NBA 2025-26 NBA Thread

[STAT88]

This year would be their only shot tbh, but I agree on the injury luck. Question is who they send in return to match salaries.

It would have to be Butler. Don’t think they’re that tied to him.

Would prob be to a third team can’t see the Mavs wanting Jimmy then assets to the Mavs from third team and Warriors.

 

[Robz4000]

It would have to be Butler. Don’t think they’re that tied to him.

Would prob be to a third team can’t see the Mavs wanting Jimmy then assets to the Mavs from third team and Warriors.

If they move Butler for AD its more of a lateral move imo. Should just legit trade Donkey.

 

[STAT88]

If they move Butler for AD its more of a lateral move imo. Should just legit trade Donkey.

Draymond + Kuminga + fillers is the only other option to match the Davis salary.

I would do that if I was the Warriors but I just can’t see them trading Draymond. Whether it’s the loyalty thing or how close Curry is to him, or the fact they’re scared of him.

That’s why I think Butler is more likely.

 

[JMarkJohns]

rockets out rebounding Lakers 43-23.

Ayton with 2 boards in 35 minutes.

My favorite moment of the season thus far was having a brief sports chat with my dad, who really only follows the Suns but will ask about former players

“Did you know last night Ayton had more turnovers than rebounds”

“Woah! How many turnovers?!”

“1”

This was from the first month of the year. Supposedly he was playing injured. But you’re seven fucking feet tall with pretty good hands and muscle enough to luck into a few rebounds every 5-7 minutes played, even if injured.

As an Arizona Wildcats product, he’s easily the biggest disappointment. Just just give a shit anymore for any real reason. He’s entered his Olowokandi phase of NBA existence.

 

[JMarkJohns]

Jesus Christ 56 points, 16 rebounds, 15 assists, and 2 blocks on 71% shooting. That's a fucking NBA 2k statline, how the hell did someone actually do that in a game?

The best part of this post is you don’t say who it is but it also reads pretty obviously Jokic.

Unreal, and he doesn’t even love basketball like some of the greats.

 

[JMarkJohns]

Draymond + Kuminga + fillers is the only other option to match the Davis salary.

I would do that if I was the Warriors but I just can’t see them trading Draymond. Whether it’s the loyalty thing or how close Curry is to him, or the fact they’re scared of him.

That’s why I think Butler is more likely.

I think they’d have to get a 3rd team involved if Butler. Mavs don’t need him, he’s often a cancer to head coaches and players, so he’s not ideal with Flagg. I’d think the Mavericks would want a combination of short-term/expiring, a prospect and a pick or two. Kuminga fits. Maybe Suns should go after Draymond since Ishbia loves Michigan State, and see what sort of havoc a Draymond DIllon Bash Brothers can create? Maybe offer Green and some 2nds to get Draymond and Naji Marshall, Warriors send Kuminga and maybe Hield to Dallas plus a 1st and now Dallas receives an athletic 20 ppg scorer in Green who isn’t yet 25 and Kuminga for 1.5 years to see if he’s anything, and some draft capital.

Warriors get their primary C

Suns get vet toughness, defense, and truer wing depth.

Nobody takes on any long-term salary of more than 2 years.

 

[bozhemoi]

My favorite moment of the season thus far was having a brief sports chat with my dad, who really only follows the Suns but will ask about former players

“Did you know last night Ayton had more turnovers than rebounds”

“Woah! How many turnovers?!”

“1”

This was from the first month of the year. Supposedly he was playing injured. But you’re seven fucking feet tall with pretty good hands and muscle enough to luck into a few rebounds every 5-7 minutes played, even if injured.

As an Arizona Wildcats product, he’s easily the biggest disappointment. Just just give a shit anymore for any real reason. He’s entered his Olowokandi phase of NBA existence.

I think he's playing for a new contract which makes it even more sad

 

[LeBowen]

Mavs are getting torched by McDermott.

 

[STAT88]

Mavs are getting torched by McDermott.

I legit forgot Doug was still in the league. Watching him hit a couple threes tonight brought back some memories of the dog days lol. Deadeye shooting and an absolute allergy to rebounding or any physical contact

 

[scott]

Interesting offensive foul called on Steph Curry as GSW-TOR goes into OT. Jamal Shead was playing tight D and Steph brought the ball across his body and hit Shead in the face... with the ball. Offensive foul gets called with begs the question... we know hand is part of the ball... but is ball a part of the hand?

 

[scott]

Also, Scottie Barnes out there rebounding like prime Rodman. Up to 23 now, including 3 OREB and 1 DREB in the first 90 seconds of OT Warriors.

Raptors up 7 in OT

 

[scott]

Scottie going full Jokic... 21 pts, 23 reb, 10 assists... still 3.5 minutes to play in OT

 

[LeBowen]

Interesting offensive foul called on Steph Curry as GSW-TOR goes into OT. Jamal Shead was playing tight D and Steph brought the ball across his body and hit Shead in the face... with the ball. Offensive foul gets called with begs the question... we know hand is part of the ball... but is ball a part of the hand?

 

[Guru of Nothing]

Man, best non-Spurs non-Jokic performance I've seen this year. 23-25-11. Talk about your archetypes.

Ties Bismack's Raptors team record for rebounds in a game.

News flash: Golden State is old

 

[spursistan]

Jokic with a nasty knee hyperextension. Hopefully nothing too serious.. Denver are screwed if he is out for multiple weeks/months.

 

[JMarkJohns]

I’m a son of a bitch and all I can think is how even a few weeks allows all of us to catch up to the 8-1-1 team in our Fantasy League since he had Jokic.

 

[LeBowen]

Jokic should be out for 3-4 weeks.
Nuggets play 10 out of 15 upcoming games on the road.

We need to pull away from them over the next month, tbh.

 

[spursistan]

Jokic should be out for 3-4 weeks.
Nuggets play 10 out of 15 upcoming games on the road.

We need to pull away from them over the next month, tbh.

First major injury of his career on friendly fire. A this point, 2nd-3rd seed should be a realistic minimum goal for Spurs. Time to stop fooling around.

 

[LeBowen]

First major injury of his career on friendly fire. A this point, 2nd-3rd seed should be a realistic minimum goal for Spurs. Time to stop fooling around.

4/5 starters are out for the Nuggets, they can't catch a break, even after finally assembling a legit roster around Jokic.

 

[spursistan]

4/5 starters are out for the Nuggets, they can't catch a break, even after finally assembling a legit roster around Jokic.

Really zero excuse for us not finish above them. (Denver play 18 games in during his low-end injury timeline; they're screwed)

Also that 65-game cut for major awards needs to get lowered to 60 games; Jokic and Wemby are on pace to miss out on rightful MVP and DPOY trophies because of this stringent rule. . Injury layoffs have multiplied and become a fact of life in this league..

 

[Arguendo]

Ugh, is Utah going to blow this up?
They have a really solid young core with Keyonte, Kessler, Ace as future starters; Filipowski, Collier, and Sensabaugh have real rotation player potential. Clayton and Hendricks look like they could be rotation players too, and Cody Williams is a young question mark. That's 9 guys and least least 6 have clear paths to meaningful roles, 3 with All-star potential, only one is over 22y/o and good positional balance with good-to-great positional size.

Nurkic and Mykhailiuk could help playoffs teams today, both have some value. Georges Niang was a good role player last yr and is close to coming back. Niang and Nurkic are expiring and have value just for that. Shit I'd trade Sochan for Niang, that seems like an easy win-win. Sochan knows how to rack up tank minutes and bring lottery luck.

Lauri's value has never been and maybe/likely will never be higher given his health history. Dude's playing the best bball of his career, healthiest he's ever been- on pace for 71 games and easily his most minutes, and is likely closer to the end of his prime than the beginning/turns 29 in May.

And, of course, they either get into the Top8 and don't give OKC a pick at all, or they lose out on a mid-lottery pick. AJ or Boozer could give this team scary long-term potential given the other pieces. Just spitballing but an easy win-win would be Lauri/Nurkic for Trae/Kristaps + Pels 1st + whatever else would give UTA two good+ stabs at a top3 pick and give UTA crazy cap-space next yr to absorb bad contracts for good picks. Move Trae for anything or just sit him and sign/trade him this offseason.

They have to blow this up right? How on earth does it make sense to keep a going on 29y/o Lauri and Svi when their value's have never been higher and you have every reason to ensure top8 in a stacked draft?
They'd still have Love and Kyle Anderson (plus Niang/Nurkic/etc ) as stabilizing vets. Fucking Ainge better not give that pick to OKC trying to squeeze every last drop of value. Fucking sell high, but be reasonable please!

 

[STAT88]

Lauri has definitely upped his value this year even with that contract.

I feel like teams are less likely to give up boat loads of picks these days like the Magic did for Bane, especially during the season. But it could still happen.

I think he’ll be traded this off season once the draft order is set. For example a team like Indiana who wants to win, if they end up with the 3rd or 4th pick, do they trade that for Lauri straight up. They’d need a third team to facilitate. They still need a C tho and do they really need Lauri, maybe not, although I’m not sure they have enough offense with just Hali and Siakam + shooters.

Atlanta could give up the Pelicans pick if it ends up 3 or 4. Although they need rim protection at C more than they need Lauri. Maybe a Kessler, Lauri package.

Portland seems like a good fit with Clingan, Avdija, Camara, Holiday. Sharpe and Grant make up the salary, but it would cost them at least 4 unprotected picks. Big gamble but that team could do some damage.

None of these help the Jazz tank and keep their pick this year tho. They’ll have to come up with a fake injury again which will get scrutinised by the league, or they just have to rely on a porous defense which they already have (second worst in the league) and hope that gets them enough losses to keep the pick and deal Lauri in the summer.

 

[Arguendo]

Really zero excuse for us not finish above them. (Denver play 18 games in during his low-end injury timeline; they're screwed)

Also that 65-game cut for major awards needs to get lowered to 60 games; Jokic and Wemby are on pace to miss out on rightful MVP and DPOY trophies because of this stringent rule. . Injury layoffs have multiplied and become a fact of life in this league..

There's 1 (maybe 2, 3, 4) good excuse(s). NOBODY has ever played offensively at the level Joker is playing. NOBODY

Wilt scored more points sure, but with his assists Joker is accounting for more points than Wilt except his 50ppg season, but Joker's doing it much much more efficiently. Wilt only had 1 season that close in efficiency to what Joker has done the past four season, and he was never close to what Joker is doing this yr.
And, Joker is actually doing it against real athletes, unlike the vast majority of Wilt's "peers".

Joker is the reason, but Murray's also having the best yr of his career, and while he's hurt right now, Gordon is the best role player in the league and proved he can be that even when hurt (last playoffs).
These aren't excuses, they are solid reasons. Denver's also been there, while the Spurs are learning, that's a very good reason too that's likely to be Ls that would be Ws for Den (those GSW games come to mind).
Penciling the Spurs into the 2nd best team in the West and ranking it as a failure where excuses need to be made if they finish 3rd/5th is putting the cart before the horse and setting yourself up for a letdown.
Be happy, even after 2 losses Spurs are on path for 59wins, you know like what the '04-05' Championship team won. But (obviously) that shouldn't be the benchmark.

A 50 win season would still but be incredible, not a letdown. That's 27-23 from here on. 27-23 should not be a disappointment, it would still be fantastic. 82 games is a long season, 32 is less than 40% of that, adjust your expectations, sure, but your basically saying the 2nd best record in the West is now expected and if that doesn't happen, its cause excuses instead of valid reasons.

 

[Arguendo]

Lauri has definitely upped his value this year even with that contract.

I feel like teams are less likely to give up boat loads of picks these days like the Magic did for Bane, especially during the season. But it could still happen.

I think he’ll be traded this off season once the draft order is set. For example a team like Indiana who wants to win, if they end up with the 3rd or 4th pick, do they trade that for Lauri straight up. They’d need a third team to facilitate. They still need a C tho and do they really need Lauri, maybe not, although I’m not sure they have enough offense with just Hali and Siakam + shooters.

Atlanta could give up the Pelicans pick if it ends up 3 or 4. Although they need rim protection at C more than they need Lauri. Maybe a Kessler, Lauri package.

Portland seems like a good fit with Clingan, Avdija, Camara, Holiday. Sharpe and Grant make up the salary, but it would cost them at least 4 unprotected picks. Big gamble but that team could do some damage.

None of these help the Jazz tank and keep their pick this year tho. They’ll have to come up with a fake injury again which will get scrutinised by the league, or they just have to rely on a porous defense which they already have (second worst in the league) and hope that gets them enough losses to keep the pick and deal Lauri in the summer.

The trading Lauri part this-season is how it works, that's why they should do it.
Maybe he starts missing games, playing less minutes, gets hurts, his play declines, etc, his value likely drops. Sure, there will be a bigger market for him this summer and more certainty, but not trading him could easily cost you the 9th/10th pick, that Pels pick is super valuable especially when paired with another top5-8 stab in UTAs. As shitty as Trae is, he'll likely get you 2 1sts in a sign/trade, but even one with that Pels and keeping/improving UTAs plus an extra $50 million in cap space is good value. The Spurs got a very good swap for taking HB's $18M salary and cap-space is more valuable now than ever. Kristaps might get you something in a sign/trade too. Half the Kings roster is guys they'd like to move for picks, that cap space is gold and Lauri is taking up $46M of it without actually helping the franchise.
Dal, Lac, Mil, Cha, Brk are all playing better and can easily pass UTA if they just stop winning, but that's hard to do with Lauri (after getting fined last yr) unless he actually gets injured or is moved. And if he gets injured, you might be fucked on moving him. He's not young, one Achilles or ACL and he looks like a tall Bradley Beal.

As to the "boatload" of picks trades, I think the history on that is really, really, really against it. It worked with AD to LAL, but for not for KD 2x, Harden 2x, George, Russ, Dwight, Bridges and Bane (even if NYK/ORL win with those guys, it'll be clear overpay for #3/#4 guys). I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. I hope these GMs have learned, stopped resetting the Market. If your LA with Lebron, its fine, those picks aren't very valuable and your LAL so something great is right around the corner. KG was traded for 2 1sts, same with AI, Melo, DWill and only 1 of those worked, and I'm not just counting championships as working. A boatload of picks needs to change your franchise for the better, nearly all of them change it for the (much) worse.

 

[scott]

Ugh, is Utah going to blow this up?
They have a really solid young core with Keyonte, Kessler, Ace as future starters; Filipowski, Collier, and Sensabaugh have real rotation player potential. Clayton and Hendricks look like they could be rotation players too, and Cody Williams is a young question mark. That's 9 guys and least least 6 have clear paths to meaningful roles, 3 with All-star potential, only one is over 22y/o and good positional balance with good-to-great positional size.

Nurkic and Mykhailiuk could help playoffs teams today, both have some value. Georges Niang was a good role player last yr and is close to coming back. Niang and Nurkic are expiring and have value just for that. Shit I'd trade Sochan for Niang, that seems like an easy win-win. Sochan knows how to rack up tank minutes and bring lottery luck.

Lauri's value has never been and maybe/likely will never be higher given his health history. Dude's playing the best bball of his career, healthiest he's ever been- on pace for 71 games and easily his most minutes, and is likely closer to the end of his prime than the beginning/turns 29 in May.

And, of course, they either get into the Top8 and don't give OKC a pick at all, or they lose out on a mid-lottery pick. AJ or Boozer could give this team scary long-term potential given the other pieces. Just spitballing but an easy win-win would be Lauri/Nurkic for Trae/Kristaps + Pels 1st + whatever else would give UTA two good+ stabs at a top3 pick and give UTA crazy cap-space next yr to absorb bad contracts for good picks. Move Trae for anything or just sit him and sign/trade him this offseason.

They have to blow this up right? How on earth does it make sense to keep a going on 29y/o Lauri and Svi when their value's have never been higher and you have every reason to ensure top8 in a stacked draft?
They'd still have Love and Kyle Anderson (plus Niang/Nurkic/etc ) as stabilizing vets. Fucking Ainge better not give that pick to OKC trying to squeeze every last drop of value. Fucking sell high, but be reasonable please!

Jazz are up against BOS at halftime and are tied in the loss column with POR for the 10th seed in the west... these crazy fuckers are going to make a run at the play-in, aren't they?