Danny, would you rather have Ja + Jaren or Garland + Mobley?
- First off, it is a statement of how well the Cavs guys have played that this is even a question. The first key question is whether any one of them can be an MVP-caliber player slash best player on a title team. Outside chance Ja and Mobley get there since that is a high bar for anyone but one of the things I really like about the Garland/Mobley combo is that they can fit around a variety of great other players (bigs/wings, etc). It is a brutally close call and I may feel dumb about in as soon as a few weeks but Mobley/Garland because in the playoff crucible, Mobley could end up having fewer weaknesses.
We all know SGA is near unreadable right now but what kind of package would get Presti’s attention?
- Shai fits in the concept that I brought up earlier in the week that few players are truly untradeable, though your point here is probably correct that he is functionally untradeable since no one would send what it would take. Centerpiece would presumably be either an elite draft asset (like one of the dregs' unprotected first) or a recent top pick with a lot of potential, since Presti has little use for an older more established star. As an aside, a LaMelo/Giddey combo would be super fascinating.
You were low on the Jared Allen signing at the moment but you have changed your mind on the Cavs as a whole. Would you change your opinion on the extension as well or do you still worry about the idea of Mobley and him both being centers in the long run?
- Definitely feeling better about it now than I was then because even though JA is fairly low-usage and probably cannot scale up THAT much, this early stretch is establishing how he can be a key part in a dangerous defensive unit and we already had a pretty good idea how he could be a high-efficiency version of a low-usage player offensively. Is a player like that worth $20 million per season? I'm still pretty skeptical in the immediate but the cap increase over the next few years likely pushes it to positive value if he stays healthy.
Sunrises or Sunsets Danny?
- I am a West Coaster. Sunsets, easily (and that is as someone who used to often be awake for sunrises)
If you had to pick two of the big three of Brooklyn, which two would you pick?
- For the playoffs, KD and Kyrie because of Kyrie's ability to create one-on-one against damn near anyone. For the regular season, KD and Harden because of his durability/availability and consistency. If the goal is to win a title, I take KD and Kyrie (assuming he is, you know, available) because KD is good enough to lead a team to the playoffs so it becomes more about what the team can do at that point
Glad we agree on that, beautiful picture
- Thanks! Santa Barbara is really fun for sunsets because the city faces south more than west, allowing for pictures like that.
Are the Spurs one wing creator away from being a playoff team? If yes, should they use their assets to secure someone like Miles Bridges through sign-and-trade this offseason?
- If the line is being in the best-of-seven? Yeah, adding a wing creator is likely enough because the Spurs have a pretty solid defensive foundation that would potentially benefit depending on the addition. Taking some of the burden off their guards should raise the offense enough to make it but getting Miles Bridges would be incredibly hard because the Hornets have match rights and it's not like SA has some incredible assets in their war chest. I don't think Vassell or Keldon gets it done, especially since Keldon's raise is coming soon too. Could they be a Jerami Grant destination? Hmmmm
did you see the new spider-man danny
- Seeing it tonight! Very excited and zealously avoiding spoilers
Do you think the shortened offseason has had an outsized impact on 1st year coaches? None of them seem to be doing well and as a Celtics fan I am feeling that a lot of our troubles stem from Udoka not having installed much in the way of an offensive system
- A very good question! I disagree a bit with your analysis though because Unseld Jr, Green, Mosely and a few others have done things I really like even if injuries/talent level have limited their team success. That said, the overall point is a good one to remember because they had less time to implement their system and get the players on the same page.
Steph is selling NFTs of each of his career threes for charity. Ducking the nft discussion, whats a Steph 3 you would want a digital basketball card of
- #1 has to be the BANG! one that ended the Greatest Regular Season Game of All-Time (vs. OKC). After that it gets a bit fuzzy but that dribbling exhibition into a three against the Clipps and the one that sent the Pelicans playoff game into OT seem like good ones off the top of my head.
Has the Heat's success without their stars (.500 without Butler, 7-4 without Bam, .500 without Lowry) made you reconsider your thoughts about their regular season depth?
- It has. Vincent, Strus and company had not proven themselves as much as many bench groups but they have really stepped up and Spo is one hell of a coach.
If every player in the NBA were magically 6'6" tomorrow and they kept their athleticism(i.e. a 50% athlete at 6'1" would still be a 50% athlete among those who were 6'6"), build(slight builds would stay slight, and rocks would stay rocks), and skill relative to their current size, are there new best players, which players would be helped/hurt the most by this change?
- Curry moves up because how in the hell do you guard him if everyone is the same height? It also makes him a much more dangerous end-of-game guy because he would be able to get his shot off. Even if athleticism holds, Giannis and Gobert take a step back because they lose part of what makes them special. Player who benefits a sneaky-large amount? Ja Morant because he becomes almost unguardable and also fits in to most defensive systems.
Danny! I pulled up Saben Lee’s G League stats this year advanced and per 36. I cross referenced them with the leaders for anyone with at least 80% as much playing time as Lee. In GREEN you have the stats he’s Top 5 in, in BLUE you have stats he’s Top 15 in. Then I’m just going to throw in a Killian Hayes screen grab of his stuff. Please go ahead and obliterate the Pistons front office for me. It’s enough already with Hayes, Lee is pretty much a G League MVP caliber guy and as you know he was even pretty good in the NBA as a rookie. Can we just pull the plug faster on guys and make the change when it’s this glaring?
- I do not know if many people would disagree with your contention that playing Killian Hayes is making the Pistons a worse team and that giving Saben Lee some of that time would help. My assumption is that Weaver's argument would be that giving Hayes the opportunity will make him a better player down the road (and I mostly agree- reps help for lead guards) so the short-term sacrifice is worth it (I'm less in line here because I've never been the biggest fan of his best-case scenario and that has dropped in his early career)
Is there any trade package that makes sense for both Cleveland and Toronto where Cleveland receives OG Anunoby?
- I cannot put one together unless the Cavs are willing to include Garland. The combo platter of Okoro, Sexton's RFA rights and some future assets is not enough unless Okoro establishes that his more recent level of play is more his future than his weaker performance before that
What explains the wild swings the grizzlies are having? They've been on each side of several wild stomping a this season, but they're in the middle of the pack in terms of 3 point attempts
- From what I can tell, one huge factor has been the opposing team and their availability. The team and Jenkins deserve a ton of credit for their play since Ja went down but Mavs without Luka (one of two), Sixers without Embiid and Heat without Bam and mostly Jimmy makes the run a little less shocking
Where would Zion be selected in a 2019 NBA redraft? It’s clearly not #1 but would he still be #2?
- These injuries are definitely concerning but even a Zion that was less bouncy than the Duke version was one of the league's best young players so I probably still have him second behind Ja in the draft class because MVP/elite equity is so important for me. BTW, I am extremely excited to see how many guys from 2019 move into the solid starter category over the next year-plus (and by that I mean on a good team, not starting on a below-average squad who cares less about winning right now)
Harrison Barnes for Sabonis Danny?
- The funny thing is that I think Barnes-for-Sabonis makes the Pacers better in the immediate by balancing their roster but is also a trade they turn down because it does not change their fortunes enough to justify adding a player who is four years older and turns 30 before next season. For the Kings, is your idea that Sabonis plays alongside Holmes or replaces him?
Danny, is it possible to have a straw that stirs the drink if the drink is juice that isn't worth the squeeze?
- Sure, it just has less to do I guess.
What has brought you joy this NBA basketball season?
- So many things and that is a part of why I love my job so much. Young guys exceeding my expectations (Mobley, Bane, etc), the Bulls being better defensively, some fun games for the NBACast and especially being able to see one of the league's best teams in person regularly. I really missed the experience of live NBA basketball and being back has made my day-to-day that much more exciting.