2018-19 NBA Thread

Offseason is almost over - let's get this shit going!

Eastern seeding: Celtics, Raptors, Sixers, Bucks, Pacers, Heat, Wizards, Cavs
Western seeding: Warriors, Rockets, Jazz, Lakers, Nuggets, Thunder, Blazers, Pelicans

Eastern finals: Celtics over Raptors in 6
Western finals: Warriors over Rockets in 7
Finals: Warriors over Celtics in 5

 

Butler returned to practice today, per Woj, screaming at everyone, including teammates, coaches and management. Left everyone "speechless." My god this franchise. Really everything started bad when they took Rick Mahorn with 1st pick in expansion draft and he refused to play for them.

 

I mean... he’s not wrong.

 

Lonzo Ball added 20 pounds of very visible muscle, which just means that his bad shot form will be more visible from the second deck of Staples. The LakeShow will definitely be the most shittastic show this side of Minny.

 

Let's hope LeBron James has tiptoed into Magic Johnson's office and discussed action plans for the first time LaVar Ball sounds off to the media that LBJ is controlling the ball too much.

 

Kawhi-Spurs last off-season's times ten.

 

Bottom line -- I think Thibs would rather get fired than trade Butler.

Which means the T-Wolves are going to have to do both.

 

The Butler thing is fascinating to me, in that train wreck kind of way. When's the last time a team and a star had a falling out like this, that was so public and visible? Obviously Leonard and the Spurs weren't on the same page, but that was mostly handled in back rooms and via agent whispering. Vince Carter? Does Minnesota actually let him get into preseason games if he's acting like this in practice?

 

And the motivation for a single Twolves fan to show up this season with or without butler is...? Watch the other guys. Boo the hometown team.

 

(Looks around)

We’re going to be able to talk about the NBA without being accused of being precious hipsters this year, aren’t we?

Cool.

 

Leonard was passive aggressive. Butler is aggressive aggressive aggressive. Which is a good deal for the T-Wolves if they think about it. If they get like three first rounders for trading him to the Kings, Hawks, Cavs or one of the other feebs, how does he refuse it?

 

Those teams won't give up anything for him because they know he's gone after one season.

That's why the Heat is being aggressive in chasing a trade -- they believe he'll re-sign there, but they don't have the room to chase him as a free agent at the end of the season.