DeacsATS
Sam "Ace" Rothstein
From after the Kawhi trade in mid-July last year in the 2018 NBA Offseason Thread... Posted purely to make me look good and make others look bad. Fills an emptiness in my soul.
That last line is my favorite.
And I did!
You 100% absolutely make this trade if you are Toronto. They now have a legit shot to make the Finals next year and they don’t have to pay DeRozan for 3 more years. At worst, it’s a 1-year rental that still puts them in a better position after next year, even if(when) Leonard leaves.
For the Spurs, you are putting all of your eggs in the DeRozan basket... If he sucks (continues to decline), you are a worse team for the foreseeable future. I don’t think they need to tank or blow anything up, but it feels like years of mediocrity are ahead.
Huh? Hard to make the finals when Kawhi won't ever even suit up for them.
I think he will... He'd be really dumb not to.
And they were the #1 seed in the East last year. Leonard is better than DeRozan in pretty much every part of his game. No LeBron in the East. Why couldn't they make the Finals? I realize Boston is good, too... But we still haven't seen that roster play together much (at all).
i sorta like that folks are just assuming toronto gets to the finals with kawhi playing
like hey homies, remember how a couple of months ago we were all hedging on his totally unknown possible debilitating injury, which still hasn't been cleared up at all, and his will to play the game of basketball, which should skyrocket, as the guy who spent the last decade of his life living in san diego and san antonio and was trying to orchestrate a move to los angeles is instead forced to move to *checks notes* toronto
never mind the fact that their top rivals are a team that is about to run out 3 all-nba caliber players and a guy coming off one of the best rookie campaigns in the history of the sport
like, a two deep of:
kyrie//rozier
brown//smart
hayward//ojeleye (but really, smart again)
tatum//morris
horford//baynes
assuming health (a big caveat, i am aware), that's just not a fair roster to be betting against right now. y'all gonna look silly in 10 months
That last line is my favorite.
Celts are going to roll next year and not going to even be close. They were so close to being Eastern Champs this year and they had 2 All Stars sitting on the bench in street clothes?? 2 All Stars folks! Even without Kyrie and Gordon it was clear the Celts had the requisite 3 studs to take them to the finals with Horford, Tatum, and Brown. Add to the fact Tatum and Brown are still growing and will continue to get better and that the back-ups for the Celts would be likely starters on a number of teams and I think it will be a stroll through the park IF they can stay relatively healthy. Heck they could still lose one key player and I still think they roll, but losing 2 of the caliber of Kyrie and Gordon was too much this past season. No Lebron and it won't be close.
Granted the Raptors will likely rack up the wins and build up some excitement, but when it comes playoff time they will be rolled. And not buying the Sixers excitement. They will be at the top, but again not a threat unless Fultz shows he is truly a #1.
I don't feel like anyone is doing that.
I think most feel like it is a forgone conclusion that Boston will rule the East for the next few years... With the 76ers the only team with a real shot to compete.
I just think it is early to say that given we haven't seen Irving, Hayward, Horford, Tatum & others all on the court at the same time yet. In theory, it should be great.
With Toronto, I just think people forget they were the #1 seed because of how terrible they looked against the Cavs... If healthy (BIG IF), the Leonard makes them better (if only because DeRozan won't be around to shit the bed in the playoffs).
I have no dog in the fight... Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
To add to my point... Odds to win the East next year as of right this second:
Boston -120
Philly +340
Toronto +550
Milwaukee +1500
I think Boston wins the East, but I'd take Toronto with those odds.
And I did!
I'd take boston with those odds and not think twice.