BraveDemon

^ Wow. If they pull that off... thats impressive.

Guess them Russian Billionaires know how to wheel and deal..

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

This might be the new drama case in the NBA if this goes through. Let's see how Avery Johnson can handle it.

Yumcha

As wonderful as the Nets are going to be, they will not be in the same galaxy as the LeHeat.


No one beats the LeHeat. No one. Not even Steve Jobs.

BraveDemon

Ok something is wrong with you canadians for sure:

Now, I followed the Knicks last season and I can definitely say that Landry is not worth the 6.7 million per year currently being offered by the Craptors, but I get why they made this deal - it kills the Knicks chances of getting Nash from PHX in a sign and trade.

But if Nash does turn down the Craptor's $36 million for 3 years to go to a contending team.. then what?

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

Dom can watch the Heat dominance next year again. Besides i dunno if even Canadians like basketball. Yummy doesn't count. he is a Floridian for some reason.

Rick_TL-S

The Raptors are fucking nuts. I love Nash to death (he's been my favorite player for years), but they've basically just offered to spend $56 million on this guy.

BraveDemon

Jeremy Lin is set to meet with the Rockets tomorrow - some are estimating that Rockets may offer him the max $40 million for 4 years (5/5/15/15).

If the Knicks match, they're gonna be paying a ton of luxury tax.....

doopstr

He doesn't have that kind of talent. Once that becomes clear that will be the end of Linsanity.

Rick_TL-S

So, Williams is remaining a Net. I guess all that, "I want to be on a title-contending team immediately" BS was just hot air compared to the money.

dom

FYI - Craptors GM is American. And has basically run the team into the ground. Maybe if he was Canadian the Raptors wouldn't be where they are today.

I don't quite get the offer either. Nash is just as likely to get pissed at a move like that because it limits his options. Could do more harm than good. Either way, unless the next
LeBron spontaneously combusts as a Raptor and signs a 20 year deal the franchise is fawked. Clippers North.

Yumcha

Burke is the Raptors GM too?!?

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

reminds me of the the movie "Major League" where the owner was trying to run the team so far in the ground that they would have to move to another city or at least try to

Rick_TL-S

There's reports that Cuban could offer that as well to help our team, but it's unlikely. Lin & Nash are our top picks right now.

Edit*
Dwight Howard, you fucking moron. He knows the teams he wants will not trade what Magic wants. So what does he do? Ask the Magic to go after Nash.

Gfaze

If I were the Magic I'd just get rid of Howard. I wouldn't want someone like that in my locker room, no matter how talented he is. It's all about him and nothing else. The Magic should get as much as they can for him and rid themselves of that idiot.

Rick_TL-S

I don't know why he thinks Orlando will pursue anyone he asks them to after the giant shit he took on the team.

Say they do get Nash & Howard says he'll "stay". Come next year, I wouldn't be surprised if he suddenly changed his mind & this whole charade starts all over again. Then Nash gets fucked over & stuck on a low-tier team in his twilight years knowing he'll definitely never get a ring then.

Still hoping Cuban can offer Nash something, but we seem to be pretty much stuck in a rebuild for next season again now.

dom

They're both named Brian and they're both terrible at their jobs. Coincidence?

dom

Not the issue with the Raptors. Owners have deep pockets, attendance is good, could be great with a better team. The entire organization that runs the Leafs and Raptors is completely inept and have no idea how to win. I bitch about this daily in the hockey thread

CarbonGray Earl

Vancouver is home for Nash, no? Not sure that Toronto is really going 'home' for Nash.

Nonetheless both nice places, but different.

Rick_TL-S

Yeah, but Toronto is the home of the only Canadian basketball team, so that's where all these people believe he will be playing for his home, I guess.

CarbonGray Earl

^^Understood. I guess I would more understand if if the choice were between playing in Afganistan or Canada. Then 'home' means something, but US vs Canada, I guess he gets free healthcare and more polite people.

IMO, he's gonna go for a combo of a chance at a title, money, and good organization. Not that Toronto couldn't provide that, but it has some competition.

I'd love it if he comes to the Lakers. Been my favorite player this past decade....

Yumcha

Nash should become a LeHeat. When it comes to the LeHeat, race, religion, gender, political affiliation should all be moot: join the LeHeat.

Rick_TL-S

Nash isn't going to the Lakers. The Suns would rather keep Nash forever than sign and trade Nash to a rival team. As of now, looks like Nash could become a Knick player & mentor Lin (NY says they will match any offer for Lin).

And speaking of the Lakers, Jim Buss is not letting Bynum go for Howard.

BraveDemon

^ I've been reading that as well, but the Knicks are stripping its entire roster to acquire Nash - the sign and trade requires Shumpert, Harrellson, Jerome Jordan and a couple other no namers (Gadzuric maybe) all for Nash to offer him 30 million-ish for 3 years.

Basically, the Knicks players average age will go from being about 27-28... to 33...

TLDR: Dolan (Knick's owner) seems to only like big names, and doesn't understand that youth/athleticism is key to compete in the east.

dom

Of those 3 the Raptors can only offer money. Seriously. And I agree about the Vancouver part. Toronto may as well be afghanastan, the cities are worlds apart.

Rick_TL-S

Do you have a source for that, out of curiosity? Right now, I've only seen Shumpert & Douglas to be included in that trade.

I haven't seen anyone else mentioned & if the Knicks won't give up Shumpert, they won't get Nash. I don't know why the Knicks fans are so dead set on Shumpert. He's still up & coming, but iirc, still going through a knee injury. Nash though, would be able to help Melo & Amare get much better looks.

Yumcha

One city has tree-huggers, rioters, and more with Porsches/Ferraris than half of China.

The other has Canadians who think they are the center of the Universe, can't handle a bit of snow, and has a hockey team that has not won anything since the last Ice Age.


So, yes...they are quite different.

Yumcha

No Nash with LeHeat.

Story: http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=399919

dom

Nash a Laker....

Congrats Earl, got your man.

Rick_TL-S

Wow, that was the last place I would have ever thought would acquire Nash. Guess I'll have to actually route for the Lakers now.
The only thing that will make this team any better will now be Bynum to Orlando for D12. Do it Buss, & you got a not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6.

Lin goes back to New York, possibly sign Kidd as well. Fuck my Mavs are back to rebuilding again.

WdnUlik2no

Even though I don't care much for the Lakers, I hope Nash finally gets a ring, he is too good of a person on and off the court not to have a championship.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

CarbonGray Earl

Thanks. Sorry he had to do it at the raptors expense. I'm definitely thankful and never dreamed the Lakers were even truly a possibility.

Needless to say, I'm SUPER excited. My favorite player is on my favorite team. I honestly thought it was impossible. But I heard Kobe made a personal call to Steve.

Can't say it makes us a contender, because age is a factor. Athleticism off the bench is a big factor as well. But Kobe, Nash, Gasol, and Bynum are a pretty good place to start. I hear Steve is trying to recruit Grant Hill as well.

Rick_TL-S

There's been a lot of talk that your backcourt is going to suffer now due to Kobe & Nash's defensive abilities.

But, lot of folks are saying it could be solved by LA going 1 step further & shooting for Howard. And with Howard saying he wanted to play with Nash, that might entice him to sign an extension. Although, I can't see Bynum being too happy about that.

CarbonGray Earl

^^agreed. I can't see them beating OKC as is. Westbrook would likely eat Nash or Kobe alive. I also don't trust Nash and Gasol/Bynum against a CP3 pick-and-roll.

But they get worlds better in offense. They get Nash, but they also get a full training camp, and a full year under Mike Brown's system. bynum will benefit most from Nash, but now Kobe and Pau get to put their minds together with a great point guard for once in their careers. The benefits are synergistic as opposed to additive.

In other words, the positives will outweigh the negatives. Its a smart team with a full season, they'll figure something out.

And as you alluded to with Howard, they may not be done dealing. We got Nash for 3 years and Kobe for the next 2, so there maybe more motivation to build the team out to its best potential quite quickly.

CarbonGray Earl

FYI, after the Suns traded Nash, they signed Goran Dragic for some big money.

Doom878

What do you guys think about Jason Terry signing with the C's? They'll probably lose Jesus but do they surpass the Heat with him, Bradley, Sullinger, Melo, and some of the other guys that were hurt? The Heat were without Bosh most of the series and a pre-knee surgery Wade. Plus the Heat might get Allen as he's in today for his appt with Riles and co.

CarbonGray Earl

No way. They always make for good series though. They're the old men at the gym that you know you can beat athletically, but they can shoot well, are really savvy, and know how to play a little dirty and get away with it.

Rondo is something else though.... he is the only advantage for the Cs, player for player, against the Heat.

Something should be said for how well Doc Rivers coaches as well. Spo may have earned a bit of respect last year, but Doc is a really good coach.

BraveDemon

^^ Terry signing with the C's means two things (IMO anyway):

1. Solidifies my belief that Ray Ray is going to sign with the Heat most likely and;
2. The Dallas Mavs are going to suck next year.

Alot of people think that Nash isn't the answer for the Lakes, but honestly, considering what they gave up (late first round draft picks), the Lakes get him for literally nothing! Replace last season's Fisher/Sessions with Nash and the Lakers easily have 10+ more wins. Now all they need is a spot up shooter.... maybe Mitch should put in a call to Ray Ray?

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

I agree that Nash isn't the answer for the lake show. But he will help with the flow of offense. But on the defensive side of things, I think they haven't upgraded in that dept. We will see if mike brown will be coach after next season.

CarbonGray Earl

Their problem wasn't really defense, it was more stagnation on offense. Kobe and Pau were gassed in those OKC games they lost, and there were plenty of games they were in that could have used a point guards help set them up.

I'm not worried about the defense to be honest. Nash won MVPs being a horrible defender. This year, they actually get a training camp, and no weird CP3-trade-nixed vibe hanging over their heads. so as a team, Mike Brown will be able to install his defense.

Nash is still great at things that make him Steve Nash and don't require athleticism. Passing and shooting, very much things needed by the Lakers. I don't think you can get any smarter players playing together than Nash, Kobe, and Pau. IMO, this is exactly what the Lakers tried to do with the CP3 trade.