NBA (and Raptors) 2023 Offseason

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Kasi

Just look at all the point guards who are number one guys on their team. They all just flamed out in the playoffs or didn’t even get there. Like it’s one thing if you’re Booker who is big enough to guard forwards (and also has Durant on his team) but guys like Fox, Morant, Mitchell, etc didn’t get anywhere. And they won’t because in the playoffs their impact is mitigated.

Lillard is one of the best scorers in NBA history, he dropped 71 pts in a game last season. You don’t think you can win a chip with him? If you swapped him with Curry and put him on the Warriors Lillard would be considered a top 25 all time player. Dude is insane and the exact player that gets teams over the hump. Position be damned. Put a good defensive team next to him with some decent talent on offence and you have a contender in the league right now. Lillard is better than all the gaurds you mentioned and has had monster playoff games and clutch as hell. I think you are underestimating how good this guy is.

[Kasi]

Not as the number one guy no. You can not win a title with Lillard as the number one guy when you’re going against monsters like Jokic, AD, Durant, Tatum, Giannis or Butler. And no Curry is still leagues beyond Lillard. Put Lillard on the Warriors and they only win their Durant titles and that is because of him.

[SuperMatt18]

If it was 27 year old Dame and you had 2-3 seasons then I think he could be the best player on a championship team, with the right supporting cast around him.

I worry a bit more about 33 year old Dame Lillard...it's right around the age where guys can start to rapidly decline, and really even if he's great this year is he going to be great at 34 or 35.

The list of guys that remained all NBA after turning 33 is quite short.

[bluejays]

There is no right answer with this because it’s all bar talk but I truly think Lillard is a second tier star. I can’t recall if he’s led his team deep all these years. Legit number 1 stars year after year lead their mediocre teams deep. When I think of top players in the game I’ve never considered him. Could be bias of his city or supporting cast, but he’s just not up there, despite the points.

[SuperMatt18]

He was a legit number 1 - outside of Lebron nobody else really leads mediocre teams deep every year - but he did lead mediocre teams into the playoffs for 8 straight years and got to the conference finals once (losing to the stacked Warriors the year the Raptors won).

But he's 33 now and I think counting on him to be that guy now would probably be asking a lot. I do think if you have Barnes, Siakam, and Dame though that could get you deep in a somewhat weak Eastern conference.

[bluejays]

Yeah, I personally don't think too highly of OG. Defensively he's obviously really good but you need points production in basketball too. If he could score more he'd be super to have on any team. Now I just see him as a defence first player who will occasionally hit a clutch play but can't be relied upon to score. I see why teams like him, though if the Raps are offered a package they can't refuse they really should consider. Last years offers for him seemed heavy.

[transplant99]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1707097159731138830

[Hot_Flatus]

The Bucks are certainly going to have a good shot at going for it again this year after this move. Losing Holiday is definitely a blow defensively, but Lillard is going to take the offense back to where it needs to be to swing with the big boys.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Applaud the Blazers commitment to refuse to trade Dame to Miami, impressive to end up with a worse return than the Heat were offering, but they obviously simply did not want him to get what he wanted.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by bluejays

There is no right answer with this because it’s all bar talk but I truly think Lillard is a second tier star. I can’t recall if he’s led his team deep all these years. Legit number 1 stars year after year lead their mediocre teams deep. When I think of top players in the game I’ve never considered him. Could be bias of his city or supporting cast, but he’s just not up there, despite the points.

I'm not sure teams with 1 star player (and Lillard certainly is) go anywhere in the NBA anymore. Portland has been far better than they should be because of Lillard. This is going to be a big plus for Giannis and the Bucks.

[Kasi]

Yeah Lillard behind Giannis and with Middleton is more of an ideal scenario for him.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Solid move for the Suns too. Though somehow getting worse defensively is kind of impressive, the difference between giving up 130 and 135 a game is middling, whereas the financial savings of dumping Ayton's contract is significant.

[bluejays]

I’m just glad the Raps didn’t get involved on this one. Milwaukee has to be the east favourites now no?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Wonder if we know see another three team deal that gets Holiday to the Sixers and Harden to the Clippers.

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I’m just glad the Raps didn’t get involved on this one. Milwaukee has to be the east favourites now no?

Entire NBA, no? Unless I'm missing something

[Strange Brew]

I heard that Bucks don't control their first round pick for next seven years, which is the longest out the CBA allows for.

Going to be hard to do much roster tinkering after this.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Keeping Giannis for four more years > Seven first round picks.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Keeping Giannis for four more years > Seven first round picks.

Agreed. But it isn't a foregone conclusion yet. Giannis seems to not be too happy there. The assumption is it's the team but could very well be that he wants to try a new city to live in. Losing 7 pics doesn't allow any flexibility at all. Tough thing to do for sure.


Anyway, I really have no idea what the Raptors' plans are? For years Masai's shine has been wearing off. Not sure at all what they're doing. Spending a 1st on Poeltl was a huge mess up, as is letting all the vets walk without a meaningful return. Completely puzzled what they've been seeking.

[transplant99]

So this is all over twitter...this is the shot TNT sent out to announce the trade of Lillard to Milwaukee.

It sure looks like Calgary and many are sure it is....but how random is that and....why? lol

[Johnny Makarov]

Because Milwaukee is ugly and the pic of Calgary would look better than this.. lol