Movin' to the Sunshine: The 2015 NBA Offseason Thread

[Saint Zephyr III]

Also- I think the Kings could surprise. I keep forgetting they have Karl coaching. Depends on the whole Cousins situation, but they've re-tooled nicely with Rondo, Belinelli, decent bench guys like Butler, Casspi and Koufos.

A fish stinks from the head down.

And they retooled in a way that diminished their depth and cost them two first round picks just so they could bid against themselves for Rondo.

And getting Josh Smith, Rondo, and Cousins on the same team is going to be one insane vortex of polarization.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

It's too bad Mike Bibby's mouth fouled Kobe's forearm, because it looks like that play officially closed the window on Sacramento ever winning a title.

It's just one depressing event after another there. Best case for the Kings is they make the playoffs. If they do so, it'd be because Rondo returned to form. If that happens, he's out of there, especially with the new cap next year.

Not sure how much longer Cousins has on his contract, but he's also out the door the first chance he gets as well. That franchise has spoiled his formative years and he deserves better.

I don't know what the Kings can do, outside of blowing everything up again and hiring a GM who knows what they're doing and finding a coach who doesn't hate his best player. And then, crucially, sticking with them for a season or two, even if they lose a lot.

There's been no consistency with that team since the Adelman years. And in a high tax state in a city with nothing to do, you've got to work harder to he attractive to free agents. Providing a one year flyer so a guy can prove his worth to other teams is generous, but not a path to success.

[JayMac]

The worst two teams in the East may be the Nets and Knicks

The Sixers will still be down there too.

[tigerslionspistonshabs]

It's too bad Mike Bibby's mouth fouled Kobe's forearm, because it looks like that play officially closed the window on Sacramento ever winning a title.

It's just one depressing event after another there. Best case for the Kings is they make the playoffs. If they do so, it'd be because Rondo returned to form. If that happens, he's out of there, especially with the new cap next year.

Not sure how much longer Cousins has on his contract, but he's also out the door the first chance he gets as well. That franchise has spoiled his formative years and he deserves better.

I don't know what the Kings can do, outside of blowing everything up again and hiring a GM who knows what they're doing and finding a coach who doesn't hate his best player. And then, crucially, sticking with them for a season or two, even if they lose a lot.

There's been no consistency with that team since the Adelman years. And in a high tax state in a city with nothing to do, you've got to work harder to he attractive to free agents. Providing a one year flyer so a guy can prove his worth to other teams is generous, but not a path to success.

Even though a couple contenders fell from grace a bit (Dallas, Portland), it's still stacked, because there will be New Orleans and Phoenix to rise and snatch those spots. In the East, I think the Kings could be as high as a 5 seed, but it's an uphill battle unless absolutely everything goes their way.

[dfwabel]

Also- I think the Kings could surprise. I keep forgetting they have Karl coaching. Depends on the whole Cousins situation, but they've re-tooled nicely with Rondo and Cauley-Stein and decent bench guys like Belinelli, Butler, Casspi and Koufos to go with Cousins, Gay, McLemore,

Re-read all those names listed and honestly ask to yourself this:

In 2015, how many of those players actually make their team (and others) better?

Out of that group, there is probably only one and that's 35 year old, Caron Butler.

Cauley-Stein will exceed expectations if his career is that of Joakim Noah's, but he'll never have Noah's 2013-14.

Rudy Gay is this generation's Orlando Woolridge. Teams improve after they get rid of him and his empty numbers.

[dfwabel]

Not sure how much longer Cousins has on his contract, but he's also out the door the first chance he gets as well. That franchise has spoiled his formative years and he deserves better.

I don't know what the Kings can do, outside of blowing everything up again and hiring a GM who knows what they're doing and finding a coach who doesn't hate his best player. And then, crucially, sticking with them for a season or two, even if they lose a lot.

There's been no consistency with that team since the Adelman years. And in a high tax state in a city with nothing to do, you've got to work harder to he attractive to free agents. Providing a one year flyer so a guy can prove his worth to other teams is generous, but not a path to success.

Boogie is under contract through the 2017-18 season and it's very cap friendly. His cap number in 2018 is under $17M.

No team or player option, plus he isn't a "designated player" per CBA rules.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Not sure how much longer Cousins has on his contract, but he's also out the door the first chance he gets as well. That franchise has spoiled his formative years and he deserves better.

I don't know what the Kings can do, outside of blowing everything up again and hiring a GM who knows what they're doing and finding a coach who doesn't hate his best player. And then, crucially, sticking with them for a season or two, even if they lose a lot.

There's been no consistency with that team since the Adelman years. And in a high tax state in a city with nothing to do, you've got to work harder to he attractive to free agents. Providing a one year flyer so a guy can prove his worth to other teams is generous, but not a path to success.

Boogie is under contract through the 2017-18 season and it's very cap friendly. His cap number in 2018 is under $17M.

No team or player option, plus he isn't a "designated player" per CBA rules.

So he's stuck, yeah? Too bad. Boogie might have one of the NBA's great wasted careers. At this point, the only worse NBA option than Sacramento is Philadelphia -- but there's at least a plan in Philly (no matter how cynical it is). The Kings are aimless.

[Berlin Wall]

Anyone noticed that Dallas' three point guards Deron, JJ and Raymond were all born at June 26, 1984?

[OnWis97]

Anyone noticed that Dallas' three point guards Deron, JJ and Raymond were all born at June 26, 1984?

Wow. That's amazing.

[FiddySicks]

It's too bad Mike Bibby's mouth fouled Kobe's forearm, because it looks like that play officially closed the window on Sacramento ever winning a title.

It's just one depressing event after another there. Best case for the Kings is they make the playoffs. If they do so, it'd be because Rondo returned to form. If that happens, he's out of there, especially with the new cap next year.

Not sure how much longer Cousins has on his contract, but he's also out the door the first chance he gets as well. That franchise has spoiled his formative years and he deserves better.

I don't know what the Kings can do, outside of blowing everything up again and hiring a GM who knows what they're doing and finding a coach who doesn't hate his best player. And then, crucially, sticking with them for a season or two, even if they lose a lot.

There's been no consistency with that team since the Adelman years. And in a high tax state in a city with nothing to do, you've got to work harder to he attractive to free agents. Providing a one year flyer so a guy can prove his worth to other teams is generous, but not a path to success.

There's PLENTY to do in Sacramento.

[dfwabel]

Yes, we will have a work stoppage in 2018.

Credit: CBS Sports

Even with revenues soaring astronomically – from $3.8 billion in 2010-11 to a projected $5 billion next season – it's time to wake up and start wondering whether it actually will be the owners who do so (meaning opt out).

Silver revealed Tuesday after meeting with league owners that the NBA is projecting that it will have to write a nearly $500 million shortfall check to the players after the 2016-17 season. There was a shortfall in the players' guaranteed 50 percent of revenue for this past season, and there could be another one after '15-'16, as well.

Anyway, this past season's shortfall was due to revenues coming in much higher than projected, resulting in the salary cap rising to $70 million from the projection of $67.1 million. A much larger shortfall in '16-'17 will result from the massive influx of new revenue from the league's $24 billion, nine-year deal, which begins hitting the system that season.

"It's happened because the revenue we generated was much higher than we had ever modeled," Silver said. "But we're also learning that when you have all that money coming into the system, team behavior isn't necessarily predictable either."

Why are teams losing money? Silver cited the cost of competing with high payrolls and harsh luxury taxes (money the owners willingly spent and taxes they themselves imposed) as well as arena costs, new practice facilities and other infrastructure costs that have "gone up."

Here we go again. After a massive reduction in the players' share of revenues (from 57 percent to 50) in the last CBA … after revamped revenue sharing to balance out large and small markets … after ever-more punitive luxury tax rates to level the competitive playing field … the owners are going to cry poor again.

[DarkJourney]

It's too bad Mike Bibby's mouth fouled Kobe's forearm, because it looks like that play officially closed the window on Sacramento ever winning a title.

It's just one depressing event after another there. Best case for the Kings is they make the playoffs. If they do so, it'd be because Rondo returned to form. If that happens, he's out of there, especially with the new cap next year.

Not sure how much longer Cousins has on his contract, but he's also out the door the first chance he gets as well. That franchise has spoiled his formative years and he deserves better.

I don't know what the Kings can do, outside of blowing everything up again and hiring a GM who knows what they're doing and finding a coach who doesn't hate his best player. And then, crucially, sticking with them for a season or two, even if they lose a lot.

There's been no consistency with that team since the Adelman years. And in a high tax state in a city with nothing to do, you've got to work harder to he attractive to free agents. Providing a one year flyer so a guy can prove his worth to other teams is generous, but not a path to success.

Get over the bitterness that Seattle didn't steal the Kings.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

^^^^

That's disappointing. I don't think Seattle NBA relocation has been a topic of conversation for some time because there's been nothing to say. Sacramento is building its arena, the Bucks are staying where they are, and Ballmer took his money to LA. Plus Chris Hansen did the opposite of distinguishing himself throughout the headiest times of the NBA relocation saga. The potentiality of the NBA returning to Seattle is low at this point; and if it's being discussed at all, it's hopefully being done in the appropriate channels (i.e. not in public).

Anyway, it's possible for a person to look at a bad franchise and call it what it is without any ulterior motive. I wish nothing but the best for any NBA city; Milwaukee and San Antonio have shown that you can build success in a small market. But Sacramento continually and routinely shows doofuses in charge of the operation will continue to make stupid decisions. Can you defend anything the Kings have done in the past two seasons?

[DarkJourney]

^^^^

That's disappointing. I don't think Seattle NBA relocation has been a topic of conversation for some time because there's been nothing to say. Sacramento is building its arena, the Bucks are staying where they are, and Ballmer took his money to LA. Plus Chris Hansen did the opposite of distinguishing himself throughout the headiest times of the NBA relocation saga. The potentiality of the NBA returning to Seattle is low at this point; and if it's being discussed at all, it's hopefully being done in the appropriate channels (i.e. not in public).

Anyway, it's possible for a person to look at a bad franchise and call it what it is without any ulterior motive. I wish nothing but the best for any NBA city; Milwaukee and San Antonio have shown that you can build success in a small market. But Sacramento continually and routinely shows doofuses in charge of the operation will continue to make stupid decisions. Can you defend anything the Kings have done in the past two seasons?

Glad to disappoint you, Snidely Whiplash.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Okay then. I'm happy to discuss NBA comings and goings. Personal city-based vendettas - real or imagined - are less interesting to me.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Josh Smith joined the Clips today.

I hope they're on TNT every week. That team is going to be the funnest by a mile.

[C's]

Can you defend anything the Kings have done in the past two seasons?

Two seasons? Try the past seven or eight. They had a star in their hands in Tyreke Evans, and they ruined him because, like most perennial loser franchises, they can't develop players for sh-t. Luckily for them Cousins smartened up and got better on his own.

The Kings are pathetic. I feel bad for their fans, if there are any left.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

I was speaking about the Vivek experience. He's two years complete as owner and it has gone poorly.

I'll also take every opportunity to post this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEN6ad_Aw-M

In fairness, it's not like there were many guys taken below Stauskas who set the season on first last year. But he's also gone now for nothing, and so is everyone else associated with the pick.

[HedleyLamarr]

Josh Smith joined the Clips today.

I hope they're on TNT every week. That team is going to be the funnest by a mile.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

The uncoachable player going to play for a coach that seems clueless in building a roster and coaching them up.

[NJTank]

If the Clippers hit their stride at the right time they can win the NBA Championship and the next day the world would end since that is what the prophecy foretold.