NBA 2025-26 NBA Thread

[scott]

Pacers get a win!

Jarace Walker 3-4 from 3.

Jay Huff with 20pts and 3 blks @LeBowen

 

[Valparaiso]

Derik Queen had a monster game vs Jokic, finishing with 30 pts, 9 rebs, 4 assists, 2 steals & 2 blocks, 12/18 from the field. He might have a better pathway to ROY than most, being in New Orleans, where it seems like he'll be the starter from here on out. He should've had a bunch more assists tonight, but the Pelicans shot 7/34 from three.

 

[Valparaiso]

Sounds like the Mavs are going to blow it up. Wonder what Davis goes for. He would fit well next to Victor if he wasn't such a fucking china doll

Hard to see many teams who even have the cap space and matching salary to get a deal done.

 

[scott]

Blazers get beat by a Vooch 3pt buzzer beater. Brutal.

Clingan had 21 boards... he's going to feast against us next week.

 

[JMarkJohns]

Derik Queen had a monster game vs Jokic, finishing with 30 pts, 9 rebs, 4 assists, 2 steals & 2 blocks, 12/18 from the field. He might have a better pathway to ROY than most, being in New Orleans, where it seems like he'll be the starter from here on out. He should've had a bunch more assists tonight, but the Pelicans shot 7/34 from three.

Pelicans need to trade Zion stat. Just lean into Fears, Murphy, Queen. LMAO, if Zion’s nickname was Full Size they’d have three players referencing bed types.

 

[Valparaiso]

I was thinking last night how funny it would be if Philly offered Dallas Embiid for Anthony Davis, with the thinking that Davis has one less year on his contract, and while often injured, is possibly less unhealthy than Joel.

 

[LeBowen]

I was thinking last night how funny it would be if Philly offered Dallas Embiid for Anthony Davis, with the thinking that Davis has one less year on his contract, and while often injured, is possibly less unhealthy than Joel.

Embiid is the worst contract in the league, he's not healthy even when he plays. He's got no knees left.
He won't retire because he's not dumb to leave all the money on the table, but his days of being a contributor are done.

 

[Valparaiso]

Embiid is the worst contract in the league, he's not healthy even when he plays. He's got no knees left.
He won't retire because he's not dumb to leave all the money on the table, but his days of being a contributor are done.

Agreed. Sadly ironic story for the guy who so embraced the Trust The Process mantra. I'm sure he never considered that the Process would end with the team being led by Maxey.

 

[JMarkJohns]

Davis for the Durant package will happen. Playable Vet on reasonable contract, Young Prospect locked in, 1 lottery or multiple late 1sts.

Dallas can then flip the veteran for another 1st, maybe even the young prospect for a 1st.

It’s what OKC did for years. Acquire Oladipo, pair with Sabonis, acquire George, then cash out on George for Shai.

Acquire Paul for nothing. Rehab value. Cash out for Rubio, Oubre, Ty Jerome, 1st, then flip Oubre and Rubio I believe for more picks.

Honestly, Timberwolves may be a taker. Swap him for Gobert and a 1st or two.

If Bulls can get him without giving up Vuc, that would be another ideal. Land White and fringe prospects and a future 1st.

I’m curious if Orlando is another team that maybe leans in. Wendell Carter/Isaac, Jace Richardson, 1st?

 

[Ariel]

Davis for the Durant package will happen. Playable Vet on reasonable contract, Young Prospect locked in, 1 lottery or multiple late 1sts.

Dallas can then flip the veteran for another 1st, maybe even the young prospect for a 1st.

Anthony Davis has a pretty damn bad injury history, he's now overweight, and has bilateral Achilles tendinopathy and a calf strain. On top of that, he's almost 33 and on a 3 year max worth 30% of the cap. I'd be pretty damn scared to trade for him honestly, I think any reasonable team would hesitate giving up any real value given all the risks he comes with. Of all the trades you mention, I can see Minnesota doing a straight up swap for Gobert, which would actually need to include a third team to take Gobert and provide Dallas with younger assets. He isn't going back to the Lakers, the Clippers have no assets, I don't think NY does a swap for KAT who'd need to be in the trade for salary matching, Miami is notoriously unwilling to give up value in trades, and I don't see many other alternatives. Tough market for him. Nico really screwed them up.

 

[bozhemoi]

Lamello Ball says he'd be 'open' to a trade, which is hilarious. He must see the writing on the wall with Nipple busting out.

There's a glut of so-called 'stars' floating into the market and I'm not sure anyone takes them. Ja Morant, anyone from the Kings. Only guy who might get interest is Anthony Davis, although he's so injury prone. Ball is injury prone and also terrible. Ja is injury prone and has a bad attitude. The Kings players are expensive and non-winners.

These teams may be stuck with them, or they set up a carousel.

 

[jeebus]

I feel like I'm the only person on the planet who is completely unimpressed with OKC. Everyone out there is nutting all over themselves, saying they're having one of the best starts in NBA history. Meanwhile, I'm looking at who they beat....barely scraped by Houston opening night, beat the Lakers and the Warriors, both of whom are mediocre at best. Every other team they beat are contenders for the #1 draft pick next year, except the Hawks.

 

[ambchang]

Lamello Ball says he'd be 'open' to a trade, which is hilarious. He must see the writing on the wall with Nipple busting out.

There's a glut of so-called 'stars' floating into the market and I'm not sure anyone takes them. Ja Morant, anyone from the Kings. Only guy who might get interest is Anthony Davis, although he's so injury prone. Ball is injury prone and also terrible. Ja is injury prone and has a bad attitude. The Kings players are expensive and non-winners.

These teams may be stuck with them, or they set up a carousel.

Also Trae. I can’t see any team who would give up meaningful assets for him but then the hawks FO had done an admirable job (darn) getting value out of trades the last few years.

Between injuries, rumoured ego, and total lack of defense, he is more suited for a bench scorer/offensive creator Jamal Crawford role than a franchise offensive engine guy, but he’d be paid like one.

 

[JMarkJohns]

Yeah, this feels like a problem for problem situation.

LaMelo to Hawks and that Atlanta International Airport so he can see all his doctors

Ja to Hornets so Brandon Miller can drive him his guns

Trae to Grizzlies so Memphis can feature a PG who can’t defend and a C that can’t rebound.

 

[Valparaiso]

How are the folks that said Rob Dillingham was easily better than Reed Sheppard feelin' these days?

 

[spursparker9]

Reed Sheppard with 24 pts against Denver. 3rd quarter

FVV injury has save his career tbh

 

[spurraider21]

Turns out Reed Sheppard is good

 

[SpursBills]

Reed Sheppard's currently hitting at 6 3PM/100 possessions (for reference: good is >3.5, elite > 5, Curry is ~7) shooting 50% from 3. Dude's 21 and already matching Luke Kennard's career high 3P volume/accuracy numbers while blowing him away in defensive event generation and keeping his turnovers way down. He still needs to develop a way tighter handle and his bad defensive moments are always going to look terrible, but calling him a bust after 1 year is way premature at this point.

Also between Sheppard and Kon lighting it up as a rookie, I think analytics and BBIQ is going to become a way bigger part of draft evals over "athleticism". Youth + production / advanced stats has way too good a track record for churning out productive players at this point even in athletically limited guys

 

[thiste]

Fuck Houston.

 

[Dancelot]

Warriors have been awful since the back to back with the spurs. Unreal.

 

[LeBowen]

Warriors have been awful since the back to back with the spurs. Unreal.

Those were their only good road games this season.
That's why I can't get over those losses, they're not a good team.

 

[Lefty20]

Warriors have been awful since the back to back with the spurs. Unreal.

They were mid before those 2 wins as well.

Curry deciding to go full 2016 regular season on us from the 3 and getting rewarded like prime Harden by leaning his shoulders into his defenders doomed us. He only shot 1ft tonight because the refs were not giving him the calls he got against us.

Dubs are way too old to make any noise in the West. Hard to seen them finishing with a top 6 seed.

 

[timtonymanu]

Spurs 1st in the division, boys! Let’s enjoy that while it lasts lol.

And of course the Dubs look mortal after their matchup with us. SMH.

 

[timtonymanu]

Turns out Reed Sheppard is good

Hawks could have had him or castle but got stuck with Risacher. But fwiw I think risacher will develop fine.

 

[LeBowen]

Our boy Derrick is really struggling this season when there's not enough stars to take most of the attention.
35/30/81 shooting splits, he might've been a bit overrated over the past few years.
Elite role player, but nothing more.

Meanwhile, Brown stepped up and is at career high 27ppg on 50/34/77.