NBA 2019-20 thread.

For the life of me, I do not understand why the Warriors traded for Wiggins.

 

MIN's pick is top-3 protected in 2021, unprotected in 2022. That's the only real asset they got.

 

He's really talented. How many teams traded for Jeff Green? That kind of talent is always so tantalizing, even if you have no clue whether it'll be a positive value or a negative value for your team. The next guy / team always think they're going to be the ones who figure it out.

I don't understand the deal for Golden State. I'd rather have Russell, even next year - You can play Thompson at the 3, probably. The draft pick isn't good enough to me to justify taking on Wiggins, especially since it is Top 3 protected.

The deal for Drummond, woof. The Cavs didn't have to give anything up to get him, so sure, might as well grab him. I honestly have no clue what the "real" value of a non-shooting center is at this point, though. The deal almost makes more sense if the Pistons were worried he was going to pick up his option, because otherwise why not just let him walk for nothing? I'd rather have the free salary than Knight, Henson and a second. (Maybe Knight and Henson's deals are expiring, which would mean a second round pick for Drummond.)

 

Seeing the Sixers situation, and the Lakers last year, until AD teamed up with LeBron, it reminds me that all the lottery picks in the world don't mean anything. They are literally lottery tickets, you are just hoping you pick the one.

The Sixers are already sliding backwards, years upon years of The Process and all it got them was two good guys who both have flaws, and can't seem to play well together. The Lakers had a string of top 3 picks, and they were all nothing but flotsam. Not a difference-maker among them. Yes, Ingram is an all star player this year, but he isn't a difference maker.

 

And Morris is a Clipper.

 

Knight and Henson are expiring and yes, they were scared Drummond would opt in

 

Warriors are mostly on salary dump mode to avoid being repeat cap offenders. Does anyone think they're close to sniffing the playoffs this season? I've got a bridge for sale ....

 

I realize Wiggins isn't worth his $30m over the next three years, but 20 ppg isn't anything to sneeze at. And I'm guessing there isn't enough ball for him and Townes - but a player like Wiggins will get less attention on defense when Steph and Klay return.

We’ve Been Waiting For This Andrew Wiggins

 

Nobody anywhere thinks they are shooting towards the playoffs this year. They literally have the worst record in the NBA.

 

Yeah, but they took on a terrible player on a max deal.

 

Maybe. But like, would you have given Harrison Barnes a max contract? He was also an erratic, athletic and frustrating player. The Warriors didn't a couple years ago, but now, it's like they're trading for him. I think Wiggins is held in better regard, but man, he's making so much money and his career VORP is -1.4. His Top 10 similarity scores includes 0 Hall of Fame players, T.J. Warren, Bison Dele, James Jones, Andrea Bargnani and Antoine Carr.

 

There can't be a bigger warning sign on high scoring players on terrible teams.