Post by nybombers3 on Sept 16, 2020 13:31:38 GMT -8
Today, I have Stevie B and Galo in the Hot Take House. Our forth is currently MIA and hopefully one day he shall return. Either way, let's get into it
1. The Magic are in good hands now.
Galo - Lukewarm Take - We don't know Zev very well yet other than his subtle 'ok' that he does. I just made a trade with him at the time of this writing so he seems like a good dude and might know what he's doing, but knows he stepped into a a really shitty situation which he had no control over so feel for him on that. With that said, he has hue crew connections so he will be part of that world of trading so he should be fine? Although, game got caught up in hue trading as well now in he's CY so truly hope it works out better for him. He has his 09 back and and kind of his 2010 back (really didn't like the lotto protect on that) plus his picks and beyond. He should be fine provided he's active and makes moves early to get better and doesn't wait like his Co-GM's fate (trap) till his CY to try to win. The bright side? He should have a top 4 pick at least this year.
nybombers3 - HOT TAKE - I don't mean disrespect but mostly because I dont know the guy. His moves thus far have been fine. Hopefully he can shed his salary clogs up and just keep tanking. Next few years will be important for the Magic so we'll see how they do going forward.
2. The Wolves made a mistake trying to win now
Stevie B - Cold take: They should’ve sold their other assets which would’ve led to such a more effective tank job. This would’ve then set them up for another year of sucking before making a run. At least Bosh/Butler are still there and so it does give them a fighter's chance to sneak into the playoffs in a weak West...but this is no doubt a team with no direction and that’s completely on Jeb. Whether they make the playoffs or not...it’s hard for a team to get to where they ultimately want to get to (a championship) with a GM that many have said is the worst to deal with.
Galo - Hot Take- What to say about Jeb that hasn't already been said? It was pretty delusional for him to think El Amin would help him win at PG this season (although he's been pretty good aside from TOs) just like it was admittedly overpaying AK. With that said, I don't blame him especially in a interestingly weaker West this season but the pieces on his team right now just won't help him reset right now. He won't give up Chris Bosh, by far his most valuable asset, unless it's a King's Ransom times 10 probably. Caron Butler is second in line in value who's having a really stellar season that no one notices because he's stuck in Minny. He does have the Raps 09 first which must have some value because he's in the CY in a uber competitive East right now but he's unlikely to move it right now I'm sure. His plan should really be to try to upgrade his PG and SG and maybe even C situation - try to make a deal with Chicago to get Lou or TP or an even smaller trade for Francis in Dallas. Either way, if he doesn't make it this year he should be able to next year (if Dallas, Memphis, Portland, Nuggets opt the rebuild path) which would be his CY along with the Clippers in the West.
nybombers3 - HOT TAKE...SORTA - So I do agree that going for it now was a wise move. West is weak. Take advantage. What I don't like is how they are going about it. You have a great player in Bosh and a pretty damn good secondary player in Butler. You have assets clearly. Why settle for the reset and sit on your ass another 4 seasons? Make some moves. Raps pick looks to be lotto plus you have other available picks. MAKE MOVES. Don't just reset and chill. I hate that I can see the Wolves resetting and going back into chill mode until next CY. What's the point? Do something.
3. Cavs are the favorites to repeat
Stevie B - Hot take: Favorites? I mean, no. Way too early to call them the favorites and even though some teams are struggling out of the gates (Sonics and Heat)...it’s too early and they’ll get it going. Spurs and Jazz didn’t exactly come out of the gates rolling either and they look ok now. But yeah, the Cavs aren’t remotely the favorites to repeat. Nets, Hawks, and Warriors have looked really good so far, too.
Galo - Smoldering Take- Svedda is a top 5 GM in this league no question about it. But, I think he even he knows his team isn't equipped for another run this year without Dirk and Playoff MVP. I'm sure if he wanted to, he could make some moves to propel his team and he might do it. But, I just don't see it at the moment. Al Jeff is the best young big under 25 while Joakim Noah is still a year away. I'm curious to see what he gets for Ray Allen on the market though given his contract.
nybombers3 - HOT TAKE - Won't be favorites but they'll be solid. Svedda is a great GM so I'm sure he'll carry that team futher then they have any business going but I don't see them winning it all. Then again, there isn't really a super team out there so who knows.
4. It's time for the Wizards to tank
Stevie B - Cold take: Jah has literally gone about as far as you can with that team. He’s been lucky, but he also knows how to put a DC together, too. I just don’t think he will rebuild because it’s not necessarily his style, but yeah...he probably should go that route. Jason Terry cannot be your PG if you expect to win a title here. Peja’s needs to be traded now and given the market and his TO issues...good luck with that.
Galo - Freezing take- This really should be done but it won't. Jah is going to ride that Peja/Terry/Redd horse until it can't no more (I think he just resigned all 3 to extensions). Look, if it works for him and he's having fun, more power to him. But, it's tough for a team to win with the same core for so long in BBS. And, it's even tougher when the majority of the 28 teams make changes, moves and trades and he just sits back with his team until the draft/free agency and does it all over again. It's sad and it should be done but it won't.
nybombers3 - COLD TAKE - They obviously should be Jah is content with randomly visiting the ECF every season then falling short. I don't see how his team can get much better or younger at this point. Tank it out for a high pick and get back to it if anything. What will happen is the Wiz winning 45-47 and making it to the ECF.
5. The Raptors will be CY'd
Galo - Grease fire take- I mean can Game make it? Yes. Will it be easy? Absolutely not. There's 12 teams trying to win in the East right now counting my Pistons right now so it's going to be a tall task. The best move he did was getting Okafor which is saving them a ton with his defense and blocks but can a team make the playoffs or win 42 with almost 15 turnovers a game? It's going to be tough but Jah and the Wizards have done it. I think it's 50/50 and really depends on injuries and trades this season in the East. I still think Diego needs another big move or two but it will be tough with those contracts. My best advice is to do some trades to get some better depth in case AI, Shaq, Meka or Beno goes down.
nybombers3 - HOT TAKE - Calling it a hot take out of desire mostly. He has friends. I'm sure he'll get bailed out at some point. Let's be honest though, the Raps are a mess right now. Try to break up AI or Shaq and get pieces that you need. It's like watching the Magic team of last year, just worse somehow.
6. The Hornets should sit and tank one more year
Galo - Cold take - I mean it's tough to take but it's true - New Orleans should sit this one out. East is too tough and they are already 5-14. Losing Devin Harris to Miami in free agency really hurt and it looks like Scola regressed the past 2 seasons. He'll be fine because Pig is a good GM but he needs some lotto luck and needs to find a good player or two with that Andre Miller expiring contract next year. East should be more open next year if Chicago and some more teams rebuild.
nybombers3 - COLD TAKE - Pretty obvious one here. Tank and pick up another asset. Hornets lack a lot of assets and a high end lotto gives them a big pieces to pair with Zach.
7. The Lakers will reset this year
Galo - Coldish take- I think Nanz will get 42 at least but not sure if they'll make the playoffs. I think they have a better squad then the Nuggets right now and his only other competition would be Minnesota. Josh Smith is tearing it up and Rondo is showing why I said he could have been a top 5 pick in 06'. Nanz doesn't have a ton of depth which worries me a little and his activity is sporadic but he's a great dude and will figure it out (Nanz - if you're reading this, please AC Deandre!)
nybombers3 - COLD TAKE - They should reset. They have some very good young talent and the West is weak. Take advantage and reset. I'm sure Josh can net them some solid assets if they want to tear it down going forward.
8. Hawks made a mistake not trading Bynum earlier
Stevie B - Cold take: I think he did and it happens. I made a similar mistake with Yao and it really hurt me not trading him earlier. In saying all of that, he’s still a very good piece. He doesn’t turn it over, rebounds at a decent clip, and is an uber-efficient scorer. If you make him an option in a balanced look, then there is no doubt in my mind he would put up some numbers. The problem is the Hawks are an outside focus oriented offense so that does hurt his overall look in terms of scoring the basketball.
Galo - Icy take - Ya, the foot made a blunder here. He had Bynum's value so rocket high that teams were willing to pay up. The problem is in the few interactions with footy is that he usually wants way too much (the moon, the sky and the stars) if he's the seller and think that scared some teams away. I think he also though Bynum was going to be Al Jeff or better but that didn't transpire so in his hindsight I think he would a mulligan on this.
nybombers3 - COLD TAKE - Bynum is ok but they should've tried to take advantage and moved him. I know that he did try so can't totally fault him but a legit great C on that Hawks team would make them deadly. He's solid, no doubt, just feel that he should've been moved for an upgrade. Hawks can't sit and hope he gets better with another TC.
9. Trading in this league has gone down hill
Galo - Hot-ish take- Look, I think it's a combination of things. Skillz has been awfully quiet (aside from the Magic drama blowup which I really understood for him but could have handled differently which he admitted) but when that motor is running man does he stir up some trade activity (I have an article idea on this Andy so don't steal it!) and he really gets other teams to make deals that maybe didn't make before. With that said, he's been strangely not making as many moves as he usually does so maybe he's busy, lost some interest or real life has caught up to him? He hasn't really gone for a title in the last 2 seasons since Jah took him out so I'm sure he's waiting for his moment to strike. Secondly, there's a lot of stingy GMs out there and you know who you are that either A) Won't give up one more asset/player and/or take on a contract to make a deal happen B) Overvaluing of players C) Bad large contracts that no one wants to touch. Lastly, I think life, summer time, school and sports starting back up caught up to everyone and some interest has waned I think. I mean it has to take a Royal voided deal to generate post pad threads in order to generate activity around here which is kind of sad but that's the state of the league at times. I think that'll turn around once some big deals go away a few come to mind.
nybombers3 - HOT TAKE - No. Activity is fine. No (or just less) trading doesn't mean activity is down. A lot of bad deals were given out so making moves isn't super easy right now. Many teams are where they want to be and many teams are tight with the HC. Is what it is.
10. The best players from this past draft will be the big men
Stevie B - Hot Take: Better be for my sake!! But yeah Ibaka looks great. I’m not a fan of a big that literally can’t shoot free throws if there is any sort of volume there (DeAndre Jordan). He’ll obviously still be a nasty big, but that glaring weakness could be an issue moving forward. K Love is going to be awesome...but yeah hopefully D Rose blows up like most highly touted PGs tend to do in FBB. Russ should be a stud, but Outlawz has already whiffed on that camp. At least he put in a DC for the 5th sim of the regular season!
Galo - Toasty Take - Logic tells you that DRose should end up being the best if he develops correctly. But, there's a lot of great bigs taken after the top 2 that will pop like KLove, Ibaka, DJ and Brook Lopez. I think when it's all said and done it might be those 4 that shine but DRose will still be the best player from the 08' class.
nybombers3 - COLD TAKE - It's tough and I believe at the end of the day Rose will become a stud but overall, right now it's not looking that way. Love is awesome. Ibaka and Jordan look solid as well. They all have their weaknesses obviously but which of the wings look all that great right now? Doesn't look good tbh.
BONUS:
Who's your favorite player in BBS right now
Stevie B - Brandon Roy
Galo - Is this the part where I gush over Brandon Roy, Andy? Look he's the best player in the league other than the LeBron I think but think you already know that so will leave it at that. Other than BRoy, I really like Lou Williams at only 22 years old. His current numbers are insane (no pun intended) - 34 points a game, 1.6 stocks, less than a turnover and 50/90/50. And he's on the last year of the rookie deal. I think Play/Insane are smart to try to cash in that asset now and see what he can get.
nybombers3 - Obviously love Roy but I'll move away. I like Livingston. Dude is averaging over 25 a game with B C+ scoring ratings. Triple double threat every night. I really like him.
