2013-2014 NBA Thread - IND @ WAS and OKC @ LAC on ESPN

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Damn |I  

Aren't we, like, four years away from this even being a discussion? Even then, it'll somehow all magically sort itself out in Milwaukee's favor, while Stern nods in approval from some dark corner of his retirement community.
 
 
Damn 
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Aren't we, like, four years away from this even being a discussion? Even then, it'll somehow all magically sort itself out in Milwaukee's favor, while Stern nods in approval from some dark corner of his retirement community.
I don't know, I mean the arena up there is as old as Arco  Sleep Train Arena, but I believe it has actually been renovated a little bit over the years. I would assume if Kohl doesn't get his stuff in order relatively soon they will be in trouble. 
 
Jon Leuer (last 7 games): 15.9ppg, 8.2rpg on 54/43/86.

It feels good to finally have a young player on a cheap contract performing well.
 
What's Pau Gasol's trade value?

A thriving NBA rumor mill added another big name last week when Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol and coach Mike D'Antoni feuded through the media. After Gasol complained to the Los Angeles Times about not getting enough post touches and D'Antoni responded by telling reporters that Gasol needed to play harder, our Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne reported the Lakers are considering their trade options.

But what exactly can they get for Gasol? The Lakers would hardly be selling high on Gasol, whose 15.2 player efficiency rating is the lowest of his NBA career. My wins above replacement system is even harder on Gasol, grading him as just 0.2 wins better than replacement level so far this season.

So the question is: Does Gasol have much trade value left? And perhaps more importantly, could he turn it around with the Lakers or another team? Let's take a look.

Post touches going nowhere
Gasol's argument that he's not getting the ball where he likes isn't backed up by the numbers. In fact, according to Synergy Sports Technology, post-ups account for a larger share of Gasol's plays ending in a shot attempt, turnover or trip to the free throw line than any season since 2010-11 -- when he was an All-NBA Second Team pick in Phil Jackson's final season in L.A.

Gasol on the blocks
Season Post-Up%
2010-11 .395
2011-12 .287
2012-13 .230
2013-14 .362
That's a change from the past two seasons, when Gasol played primarily at power forward next to Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard and was unable to spend as much time down low. As the chart at right shows, Gasol had a valid complaint last season, when post-ups accounted for less than one-quarter of his plays and barely a larger share than spot-up opportunities. But both trends have reversed this season.

The problem, instead, is that Gasol isn't scoring when he does get the ball. As recently as last season, Gasol averaged .859 points per play in the post, according to Synergy. He was over .9 points per play the previous two years, making him an efficient option. But so far this season, Gasol has made just 33.9 percent of his shots on post-ups and averaged .682 points per play, worst of any player with at least 100 post-ups. (Howard ranks second from the bottom at .724 points per play.)

No longer generating easy opportunities
Gasol's difficulty scoring in the post explains part of his dismal 41.8 percent shooting from the field this season, although not all of it. The other culprit is Gasol's inability to create easy opportunities at the basket. Just 23.8 percent of his shot attempts have come in the restricted area, per NBA.com/stats, down from around 32 percent the previous two seasons and 38.2 percent in 2010-11. Like nearly all other NBA players, Gasol shoots more accurately right at the rim (61.0 percent so far this season) than anywhere else, so taking away those gimmes has severely hampered Gasol's efficiency.

Easy opportunities?
Season Cut% Rebound%
2010-11 .151 .103
2011-12 .147 .102
2012-13 .118 .098
2013-14 .098 .032
Most scores at the basket for big men come on two Synergy play types -- cuts and offensive rebounds. As the chart at right shows, the percentages of Gasol's plays generated from both of those opportunities has dwindled this season. In particular, Gasol isn't helping himself with putbacks. He's scored just 15 points all season from offensive rebounds, per Synergy. By contrast, energetic teammate Jordan Hill has 54 points from offensive boards.

Although scheme is a factor, scores off cuts and offensive rebounds are often created by the individual player. That's surely part of what D'Antoni was implying when he told reporters in response to Gasol's complaints, "The more energy you bring to the game, the more you're going to get the ball."

How a limited Gasol can be productive
For all the talk of systems, positions and playing hard, there's a simpler explanation for why Gasol is no longer as effective as he was three years ago: age. Gasol, who turned 33 this past summer, has accumulated heavy mileage between the Lakers' long playoff runs and his work for the Spanish national team. He's battled a series of foot and leg injuries and hasn't been fully healthy at any point the past two seasons. It might be time to acknowledge that Gasol is no longer capable of being a primary option on offense.

Smaller role: So far this season, Gasol has used 25.9 percent of the Lakers' plays on offense, his highest rate since being traded to L.A. The list of 7-footers with usage rates of 25 percent or higher after age 33 is small and exclusive: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing, Dirk Nowitzki, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O'Neal. Gasol might not belong among their ranks. Of course, Kobe Bryant's return to the lineup will relieve some of the pressure on Gasol to create his own offense. Gasol hasn't shot any better during Bryant's first four games this season, but a smaller role might help Gasol be more accurate from the field.

More pick-and roll: Besides ensuring he won't need to be a featured player, the other important criterion for teams considering a Gasol trade is how effectively they can employ him in the pick-and-roll. So far this season, Gasol has been exceptionally efficient in pick-and-roll opportunities, shooting 51.4 percent and averaging 1.024 points per play.

Maintain defense: It's encouraging for potential Gasol suitors that his defensive stats haven't experienced the same kind of decline. Gasol's block rate is right in line with what he's done throughout his career in L.A., and his defensive rebounding is up slightly, which has helped him anchor small lineups alongside stretch 4s.

As he enters his mid-30s, Gasol still can offer value to a team so long as he recognizes his own limitations. In the wake of the past week's turbulence, that might be the most important question teams will have to answer about Gasol. Would he accept a smaller role that features fewer post-ups and more pick-and-rolls? The answer will determine whether Gasol will be worth it for the Lakers or whichever team comes next.
 
I liked Leuer going into that draft. He was on my list of dudes. Got some Ryan Anderson in him. Not just a shooter, but a crafty scorer, too. Pretty solid rebounder for a stretch big.
 
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I don't know, I mean the arena up there is as old as Arco Sleep Train Arena, but I believe it has actually been renovated a little bit over the years. I would assume if Kohl doesn't get his stuff in order relatively soon they will be in trouble. 

Maybe a Bucks fan can chime in, but I thought their arena deal is up in 2017, and if they don't have a deal for a new arena by then, the NBA would basically force a move (also, correct me if I'm wrong, Sacramento is technically under a similar mandate to have an arena up and running by a certain date?). Adam Silver sort of said as much recently. But a LOT can happen in between. And it's not like everyone will be blindsided by this. Everyone knows the situation well in advance.
 
 
I don't know, I mean the arena up there is as old as Arco  Sleep Train Arena, but I believe it has actually been renovated a little bit over the years. I would assume if Kohl doesn't get his stuff in order relatively soon they will be in trouble. 
Maybe a Bucks fan can chime in, but I thought their arena deal is up in 2017, and if they don't have a deal for a new arena by then, the NBA would basically force a move (also, correct me if I'm wrong, Sacramento is technically under a similar mandate to have an arena up and running by a certain date?). Adam Silver sort of said as much recently. But a LOT can happen in between. And it's not like everyone will be blindsided by this. Everyone knows the situation well in advance.
That is right, I forgot about that.

Good call
 
I liked Leuer going into that draft. He was on my list of dudes. Got some Ryan Anderson in him. Not just a shooter, but a crafty scorer, too. Pretty solid rebounder for a stretch big.

He's really starting to show the 3 point range this season. He's making one 3 a game over the last 7 games. I would fully expect him to start shooting it more often as the season progresses and as he puts some more work in next offseason. I'm happy the FO locked him up for the next 3 years on such a cheap contract. He's making under a $1MM the next two years and has a team option his 3rd year.
 
He's really starting to show the 3 point range this season. He's making one 3 a game over the last 7 games. I would fully expect him to start shooting it more often as the season progresses and as he puts some more work in next offseason. I'm happy the FO locked him up for the next 3 years on such a cheap contract. He's making under a $1MM the next two years and has a team option his 3rd year.

I've only seen him play a couple times, but was impressed with Luer's all around game for a big. Sufficiently tough inside, but with a nice outside shot. He's also decently athletic and a solid finisher.
 
What's the deal with this Green for Asik trade? Is this in serious discussion or just fantasy?

@lawdog1, yea most people felt like he was just a throw in that Speights, Ellington to Cavs deal, but apparently the FO really wanted him. I was surprised they signed him to a 3 year deal after this season. I liked what I saw from here in Cleveland and Milwaukee, but didn't think much of it. I'm hoping he can become one of those
 
What's the deal with this Green for Asik trade? Is this in serious discussion or just fantasy?
That rumor was started by Marc Stein & I read his lil article. Looked like pure speculation.

Stein noted that Ainge has relationships with both Morey & McHale and that Green/Bass would fit in well with Houston and the salaries would match in a trade. He didn't say that they were in any discussions.
 
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Milwaukee sells team to Seattle and they rejoin Northwest division and Minnesota joins the East and the Central division. I'll face Rose, PG24, and Uncle Drew as long I'm in the East.
 
10...top.........10

no

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you said sf....that may be squeezable MAY

F in general hell no
 
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