NBA: 2015-2016 Season

[Aesthetics]

The Suns are also on the list of teams LaMarcus Aldridge has granted his presence to.
The full list, according to TNT reporter David Aldridge:

I'm also wondering if this is in order of preference, too.

 

[Stavingo]

Sorry but I'd be really surprised if he picked the Lakers over those other list of teams mentioned

 

[Sanji Himura]

The Luke in this case is Luke Ridnour. This player has hopped scotched his way on 5 different teams over the span of a week, 4 of them in 24 hours. His itientary:

1. His bad luck started with the Orlando Magic, the team that he played for last season. He was shipped to Memphis for unspecified terms.

2. Memphis, not really wanting anything to do with him, immediately shipped him off to Charlotte for Matt Barnes.

3. Charlotte immediately flipped him to OKC for Jeremy Lamb and a 2016 Second Round pick.

In case you were keeping score at home, these three trades happened less than a day, and all of them involved the same player.

On Tuesday, the Thunder traded Rindour and cash to Toronto to create a $2.85 million trade exception. They get from the Raptors the draft rights of Tomislav Zubcic.

 

[a6m5]

I heard he got traded again. Crazy.

Edit: Apparently @a6m5 Toronto was very jealous of what Portland had, because they're also reported suitors to Wes Matthews.

It's an absolute waste of time for Ujiri, but I guess he still has to try. Wes & LaMarcus are 100% quality both on & off the court, so even if you weren't jealous, if you have an opening at 2 or 4, room in the cap, I think teams will at least try talking to them. Of course, with Wesley, there is now a question mark on his health(I hope Blazers still retain his service though).

Sorry but I'd be really surprised if he picked the Lakers over those other list of teams mentioned

I still believe that the media is just trying to sell the hype with the Lakers. I would be shocked if LaMarcus end up in L.A. over Portland, San Anton or Dallas.

 

[Aesthetics]

The Lakers are have gone totally stupid. They reportedly want to sign both LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan. The only problem, is that they both want max contracts. If they dump everyone but Kobe, then sign them...

They'd only have three players.

 

[Stavingo]

I still believe that the media is just trying to sell the hype with the Lakers. I would be shocked if LaMarcus end up in L.A. over Portland, San Anton or Dallas.

I know what you mean, I swear every year when free agency comes around

>Star player available in FA
>Hype train for LAL to give them max contract or whatever
>Player signs somewhere else or re-signs with same team
>LAL Fans be like - "Oh well, there's a better FA class next year"

 

[McLaren]

Sorry but I'd be really surprised if he picked the Lakers over those other list of teams mentioned

They can't afford him. As DC showed, the only way they could offer 2 max contracts is to trade everyone but Kobe & Randle. If we cut that down to 1, you'll still have multiple guys leaving which would absolutely murder that poor bench depth they already have.

I don't know why Houston is trying to throw its hat into the ring. They can't afford LMA either without letting some guys go; Howard, Harden, & Ariza are $45 million alone. And that's not taking into account whether they want some one like Josh Smith back who hits FA. San Antonio is in the same boat as LA & Houston in regards to making room, but they're a lot closer than both are in who to let go & who to keep whilst remaining competitive. The only player they might miss significantly with LMA is either Splitter or Green. Not saying we have the best chance in Dallas, but we don't have to really get creative like they do. However, I think we're more focused on Jordan than anybody & he seems relative set on us.

 

[a6m5]

I'm speechless. Lakers probably also want healthy 25 year old Kobe. "Lakers want to add LaMarcus Aldrige & Harrier Jump Jet to the roster", I think that headline would sound more credible. It's like that ESPN reporting about 99.9% chance this or that with Aldridge. What does that even mean? If it's 99.9%, have the balls to say that it's a lock, and don't tell me that some guy with no name broke the news to ESPN sports tabloid.

I've followed FA, draft & trades for decades, but this year is the worst I've seen. They are just saying whatever ridiculous thing they want to say. Their source is always "some guy", although that Wajaetkaaeataeki from Yahoo do seem to have some kind of psychic connection to the minds of all NBA agents & front office. He hears so much, that guy is just creepy. Most everyone else, if they are talking, they seem to say that they don't know, or they are talking out of their behind. That's my impression this off season.

 

[Aesthetics]

In case you didn't know it, free agency has officially started, and things have already happened 45 minutes in (at the time of this post)

• Anthony Davis got a 5 year, $145 million extension
• The first actual signing of free agency, the Blazers sign Al-Farouq Aminu to a 4 year, $30 million deal.

 

[McLaren]

He's not worth $7.5 million/year. We paid him just under $1 million, so he took the first big number he heard & went with it.

I've followed FA, draft & trades for decades, but this year is the worst I've seen. They are just saying whatever ridiculous thing they want to say. Their source is always "some guy", although that Wajaetkaaeataeki from Yahoo do seem to have some kind of psychic connection to the minds of all NBA agents & front office. He hears so much, that guy is just creepy. Most everyone else, if they are talking, they seem to say that they don't know, or they are talking out of their behind. That's my impression this off season.

Woj has got to be one of the worst insiders behind that dude that reports on LeBron 24/7/365/128292897. He's the one who originally spouted the nonsense that LA wants LMA & DJ. Lakers fans trying to do damage control by saying, "Who said we were trying to go after 2 max agents in the first place"? Uh, if you're going after LMA and DJ, you're going after 2 max agents because that's what they want. DJ is on record as wanting 5 years/$100 million. I don't know what Aldridge wants, but if Portland is anything to go by since they're offering him the absolute most & he's "turning it down", he's looking for max 4 year deals as well.

@WojYahooNBA
Around the league, executives believe the Lakers are pursuing space to offer free agent deals to LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan.

Frankly, I'm interested in seeing where @Omnis' D-Wade goes. I read Pat Riley will not budge or give in to what Wade wants for the sake of the team's future.

 

[Stavingo]

In case you didn't know it, free agency has officially started, and things have already happened 45 minutes in (at the time of this post)

• Anthony Davis got a 5 year, $145 million extension
• The first actual signing of free agency, the Blazers sign Al-Farouq Aminu to a 4 year, $30 million deal.

What a bargain for the Pelicans

Not a good move by the Blazers IMO, unless the guy got a jump shot last season.

 

[Paulie]

What a bargain for the Pelicans

Not a good move by the Blazers IMO, unless the guy got a jump shot last season.

Yeah that sounded like a cap crippling contract to me, unless it's not going to be that bad under the new CBA? Hopefully Davis isn't the new Kobe for the Pelicans, crippling their chances of ever building a complete team.

 

[McLaren]

Naw, because Davis' contract doesn't start til' 2016-2017 when the cap makes its first jump. By the end of his contract when the cap is potentially at $100 million, it'll be a great signing. It's so big as well because he's eligible for the Derrick Rose Rule due to his achievements already.

 

[Aesthetics]

More FA recaps:

• DeMarre Carroll signed a 4 year, $60 million deal with the Raptors
• Tiago Splitter has been traded to the Hawks in the Spurs' pursuit of LaMarcus Aldridge
• Kawhi Leonard has agreed to a 5 year, $90 million deal with the Spurs
• Danny Green also coming back, 4 years $45 million
• Damian Lillard gets a 5 year, $120 million extension
• Khris Middleton resigns with the Bucks, 5 yr, $70 mil
• Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young resign with the Nets, 3yr/$60 mil, 4yr/$50 mil respectively
• Goran Dragic resigns with Heat for 5yrs/$90 mil
• Jimmy Butler resigns with the Bulls, 5 years, $90 mil
• Kevin Love resigns with the Cavs, 5 year, $110 mil
• The Sacramento Kings are interested in Rajon Rondo for some reason
• Pacers interested in Monta Ellis
• DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews interested in Mavericks
• Paul Millsap interested in signing w/ Orlando Magic (huh?)
• Spurs are Aldridge's top destination - no surprise.
• EDIT: Brandon Knight signs 5 year, $70 million extension with Suns
• EDIT2: Tyson Chandler is apparently a Sun, as he's hellping them recruit LaMarcus Aldridge.

Post will be edited as things go on... like 5 things happened while I was typing this, alone. Today's been crazy.

 

[McLaren]

Suns have to let some folks go from what I read if they plan to grab LMA as Chandler's contract eats up a lot of the space.

 

[Aesthetics]

Suns have to let some folks go from what I read if they plan to grab LMA as Chandler's contract eats up a lot of the space.

From what I gather, the most likely to go is the Morris Twins and either PJ Tucker or other things.

 

[Stavingo]

Gah my Pellies need to sign a starting SF

 

[McLaren]

From what I gather, the most likely to go is the Morris Twins and either PJ Tucker or other things.

I've heard their name thrown around as well, but I thought they provided a decent depth to the team.

In other news, LA lost another contract; LMA said it was a 50-50 shot, but disliked the presentation from the team.

More LMA: He and Kobe didn't quite gel. It's a little vague, but Aldridge apparently didn't quite get answers from Kobe he was seeking

 

[Aesthetics]

I've heard their name thrown around as well, but I thought they provided a decent depth to the team.

In other news, LA lost another contract; LMA said it was a 50-50 shot, but disliked the presentation from the team.

From twitter, I'm told all Kobe did was take 3 minutes to tell him that he can be like Pau Gasol for the Lakers.
I'd be offended if I were LMA.
EDIT: Source:

Kobe is slowly killing the Lakers.

 

[a6m5]

I've been saying Phoenix don't have a chance to get LaMarcus. L.A. had even less chance. Outside Portland, Dallas & San Antonio, you'd have to really impress LaMarcus to have him commit, and the max contract and little perks here & there wouldn't come close to landing him outside those three franchises, I don't care what the tabloids report.

• The first actual signing of free agency, the Blazers sign Al-Farouq Aminu to a 4 year, $30 million deal.

They are only allowed to verbally commit, but point taken. 👍

He's not worth $7.5 million/year. We paid him just under $1 million, so he took the first big number he heard & went with it.

Not to you guys, though clearly, his worth is nowhere near one million. I think I've mentioned this before, but Portland can not attract an FA. Only way to get quality is through draft & trades. When we want to pickup free agents, we have to pay higher rates than most quality teams, much higher than popular destinations like Dallas, Miami, etc. Screw you guys.

Woj has got to be one of the worst insiders behind that dude that reports on LeBron 24/7/365/128292897. He's the one who originally spouted the nonsense that LA wants LMA & DJ. Lakers fans trying to do damage control by saying, "Who said we were trying to go after 2 max agents in the first place"? Uh, if you're going after LMA and DJ, you're going after 2 max agents because that's what they want. DJ is on record as wanting 5 years/$100 million. I don't know what Aldridge wants, but if Portland is anything to go by since they're offering him the absolute most & he's "turning it down", he's looking for max 4 year deals as well.

No way, dude. I'm not familiar with the Lakers situation, but numerous times, I've seen Waoethoi come up with so much accurate NSA-level insider information I couldn't even begin to guess how he...... I think I answered my own question. He is connected to NSA, or he owns an NSA level hacker. And I'm talking about over the years. He is one guy I tend to believe even when the source sounds shaky.

Speaking of sources, I actually heard the idiot who reported that LaMarcus had informed the Blazers that he wasn't coming back? He was on the radio today, and he was an absolute idiot. He sounded like an below average sports fan who randomly calls into radio station, not an analyst, insider, sports writer, or any of that. I couldn't tell you how many times I heard "A-a-a-a-a-a-nd" & "you know", sometimes more than once in a sentence. I'm thinking his dad must own the paper he writes for, as he was on the radio show for good 10, 15 minutes & said absolutely NOTHING.

Not a good move by the Blazers IMO, unless the guy got a jump shot last season.

We are always fighting to get depth. They say(sorry, I know nothing about him) he is athletic, good guy off the court & is a good defender at 3, can defend 4. We'll take him, especially under the new cap!

 

[Aesthetics]

Day 1 of free agency, summed up in an image I stole off of Twitter:

Not pictured:
- Jae Crowder, Celtics, 5 year, $35 million
-Draymond Green, Warriors, 5yr/$85 mil
-Kings trade Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson to Philly for.. Some foreign player rights and a draft pick.
-Omer Asik, Pelicans, 5 year, $60 million

 

[McLaren]

Wright & Crowder signed. Not a good sign for Dallas who wanted both back.

Everyone getting paid, though!

Not to you guys, though clearly, his worth is nowhere near one million. I think I've mentioned this before, but Portland can not attract an FA. Only way to get quality is through draft & trades. When we want to pickup free agents, we have to pay higher rates than most quality teams, much higher than popular destinations like Dallas, Miami, etc. Screw you guys.

Hey, hey, hey! We're not exactly a big destination, either if you've noticed how many big name free agents have passed us by over the years.

No way, dude. I'm not familiar with the Lakers situation, but numerous times, I've seen Waoethoi come up with so much accurate NSA-level insider information I couldn't even begin to guess how he...... I think I answered my own question. He is connected to NSA, or he owns an NSA level hacker. And I'm talking about over the years. He is one guy I tend to believe even when the source sounds shaky.

Speaking of sources, I actually heard the idiot who reported that LaMarcus had informed the Blazers that he wasn't coming back? He was on the radio today, and he was an absolute idiot. He sounded like an below average sports fan who randomly calls into radio station, not an analyst, insider, sports writer, or any of that. I couldn't tell you how many times I heard "A-a-a-a-a-a-nd" & "you know", sometimes more than once in a sentence. I'm thinking his dad must own the paper he writes for, as he was on the radio show for good 10, 15 minutes & said absolutely NOTHING.

I don't know. I read so many rumors that come from his tweets that they end up contradicting each other a bit after a couple days. Maybe he's not one of the worst, but I find him a bit questionable to absolutely know everything.

We are always fighting to get depth. They say(sorry, I know nothing about him) he is athletic, good guy off the court & is a good defender at 3, can defend 4. We'll take him, especially under the new cap!

He's definitely a good defender, but at $7.5 million, that would have made him the 3rd highest paid player on your team last year. I guess the question is who was the defensive anchor for your team last year & compare him to Aminu.

@JohnBM01, I see Beverley, Brewer, & Smith are free agents. Very surprised you guys haven't immediately locked up Beverley considering he said he wanted to remain a Rocket despite his demand from other teams.

 

[a6m5]

Hey, hey, hey! We're not exactly a big destination, either if you've noticed how many big name free agents have passed us by over the years.

Yeah, go ahead, cry me a river, Dallas fan.

If you guys get Wesley, I'm not talking to you this year. If you guys get LaMarcus too, I'm coming to find you, so I can take the air out of your tires or something....

I don't know. I read so many rumors that come from his tweets that they end up contradicting each other a bit after a couple days. Maybe he's not one of the worst, but I find him a bit questionable to absolutely know everything.

Maybe I just catch him on his good alerts & updates, but from what I've seen, that guy is unbelievable. For the record, I hate him. He was the biggest critic of my guy, former Blazer GM Kevin Pritchard.

He's definitely a good defender, but at $7.5 million, that would have made him the 3rd highest paid player on your team last year. I guess the question is who was the defensive anchor for your team last year & compare him to Aminu.

According to our GM Olshey, Blazer teams were designed to get blown up this year, so the pay scale irrelevant in that sense. He has maintained that the roster was put together to keep the team competitive, but the team meant to contend was supposed to be being put together right now. Thanks for that, LaMarcus.

Wesley & Batum were probably our two good defenders. If Aminu or whatever his name is, if he's that level of defender, we would really welcome his addition. I'm sure Damian's working really hard on his defense this summer(no).

 

[McLaren]

Yeah, go ahead, cry me a river, Dallas fan.

If you guys get Wesley, I'm not talking to you this year. If you guys get LaMarcus too, I'm coming to find you, so I can take the air out of your tires or something....

Ok, calm down Mr. Durant.

According to our GM Olshey, Blazer teams were designed to get blown up this year, so the pay scale irrelevant in that sense. He has maintained that the roster was put together to keep the team competitive, but the team meant to contend was supposed to be being put together right now. Thanks for that, LaMarcus.

Wesley & Batum were probably our two good defenders. If Aminu or whatever his name is, if he's that level of defender, we would really welcome his addition. I'm sure Damian's working really hard on his defense this summer(no).

Aren't both of them also able to provide a solid offense as well, though? Aminu's offense came & went, but then again, his primary goal was that of what Marion was & I imagine that's why your team signed him.

Damian better be working hard on every aspect. That's the 2nd biggest contract signed behind Davis for someone who was on the payroll last year for $3.3 million.

 

[a6m5]

Ok, calm down Mr. Durant.

No. Maybe when LaMarcu resign.

Aren't both of them also able to provide a solid offense as well, though? Aminu's offense came & went, but then again, his primary goal was that of what Marion was & I imagine that's why your team signed him.

Wes, totally. Nicolas, he used to come & go offensively. Last year, he very rarely showed up at all, offensively. Really unfortunate, because Portland fans still love him, he was exceptional at everything, but scoring. Starting small forward have to be able to score here & there though, especially with the big contract I think he signed two years ago.

Damian better be working hard on every aspect. That's the 2nd biggest contract signed behind Davis for someone who was on the payroll last year for $3.3 million.

He has Adidas contract, so he isn't worried about these things. I wish the Blazers were in position to offer him bonuses for defensive accomplishments. I'm a dreamer!

 

[McLaren]

He has Adidas contract, so he isn't worried about these things. I wish the Blazers were in position to offer him bonuses for defensive accomplishments. I'm a dreamer!

It's not that he should be worried, it's that he has to step his game up even more to reflect it. Part of the reason many Dallas fans love Parsons, but don't believe he's playing like a $15 million/year player.

I'll still call him the Clutch Kid & he's not quite near his prime yet, so maybe he will. I think he has the potential to become one of the top PG's in the league, he's just still a youngin'.

 

[a6m5]

It's not that he should be worried, it's that he has to step his game up even more to reflect it.

Agreed. Unfortunately for us, his game got weaker toward the end of the season. In the first round exit, he got his butt kicked convincingly hard by Conley(Conley!) on both ends of the court. Granted, he more than has his moments, but scoring point guard with bad "D" & average at best ability to run a offense in my mind is overrated when you achieve the status & pay of Damian Lillard. Like you said though, I guess young guys can get better. *sigh*

 

[Stavingo]

Asik for 5 years 60 million? Damn hope the guy doesn't slack off even more now

We are always fighting to get depth. They say(sorry, I know nothing about him) he is athletic, good guy off the court & is a good defender at 3, can defend 4. We'll take him, especially under the new cap!

Agreed with everything said above, just don't expect any offensive consistency out of him unless he's nailed down a jumper.

 

[a6m5]

Agreed with everything said above, just don't expect any offensive consistency out of him unless he's nailed down a jumper.

Like I just told Mac, our outgoing starting 3(Batum) barely contributed scoring-wise, so any scoring from a 3 would feel like a bonus to us. Pretty pathetic, I realize this.

 

[Stavingo]

Like I just told Mac, our outgoing starting 3(Batum) barely contributed scoring-wise, so any scoring from a 3 would feel like a bonus to us. Pretty pathetic, I realize this.

At least you guys got someone who can play the 3, Pellies will most likely have to go a triple guard lineup again