2016-2017 NBA SEASON: Crab walk vs Chef Wok the Threequel: The Return of the King

[Moss]

If Boston has committed to paying IT, then there's no real reason to hold onto the #1 for Fultz when you can get value and a prospect at another position.

They really shouldn't though lol. He kills them defensively and is now coming off the serious hip injury. They clearly weren't in love with Fultz tho.

Also a very good chance the Lakers pass on Jackson. Supposedly the workout with him went badly. Could be him not wanting to play there?

Yeah. All whispers are pointing to Lonzo. Still a big risk for Boston unless they like Tatum or someone almost as much.

[Krandor]

IT is a defensive liability, but kills is a strong word. They were still the number one seed, and is he really any worse on defense then Kyrie?

[Moss]

IT is a defensive liability, but kills is a strong word. They were still the number one seed, and is he really any worse on defense then Kyrie?

I think it's a fair word to use, but I'll add that it doesn't really come into play until the playoffs when teams can easily target him with their gameplan. The Celtics were trying some weird shit to overcome his difficulties, including having him play a zone in the corner so he could avoid screens.

Yeah he's worth than Kyrie imo. Kyrie is inattentive and gets lost a la Harden but he can at least challenge a shooter in front of him and get some 1v1 stops when engaged. IT is just too short.

[Krandor]

I won't lie, I legitimately​ forgot for a minute just how goddamn short IT is. I rescind my previous question.

[kisada]

so, david griffin and his top assistant pretty much let go from cleveland today. griffin had been wanting a new contract and gilbert didn't wanna pay him. probably has something to do with him being a bitch

also

David Aldridge ✔ @daldridgetnt
Griffin was elbow deep today, as late as an hour ago, working to put together a monster deal to get Jimmy Butler from Chicago.

so all things considered it's pretty crazy. really hoping clips go after griffin and then snake ryan west away from the lakers as well.

[tyven]

guess you dont need a GM when you dont have draft picks amirite

[Krandor]

Maybe they'll just make LeGM official.

[kisada]

they're trying to make chauncey billups the GM. some speculation i've heard is that griffin wanted to try and preserve the future some while gilbert wanted to go for broke with this butler trade.

[kisada]

some interesting tidbits. keep in mind that apparently lebron and gilbert's relationship has still been tenuous and hasn't really changed.

Ramona Shelburne ✔ @ramonashelburne
Cavs may think GM doesn't matter when you have Bron, but the blind spot is in failing to recognize how much Griff did to manage Gilbert

David Aldridge ✔ @daldridgetnt
But it nonetheless leaves the franchise in limbo at the worst possible time: w LeBron a free agent in ’18 & team needing roster upgrade now.

Dave McMenamin ✔ @mcten
Just reached out to a Cavs player for a response about the David Griffin departure. His response: "Griff is leaving?"

Dave McMenamin ✔ @mcten
Per source familiar w/ breakdown, Griffin removed himself from consideration when it became clear his vision for CLE didn't match Gilbert's

Adrian Wojnarowski ✔ @WojVerticalNBA
Several executives under Griffin turned down bigger money/bigger roles elsewhere over summer out of sheer loyalty to him. https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/s...48459584200704 …

[Gredival]

Don't worry. Gilbert will make a great Cavs team without Griffin, just like how he delivered on that promise to get a ring before LeBron.

[Cail]

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojVerticalNBA
Sources: Pau Gasol will decline his $16.2M option for 2017-18, but intends to work with Spurs on a longer term deal to remain with team.

[Iono]

Dang, lets see what magic spurs can work from this!?

[Cail]

Adrian Wojnarowski‏ @WojVerticalNBA
Sources: As teams become aware Phil Jackson isn't ruling out possibility of trading Kristaps Porzingis, frenzy of interest is growing today.

RIP Deejay

[kisada]

yeah spurs are gearing up to get someone big it sounds like.

[tyven]

isnt Pau 50 years old yet?

[Andalusian girls]

Adrian Wojnarowski‏ @WojVerticalNBA
Sources: As teams become aware Phil Jackson isn't ruling out possibility of trading Kristaps Porzingis, frenzy of interest is growing today.

RIP Deejay

what a disaster that team is

[Moss]

what a disaster that team is

Phil is meeting with Markkanen, presumably to draft him as a Kristaps replacement if a deal goes through

It's literally like a Knicks fan worst nightmare come to life

[tyven]

KEVIN LOVE FOR KRISTAPS?

[Jem]

I hope the Magic package our seconds and maybe late 1st to get something else. The last thing we need is 4 rookies on our team and even going the stash route feels ugh.

I think I'm happy with anybody we take at 6 though just because we need a little bit of everything. I'm all for giving Payton another year at PG, I don't think we necessarily have to take a PG as Payton at least showed promise in glimpses at season end once we changed our playstyle. His defense is atrocious but that isn't unworkable considering he was great on D in college and his rookie year. He can obviously do it to an extent, just needs to be coaxed out of him.

Actually fuck who we pick, just make the players we already have play some fucking defense for more than the opening 10-15 games of the year

[Dimmauk]

Phil is meeting with Markkanen, presumably to draft him as a Kristaps replacement if a deal goes through

It's literally like a Knicks fan worst nightmare come to life

Trade a tall euro and draft another tall euro. Bold strategy