'25-26 NBA Thread

[JWags85]

Now he is.

Incredibly weird course of events with CP3.  They can't really waive him cause they don't have enough cap space to fill the spot and you can't carry 13 standard contracts for more than 28 days. 

He's supposedly going to try and find a contender to play with to desperately find that ring, but not sure who wants him.  Maybe Minnesota or Houston?  Wolves need PG help but is a washed CP3 any better than washed Conley?  Houston he could at least mentor Sheppard a bit and help him become less of a pure shooter played PG out of size necessity.

[MU82]

Hall of Fame player. Great career. Stern did him dirty when he wouldn't let him go to the Lakers.

But he's done, and he's been done for a bit now. What contender would want him?

In other shocking NBA news ... Zion is injured.

[The Sultan]

Paul's best chance for a ring was obviously with the Suns in 2021 against the Bucks. He was pretty bad in a close game 4 - had he had a "normal" Chris Paul game the Suns are likely up 3-1 heading home to wrap up the title. Even after Giannis' signature block on Ayton, the Suns had the ball down two and Paul...fell down leading to a Bucks' break.

[Jockey]

Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis are having conversations with the Milwaukee Bucks about the two-time NBA MVP's future -- and discussing whether his best fit is staying or a move elsewhere, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

A resolution to these talks is expected in the coming weeks, sources said, which will result in shaping whether Antetokounmpo is available ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.


Going, Going, Gowne.

[The Sultan]

At this point, trading him probably makes the most sense. I just don't trust the people doing it.

[cheebs09]

I'm at peace with it. I think it's probably best for both parties. I will be excited to be past the endless speculation.

He has a lot to do with the team being where they are over the last 8 years both good and bad. He is an all-time great and gave it his all. However, he also held the team to the fire on making win now moves at the expense of the future and rumors are he played a big role in the Griffin hire.

We got a championship so it's all worth it, but the Bucks have a steep hill in front of them.

[MU82]

OKC is gonna finish with the best record ever and then repeat as champs. No weaknesses.

[JWags85]

Paul's best chance for a ring was obviously with the Suns in 2021 against the Bucks. He was pretty bad in a close game 4 - had he had a "normal" Chris Paul game the Suns are likely up 3-1 heading home to wrap up the title. Even after Giannis' signature block on Ayton, the Suns had the ball down two and Paul...fell down leading to a Bucks' break.

Yep, which is even more frustrating for him/his legacy cause he was great that whole playoffs otherwise.

The bigger what if for him I think is what if he didn't get traded the year before.  He was really good for a young OKC team that was just a few years away, meanwhile Westbrook was a bad fit on the Rockets that made the conference semis.  They thought they needed to do something but had a way better chance of beating the Lakers with Paul letting Harden play off ball and feeding Gordon in the corner and Capela with lobs.   

[BM1090]

Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis are having conversations with the Milwaukee Bucks about the two-time NBA MVP's future -- and discussing whether his best fit is staying or a move elsewhere, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

A resolution to these talks is expected in the coming weeks, sources said, which will result in shaping whether Antetokounmpo is available ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.


Going, Going, Gowne.

Maybe. This is like the 13th time Shams has reported this. He's bound to get one eventually.

[MU82]

Shams doesn't say anything there. "Discussing whether his best fit is staying or a move elsewhere."

In other words, he might stay, or he might go elsewhere. It's a real bold take.

[wadesworld]

https://x.com/APH00PS/status/1996310668350275592?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

I have zero clue what this account is, but it'd be so on brand for Horst. Will be hilarious to land KAT and their one first round available pick for Giannis.

[JWags85]

At this point, trading him probably makes the most sense. I just don't trust the people doing it.

And that's the issue.  He's 31, fairly durable, coming off 6 straight All NBA 1st Teams, and would have 1.5 years minimum (not including his player option).  That has the makings of a king's ransom in exchange, looking at the Paul George type haul at a minimum (young star in the making, another solid player, plus a pile of picks).

But the way Horst has been moving, it feels terrifying that he moves Giannis to the Knicks who have the worst to offer by far.

I think in a perfect world, and with a real competent GM, they move Giannis to Houston and get Sengun, Jabari, and picks.  Just don't send him to the Lakers or let those big ol women in San Antonio get the Monstars in real like with Giannis and Wemby together.

[MU82]

But if Giannis goes to the Knicks, maybe TK comes "home" to Milwaukee. Wouldn't that be swell?

[GB Warrior]

I don't see any world in which he's traded in season. This is going to be a generational haul. Few teams can do it; fewer can do it while maintaining a roster with enough chemistry to pursue a championship in the same season.

3 or 4-team trades happen in season, but this has the makings of an offseason blockbuster

[Jay Bee]

Giannis 2 Spurz

[Hards Alumni]

At this point, trading him probably makes the most sense. I just don't trust the people doing it.

Wait, you don't trust a Jimmy Haslam owned team?!?

[Jockey]

I don't see any world in which he's traded in season. This is going to be a generational haul. Few teams can do it; fewer can do it while maintaining a roster with enough chemistry to pursue a championship in the same season.

3 or 4-team trades happen in season, but this has the makings of an offseason blockbuster

Atlanta would be ideal. We'd be stuck with Tre Young, but we'd get a lot of high 1st rounders.

[JWags85]

Atlanta would be ideal. We'd be stuck with Tre Young, but we'd get a lot of high 1st rounders.

Going from rooting for Giannis to rooting for Trae Young is cruel and unusual punishment.

[Its DJOver]

I would push hard to get Jalen Johnson and whatever other filler needed to make the money work (Kristaps on an expiring?) as long as you can still get the NOP 1st this year. Turing Giannis into Johnson plus one of Peterson/Dybansta/Boozer, plus hopefully a few other future picks would be best case

[MUBurrow]

Anybody else's conspiracy alarms going off re Giannis's calf strain?

[cheebs09]

I doubt he's faking but a 2-4 week injury right now if he wants out is pretty convenient.