2024 NBA Season

[Yaunfitda]

Draymond Green shaking the social media universe. Again.
https://twitter.com/Money23Green/status/1551387749390749696?s=20&t=YvBGiJPHAIloq7mFvqLp8A

I’m watching the 98 Bulls vs Utah in the Finals… I can’t help but notice our 2017 team would’ve beaten these Bulls by a dub and these Jazz by 40 if they’re going to play these brands of basketball. And that’s why it’s dumb to compare Era’s
Why are people getting more and more sensitive about these things?

The last sentence is the main focus of what he said. It's dumb to compare eras. And I think we have discussed that here in our NBA thread.
Bulls were great in their time and I have no little doubt about that.
Lakers were also great with Kobe and Shaq.
Spurs were damn good with the trio and the added young Kawhi Leonard.
They have their own eras where they dominated the league but now it's just Warriors time.

And that's why it's so dumb to compare eras. But for sake of argument:

Green vs Rodman or Karl Malone? I don't think that Draymond can guard this either one of them. Karl Malone alone, that physically, and then Rodman, freakish rebounding prowess that only Green can admire.

Klay Thompson vs Pippen ? (put your narrative here)
Steph Curry vs Ron Harper ?
Durant vs Toni Kukoc?

And the question is, who is going to guard Jordan?

[1714575939]

1714575939

[carlisle1]

And the question is, who is going to guard Jordan?

And who's going to coach them? Hahaha  but kidding aside, the 98 bulls can adjust to whatever types of a system GSW have now.

All those mentioned stars with their particular matchup are capable of running and guard those stars of GSW, and with MJ leading the way,

He was born to showcase their dominance. Green is just gaining the attention, and he did well. He got more readers now and listeners

that's how to make an easy crowd.

[jakelyson]

...

The article linked in the post by OgNasty mentioned Brown as the center piece of the trade plus draft picks. It didn't say about Smart or the role players.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1551454984314753024?s=21&t=w1qEPWBdZ9JMV3B1ji-y5g

Celtics would be really stupid if they would actually give up a lot of key pieces for KD.

I was not talking about woj but about Shams's report that the nets counter offer includes brown, smart, draft picks, and a possible role player in exchange for Durant. I just did some research on what is the counter offer on Ognasty's post below:

Shams reporting this morning that the Celtics offered a package surrounding Jalen Brown for Durant, which the Nets turned down and then countered.

The Nets are maximizing what they can get from the Durant trade. Understandable since they build around Durant and then suddenly he is leaving them hanging.

Celtics would be really stupid if they would actually give up a lot of key pieces for KD.

You are right and exactly my point. It will have a negative effect for the Celtics if the trades ever comes true.

And the question is, who is going to guard Jordan?

And who's going to coach them? Hahaha 

You actually have a point. This will not be just a battle between players but with coaching. It will be a chess match.

Both teams are no doubt very talented and competitive. It will all boil down to how each will adjust to the other team's strategy.

[YuginKadoya]

-snip-

It's just crazy how the Celtics have all this young talent (accept maybe Horford) and went to the Finals this year, but now they're ready to blow up the team just for a chance to give Tatum and Durant a tiny window of opportunity to win a Championship.  There must be more to the story.  Brown played great so I think maybe he wants the keys to the franchise and they've already been promised to Tatum.  The Celtics had a great thing going.  The injuries to Isaiah Thomas & Gordon Hayward along with the drama from Kyrie Irving really set that franchise back.  Danny Ainge was looking like a genius up to that point.  Now it seems he's trying to salvage anything from the leftovers.

Right now there are a lot of talks that the Boston Celtics are trading with the Brooklyn Nets and this time the Boston Celtics want Kevin Durant for Jaylen Brown, it's a viable trade but it can also be a horrific mistake, don't mind me I am just saying what I want, Right now the Golden State Warriors is out of the rumors because Bob Myers has spoken that there will be no trade for Kevin Durant and because Deandre Ayton can not be traded until January 15, 2023, he can not likely leave the Phoenix Suns just yet, so the Phoenix Suns is out for the trade for Kevin Durant, so the Boston Celtics might be the viable option for Kevin Durant, and trading him for Jaylen Brown, and three unprotected first-round picks, and two pick swap,

Celtics want Durant, but Nets won't trade him without getting Marcus Smart. Celtics don't want to give Smart, which is perfectly normal. If it were me, I'd keep Marcus Smart on the team no matter what. Getting Durant is important, but keeping Smart, Brown and Tatum on the team is more important. Otherwise, they will not have a chance to win the title again. Boston's skeleton roster is very good. If they can get Durant and 2 rotation players, they will probably play the final again.

Well in the latest news Jaylen Brown is the only top player for the Boston Celtics they are willing to trade off for Kevin Durant and 3 more 1st round picks, this could be a mega trade for the Celtics or a horrifying trade for them, they could get a potential all-star that could surely give them the championship along with Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smarts, but is it worth it to trade Jaylen Brown? because it could surely go worst, but let's just wait for the next season,

Brown and Smart are just ordinary players unlike Durant who is proven to be a superstar, he has won multiple finals MVP and has won a champion, I guess that would make the Celtics stronger if they will succeed in getting Durant. Who knows, they might win a championship next season.

Sorry but I have to disagree you can not say Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown are just normal players, yeah Kevin Durant might be a proven superstar, and won multiple finals, MVP, and champion, but that is not it for underestimating Smart and Brown, Marcus Smart has landed the defensive player of the year, was really a great achievement, and Jaylen Brown is pretty much evolving very fast and creating a name for himself, and their ages Marcus Smart was 28 and Jaylen Brown only 25 and has done more for the Boston Celtics and besides with their current age they still have the ceiling for improvement but for Kevin Durant that is already 33 and nearing his retirement, I really think it is really a bad decision in urging in getting Kevin Durant, and right now Teams in the NBA has a lot of versatile players and mainly not focusing on Superstars anymore, and pretty much Boston Celtics have sweep the Brooklyn Nets last season,

[chaser15]

The last sentence is the main focus of what he said. It's dumb to compare eras. And I think we have discussed that here in our NBA thread.

Agree with Draymond there. It's dumb to compare eras where in the first place, teams or players involved in that discussion didn't have a chance to meet in the actual game. We can say that MJ can eat LeBron alive or vice-versa, Golden State Warriors' 2017 lineup can stop the 1998 Chicago Bulls if they will meet at the finals, and any other comparisons we are seeing today. But if these teams and players meet in the same era, for sure there will be adjustments for them both in their respective gameplay.

In other words, there's no exact reference to how can we even compare the past and current exactly.

Green vs Rodman or Karl Malone? I don't think that Draymond can guard this either one of them. Karl Malone alone, that physically, and then Rodman, freakish rebounding prowess that only Green can admire.

Klay Thompson vs Pippen ? (put your narrative here)
Steph Curry vs Ron Harper ?
Durant vs Toni Kukoc?

And the question is, who is going to guard Jordan?

The match-up you have mentioned might not happen. Let's don't talk about the Warriors' defense as what they will do against the Chicago Bulls or the Utah Jazz if ever we will have a simulation of their matchup, will be draining more 3s at the outside area.

The Warriors are covering their poor defense with a great offense where big players of Bulls or Jazz will be useless at some point.

[danherbias07]

And that's why it's so dumb to compare eras. But for sake of argument:

Green vs Rodman or Karl Malone? I don't think that Draymond can guard this either one of them. Karl Malone alone, that physically, and then Rodman, freakish rebounding prowess that only Green can admire.

Klay Thompson vs Pippen ? (put your narrative here)
Steph Curry vs Ron Harper ?
Durant vs Toni Kukoc?

And the question is, who is going to guard Jordan?

True.
It can't be Iggy or not even Wiggins. That won't be enough, it will just pump the blood in the vein of Michael Jordan and score 50 points by doing so.
Worse, they will be humiliated by all the trash talk he will give to them.
I think some people are forgetting that Michael Jordan is also a DPOY. He is scary on both ends of the floor unlike the offensive players now who are more focused on just scoring and forget that defense is also part of the game.
It won't be Steph vs Harper, it will be Jordan who will focus on him and I am pretty sure he won't score that easily even with their screen and rolls.
That guy is a genius and he even knows where the refs are positioned at.

[freedomgo]

The latest Woj bomb is that Boston is back in the Durant sweepstakes.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1551454984314753024?s=21&t=w1qEPWBdZ9JMV3B1ji-y5g

I don’t think it would be a good idea for Boston to get Durant but it seems like they’re always on the list of places Durant wants to play. I’m starting to think the Nets are the most likely team for Durant next season. I would like to see how a Durant and Kyrie trade would play out though.

And break the chemistry? Ouch! They just got to the Finals, that should at least mean something to the Celtics management.
Jaylen Brown will be part of the trade, that's for sure and that also maybe the best offer the Nets could get if ever they want Durant out just to end this long drama.
JB and JT may not like what will happen but the fans may want to see this. KD in green. Somehow it made me reminisce the KG era.

Not a good idea to get Durant while sacrificing the roles players, I hope they will not be greedy, they just go with the process, getting in the NBA finals is already a big success, who knows next time they will be the NBA champion. Celtics has to focus on improving their team not getting an old superstar that could already be prone to injury.

As long Tatum will stay and they will get Durant, that would make the team better I guess. Boston will not gamble if they know that would not help them, however, there's no guarantee, so just like the Nets, they are also taking the gamble if the trade will be successful.

Shams reporting this morning that the Celtics offered a package surrounding Jalen Brown for Durant, which the Nets turned down and then countered. It’s starting to look like a deal might be made this week to send Durant to Boston. I don’t know if this is a good move for the Celtics considering Brown carried them through the playoffs last year, but everyone said Tatum and Brown wouldn’t work so maybe they want to blow up that situation.

It did work though right? Brown and Tatum brought the Celtics into the finals. But I'm thinking that maybe Ainge, since GSW has already laid out the blue print and become successful with Durant, teaming up two superstars (I'm not saying that Tatum is Steph), but a franchise player + Durant might be good to win ring for Boston. So they are wiling to give up either Brown or Smart. But both of them might be a disaster though. I think if Celtics want to get Durant, they should not let both of them included in the trade. For me its better to let Smart stay with them as he anchors the defense.

Even if how good durant is but still it will not guarantee them anything. Much better if they stick with their current rooster because they already prove that their current line up is a title contender already. Maybe the one they need ti do is to learn from their past mistake made because for sure they will became more solid team since both of those guys are young.

Taking durant in exchange with Brown is totally a bad decision to do.

Indeed! The Boston Celtics should just focus on improving their current roster rather than tagging and adding along a player that will probably take some time to fit-in in their system. They reached the Finals last season all because of the hard work of the team, now they are more dangerous because they now have more experience from the last season. Surely they've picked up some lessons from facing heavy teams from the start of playoffs until they got in the Finals.

[Japinat]

I hope Nets won't get a trade package deal to trade Durant. This is to give Durant a problem and a lesson as well. If that happened, Durant will play on the Nets even he don't like it or not. Or the worst case, if the Nets didn't find any good trade package but are eager to trade Durant, they will end up trading him with a small package.

I think that this might be the nearest case and actually, I can see that Durant will stay wearing the same jersey whether he likes it or not as well as Irving because the Nets surely know that they should get a good deal in exchange for Durant and Irving, and not taking short deals that will lead to disappointments again. The Nets still have another problem, I'm not forgetting this stubborn Simmons.

[stadus]

Of course, for now Tatum is untouchable, and we can see that Boston want's him to be the franchise player. And then know that even if they were able to acquire Durant, for sure he will not stay that long for them, maybe max is 3 years.

The leverage though might be too much for Boston, Brown and Smart and then multiple picks. So I don't see the Boston Celtics to just let go of their two stars with future picks. But good move on the part of the Nets, and see if Celtics are willing to strike that deal.

If Boston will take that deal, it's a best trade for the Nets. Smart and Brown are both promising stars that have good futures from the league,

letting Durant go for these two and with the two future picks would really favor them. Not sure how Boston will take this one and if they

are really interested and make it happen. Another question is on how KD and JT will jive and blend their games. Oh well, that's how the league

works now, trades and switch teams is a business not a career concern now..

Hopefully the Celtics will wake up that they should not bite and strike the deal including Brown and Smart because that will really put them a year of setbacks. They've already managed to establish a good chemistry and the players can play good in offense and defense in the same time.

Letting go of Smart and Brown while adding Durant in the loop won't help the team because Tatum will struggle for sure because Durant will be the Alpha. The Celtics will be destroyed and will have the same situation next year where Durant will request a trade because he ain't going to sit in a team who won't give him a ring especially now that he's growing old.

[Oasisman]

I hope Nets won't get a trade package deal to trade Durant. This is to give Durant a problem and a lesson as well. If that happened, Durant will play on the Nets even he don't like it or not. Or the worst case, if the Nets didn't find any good trade package but are eager to trade Durant, they will end up trading him with a small package.

I think that this might be the nearest case and actually, I can see that Durant will stay wearing the same jersey whether he likes it or not as well as Irving because the Nets surely know that they should get a good deal in exchange for Durant and Irving, and not taking short deals that will lead to disappointments again. The Nets still have another problem, I'm not forgetting this stubborn Simmons.

The Nets were the biggest joke in the NBA. They have stacked too much superstars and got swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round. Now, Durant really wants to add up to the joke heading to the team who defeated them so badly this year. This is a very similar moves when he joined the GSW. He literally lived in a saying "can't beat them? Join them" lol.
They could actually re-run the full healthy roster next season, instead of running around looking for another team.

[el kaka22]

If you are given the choice of 2 all-star level players who took you to a finals at a very very early age, compared to getting a superstar on his late years that hasn't done anything for any team that didn't had 4 all-stars in his entire career, you pick the young ones.

Think of it like this, we are talking about Durant here and that would be something that would be a bit of a problem because Durant is superstar but he is old these days and that would be a good idea to get him, but if only they could keep Tatum and Brown, if they can keep those two AND get Durant that would make sense, but selling the future for a win right now doesn't sound like a good idea. That is what Nets did and look what it took them.

[Baofeng]

Of course, for now Tatum is untouchable, and we can see that Boston want's him to be the franchise player. And then know that even if they were able to acquire Durant, for sure he will not stay that long for them, maybe max is 3 years.

The leverage though might be too much for Boston, Brown and Smart and then multiple picks. So I don't see the Boston Celtics to just let go of their two stars with future picks. But good move on the part of the Nets, and see if Celtics are willing to strike that deal.

If Boston will take that deal, it's a best trade for the Nets. Smart and Brown are both promising stars that have good futures from the league,

letting Durant go for these two and with the two future picks would really favor them. Not sure how Boston will take this one and if they

are really interested and make it happen. Another question is on how KD and JT will jive and blend their games. Oh well, that's how the league

works now, trades and switch teams is a business not a career concern now..

Hopefully the Celtics will wake up that they should not bite and strike the deal including Brown and Smart because that will really put them a year of setbacks. They've already managed to establish a good chemistry and the players can play good in offense and defense in the same time.

Letting go of Smart and Brown while adding Durant in the loop won't help the team because Tatum will struggle for sure because Durant will be the Alpha. The Celtics will be destroyed and will have the same situation next year where Durant will request a trade because he ain't going to sit in a team who won't give him a ring especially now that he's growing old.

And it take years for Tatum to really blend with Smart and Brown, so this might be the case with Durant as well and by the time that Durant and Tatum have the chemistry it might be too late already. And then the injuries and age factor on Durant, he is 34 if I'm not mistaken, lot of wear and tear and now very prone to injuries. So by chance he gets injured again playing with Boston, Taatum will be having a hard time carrying the load for them.

[vennali]

The asking price set by the Nets for Durant's services seem to be too high, which has stalled a lot of teams to get out of negotiations early on. Celtics still seem to be interested but I don't think it'll happen as things stand. Only possible way is for Durant to force a move out of the Nets which could eventually happen. Getting back to Celtics, Brown + few picks + 1 more player might do the trick if all things align.

[Captain Corporate]

I understand why Nets would want a very high price for Durant, but I also understand why other teams do not want to deal their entire future for him as well. What this leaves us with is the fact that they will try to trade him, fail to do so, and then it will end up another Harden situation. They got basically nothing in return of Harden, supposedly they got Simmons but they haven't even seen him play yet, and on top of that even if he does, he wasn't worthy of a Harden trade neither. Which is why Nets may get another one of those, they will end up with something not so terrible, but not worthy of Durant in the end.

[blockman]

I understand why Nets would want a very high price for Durant, but I also understand why other teams do not want to deal their entire future for him as well. What this leaves us with is the fact that they will try to trade him, fail to do so, and then it will end up another Harden situation. They got basically nothing in return of Harden, supposedly they got Simmons but they haven't even seen him play yet, and on top of that even if he does, he wasn't worthy of a Harden trade neither. Which is why Nets may get another one of those, they will end up with something not so terrible, but not worthy of Durant in the end.

It's a normal business in the NBA for this type of trade. The Nets invested that much with KD before and they want to get the most equivalent value from him as they release him from their roster. If Celtics will remove their interest, I wonder how the Nets would react and for sure they won't demand much anymore as long as they release KD on their roster and get maybe 1 or 2 players that are younger and could be a star player on their main roster. Well, are there those fans that want this trade to be off as the demand of Nets is that much so they would end up with nothing?

[Dave1]

The asking price set by the Nets for Durant's services seem to be too high, which has stalled a lot of teams to get out of negotiations early on. Celtics still seem to be interested but I don't think it'll happen as things stand. Only possible way is for Durant to force a move out of the Nets which could eventually happen. Getting back to Celtics, Brown + few picks + 1 more player might do the trick if all things align.

I think that's the right term, asking price. But who wouldn't want to ask for more when they have invested their franchise on this man to do one thing, bring them championship and they give him power to even recruit his friend Kyrie Irving but it didn't work very well.

So let's hear what other teams are going to offer in exchange of Durant, it seems that no one is going to take a huge risk on Durant.

[TravelMug]

Of course, for now Tatum is untouchable, and we can see that Boston want's him to be the franchise player. And then know that even if they were able to acquire Durant, for sure he will not stay that long for them, maybe max is 3 years.

The leverage though might be too much for Boston, Brown and Smart and then multiple picks. So I don't see the Boston Celtics to just let go of their two stars with future picks. But good move on the part of the Nets, and see if Celtics are willing to strike that deal.

If Boston will take that deal, it's a best trade for the Nets. Smart and Brown are both promising stars that have good futures from the league,

letting Durant go for these two and with the two future picks would really favor them. Not sure how Boston will take this one and if they

are really interested and make it happen. Another question is on how KD and JT will jive and blend their games. Oh well, that's how the league

works now, trades and switch teams is a business not a career concern now..

Yeah it is really just is how the league is right now. KD and the rest of the Celtics who would remain would find a way to gel / play together. That would definitely be giving up a lot for the Celtics, but if I were them I’d to close to whatever it took to get Durant as he brings you that much closer to a potential championship.

Brown and Smart are just ordinary players unlike Durant who is proven to be a superstar, he has won multiple finals MVP and has won a champion, I guess that would make the Celtics stronger if they will succeed in getting Durant. Who knows, they might win a championship next season.

Yeah, no doubt that Durant is a good player, won MVP honors with the Warriors though, with Steph, Thompson and Green. But him alone with the Nets? it didn't work that well.

I forgot who says that with the way the league is built right now with super teams, it will take at least 3 great players to win. So if we do the math, Tatum and then Durant might not be an effective weapons in the East and it will be hard to win a championship with just the 2 of them and again, there is the question of blending as well.

[Hypnosis00]

Yeah, no doubt that Durant is a good player, won MVP honors with the Warriors though, with Steph, Thompson and Green. But him alone with the Nets? it didn't work that well.

I forgot who says that with the way the league is built right now with super teams, it will take at least 3 great players to win. So if we do the math, Tatum and then Durant might not be an effective weapons in the East and it will be hard to win a championship with just the 2 of them and again, there is the question of blending as well.

He only won Finals MVP during the time when they dominate the league. Well, obviously he will win because he is the one who scores a lot for the team, but the thing is, the Warriors are already a championship team before he joined, now his greatness is tested if he can carry the Nets to be a championship team.

[Bttzed03]

~
I forgot who says that with the way the league is built right now with super teams, it will take at least 3 great players to win.

I don't know if you're referring to Dirk but I remember him saying those lines in an interview during a playoff series against OKC. At that time, the young trio of KD, Westbrook, and Harden were returning the favor to the defending champ by sweeping them too. It was also the time when Harden stepped up (from the bench) terrorizing the Dallas defense and made a name for himself.

[YuginKadoya]

Agree with Draymond there. It's dumb to compare eras where in the first place, teams or players involved in that discussion didn't have a chance to meet in the actual game. We can say that MJ can eat LeBron alive or vice-versa, Golden State Warriors' 2017 lineup can stop the 1998 Chicago Bulls if they will meet at the finals, and any other comparisons we are seeing today. But if these teams and players meet in the same era, for sure there will be adjustments for them both in their respective gameplay.

In other words, there's no exact reference to how can we even compare the past and current exactly.

I Agree, there is no need to compare and I think it is pretty much crucial on what is happening right now, the past is just a past that can not be compared to the future, I think if Michael Jordan has 6 Rings and Stephen Curry right now has 4 we can not decide that Jordan is more dominant when he played with Curry now, we fans should not decide for themselves because it will surely be biased, for others and there is really no need for us to do that for me what important is what's happening now,

The match-up you have mentioned might not happen. Let's don't talk about the Warriors' defense as what they will do against the Chicago Bulls or the Utah Jazz if ever we will have a simulation of their matchup, will be draining more 3s at the outside area.

The Warriors are covering their poor defense with a great offense where big players of Bulls or Jazz will be useless at some point.

I also agree I think the Warriors have proven their dominance, in the finals, but surely it will then be change and balance on the trade, I may not agree on certain trades that are happening now, it will be on the management's decision if they will trade their All-star player with a younger but has a big potential to improve, and comparing the past teams or players with the present, because we will never be going anywhere, in that kind of discussion,

Indeed! The Boston Celtics should just focus on improving their current roster rather than tagging and adding along a player that will probably take some time to fit-in in their system. They reached the Finals last season all because of the hard work of the team, now they are more dangerous because they now have more experience from the last season. Surely they've picked up some lessons from facing heavy teams from the start of playoffs until they got in the Finals.

I like what you are going at, and I totally agree, for me, it is a mistake in getting an unfamiliar Kevin Durant to fit the team, for me Boston Celtics is a powerful team that went to the finals because of hard work, and now that Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, and Jaylen Brown have gone an experience in losing in the finals they will surely have the mentality in not experiencing it anymore, and I think the 3 along with other defensive players of the Celtics will surely come and handy, and after all, they have stopped the duo of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant and sweep them on the Eastern Conference first-round series after all,