Around The NBA : 2023-24 Season #2

[dumbell78]

What a first round series that was. Instant classic.

Loved it and didnt think I would going into it.

[step]

Everyone seems to accept the AK "we can't pay tax until we're a top 4 team" rationale...but the problem is our competition is paying lux tax. Obviously the Heat are very much our competition having eliminated us from the postseason 2 years in a row...they are a massive lux tax paying team. Not only are they paying lux tax, they are past the 1st apron and at the 2nd apron. $190M to compete as a play-in team.

The same Heat that has multiple finals appearances in recent history?

Also the spending situation/rationale isn't so black and white. One element is these teams you're trying to compare to have a notion of past success and the players you would typically build/contend with (past MVPs and finals MVPs etc), while we don't. Another is they also have developed their own talent and then used bird rights to then exceed the cap etc.

Us straight out spending in free agency ... we're hamstrung with what we can do with the CBA and the likelihood of a MLE signing being the difference maker that would guarantee our success? Slim.

As for spending I agree with you that'd I like an owner willing to do that, but spending isn't the biggest issue right now.

Bingo.

No other team has to prove themselves first before the owners are willing to even tip toe in the tax.

I sense the notion was more aimed at we're probably the only top 5 franchise that has to prove themselves in order to justify the tax, because I'd argue that almost apart from a minority, most teams do/would need to.

There's also no denying that we've also been extra cheap when we have met said criteria too.

[dumbell78]

Watch on YouTube

This dude is very immature on an emotional level. I'm glad he's not on our squad.

[Dan Z]

Watch on YouTube

This dude is very immature on an emotional level. I'm glad he's not on our squad.

I agree. He talks too much and often does so in situations where he has an advantage (for example his team is already leading by a lot).

I understand that he wants subscribers to his podcast, but it's silly to expect everyone in the media to do so.

[step]

NBA pest Patrick Beverley has been slammed after twice throwing a ball at a group of Indiana Pacers fans during the Milwaukee Bucks’ season-ending 120-98 loss.

But with just over two and a half minutes remaining, Beverley ended the season on an ugly note, firing a ball into the stand where it hit a female fan in the head.

Beverley then asked for the ball back before throwing it back even harder at the fan who had thrown it back to him.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/nba/cant-hit-a-lady-patrick-beverley-throws-ball-at-fans-twice-kicks-reporter-out-of-presser/news-story/72470073514228a293f4938ad1b27e8f

I'm not even sure with the kindest of context that he's going to avoid a suspension there. Like he's obviously frustrated, but he throws it twice?!

[step]

In his eighth NBA season, Buddy Hield has finally reached the NBA playoffs. It only took an 86-game campaign to get there.

...

Hield played more than the normal 82 games this season because of his acquisition during the trade deadline week by the Philadelphia 76ers, who landed him from the Indiana Pacers for Marcus Morris Sr., Furkan Korkmaz and second-round picks.

And, as it turned out, Philadelphia's post-trade schedule included two more games than Indiana's.

Hield was officially credited with playing 84 games, tied for the 11th most in NBA history and the most in nearly 20 years.

But that tally didn't count reaching the in-season tournament title game in December as a member of the Pacers, as the league determined before the season that contest wouldn't count in the standings. The NBA has also determined the play-in games don't count as either regular or postseason games.

If only he got paid per game.

https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/39965430/philadelphia-76ers-buddy-hield-logs-86-games-playoffs

[jnrjr79]

FWIW, Boston and Denver are paying the tax, but Minnesota isn’t. Philly isn’t. New York isn’t. OKC isn’t. Indiana isn’t. Cleveland isn’t.

I want the Bulls to be willing to pay the tax to have a good team, and I have lots of doubts whether they will (and how far into the tax they’d go in the rare instance they’re willing), but the appetite to pay the tax is not what is keeping the Bulls from being good right now.

Minny has $188,920,442 in allocations, they aren't just paying tax they are past the 1st apron. Their 6 man core is $175M just for those 6 even without building out the rest of the team.

Philly's cap situation is purely because Maxey is getting paid peanuts for financial flexibility. This was the last year for that. Regardless, Philly is not a team that won't pay lux tax to compete, they've already been a lux tax team in 2022 and will do so again if it means a better team. NY is in great situation because of the Brunson contract, we don't have that luxury.

Indy/OKC are based on a foundation of young players to keep low on salary, something we're absolutely not doing. We give away draft picks for vets. If the core is based on 30+ year olds, Bulls need to be compared to teams like the Clippers & GS.

Thanks for confirming my post was accurate.

[madvillian]

Rooting for the Knicks pretty hard. Never thought I'd say that but they have a likable squad compared to the rest of the east and of course nice to see Thibs win another playoff series finally.

[Jcool0]

Everyone saw this coming

Read on Twitter

[jc23]

Best thing about not making the playoffs besides getting a higher draft pick is you get to vent and yell "blow it up" weeks in advance.

[DASMACKDOWN]

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[Charlesareed]

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Well that’s all folks Miami will fall off into the sunset o way they make the playoffs without jimmy especially if they haven’t these past two seasons at least with him ban is good but I’d take joakim Noah over bam at least you r how what your getting out of him day in and day out jimmy back to Philly ???

[Repeat 3-peat]

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[DuckIII]

Best thing about not making the playoffs besides getting a higher draft pick is you get to vent and yell "blow it up" weeks in advance.

Or years in advance.

[dumbell78]

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hahaha this guy is nuts. Playing Monopoly with dads money.

[Dan Z]

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Butler has one more year left on his contract and then a player option after that. If the Heat are going to trade him they should do it soon.

But I'd be surprised if they did that. I could imagine the Heat continuing on course and then having a tough decision to make with extensions for Bam and Butler.

[Chi town]

Magic have 3 dudes in Suggs Banchero and Franz. Suggs high volume 3 ball is big for them. If they get one more piece and some shooting they would be a load to deal with as all 3 of those guys are improving.

[R3AL1TY]

It's bitter sweet watching former role players that were on the Bulls make big plays for the Mavs in the playoffs

[boozapalooza]

It's bitter sweet watching former role players that were on the Bulls make big plays for the Mavs in the playoffs

Happy for DJJ seeing him out there as a key rotation piece for the Mavs. Playing a great series and even shooting it 40% from 3.

[dice]

Rooting for the Knicks pretty hard. Never thought I'd say that but they have a likable squad compared to the rest of the east and of course nice to see Thibs win another playoff series finally.

then there are their delusional d-bag fans