lolGrizz .. unless they succeed in laddering up to the top 5.

[ ] Mempis oozing with sharpness

Yeah, not sure what Memphis is doing. I think the Bledsoe contract isn't as bad as people make it out to be, he can actually be useful for the Grizzlies, but the Adams/Jonas swap is brutal. Griffin got bailed out for much less than it should have cost.

I guess Memphis thinks there is a big incremental jump in player quality from 17 to 10. Also, think it's likely this is a Griff PR spin and the final deal will look better for the Grizzlies.

I read an article how the Grizz may not be done wheeling and dealing and are looking to move up further in the draft (specifically with GSW at #7 was noted).

Looks like Morey is on the same page as I am. Although, my estimate of Lowry's contract is probably off by 8-10 million per year.

https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/nb...ade-cunningham

Gotta think they don’t believe in Jonas - that he just topped with a career year or that his play style isn’t modern enough/doesn’t match with JJJ - cause his production now is way better than the average even for a #7. Maybe they just already decided they couldn’t pay him, and cut bait at the high value mark for him.

I’m sure they’ll make a good pick and have another good but not great piece to throw out there, but they need big leaps from Ja and JJJ to make the top half of contenders.

I think the trade makes sense for both sides.

Memphis:

Selling high on Jonas. I really like Jonas, think he's a top 6-8 C in the league, but the top ~3-4 are set and he just isn't going to reach their level. And other Cs are coming down the pipe (Bam, Ayton, Okongwu, Mobley).

I think keeping costs down at C and/or just rolling with a rookie center is one of the better strategies for teams looking to build in the next 5-10 years or so. Really a better strategy all around because there isn't much difference between the 10th best center and say the 25th best center imo.

MEM now has options and can keep Adams and have a similar level of production for only 2.5M more and move up 7 picks in the draft+get another 2022 first rounder to package somewhere.

Also, this is a rare draft where #40 and #51 could be a significant difference.

For NOLA:

Is NOLA just going to shirk transition D and just focus on getting 35% OREB? Here for that. At least it provides a different style of play than the usual regular season. I actually think Zion and Jonas can mesh pretty well. Of course it opens up cap space for them as well.

Raptors aren't trading OG for Simmons straight up and ditto for the 4th pick

I'm the OG OG hater, but this is absolutely shameless by Morey. dude needs to be blackballed for constantly pulling this ****

Pascal for Simmons straight up is close, but McCollum is more likely the deal for Simmons

I like the idea of Adams setting screens for Ja.

Adams is similar in value to Valanciunas. He's younger too. Maybe a better complement to JJJ. Probably better in the locker room. Jonas might still think he should be a star, but this is Ja team.

Adams might be same/better on defense, but his offense has regressed to basically a zero.

Jonas was an efficient 17 a game last year- tied for 2nd on team with Brooks, who does not seem like a good candidate to increase the volume on. They’re banking on JJJ getting near the 20 mark or else their offense is going to be bottom third.

Don’t think either Adams or Bledsoe are in their plans past this year anyways. Deal is about opening some roster space and having the capital to pull another young stud if possible.

Jonas was great in the locker room from all reports in his time in Toronto. Did what was asked of him and had an incredible sense of humour apparently.

That's interesting to hear, because it's a bit hard to understand the motivation for the deal without some external non sporting factor operating.

Jonas is terrible at help defense as well as passing and vs small lineups. He is great at 1v1 post play, often can score on Gobert/ AD in the post at a high clip, but can't score vs a switch and a double- just turns it over a lot.
He can defend the post really well vs top guys too like Embiid, but can't switch onto a guard at all, one of the worst in the NBA. He puts up great stat lines, but his team often does much better with him off the floor.

Nigeria was favored over Germany? Derst ich mein loco

Some of the most exciting basketball ive ever seen has been in TBT

The Money Team upsets Carmen’s Crew in its home gym after another big comeback. What a win. Xavier Munford bails us out with a great second half off the bench

Simmons is so underrated it's crazy. Morey isn't going to trade Simmons for CJ McCollum straight up. I think he ends up getting traded for much more than most of you are expecting.

So much this.

All it takes is TWO interested teams to drive up the price!

Dumb money probably poured in after Nigeria beat the USA in warm ups.

76ers are asking the Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, No. 7 and No. 14 picks and two future first round picks in a Ben Simmons trade, per @PompeyOnSixers


lmao

I'd say no to Wiseman for Ben

excited for Russ to find a new way to humiliate himself. LFG!

Woj reporting the deal as KCP, Kuz, Trezz, First for Russ.

That can't be accurate. If it is I think it's one of the worst trades made in the modern era.

Rob Pelinka is the worst