2014-15 NBA General Discussion Thread

Lets not forget Love wasted away as 3rd or worst option on that roster for most of the year. Dude wants to get some run. I give him props for that.

Originally posted by 4ML:
He's betting on himself to be healthy and playing at a high level...which is anything but the red flag. It is same as Klay willing to play on his rookie deal rather than signing a non-max offer last fall or Jimmy Butler playing out his rookie deal instead of signing a deal that wasn't giving him max dollars.

I'd rather have a guy who thinks he will get a max deal now and again in couple years over a guy who thinks I'll sign a long term deal so I'm at least set for life if s**t hits the fan.

For me, it's his perceived lack of loyalty that is the problem with what he's doing that makes me question whether he's just interested in money or actually interested in winning.

Originally posted by itlynstalyn:

Originally posted by 4ML:
He's betting on himself to be healthy and playing at a high level...which is anything but the red flag. It is same as Klay willing to play on his rookie deal rather than signing a non-max offer last fall or Jimmy Butler playing out his rookie deal instead of signing a deal that wasn't giving him max dollars.

I'd rather have a guy who thinks he will get a max deal now and again in couple years over a guy who thinks I'll sign a long term deal so I'm at least set for life if s**t hits the fan.

For me, it's his perceived lack of loyalty that is the problem with what he's doing that makes me question whether he's just interested in money or actually interested in winning.

There is no loyalty in pro-sports anymore. It's a business and if a player doesn't look at it as a business deal then he's dumb or his agent is. There is a decent chance Cavs will turn around and trade him next summer or during the season.

If he signs with Cavs for a no. 3 role again - it shows that he's putting winning over his individual glory.

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 21m21 minutes ago
Portland is finalizing a trade to send Nic Batum to Charlotte for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson, league sources tell Yahoo.

Originally posted by lazy:

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 21m21 minutes ago
Portland is finalizing a trade to send Nic Batum to Charlotte for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson, league sources tell Yahoo.

Originally posted by 4ML:

Originally posted by lazy:

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 21m21 minutes ago
Portland is finalizing a trade to send Nic Batum to Charlotte for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson, league sources tell Yahoo.

Giving up on Vonleh already?

Originally posted by JustinMT:
Giving up on Vonleh already?

That sounds bizarre for Charlotte. It's not like they are going to be good anytime soon, so why give up a talented 19 yo for a talented 26 yo? It sounds like Portland is starting from scratch again without Aldridge.

Lakers gonna get Cousins

Also, happy the Magic didn't take Vonleh

Originally posted by lazy:

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 21m21 minutes ago
Portland is finalizing a trade to send Nic Batum to Charlotte for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson, league sources tell Yahoo.

Wild to me. I'm interpreting this in two ways...

1. Charlotte doesn't really have cap space so they're trying to change things up via trade and prior to FA kicking off. Not sure if they get an advantage from that but that has to be their thinking. They also just shipped out Barnes for Jeremy Lamb.

Kemba Walker
Jeremy Lamb
MKG
Batum
Al Jefferson

Small ball, right? They still got Cody Zeller, Spencer Hawes, PJ Hairston, and Marvin Williams too.

2. Portland's hedging their bets. I have to believe they don't think they've got a good shot with LaMarcus. Let Afflalo go now that you have Gerald Henderson to plug up that spot. Wes, Robin Lopez, and LaMarcus are all FAs too. You've got $40+ (I think $42 million but I'm rounding) million in cap space with this roster:

Lillard
McCollum
Gerald Henderson
Noah Vonleh
Meyers Leonard

Steve Blake still on the roster too. Throw the max at LaMarcus, let Wes go, and go hard after DeAndre/Gasol? I have to imagine they're positioning themselves to either be in the running to throw crazy money at folks (if LaMarcus walks) or for LaMarcus to recruit or pick another guy to come along and give them both max deals.

All things considered, it isn't a bad move for Portland. I like Batum but I'm guessing they all had a pretty negative hangover after getting their asses kicked by Memphis in the playoffs.

Originally posted by JustinMT:

New Hawk jerseys

I like these uniforms. I heard they were planning to mix and match the tops and bottoms though ... no so sure about that.

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA
Sources: Brooklyn, San Antonio among teams checking with Cavs on deal for rights to sign center Sasha Kaun. He's leaving Russia for NBA.

Memphis has agreed to trade Luke Ridnour to Charlotte for Matt Barnes, league sources tell Yahoo.

Originally posted by GameOver:
Memphis has agreed to trade Luke Ridnour to Charlotte for Matt Barnes, league sources tell Yahoo.

lol they just got him from orlando yesterday

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13141378/orlando-magic-trade-luke-ridnour-rights-janis-timma

Originally posted by jrg:

Originally posted by GameOver:
Memphis has agreed to trade Luke Ridnour to Charlotte for Matt Barnes, league sources tell Yahoo.

lol they just got him from orlando yesterday

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13141378/orlando-magic-trade-luke-ridnour-rights-janis-timma

Championship

Ridnour traded again

Hornets acquire Jeremy Lamb from Thunder for Luke Ridnour and a 2016 2nd round pick