2013-14 NBA Thread part 1

Anything to sell more replica jerseys.

 

I want Chocolate Thunder or Sugar Ray

 

Don't forget 'The Big Cock'


http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3428/danilo-gallinari

 

Andrea Bargnani has gone full Knick. Throws up a 3-pointer with 11 seconds to go, Knicks up 2, and the SHOT CLOCK OFF.

Of course, Milwaukee ties, and the game goes into overtime. Fortunately for Bargnani, the Knicks win in double OT.

I felt a little down after the Pacers blew a late lead at Miami, but then I felt better after seeing Bargnani, and realizing my happiness isn't tied into the Knicks playing smart, winning basketball.

 

Injury Update: Kobe Bryant has a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee. He is expected to miss 6 weeks.

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 19, 2013

 

Getting old sucks, dude.

 

Tank for Wiggins.

 

Just yesterday, or maybe the day before, the reports were that the Lakers were now NOT going to trade Pau Gasol.

That's gotta change now, right?

At least the Lakers can tank without looking like they're tanking now.

 

Chris Paul has to be a teensy bit glad that Lakers trade was voided.

 

Silver is heating up that Lakers lottery ball as we speak.

 

Intriguing trade rumor out there: Rajan Rondo to Indiana for George Hill and Danny Granger. I believe the Celtics also get Indiana's first-round pick, which isn't worth much.

If healthy, Rondo is a huge addition. That's a big if. Rondo keeps saying he won't be back until he's 100 percent, and that may well be February. This is the definition of high-risk, high-reward.

On other hand, the deal might happen not just for this year, but for future years. Granger's contract is expiring this year. But George Hill's deal, at $8 million per, has four years to go. Rondo gets $13 million next year, and then he's off the books. The reason I mention that is because Lance Stephenson's deal expires this year, and while he wants to stay, and the Pacers want him to stay, Indiana -- with George, Hibbert and West all making $10-15-mil plus for multiple years -- can't keep him without hitting the luxury tax. If Hill is gone and Rondo has one more year, they can do a graduated deal that keeps them under that line.

Back to Rondo -- Indiana might be willing to take that risk on Rondo's health because this year there's been little dropoff from Hill to C.J. Watson, and because they might actually play Stephenson at the point if needed.