2018-19 NBA Thread

[33anda3rd]

I’ll take Philly to get through the East playoffs now.

[MAGA]

Think they take 1 game from GSW?

[33anda3rd]

Maybe 1 or 2, depends if the Dubs are simultaneously all cold.

[33anda3rd]

I’ll take Philly to get through the East playoffs now.

In hindsight, this was prob a little Hot Take-y.

Philly lost a lot of depth and they're going to need some kind of corresponding move. Butler can't play the ~64 minutes/game Saric and Covington played, Covington is arguably in Jimmy's neighborhood on D. This hurts Philly's depth a lot. They get Jimmy but they need a lot more minutes out of guys like Landry Shamet now.

I like Boston and Toronto and Milwaukee still to finish ahead of them, barring Philly making another big move that addresses their depth, because all three of those other teams are long, athletic, play both ends, and deep on the bench.

[Tim]

Oh Kemba my Kemba

[33anda3rd]

Yeah, he's been on one lately. Batum has kind of shrunk, he's not taking as many shots. Lamb has been pretty solid, but Monk has been a complete trainwreck. Kemba has stepped up nicely to fill a lot of usage--only Westbrook takes more shots per 36 minutes--and has done an admirable job of keeping Charlotte hovering around .500. They'd be lost without him.

Another function of his crazy-high usage is probably that it's a contract year. He's only getting $12MM/year right now, he's about to hit the market just off turning 29, and he's looking for max money. Finishing top 5 in scoring will help get that supermax extension with full Bird rights in Charlotte, or the most money somewhere else.

I think he's a potential trade candidate at the deadline. Monk and Bridges are their only real future assets, they're sitting on surplus 2nd-round picks the next few years, they're stuck in a now six-year cycle of being either just good enough to get blown out in the first round or just good enough to get bad odds in the lottery, and they're not going to change that by re-signing Kemba and hoping that Monk and Bridges come along. Kemba would be great in LA, dribbling less and shooting off LeBron. He'd be great in New York playing off Kristaps when he comes back, taking some mileage off Kristaps after the injury. He'd be great in Indy with Oladipo and Sabonis. Or Orlando with Gordon and Vucevic. He'd be great in Denver with Jokic if they could get Jamal Murray or Gary Harris and some draft picks. He makes a lot of sense in a lot of teams, but I'm not sure how much sense he makes locked in long-term to a Charlotte team that fails to put other studs around him.

[Tim]

If you believe Mike, Kemba won’t be traded.

[33anda3rd]

I believe Mike, but I also believe Mike is a poor owner. What can you hang your hat on in his tenure?

Current success? Three seasons over .500 in 12 seasons, three playoff appearances, 12-3 in those playoff games including two sweeps. They've played poorly.

The light at the end of the tunnel? Monk has been dreadful, Bridges looks ok, but they've squandered draft picks on guys like Kaminsky (#9), Zeller (#4), MKG (#2), Vonleh (#9). They've drafted, outside Kemba, poorly. There are at least 4 vastly better NBA players in each of those drafts who Charlotte could have selected, and they always seem to get it wrong.

Whatever Jordan's general instincts are, were I a Hornets fan I'd hope for the opposite.

[33anda3rd]

This is remarkable. There should be awards for such things.

[Tim]

I believe Mike, but I also believe Mike is a poor owner. What can you hang your hat on in his tenure?

Current success? Three seasons over .500 in 12 seasons, three playoff appearances, 12-3 in those playoff games including two sweeps. They've played poorly.

The light at the end of the tunnel? Monk has been dreadful, Bridges looks ok, but they've squandered draft picks on guys like Kaminsky (#9), Zeller (#4), MKG (#2), Vonleh (#9). They've drafted, outside Kemba, poorly. There are at least 4 vastly better NBA players in each of those drafts who Charlotte could have selected, and they always seem to get it wrong.

Whatever Jordan's general instincts are, were I a Hornets fan I'd hope for the opposite.

Not arguing he’s a good owner