I agree. Don't see how this trade makes Cleveland better in the short term. I also think they trade that pick anyway. The Celtics are better though. Kyrie is a better player than IT and even though both arent exactly good defensively. IT is a bigger liability. Now that Kyrie has a good coach. He will be even better. How donyou trade Kyrie to a team that is competing with you?
Lyric is better than it but crowder really helps their depth and can guard threats well on the perimeter Imo Kyrie is very overrated and I don't see the celtics beating cavs
Fair - although how many do they win that season without Dirk? That was as an aging, superstar-less roster after Dirk.
The Cavaliers have to start thinking about a longer term outlook, beyond LeBron James. The roster as it's currently constructed is far below the Warriors, with very little room for improvement, and LeBron isn't likely to stick around for a rebuild or more futile attempts at contention with Golden State. The pick goes some way towards that, while Isaiah and Crowder are pieces that you could keep or look to offload longer term.
The Cavs CAN NOT start thinking abot what happens after Lebron, because it'll make you lose Lebron even sooner. You're in win mode at this current moment and you have to do everything you possibly can to improve your roster. When Lebron leaves/retires, it won't matter what you've done in years prior, there will be a drastic fall and the Cavaliers will be a lottery team regardless. Do everything you can to make Lebron stick around as long as possible. Offensively Kyrie is elite, up there with the very best (Curry, Durant, etc.). Thomas isn't that far off, but I don't think he's as good. Defensively, as I've been saying for years now, Kyrie isn't as bad as people make him out to be. Thomas on the other hand physically can not be a good defender. Not even decent. While Crowder may add depth, can he really guard Durant? He's no the fastest defender out there. We do have to consider that the Cavs are getting Bogut back (or am I wrong?) though. They'll likely flip the pick and Zizic along the way. Despite me bashing the trade, I do have to give the Cavs recognition - they've got the best possible haul in return. Normally stars are traded for assets below their value. The Cavs got A LOT in return, maybe even more than they should've.
They're not beating the Warriors anyways... this is classic damage limitation. They know LeBron isn't staying, it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. Trying to win NOW (which isn't happening no matter what they do) leaves them worse off for the era in which the Warriors start to fall off. At least they got something for Kyrie, when do wantaway superstars fetch decent returns?
IT might have a bum hip and JC was disliked by a number of C's fans. This could go down as the worst trade since the beard.
Yup, from what I've heard, he isn't staying for long in Cleveland. The Kyrie trade didn't help at all.
The KD Twitter scandal is a bit crazy. It reminded me of the Stijn Stijnen affair with Club Brugge, he too created fake social media accounts to defend himself and his performances and when he was found out, it sort of ended his Club Brugge career. Obviously this won't happen with KD, but it is a bit pathetic.
So, ugh, Anthony makes OKC kind of interesting. Man the NBA had a crazy offseason. Will be interesting to see, how that dynamic works.
I can't see Anthony fitting into the role where he'd have to fit to make this team work. He's never really been a "winning player", so to speak, and I can't see him starting now.
Melo definitely plays 4. OKC has Patterson and Felton on the bench. Not bad. Will likely add something during the season. I think they're better than Houston.
Also - this might not be the correct thread and I'll sound like a big time homer, but Dončič should go number one in next year's draft. The Euro's proved it. Insane how good he is at just 18.
Lakers going w/o Lonzo for awhile. Gettin jiggy about his injuries. Imbiid with mega-deal but didn't see him agst Kyrie & Celtics. Wat up? Simmons looks healthy.