NBA 2025-26 NBA Thread

These last couple years feel like they’re gonna be kind of dumb. Understandably he won’t repurpose his game to fit in as the 3rd option in LA. Defense is going to be bad. He’s going to be hurt a lot and also sitting when he’s not hurt.

The Lakers are held hostage here.

He's on the last year of his contract, isn't he? Lakers have fairly signaled that they're ready to move on.
 
He's on the last year of his contract, isn't he? Lakers have fairly signaled that they're ready to move on.
Yeah, but Lakers almost have to offer him a contract if he wants to come back next year. It would be terrible optics if they don't.

Now I don't think they will offer him anywhere close to his salary this year. But there is a 0% chance they turn their backs on him if he decides to give it go for another year.
 
I
Yeah, but Lakers almost have to offer him a contract if he wants to come back next year. It would be terrible optics if they don't.

Now I don't think they will offer him anywhere close to his salary this year. But there is a 0% chance they turn their backs on him if he decides to give it go for another year.
this is the first season he hasn’t opted out, and signed a new 1+1. I think even he knows it’s over, and was afraid if he opted out, they’d say BYE, and use the money to improve the team around Luka. There were a series of meetings with Luka about the direction of the franchise that LeBron was not invited to.
 
Lakers are one of the few franchises that don't have to care about optics because they'll be the most desired destination no matter what.
Lebron is still a good player, but nowhere near worth the supermax.
If he wants to compete anywhere, not just with the Lakers, he has to take a significant paycut that would be more in line with the value he's providing on the floor.
But that's beneath him and he'll most likely retire at the end of the season.

Luka kind of got fucked over with that trade. He finally had a functional supporting cast in Dallas and now he's wasting another year with a bad roster around him and a rebuild next summer.
Lakers will have cap space, but none of their supporting cast is valuable and they can only trade away pick swaps before 2031 because they already traded away 2027 and 2029 FRPs.
Then it's about free agency with noone valuable being available next summer.
 
Lakers will have cap space, but none of their supporting cast is valuable and they can only trade away pick swaps before 2031 because they already traded away 2027 and 2029 FRPs.
Then it's about free agency with noone valuable being available next summer.
Lakers more likely to get their next star via trade demand/request, not FA.
 
Lebron carried that cavs team to 50-32 record. So any record below 50 wins is a failure for a 3rd year Wemby. Also wemby has a better supporting cast now comapre to 2006 lebron.

wtf ? below 50 wins a failure ? you trippin' 2006 east was wnba level compared to 2026 west
 
wtf ? below 50 wins a failure ? you trippin' 2006 east was wnba level compared to 2026 west
Wemby has a far better supporting cast then lebron in 2006. He has an allstar teammate in fox.
 
fleming is somebody i'll keep my eye on as well. he's somebody i thought should have been as high as a late lotto pick. his feel for the game isnt really there, but i'd be willing to be on those traits, and his shot looks solid. i think he could have wound up being that ideal 4 alongside vic. still a bit stunned he fell to #31. i commend Phoenix's effort to build that defense though. Maluach/Fleming in the draft, picking up Dillon Brooks. Drafted Dunn last year. Some of the luster of Mark Williams is gone now but he still has upside given he's still 23.

They went from having no centers last year to having Williams/Maluach with Nick Richards as well. Richards is solid depth... they messed up trading for him last year with the intention of starting him.

 
Damn, Furph was my guy in the second that year. I still don't really get it.
 
rockets with a giant starting lineup today

Adams
Sengun
Jabari
Durant
Amen
 
rockets with a giant starting lineup today

Adams
Sengun
Jabari
Durant
Amen
Just came here to post this.
Ridiculous and probably their best starting line-up, Reed's not ready, Amen/Alperen/KD are gonna have to run the committee.
They did this last yr with Eason in for KD and now they have DFS & Capela. They can run a 8 man rotation and play this way most of the game. Sub Reed in for shooting/creation and Okogie/Tate for a breather. One or 2 6'7" and the rest 6'10"+...crazy.

Please trade Eason for a PG that somehow lands that dude in SA.
 
Last edited:
Rox used to be a pretty deep team and suddenly it's not. The loss of FVV is significant as is trading a bunch of their players for Durant. If KD doesn't last long that really hurts.
 
Problem with that tall lineup is there's not a lot of beef in there, not a lot of rebounding. It's pretty soft although Adams helps.
 
Rox used to be a pretty deep team and suddenly it's not. The loss of FVV is significant as is trading a bunch of their players for Durant. If KD doesn't last long that really hurts.
And they are hard capped, can't sign anyone without shedding salary and have 9 guys cannot be traded until 12-15.
 
Problem with that tall lineup is there's not a lot of beef in there, not a lot of rebounding. It's pretty soft although Adams helps.
IDK, Adams and Capela good+ rebounders, Sengun, Amen, Jabari, and Eason are all at least solid for their normal positions and 1 or 2 will always play down a position. Really just KD and DFS that are lacking but they'll be playing the 2 in those lineups. Crazy
 
And they are hard capped, can't sign anyone without shedding salary and have 9 guys cannot be traded until 12-15.

I didn't realize how risky this is. Sengun is still far and away their best player, Durant can still be quite effective. But they have maybe two or three dependable guys off the bench and I'm not counting Sheppard who can be good, but isn't right now. I don't know how this team won't get worn out.
 
I didn't realize how risky this is. Sengun is still far and away their best player, Durant can still be quite effective. But they have maybe two or three dependable guys off the bench and I'm not counting Sheppard who can be good, but isn't right now. I don't know how this team won't get worn out.
Yeah FVV going down put them on a total tight-rope. If KD or Sengun go down for any length they're in real trouble. Reed and Aaron Holiday kinda of have to play. If Amen goes down they may be fucked until he's back, he's so key to that D and ballhandling.
 
Simmons, Lowe and Joe House talk about the Spurs at about the 1 hr mark. I timestamped it. Bill said he's fully erect for the Spurs.

 

Stephon Castle will wear a gold patch on his jersey this season​


The jerseys of the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, Kia Rookie of the Year, and Kia Defensive Player of the Year will feature a gold logo patch on the back. So that means this program will see Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Evan Mobley, and Stephon Castle as the only three NBA players to wear the "Gold Logoman" on the back of their jerseys this season.

These patches, like the 1-of-1 rookie card from Cooper Flagg, will later be inserted into Topps trading cards.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/spor...ander-evan-mobley-stepgon-castle/86695455007/
 
Back
Top