Zach Lowe's 30 crazy predictions for the 2016-17 NBA Season

[MaNu4Tres]

I must have missed it. What route would you have wanted them to take?

I would have liked it if they pursued Harkless.

His game and confidence turned the corner late last year, and he played well vs. Golden State. Those who actually watched the series can attest to this, but he was confident from three ( avg. 4 attempts a game shooting 35% for the series), played outstanding defense on Draymond, Klay and even Curry on switches. He's versatile enough to put the ball on the floor on close outs and finish inside.

Him being only 23 years old really intrigued me. I thought it was a very good buy low opportunity for a young versatile player with a lot of upside. He can play PF and he can defend four positions. Having him grow with Leonard, and Green for the next 4-5 years would have been outstanding in my eyes. He would have been a big help as soon as this year, especially vs. Golden State, Clippers and any other team really -- especially defensively. I would have offered him 4/44-4/50. I would have then used the remaining space and a player and traded for Taj Gibson. Then still signed Dedmon with the exception.

[MaNu4Tres]

But there was no one unless you wanted to drastically overpay. This was a horrible free agent market. I wanted the Spurs to make a run at Mozgov until LA Jr offered him $16 million a year. CJ McCollum got $26.5 million a year. Hassan Whiteside $24.5 million a year. Nic Batum $24 million a year. Kent Bazemore $17.5 million a year. Evan Fournier $17 million a year. Solomon Hill $12 million a year. Ryan Anderson $20 million a year. Ian Mahinmi $16 million a year. Harrison Barnes $23.5 million a year. Allen Crabbe $18.75 million a year. I mean these are not good players, they're not difference makers, and they're signed for Kawhi Leonard money after GMs went nuts with the big cap increase. I don't think these kind of contracts are a steady state based on a high cap, I think they're an overreaction to the TV deal kicking in.

Those deals had to do with market share. With cap increasing the market share, or % of the cap for "starters" stayed relatively the same. Believe it or not, back in 2003, the Spurs actually payed Rasho more from a cap share perspective than the Lakers paid Mozgov.


Anyways, none of those guys you mentioned were the guys I wanted the Spurs to pursue.

I wish they pursued Harkless very hard right after Evan Turner signed his contract. They didn't, and looked like the Gasol deal was done way before it actually happened. After Harkless, I then would have used the remaining space + filler to help Chicago relieve Taj Gibson off their books. Then signed Dedmon with the exception and Lee for the minimum.

[tonight...you]

I would have liked it if they pursued Harkless.

His game and confidence turned the corner late last year, and he played well vs. Golden State. Those who actually watched the series can attest to this, but he was confident from three ( avg. 4 attempts a game shooting 35% for the series), played outstanding defense on Draymond, Klay and even Curry on switches. He's versatile enough to put the ball on the floor on close outs and finish inside.

Him being only 23 years old really intrigued me. I thought it was a very good buy low opportunity for a young versatile player with a lot of upside. He can play PF and he can defend four positions. Having him grow with Leonard, and Green for the next 4-5 years would have been outstanding in my eyes. He would have been a big help as soon as this year, especially vs. Golden State, Clippers and any other team really -- especially defensively. I would have offered him 4/44-4/50. I would have then used the remaining space and a player and traded for Taj Gibson. Then still signed Dedmon with the exception.

Right on. I can see where you're coming from there.

[baseline bum]

Those deals had to do with market share. With cap increasing the market share, or % of the cap for "starters" stayed relatively the same. Believe it or not, back in 2003, the Spurs actually payed Rasho more from a cap share perspective than the Lakers paid Mozgov.


Anyways, none of those guys you mentioned were the guys I wanted the Spurs to pursue.

I wish they pursued Harkless very hard right after Evan Turner signed his contract. They didn't, and looked like the Gasol deal was done way before it actually happened. After Harkless, I wish I then would have hoped they used the remaining space + filler to help Chicago relieve Taj Gibson off their books. Then signed Dedmon with the exception and Lee for the minimum.

Rasho was a starting caliber player. Mozgov was coming off a wasted season where he lost his spot in the rotation. Of course Rasho should cost more as a percentage of the cap. I don't think those contracts signed this summer are going to look good at all in a year even with the higher cap, this was a horrible year for free agent talent.

[MaNu4Tres]

Rasho was a starting caliber player. Mozgov was coming off a wasted season where he lost his spot in the rotation. Of course Rasho should cost more as a percentage of the cap. I don't think those contracts signed this summer are going to look good at all in a year even with the higher cap, this was a horrible year for free agent talent.

I disagree with your Rasho and Mozgov assessment. They are very comparable in regards to being complimentary starting centers -- just different times. Mosgov has been established as a decent complimentary starting caliber center in the league for a while now. And didn't you mention in a few posts above that you wish the Spurs pursued Mozgov to start? But now you're saying he's not a starting center and that Rasho was much better? I'm confused.

[wildbill2u]

Even if a LMA trade made sense for the Spurs, I wonder about the commitment Pop personally made to him to get him to sign. I truly believe Pop would stick to his word if he told Aldridge he would be in San Antonio for the length of his contract and Aldridge wanted to stay. Spurs have a good reputation for sticking by their word IMHO>That's one reason we are a respected franchise, especially by players.

On the other hand, if LMA expressed a wish to move on, then the Spurs could trade him without breaking their word.

I think it would all depend on LMA.

[Spur|n|Austin]

It's rather pathetic how you've turned into such a blubbering wuss recently.

Have to agree. I feel like gambit sold his account to xmas or something, it's a strange change.

[baseline bum]

I disagree with your Rasho and Mozgov assessment. They are very comparable in regards to being complimentary starting centers -- just different times. Mosgov has been established as a decent complimentary starting caliber center in the league for a while now. And didn't you mention in a few posts above that you wish the Spurs pursued Mozgov to start? But now you're saying he's not a starting center and that Rasho was much better? I'm confused.

Mozgov had one year as a good starter and a lot of injury problems since. Nesterovic was an established starter and a much better player at the time. I wanted the Spurs to throw $6 million or so at Mozgov in a bid to pull a guy off the scrap heap and see if he could revive his career. A high risk high reward kind of move.

[baseline bum]

Even if a LMA trade made sense for the Spurs, I wonder about the commitment Pop personally made to him to get him to sign. I truly believe Pop would stick to his word if he told Aldridge he would be in San Antonio for the length of his contract and Aldridge wanted to stay. Spurs have a good reputation for sticking by their word IMHO>That's one reason we are a respected franchise, especially by players.

On the other hand, if LMA expressed a wish to move on, then the Spurs could trade him without breaking their word.

I think it would all depend on LMA.

Yeah, that would be ty to dump LMA. I don't think Pop & RC would screw over someone like that just on principle, not even counting how bad that would look to future free agents.

[dabom]

gonna try to start calling out chinook less so i don't have to deal with reading his ty replies.

The guy wants to get credibility with his takes but keeps being wrong. Now he hedges all the time on his takes.

[BillMc]

In this same article he talked about how Bosh could become available at the minimum because of his health situation. It sounds like he'd be unlikely to be playoff eligible but would anyone want to look into that if his Miami divorce becomes complete? Might be something for 2017-18. Or never...

24. Someone signs Chris Bosh for the minimum

The most likely course of action as of now in this murky, sad situation, per sources all around it: The Heat wait until after March 1 to waive Bosh so that he is not eligible to appear in the postseason for any team that signs him. At that point, Bosh's mammoth salary would vanish from Miami's cap sheet, freeing Riley to plop his rings in front of one or two stars this summer.
Bosh wants to play, and some team will absolutely sign him for the minimum -- even if it's just for this season. Bosh is still going to get all of his money from Miami, and suitors will try to coax him into signing through 2017-18.
That is Miami's financial nightmare: The Heat spend a gazillion on free agents this summer, and Bosh plays at least 25 games elsewhere in 2017-18 -- at which point, NBA rules require his salary nestle back atop Miami's cap number. That could send the Heat flying into luxury tax . Miami hasn't found a middle ground that would allow it to waive Bosh and proceed with financial certainty. Bosh is under no obligation to provide them with one.
Meanwhile, signing Bosh on the cheap is a no-harm, no-foul move for a team with an open roster spot and the patience for a thorough medical evaluation.

[Chinook]

In this same article he talked about how Bosh could become available at the minimum because of his health situation. It sounds like he'd be unlikely to be playoff eligible but would anyone want to look into that if his Miami divorce becomes complete? Might be something for 2017-18. Or never...

24. Someone signs Chris Bosh for the minimum

The most likely course of action as of now in this murky, sad situation, per sources all around it: The Heat wait until after March 1 to waive Bosh so that he is not eligible to appear in the postseason for any team that signs him. At that point, Bosh's mammoth salary would vanish from Miami's cap sheet, freeing Riley to plop his rings in front of one or two stars this summer.
Bosh wants to play, and some team will absolutely sign him for the minimum -- even if it's just for this season. Bosh is still going to get all of his money from Miami, and suitors will try to coax him into signing through 2017-18.
That is Miami's financial nightmare: The Heat spend a gazillion on free agents this summer, and Bosh plays at least 25 games elsewhere in 2017-18 -- at which point, NBA rules require his salary nestle back atop Miami's cap number. That could send the Heat flying into luxury tax . Miami hasn't found a middle ground that would allow it to waive Bosh and proceed with financial certainty. Bosh is under no obligation to provide them with one.
Meanwhile, signing Bosh on the cheap is a no-harm, no-foul move for a team with an open roster spot and the patience for a thorough medical evaluation.

The word around the street is that the Heat would purposefully screw him over by waiting. Riley's totally lost his touch. I don't think Miami will be a threat for the rest of his time there. I do think he'd have suitors, though. Like, I'd want the Spurs to pick him up, since he'd be like the best third big ever.

[BillMc]

The word around the street is that the Heat would purposefully screw him over by waiting. Riley's totally lost his touch. I don't think Miami will be a threat for the rest of his time there. I do think he'd have suitors, though. Like, I'd want the Spurs to pick him up, since he'd be like the best third big ever.

You got to wonder how many max A list FAs (as opposed to max B list guys in this salary boom) would sign with Miami given that all 3 of their le-winning Big 3 ended up pissed off at Riles when they left (and going back aways add Shaq into it too.) So in essence their last 4 HOFers all felt disrespected by Riles. (That's not counting washed up Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton). South Beach and no state taxes will always be a draw but are the Chris Pauls of the world coming there now?

SA would be good for Bosh. He's a Texan, fluent in Spanish, and he's got to respect the Spurs. After all they played the best basketball he'd ever seen.

[apalisoc_9]

The Spurs wont sign Bosh. Thats a PR nightmare waiting to happen.

His doctors are clearly against him playing, if he does decide to play and worsens his condition in San Antonio..that would be disastrous for himself and the Spurs reputation of ensuring player safety.

[BillMc]

The Spurs wont sign Bosh. Thats a PR nightmare waiting to happen.

His doctors are clearly against him playing, if he does decide to play and worsens his condition in San Antonio..that would be disastrous for himself and the Spurs reputation of ensuring player safety.

I would trust SA's doctors to do the ethical thing. And if after a complete analysis they said he could play, then I'd have no objection to him signing. Of course, he might never pass their tests, but if healthy, the man has a right to make a living.

[Phenomanul]

TJ Ford also wanted to play... Spurs gave him a chance...

[TD 21]

Even if a LMA trade made sense for the Spurs, I wonder about the commitment Pop personally made to him to get him to sign. I truly believe Pop would stick to his word if he told Aldridge he would be in San Antonio for the length of his contract and Aldridge wanted to stay. Spurs have a good reputation for sticking by their word IMHO>That's one reason we are a respected franchise, especially by players.

On the other hand, if LMA expressed a wish to move on, then the Spurs could trade him without breaking their word.

I think it would all depend on LMA.

Yeah, I agree. Should it come to this (it probably won't, particularly within' a year), out of the teams he mentioned, the Suns are the most intriguing. The Lakers wouldn't trade Russell or Ingram and while the Suns wouldn't trade Booker and probably not Bledsoe just because this would be a win-now move, they easily trump them in terms of depth of young and youngish talent, as well as draft picks.


Typical Lowe, who's been anti Spurs for almost 2 years now, but how is picking the Clippers 2nd crazy? The general consensus seems to be that it's 50/50, with the Spurs the slightly better regular season bet and the Clippers the slightly better playoff bet.

[Obstructed_View]

I disagree with your Rasho and Mozgov assessment. They are very comparable in regards to being complimentary starting centers -- just different times. Mosgov has been established as a decent complimentary starting caliber center in the league for a while now. And didn't you mention in a few posts above that you wish the Spurs pursued Mozgov to start? But now you're saying he's not a starting center and that Rasho was much better? I'm confused.

Pursuing Mozgov as a project makes sense, but expecting him to be a solid starter or throwing major money at him is not wise, particularly for a guy who can score a bit but who is a defensive liability. Rasho was an established starter who started virtually every game from 2001-2005 that he was available to play. He was an extremely good defender, his game meshed perfectly with Duncan's, and he had no health issues. The defense actually improved when Rasho joined the team. Nazr Mohammed took his spot for the '05 le run because he sprained his ankle with five games to go in the regular season.

[Chinook]

The Spurs wont sign Bosh. Thats a PR nightmare waiting to happen.

His doctors are clearly against him playing, if he does decide to play and worsens his condition in San Antonio..that would be disastrous for himself and the Spurs reputation of ensuring player safety.

This is getting overblown. The doctors aren't against him playing. They just won't clear him so long as his tests are bad. He's not trying to force them to let him play with clots; he's trying to find a way to get rid of them and not be on blood thinners. So if he gets back on a court, he'll be as safe from falling dead behind a clot as anyone -- , probably more safe than anyone really since he'd be getting tested constantly as opposed in routine physicals once a season or whatever it is. The odds might be against him finding a way, but there isn't much of a risk here if he does get signed.

[MaNu4Tres]

Pursuing Mozgov as a project makes sense, but expecting him to be a solid starter or throwing major money at him is not wise, particularly for a guy who can score a bit but who is a defensive liability. Rasho was an established starter who started virtually every game from 2001-2005 that he was available to play. He was an extremely good defender, his game meshed perfectly with Duncan's, and he had no health issues. The defense actually improved when Rasho joined the team. Nazr Mohammed took his spot for the '05 le run because he sprained his ankle with five games to go in the regular season.

Not sure what your point is.

Its irrelevant to the point I was making.

[Obstructed_View]

Not sure what your point is.

Its irrelevant to the point I was making.

I'll use small words, then: Rasho is way ing better than Mozgov.

[MaNu4Tres]

I'll use small words, then: Rasho is way ing better than Mozgov.

Okay, well, who's better was never an argument. I said they were comparable -- as in being complimentary role playing centers who start. So, the market share of what they get paid compared to the total cap space is comparable for both having that role.

Thanks for chiming with irrelevant garbage though.

Raising the bar, one post at a time.

[Obstructed_View]

Okay, well, who's better was never an argument. I said they were comparable -- as in being complimentary role playing centers who start. So, the market share of what they get paid compared to the total cap space is comparable for both having that role.

Thanks for chiming with irrelevant garbage though.

Raising the bar, one post at a time.

Thanks for proving that you think that all big white guys are exactly the same player, then being mad when it's pointed out that they're not.

[MaNu4Tres]

Thanks for proving that you think that all big white guys are exactly the same player, then being mad when it's pointed out that they're not.

Lol where did this come from. You just won't stop pulling irrelevant garbage out of your ass.

Comparable does not mean "exactly the same".

Work on your comprehension skills.

[SAGirl]