2014-2015 NBA regular season thread.

[Al Bundy]

I will update this when the schedule is announced in a couple of weeks, but I will open with the new uniforms for the Charlotte Hornets below.

Introducing the brand new Charlotte #HornetsUnis! http://t.co/MgHy2DcOTX pic.twitter.com/w59MlUvRgd

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) June 19, 2014

[KevB]

Originally Posted by Jamie

His idea was an tournament at the end of the season. The top 7 in each conference would make the playoffs like normal, then the bottom 8 would have a single elimination tournament for the 8th seed. All 16 tournament teams would be in the lottery, and your performance in the tournament wouldn't affect your lottery position.

That's his Entertaining as Hell tournament. He's also talked about a mid-season tournament.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Lee only has two more years left on his deal. Its not that bad of a deal he is a 15-9 player over his career. Solid power forward for the T-Wolves.

Also 31 and getting paid $15M. Do you think the Wolves minus Love, plus Lee + Barnes win the West next year? Make the playoffs in that brutal Western conference? If you don't think so, then you just drained $15M on a guy who will be 32 and worth $15M the year after.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by SNR

Maybe I should just drink cough syrup and be more like RustShack.

The Wolves aren't going to get the best value for Kevin Love, but they've got such promising talent already on the roster that any cheap veteran presence they add is going to be just the ticket! Shabazz was impressive in the minutes he played last year, what little was given to him by Old Man Adelman! Gorgui Dieng has put on bulk and was a defensive juggernaut when he started for the injured Pek! Zach LeVine is really impressive in summer league play, and GRIII should be poised to hit the ground running in the NBA more than most rookies! And Corey Brewer put up 50+ in a regular season game last year! He's definitely poised to set his career in motion! Adding David Lee and Harrison Barnes gives us a nice deep team full of promising young talent!

Well done, now you're looking at the bright side. Life is better that way.

Oh, and don't forget, Chase Budinger is going to fulfill that promise any day now. He was a very good sand volleyball player as I'm sure you know, so that must mean he's gong to be an all-star in the near future.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by KevB

Well done, now you're looking at the bright side. Life is better that way.

Oh, and don't forget, Chase Budinger is going to fulfill that promise any day now. He was a very good sand volleyball player as I'm sure you know, so that must mean he's gong to be an all-star in the near future.

Just like Adam Keefe!!!1!

[Hootie]

I really don't understand the reluctance on GS' part to trade Thompson. He's a good #3 but really? Really? I don't even think he's an all-star caliber player.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Also 31 and getting paid $15M. Do you think the Wolves minus Love, plus Lee + Barnes win the West next year? Make the playoffs in that brutal Western conference? If you don't think so, then you just drained $15M on a guy who will be 32 and worth $15M the year after.

who gives a shit about that 15M, they aren't getting anything better for 15M and that's just the way it works in the NBA.

the Rockets and Lakers and Knicks are having a hard time getting anybody right now and you think it affects Minnesota whether a guy in a trade costs them 15M? Because they are going to use that 15M in space on who? This magical 15M dollar Free Agent that can't WAIT to join Minnesota? Who is that? And where is he, because when you find that good free agent worth 15M that want's to join a small NBA market, send him to my favorite team first please.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by KevB

That's his Entertaining as Hell tournament. He's also talked about a mid-season tournament.

Huh, I'd never seen anything about that. I googled it, his idea was that the winner of the midseason tournament would get the #1 seed, which seems pretty stupid to me. I think the end-of-season tournament is a really good idea though.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

who gives a shit about that 15M, they aren't getting anything better for 15M and that's just the way it works in the NBA.

the Rockets and Lakers and Knicks are having a hard time getting anybody right now and you think it affects Minnesota whether a guy in a trade costs them 15M? Because they are going to use that 15M in space on who? This magical 15M dollar Free Agent that can't WAIT to join Minnesota? Who is that? And where is he, because when you find that good free agent worth 15M that want's to join a small NBA market, send him to my favorite team first please.

Ding, ding we have a winner. You got to eat salary space somehow in the NBA especially in those trades.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

who gives a shit about that 15M, they aren't getting anything better for 15M and that's just the way it works in the NBA.

the Rockets and Lakers and Knicks are having a hard time getting anybody right now and you think it affects Minnesota whether a guy in a trade costs them 15M? Because they are going to use that 15M in space on who? This magical 15M dollar Free Agent that can't WAIT to join Minnesota? Who is that? And where is he, because when you find that good free agent worth 15M that want's to join a small NBA market, send him to my favorite team first please.

They just don't need him. I'm guessing they could find someone much younger to give them 15 and 5 without giving up Love.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

They just don't need him. I'm guessing they could find someone much younger to give them 15 and 5 without giving up Love.

and where does this younger 15 and 5 player magically come from? The NBA summer league?

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Right idea, wrong player. I think European players would be a golden idea for Toronto. They wouldn't be as eager to move to the bigger US markets and Toronto would be more welcoming to them IMO.

Any international talent really. And I can't say I had a problem with the Bargnani pick at the time (that was a year when there was no obvious franchise talent available). He had a lot of raw ability. Unfortunately, he just didn't have the drive to get any better.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

and where does this younger 15 and 5 player magically come from? The NBA summer league?

Sure. I'd rather give Muhammed or LeVine a shot before trading for Lee.

[ChiefsCountry]

NBA star trade involves normally involve a) one young piece b) bloated expiring or close to expiring large contracts and c) draft picks.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

and where does this younger 15 and 5 player magically come from? The NBA summer league?

Isn't that sort of beside the point? If they're losing Love they either need a young guy they can build around, or need to bottom out. And if they're bottoming out they want draft picks, not a decent 31 year old player. If I'm Minnesota and Lee is the best I can do, I keep Love and roll the dice that we could somehow be better this year.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

who gives a shit about that 15M, they aren't getting anything better for 15M and that's just the way it works in the NBA.

the Rockets and Lakers and Knicks are having a hard time getting anybody right now and you think it affects Minnesota whether a guy in a trade costs them 15M? Because they are going to use that 15M in space on who? This magical 15M dollar Free Agent that can't WAIT to join Minnesota? Who is that? And where is he, because when you find that good free agent worth 15M that want's to join a small NBA market, send him to my favorite team first please.

The Wolves aren't making the playoffs next year. There is no one left. You are draining $15M on a guy who does NOTHING but win you a few meaningless games next year and if anything destroys your draft stock. The Rockets, Lakers, and Knicks are having a hard time getting anybody because of front office mistakes. The small market excuse is worn thin. It hasn't stopped San Antonio, Indiana, OKC, Portland from fielding competitive teams.

If we want to believe Minnesota is doomed to failure and David Lee makes losing a little more tolerable, fine. If they actually want to win then they should concede 2014-2015, stop duffing the draft, and do what successful teams are doing. Build a system with good players instead of this game of stockpiling assets that only seems to benefit a very lucky few. They have the opportunity to use the Love trade to stockpile a ton of young assets. That seems like a much smarter play than relying on a 31 year old veteran on a team that needs much more than that.