2023 TRADE DEADLINE MEGATHREAD
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
I can tell you Denver is pretty happy here. Of course, it doesn't hurt when your center is casually throwing around triple-doubles and wins. Murray and Porter are healthy. When the worst starter is KCP, you're doing OK. My big concern is the bench, but other than that, they don't need to throw anything away to join the "arms race."
It's not sexy, but this is absolutely the right way to view the trade deadline. The quote was from Masai, but I can easily envision this coming out of Monte's mouth. You've built a team with a great amount of thought, assembled a cohesive group of guys that really love to play together. Now, after training camp and 4 months of the season with a steady climb up the standings, there's this pressure to make a significant change to the team. I'd imagine Monte had his list of 4 or 5 targets that they have long coveted for their talent and ability to integrate into the Kings "system". If he didn't get anyone to bite on those 4 or 5 targets, he wasn't going to make a rash decision just to make a move. Monte is a very disciplined guy.... as we've seen in historical deadlines/off seasons. I believe that he (along with Brown) have finally convinced Vivek that they need to be building towards a sustained level of competency and then excellence that will last a number of years.
I've said most of the time that Vivek's failures largely boil down to hiring two horrible GMs and putting faith in them, but I don't think this point can be overstated. Aside from online content creators who need the Kings to do something to give them content, the biggest "do something, do anything" danger we have is Vivek. And we didn't make a move just to make a move. Something the Colin Robinsons of this board would say a dutiful middle manager just trying to save his job would do. It shows the team is sticking to its guns. If you believe in Monte, you should uh... trust the process? oh jesus.
Yeah, and overlooked is what people gave up. Phoenix gave up Cam and Bridges. Dallas lost DFS and Dinwiddie. Portland lost Hart and GP.
To me, the teams that are probably significantly better are Phoenix and the lakers. I don’t think LA is so much better that they are beyond the playin. And Phoenix is a real threat in the playoffs, but maybe not regular season. They won’t have KD for 4 games, and then have a 22 game sprint to figure it out. Assuming they will go like 16-6 seems really optimistic, especially if KD misses any more games. There will be some growing pains. But I dont want to play them in the playoffs.
I think Minnesota got better, but not where it swings the race. The Pellies added Richardson, but not clear that is the missing piece. It feels like he is really redundant on their roster. LAC added, but I don’t think their moves tipped the scales. Put differently, Minnesota, NO, and LAC may end the season ahead of us, but I don’t think it is because of what they did today.
I continue to think Dallas is not better off. Portland had a confusing/treadmill day. OKC (not buying) and Utah (selling) suggest they are probably out of the race.
So I think Memphis, Denver and Phoenix are definitely in.
Dallas, Minnesota, Sac, NO, LAC are definitely in at least the playin.
last two spots between GS, LAL, ,Portland, Utah, OKC. I’d bet on GS and LAL.
Given the possibility of a healthy GS and LAL in the playin, it really puts the emphasis on staying top 6.
Buyouts im watching would be Nerlens Noel, Will Barton, and Pat Bev. Id love to pick up Noel and Barton for the bench squad. Barton would be a legit backup for barnes at the SF though he isnt the defender he was pre-injury. The other guy I'd keep my eye on is Andre Drummond who would be good for rim protection and rebounding when sabonis is on the bench. That said, i think that Holmes and lyles combo should also be given some run time instead of Metu. I think with some consistent time, Holmes may be able to contribute more reliably and would be a better rebounder and rim protector than metu.
Kings have one All Star reserve, maybe two, depending on injury replacements. But they have the best offence in the NBA because the team has been carefully constructed and each piece compliments the other.
Phoenix acquired an all NBA talent/ offensive cheat code, but gave up it's All Defence/ DPOY candidate who was also the perfect complimentary piece on offence. I'm not going to bet against Durant, but this feels like "plan A didn't work, let's take a punt".
I like (don't like) the Lakers moves because they added high quality support players that complement their stars and removed an oncourt cancer.
Phoenix acquired an all NBA talent/ offensive cheat code, but gave up it's All Defence/ DPOY candidate who was also the perfect complimentary piece on offence. I'm not going to bet against Durant, but this feels like "plan A didn't work, let's take a punt".
I like (don't like) the Lakers moves because they added high quality support players that complement their stars and removed an oncourt cancer.
Ainge has shown in the past that he’ll just pick guys who become busts instead of trading picks for actual players. Presti has sorta shown the same thing. No idea what the Pels are going to do with their picks. Nets are probably going to cycle through those picks they acquired since they don’t actually have their own picks thanks to the original Harden trade.
We’ll see but I think the league has thoroughly split between win now teams with no assets and win in five years teams with all the assets with the exception of the Kings, Pels, Grizzlies (all currently younger playoff teams with most of their own picks intact+).
We’ll see but I think the league has thoroughly split between win now teams with no assets and win in five years teams with all the assets with the exception of the Kings, Pels, Grizzlies (all currently younger playoff teams with most of their own picks intact+).
Pacers fans are apoplectic about Benn's play since Hali came back. He was putting up big numbers in his absence but has had a huge minutes reduction since the return, and have one win over a Foxless Kings to show for all of this.
Also I'm a TJ McConnell fan, but he is eating up Nemby's minutes too. They are burying their young players outside Haliburton. The smartest thing KP can do up there is get a new coach stat.
Also I'm a TJ McConnell fan, but he is eating up Nemby's minutes too. They are burying their young players outside Haliburton. The smartest thing KP can do up there is get a new coach stat.