NBA Week 1 - Tip off October 25

[DT_35]

Nurkic could be an unexpected weapon for The Suns, he was great tonight.

Let’s wait and see him play against a legit centre first lol

 

[Frederico_WA]

??? I'm not saying he will, I'm merely pointing out that he showed last season and in the playoffs that he absolutely has the level required to be in the conversation. Don't think it's overly controversial or presumptuous.

Think he was about fourth or fifth favourite in the betting markets before the season started as well, so it's hardly an outlandish statement, especially considering it wasn't even a prediction.

Well, you mentioned MVP so how else was I supposed to take it other than inviting speculation about the MVP?

I've always been a fan of Booker, but until he gets in front of KD and becomes 'the man' at the Suns he won't get close. If he plays like this every week and can cut his turnovers he'd be right in the convo as you said.

 

[apollo_creed]

Well, you mentioned MVP so how else was I supposed to take it other than inviting speculation about the MVP?

I've always been a fan of Booker, but until he gets in front of KD and becomes 'the man' at the Suns he won't get close. If he plays like this every week and can cut his turnovers he'd be right in the convo as you said.

in front of KD as the man at the suns? KD hasn't been in the same stratosphere since he joined. It's Booker's team.
again my comment - if Booker stays fit he will be in the MVP conversation this year. Nothing controversial, just a prediction. People make them before the season starts. That's why it's called a prediction.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Bron & Davis said all summer they been waiting to pay us back….lmfao

Imagine being in the lab all summer, stewing on the words of one of the local Denver announcers/callers and using that anger to fuel your off season, only to get slapped around in the first game, lead by a Jokic - who mozied on back late into preseason after spending most of the summer sinking piss, dancing to wierd Serbian folk music and watching his horses race. Just GOAT things.

 

[Son of Skeletor]

Kind of think a prediction is a absolute in a way. Not one to fence sit so I can never be wrong for example. I think McDaniels ends up a albatross contract. Not Davis Bertans bad but one of those Michael Porter Jnr style man I wish he did more for that money type deals. I also think it will mean the team must be broken up come next year. Once ANT contract kicks on they will have 180 mill in salary basically committed to the team(10 players all up) that will then be minus Mike Conley. It likely means KAT goes but thats just not a smart move if you ask me

I think Bridges is a exception as opposed to the norm. I cant remember or think of any other players who improved post 20 mill contract as much as he has.

Lets see how the year plays out but I dont think 165 mill on a team thats for 8-10th is a team id be happy with. I also dont think 169 mill on a incomplete starting 5 of

???
ANT
McDaniels
KAT
Gobert

is one im doing cartwheels over

If the team breaks up, that'll be because of the Gobert deal, not McDaniels.

Part of the reason McDaniels got that contract is that he fits on any team that the Wolves (or anyone else) wishes to build. If the Wolves decide to rebuild around Edwards, McDaniels is a nice complement. If they trade either one of their bigs, McDaniels is still going to be a nice fit.

You're also not thinking like a small-market GM. When you have 22 year olds who have become fine two-way players by their third year, you don't let them walk in free agency because it'll make your cap go close to the luxury for one year. They can't replace him in free agency, even if they had a tonne of cap room, let alone when they're over the cap.

I don't expect McDaniels to ever average 25ppg like Bridges did in Brooklyn. I also suspect that the Wolves would have been looking for a figure closer to $20 mil per season as opposed to $26 mil, but it is what it is. Devin Vassell's contract had an inflationary effect. I'm actually surprised that the Mavs were able to get Josh Green's contract done at a relative bargain price, but good for them. The point was, it's silly looking at ''9 points, 4 rebounds per game'' as the arbiter of worth without placing those numbers in context with regards to age, minutes, usage, development, efficiency, defensive proficiency, etc etc.

If Minny isn't a top-6 team in the West, then they'll probably have to bite the bullet and trade either KAT or Gobert, and probably break one of those contracts into several smaller, trade-able pieces. I don't think Wolves fans are ignorant of this. But re-signing McDaniels can't be classified as a mistake at this point, even if it was slightly pricier than hoped. It shouldn't be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

If the team breaks up, that'll be because of the Gobert deal, not McDaniels.

Part of the reason McDaniels got that contract is that he fits on any team that the Wolves (or anyone else) wishes to build. If the Wolves decide to rebuild around Edwards, McDaniels is a nice complement. If they trade either one of their bigs, McDaniels is still going to be a nice fit.

You're also not thinking like a small-market GM. When you have 22 year olds who have become fine two-way players by their third year, you don't let them walk in free agency because it'll make your cap go close to the luxury for one year. They can't replace him in free agency, even if they had a tonne of cap room, let alone when they're over the cap.

I don't expect McDaniels to ever average 25ppg like Bridges did in Brooklyn. I also suspect that the Wolves would have been looking for a figure closer to $20 mil per season as opposed to $26 mil, but it is what it is. Devin Vassell's contract had an inflationary effect. I'm actually surprised that the Mavs were able to get Josh Green's contract done at a relative bargain price, but good for them. The point was, it's silly looking at ''9 points, 4 rebounds per game'' as the arbiter of worth without placing those numbers in context with regards to age, minutes, usage, development, efficiency, defensive proficiency, etc etc.

If Minny isn't a top-6 team in the West, then they'll probably have to bite the bullet and trade either KAT or Gobert, and probably break one of those contracts into several smaller, trade-able pieces. I don't think Wolves fans are ignorant of this. But re-signing McDaniels can't be classified as a mistake at this point, even if it was slightly pricier than hoped. It shouldn't be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Its a arbiter of worth in that he isn't providing much but perimeter defense and its not worth 26 mill. Its worth 15 mill a season. Not like I'm saying he is a complete spud who shouldn't play NBA. I said he is worth 4/60 and if he isn't available for that then off he goes.

In this situation you do let him walk in free agency because losing KAT for 2 1st rounders and Evan Fourinier in 6 months time probably isnt worth it to keep McDaniels

 

[Son of Skeletor]

Its a arbiter of worth in that he isn't providing much but perimeter defense and its not worth 26 mill. Its worth 15 mill a season. Not like I'm saying he is a complete spud who shouldn't play NBA. I said he is worth 4/60 and if he isn't available for that then off he goes.

In this situation you do let him walk in free agency because losing KAT for 2 1st rounders and Evan Fourinier in 6 months time probably isnt worth it to keep McDaniels

People were saying the same thing about Aaron Gordon two years ago. Think Denver regret that now?

I'd say averaging 12-15 ppg on 60+ TS% is providing more than 'not much'. That description is more apt for the Matisse Thybulles or Michael Carter-Williams's of the league. Cleveland just gave Max Strus $16 mil per season. I'd far, far, rather McDaniels than Strus.

Losing assets for nothing is bad practice in general, but it's a deadly sin for small markets. You just don't do it. Moreover, you seem to be labouring under the misconception that re-signing McDaniels now makes trading KAT inevitable. It doesn't. The Gobert trade made that a possibility, not this re-signing. And they don't even HAVE to trade KAT, they can opt to trade Gobert if they really want - they'll just receive cents on the dollar in return, which stings majorly after coughing up so much to land him.

You've presented a false dichotomy. It's not 'lose McDaniels now or lose KAT later', it's 'lose an asset now, have no path to replacing said asset, then still possibly lose KAT later'. Minny fans are almost 100% in the former camp, and they're no dummies.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

People were saying the same thing about Aaron Gordon two years ago. Think Denver regret that now?

I'd say averaging 12-15 ppg on 60+ TS% is providing more than 'not much'. That description is more apt for the Matisse Thybulles or Michael Carter-Williams's of the league. Cleveland just gave Max Strus $16 mil per season. I'd far, far, rather McDaniels than Strus.

Losing assets for nothing is bad practice in general, but it's a deadly sin for small markets. You just don't do it. Moreover, you seem to be labouring under the misconception that re-signing McDaniels now makes trading KAT inevitable. It doesn't. The Gobert trade made that a possibility, not this re-signing. And they don't even HAVE to trade KAT, they can opt to trade Gobert if they really want - they'll just receive cents on the dollar in return, which stings majorly after coughing up so much to land him.

You've presented a false dichotomy. It's not 'lose McDaniels now or lose KAT later', it's 'lose an asset now, have no path to replacing said asset, then still possibly lose KAT later'. Minny fans are almost 100% in the former camp, and they're no dummies.

Id rather Strus but not by much and I feel that contract is his value. Strus/McDaniels are of similar worth

Its absolutely not a false dichotomy in the sense they are now FORCED to trade and wont even get cents in the dollar for whoever they do. Everyone knows Minny aint going 200 mill deep into the salary cap and they will play it off that way

Everyone will lowball them to a point where they will be giving KAT away for peanuts. Thats my prediction out of all this anyway. Lets give it time before im actually waived off of not knowing anything etc cos the same words were said when I lambasted the Gobert trade is all and thats proven to basically be one of the worst trades of all time

 

[Son of Skeletor]

Id rather Strus but not by much and I feel that contract is his value. Strus/McDaniels are of similar worth

Eh, I dunno about that. I think Strus has maximised his talent, whereas McDaniels has much greater scope for improvement.

When Strus's shot was off in the playoffs, he didn't offer much else.

Its absolutely not a false dichotomy in the sense they are now FORCED to trade and wont even get cents in the dollar for whoever they do. Everyone knows Minny aint going 200 mill deep into the salary cap and they will play it off that way

Gobert, KAT and Ant will make over $131 mil combined next season. That puts Minny at the cap already, without the other 10-12 roster spots they need to fill.

If you'd like to know the REAL cost of the McDaniels deal, it might mean that they lose Kyle Anderson in a year from now, owing to the new tax measures, particularly the second apron. Or they might have to choose between Conley and Anderson, presuming Conley is still willing to play on. That's where the tax hurts, when you start dealing with the MLE.

The fact that they traded for Gobert in the first place, and then failed to make it work, is what may - depending on what happens this season- have 'forced' them into a decision re. trading one of their bigs. It has nothing to do with McDaniels, and everything to do with not paying two guys who essentially play the same position a combined $96 million next season, in an era where most teams allocate less and less money to the centre position.

It's like when Philly paid big money for Horford, and then had to dump him as a depreciated asset because he couldn't function with Embiid. Re-signing McDaniels is pretty much irrelevant to this equation in Minny's case. They were always going to have to accept cents on the dollar if their dual-big strategy backfired, teams aren't stupid.

Everyone will lowball them to a point where they will be giving KAT away for peanuts. Thats my prediction out of all this anyway. Lets give it time before im actually waived off of not knowing anything etc cos the same words were said when I lambasted the Gobert trade is all and thats proven to basically be one of the worst trades of all time

Pretty much everyone had misgivings on the Gobert trade, or at least knew that it was a major risk. It wasn't Dwight Howard/Omer Asik levels of stupid (see Mead, Shane peternorth ), but it was self-evidently a big gamble.

Perhaps the Wolves will have to write off the Gobert experiment, ending up with little more than expiring contracts in return. Such is life. Letting a young asset like McDaniels walk in the meantime would only compound the folly though IMO, not alleviate it. They still wouldn't have cap room to replace him, nor would they have much draft capital.

 

[DT_35]

Ded

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Ded

It's Vic Lombardi's fault.

The moron talking heads (Skip Clueless for one) have already stated on national television that it was Malone that said the infamous line. This shit has to stop.

 

[fidstar]

Good to see there was no over-reactions in this thread after one game.

 

[Memphis]

LeBron just the 24 mins.............

Currently on a minutes restriction of 30mins max.

 

[Memphis]

Porzingod going off in the first quarter.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Onya Zinger, keep on cookin !

 

[Memphis]

Our starting 5 healthy is so OP.

 

[Borough Blood]

Coach’s challenge already done. Good to see Bazooka Joe has matured

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

If Boston stay healthy they win the title in a canter

Think the Wizards will surprise a few this year. Im going to predict playoffs

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

If Boston stay healthy they win the title in a canter

Think the Wizards will surprise a few this year. Im going to predict playoffs

Nuggets definitely should still be favourites at this stage.

Tatum has started the 3rd quarter with a bang against a a very ordinary Knicks outfit it has to be said.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Happy for Jules Randle to keep throwing up 3 point hay makers

 

[Memphis]

Coach’s challenge already done. Good to see Bazooka Joe has matured

Joes our biggest weakness.

 

[DT_35]

How does Hartenstien get a tech there? Horrible

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Fire Joe Mazzulla and send him into the sun.
This bum is the Ken Hinkley of NBA coaches. He is a loser..

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Jalen Brown trying to out do D Lo

 

[Nicho50]

Nuggets definitely should still be favourites at this stage.

Tatum has started the 3rd quarter with a bang against a a very ordinary Knicks outfit it has to be said.

Ordinary Knicks outfit? that’s in front and keeping up with one of the top teams…