2017-18 NBA Thread

[Farewell Friends]

Expect Justin Holiday to step into a leadership role with the rebuilding Bulls, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times writes. “He’s done a good job of pulling the group together,” head coach Fred Hoiberg said. “If we’re having a stretch in practice where we’re struggling or we’re hitting adversity and we’re not handling it the right way, if we need a shot of energy, Justin is the guy that pulls the group together. And you have to have a guy like that.“

That's good. Good things are happening in Chicago.

[thrill]

I'm glad the 4th best athlete in the Holiday family is such an important leader for that proud franchise.

[themiddle54]

Expect Justin Holiday to step into a leadership role with the rebuilding Bulls, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times writes. “He’s done a good job of pulling the group together,” head coach Fred Hoiberg said. “If we’re having a stretch in practice where we’re struggling or we’re hitting adversity and we’re not handling it the right way, if we need a shot of energy, Justin is the guy that pulls the group together. And you have to have a guy like that.“

That's good. Good things are happening in Chicago.

I laughed out loud. Do you guys have any faith in GarPax to rebuild the Bulls well? They might accidentally do ok if Markkanen turns out to be Dirk Lite and they get very high picks the next two years.

I do find it hilarious in a bad way how GarPax love to give away draft picks needlessly. Entering a rebuild? Sell your 2nd round pick to the Dubs for a few million cash. Trading two useful players in Taj/Dougie for trash*? Throw in a draft pick. Trading a superstar in Butler to get a high draft pick as part of your rebuild? Throw in your draft pick. They have NOP's 2nd round pick next year but have sent away their own 2nd rounders in each of the next two seasons. Tough to rebuild when stars won't sign with you and you are giving away your future assets.

*Did you see the Cameron Payne stuff, where the Bulls staff was like "We knew this guy couldn't play in the NBA after his second practice?" Who the hell is scouting for this team?

[Farewell Friends]

They seem to be incredibly stupid. Yesterday it came out that they passed on Milos Teodosic because he's 30 and they are going through a rebuild.

“I knew that the deal will not be completed after the trade. And two days later, Forman called me and explained to me that the team wanted to rebuild, so getting a 30 years old point guard without NBA experience was out of the question.”

[thrill]

Do you guys have any faith in GarPax to rebuild the Bulls well?

No. This is the really bad kind of rebuild because we all know Gar & Hoiberg are going to be fired, Paxson will be shuffled to a more business-side role, but for some reason we have to wait a respectful amount of time or experience a low enough low to get there. Also, it burns another year of contract obligation that Reinsdorf will have to pay out. It's a delayed rebuild.

[themiddle54]

Now talk of playoff reform, seeding 1-16 without regard for conference.

Fine with me. There are going to be 36 win East teams in the playoffs and missing the lottery while 41-win West teams will miss the playoffs and potentially move up in the lottery. That's the more pressing reform than stopping the worst team from staying worst.

They'd just have to balance the schedules, either adding 5 games or subtracting 24. So adding 5. Imagine just the pushback from DraftKings if they shrunk by 24, let alone TNT and Nike.

[Jocephus]

Sources: Joel Embiid OKs five-year, $148M deal with Sixers

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2097 ... -extension

[themiddle54]

Waiting to hear what all the incentives are. Was speculated Sixers have an out clause if they waive him due to injury.

[BottenFieldofDreams]

I hope after Embiid is medically retired, the Blazers sign him just because it's happened to us twice (Darius Miles, Roy), really messed with our cap and the insurance money (though I'm not too worried about Paul Allen's bank account), and I'm spiteful.

[themiddle54]

Reports are that the Embiid deal is just about the most complicated contract in NBA history that required the Sixers, his agent, the players association all working together to come to a reasonable deal. Only injuries related to his past problems can trigger the out clause. So if he breaks a wrist and misses a season the Sixers are still on the hook.

He has to miss 25 games and play less than 1650 minutes in a season. If they waive him after the first year of the deal they still have to pay him $84 million, $98 million total after the second season, $113 million after the third.

So if they pay him $25 million in 2018-19 and he breaks they're out that $25 million plus another $59MM.
If they pay him $25MM/year and cut him after the second year they're paying an extra $48MM.
If same as above and cut after the third year, the out clause costs $38MM.

Not terrible as far as contract risks go in pro sports.