Real Deal

Well, if Mobley goes to Houston, then Cleveland will likely take Green, now that rumors are out that they are fielding offers for Sexton (and Sexton doesn't want to be there, anyway). In that case, Toronto will have Suggs, but you guys could trade down and take Mitchell, who is damn good. Analysts are comparing him to Marcus Smart, less physicality, but also an efficient scorer (one of the most efficient in college basketball, actually). I wonder what the Raptors could get for #4... Would you take #7 and Wiseman for #4 and a filler?

For me, CP3 making the Finals doesn't exactly move him out of my top 10 PG's into my five, or three. Making it only solidifies him as a great PG. John Stockton and Kevin Johnson put up similar numbers (and KJ was a better scorer), and then KJ made the Finals with the Suns and Barkley. Nobody talks about that. Nobody talks about Stockton in the Finals, other than him losing twice. Same with Gary Payton and his loss to MJ and the Bulls. If CP3 comes out of this with a loss, more people will talk about the fact that he never won a ring vs. him getting the Suns to the Finals. Now, if he does win a championship, he's immediately in my top five. I'm really not sure if he hits top three... Magic Johnson Steph Curry John Stockton Stockton holds the assist record by miles, and he was a two-way player like CP3. Then you have Jerry West and Oscar Robertson to round out the five. From there, Isiah Thomas, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Steve Nash. A ring would boost Paul to maybe #4 or #5? If he wins Finals MVP over Booker and has an amazing series, I'd probably move him ahead of Stockton. So, yeah, a championship means a LOT to his legacy. Can you imagine if Steve Nash won a ring in that seven-second offense he ran with MDA? How about Barkley, who hears about it over and over again? Many now consider Dirk Nowitzki a top three PF of all-time after he won his ring. If Shaq had six, he'd be up there with Kareem. CP3 needs more than just a Finals appearance, and he knows it. You can tell just by the way he tries taking over games.

This may not be Lakers vs. Nets, but I think this series could be really fun to watch. I'm going with the Bucks in 6 games, as long as Giannis is healthy enough to make an impact. Otherwise, Suns will win in five and celebrate on their home court. The biggest factor is Jrue Holiday. He put up 22/5 on 46% shooting (37% from three) against the Hawks, turning aggressive when Giannis was hurt. And Middleton gave the Bucks 24/8/7...shooting wasn't exactly on par with his regular season numbers, but he still came through in the clutch a few games. Phoenix is so damn good, though, when Chris Paul is looking to score. That's why I'm worried about them. Jrue is defensive-minded as well, and if he looks to lock up CP3 AND pus him to work on the defensive end, the Suns will lose some playmaking. Booker actually did really, really well covering for CP3 while he was out, and had that 40/13/11 outing in Game 1 vs. the Clips. Ayton had 20/9, and every single player from the Suns shot 50% or better outside of Saric and Moore, who took just one shot each and barely played (the Suns shot 55/41/100 that game). If Paul is put on an island with Jrue, Booker has to be the guy to run the offense, not Payne or Bridges. Payne needs to run with the second unit as much as possible. Should be an exciting series, and I hope it goes seven.

It's no secret that I'm not much of a LeBron fan, so I'll go ahead and make my post regarding what the team should do... Offer LeBron for Damian Lillard. Of course, it would never happen, because the FO will cater to him for the rest of his career. He'll retire in LA. But I can dream, right? I don't see them offering AD up to anyone, either. If LBJ and AD aren't running it back next season, something happened between the two that we didn't hear about.

No more PG slander from me, at least not until next season. He fought hard (he and Reggie Jackson) and carried this team to a sixth game. Also, props to Marcus Morris (who I like anyway...Kansas guy) for stepping his game up, despite being injured. I'm most disappointed in Patrick Beverley, pushing CP3 the way he did near the end of the game. I've never liked him, though, and it doesn't surprise me one bit that he would react that way. Unfortunately for the Clippers, there's a huge chance they would be in the Finals if Kawhi was healthy. Why aren't we getting updates on his injury?

Well, looks like one of these teams will "gimp" their way into the Finals. I still haven't heard anything official about Giannis' status for the next game. I'm sure Trae Young will be another game-time decision. I actually thought Giannis tore his ACL at first. If Middleton doesn't step up and put the Hawks away (assuming Young and GA are out), I'll be disappointed and a bit shocked.

FYI - since Saturday, I think I've changed my mind a bit. The Suns are clearly CP3's team. Book still has a lot to learn as a leader and a player that just wants to personally end your team's season. CP3 showed just how bad he wants it tonight.

No, Detroit didn't have any superstar, IMO. Take any one of those players and swap them with, say, someone like Doncic or Lillard...Portland and Dallas would be a wreck. Billups' numbers didn't stand out; defensively, he was really good, but he's not taking a team to the promised land unless he's the Robin OR he's on one of the greatest defensive teams of all-time. Plus, Detroit had four all-stars, and of those four, three could give you 20+ on any given night. Take the current Suns roster + the 2004 Pistons, and my first two picks would be CP3 and Booker. I think those two are better players than anyone else from the two rosters. For what it's worth, though, I think the Lakers win the Finals that year if Malone wasn't hurt. Kobe got a lot of shit for that series, but he averaged the most assists on the team vs. Detroit, scored the most points, and was the ONLY person that played defense for the Lakers. Shaq didn't get the ball as much as he wanted because Detroit was cutting off the passing lanes, and interrupting entry passes into the triangle. Shaq couldn't get deep enough in the post to get the correct amount of spacing to make that pass possible, because Big Ben was the strongest defensive post in the league. Not to entirely change the subject...you triggered this, lol. Young is sort of an anomaly right now. I don't really want to call it a fluke, if they do get to the Finals, but honestly, what's the difference between him doing this in his second year vs. LeBron running through the East in 2007 (his fourth)? People talk about who Bron didn't have as a teammate, yet Trae Young isn't playing with a notable supporting cast, either. I don't know. You and I know Trae isn't going to end up a top 10 player of all-time, possibly? Now, give me two more years of the Hawks in the ECF's or further, and Young still posting 30/10's without much help outside of John Collins (who isn't an all-star), and then we'll talk. If Trae Young miraculously wins it all this season, he's a superstar in my books.

Trae stepped on the ref's foot, tweaked his a bit. He says he's going to play, regardless, but we'll see how it changes his drives to the rim next game. Milwaukee looked pretty damn good behind Middleton's big 4th. I know Giannis is "the franchise" and two-time MVP, but Middleton might be the engine in this playoff run. We know what we'll get from Giannis if he plays smart, but if Middleton has a big game, the Bucks are great.

Cunningham will likely go first, so I won't even entertain that. Houston needs a legitimate two. Christian Wood is their big for the time being, and Wall is their point moving forward, so they should take Green. Cleveland doesn't need a PG (Garland is doing fine there, and they have a TO in his contract that they can pick up in '22). They should look big and take Mobley. If the Cavs go in a different direction, Toronto has a choice between Mobley and Suggs, IMO...and at that point, I would base it on what they want to do with Lowry.

If he gets to the Finals and wins a championship, he has to be a superstar. I know people say that the Suns are CP3's team, but they go as Booker does. And the difference between him and DM/TY is that Booker has a few years under his belt already (6 or 7?) and was an all-star snub two years before getting it the last two, so a 4-time AS in my books. So if he's an all-star player, not just a fluke or a flash in the pan, who leads his team to a championship, I'd have to consider him a superstar.

I'll add a graphic to this pretty soon. Late making it!

I'll add a graphic to this pretty soon. Late making it!

He'll be the toughest player to trade this offseason, hands down. Not even close. He's owed for 4 years of his 5-year, $170 million extension he signed in the summer of 2019. That means he's making around $33 million next season, and in 2024/25, approx. $40 million. Oh, and that extension doesn't include any options (team or player). Philly needs to find a legitimate #2. Shop Harris with one of the young guys + a pick and see what all bites. But I guess you really never know anymore. If Philly is really worried about Embiid asking for a trade, they'll send Simmons packing, obviously. At that point, we'll be asking what team will take on that contract and that can make it work with him in their five.

Well, Utah had a 59-60 win season this year (based on win %). If they were healthy, they were moving on and would be in the WCF right now. Kawhi and PG aren't beating a fully-healthy Jazz squad, especially after seeing how much they struggled with Dallas. Could they beat the Suns? Yes, and if they could, I would've guessed any team other than the Nets. Since the Nets proved me wrong and lost to the Bucks, I'd have to say that the Jazz had a shot...and that's with Mitchell as their best player. But who was the superstar on the 2004 Detroit Pistons? For me, a superstar is how you defined him. So yeah...LeBron, Giannis, KD, Curry, Kawhi, Jokic, Embiid, Doncic, Lillard...and I can't think of anyone else. We'll see how Booker plays out this next round and possibly the Finals before I add him.

Let me first ask you a question: can you list who you consider superstars in the NBA today? I wouldn't think your list would be that long.

The Thunder are flipping Kemba for six first-rounders, aren't they?

I remember the last time they replaced the ball...

I think Barkley and Shaq made a good point on Inside. They both said that SVG was more than likely a difficult coach for the younger players, because he has that old school mentality. He probably demanded a lot from guys like Zion, Ingram, Ball and Hart, and you just can't expect them to act like veterans these days. Plus, the game itself is a lot different now, and I doubt Van Gundy is now coaching an offense like D'Antoni would. He wouldn't change his ways.

Dude, I was in a weird state watching this game go down the way it did, haha. Of course, I'm rooting for the Bucks (or anyone other than the Clippers) to beat the Nets. Durant starts cooking, and I'm one of THE GUYS that decided to criticize KD for that last performance, right after Kyrie went out. I also mentioned that KD couldn't run the offense, and that he was only a scorer. So I'm sitting here, and KD is proving me wrong. Suddenly, I realize Giannis isn't defending him, and the Bucks aren't sending the double. And neither happens. He keeps roasting everyone but Giannis, and that's because GA is so consumed with Joe Harris in the corner (like you said). Because of that, I'm rooting for Kevin Durant and the Nets. I'm pulling for a 50-point triple-double. When he missed that free throw that would've landed him 50, I was so pissed...and that's where my mind was from the point where he caught fire with that first three moving forward.

I really wish we had everyone back, because I'm going to be the boring answer, lol. I like seeing teams jump, and anytime the Lakers or Thunder are in the lotto, I'm obviously pulling for them to leap over everyone...but without them, I just want the worst teams to land the best players. Now, there may be a couple of exceptions to that, haha. Boston is one. The Clippers are the second. If I could take away all of their picks, land them in cap hell, and implant James Dolan into their front office, I would. So let's see...this season: 1) Oklahoma City 2) Orlando 3) Timberwolves (that way, Golden State doesn't get their pick, and Minny can have a decent record next season for the pick to be worse) 4) Detroit ---------- 5) Houston (which would go to OKC, I believe) So drop Houston out of the top 4 and stick Minny in there. Are you asking for picks also?

ESPN produced an article earlier in the month that talked about the injuries, by the numbers. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31592404/data-shows-nba-injuries-condensed-season The thing is, I really wish I knew how many of those stars were sitting out to rest, claiming injuries were the reason.