of Bulls power forward Taj Gibson was stabbed to death in a Brooklyn elevator Sunday evening, the New York Post reported.

The young boy, identified as Prince Joshua Avitto, and a 7-year-old girl were in the elevator en route to get some ice cream at about 6 p.m. when an unidentified person wielding a butcher's knife attacked them.

“They were just coming outside to get some ice cream and ices,” said Inez Rodriguez, president of a tenants association. “This is the worst thing that I’ve ever seen in this neighborhood.”

After attacking the children, the suspect fled from the scene, leaving behind the butcher knife, the Post reported.

The girl managed to stumble out of the elevator and collapsed in front of a nearby building.

She was taken to Brookdale Hospital with serious lacerations and wounds, but is expected to survive.

Kevin Velez, 41, is a resident of the building who described the scene as Avitto was carried out of the building.

“He was lifeless, just lifeless. I can’t get the image out of my head,” he said. “There was blood all over the front door. This is horrendous. The police need to catch this animal.”

Just days earlier, an 18-year-old girl in East York died after she was stabbed 32 times in the chest.

Police aren't yet sure if the two attacks, which appeared to be random, are connected.

Gibson posted a photo of his late cousin on his Instagram.

"They killed my lil super man. #rippj only two more weeks until your 7 birthday. Tears forever this can't be life #foreversuperman #babycuzz," he wrote.

There were no surveillance cameras in the area, police said.

D2D

Paully D wrote: »

Jesus Christ

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2014-06-02/taj-gibson-cousin-murdered-butcher-knife-stabbed-brooklyn-double-stabbing

That's just horrific. How twisted do you have to be to attack 2 kids in an elevator with a butcher knife??

theres a 30 for 30 on the bad boy pistons gone up on the american netflix for anyone interested.

Paully D

Cali Angry Roller-skate wrote: »

theres a 30 for 30 on the bad boy pistons gone up on the american netflix for anyone interested.

Very good watch. I saw it a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. Also available at the below link if anyone doesn't have Netflix and wants to see it. I used it myself:

http://www.sockshare.com/file/AACDC2130BB9E205#

buyer95

Cali Angry Roller-skate wrote: »

theres a 30 for 30 on the bad boy pistons gone up on the american netflix for anyone interested.

Can we get the american netflix here? I cancelled the european version due to the lack of content that I was interested in. I've been told the american one is far better.

buyer95

buyer95 wrote: »

Can we get the american netflix here? I cancelled the european version due to the lack of content that I was interested in. I've been told the american one is far better.

sent you a pm

stuchyg

Apparently the rockets have declined the option on parsons and will let him test FA as a restricted player. Bad move IMO, some team is gonna offer him a decent wedge

Nuri Sahin

Nexflix in Europe is god awful.

Nuri Sahin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0YBNspfByQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M52RawYQmM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExXljP7SkbU

Not a bad way to kill 20 minutes.

Nuri Sahin

Dragic progression over the years.

moneyman

stuchyg wrote: »

Apparently the rockets have declined the option on parsons and will let him test FA as a restricted player. Bad move IMO, some team is gonna offer him a decent wedge

They only did it so they can sign him to a long term contract. If they picked up his option he would have been an unrestricted FA next year.

Paully D

James Harden actually received two votes for the NBA All-Defense team. Jesus ****ing Christ.

http://www.nba.com/media/060214-2013-14-All-Defensive-Team-Votes.pdf

Kevin Calabro of ESPN Radio and Stephanie Ready of SportsSouth should never, ever be allowed to vote again.