Most under-reported signing so far: Kevon Looney to the Pelicans.
For the Pels: is this the flag that they're trading Zion? Or is this just another mark of incompetence? Why would they trade that unprotected first round pick to move up for Queen, just to also sign a back-up center (who I think is excellent). Looney is a great rebounder and screener, and he's going to be an excellent vet, but can't dunk and only has about 12 feet of shooting range. Also, he's been healthy recently, but his history of health issues should scare a team known for problems in the training room. The reunion with Poole would be fun if it weren't for the fact that their team seems to want to go in a completely different direction with their new rookies.
For the Warriors: I really hope they let him walk because they have another center targeted, because they might be screwed otherwise. The current big man rotation is Draymond, Quinten Post, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Post and Green are not great positional rebounders. Post is an excellent jump shooter but plays small close to the rim on defense and offense. Maybe they're betting on TJD picking up the Looney role and signing Al Horford as a bigger stretch center? Ayton doesn't seem like a great fit here.
Bottom line - a two-year $8 million contract somehow represents existential questions for two franchises. Fun!
I do think it's too much money for what Looney has become, and I completely agree about the Pelicans. What could they possibly be thinking with this signing? I have so many questions; I'm not sure they have answers.
For the Warriors, it does feel like they're putting a lot of eggs in the Horford basket right now. We'll see how that turns out.
I’m a warriors fan and I’m a bit shocked they’re willing to move on from a system expert to take a flyer on a big in his age 38 season, but we shall see.
Pelicans clearly think that the conference realignment is happening early and they’re in the East this year. No other explanation.
Ironic that the bucks bombshell dropped right after I read this.
1) We just THOUGHT the Rockets were ridiculously deep last year. Now? KD, resigning pretty much all their free agents that matter (and a couple that're just end-of-bench guys), absolutely pulling a heist with Dorian Finney-Smith, TWO solid backups at center behind Sengun? Good Lord, this looks (on paper) like a stacked team.
2) I lowkey love Brook Lopez going to the Clippers. We could see last year that he's just not up to being a starting center any longer, but going to LA to back up Zubac and get passes for wide-open threes from Harden and Leonard should be just the ticket for him.
agreed on all fronts. It is fun to see Houston once again rear up as the only real challenger in the West to a seemingly unbeatable juggernaut, and it's pretty incredible to watch them load up without sacrificing their future.
Rafael Stone will be a top contender for executive of the year if they play at anything close to their potential.
I'm also happy to see Lopez on the Clips, where he'll make more sense as a situational backup who can scale up or down accordingly and give LAC a real counter to Big Zu.
Ive always like Okoro, too. And I think this was a great move by the Bulls. In fact I like the bulls roster...if they can keep White AND giddey, both. Buzelis is due to break out and they have a few interesting young guys who will get some run this year.
Yeah, despite their best efforts and the general disdain people have for the team, they do have some at least moderately interesting young guys. They won't be good, but they might be fun! They were an underrated league pass team last year and will be again this season.
So the Cavs could have kept Merrill or Jerome and they chose Merrill. This decision is really dividing the fanbase. Who would you have kept; why; and is it a close call?
Jerome is a better player than Merrill and more valuable when the team isn't whole. But when this Cavs team is fully healthy (including Lonzo Ball), Merrill's insane movement shooting is more situationally valuable than Jerome's on-the-ball self-creation. I also think Merrill is straight-up a better defender, for whatever that's worth. And Jerome's season last year was ridiculous; it's entirely plausible he falls back down to Earth, like we saw a bit in the playoffs.
That said, this decision was easier to make when I thought Jerome was going to be getting MLE-ish money. He came cheaper than expected, and the Cavs can use him when Garland recovers and whenever Ball misses time (which I expect to be often).
I'm not sure there is a right answer, really, but I will say this: Any team has to essentially be operating at peak capacity and health to win a championship. I think that this configuration of the Cavs has an ever-so-slightly higher ceiling, even if not having Jerome will cost them a game or two in the regular season.
Its a depressing last paragraph you write (but not wrong). Regular season fun doesn't get to count for anything, championship or bust, but you still need to be lucky and healthy to win the championship no matter what moves you make. Maybe I should just buy lotto tickets =)
I'll miss the excitement of Ty Jerome and the regular season wins he would definitely add for the Cavs. But I agree with all your points. Hope the Cavs can catch a lucky streak!
For what it's worth, I think Ball and hopefully a slightly bigger role for Merrill will provide their own kind of fun. Even if Cleveland has just moved laterally, so many other teams in the conference have fallen off due to injury!
Most under-reported signing so far: Kevon Looney to the Pelicans.
For the Pels: is this the flag that they're trading Zion? Or is this just another mark of incompetence? Why would they trade that unprotected first round pick to move up for Queen, just to also sign a back-up center (who I think is excellent). Looney is a great rebounder and screener, and he's going to be an excellent vet, but can't dunk and only has about 12 feet of shooting range. Also, he's been healthy recently, but his history of health issues should scare a team known for problems in the training room. The reunion with Poole would be fun if it weren't for the fact that their team seems to want to go in a completely different direction with their new rookies.
For the Warriors: I really hope they let him walk because they have another center targeted, because they might be screwed otherwise. The current big man rotation is Draymond, Quinten Post, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Post and Green are not great positional rebounders. Post is an excellent jump shooter but plays small close to the rim on defense and offense. Maybe they're betting on TJD picking up the Looney role and signing Al Horford as a bigger stretch center? Ayton doesn't seem like a great fit here.
Bottom line - a two-year $8 million contract somehow represents existential questions for two franchises. Fun!
LOL I love how you framed it in the last line.
I do think it's too much money for what Looney has become, and I completely agree about the Pelicans. What could they possibly be thinking with this signing? I have so many questions; I'm not sure they have answers.
For the Warriors, it does feel like they're putting a lot of eggs in the Horford basket right now. We'll see how that turns out.
I’m a warriors fan and I’m a bit shocked they’re willing to move on from a system expert to take a flyer on a big in his age 38 season, but we shall see.
Pelicans clearly think that the conference realignment is happening early and they’re in the East this year. No other explanation.
Ironic that the bucks bombshell dropped right after I read this.
Man, it's just hard to see the Pelicans' vision.
And yes, I was very displeased to hit publish and then have to write 1,500 more words about Turner and Lillard haha.
If the Warriors sign Ayton we'll probably have to put Steve Kerr on suicide watch. Talk about a player-coach mismatch!
Maybe this was always the path to Dominayton.
Can non-minimum players be sent down to the g-league?
I feel like there’s enough of a big shortage that someone will need him. Maybe he takes the discount to go to LA.
All aboard the Vuc train!
Ha!
A couple of comments:
1) We just THOUGHT the Rockets were ridiculously deep last year. Now? KD, resigning pretty much all their free agents that matter (and a couple that're just end-of-bench guys), absolutely pulling a heist with Dorian Finney-Smith, TWO solid backups at center behind Sengun? Good Lord, this looks (on paper) like a stacked team.
2) I lowkey love Brook Lopez going to the Clippers. We could see last year that he's just not up to being a starting center any longer, but going to LA to back up Zubac and get passes for wide-open threes from Harden and Leonard should be just the ticket for him.
agreed on all fronts. It is fun to see Houston once again rear up as the only real challenger in the West to a seemingly unbeatable juggernaut, and it's pretty incredible to watch them load up without sacrificing their future.
Rafael Stone will be a top contender for executive of the year if they play at anything close to their potential.
I'm also happy to see Lopez on the Clips, where he'll make more sense as a situational backup who can scale up or down accordingly and give LAC a real counter to Big Zu.
Let’s gooo
Ive always like Okoro, too. And I think this was a great move by the Bulls. In fact I like the bulls roster...if they can keep White AND giddey, both. Buzelis is due to break out and they have a few interesting young guys who will get some run this year.
Yeah, despite their best efforts and the general disdain people have for the team, they do have some at least moderately interesting young guys. They won't be good, but they might be fun! They were an underrated league pass team last year and will be again this season.
Thanks for this! It’s so easy to get lost in the fluff and numbers of offseason moves that it’s nice to get an analysis focusing more on fit.
Thanks for keeping me updated on some of the "Smaller" trades.
Much better that just seeing a couple of names scroll across the bottom of the TV screen.
I plan on being a continuing paid up member.
So the Cavs could have kept Merrill or Jerome and they chose Merrill. This decision is really dividing the fanbase. Who would you have kept; why; and is it a close call?
Jerome is a better player than Merrill and more valuable when the team isn't whole. But when this Cavs team is fully healthy (including Lonzo Ball), Merrill's insane movement shooting is more situationally valuable than Jerome's on-the-ball self-creation. I also think Merrill is straight-up a better defender, for whatever that's worth. And Jerome's season last year was ridiculous; it's entirely plausible he falls back down to Earth, like we saw a bit in the playoffs.
That said, this decision was easier to make when I thought Jerome was going to be getting MLE-ish money. He came cheaper than expected, and the Cavs can use him when Garland recovers and whenever Ball misses time (which I expect to be often).
I'm not sure there is a right answer, really, but I will say this: Any team has to essentially be operating at peak capacity and health to win a championship. I think that this configuration of the Cavs has an ever-so-slightly higher ceiling, even if not having Jerome will cost them a game or two in the regular season.
Its a depressing last paragraph you write (but not wrong). Regular season fun doesn't get to count for anything, championship or bust, but you still need to be lucky and healthy to win the championship no matter what moves you make. Maybe I should just buy lotto tickets =)
I'll miss the excitement of Ty Jerome and the regular season wins he would definitely add for the Cavs. But I agree with all your points. Hope the Cavs can catch a lucky streak!
For what it's worth, I think Ball and hopefully a slightly bigger role for Merrill will provide their own kind of fun. Even if Cleveland has just moved laterally, so many other teams in the conference have fallen off due to injury!