AROUND the NBA:

[Knutsen]

ESPN has it's player rankings out for this upcoming season.  This is a predictive ranking of next season and not necessarily a past resume ranking.

1. Jokic
2. SGA
3. Luka
4. Giannis
5. Wemby
6. Anthony Edwards
7. Steph
8. Lebron
9. Durant
10. Brunson
11. Jalen Williams
12. Cade Cunningham
13. Evan Mobley
14. Anthony Davis
15. Donovan Mitchell
16. Devin Booker

Lakers should win with 2 top 8 players… I don’t see LeBron that high.

[KillerLeft]

Lakers should win with 2 top 8 players… I don’t see LeBron that high.

I think both LeBron and Luka are ranked appropriately...when they're at their best. In my opinion, the problem with both players, albeit for different reasons, is that they're not at their best as consistently as some of the other players on that list.

[Knutsen]

I think both LeBron and Luka are ranked appropriately...when they're at their best. In my opinion, the problem with both players, albeit for different reasons, is that they're not at their best as consistently as some of the other players on that list.

And that both of them are much better on offense than on defense, right? They won’t scratch the top 50 on a best defenders list probably, that’s where age really caught up to LeBron.

[Chicagojk]

It will be interersting to see skinny Zion.   It is a travesty we really haven't seen the Duke Zion.  He was so good as a freshman.    That peak athleticism may be gone, but he still should be really good.    The longterm injury concerns are valid.  I just have trouble seeing him put together mulitple years of being generally injury free.   I also think he is eventually moved from New Orleans.    I could see a scenario where he goes to Miami and has a career rebound.

[myconsumerclub]

AD was better than Le Bron in LA and he's that far behind him on that list? That is not correct at all. I just hope our depth pays off and Cooper comes in and rips the NBA a new one. I'm confident Irving plays like he deserves a place on that list and gets into 49 or more games plus playoff games. Then I see Klay doing better as well I anticipate him being inspired by who he's getting to play with and with the collection of talent this team has no one guy needs to pull a Luka every night. That being said if Cooper turns into a guy who we can count on every night for points in the high 20's to low 30's great I'm all for it and will gladly watch every game. That front court should dominate and win on most nights. If the backcourt gets it's 3's with both front and back dominating the wins will turn into streaks. We get contributions from the top 4 plus the 2 headed monster at center and then PJ Dlo Naji & Max all go off in some way that's a 10 man rotation I'll match up with anyone's. Till Kyries back you got BWill and Exum giving you 2 more to add in and help out at PG till he returns. Who knows what happens to this roster at the TDL if nothing it's still a top team capable of going to the finals if health nightmares stay away.

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
Bradley Beal will be limited to start training camp due to a knee injury, per @LawMurrayTheNU

[michaeltex]

Luka is scheduled out the first two pre-season games as a caution following his busy summer playing with the Slovenian national team. Last game was September 10th. A little over 3 weeks ago. The NBA schedule is 3-5 games a week for 6 months. Plus playoff games.

I get that LA doesn't want to expose him to wear and tear from meaningless games, but he's supposedly in the best shape ever, so I was wondering how much recovery does a world class athlete really need.

[F Gump]

Luka is scheduled out the first two pre-season games as a caution following his busy summer playing with the Slovenian national team. Last game was September 10th.  A little over 3 weeks ago. The NBA schedule is 3-5 games a week for 6 months. Plus playoff games.

I get that LA doesn't want to expose him to wear and tear from meaningless games, but he's supposedly in the best shape ever, so I was wondering how much recovery does a world class athlete really need.

"as a caution" --- I don't put any real stock in this as any indicator about Luka's condition. 

Instead, I think LA's publicity team is offering an "explanation" (even if it's weak, lame, and not factual) for why Luka won't be playing in games that are meaningless and are money grabs for the franchise. "We don't see any value to us in him playing in some pointless, meaningless games, so he won't play in these" would be the more transparent version, but admitting that these are pointless games doesn't sell tickets.

[Chicagojk]

Well this is terrifying


https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/uocpumnap1

[F Gump]

Well this is terrifying


https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/uocpumnap1

Not to me. The more I see Wemby playing at being a 7'4" PG, the less concern he gives me.

[Chicagojk]

When looking at the west, I have typically thought the Warriors would take a step back this year due to their age.  Although, when you see them on the court together, they are still pretty great.   I guess a lot of it will depend on health and how their younger players fill in the gaps

[Chicagojk]

Wemby went to work in his 16 minutes last night.  3-3 for 9 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 turnovers and 3 blocked shots.

[Chicagojk]

Shams is reporting the Giannis had questions of the feasibility of the Bucks competing and said he would want to be traded to one team:  The New York Knicks.   Said the Knicks and the Bucks had discussions with the Bucks saying they did not want to trade Giannis.   The big story is that the Giannis trade rumors are not going away.   Especially if the Bucks are not a contender level team.   

I have trouble thinking the Knicks have the assets to get Giannis.   The lack draft assets.  They have good players but I am not sure any would be very attractive to me as a centerpiece of a Giannis trade.

[KillerLeft]

I have trouble thinking the Knicks have the assets to get Giannis.   The lack draft assets.  They have good players but I am not sure any would be very attractive to me as a centerpiece of a Giannis trade.

Sure, they lack draft capital, but they definitely have tons of good players on a variety of contract sizes, including several on the high side. Milwaukee wouldn't be able to "blow it up" by trading Giannis to NY, but they might come out of said deal with an Eastern Conference playoff team, and if it's true that he'd want to go only there, I think they'd kind of have to make it work.

[F Gump]

...they might come out of said deal with an Eastern Conference playoff team, and if it's true that he'd want to go only there, I think they'd kind of have to make it work.

I think being an EC playoff team (but clearly nowhere close to a contender) is not something they would see as a desirable path. 

" if it's true that he'd want to go only there, I think they'd kind of have to make it work" -- I don't see this at all. If he truly demanded a trade, I think it would be like the KD situations (going to PHX, then to HOU) where there are several suitors that emerge who have the suitable type of package to offer, and GA preference comes into play only after the non-desirables (from MIL's pov) get weeded out.

But overall, I think GA is not that likely to be traded. He wants better players around him - but they all do - but I think the idea of him pushing his way out has always been more fantasy-fueled speculation than substance. He wants to win in MIL, first and foremost. 

I do think MIL is being selective with its spending this year (when the FA crop sucked) with a goal of landing someone good as a FA next summer (they should have a good chunk of cap room), and are doing so not merely to satisfy GA but also because that's the next step in them getting much better (assuming GA remains a part of the mix). GA plus a few good players is a formula for a strong EC team who is a serious threat to get to the Finals. They added Turner this year. Next year, they have opportunity for a free agent PLUS a room-MLE free agent plus a FRP. Adding that onto GA + MT should be enough - if they land the right players - to fuel another multi-year window of opportunity for them.

[omahen]

I think being an EC playoff team (but clearly nowhere close to a contender) is not something they would see as a desirable path. 

" if it's true that he'd want to go only there, I think they'd kind of have to make it work" -- I don't see this at all. If he truly demanded a trade, I think it would be like the KD situations (going to PHX, then to HOU) where there are several suitors that emerge who have the suitable type of package to offer, and GA preference comes into play only after the non-desirables (from MIL's pov) get weeded out.

But overall, I think GA is not that likely to be traded. He wants better players around him - but they all do - but I think the idea of him pushing his way out has always been more fantasy-fueled speculation than substance. He wants to win in MIL, first and foremost. 

I do think MIL is being selective with its spending this year (when the FA crop sucked) with a goal of landing someone good as a FA next summer (they should have a good chunk of cap room), and are doing so not merely to satisfy GA but also because that's the next step in them getting much better (assuming GA remains a part of the mix). GA plus a few good players is a formula for a strong EC team who is a serious threat to get to the Finals. They added Turner this year. Next year, they have opportunity for a free agent PLUS a room-MLE free agent plus a FRP. Adding that onto GA + MT should be enough - if they land the right players - to fuel another multi-year window of opportunity for them.

I don't think Milwaukee has any cap space next season. Unless of course they trade some of the existing players for expiring deals. 

Milwaukee Bucks Multi-Year Table

[F Gump]

I don't think Milwaukee has any cap space next season. Unless of course they trade some of the existing players for expiring deals. 

You're right. I overlooked the fact they are paying off the Lillard obligation - that in essence is their free agent spending in 2026, other than MLE money. And they do have a FRP to use. 

They could create cap room if they could find someone next summer who wanted to take Kuzma and his contract, but I find that unlikely. 

That means their path forward is the one where they look for help from overlooked FAs and undrafted youngsters and GL prospects and Euro players, to sign initially for little and develop into valuable pieces. They do have the hardest-to-find part already in hand (a legit team-carrying superstar), but their scouting and development is going to determine where they go. (To be fair, over the years, they have done fairly well in those areas.) I really have no feel for the potential of most of the names on their current roster that began in that category.

I find it curious that they did not use their MLE this year. If they aren't saving money for next summer, is that being cheap, or were they otherwise satisfied with their basic cast?

[Chicagojk]

Sure, they lack draft capital, but they definitely have tons of good players on a variety of contract sizes, including several on the high side. Milwaukee wouldn't be able to "blow it up" by trading Giannis to NY, but they might come out of said deal with an Eastern Conference playoff team, and if it's true that he'd want to go only there, I think they'd kind of have to make it work.

You always have to factor in the big market/desirable location teams.   It typically how it plays out.  

I just don't think NY has a strong package.   I can't think they would want KAT (who is good).   OG and Bridges are really good players but they are best playing with a star.    The Bucks owe draft picks out, so this makes it doubly tough.    They move Giannis and then they still don't have their picks.    I think ATL is the sneaky team.  They have a Buck pick or two depending on where it falls plus young players.    

MIL will hold on to Giannis until he says he is done.  Maybe that does not happen.  I have trouble seeing how they rebuild that team on the fly though and it appears Giannis does not want to wait 3-4 years until they have their assets back.

[Chicagojk]

This offseason we saw teams beef up on size in the front court by looking to have two playable centers.   Sometimes they play together.    I still think it is a skill based game so going big is not always going to work, but it is a clear focus around the league.  I thought that was going to be one of the changes moving forward.

I was thinking another one could be playing rotations.    Looking at the good west teams, most of the teams are very deep.   Injuries will cover some of this, but I wonder if teams will look to have bigger rotations with their teams this year.   Otherwise there are going to be several really good players catching cobwebs on the bench.   Here is a quote from Chauncey Billups recently:

• Billups said he usually stuck with a nine-man regular rotation in previous seasons, but this year that will go up to 10 or 11 players: “This will be a little different for me, how we’re going to play this year. Because I’ll play more guys this year based on how we want to play.”
  

I wonder if other teams are thinking the same?

[Winter]

This offseason we saw teams beef up on size in the front court by looking to have two playable centers.   Sometimes they play together.    I still think it is a skill based game so going big is not always going to work, but it is a clear focus around the league.  I thought that was going to be one of the changes moving forward.

I was thinking another one could be playing rotations.    Looking at the good west teams, most of the teams are very deep.   Injuries will cover some of this, but I wonder if teams will look to have bigger rotations with their teams this year.   Otherwise there are going to be several really good players catching cobwebs on the bench.   Here is a quote from Chauncey Billups recently:

• Billups said he usually stuck with a nine-man regular rotation in previous seasons, but this year that will go up to 10 or 11 players: “This will be a little different for me, how we’re going to play this year. Because I’ll play more guys this year based on how we want to play.”
  

I wonder if other teams are thinking the same?

Maybe so. I can imagine teams wanting to protect bigs from injuries. Hence less minutes for starters. (Dereck Lively may be a case in point).