[Paully D]

Now that the finals are over we might as well get stuck into the offseason. Hopefully we can use this thread to discuss everything offseason for the upcoming 2012-2013 season.

There's some big questions that will be answered over the next few months, some of them are:

Will Dwight Howard be traded? It looks like Pau Gasol definitely will, but where will he end up? Where will free agents such as Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry go?

What sort of moves, trades etc do you think we'll see this offseason?

[Lafortezza]

Steve Nash has said that he would definitely consider a move to the Knicks.
He already spends most of his summers in NYC and it would be interesting to see how he works with Melo and Stoudamire (again).
It's interesting because Lin is a restricted free agent I think and the Knicks are at the limit of their salary cap. Lin could probably get a decent paycheck from some other team in the league, and the Knicks might not be able to match it and keep him without messing up their financials.
Nash (Baron Davis as backup), Shumpert, Melo, Stoudamire, Tyson Chandler, is a pretty nice lineup if Nash can get everyone on the same page and playing well. He is 38 years old though.

[Lafortezza]

Does anyone know when OKC needs to make a decision about the contracts of Ibaka and Harden? I think they are both contracted for next season, but then they are unrestricted free agents and can move to new teams for big money.

[Paully D]

Originally Posted by Lafortezza

Steve Nash has said that he would definitely consider a move to the Knicks.
He already spends most of his summers in NYC and it would be interesting to see how he works with Melo and Stoudamire (again).
It's interesting because Lin is a restricted free agent I think and the Knicks are at the limit of their salary cap. Lin could probably get a decent paycheck from some other team in the league, and the Knicks might not be able to match it and keep him without messing up their financials.
Nash (Baron Davis as backup), Shumpert, Melo, Stoudamire, Tyson Chandler, is a pretty nice lineup if Nash can get everyone on the same page and playing well. He is 38 years old though.

Any chance of Nash winding up at Miami, I wonder?

[SoulGuy]

I actually think Toronto & Brooklyn are under-the-radar possibilities for Nash. He did accept the GM job for Team Canada this off season after all, and may use his last couple of years to try to grow the sport in his home country by going to Toronto. If Deron leaves New Jersey...and that's looking like a very distinct possibility...I could see them throwing a desperate amount of money at him because they run the risk of playing their first game in Brooklyn with a team that's built around Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace, and Kris Kardashian . You gotta figure they'd want some star power as they move to NYC.

There's always a good chance of him staying in Phoenix too. If he was overly concerned about winning a ring, he would have forced himself out of there years ago.

[malistheman]

Originally Posted by SoulGuy

I actually think Toronto & Brooklyn are under-the-radar possibilities for Nash. He did accept the GM job for Team Canada this off season after all, and may use his last couple of years to try to grow the sport in his home country by going to Toronto. If Deron leaves New Jersey...and that's looking like a very distinct possibility...I could see them throwing a desperate amount of money at him because they run the risk of playing their first game in Brooklyn with a team that's built around Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace, and Kris Kardashian . You gotta figure they'd want some star power as they move to NYC.

There's always a good chance of him staying in Phoenix too. If he was overly concerned about winning a ring, he would have forced himself out of there years ago.

Nah can't see him going to Toronto or Brooklyn. He wants a ring. He's an incredibly loyal genuine guy. He couldn't bring himself to abandon Phoenix when Amare left. I think he'll leave this year and head to the Knicks or the Heat. Both options have their advantages. Obviously in New York he would be reunited with Amare who was a key part of his 2 mvp seasons.

Miami can offer him the best chance to get a ring though. And I don't think any of us could begrudge him for taking his talents to South Beach next year. Nash would probably settle on a low enough contract with the Heat. That team would be bloody awesome next year if they manage to get Nash.


Deron Williams to Dallas seems like the most likely answer at the moment. If Cuban gets his hands on Deron then there's a big chance he'll get DH12 the year after.

I'd look for the Knicks to try and make a big trade involving one of their stars. Its obvious that their current roster isn't going to win in the East.



My phantom team for next year is the Wizards. I think that team will make the playoffs. They have one of the most exciting lineups of recent years and have built up quietly. John Wall at point, Nene, Jon Vesley (who emerged as a decent starter late this season), Emeka Okefor ( Acquired a few days ago from the Hornets) and the number 3 draft pick. That pick will probably be Michael Kidd Gilchrist or Harrison Barnes. I hope its Barnes. He was projected number one a few years ago and slipped a few places. I think he will be an All Star sooner rather then later. Oh and they finally traded away that awful Awful Rashard Lewis contract.

[malistheman]

Originally Posted by Lafortezza

Does anyone know when OKC needs to make a decision about the contracts of Ibaka and Harden? I think they are both contracted for next season, but then they are unrestricted free agents and can move to new teams for big money.

I think theres a big chance Harden gets traded this summer. Will be a very tough decison but theres not room for 4 max contracts on the roster. They have 2 scorers in Durant and Westbrook so they need to secure the defensive star in Ibaka.

[killwill]

Originally Posted by malachyscott

I think theres a big chance Harden gets traded this summer. Will be a very tough decison but theres not room for 4 max contracts on the roster. They have 2 scorers in Durant and Westbrook so they need to secure the defensive star in Ibaka.

Very true but what a loss he will be for OKC. Great defence, strong drive and a good shot.
Great addition for any other team interested. And he deserves to be a starter too.

[Lafortezza]

Originally Posted by Paully D

Any chance of Nash winding up at Miami, I wonder?

I think he would have to take the Veteran's minimum though I could be wrong, Miami are maxed financially so would either have to release players or trade away somebody for picks to free up space. Even though Nash is old he can still get paid pretty well for a year or two.
If he wants a ring above everything else then Miami would be a good choice. Would suck to be Chalmers in that situation though.

[Lafortezza]

Originally Posted by malachyscott

I'd look for the Knicks to try and make a big trade involving one of their stars. Its obvious that their current roster isn't going to win in the East.

This is a really tough situation for the Knicks. Both Amare and Melo are on huge money, but both have shown this season that they might not have that high a trade value.
Amare has injury issues and is not a big money PF any more compared to his days in PHX. Melo is still an amazing scorer, but can be difficult to fit in a competent offence when he holds up the ball so much. It would be very very hard for the Knicks to get fair value for either.
Chandler is great player but he's the last one they want to trade as he's so important to a defensively weak team (Shumpert and maybe Fields aside).

[Paully D]

Originally Posted by Lafortezza

I think he would have to take the Veteran's minimum though I could be wrong, Miami are maxed financially so would either have to release players or trade away somebody for picks to free up space. Even though Nash is old he can still get paid pretty well for a year or two.
If he wants a ring above everything else then Miami would be a good choice. Would suck to be Chalmers in that situation though.

Miller will probably go either by being amnestied or retiring which would free up almost $6m a year. There's others like Howard, House and Curry who will become free agents this offseason which will save Miami a further $3m-$4m on the salary cap.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/miami.htm

That would be a nice bit of money for Miami to work with. I think they can pay Nash the mid-level exception anyway.

Imagine how good they would be with Nash, Wade, LeBron and Bosh in their starting line up

[Borisss]

Nash is pretty adamant he can have three more years fully healthy.

Will be bummed if we lose Lin though after the enthusiasm and life he put back into the franchise.

Nash would be a sweetner though, not sure why he'd go to Miami when he's already practically based in NY.

Also, if Rondo gets traded I can see OKC being interested and moving Westbrook to the 2.

[malistheman]

Yeah I'd say Miller retiring is a certainty. He's been in the league a long time (13 years I think) and finally got a ring this season. Add in his back problems and I'd say he's a certainty. Battier will retire too probably

[killwill]

Originally Posted by malachyscott

Yeah I'd say Miller retiring is a certainty. He's been in the league a long time (13 years I think) and finally got a ring this season. Add in his back problems and I'd say he's a certainty. Battier will retire too probably

I reckon Miller is a certainty alright. Battier surely has another good season in him .Maybe not at the Heat though.

What is the story with Lin? My understanding of the situation is that an arbitrator rules in favour of the Knicks going over their budget to resign Lin. Is this correct? I have a good knowledge of offensive and defencive plays and such but when it comes to off the court stuff I suck tbh.

[raze]

Originally Posted by Borisss

Also, if Rondo gets traded I can see OKC being interested and moving Westbrook to the 2.

How much of a prospect is there of Rondo being traded? He's never been more valuable to the Cs, and he's got a good relationship with Rivers.

By the end of the season the team totally relied on him to probe for a single pass, so he was the only essential part of their offense.

While the Celtics have extensive rebuilding to be done all the veterans have said that the attitude is already there that it's Rondo's team and has been for a season. So while they couldn't buy an offensive rebound, nor attack on transition, if they do get players who can contribute in that way Rondo has a better opportunity to expand his game with the team he already plays for.

And the cap room has to be there for him to be duly rewarded with so many other players in flux.

That said, I haven't been following NBA long, and this is the first time I'm paying attention to a close season - so if I'm not reading it correctly, apologies.

Originally Posted by killwill

Very true but what a loss he will be for OKC. Great defence, strong drive and a good shot.
Great addition for any other team interested. And he deserves to be a starter too.

He may deserve to be a starter but the Thunder have tried starting him in the season and his stats took a nosedive and afterward he requested to go back to the sixth man. He's always streaky, but not very clutch from what I saw in the Finals, and his defence is adequate at best. Nonetheless, a good player, but I'm not totally convinced his potential is as high as some would suggest. (Arbitrarily, I'll like him more when I see him without that beard.)

He's far more interchangeable than Ibaka for OKC.