There's nothing that's keeping the Suns from just waiting Bledsoe out though, correct? Is there a date by which Bledsoe has to have an offer sheet on the table in order for the Suns to match, or can they let this play out until training camp?
he can accept the QO and become an UFA next offseason, that's his nuclear option, and given the difference in money right now, i could see it happening too.
I agree with your overall view that some of the bottom market teams are figuring out having cap space doesn't mean a damn thing when no one wants to play in your market. I also agree that bottom market teams are figuring out that they are not going to be able to keep their own elite players they draft unless they are really good on the floor. Having said that, we are talking about Andrew Wiggins. His upside is very high and I wouldn't be at all shocked if the Wolves suck it up and take him as a franchise cornerstone.
The Bulls may contend but they won't win a chip. They are a GREAT defensive team which obviously makes up for Rose not being that good of a defender. We weren't even a good defensive team last season. Also, Kobe has always been a really good defender. Only the past few years he's been sub-par because he can't keep up after all these years.
True. Dragic is in the same circumstance as Love right now. PHX doesn't want to come away empty handed. Hopefully a bad team offers Bledsoe a MAX deal to tie PHX's hands. I think Bledsoe has a chance to be mini Russell Westbrook. We will see. Two insiders are saying soon, and one saying tomorrow. We will see.
See, you keep doing this. Year after year. What was my favorite? Oh, yeah. That we would trade Lin to Milwaukee for Caron Butler's expiring and a first round pick. Or was it two first round picks? When all you need to know is the Bucks barely make any money, probably even lose money, but, sure, they'd be willing to pay Lin all that money PLUS cough up first rounders just for the priviledge of packing all 10 Lin fans in the Milwaukee area into their arena. The "no other team can outbid us for Howard". Those were good, too. Except Fegan was engineering a lot of that stuff. No Dallas (and my buddy Cuban)? No Brooklyn? We'll stay in Orlando. Chandler Parsons didn't get traded, you were right. But was he so dear that we kept him no matter what? And now we have this. Acquire Dragic in order to flip him and a pick and a Player to be Named Later (EDIT: maybe Ariza, in December)....and Dragic will simply walk out of Minnie when his opt-out comes up. That's supposed to be a better deal than Wiggins, or Klay Thompson? I hope these insiders aren't all feeding each other the same information, that the "sources" are from independent avenues and such.
Yeah, I remember that battle between him and Kobe. Harden is certainly capable of defending. He just needs to pay attention. There's times where he shows effort (running after 3pt shooters) but yes always too late because he wasn't paying attention to the guy in the 1st place.
Harden's D is fine, when he pays attention. Too much of the game he's just not interested in it. How many times does his mind wander, or he looks away for no apparent reason, and his man cuts back-door for an easy bucket? How many times does he just wander off his man? I mean, it's egregious. Morey hasn't snagged a third star, but he has added some blue collar defenders to the roster. If Harden will just focus on D, we could be better next year. So I hope.
That would certainly speed things up for the Rockets. Which team still has the cap available and need a PG?
The point was a team can be a good defensive team with a bad defender in the line up... and that was the case with Rose. Kobe Bryant has been garbage defensively for the majority of his career. He has gambled, allowed players to easily go around him, been out of position and rested on the defensive end so he can score on the other end. The Rockets were #11 in the NBA defensively last year, and that was with three garbage defenders on the floor with Harden, Jones and Parsons.
Harden can play D at least acceptable D when he is focussed and locked in. Problem is that happens in one game all season.
Cleveland (anything + Wiggins who is now reportedly on the table) Golden State (Lee + Thompsen and maybe Harrison) Both of those would crush the Rockets' offer. Even if we got Dragic and I want Love as badly as you do, but I've reached the conclusion he will be traded to the Cavs and will either extend or stay there. And if not, then I think the Warriors cave and include Thompsen. We're not getting him. I think getting Rondo, Bledsoe or Dragic is more reasonable. If we don't get anyone via trade this year, I am on record for pushing for signing Dragic and Milsap in the offseason via a sign and trade of one and a cap space signing or sign and trade of the other.
Don't forget "morey is playing staredown with Chicago over Boozer" and "The Grizzlies want to make ZBO angry so he'll opt out of his contract and they can sign Pau" or "TWolves will trade Love for capspace to sign Pau." Also, before he became a "The rockets will not trade Parsons" loop, last year he said he couldn't wait until they traded Parsons. He's kooky. Now it's that the TWolves won't want a potential superstar in Wiggins because they'd prefer mediocre veterans. It never ends.
They're saying we are trading for a PG. Dragic seems to be the most likely option, with Rondo and Bledsoe also possibilities.
Plowman-99'er reliable, is hearing Dragic is coming back home VERY soon. KingDrew-I give him the benefit of the doubt as he sourced the Rondo talk before anyone else. He is saying tomorrow. That is two different sources that are keying on one player. Houston is going to steal one of PHX guards. Personally, I would send your highest bid to Bledsoe, to make PHX start its process. I think Bledsoe or Dragic as your third guy is good enough to get it done.
If bledsoe or dragic isnt the answer they should have value in mid season trades too if morey isnt sold on their 3rd star status. Not sure if dragic on short term with UFA looming or bledsoe on long term deal is a more attractive trade piece.
