@SamQuinnCBS Flat lottery era = external picks (ex: Clips 27, Mavs 28, Nuggets 29 etc) are of increased value, not less.
But yeah, no one is trading from the top 4 this year.
@SteveThunderfan I think your basketball takes are spot on, but you may be off on the Fox and Harper injury outlook.
Fox was a high ankle and not an inversion sprain, less than a week ago, and Harper looks like a real hamstring strain.
@JustinHerzig 7 would definitely be favored over the 4 (although both would win frequently).
Average scores per 9 holes something like:
4 handicap two man scramble: 33
7 handicap two man scramble: 35
4 handicap regular nine holes: 38-39
Have less knowledge on the 14.
@MZavagno11 You can still rebuild through the draft, you just need to prioritize getting other teams picks. And not rely on your own pick as heavily.
And once the meta swings to this, which it will, then veteran trades will no longer be more expensive than ever, so that pathway is unblocked
@SteveThunderfan Also a misunderstood fact: OKC prioritizes, again over seasons of intentional practice, adjusting to the specific whistle. If games are getting called super with lots of fouls, OKC is very good at adjusting to that game style. If refs want jail yard ball, OKC can play that too.
@SteveThunderfan Perfect summary of what is actually happening. Playing with major physicality without generating excessive foul calls against (in a playoff setting) is a true skill the OKC org prioritizes and cultivates. Over seasons. Teams can't just match it/replicate it out of no where.
@ezlazar Probably bc you are watching the game with a biased lens. Your brain is actively looking for SGA "grifting" and undeserved FT trips. When one happens it pops as a big event. There were two SGA FT trips last night that were meh. That ruined a great game for you?
@SamQuinnCBS I think IHart extended, Dort out, Kenrich team option declined (can come back on 4MM vet min with 2.5 cap hit if he wants), and one draft pick in. That's all in summer. Then trade off one mid (5-10 mil) salary at Feb 2027 deadline to drop below 2nd apron - based on who is excess
@paydawg2@tomhaberstroh Agreed, I also wouldn't consider the Pels a tanking team. They are a pretty bad team, of course, but certainly not tanking in any way, favored tonight against the Heat, etc. Big big difference playing NOP twice in March versus playing Utah or Memphis twice in March
@sponhourm Do a "team selection draft" annually where each franchise chooses another team's pick for the next year. Bad teams get high picks. A bad team this year will choose the Kings 2027 pick. Good team gets stuck with Celtics, etc.
No one has their "own" pick for the active season.
@SamQuinnCBS Certain teams would have too much incentive to "tank" around the play-in. Fans would be against their team getting that 8 seed if it meant a true 1 in 6 or 1 in 7 chance at a strong #1 pick (like Wemby, Flagg etc).
@ThunderChats It's because Conley going Minny to Chicago .....and then Chicago to Charlotte .....were booked with league as two separate trade transactions.
After clearing waivers, Chicago is now the team Conley couldn't sign with.
@CoreyB08@YossiGozlan Nah, you can prorate the 1.27mm rookie minimum for the portion of the season you are signing for. That's the cap hit. So 480-485k ish to sign a rookie rest of season now (about 40% of the 1.27mm)
@SteveThunderfan Good thread. Agree on the current wrist adjustment period. However, don't think this discussion is only a wrist injury/recovery one.
Even from 24/25 reg season, I think there are some question marks regarding if Jdub's effectiveness in a big 28-30% usage type role, generally.