NBA Season 2014-15

[Rodster]

AD or KD are on Pat Riley's wish list for 2016.

[pk500]

AD or KD are on Pat Riley's wish list for 2016.

Why would Durant go to Miami? Wade and Bosh will be nearly done after 2016. That franchise will be mired in mediocrity, just like now.

Durant either will stay in OKC -- a team that can win 55-60 games per season when healthy -- or head home to play in D.C. with Wall, Beal and Nene. The problem in OKC isn't talent. It's the guy with the clipboard on the bench. Brooks is not a top-flight coach.

[Rodster]

Bosh was signed to a 5 year max contract and will probably finish his career in Miami. Also Bosh's natural position is PF. When Whiteside isn't playing he gets moved to the C slot. D-Wade, who knows at 33 yrs old but Bosh is locked down for the next several years. The only question is with the rise of Whiteside if AD is needed. Pretty much all of Miami's contracts expire after 2015 with the exception of Bosh and McRoberts.

[wco81]

If New Orleans can't lock down AD, they might as well disband the franchise.

They have a shot at making the playoffs don't they?

If they get decent attendance, they should have no problems keeping AD, Holiday and one more key piece.

[Rodster]

Wherever AD decides to play after his contract is up will be for max money. IIRC, 2016 is when the salary cap goes up. NO is a small market. The Heat, NYK, LAL i'm sure will be on speed dial when he's available.

[dbdynsty25]

Wherever AD decides to play after his contract is up will be for max money. IIRC, 2016 is when the salary cap goes up. NO is a small market. The Heat, NYK, LAL i'm sure will be on speed dial when he's available.

16-17 season. That's why Lebron only signed a 2 year deal w/ Cleveland.

And AD isn't going anywhere. NO will always be able to pay him the most money, and they will. It's not even an option to not do so. The only way he's not there is if he doesn't want to be there. They can easily build a team around him with the salary cap the way it is now, and in the future.

[Diablo25]

Wherever AD decides to play after his contract is up will be for max money. IIRC, 2016 is when the salary cap goes up. NO is a small market. The Heat, NYK, LAL i'm sure will be on speed dial when he's available.

16-17 season. That's why Lebron only signed a 2 year deal w/ Cleveland.

And AD isn't going anywhere. NO will always be able to pay him the most money, and they will. It's not even an option to not do so. The only way he's not there is if he doesn't want to be there. They can easily build a team around him with the salary cap the way it is now, and in the future.

If I had one pick to start a franchise there is no doubt in my mind it would be Davis.

[pk500]

Bosh was signed to a 5 year max contract and will probably finish his career in Miami. Also Bosh's natural position is PF. When Whiteside isn't playing he gets moved to the C slot. D-Wade, who knows at 33 yrs old but Bosh is locked down for the next several years. The only question is with the rise of Whiteside if AD is needed. Pretty much all of Miami's contracts expire after 2015 with the exception of Bosh and McRoberts.

Check yourself, Rod: You're comparing Hassan Whiteside to Anthony Davis?

Davis is the best young player in the NBA. He is a franchise cornerstone that EVERY team would covet. Period.

[Rodster]

NO !

Whiteside is no AD but if continues to play and progress the Heat might be more inclined to go with KD to go along with Bosh, McRoberts and Whiteside as the bigs. If Whiteside regresses or decides to ask for stupid money then if AD is interested in leaving NO I'm pretty sure Riles will target AD.

[wco81]

Is it possible that you're overestimating how attractive the Heat are as a destination for NBA superstar free agents?

Didn't the Heat try to sign someone else this past season after LeBron left them?

[Rodster]

Is it possible that you're overestimating how attractive the Heat are as a destination for NBA superstar free agents?

Didn't the Heat try to sign someone else this past season after LeBron left them?

3 NBA rings and South Beach, yeah it's an attractive place to work along with a good owner, front office and solid HC. They signed everyone they wanted. Their first priority was CB, Wade. Deng and McRoberts signed because those two were there. They ran out of money signing those four.

[wco81]

Most big free agents this past year signed with their former teams, because they could get the most money by staying with the team.

The biggest free agents to sign with a new team were LeBron then Chandler Parsons, in terms of the total value of the contract.

Then Ariza signed with Rockets after they declined to match Parsons' deal.

Then Channing Frye got a $32 million deal to go from Phoenix to Orlando.

Dollars will determine where the big stars sign. LeBron going to Miami was the outlier.

As for lifestyle, with the money these guys make, they can have any kind of lifestyle they want, anywhere. It would make more sense to go to bigger media markets, to have additional sponsorship opportunities, than go for beach weather.

Maybe if AD was from FL or something.

But if every star wanted to go back home, a lot of teams would have trouble building a team. Warriors for instance was able to sign Klay Thompson to a big extension even though he grew up as a Lakers fan. They're also going to lock up Curry, who apparently loves South Carolina to death.

[Rodster]

Most FA signed with their teams because the salary cap goes up in 2016-17. As DB said, LeBron signed a 2 year because of that. Pat Riley signed only 2 players (Chris Bosh and McRoberts) for more than 2 years for the same reason because most NBA teams expect key players to become available in 2016 and the Heat are in prime position to make a lot of moves.

Florida is an attractive spot because of the nightlife, NO STATE TAXES, warm tropical weather year round.

[pk500]

Florida is an attractive spot because of the nightlife, NO STATE TAXES, warm tropical weather year round.

Only no taxes probably appeals to Durant. He is renowned for being sort of a Momma's boy who focuses almost solely on hoops. Not much on nightlife. That's why living and playing in OKC never has cramped his style.

He grew up in D.C. and has played in OKC, so I don't think a tropical climate is a must.

Bottom line: You're dreaming if you think Durant is going to Miami. OKC can offer him more money and a better team, and the lure of playing at home in D.C. with a better team than the Heat also is strong.

[Brando70]

Bonkers game between Bulls and Warriors last night. Felt like watching a playoff game as both teams refused to lose, and then the Warriors lost when Klay improbably missed a pretty easy shot right after Rose nailed a really difficult one.

[Rodster]

Bottom line: You're dreaming if you think Durant is going to Miami. OKC can offer him more money and a better team, and the lure of playing at home in D.C. with a better team than the Heat also is strong.

Except I never said he was going to Miami or AD. All i've said is that Miami is an attractive place to live and work, Pat Riley will have cash ready to try and lure top FA's. Nothing is a given besides that. Until those FA's re-up with their team anyone can give their sales pitch. And in 2010 no one could imagine Riles pulling off a heist to put Wade, Bosh and Bron Bron on the same team.

[Rodster]

Hey DB, got any info on what Miami coughed up for Goran Dragic? All i've read is two future 1st rd picks and unloading Danny Granger.

[Diablo25]

My Sixers loaded up on draft picks (isn't that exciting!). Theoretically they have eight picks in the upcoming draft. Realistically they will have six. Two 1’s and four 2’s. I have no problem with the MCW trade. Severely limited from the perimeter...to the point of nausea. He was tough to watch some nights. In a league that is LOADED with point guards and emphasizes the 3 point shot - MCW became expendable. I won't miss him. Mudiay and Russell are going to be there for the taking I June also. Still waiting for the future to arrive.

[dbdynsty25]

I have a feeling, if Wade is healthy, Miami is going to be in the finals. Dragic and Bosh running PnR is going to be DEADLY.

[Rodster]

I have a feeling, if Wade is healthy, Miami is going to be in the finals. Dragic and Bosh running PnR is going to be DEADLY.

Is his brother Zoran a decent player? Supposedly he played well in Spain but didn't get a let of court time in PHX.

[Rodster]

Sh*t, Miami can't catch a break with the injuries. It's possible CB might miss the rest of the season with blood clots in his legs.

[dbdynsty25]

I have a feeling, if Wade is healthy, Miami is going to be in the finals. Dragic and Bosh running PnR is going to be DEADLY.

Is his brother Zoran a decent player? Supposedly he played well in Spain but didn't get a let of court time in PHX.

No idea. He was good overseas and in some tourneys but with the glut of guards on the Suns he played almost zero. So no comment, lol.

[dbdynsty25]

Sixers are so young and obviously going nowhere this year but they are fun to watch! Nice win last night coming from 23 down to beat the Heat. They only had 8 players available too. Youngest team in the history of the league. KJ McDaniels is the real fn deal! He's a smarter version of Iggy and a 2nd rounder! He's a top 5 rookie right now. Two sweet put backs last night and he's a STUD on D. My prediction of being the worst team in the league may not happen if they continue to improve. I can live with that. With Embiid and Saric coming in the near future plus two 1st rounders in the coming draft and cap $$$ - who knows what could happen in the next 3-5 years

http://www.csnphilly.com/basketball-phi ... back-games

Hope you didn't get too attached to KJ.

[Rodster]

DB what's your impression of Bazz Napier? Hopefully he can learn from Dragic.

[dbdynsty25]

DB what's your impression of Bazz Napier? Hopefully he can learn from Dragic.

Honestly haven't watched him enough to form a real opinion. I'm sure my wife will watch a few more Heat games so I'll pay more attention now that they've got Dragic.