I don’t see a path for Lillard here without trading RJ. I’d like to see Obi still develop and perhaps create a market for him as trade when he is ready to step in and start. Maybe a two week injury to Randle occurs and he can showcase. hard to say he is ready for prime time. Randle presents a block to his ascension. Could knicks consider trading Randle in this or next season? If Obi is latent James Worthy like (that outside shot!!!!) and adding Dame would make for upgrading two positions. Does Randle out with Dame in unleash RJ more? Thats all a stretch. But thats what I need to happen. A trade with domino effect.

The path to knicks contending is not visible short term. The rise of high pedigree Obi and RJ are in play. Walker and Rose are nice culture guys who can play but limited by who they are at this stage of career. Rose off the bench and what he brings is a godsend. The Jury is out on kemba. Happy to have him but his 2 year contract might be about right. What Raptors did with Trent Jr. are the kind of thing one hopes for. Trade a guy like powell that does not fit in a crowded roster at SF for a younger 2 on the rise. That can move the dial faster than drafting. I see OBI as this kind of asset. But what is our glaring need? A stretch 5 on a team rebuilding that takes OBI and Mitch in return? Valachunas?

smackeddog wrote:Boston rumoured to be interested in Simmons- Sixers would want Brown. I want this to happen just to see Bill Simmons reaction

Awesome! Bill Simmons take on Kyrie was awesome this could be better. I like Bill Simmons. He is a celtic/Redox guy but he is fair. Hates the Yanks but so does all the baseball world UNLEss they are Yankee fans.
Knick are irrelevant to him as any other team. Knicks fault really.

Like when he has on Jackie McMullen or Bob Ryan. Good reporters!
Sixers have to pony up more than Simmons for Brown.

It’s a completely fair contract to pay a 23-year-old rising star in the league, especially with the scoring opportunities he’ll be gifted next season.

The deal can be worth up to $207 million across five seasons if he makes the designated max criteria: making an All-NBA team. If he isn’t on an All-NBA team, then the number drops to five years, $172 million – still a large contract, but saving the Denver Nuggets $35 million across the life of the deal.

It’s the same contract signed by 2018 draft peers in Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The first two on that list will almost definitely be All-NBA players in the lifespan of this contract and SGA is likely dependent on health and team success.

Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic added to the news, reporting that only $12 million of the $39.9 million in year five of the deal is guaranteed. Porter Jr. can make the full amount based on All-Stars, MVPs, DPOYs, All-NBA, and All-Defensive honors.

Assuming he doesn’t reach any of those milestones (the most attainable being an All-Star), the deal falls to a five-year, $145.3 million deal. Still a huge amount but more palatable for team salary reasons.

If cap goes up, its looked differently. Now we understand why he fell to 14th in the draft and knicks did not take him. Its a big ass risk. At its low the deal is almost 30m a year. Ouch.

smackeddog wrote:

The Philadelphia 76ers are testing the validity of Ben Simmons' pursuit of mental health assistance. The franchise has become increasing irritated by Simmons' lack of clarity on the matter.

Simmons, however, has provided the 76ers with the names of each of his mental health professionals.

While the 76ers have access to Simmons' mental health professionals, they are not permitted to provide further information without his content. The 76ers do not have a mental health doctor on staff with whom Simmons is comfortable.

The 76ers believe they should be given more details on the treatment Simmons has received and a return timeline.

The National Basketball Players Association has supported Simmons throughout this process.

76ers are actually being out of line here- Simmons is entitled to confidentiality around his mental health treatment, and to choose his own therapist (no point in forcing someone to have a therapist they don’t trust/ has a team agenda). Furthermore no therapist could give a timeline nor should they, as then it would be unethical practice (can’t manipulate clients towards someone else’s agenda).

Morey was terrible when it came to the mental health issues of that rookie he drafted on the rockets, and it seems he hasn’t learnt anything since. He seems to assume the player is lying and has no clue about therapies and their ethical obligations and the way they work.

I’ll admit, I’m dubious as to Simmons sincerity, but to be honest I have no idea, regardless, Sixers should be better educated on how treatments and therapies work.

BigDaddyG wrote:I need the Nets to lose to the Bulls right now. Nets fans are getting real mouthy of late.

all 3 of them?

Durant's mom, Kyrie's mom and Harden's mom. Who else?