AROUND the NBA:

[Chicagojk]

The Jimmy Butler saga has torpedoed Miami's season.  They've blown big leads heading into the 4th quarter all year, as was the case last night. They lost to Detroit on a buzzer-beater 3 from Cade Cunningham, after Detroit trailed most of the game. This is the first time Spoelstra has ever lost nine straight games.

That was a terrible trade when it happened.   Miami's hands were tied due to Jimmy's demand and his high salary.  But that trade has put them in a place no team wants to be.   Bad, but not bad enough.    Also one with some high salaried players but no # 1 type players.   Miami has made miracles happen before, but I think Riley's magic is over.   They probably need someone younger in there.  You know they were eyeing Luka down the road.  I think that boat has sailed though.

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: Bill Chisholm, managing partner at Symphony Technology Group, has agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics from the Grousbeck family for a valuation for $6.1 billion, sources tell ESPN. This now is the largest sale for a sports franchise in North America.

[omahen]

@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: Bill Chisholm, managing partner at Symphony Technology Group, has agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics from the Grousbeck family for a valuation for $6.1 billion, sources tell ESPN. This now is the largest sale for a sports franchise in North America.

Selling high

Boston roster moves will be very interesting in the future. Two key players on that roster are old and roster as a whole is destined to be permanently over the second apron if they wish to keep it together. 225 mil committed for just 11 players and without Horford for next season, 207 mil committed for season after that without Horford and KP. It will take a really magical GM skills to replace production these guys bring with cheaper players.

[omahen]

That was a terrible trade when it happened.   Miami's hands were tied due to Jimmy's demand and his high salary.  But that trade has put them in a place no team wants to be.   Bad, but not bad enough.    Also one with some high salaried players but no # 1 type players.   Miami has made miracles happen before, but I think Riley's magic is over.   They probably need someone younger in there.  You know they were eyeing Luka down the road.  I think that boat has sailed though.

Yeah, Miami is in a really tight spot, totally agree with your take. They need a #1 guy and middle of the draft FRP are unlikey to turn into one. Unless of course they get lucky in the lottery this year. So, they either need to tank hard at least one year, which should be combined with selling off most of the vets, or they need to trade for the #1 guy. Tank is a problem, as their 2026 pick will be going to OKC unprotected. 

They do have some assets though. Their own (likely end of lottery) and GSW FRP in 2025 and additional 2 tradeable future FRP in the summer. Rozier, Robinson and Anderson are expiring, Wiggins is probably a neutral asset. They have some interesting young players. They could make a package for a #1 guy. But one on a not so great #1 side. The likes of Trae Young. 

Btw - who are top players that could be traded this summer? A lot of noise around this becoming a possibility for Zion and Trae Young. I guess playoffs will bring more answers, as a lot of teams will be dissapointed.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: Bill Chisholm, managing partner at Symphony Technology Group, has agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics from the Grousbeck family for a valuation for $6.1 billion, sources tell ESPN. This now is the largest sale for a sports franchise in North America.

Lower than I would have thought.  The franchise must not own that much of the real estate.

[Chicagojk]

Interesting night tonight. Mavs at Pistons. Suns get Cleveland at home. Cleveland has lost 3 straight, so I am sure they will be motivated to end that streak despite not being in a must win scenario. Although they have fell behind OKC for best record.

The Spurs play the tanking sixers. They are three games back of the Mavs, but Mavs own tie breaker.

The trailblazers play Denver. Last I saw, there is concern Jokic may be out. They are two games back of the Mavs. Mavs also own the tie breaker.

Magic play the Wizards.

[Chicagojk]

Btw - who are top players that could be traded this summer? A lot of noise around this becoming a possibility for Zion and Trae Young. I guess playoffs will bring more answers, as a lot of teams will be dissapointed.

Maybe Sabonis?  Sacramento is so strange though it is tough to see what direction they decide to go.    Myles Turner? Lamelo Ball?

[Knutsen]

Interesting night tonight. Mavs at Pistons.  Suns get Cleveland at home.  Cleveland has lost 3 straight, so I am sure they will be motivated to end that streak despite not being in a must win scenario.  Although they have fell behind OKC for best record. 

The Spurs play the tanking sixers.  They are three games back of the Mavs, but Mavs own tie breaker. 

The trailblazers play Denver.  Last I saw, there is concern Jokic may be out.  They are two games back of the Mavs.  Mavs also own the tie breaker.

Magic play the Wizards.

I don’t think the Spurs have any ambition to catch us now that there two top guns are out. If Wemby would be healthy his first experience of play-in and playoff games would be worth a push, but now I think they‘ll make sure they get the best draft pick.

Portland is another story - as long as we and the Suns are in reach I guess they keep on pushing, it would be a success for that franchise to reach the play-in alone. 

I just hope the Suns get their stuff together, they don’t have anything to lose without owning their draft pick and have enough star power to make a playoff series interesting.

[Chicagojk]

I don’t think the Spurs have any ambition to catch us now that there two top guns are out. If Wemby would be healthy his first experience of play-in and playoff games would be worth a push, but now I think they‘ll make sure they get the best draft pick.

Portland is another story - as long as we and the Suns are in reach I guess they keep on pushing, it would be a success for that franchise to reach the play-in alone. 

I just hope the Suns get their stuff together, they don’t have anything to lose without owning their draft pick and have enough star power to make a playoff series interesting.

Yeah, I don't see the Spurs winning much.  They didn't look impressive even before Fox went out for the season.   Mavs should have a few wins left in them this year, especially if PJ plays most of the games.    I saw Caleb Martin is out again tonight?  Do you think he wasn't fully ready to play or did he get hurt again?  Comical that he was made in a win now mode and may only play less than 10 games this year.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Interesting night tonight. Mavs at Pistons.  Suns get Cleveland at home.  Cleveland has lost 3 straight, so I am sure they will be motivated to end that streak despite not being in a must win scenario.  Although they have fell behind OKC for best record. 

The Spurs play the tanking sixers.  They are three games back of the Mavs, but Mavs own tie breaker. 

The trailblazers play Denver.  Last I saw, there is concern Jokic may be out.  They are two games back of the Mavs.  Mavs also own the tie breaker.

Magic play the Wizards.

Detroit is at Dallas. The Spurs and Sixers cancel each other out. The Blazers are playing well and have an outside shot. The Suns' next three are tough ones: the Cavs (on a three-game losing streak), the Bucks, and the Celtics. They could lose them all. The Mavs are still in the mix for 10th somehow, lol.

[omahen]

Maybe Sabonis?  Sacramento is so strange though it is tough to see what direction they decide to go.    Myles Turner? Lamelo Ball?

Agree on Sacramento. They filled their team with expensive tier3 "stars" that are not capable to bring them out of play-in range. Team full of offense first players, no PG. 

I don't consider Myles Turner as a star. He is a free agent so totally possible he goes somewhere else. Indy is becoming expensive. 

Lots of noise around LaMelo too, agree. He has been in that "hell" for four years, I think, and there is no sight of things getting better anytime soon. Especially, if they don't win the lottery.

Denver could consider moving MPj (far overpaid) or Murray (far overpaid for his usual production - he was worth it only in their championship season). 

Phoenix will be moving Durant for sure and perhaps Booker might get fed up too. 

Giannis might be a sneaky trade surprise. He hinted many times he aims for titles, mentioned Europeans in big markets when Luka was traded,... That team has no realistic way to improve and is imho far from contending. Lets see if Milwaukee trades him for Durant, Dunn and a FRP    

Minnesota is another team that is not going anywhere, unless they really surprise in the playoffs. They will do anything to keep Edwards. Could Gobert be on the move?

Philly would probably love to trade George and Embiid, but good luck with that. That team would have a real nice young core with Maxey, Grimes and McCain.

Portland is another mess of a franchise. Not good enough for play-in and not tanking hard enough to get a good pick. Simons will be expiring and it might be best for both sides to part ways. 

There are some quiet rumblings that Markkanen was expecting Utah to become more competitive. Since he is locked in long term (on a very high deal, though), he could fetch a great return. Although his stats are not really that great, to be honest.

[khaled1987]

Interesting night tonight. Mavs at Pistons.  Suns get Cleveland at home.  Cleveland has lost 3 straight, so I am sure they will be motivated to end that streak despite not being in a must win scenario.  Although they have fell behind OKC for best record. 

The Spurs play the tanking sixers.  They are three games back of the Mavs, but Mavs own tie breaker. 

There is no tie breaker in the draft, it is a draw if 2 teams has the same record unless one is lottery and another in the playoffs.

For example, if the Suns and Mavs end up with the same record, the Suns makes the play-in and if they lose, there pick could still be higher than the Mavs.

At least that's how it was.

[F Gump]

Interesting night tonight. Mavs at Pistons.  Suns get Cleveland at home.  Cleveland has lost 3 straight, so I am sure they will be motivated to end that streak despite not being in a must win scenario.  Although they have fell behind OKC for best record. 

The Spurs play the tanking sixers.  They are three games back of the Mavs, but Mavs own tie breaker. 

The trailblazers play Denver.  Last I saw, there is concern Jokic may be out.  They are two games back of the Mavs.  Mavs also own the tie breaker.

Magic play the Wizards.

There is only a tiebreaker in play right now for seeding the playoffs (or play-in tournament). 

For lottery purposes, no one will own the tiebreaker as the season ends. Then as to official lottery seed, ties in the season record are broken by a coin flip to determine who starts where, but for the lottery itself the tied teams are left in a tie and equally split the applicable ping-pong balls for those seeds.

[Chicagojk]

Pretty impressive win by the Bulls. They are playing well. A month ago I thought trading a lottery pick for White was too much. Although he is on quite a run. Maybe not enough now and the bulls may just keep him. Giddey playing great and they are playing a fun style.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I first thought that Giddey trade was one-sided in favor of OKC. Now I'm having second thoughts. Caruso has been in and out with injuries, but Giddey has been pretty consistent. Chicago is playing him as a SF in a small ball lineup, and it's working.

[Scott41theMavs]

Pretty impressive win by the Bulls.  They are playing well.  A month  ago I thought trading a lottery pick for White was too much.  Although he is on quite a run.  Maybe not enough now and the bulls may just keep him.  Giddey playing great and they are playing a fun style.

Yeah, I hope they play fun right past us in the standings.

[DallasMaverick]

I first thought that Giddey trade was one-sided in favor of OKC. Now I'm having second thoughts. Caruso has been in and out with injuries, but Giddey has been pretty consistent. Chicago is playing him as a SF in a small ball lineup, and it's working.

I expect you’ll come around on the AD trade, too!

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1j...?rdt=51614

Georges Niang is talking ish to Quentin Grimes, Lol

[Chicagojk]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1j...?rdt=51614

Georges Niang is talking ish to Quentin Grimes, Lol

He is not wrong.  Grimes is making the most of his opportunity though.  There is only one ball though.  If that Philly team was healthy, his role would be much different.  Maybe similar to what he was here (BTW, that was pretty good).  I also don't think he gets huge offers this summer.   MLE targets potentially, but we will see.

[Chicagojk]

funny how trades sometimes works out. Chicago basically moved Lavine to stink and get a higher draft pick (I know they thought otherwise). Chicago is red hot right now and playing good ball. While the Kings are a mess right now and may be in danger of falling out of the play in.