2024 NBA Playoffs - West 1st Round: #4 Los Angeles Clippers vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL WINS 4-2)

[Hook_Em]

Ishbia may get Harden for the minimum at this point. #Big4

[TroubleS0me]

Classic Harden follow up game

yup it was expected.

[mademan]

That PG 4 year max is gonna be awful, but im not sure what else the Clips can do. Philly waiting in the wings to give him that money if they dont

[ChipotleWest]

Ishbia may get Harden for the minimum at this point. #Big4

Then Westbrook tags along as the goon.

Yeah Harden's a free agent too everyone's talking about PG but does Harden stay?

[jkvonny]

Ishbia may get Harden for the minimum at this point. #Big4

I think that all of the old teams in the Pacific Division (GSW, Lakers, Clips and Suns) will make deals amongst each other in the offseason. Swappin old men amongst each other.

[slicedbread2]

Clippers traded all those picks to get PG-13.

And now in 2024, the Thunder are the better team and have a better #1 option + loads of picks.

Presti has committed grand larceny on them.

Well the crazy thing is that it ain't even done yet:

2024: pick shipped out on 2023 draft night to get Denver's 2029 1st in a complex multi team deal. This deal allowed the Nuggets to add Hunter Tyson(37th), Jalen Pickett(32nd) and Julian Strawther(29th from IND via BOS). This allowed Denver to get 3 guys on entry level deals to accommodate for the 2nd apron issues from the CBA. Indiana agreed to this and ultimately sent out the 1st with a couple to Toronto for Pascal.

OKC playing the long game in getting Denver's 27+29 1st which is wise as you gotta get as many cost controlled assets as you can.

2025: Pick swap. Unprotected.
2026: Pick outright goes to OKC
2027: Pick swap. As part of OKC helping out the Clippers land James Harden, they agreed to add an additional unprotected swap where the lowest of DEN/OKC's 1st will go to them. Oh and the Thunder agreed to send the lowest of their 1sts in 2026 to the 76ers as well.

Crazy thing is this could very well be the last game the Clippers play at Crypto before moving to their new digs in Inglewood next season.

[ChipotleWest]

Clippers traded all those picks to get PG-13.

And now in 2024, the Thunder are the better team and have a better #1 option + loads of picks.

Presti has committed grand larceny on them.

Well the crazy thing is that it ain't even done yet:

2024: pick shipped out on 2023 draft night to get Denver's 2029 1st in a complex multi team deal. This deal allowed the Nuggets to add Hunter Tyson(37th), Jalen Pickett(32nd) and Julian Strawther(29th from IND via BOS). This allowed Denver to get 3 guys on entry level deals to accommodate for the 2nd apron issues from the CBA. Indiana agreed to this and ultimately sent out the 1st with a couple to Toronto for Pascal.

OKC playing the long game in getting Denver's 27+29 1st which is wise as you gotta get as many cost controlled assets as you can.

2025: Pick swap. Unprotected.
2026: Pick outright goes to OKC
2027: Pick swap. As part of OKC helping out the Clippers land James Harden, they agreed to add an additional unprotected swap where the lowest of DEN/OKC's 1st will go to them. Oh and the Thunder agreed to send the lowest of their 1sts in 2026 to the 76ers as well.

Crazy thing is this could very well be the last game the Clippers play at Crypto before moving to their new digs in Inglewood next season.

I'll never understand why teams will send 1st round draft picks to get players that will probably be washed by the time the pick comes up. Two of the frp Suns traded were 2028 and 2029 for Durant. He will be 40 in 2028. PG won't be that old but still, 36-37ish is kinda old for most NBA players not named Lebron.

[Raps in 4]

Ishbia may get Harden for the minimum at this point. #Big4

I think that all of the old teams in the Pacific Division (GSW, Lakers, Clips and Suns) will make deals amongst each other in the offseason. Swappin old men amongst each other.

They should all team up for one last push.

[slicedbread2]

Clippers traded all those picks to get PG-13.

And now in 2024, the Thunder are the better team and have a better #1 option + loads of picks.

Presti has committed grand larceny on them.

Well the crazy thing is that it ain't even done yet:

2024: pick shipped out on 2023 draft night to get Denver's 2029 1st in a complex multi team deal. This deal allowed the Nuggets to add Hunter Tyson(37th), Jalen Pickett(32nd) and Julian Strawther(29th from IND via BOS). This allowed Denver to get 3 guys on entry level deals to accommodate for the 2nd apron issues from the CBA. Indiana agreed to this and ultimately sent out the 1st with a couple to Toronto for Pascal.

OKC playing the long game in getting Denver's 27+29 1st which is wise as you gotta get as many cost controlled assets as you can.

2025: Pick swap. Unprotected.
2026: Pick outright goes to OKC
2027: Pick swap. As part of OKC helping out the Clippers land James Harden, they agreed to add an additional unprotected swap where the lowest of DEN/OKC's 1st will go to them. Oh and the Thunder agreed to send the lowest of their 1sts in 2026 to the 76ers as well.

Crazy thing is this could very well be the last game the Clippers play at Crypto before moving to their new digs in Inglewood next season.

I'll never understand why teams will send 1st round draft picks to get players that will probably be washed by the time the pick comes up. Two of the frp Suns traded were 2028 and 2029 for Durant. He will be 40 in 2028. PG won't be that old but still, 36-37ish is kinda old for most NBA players.

Well Ishbia was a desperate clown that really screwed them in the long run. Sadly it's not uncommon as you'll have players pushing ownership to make those moves as well.

I didn't mind trading for Durant, but if they played their cards right they could've done the following to mitigate that possibility:

1) Trade Bridges to get more draft capital. Teams were lining up to give up 4 1sts for him in particular Memphis before the Morant off court drama. Teams would've lined up because he's the perfect 3+D guy to round up a starting 5 and the Suns could've used the lower of their 1sts to insulate themselves.

2) Trade Ayton. I would've sent him to Atlanta for John Collins+Clint Capela but getting Nurkic+Allen+filler worked out well. Ayton had checked out after being mad that the Suns didn't give him the 5 year max he wanted despite laying a massive egg in the playoffs. I would've recirculated the salaries of Crowder+Saric to take on bad contracts from other teams willing to part with draft capital for cap relief.

3) Getting a younger pg. Booker and Durant played well together, but they needed to get younger at pg. Age caught up with Paul and what killed them in the end was trading for Beal.

That Suns team pre-KD wasn't going anywhere and was likely to be a treadmill. In retrospect, they should've waited until the off-season and force the Nets hand as they were facing a $108M tax bill for a 1st round exit squad and Durant only wanted Miami or Phoenix.

[Demagoog]

Clippers traded all those picks to get PG-13.

And now in 2024, the Thunder are the better team and have a better #1 option + loads of picks.

Presti has committed grand larceny on them.

Well the crazy thing is that it ain't even done yet:

2024: pick shipped out on 2023 draft night to get Denver's 2029 1st in a complex multi team deal. This deal allowed the Nuggets to add Hunter Tyson(37th), Jalen Pickett(32nd) and Julian Strawther(29th from IND via BOS). This allowed Denver to get 3 guys on entry level deals to accommodate for the 2nd apron issues from the CBA. Indiana agreed to this and ultimately sent out the 1st with a couple to Toronto for Pascal.

OKC playing the long game in getting Denver's 27+29 1st which is wise as you gotta get as many cost controlled assets as you can.

2025: Pick swap. Unprotected.
2026: Pick outright goes to OKC
2027: Pick swap. As part of OKC helping out the Clippers land James Harden, they agreed to add an additional unprotected swap where the lowest of DEN/OKC's 1st will go to them. Oh and the Thunder agreed to send the lowest of their 1sts in 2026 to the 76ers as well.

Crazy thing is this could very well be the last game the Clippers play at Crypto before moving to their new digs in Inglewood next season.

I'll never understand why teams will send 1st round draft picks to get players that will probably be washed by the time the pick comes up. Two of the frp Suns traded were 2028 and 2029 for Durant. He will be 40 in 2028. PG won't be that old but still, 36-37ish is kinda old for most NBA players not named Lebron.

It's a matter of risk/reward. Are you willing to be terrible in the future, to have a legit shot at winning now? In my opinion their mistake is not that they made the Paul George trade, it's that they relied on and assumed Kawhi Leonard to be healthy.

[ChipotleWest]

Well the crazy thing is that it ain't even done yet:

2024: pick shipped out on 2023 draft night to get Denver's 2029 1st in a complex multi team deal. This deal allowed the Nuggets to add Hunter Tyson(37th), Jalen Pickett(32nd) and Julian Strawther(29th from IND via BOS). This allowed Denver to get 3 guys on entry level deals to accommodate for the 2nd apron issues from the CBA. Indiana agreed to this and ultimately sent out the 1st with a couple to Toronto for Pascal.

OKC playing the long game in getting Denver's 27+29 1st which is wise as you gotta get as many cost controlled assets as you can.

2025: Pick swap. Unprotected.
2026: Pick outright goes to OKC
2027: Pick swap. As part of OKC helping out the Clippers land James Harden, they agreed to add an additional unprotected swap where the lowest of DEN/OKC's 1st will go to them. Oh and the Thunder agreed to send the lowest of their 1sts in 2026 to the 76ers as well.

Crazy thing is this could very well be the last game the Clippers play at Crypto before moving to their new digs in Inglewood next season.

I'll never understand why teams will send 1st round draft picks to get players that will probably be washed by the time the pick comes up. Two of the frp Suns traded were 2028 and 2029 for Durant. He will be 40 in 2028. PG won't be that old but still, 36-37ish is kinda old for most NBA players not named Lebron.

It's a matter of risk/reward. Are you willing to be terrible in the future, to have a legit shot at winning now? In my opinion their mistake is not that they made the Paul George trade, it's that they relied on and assumed Kawhi Leonard to be healthy.

Well I mean Kawhi came knocking what were they going to turn him down? He's without a doubt the best Clipper to ever play in that uniform. I don't think they saw it being this bad after he won a championship in Toronto. He has limped out of every playoff since the bubble.

[mademan]

Luka was the best player on the court for the first time this series and they won by 30. I expect that to happen again Friday

[jkvonny]

Ishbia may get Harden for the minimum at this point. #Big4

I think that all of the old teams in the Pacific Division (GSW, Lakers, Clips and Suns) will make deals amongst each other in the offseason. Swappin old men amongst each other.

They should all team up for one last push.

Yup!

All go to the Clips or Suns.

LeBron, AD, Klay, Curry, Draymond, PG, Kawhi, Westbrook, Harden, Zubak, team up with Beal, Booker, Durant, Nurkic in Phoenix.

Or LeBron, AD, Klay, Curry, Draymond, PG, Kawhi, Westbrook, Harden, Nurkic, Beal, Durant team up with Zubac, Westbrook, PG13, Kawhi and Harden in LA Clippers.

One last hurrah!

[Ugly Duckling]

harden is washed. he has some game in him, but shooting in the teens percentage wise in such a critical game at home? i mean so did westbrook, but that's not as much of a surprise. pg at least shot a respectable 30% from the field lol

[ChipotleWest]

Lively 25 minutes
Gafford 19 minutes
No floater fest for Harden

[CobraCommander]

That PG 4 year max is gonna be awful, but im not sure what else the Clips can do. Philly waiting in the wings to give him that money if they dont

They should let Philly-

This team isnt going to get better than this-

Kawhi is retired
PG is inconsistent
Harden is rich and complacent
Westbrook is on a cheap contract but can’t shoot at all
Doesn’t jump as high and is essentially the definition of team hustle but he just doesn’t have an playoff nba game anymore- the others are better than the stars on this team- it’s time to start over -

[CobraCommander]

I think that all of the old teams in the Pacific Division (GSW, Lakers, Clips and Suns) will make deals amongst each other in the offseason. Swappin old men amongst each other.

They should all team up for one last push.

Yup!

All go to the Clips or Suns.

LeBron, AD, Klay, Curry, Draymond, PG, Kawhi, Westbrook, Harden, Zubak, team up with Beal, Booker, Durant, Nurkic in Phoenix.

Or LeBron, AD, Klay, Curry, Draymond, PG, Kawhi, Westbrook, Harden, Nurkic, Beal, Durant team up with Zubac, Westbrook, PG13, Kawhi and Harden in LA Clippers.

One last hurrah!

Why curry going to team washed up ?

Booker needs to find his way to Denver or Milwaukee so that he can become a side kick to a champion and MVP-

Zubac and curry don’t deserve to be considered in team washed up -

[MrGoat]

Dallas finally got a win without Kawhi in. I wonder if that puts more pressure to have Kawhi try to give it one more go in game 6. This was the first time this series the Mavs really played to the post trade deadline identity that worked the best. Faster pace and staying big most of the time.

I'm expecting Luka to not play quite as well next game, this wasn't quite a true Luka special but it could have been if he was a little better from deep. He's capable of putting up big games hurt but it will wear on him

[stoo]

it's so strange and unexpected seeing a playoff performer harden choke. once in his career, he should team up with embiid and dominate. championship guaranteed

[Admiral-Kizaru]

I'm 95% convinced that Harden gambles on himself.