Paul George traded to OKC..

[YGWHI]

OKC ended up not even being better than the Spurs WITHOUT Kawhi

If they lose in first round again with PG13 and unplayable Melo I can't remember rooting so hard for a non-Spurs' team before...#GoJazz #TakeNote

[bklynspursfan]

OKC ended up not even being better than the Spurs WITHOUT Kawhi

Insane. And people were freaking out how OKC made these huge leaps ahead of us

[DPG21920]

If they lose in first round again with PG13 and unplayable Melo I can't remember rooting so hard for a non-Spurs' team before...#GoJazz #TakeNote

Yup. OKC is just unlivable except for Adams. I love Adams.

[SuperCam]

OKC ended up not even being better than the Spurs WITHOUT Kawhi

not really, jazz would sweep spur easily right now tbh

[SpurOutofTownFan]

OKC ended up not even being better than the Spurs WITHOUT Kawhi

In your opinion did the Spurs dodged a bullet here? no one can't convince me the Spurs didn't look into bring him there

[Chinook]

In your opinion did the Spurs dodged a bullet here? no one can't convince me the Spurs didn't look into bring him there

Not Harlem, but SA did dodge a bullet, so to speak, in not dumping LMA for PG. That was always the issue for any of these trades most of the "realists" considered Aldridge to be a must-move guy and were willing to give him and whatever assets they could up for whatever players. In a world where the Spurs could have gotten any of those guys while keeping LMA, it would have been different. I'd love for PG to come over next year, especially if the Spurs trade Leonard for a deal involving a top offensive guard. Say Walker, George and Aldridge is a big three you can win with.

As far as how interested the Spurs were in a George-for-Aldridge swap, I'd say very. The rumors were George would be open to reupping in SA, while LMA supposedly had asked for a trade. If you were looking at losing Aldridge regardless, you may as well try to get another star for him. It's not clear how interested the team was to adding more assets to make anything happen, though.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Not Harlem, but SA did dodge a bullet, so to speak, in not dumping LMA for PG. That was always the issue for any of these trades most of the "realists" considered Aldridge to be a must-move guy and were willing to give him and whatever assets they could up for whatever players. In a world where the Spurs could have gotten any of those guys while keeping LMA, it would have been different. I'd love for PG to come over next year, especially if the Spurs trade Leonard for a deal involving a top offensive guard. Say Walker, George and Aldridge is a big three you can win with.

As far as how interested the Spurs were in a George-for-Aldridge swap, I'd say very. The rumors were George would be open to reupping in SA, while LMA supposedly had asked for a trade. If you were looking at losing Aldridge regardless, you may as well try to get another star for him. It's not clear how interested the team was to adding more assets to make anything happen, though.

Thanks for your thorough take

[SpursBig3s]

Not Harlem, but SA did dodge a bullet, so to speak, in not dumping LMA for PG. That was always the issue for any of these trades most of the "realists" considered Aldridge to be a must-move guy and were willing to give him and whatever assets they could up for whatever players. In a world where the Spurs could have gotten any of those guys while keeping LMA, it would have been different. I'd love for PG to come over next year, especially if the Spurs trade Leonard for a deal involving a top offensive guard. Say Walker, George and Aldridge is a big three you can win with.

As far as how interested the Spurs were in a George-for-Aldridge swap, I'd say very. The rumors were George would be open to reupping in SA, while LMA supposedly had asked for a trade. If you were looking at losing Aldridge regardless, you may as well try to get another star for him. It's not clear how interested the team was to adding more assets to make anything happen, though.

In this scenario, how would we trade for Kemba if hypothetically we got PG for Kawhi (in whatever trade package it might be)? I would love a Kemba/PG-13/LMA Big 3

[HarlemHeat37]

not really, jazz would sweep spur easily right now tbh

They only won 1 or 2 games more than the Spurs, my guy

[Chinook]

In this scenario, how would we trade for Kemba if hypothetically we got PG for Kawhi (in whatever trade package it might be)? I would love a Kemba/PG-13/LMA Big 3

Ignoring picks, the bones would be PG S&T for Kawhi and Patty (MUUUUUCH better for OKC than losing PG for nothing, and George may be sold on a legit Big Three and a HoF coach).

Then Kemba and Marvin Williams for Pau, Murray, Joff and Paul (guaranteed because he has to be) with cash to pay for the two min guys.

Assuming Green opts in and Gay opts out but re-ups. Parker comes back for the min or room exception, as does Manu. You'd have:

Walker, Parker
Green, White
George, Ginobili
Williams, Gay
Aldridge

The team might still have 18 in this scenario, and they'd probably get out of this with Milutinov as well. They could bring Nikola for part of the MLE in to compete with a ring-chasing vet for the backup center spot, add a PF with legit big size. Draft a wing at 18 to back up Manu, White and Gay. Then they could use the rest of the MLE on some young guys and get a ring-chaser to be their third PG. There's even room to bring back two of Anderson, Bertans and Forbes. That seems as close to an ideal situation as I could see happening outside of Leonard coming back for less than the DPE and the team still finding a way to trade for Walker.

[HarlemHeat37]

In your opinion did the Spurs dodged a bullet here? no one can't convince me the Spurs didn't look into bring him there

There's nothing wrong with Paul George, he's a top 15 player and he isn't the reason OKC is losing..he's getting clowned for Joe Ingles' performance, but Ingles's points have mostly been on open looks due to OKC's breakdowns..

Spurs definitely miss the playoffs if they swapped George for Aldridge, though..as good as George is, he's always been inconsistent during the RS..

I just found it funny how much people downplayed the Spurs..if Kawhi was healthy and played, this team would have been MUCH better than OKC or Denver or Minnesota..they probably would have finished ahead of GS..

[Chinook]

That, or there are scenarios where the Spurs get the cap space to sign PG outright and then trade Green-plus for Kemba. Before anyone gets mad, Danny's pretty much just an expiring in this case. I honestly think Kemba will go for a haul SA could match when it's all sad and done.

[Seventyniner]

There's nothing wrong with Paul George, he's a top 15 player and he isn't the reason OKC is losing..he's getting clowned for Joe Ingles' performance, but Ingles's points have mostly been on open looks due to OKC's breakdowns..

Spurs definitely miss the playoffs if they swapped George for Aldridge, though..as good as George is, he's always been inconsistent during the RS..

I just found it funny how much people downplayed the Spurs..if Kawhi was healthy and played, this team would have been MUCH better than OKC or Denver or Minnesota..they probably would have finished ahead of GS..

Yeah, Ingles is a spot-up shooter. It's not like he's breaking PG's ankles.

I don't know if the Spurs would have quite gotten to #2 if fully healthy cause the Warriors might have played different if they were in danger of falling out of 2nd, but the Spurs would have easily been top 3. The 4 seed would be closer to 9th place than 3rd.

[spurraider21]

Ingles is more than just a shooter... that’s selling him short

[DAF86]

Not Harlem, but SA did dodge a bullet, so to speak, in not dumping LMA for PG. That was always the issue for any of these trades most of the "realists" considered Aldridge to be a must-move guy and were willing to give him and whatever assets they could up for whatever players. In a world where the Spurs could have gotten any of those guys while keeping LMA, it would have been different. I'd love for PG to come over next year, especially if the Spurs trade Leonard for a deal involving a top offensive guard. Say Walker, George and Aldridge is a big three you can win with.

As far as how interested the Spurs were in a George-for-Aldridge swap, I'd say very. The rumors were George would be open to reupping in SA, while LMA supposedly had asked for a trade. If you were looking at losing Aldridge regardless, you may as well try to get another star for him. It's not clear how interested the team was to adding more assets to make anything happen, though.

If you consider 2nd round exits winning, tbh.

BTW, Geroge for Aldridge was a no-brainer move then and it's a no-brainer now. Neither guy is a number one option, but George is better secondary option than Aldridge in today's NBA.

[Chinook]

If you consider 2nd round exits winning, tbh.

BTW, Geroge for Aldridge was a no-brainer move then and it's a no-brainer now.

Nah, that'd've been a bum-ass trade. George-ball sure as isn't winning ball. I get the idea that maybe the Spurs could have come out ahead had they won the lotto, but in terms of on the court, LMA has few parallels.

It's sort of amazing, though, how you'd think LMA, someone better than LMA and another All-Star is just a second-round team, though. I see no reason at all why it wouldn't be favored over Houston.

[Russ]

BTW, Geroge for Aldridge was a no-brainer move then and it's a no-brainer now. Neither guy is a number one option, but George is better secondary option than Aldridge in today's NBA.

I beg to differ . . .

Paul George is a 6'9" jumpshooter shooting a career 43%. His teams have never been any good.

If you didn't like LMA . . .

That was posted before this season.

Now, Paul George's team (with Westbrook and Melo) again failed to win 50 games . . .

[DAF86]

Nah, that'd've been a bum-ass trade. George-ball sure as isn't winning ball. I get the idea that maybe the Spurs could have come out ahead had they won the lotto, but in terms of on the court, LMA has few parallels.

It's sort of amazing, though, how you'd think LMA, someone better than LMA and another All-Star is just a second-round team, though. I see no reason at all why it wouldn't be favored over Houston.

Becuase Walker, George and Aldridge are all B level stars. Neither is one of those trandescent elite players that are usually the difference between being a good team and a championship team. Houston has two of those players (you can argue Paul being an elite player, but you can't argue that he's better than Walker, George and Aldridge) and a better offensive system for today's NBA. So a combination of talent + system would make the Rockets a clearly better team than the Spurs.

On a semi-related note, not too long ago you scoffed at me because you said I thought that post ups not being winning basketball was some kind of a hot take, implying that it is nothing new, but you as currently as one and a half years ago were asking for aldridge to be the number one option over Kawhi, because it is "easier to build an offense around a bigman". By your latest remarks I must come to the conclusion that you no longer think like that, am I right?

[DAF86]

I beg to differ . . .



That was posted before this season.

Now, Paul George's team (with Westbrook and Melo) again failed to win 50 games . . .

Tall wings that are elite three pt shooters and elite two way players are more valuable than post up players, tbh.

[gambit1990]

Ingles is more than just a shooter... that’s selling him short

[HarlemHeat37]

Ingles is more than just a shooter... that’s selling him short

I didn't say he's just a shooter, but most of his points in this series are coming from open shots, it's not like he's beating George in isolation..

[Chinook]

Becuase Walker, George and Aldridge are all B level stars. Neither is one of those trandescent elite players that are usually the difference between being a good team and a championship team. Houston has two of those players (you can argue Paul being an elite player, but you can't argue that he's better than Walker, George and Aldridge) and a better offensive system for today's NBA. So a combination of talent + system would make the Rockets a clearly better team than the Spurs.

Harden isn't winning . The Spurs already demonstrated that. I'm not giving him and Paul the nod over LMA and PG in a series, and throwing in Kemba while keeping most of the team's role-players and Pop? no. Minny should be winning this series, but Thibs is being exposed as a horrible coach nowadays. Underachieving his talent like there's no tomorrow.

On a semi-related note, not too long ago you scoffed at me because you said I thought that post ups not being winning basketball was some kind of a hot take, implying that it is nothing new, but you as currently as one and a half years ago were asking for aldridge to be the number one option over Kawhi, because it is "easier to build an offense around a bigman". By your latest remarks I must come to the conclusion that you no longer think like that, am I right?

??? You're saying to different things here. Your take about post-ups wasn't new or hard to get. That you kept acting like it was is what I was scoffing at. The second part is about how to build an offense, and yes, it is still easier to build and offense around bigs than guards and easier to build around guards than wings. Houston's loss last year demonstrated that. Basketball as a sport was created to be inside-out, and the rule changes can only alter that so far. Having a dominant inside player is still the easiest way to focus a scheme. Getting a guard to play off him and a wing to provide shooting, defense and iso points doesn't take this away. I don't want All-Stars around LMA to supplant him. I want them to compliment him. I've said multiple times already that we haven't seen a true version of "Aldridge-ball" yet. Getting those guys would give us a better glimpse at it.

[Seventyniner]

Becuase Walker, George and Aldridge are all B level stars. Neither is one of those trandescent elite players that are usually the difference between being a good team and a championship team. Houston has two of those players (you can argue Paul being an elite player, but you can't argue that he's better than Walker, George and Aldridge) and a better offensive system for today's NBA. So a combination of talent + system would make the Rockets a clearly better team than the Spurs.

I certainly would argue that Aldridge is better than Chris Paul right now. Not quite enough to bridge the Harden/Paul George gap, but close.

Kawhi + Aldridge roughly cancels out Harden + Paul in terms of elite talent and star power.

In either case Kemba would be the 5th best player on the combined rosters.

[DAF86]

Harden isn't winning . The Spurs already demonstrated that. I'm not giving him and Paul the nod over LMA and PG in a series, and throwing in Kemba while keeping most of the team's role-players and Pop? no. Minny should be winning this series, but Thibs is being exposed as a horrible coach nowadays. Underachieving his talent like there's no tomorrow.



??? You're saying to different things here. Your take about post-ups wasn't new or hard to get. That you kept acting like it was is what I was scoffing at. The second part is about how to build an offense, and yes, it is still easier to build and offense around bigs than guards and easier to build around guards than wings. Houston's loss last year demonstrated that. Basketball as a sport was created to be inside-out, and the rule changes can only alter that so far. Having a dominant inside player is still the easiest way to focus a scheme. Getting a guard to play off him and a wing to provide shooting, defense and iso points doesn't take this away. I don't want All-Stars around LMA to supplant him. I want them to compliment him. I've said multiple times already that we haven't seen a true version of "Aldridge-ball" yet. Getting those guys would give us a better glimpse at it.

You are very wrong on both accounts, but you are specially wrong on the last one. Still clinging to the Aldridge over Kawhi as a 1st option take is laughably bad.

And then you try to argue that you aren't an old fart when it comes to basketball reasoning . That's probably why you think that a team of Walker, George and Aldridge would be better than a team that just won 65 games, tbh.

[Chinook]

You are very wrong on both accounts, but you are specially wrong on the last one. Still clinging to the Aldridge over Kawhi as a 1st option take is laughably bad.

And then you try to argue that you aren't an old fart when it comes to basketball reasoning . That's probably why you think that a team of Walker, George and Aldridge would be better than a team that just won 65 games, tbh.

I know you live in a fantasy world where the Spurs didn't beat your ideal offense with clunky old LMA and flawed role-players, but it's not the real world.

And you make it sound like I said LMA needed to take the most shots or something. I went out of my way to say he needed to be the first guy to touch it most of the time, not the last guy. A lot of the Spurs BG offense began with an opening post-up.