The NBA . . . . . gone and forgotten

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's guarantee that Cleveland would win before Lebron never happened so he wrote another letter tonight after Lebron won. Gilbert sounds like a big baby.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/6/2...mes-miami-heat

I think that was a spoof piece written by a sports writer in jest?

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's guarantee that Cleveland would win before Lebron never happened so he wrote another letter tonight after Lebron won. Gilbert sounds like a big baby.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/6/2...mes-miami-heat

He is. It takes quite the delusional attention whore to not sit back and eat crow this morning.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I hope I can avoid all sports websites today. The LeBron/Heat slurping has to be borderline unbearable. I'll also leave this thought: If the NBA calls the fouls on LeBron against Rondo in Game 2 of the ECF and on Durant in Game 2 of the Finals, how much different do things turn out? I think if the Rondo call gets made there is no Durant call.

You're borderline unbearable. It's NHL Draft day man, enjoy that!

[flames_1987]

Oh man. I hate to even give him any time in the spotlight because he usually will soak it up and keep saying outlandish statements to keep himself there but Mark Cuban just destroyed Skip Bayless this morning and it was so awesome

http://notbillwalton.lockerdome.com/media/98478020

[Senator Clay Davis]

Likely next bashing point for LeBron: Wade has more rings than he does.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

Oh man. I hate to even give him any time in the spotlight because he usually will soak it up and keep saying outlandish statements to keep himself there but Mark Cuban just destroyed Skip Bayless this morning and it was so awesome

http://notbillwalton.lockerdome.com/media/98478020

That was awesome. I actually really like Mark Cuban.

[drew24]

The draft is tonight.

Would love for the Raptors to trade for the 5th for MKG/Beal and to a lesser extent Barnes. At 8 I don't see a huge difference between the Raptors taking Lillard, Waiters, Lamb and Rivers, although I only saw Waiters play about 4 times and have never seen Lillard. I am pretty curious to see what Casey could turn Drummond into as well.

Should be an interesting lottery tonight.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by drew24

The draft is tonight.

Would love for the Raptors to trade for the 5th for MKG/Beal and to a lesser extent Barnes. At 8 I don't see a huge difference between the Raptors taking Lillard, Waiters, Lamb and Rivers, although I only saw Waiters play about 4 times and have never seen Lillard. I am pretty curious to see what Casey could turn Drummond into as well.

Should be an interesting lottery tonight.

Yeah, it's going to be a crazy draft night. After Davis, the mocks are all over the place. I really think that 8 is a crappy place to be, right on the edge between second and third tier talent. Either trade up and grab MKG, Beal or Barnes, or trade down and double your value.

I sort of think Waiters might be a smokescreen... every GM talking him up, trying to sucker everyone else into taking him. If would be great for the Raptors if someone (other than them) took them in the upper half of the lottery.

Also, the possibility of Lowry moving is very interesting... he certainly thinks he's on the move, probably to Sacramento or Toronto or Orlando. I know lots of Raps fans are thinking Nash or bust, but if they can get Lowry plus a late lottery from Houston, it would be a better move than waiting on a 1-in-4 chance at Nash.

[flames_1987]

And Lowry rumors have heated up quite a bit. Nash is such a wildcard but the reports about playing in Toronto seem to be legit and that there is a very good chance he could be a Raptor. For someone who lives in Toronto, the idea of getting to see Steve Nash play live night after night, would be just incredible. The Raptors wouldn't have to give up anything to sign him and he'd make Toronto a suddenly very attractive destination for players. I have no problem with them being aggressive with Lowry however. Should be an interesting night

[drew24]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Either trade up and grab MKG, Beal or Barnes, or trade down and double your value.

I sort of think Waiters might be a smokescreen... every GM talking him up, trying to sucker everyone else into taking him. If would be great for the Raptors if someone (other than them) took them in the upper half of the lottery.

1. Don't the Raptors want to trade Calderon and don't the Kings want a PG? It seems like a good fit for a trade for the #5 pick. I don't have any idea what else would be needed to be added to get that pick but just imagine MKG (who would be my #2) being coached by Casey. Perfect match IMO.

2. Totally agree on Waiters. He's just there merely because I don't trust myself as much as mocks. I think I'd have Lamb at 6 but group I have him grouped in with the rest for the same reasons.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I believe Calderon is a free agent so he obviously can't be traded. Nash is an impossiblity, since he wants a ring first and foremost....unless they accept this Bill Simmons Fake Trade...Bargnani to the Lakers for Gasol. Interesting trade, and if I'm Toronto I at least consider it, but ultimately I'll pass since getting a motivated Gasol is 50/50.

If the Raptors can't find a way to trade up (and I really can't see how), I'd like to see them drop back into the mid teens and target Draymond Green or Marquis Teague or Kendall Marshall.

[octothorp]

No, Calderon isn't a free agent. He's got one year remaining on his contract at about $10.5 million.
I don't see Sacramento trading for him though, because a one year rental makes no sense for them. If he gets traded, it will either be to a team that's looking to rent PG depth (Chicago might make sense there), or a team that wants to trade a long-term contract for an expiring one. The Raptors have lots of suitors in that category, but actually getting a good contract back is the hard part.

If the Raptors trade down, the guy I'd love them to target is Ross. He's a long-term prospect (which Colangelo has said they'd be okay with), but I think he's got huge upside.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Lakers actually make sense for Calderon trade since they obviously desperately need a PG. But I mean the only thing the Lakers want to trade Calderon for would be Ron Ron, and I can't imagine the Raptors wanting any part of that.

[The Big Chill]

A couple of mocks actually have Barnes dropping to us at 8. I really don't think it will happen, but man would that be nice.

[The Big Chill]

It will be really interesting to see where Dion Waiters goes. He has flown up the draft boards the last few weeks. It seems like he could go anywhere from 4-15. Apparently a lottery team has promised him they will take him if he is there, and it is possible that Toronto could be that team. There are a number of teams it could have been though.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I think there's going to be way too much movement in picks 2-7 for Barnes to fall that far. I think if anyone falls it will be Waiters or Drummond.

[drew24]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

It will be really interesting to see where Dion Waiters goes. He has flown up the draft boards the last few weeks. It seems like he could go anywhere from 4-15. Apparently a lottery team has promised him they will take him if he is there, and it is possible that Toronto could be that team. There are a number of teams it could have been though.

I wouldn't worry about the Raptors being that team who promised Waiters because it sounds like that team was Phoenix.

With Bargnani, Davis and Val I don't think they'd consider Drummond but I think you are right that there is a good chance that the Raptors will have an opportunity to get him.
Also I wouldn't call Waiters available at 8 falling.

[bluejays]

Did this guy just say bulging d!cks? lol

[flames_1987]

Damn. Was hoping Davis would fall to the Raptors.....

[octothorp]

Holy crap, waiters goes at 4!!! Chances of someone interesting dropping to the Raps just went up.