Official 2018 NBA Offseason Thread: free agency starts 7/1 - Summer League action is here!

[Mask]

2018 NBA Draft Rumors: Mo Bamba Refuses to Work Out for Grizzlies
Timothy Rapp

Chris Covatta/Getty Images
If Memphis Grizzlies fans have their hearts set on Texas center Mo Bamba for Thursday night's draft, they may end up disappointed.

According to ESPN.com's Jonathan Givony (h/t John Martin of 92.9 ESPN Memphis), "Bamba has refused to come to work out for Memphis, refused to share his medicals and has told them openly he would prefer not to be in Memphis."

Memphis is within Bamba's expected draft range, with most mock drafts slotting him between No. 3 to the Atlanta Hawks and No. 6 to the Orlando Magic.

B/R's Jonathan Wassermanhas him at No. 3.ESPN's draft insidersproject him to go No. 4 to Memphis.Jeremy Wooof SI.com, The Ringer staff and Jeff Zillgitt, Michael Singer andSam Amick of USA Today have him going No. 6 to Orlando.

As Wasserman noted, "Bamba's 7'10" wingspan and potential as a shooter combine to fuel one of the most unique cases of upside in recent memory," adding he has "game-changing rim protection."

His fit with the Grizzlies, however, is questionable, considering the team already has Marc Gasol at center. If the Grizzlies are seeking to retool on the fly and compete for the postseason next year, either trading the pick or selecting a player who would fit more seamlessly next to Gasol and Mike Conley in the short term—think Luka Doncic, Marvin Bagley III or even Michael Porter Jr.—would make more sense.

But if the Grizzlies are seeking to undergo a full rebuild and sell off Gasol and Conley, Bamba is more logical. As Givony wrote in ESPN's mock draft:

"The Grizzlies are hoping to patch together a roster that can compete for a playoff spot next season, but it feels like a teardown and rebuild would be the more appropriate step. Bamba has unlimited upside as a rim-protecting, 3-point shooting, lob-catching freak. He has a real chance to become the best player from this draft class."

In that scenario, Bamba makes sense. But the young center appears to be safeguarding against the possibility with his lack of interest in joining the Grizzlies.

 

[Mask]

 

[Mask]

Report: Dewayne Dedmon opts in for $6.3 million with Hawks
Dan Feldman
5 hours ago

AP Photo/Todd Kirkland


The Hawks’ rebuild got going with big John Collins. Though they’re reportedly eying Luka Doncic with the No. 3 pick, they could easily draft another big – Jaren Jackson Jr., Mohamed Bamba, Marvin Bagley or Wendell Carter.

And then there’s veteran center Dewayne Dedmon.

He no longer fits in Atlanta (never did, really). But he’s not bypassing a chance to earn $6.3 million.

Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:


There just wasn’t going to be that much money for the 28-year-old Dedmon in a tight market this summer.

Dedmon is a good defender, and he developed his ball skills – as a 3-point shooter and passer – in Atlanta last season. The Hawks could look to trade him. Maybe, in a deal primarily about his expiring contract, he adds extra value to the other team due to his playing ability.

If Atlanta doesn’t move him, Dedmon will be a fine player on a likely tanking team. At least he’s not good enough to subvert the Hawks’ tank, especially with the new lottery format.

 

[Mask]

Adrian Wojnarowski on Top 5 Picks 2018 NBA Draft & Cavaliers 8th overall pick | SC with SVP

 

[ak_rep]

What happened to that kid who's brother tried to extort him? Is he projected 1st round?

 

[Mask]

breaks down LeBron James Trade Options 'Will LeBron REALLY Leave Cleveland?'

 

[Mask]

 

[Mack1052]

WTF are the Nets thinking? The draft is deep af this year and nobody would give a bag of balls for this guy. They're gambling again like that horrendous trade with boston. So what you got two max slots? Who's going to want to come here?

You serious?

 

[Mack1052]

And just like that, it's over

 

[Mask]

76ers Considered Trading Markelle Fultz, Nos. 10/26 To Move Up For Michael Porter Jr.
Jun 21, 2018 12:47 PM


The Philadelphia 76ers held internal talks about packaging Markelle Fultz as well as the No. 10 and No. 26 picks to move into the top-5 to select Michael Porter Jr., according to sources.

The 76ers moved away from that strategy due to Porter's recurring back issues.

Fultz will be the favorite to start at shooting guard for the 76ers next season if JJ Redick leaves in free agency.

The 76ers traded up to select Fultz just a year ago, sending the Sacramento Kings' 2019 unprotected pick to the Boston Celtics.

 

[Mask]

And just like that, it's over

Dubs on deck?

 

[Mask]

Wizards Interested In Trading Marcin Gortat
JUN 21, 2018 2:56 PM

The Washington Wizards are exploring trade scenarios involving Marcin Gortat.

Gortat has one season remaining on his current deal and the Wizards are not currently interested in attached the No. 15 pick to unload him.

Gortat and John Wall had a public run-in last season.

 

[Mask]

Bucks Looking To Trade Down, Unload Matthew Dellavedova
JUN 21, 2018 12:50 PM

The Milwaukee Bucks are exploring trade scenarios using the No. 17 pick to unload the contract of Matthew Dellavedova.

Dellavedova is owed $19.2 million over the final two seasons on his deal.

But the Bucks are looking to trade down and not use a deal as an outright salary dump.

The Bucks signed Dellavedova in the 2016 offseason.

 

[Mask]

Wolves To Decline Option On Cole Aldrich
JUN 20, 2018 7:51 PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to decline their option on Cole Aldrich.

Aldrich's contract is partially guaranteed at $2 million.

The Wolves will have an extra $5 million to spend in free agency after buying out Aldrich.

Minnesota signed Aldrich to a three-year, $22 million deal in 2016.

 

[Mask]

Mavs, Magic, Nuggets Trying To Move Up To No. 3 To Select Luka Doncic


Jun 20, 2018 7:35 PM

The Atlanta Hawks very well could control the direction of the draft at No. 3 as they zero in on either selecting Luka Doncic, or trading the slot to a team looking to move up to select him.

"Teams know this right now, they have to get to No. 3 to get Luka Doncic," said Adrian Wojnarowski on ESPN's Wednesday evening draft coverage.

"Dallas at No. 5 has been knocking at that door," added Wojnarowski.

The Orlando Magic and even the Denver Nuggets also have interest in trading up for Doncic, according to Wojnarowski.

If the Hawks trade down, they could target Trae Young.

 

[ansatsusha_gouki]

I hope team Cavs draft and keep the player,so he can develop. And,hopefully,they develop him correctly.

 

[Mack1052]

Dubs on deck?

He can go wherever the fuck he wants as long as he's not a Net

 

[Mask]

He can go wherever the fuck he wants as long as he's not a Net

Dude actually balled this year...

 

[Mack1052]

Dude actually balled this year...

He not good for the tank and he don't fit our system.

 

[Mask]

I hope team Cavs draft and keep the player,so he can develop. And,hopefully,they develop him correctly.

Yea I got you....you a true Cavs fan....I'm fair weather Cavs fan only cause I'm a Lebron fan first

 

[Mask]

He not good for the tank and he don't fit our system.

Man if Lin didn't get hurt yall probably could've made the playoffs....so tanking should not be the focus but hey it is what it is

 

[Bumpee]

And just like that, it's over

They did good getting off that Mosgov contract.

 

[Mack1052]

Man if Lin didn't get hurt yall probably could've made the playoffs....so tanking should not be the focus but hey it is what it is

You got alot of faith in Lin lol

 

[Mack1052]

They did good getting off that Mosgov contract.

Facts. Get him the fuck outta here

 

[Mask]

You got alot of faith in Lin lol

Ummmm just felt yall looked really good with him the year before....


Shit come to think about ain't dude been hurt the last few years

 

[Mask]

 

[Mack1052]

Ummmm just felt yall looked really good with him the year before....


Shit come to think about ain't dude been hurt the last few years

That's what I'm saying. This dude played maybe 35 games for us in the last two seasons. I'm ready for him to get bought out too but the new owner is Asian and want him here

 

[ansatsusha_gouki]

It looks like the fan base is split on Porter,I wouldn't mind getting him but I'm worried about his back...

 

[Complex]

76ers Considered Trading Markelle Fultz, Nos. 10/26 To Move Up For Michael Porter Jr.
Jun 21, 2018 12:47 PM


The Philadelphia 76ers held internal talks about packaging Markelle Fultz as well as the No. 10 and No. 26 picks to move into the top-5 to select Michael Porter Jr., according to sources.

The 76ers moved away from that strategy due to Porter's recurring back issues.

Fultz will be the favorite to start at shooting guard for the 76ers next season if JJ Redick leaves in free agency.

The 76ers traded up to select Fultz just a year ago, sending the Sacramento Kings' 2019 unprotected pick to the Boston Celtics.

Why would anyone want Fultz?

and in other words this is them admitting they should have gotten Tatum

 

[Mask]

Look at this shit, man I love this time of the year...these cats fantasy idea are amazing



How the Cleveland Cavaliers Can Build a Superteam Around LeBron James
Greg SwartzJune 17, 2018

Tony Dejak/Associated Press
For the first time since 2010, LeBron James competed in an NBA postseason without two All-Star-caliber players by his side.

Simply making the Finals was an accomplishment, but James clearly needed more help to have any chance against the Golden State Warriors. Even the Indiana Pacersand Boston Celtics pushed the once-super Cleveland Cavaliersto seven games.

James finished the postseason first among all players in minutes per game (41.9) and scoring (34.0 points per game) and was third in assists (9.0 per game). None of his teammates finished in the top 35 in any of these categories.

Potentially heading into free agency, James has a number of off-court reasons to stay with the Cavaliers. Keeping his kids in the same school district. His house in suburban Akron. The brand-new I PROMISE School his foundation is opening in July.

Despite those reasons, James shouldn't return to this Cavs team as currently constructed if he's indeed still in "championship mode." Not with the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers' ascensions to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Simply put, the Cavaliers need to form a new superteam.

Step 1: Fill the Kyrie Role

The biggest reason for Cleveland's step back this season was a simple one: It lost a 25.2-points-per-game scorer and All-Star point guard in Kyrie Irving and never replaced him.

Since Irving's not coming back anytime soon, the Cavs need someone who can play a similar role.

It's tough to determine who may or may not be available on the trade market before the draft and free agency. At this time last year, Irving was a member of the Cavaliers and had not requested to be dealt.

Cleveland should already be sending out feelers to the Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets on the availability of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Kemba Walker. Neither Lillard nor McCollum have been dipped into trade rumors, but their squad was swept in the first round after it grabbed the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and is staring down a potential luxury tax roster, which could lead to some shakeups.

For now, though, the Cavaliers should go hard after Walker.

Tony Dejak/Associated Press
A two-time All-Star, Walker is 28 and coming off a season in which he averaged 22.1 points and 5.6 assists in 34.2 minutes per game. The Hornets were 10.9 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor.

"I'm not looking to trade Kemba, but I would listen to opportunities," Hornets majority owner Michael Jordan told Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer in January. The Cavs tried to put a deal together for Walker at the trade deadline, but the Hornets declined, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com.

Walker himself is just over 12 months away from becoming an unrestricted free agent, so his trade value is only decreasing. Charlotte is stuck in salary cap hell with some awful deals and didn't even make the East playoffs.

Despite Jordan's stance that he would want an All-Star in return for Walker, he should settle for a top-10 pick in this year's draft and could attach one of the team's many bloated contracts to the swap.

The Deal: Walker and Marvin Williams to Cleveland for George Hill and No. 8 overall pick.

Step 2: Get Paul George to Cleveland, Part II

Apparently James and Paul George was almost a thing.

Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reported in December that "James aggressively recruited George behind the scenes last summer, selling him on a future together in Cleveland, but the Cavs deal mysteriously fell apart before George was dealt to Oklahoma City."

Carmelo Anthony, then of the New York Knicks and now of the Oklahoma City Thunder, basically confirmed as much.

"Me and PG have a very close friendship. Actually, it was funny because me and PG was supposed to be in Cleveland on draft night," Anthony said during a SiriusXM interview last year, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com. "We were communicating about that. The deal was actually done, and it got called off on draft night, so me and PG stayed connected throughout the course of the season."

Getting George to Cleveland would be more difficult this time around, given he's likely to opt out of his $20.7 million player option and receive a huge raise as an unrestricted free agent.

But it comes down to the power of James.

Layne Murdoch/Getty Images
With one summer of recruiting already completed, James would have to convince George that staying in the East offers both of them the best chance for a title. Even if James and George were to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, there would be a young, inexperienced supporting cast around them. They would also run the risk of playing both the Warriors and Houston Rocketsbefore the Finals.

James should sell George on the idea of forcing the Thunder into a trade. If George opts out of his deal, Oklahoma City would lose him for nothing. That's tough for a front office to overcome—even one as talented as that of Sam Presti and Co.

Instead, with some recruitment by James, George and the Thunder can agree to a deal in which George opts in (much like Chris Paul did last year) and is traded to the Cavs. Oklahoma City carries little leverage and would have to choose between collecting some role players to spot around Russell Westbrook and getting nothing in return.

Of course, this relies on the communication between James and George. The groundwork was put in place a year ago; now it's time for James to finish the job.

The Deal: George to Cleveland for Kyle Korver and Jordan Clarkson.

Step 3: Take a Gamble on Talent

This is where the Cavaliers need to get creative.

Think JR Smith circa 2015. The Cavs wanted Iman Shumpert from the Knicks, to which the Knicks agreed only if Cleveland took Smith as well. Some teams would have nixed such a deal, afraid to take on Smith because of his on- and off-court behaviors. Consulting with James, and his leadership and locker room presence, convinced the Cavaliers that Smith's talent was worth betting on.

Cleveland should be eyeing similar moves now involving talented players whose values have dropped in bad situations, bad contracts or just those who need a change of scenery.

Enter Hassan Whiteside. The 29-year-old center averaged 17.0 points, an NBA-best 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 2016-17 but slumped to 14.0 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 rejections per contest in 2017-18. He averaged just 15.4 minutes in the Miami Heat's first-round loss to the 76ers and carried an on-off rating of minus-9.2.

Whiteside is owed $25.4 million in 2018-19 and holds a player option for $27.1 million in 2019-2020. Miami would likely be thrilled to get off that money and hand the keys to 2017 first-round pick Bam Adebayo.

A smaller contract plus a young player or draft pick may be enough to get Whiteside from the Heat. The Cavs could roll the dice, hoping James and the rest of a restocked team would draw the best out of the NBA's former rebounding and shot-blocking leader.

It's a strategy that's worked before with James and is worth betting on again.

The Deal: Whiteside to Cleveland for Tristan Thompson and Cedi Osman.

The Roster

James can end his run with just one All-Star by his side. In this scenario, the Cavaliers get to keep Kevin Love, who would be an excellent fit between James and Whiteside in the frontcourt.

Cleveland wouldn't get Irving back, but Walker is a fine consolation prize who can fill his scoring void and provide the offensive spark that Hill couldn't.

The grand prize is George and would only be available thanks to James' recruiting and the Thunder's lack of leverage. The Cavaliers would also retain Smith, Rodney Hood and Larry Nance Jr. while adding Williams to help build the bench.

Their new starting lineup would be as follows:

• PG: Kemba Walker
• SG: Paul George
• SF: LeBron James
• PF: Kevin Love
• C: Hassan Whiteside

The James era in Cleveland doesn't need to end just yet. The Cavaliers are capable of putting a championship-caliber team around him—provided James does his share of maneuvering as well.

Greg Swartz covers the Cleveland Cavaliers and NBA for Bleacher Report. Stats provided by NBA.com and Basketball Reference unless otherwise noted. Contract numbers by Spotrac.

 

[ansatsusha_gouki]

Please don't fuck this up

 

[Mask]

It looks like the fan base is split on Porter,I wouldn't mind getting him but I'm worried about his back...

That shit probably knocked dude out the top 3

 

[Amajorfucup]

Please don't fuck this up

Dude you have to 8th pick. Fuck it up how? Hope Porter Jr drops if you praying on anything.

 

[Mask]

Please don't fuck this up

What I want them to do....I want Leonard cause I really like Lebron playing them early games, west coast time frame gonna have me missed plenty games.

 

[shaddyvillethug]

Who has a link????