Reply With Quote
Ashbomb?
Obviously KD. He's a better scorer & more consistent.
Ashbomb?
At this point just announce the damn trade.
it's Amico, but I'ma post it anyway
It’s happening gif.
that's not photoshop. That was part of our sales pitch in the 2016 offseason before he signed with the Warriors.Someone having fun with photoshop online, lol
Assuming this is doable as a 2nd Apron team (think it would be), this makes a lot of sense for all parties. Could also maybe ship Branham or Wesley to Bkn for 38 if they see any reclamation hope for either (I do for Wes, don't have any hope for Branham).
Bkn only has 5 guys under contract + 4 team options + 1 2-way guy. May prefer to only have 2 rookies plus a 3rd yr vet/former first over 3 rooks.
That allow us to maybe get some combo of Penda/Thiero/Kalkbrenner/Raynaud/Broome/Yang or whoever falls to 36/38 or parley 36 & 38 into something like 28 to Bos who may prefer 2 2nds to a guaranteed first.
Maybe if they iron the jersey this time the sales pitch will deliver.
The problem with Richards is he's a rotational rim runner. But if (when?) Sochan and Castle remain an untenable offensive combination and Sochan is relegated to the bench again, they need flexibility at backup C since he can't function next to that archetype.
His minutes need to mostly be tethered to either Wembanyama or Durant in non Castle minutes, when they can get away with playing without a C.
If the Nets are included in this hypothetical, Richards is probably more likely to end up being traded to them as backfill for a departed Claxton.
Real possibility, but his Blk% was still elite, 20th overall, 9th among guys with 2000+mins, Stl% has held for since 2018. My assumption was he was simply done with Phx after it broke they tried to trade him early Feb, done with 3 coaches in 3 yrs, done playing without a center 1/2 the time, done trying when Booker and Beal aren't and the team was going nowhere and he wanted out. That's scary too, but the Stock% tells me the ability was probably there when he felt like it.
If it happens (and it seems more likely than not), how does it work . . .
Are Wembanyama and Durant really going to be okay with (probably) an inverted offense where they're mostly serving as spacers for guards who are inferior players?
Is Fox, likely (if Durant more or less maintains) relegated to third best player, going to be okay with whatever chance he had of ac ulating more individual accolades likely kaput?
Is Castle going to be okay with being a utility guard?
Is Harper going to be okay with being no higher than fourth in offensive hierarchy, not starting or closing?
Richards is also allegedly a basketball idiot. Charlotte has major health issues with their starting C, but had no issues shipping his dumb ass out.
I think the impetus was more so they're in asset ac ulation mode, Williams was getting (for the moment) healthy around the time and Diabate was proving to be a find.
When does this Food Bank thing usually take place? Maybe Devin isn't in town or is busy with something else. Doesn't really mean anything, does it?
Fox is more likely to win awards on a winning team than he is languishing on a bad team. NBA media rewards winners. If Spurs are winning games and he is playing like he normally does he is far more likely to make all star teams or the all NBA team
Not as a third wheel. It's difficult enough to get multiple players on those teams, especially in non glamor markets.
The big three (inexplicably) never simultaneously made an All-NBA or All-Star team.
My concerns are that people aren't appreciating how punitive the new cap is and I think max players need to be top-25 guys (honestly borderline perineal All-NBA but the league is full of idiots and trademill teams happy to pay for mediocre: see Lavine/Beal) to earn their pay if you want to be a contending team or unless you have a Brunson type that willingly takes less than market value. I don't think its reasonable to expect Fox to be a Top25 player in 2 yrs, I don't really expect him to be top Top25 again.
Fox is WAY better than Lavine and Beal, at what age? What exactly does Fox do exceptionally? He's definitely better defensively, today and at the same age, will he still be a better defender at 29 than Lavine? Is he so much better that that makes him WAY better?
Offensively? He is a far less efficient scorer than either and that's Fox's best attribute and its speed based and he's not getting faster and he has no positional versatility in a league where 6'2" starters are disappearing.
Lavine's career TS% is 58.7%, and he's been above 60% 4 of the last 5 yrs. Fox has 1 ing season better than Lavine's avg, Fox has never been above 60%, only above 57% once. Fox is a mediocre assist man, 19th amongst starting PGs this season, 20th the yr before. What is Fox elite at? Getting to the line? Not the last 2 seasons, where Lavine has been better.
I think Fox is a better player, but go look at age 23-27 Fox vs Lavine. WAY better? Not at the same age. WAY better on a team that needs 3% shooting? No, Lavine is arguably a better fit if you want to play Castle and not to mention the guy that definitely would've been draft #1 last yr (Harper).
Throw in Beal if you want, but I was pretty clearly talking about albatross contracts though. But even Beal jacking up crazy shots without help in WAS was a more efficient scorer.
As offense players, Fox is the least efficient player, the worst at getting points/shot. There are other things that make him better, but those 3 get Max money for scoring and for nothing else. Scoring efficiently. Fox is easily the most speed reliant and EASILY the worst shooter of the 3 and the least efficient scorer at that age (and from ages 23-27).
The concern you missed is that, if you view Lavine and Beal as albatross contracts, you shouldn't pay guys for what they've done but what they will do. This is especially true if they are not your franchise guy. IMO Fox screams potential albatross contract. I think its at least as likely Lavine lives up to the last 2 yrs of his K than Fox does to his if he gets the full max extension. Beal was still moveable this season because of his shooting, but he exercised a No Trade Clause to block it and those no longer exist. I'm concerned a slowed down, 29/30y/o Fox will be unmovable in a 2nd Apron league and potentially blocking Castle and/or Harper. And if he slows down enough, he becomes borderline unplayable. That's not a far fetched concern, speed goes. Fox has averaged <63 games played over the past 6 seasons, that's not great. There are reasons to be concerned, he's not a superstar and he never was. He's a former 1xAS/1xAllNBA3, and unlikely to be close ever again. He helped take 1 team, as the 2nd best player, to a first round exit. Sure, great 7 games against GSW. He was the best player on that team? The league and stats disagreed, as evidence by Sabonis getting 27 compared to 2 MVP votes, and nearly a double WS, with better efficiency almost across the board.
I like Fox and I want him for 2 more yrs, but I think Fox's decline has begun. I think its more likely a declining Lavine is capable of living up to his contract (like being the 14th most efficient starter in the NBA like he was THIS SEASON) at 29/30+ compared to Fox.
Its not about Harper, its about overall context. Fox made a ton more sense before the trade as compared to today, he is way more risky now given that context IMO. To me, that risk is pretty close to unjustified if we get KD for cheap (Vassell + 14 + filler). There's real concern and its not unreasonable.
Last edited by Arguendo; 06-10-2025 at 05:19 PM.
So Orlando wants to trade Isaac, Cole Anthony and #16 for a shooter. Together they are making 28 million. Vassell makes 27 million.
Suns: Barnes, Anthony, Isaac, #14
Magic: Vassell
Spurs: KD, #16
Even though they seem determined to have no defensive liabilities among core players, they need more of a creator who can shoot, which is why Simons has long been mentioned and Garland more recently.
I guess it depends on their respective maturity levels. That is a powerful ing team, and would be the epitome of “a rising tide lifts all boats”.
Spurs have been playing inverted since Tre took over as PG. Victor hasn’t seemed to mind, and in fact it gives him a chance to show his creative chops as both defenders usually abandon the pick setter/cutter for an easy over the top pass for a layup.
Imagine a pick and roll with KD as the ball handler, and Wemby setting the pick. He might pop for an open three, he might roll for a thunderous dunk. He might also pop as a decoy to create an easy lane to the basket for KD.
These are good problems to have,first world problems.
So what’s the question here? Do we appease player’s egos to allow for individual accolades over building a winning team? I choose the latter. We build the winning team and find out if the players are winners or if they’re selfish.
Fox is a number 3 guy on a championship team. That’s the level of player he is. I’ve seen no reason to believe he wouldn’t be fine with that if they’re contenders, but if he isn’t then he can go. It’s that simple.
So this is how I get my guy Powell (or Sorber) at the same time as KD. Wonderful.
As others have already pointed out, an ancillary benefit of having KD on board is that he will be able to mentor Wembanyama.
All easier said than done with mostly young players and an old one who has shown no willingness (and in fairness, couldn't afford to) to take a backseat as he's aged.
Everyone will say the right things at the start, but the reality is most players only want to win on their agenda.
In Fox's case, he might be closer to third best player on a championship team in caliber, but he probably doesn't see it that way and his game isn't all that well suited for it.
Last edited by TD 21; 06-10-2025 at 06:05 PM.
It's also apparent Wemby looks up to Durant, so whether we get him or not...knowing the Spurs tried should go a long way to keeping him happy and THAT is the important thing.
I've always wanted to see him as a Spur...just don't sell the farm for him.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
