*** NBA News, The Athletic, ESPN+ Insiders Thread ***

[digitalwolf]

Russell and Culver is an overpay for Harden. They are fucked and have nothing. Harden is awesome but not a winner. He makes too much and never delivers. He's a Knicks or Kings mess going forward.

Come on. I cant stand Harden as much as the next guy but the whole "He's not a winner" is ridiculous when talking about this franchise.

"He's made for the Knicks or Kings" than who is made for this pathetic franchise?

Harden has accomplished more in his career than this whole stinking franchise.

What has Dlo done? What has Kat done? Where has Bricky gotten anyone? What's Culver ever going to do?

Harden has been way more successful than anyone who have ever played here not named KG.

The way some of you talk you wouod think we are the Spurs. This is the most pathetic organization in pro sports.

Hes made for the Knicks or Kings...its who he is. Again, never argued talent...but guy isn't worth the haul to get him. He's come up as empty when it matters as much as anyone we have. On top of that, he's too pricey and his contract is basically a rental. Hard pass despite the talent.

[Thrillkill]

Russell and Culver is an overpay for Harden. They are fucked and have nothing. Harden is awesome but not a winner. He makes too much and never delivers. He's a Knicks or Kings mess going forward.

nailed it on the head. harden is built for the knicks or the kings.

How do you figure? He wouldn't consider and neither would they. He's built for a team stuck in the conference semi's or finals that can afford a 2 year chance. Those are the only teams for him. How is that the Kings and Knicks. Or is that some kind of dig on the shit teams and him? Because then where's the Wolves? We are the worst organization in the history of team sports and were MUCH worse than either of those teams last year.

How soon they forget.

[UnFadeable21]

Nothing makes me laugh more in the basketball world than Thibs going ape shit lmao!!!

[somuchyummy]

Kemba Walker
Marcus Smart
Jaylen Brown
Jayson Tatum
Andre Drummond

They already have Tristian Thompson. Drummond will go to the Hornets.

what's the package there? the cavs send drummond and delladova to the hornets for terry rozier and cody zeller? i think it works - but who's coming off the bench and being happy about it in cleveland between rozier, garland and sexton?

[digitalwolf]

Drummond is so much like D12....amazing hype coming out, good....then all of the sudden, no wants anything to do with him. D12 obviously had injuries and some other stuff, but two amazing physically dominant bigs being tossed around just because. At least they both got paid when they were hot.

[digitalwolf]

Anyone mention Layden is officially gone? Not sure what he ever did, but he's officially out.

[UnFadeable21]

[UnFadeable21]

[RubeTube]

Drummond is so much like D12....amazing hype coming out, good....then all of the sudden, no wants anything to do with him. D12 obviously had injuries and some other stuff, but two amazing physically dominant bigs being tossed around just because. At least they both got paid when they were hot.

The game completely changed in their tenures also.

[Hoop Dreams]

[T_J]

Drummond is so much like D12....amazing hype coming out, good....then all of the sudden, no wants anything to do with him. D12 obviously had injuries and some other stuff, but two amazing physically dominant bigs being tossed around just because. At least they both got paid when they were hot.

Dwight was defensive player of the year 3x. I get what you’re saying but these two players aren’t anywhere near the same level.

[OliverMiller]

Drummond is so much like D12....amazing hype coming out, good....then all of the sudden, no wants anything to do with him. D12 obviously had injuries and some other stuff, but two amazing physically dominant bigs being tossed around just because. At least they both got paid when they were hot.

Dwight was defensive player of the year 3x. I get what you’re saying but these two players aren’t anywhere near the same level.

And carried a team whose second best player was Hedo Turkoglu to the finals.

[UnFadeable21]

Drummond is so much like D12....amazing hype coming out, good....then all of the sudden, no wants anything to do with him. D12 obviously had injuries and some other stuff, but two amazing physically dominant bigs being tossed around just because. At least they both got paid when they were hot.

Dwight was defensive player of the year 3x. I get what you’re saying but these two players aren’t anywhere near the same level.

Yup Dwight is way better than Drummond ever was.

Digital has been horrible on his basketball takes lately.

Last week he said he wanted Anthony Edwards to guard Zion...

[somuchyummy]

people forget how good dwight was in his prime.

[shoteh]

lol you guys comparing drummond and dwight?

Drummond everyday today. Dwight everyday 10 years ago. Dwight is a knucklehead with his off court issues but prime Dwight was a beast and unstoppable.

[Mplsfonz]

people forget how good dwight was in his prime.

His five baby momma's don't forget....Lol

Seriously, pretty sure nobody forgot. Only issue I had with him was his stupid slam dunk contest, and that already taken Superman nickname. T-Shirt was over the top, and Shaq noticed.

[somuchyummy]

people forget how good dwight was in his prime.

His five baby momma's don't forget....Lol

Seriously, pretty sure nobody forgot. Only issue I had with him was his stupid slam dunk contest, and that already taken Superman nickname. T-Shirt was over the top, and Shaq noticed.

my point is that no one forgets the weirdass behavior. but beyond that, in his prime he was pretty dominant defensively.

[Hoop Dreams]

[jffl_commish]

From Zach Lowe today:

Chasing No. 10
Memphis Grizzlies

Orlando Magic

Chicago Bulls

Charlotte Hornets

San Antonio Spurs

Sacramento Kings

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Minnesota is the closest to relegation. I was initially more optimistic. Karl-Anthony Towns is a foundational offensive star -- maybe the most versatile scoring big man ever. I kinda like that the Timberwolves have six deserving perimeter players jostling for time: D'Angelo Russell, Ricky Rubio, Anthony Edwards, Jarrett Culver, Josh Okogie, and Malik Beasley.

Rubio can play with Russell or work as sixth man. I'm not sure why the snark brigade scoffs at Beasley averaging 21 points per game after his trade to Minnesota. Maybe he is a legit starting wing -- at least on offense? Minny can play three of those six at once, or even four -- sliding one to power forward, which is otherwise slated for (gulp) Juan Hernangomez and Jake Layman. (There's a reason Minnesota pursued Aaron Gordon, per league sources.)

But four of those six -- everyone but Russell and Beasley -- have 3-point shooting track records ranging from "below average" to "My eyes! The goggles do nothing!" Minnesota takes the right shots under Ryan Saunders; it just don't make them.

On the other end, opposing offenses will drag the Russell-Towns duo into pick-and-roll hell. Towns should not be this bad on defense. It's time for him to get serious.

If everything goes right -- and some stuff goes wrong for others -- the Wolves could sniff the race for the last play-in spot. It's a long shot.

[UnFadeable21]

Shooters got paid this year

Bertains 4 year 80

Bogdan 4 years 75

Joe Harris 4 years 75

Kennard 4 years 64

Beasley 4 years 60

Clerks on 4 years 52

[Corre Ricky Corre]

Jonathan Isaac and the Magic have agreed on a 4-year, $80M contract extension.
Injuries limited Isaac to 34 games last season, but he was well on his way to a breakout campaign. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 2.3 blocks and 0.9 triples on 47% from the field. Fantasy managers everywhere are wishing him a speedy recovery from his torn ACL and he will absolutely be high on our drafts boards for 2021-22.

[jodaman01]

Jonathan Isaac and the Magic have agreed on a 4-year, $80M contract extension.
Injuries limited Isaac to 34 games last season, but he was well on his way to a breakout campaign. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 2.3 blocks and 0.9 triples on 47% from the field. Fantasy managers everywhere are wishing him a speedy recovery from his torn ACL and he will absolutely be high on our drafts boards for 2021-22.

Rosas has got to have Gordon in his sights, does he have the ammunition to get him?

[Corre Ricky Corre]

Jonathan Isaac and the Magic have agreed on a 4-year, $80M contract extension.
Injuries limited Isaac to 34 games last season, but he was well on his way to a breakout campaign. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 2.3 blocks and 0.9 triples on 47% from the field. Fantasy managers everywhere are wishing him a speedy recovery from his torn ACL and he will absolutely be high on our drafts boards for 2021-22.

Rosas has got to have Gordon in his sights, does he have the ammunition to get him?

The Isaac Injury is really too bad. If he was healthy he'd probably already be on our squad.

[flexbuffchest]

Shooters got paid this year

Bertains 4 year 80

Bogdan 4 years 75

Joe Harris 4 years 75

Kennard 4 years 64

Beasley 4 years 60

Clerks on 4 years 52

Kennard is more then just a shooter. He's the most well rounded player of the listed ones. Detroit got fleeced so hard in that trade.

[shoteh]

I'm really hoping someway, somehow, we get Gordon.

[Philo Beddoe]

I'm really hoping someway, somehow, we get Gordon.

Are you willing to give up Edwards for Gordon? That's what is going to take.

[flexbuffchest]

That would instantly become the worst trade in our history

[RubeTube]

The Wolves don't have anything anyone wants other than Kat, Dlo or Edwards.

I'm not holding my breath that Edwards pans out but trading the #1 overall pick for Gordon was make me simultaneously throw up and fill my pants with copious amounts of logs.

They blew the chance to get Gordon on draft night.

Edit: Forgot about Beasley. He has some value.

[UnFadeable21]

[UnFadeable21]

The Wolves don't have anything anyone wants other than Kat, Dlo or Edwards.

I'm not holding my breath that Edwards pans out but trading the #1 overall pick for Gordon was make me simultaneously throw up and fill my pants with copious amounts of logs.

They blew the chance to get Gordon on draft night.

Edit: Forgot about Beasley. He has some value.

Beasley and juancho for Aaron Gordon at the deadline

Money actually matches up perfect lol