NBA 2018 Off Season Thread

[daBronzeBomma]

Manu Ginobli has now officially retired, marking the end to an era of Spurs basketball

Stone-cold lock as a first-ballot Basketball Hall of Famer.

More than ever, I'm certain that Pop is definitely gone from San Antonio by summer 2020. And I'm a little more certain that Becky Hammon will be his designated heir by then as well.

[Uncanny Mutie]

Manu Ginobli has now officially retired, marking the end to an era of Spurs basketball

That era ended when Kawhi forced his way out of San Antonio. The things that have been happening after that---Tony Parker signing with Charlotte and Manu retiring---are just responses to the franchise destroying move that Kawhi made, just further eroding what has been a great, well-run, highly competitive NBA franchise for the past 20 years.

[Hiromi]

I'd say the end started when Duncan left, this just caps the end of the end

[Uncanny Mutie]

I'd say the end started when Duncan left, this just caps the end of the end

One could agrue that, but the way I see it, Duncan had to leave eventually. He had been on the team longer than anyone. They still were championship competitive when they decided to build around Kawhi, but Kawhi went an screwed the whole thing up out of the blue.

[daBronzeBomma]

Welp, the Class of 2018 Hall of Fame came and went a little while back. Belated congrats to all the new inductees, esp Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, and Grant Hill.

All deserving, IMHO.

Glad they recently cut the mandatory wait time for eligibility from 5 years down to 3 years.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Welp, the Class of 2018 Hall of Fame came and went a little while back. Belated congrats to all the new inductees, esp Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, and Grant Hill.

All deserving, IMHO.

Glad they recently cut the mandatory wait time for eligibility from 5 years down to 3 years.

I'm shocked they actually inducted players ? I always heard a joke the NBA Hall of Fame had more coaches and non-players in it a few years back comically.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

From a feature called 20 People Around the NBA Facing Make or Break Seasons. I found these two interesting. and both involved Lakers:

Luke Walton
Luke Walton is no longer part of a rebuild, as he's now coaching the league's top asset. All is fine and dandy with the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of October. What happens when the inevitable drama and in-game glares from the sport's biggest personality begin? This is unquestionably the biggest challenge in the young career of a 38-year-old who was never hired to take on this type of responsibility in the first place.

This reminds me of several years ago when mostly unknown David Blatt was brought in from Europe by Cleveland to take charge of what was supposed to have been a rebuild, only to see that plan thrown in the trash when Lebron decided to come home. Sure, the Cavs predictably improved by leaps and bounds and made the playoffs, but Blatt didn't fully get the job done and wound up dismissed. Could the same happen with Walton? With expectations in L.A. suddenly greater than perhaps they should, I'd say that's more than likely.

Lonzo Ball
When will we see the first Lonzo Ball trade rumors of the LeBron James-Los Angeles Lakers marriage? Before Christmas? In late January? Next summer? They're coming, especially if the second-year guard underwhelms and/or a certain member of his family annoys the current King of Los Angeles in any way.

The clock is already ticking on Lonzo's inevitable departure from L.A., and everyone knows it. Anyone who thinks this Lonzo-Lebron pairing will last even one season is delusional. It's not a question of IF Lonzo's sent out of town on the first thing smoking, but WHEN.

[Deathstroke]

This was some sad news to read this morning - Tex Winter dies at 96.

[Hiromi]

Lonzo Ball's new shooting motion looks less offensive

[Scott Taylor]

The clock is already ticking on Lonzo's inevitable departure from L.A., and everyone knows it. Anyone who thinks this Lonzo-Lebron pairing will last even one season is delusional. It's not a question of IF Lonzo's sent out of town on the first thing smoking, but WHEN.

Yah, when the Lakers picked up Rondo, then I was sure of it. When is probably a matter of Londo's dad opening his big mouth again about touches or LeBron not feeding Lonzo the ball or some shite.

But who wants Lonzo? He's got decent ball movement skills and has a weird knack for getting steals. But is mediocre in most categories.

[Hiromi]

rumor was Lonzo had his surgery specifically to make it harder to move him during the off season

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Lonzo Ball's new shooting motion looks less offensive

Maybe he went to the same shot doctor Markelle Fultz of the Sixers employed.

[daBronzeBomma]

Alright, this year's off-season is almost up. And we haven't done our annual legacy discussion.

So, without further ado, here is my 2018 edition of

The Top 20 Basketball Players Of All Time

Reminder: I go by a "greatness matrix", which includes such factors as personal stats, contribution to team success, "coachability", "teammate-ability", clutchness, and influence, among others. Here we go:

20. Dwyane Wade: greatest Heat player ever, #4 shooting guard of all time

19. Kevin Garnett: greatest Timberwolf player ever, #3 power forward of all time

18. Isiah Thomas: greatest Piston player ever, greatest pure point guard of all time

17. Steph Curry: greatest Warrior player ever, greatest pure shooter of all time

16. Dirk Nowitzki: greatest Maverick player ever, #2 power forward of all time


15. Moses Malone: greatest offensive rebounder of all time, #6 greatest center of all time

14. Julius Erving: greatest ABA player ever, #3 small forward of all time

13. Jerry West: #3 shooting guard of all time

12. Oscar Robertson: #2 greatest point guard of all time

11. Hakeem Olajuwon: greatest Rocket player of all time, most athletic post player ever


10. Shaquille O'Neal: most explosive post player ever, #4 center of all time

09. Kobe Bryant: #2 shooting guard of all time

08. Wilt Chamberlain: greatest Sixers player ever, greatest pure center ever

07. Tim Duncan: greatest Spurs player ever, #1 power forward of all time

06. Larry Bird: #2 small forward of all time


05. Magic Johnson: greatest Laker player ever, #1 point guard of all time, most versatile offensive player ever

04. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: greatest Buck player ever, greatest offensive player ever, most durable ever

03. LeBron James: greatest Cavalier player ever, most complete player ever

02. Bill Russell: greatest Celtic player ever, greatest defensive player ever, greatest winner ever

01. Michael Jordan: greatest Bull player ever, greatest basketball player of all time, most competitive player ever

And just for funsies:

00. James Naismith: the creator of the sport always gets the mythical 0th spot.

[daBronzeBomma]

I'll make one bold prediction here: if LeBron James manages to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a single NBA championship in any of the next four years of his new contract, he will leapfrog both Bill Russell and even Michael Jordan in my book as the new GOAT.

[Sacred Knight]

It would be a testament for sure. That said, I don't see him making the Finals again, at least not in the West with the Lakers. I think it'll be a struggle for them to even make the WCF, even when he pairs up with a second star. I mean, maybe he leaves the West again four years from now, but who knows if by then he's not in decline and unable to carry a team all by himself anymore.