161 Comments
Jun 9·edited Jun 9

I just want to say, y’all are massively undervaluing Poole who averaged 24.6 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds with a 58 TS% in 43 games as a starter this season. With that being said, even if I prefer trading Klay, here are some interesting options for trading Poole!

Buddy Heild/Aeron Nesmith for Poole: The combo of Heild/Nesmith help us retain most of Poole’s offensive punch while giving us spacing and Nesmith played mostly PF last year despite his smaller size while playing very solid defense. The Pacers would go for it since it would net them a 24 peg scorer alongside Haliburton whose size/defense can help cover Poole’s shortcomings. While the Pacers have some interesting guard options already in Benedict and Nembhart, Benedict can play at SF and Nembhart can simply come off the bench. None of these concerns are particularly troublesome.

Grimes/Mitchell Robinson for Poole: Grimes/Robinson are excellent fits in terms of what we are looking for providing us with tough gritty defense. Grimes provides a bit more spacing while Mitchell includes shot blocking and rebounding. We won’t have as much of an offensive punch but our defense will be much better. They get a tremendous offensive duo in Brunson/Poole at the guard position and they don't have to worry so much regarding the loss of size since Barrett/Randle/Hartenstein would still be a very large backcourt.

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HQ, after reading through the current crop of comments it makes me realise how crazy the predicament of the new GM apparent is! What would be some interview questions (serious or not!) you would ask them if you were the Dubs recruiting manager?

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Without a major trade going down for the Dubs, we are shit out of luck to get someone in the draft that can help us win another ring in the here and now. Both Kuminga and Moody are in a better position to crack the rotation and add something to the team. I also don't expect a repeat of Poole's game next season. I repeat, the best scenario for the Dubs is to package the pick in a trade. So many good possibilities for the Dubs if they open themselves to a trade scenario.

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Jun 9Liked by Eric Apricot

Something that just dawned on me is that Denver had a young guy who was unhappy with his role and making negative waves in the locker room in Bones Hyland and the Nuggets traded him at the first opportunity for basically nothing.

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I think the 3rd pick, Anfernie Simons, and another unprotected first for Mikal Bridges makes sense for both teams IF Miller is available

I think the 3rd pick, Shadeon Sharpe, and Anfernie Simons makes sense for both teams IF Scoot is available

Either way if we are talking about a Portland trade, that trade makes the most sense on paper

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What I would like to happen (ideally): Keep the band together, add a rim protector somehow, profit.

What is probably going to happen: Poole traded, whether it's in a Wiggins-type trade, a not-so--beneficial salary dump, or possibly even as a third (or fourth) team in an insane, league-changing trade. (Harden to PHX? Dame to Miami? Who knows?). I think (hope?) that Dray and Klay will stay.

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OK, how about this trade?

Warriors get: Dame

Blazers get: Klay, JK, Moody, whoever we draft at 19, and probably another 1st in the distant future.

Who says no first?

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"In the 22 games Kuminga played while Wiggins was out, he averaged 13.4 points on 56.3 percent shooting from the field and 44.4 percent from downtown while adding 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.1 minutes played."

We really need to give this guy more minutes/expanded role this season in order for him to truly develop into the Star he very well could be.

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Anybody got news on what Kuminga/PBJ are doing in the offseason?

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Jun 8·edited Jun 8

I'm late to the draft discussion, and it's not something I usually pay much attention to. Is there anything approaching DNHQ consensus? Top three faves? There's a lot to wade through.

I'm exactly like that person who comes in in the fourth quarter when you're watching a tight game and goes "Who's winning? Is this basketball? Oh look at number 6 on the yellow team, is that Lakers? Who's number 6? He's so good!! He keeps making it go in! Oh, good shot, 6! He shoved it right in the basket! Is the other team trying to stop him?"

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https://twitter.com/KumingaMuse/status/1666835919947853825

Some more JK offseason workout footage.

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Apparently Whitehead had a second foot surgery, will be ready for training camp but that's not a good start.

Of course, Ryan Rollins had a stress fracture last summer in his foot and then had a Jones fracture in the same foot in February that required surgery so that's not a good start either. Do we have any idea if he will be cleared for Summer League (although perhaps he is traded before then)?

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Jun 8·edited Jun 8Liked by Eric Apricot

Eric, I think it's great you're adding a play-in tournament to the tournament. Very modern. :)

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Would love Bufkin to fall to us. Glad you’ll scout him. Creative 3-level scorer who can guard? Sign me up. Only concerns: doesn’t have elite athleticism, measurables (height, wingspan), and recency bias (best games were last 8 when Jett Howard was injured). We’ve drafted plenty of wings recently- Kuminga, Moody, PBJ - would be nice to stock up on guards. Rollins didn’t pop as hoped, though haven’t given up on him.

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OT: enjoyed this piece in the guardian: "A pickup truck doing ballet: Nikola Jokić is making the NBA finals his masterpiece" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/jun/08/nikola-jokic-nba-finals-denver-nuggets

It is, I think intentionally, a bit over the top, but maybe not. Dude is awesome.

"Even in peak form Jokić’s machinations on the court seem somehow improbable. The NBA’s contemporary greats all have a signature style of movement. LeBron James thunders, James Harden ambles, Steph Curry bounces, Kevin Durant glides, Ben Simmons sits. Jokic happens – awkwardly, implausibly, and, it sometimes seems, unintentionally, but with a kind of inevitability. At times his limbs seem to get ahead of him like baseball bats spilling from a bag; at others there’s a kind of patterned tranquility about his movements that recalls stop motion animation. Many of his shots are taken off balance, with a single hand, from the waist, above the head, or in a position that suggests that Jokić is about to hit the deck.

Somehow, though, it all works. "

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Poole for Sexton and Olynk might not be a bad trade.

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