2018 NBA Offseason

[CHBB]

Seems like a good time to start this thread, with the Finals underway and so many coaching changes having already happened. Feel free to share any offseason-related thoughts here.

[usagre]

Seems like a good time to me too since it appears the league is also in a hurry to expedite the beginning of their off season with that unprecedented unbelievable replay reversal of a 50-50 call against the best player on the planet that went against a historically huge underdog.

I have thought all year that Lebron moves this offseason and nothing has changed that. I see only two possibilities,
the Lakers as the favorite and the 76ers as the other possibility. He’s not going to Houston I would bet the farm on that.

I think it’s 50-50 that Chris Paul returns to Houston or teams up with a LeBron in LA.

Paul George is 100% gone from Okc and I see him in LA most likely with LeBron.

Kawhi Leonard will be 100% traded from the Spurs and is also a possibility of teaming up with LeBron.

Kyrie Irving in an unexpected move could be traded if his contract can’t get extended. I don’t think he did himself any favors by not being on the bench in game 7 instead opting for a nose job in preparation publicity for his new movie.

Kevin Durant will obviously resign with the Warriors since the convenience and lack of pressure due to being surrounded by all those Stars is just too great to pass up.

[usagre]

Other interesting storylines include the Carmelo Anthony situation who will opt in to his 28 million dollar option knowing full well nobody would sigh him to that and then hope to force a trade that won’t happen. If I am OKC I make it clear to him that if he opts in he will ride the bench and waste one of his few remaining years. Basically call his bluf.

Kamba Walker who is severely underpaid at 12 million can probably force a trade since Charlotte would be in a lame duck sort of position and would probably not want to lose him for nothing.

The restricted free agents of interest are Jokic who will obviously be matched by Denver but less certainty is the return to their former teams for Marcus Smart, Clint Capela and Julius Randle whose deals might blow their current teams out of the water.

I will also be following where Avery Bradley, Trevor Ariza, and Danny Green sign. Two way players that can be difference makers on championship contenders.

[CHBB]

Kyrie got a nose job? Are you serious?

Either way, he should absolutely be traded. Sell high. Boston could net themselves a top pick if they do. I'm just not sure who he'd fit on.

A Kawhi trade could be a league-changer. A two-way player who is a perennial MVP candidate when healthy and a proven winner. If I'm the Sixers, I trade literally anybody other than Embiid for him.

PG I think should stay in OKC imo. It's the perfect situation for him.

Definitely going to be following Smart, Capela, and Randle for sure but also Mudiay, Hood, Vonleh, Okafor, Stauskas, and some others who could be huge steals given their low value. Avery Bradley will be interesting. KCP, too. Of course there's Chris Paul and LeBron, who I think would team up somewhere. Plus Nerlens Noel, who I would think has to be gone from Dallas. Not to mention Boogie, who could sign a "prove it" deal.

I'll also be watching the teams with the top two picks as they have a lot of extra pieces but also the Raptors and Blazers, who need to add a legitimate big (Raptors) and a two-way wing and third scorer (Blazers) respectively.

There are some teams who are stuck though. Like Memphis due to the Parsons contract. It'll be very interesting to see what happens there.

[CHBB]

Apparently Atlanta has made it known they'll take on bad contracts in order to acquire picks and young players. If I'm Cleveland, I use this to finally move JR Smith. They can afford to part with a guy like Osman and a lesser pick to do this imo but not Zizic. Maybe Atlanta would settle for Nance and a pick. They need shot blockers.

[Jazz]

Apparently the Clippers won't be bringing back Milos Teodosic next season. I guess it is to do with concerns over his durability because of his foot injury.

[CHBB]

That's not incredibly surprising. I think he can be solid in the right situation though.

Supposedly Toronto is willing to trade anybody on their roster in order to get high enough to draft Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This is a huge mistake imo but I still hope the Sixers use it to grab Lowry.

That kid may be talented but he's got a ways to go.

[Jazz]

That's not incredibly surprising. I think he can be solid in the right situation though.

Totally. The Clippers both looked better and won more with Teodosic on the floor.
Still, I'm sure he'll miss being stood around watching Austin Rivers or Lou Williams dominate the ball.

There's a suggestion that they might try to draft a point guard, but do you think there's a chance that Doc will use Juwan Evans more? He missed some time with injury but whenever he got some proper minutes, he looked good. Probably worked better with Teodosic than any of the other guards as well.

[CHBB]

Agreed. He has to prove he can stay healthy, though.

As for Jawun Evans... unfortunately I don't see Doc ever developing these young kids they have. It's time for both he and Austin to go.

[CHBB]

Apparently my Sixers are trying to move into the top five. This makes absolutely zero sense. We should be going after established stars now, not draft picks in a draft with a top five we flat out have no need for.

With all of the potential steals later in the draft, most teams would be wise to trade down. This draft is crazy deep if you know how to develop players.

[CHBB]

We officially have our first trade of the offseason, as Dwight Howard is traded to Brooklyn almost six years after he originally supposedly wanted to be, in exchange for Mozgov, second rounders, and cash.

This move would seem to signal that Jarrett Allen is done being Brooklyn's starting five for now, which I find very interesting.

It also signals that either Charlotte drafts, signs, or trades for a starting five or plans to start Hernangomez.

[usagre]

Great trade for Brooklyn. They free up 16 million plus from their salary cap for 2019-20 season. They can sign two huge contracts two summers from now. Howard also can be dealt this season to a contender for a rental and Brooklyn can get something back there too.

From 2008-2012 Dwight Howard was without a doubt a top 5 player. He will never be that again but he is still an elite rebounder and can be a difference maker for the right team. Brooklyn is not that team but maybe if he is dealt to the right contending team mid season it can happen for him.

[CHBB]

Yeah for sure.

I'm really curious to see which highly paid player gets dealt to a team looking to use cap space and then released. If Cleveland for example does trade Love or Memphis trades Parsons and he gets released, both could be elite additions if cheap enough. The contract is really the only thing holding them back from being as valuable as they should be.

[CHBB]

Now that I think about it, Dwight could have an even better career starting in 2019 as a much cheaper big man versus as a guy whose huge deal makes him virtually untouchable. Imagine him coming off the bench for a contender if healthy. No team wants to face that.

[CHBB]

Still lots of chatter about Kemba to the Cavs. He would easily be the best player LeBron has ever played with.

I'm really interested to see where Bledsoe ends up though. Everybody seems to be forgetting about him.