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

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

@ McDonald ass kissing. Spurs aren't trading the one star FA they've managed to attract, unless Kawhi, Tony and Manu all suffer major injuries. LMA has 2 years left, the only chance to trade him would be in his last year in february 2018 if they seem very far away from agreeing on another contract.

[Chinook]

@ McDonald ass kissing. Spurs aren't trading the one star FA they've managed to attract, unless Kawhi, Tony and Manu all suffer major injuries. LMA has 2 years left, the only chance to trade him would be in his last year in february 2018 if they seem very far away from agreeing on another contract.

I agree with you. What's most annoying is that this prediction is generating its own credibility. So now people are going to think there's something to it because SA people concede the possibility.

I'm trying to open my mind up to this a bit. Would there be a LMA trade that makes sense?

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

I agree with you. What's most annoying is that this prediction is generating its own credibility. So now people are going to think there's something to it because SA people concede the possibility.

I'm trying to open my mind up to this a bit. Would there be a LMA trade that makes sense?

Blake Griffin?

[TheGreatYacht]

Why the would we trade our best player, LMA?

[Chinook]

Guys on RealGM thinks the Spurs should consider it, but that Derrick Favors straight up would the best-case scenario. So I don't think it's even worth the hypothetical.

[Robz4000]

Guys on RealGM thinks the Spurs should consider it, but that Derrick Favors straight up would the best-case scenario. So I don't think it's even worth the hypothetical.

Derrick Favors being anywhere near equal value to LMA. Did STdalamon make that post or something?

[Chinook]

Derrick Favors being anywhere near equal value to LMA. Did STdalamon make that post or something?

Nope. "Objective" fans who also think Green and Mills for Rubio would be a steal for the Spurs.

[Robz4000]

Nope. "Objective" fans who also think Green and Mills for Rubio would be a steal for the Spurs.

link?

[Chinook]

link?

It's happened multiple times, but this is the most recent: http://forums.realgm.com/boards/view...?f=2&t=1482406

[Robz4000]

It's happened multiple times, but this is the most recent: http://forums.realgm.com/boards/view...?f=2&t=1482406

Eh, if the Spurs also get Covington it makes more sense. Still wouldn't do it, but it's not as outlandish as Green and Mills for Rubio alone.

[Chinook]

Eh, if the Spurs also get Covington it makes more sense. Still wouldn't do it, but it's not as outlandish as Green and Mills for Rubio alone.

Did you read the whole thread? That was considered to be broken value with Covington.

[Robz4000]

Did you read the whole thread? That was considered to be broken value with Covington.

Nah, I just read the OP. Going through it now though, and boy are there some gems.

the poster who thinks the Spurs have been all offense for six seasons
calling Ricky ing Rubio a better player than Green, much less "substantially" better

That K_chile22 poster gives some of the Laker fans downstairs a run for worst ty homerism takes.

[Robz4000]

Damn, you and Cklbmk shut that Hardon down quick. Good work.

[Chinook]

Here's the thing: The RealGMers are legit fans. They watch a lot of games, discuss league news and some like the OP are writers (dude that I started the Dedmon thread about). They aren't stupid or haters. But they just seem to have no idea why the Spurs were successful. They overrate Pop and underrate talent. You saw the defensive comments. That's about as out of touch with the team as it gets, which is why being objective is overrated.

[spursistan]

Here's the thing: The RealGMers are legit fans. They watch a lot of games, discuss league news and some like the OP are writers (dude that I started the Dedmon thread about). They aren't stupid or haters. But they just seem to have no idea why the Spurs were successful. They overrate Pop and underrate talent. You saw the defensive comments. That's about as out of touch with the team as it gets, which is why being objective is overrated.

this has been the most annoying thing for me as far as the whole 2012-2016 contention run: Pop got too much credit out of it..

it was a perfect storm : Duncan resurgence, Parker 2 peak seasons, trading for a future top 5 player in league, nailing the scrap heap/buy-low moves (Green, Diaw, Mills, Neal etc)..Hadn't those people watched genuis Pop in 2009-2011 when an element or two was missing?

[spursistan]

Parker will get traded before LMA, IMO..Unless Aldridge demands it, "this-is-about-more-than-just-basketball" Pop won't do it to a guy who came to Texas for his family in large part, not to mention being the franchise first big free agent signee..

[Chinook]

Zach Lowe and his predictions. Dude straight up thinks the Spurs are a third-tier team along with Boston and Toronto. Who the thinks Boston is anything? Haven't made it out of the first round in how long.

[TheGreatYacht]

Zach Hoe ranking the Clips second-tier

Its obvious he's visited this place, saw the comments to the stupid he says, and is now trolling now lmfao

[Kawhitstorm]

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.

IMO, PATFO went after Pau instead of someone like Harkless b/c Softridge has made it known he doesn't want to play center & PATFO probably have too much faith in Kyle being a small-ball 4. Dedmon isn't a starting center & I'm not sure the Bulls were looking to dump Taj ala Diaw considering he's now their best big after Pau/Noah left.

[Perry Mason]

Zach Lowe and his predictions. Dude straight up thinks the Spurs are a third-tier team along with Boston and Toronto. Who the thinks Boston is anything? Haven't made it out of the first round in how long.

His takes have regressed quite a bit since the Bill Simmons Grantland days. His near-selection of the Rockets as the West's best challenger last year is epic in hindsight.

[Chinook]

His takes have regressed quite a bit since the Bill Simmons Grantland days. His near-selection of the Rockets as the West's best challenger last year is epic in hindsight.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/35...16-nba-season/

RealGM folks acting like he's is some soothsayer are way off base.

[SAGirl]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/35...16-nba-season/

RealGM folks acting like he's is some soothsayer are way off base.

wow!!!!!!
Way off base doesn't aptly describe his misses. lol

[MaNu4Tres]

IMO, PATFO went after Pau instead of someone like Harkless b/c Softridge has made it known he doesn't want to play center & PATFO probably have too much faith in Kyle being a small-ball 4. Dedmon isn't a starting center & I'm not sure the Bulls were looking to dump Taj ala Diaw considering he's now their best big after Pau/Noah left.

Saying Taj is their best big is a bit of a stretch and can easily be debated. They brought in Lopez to play center and they'll likely move forward with Mirotic, not Gibson after this year. Also, they have Portis at PF to compete with Mirotic/Gibson for minutes at the 4 and they're really high on Portis. Trading Taj made sense this past summer and still does, especially if they intend to move forward with a younger and more talented player like Mirotic and Portis at the PF position.

[spursistan]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1...-nba-zach-lowe

lumping Spurs together with Boston/Toronto in a third tier ..

How is a core (Clippers) that has never seen the light of a conference Finals-- a team with questionable depth, dodgy health record, well-do ented choke gene-- placed outright above the Spurs? ..

I'm starting to believe TD 21 theory on Lowe -- the ESPN version-- becoming your typical embedded war reporter/journalist who is bound in the end to give positive coverage in exchange for exclusive access he gets in his mission..

The Spurs don't give him that kind of unfettered access and their executives and players don't seem to hobnob with him for hours al la Warriors/Raptors and such..

[TD 21]

Typical. Always trying to be different or first with everything; hence his growing aversion to the Spurs and his blind legion of followers joining in.

He constantly rails about them being big, slow and lacking explosiveness on the perimeter, yet loves the Jazz and has always loved the Grizzlies. Figure that one out.

I don't have a problem with the Clippers ahead of the Spurs, if for no other reason than I agree that they're better positioned to give the Warriors a series. But with the Spurs being more accomplished, annually better in the regular season and a 50/50 bet to beat them in a series, not having them in the same tier is inexplicable and disrespectful.