2018 NBA OFFSEASON

Irving says he's aware that he's been linked to Jimmy Butler in persistent free-agent rumors regarding a mutual desire to play together in New York, but he says he's had no such discussions with Butler. In fact, he says, the last time he talked to Butler at length was when they were both playing with USA Basketball, and the two engaged in a spit-balling session along with Durant and Cousins about what the future held for each of them.

"And that,'' Irving laughs, "was in 2016.''

"Who wouldn't be a part of this?" Irving says, gesturing to Boston's new practice facility. "Who wouldn't want to be a part of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and Al Horford and Gordon Hayward? People keep saying, 'Why won't he commit to Boston?'

"Well, there are financial implications involved.''

If Irving had signed an extension with Boston this past summer, he would have potentially left more than $80 million on the table than if he waits and re-signs with the Celtics next summer.

"I'm accepting it's going to be a constant story,'' Irving shrugs. "It's a point in my professional career where it is a big-time decision. I've been away from Cleveland officially for a year now, and I'm finally getting acclimated in Boston.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/24756416/kyrie-irving-talks-boston-celtics

wow good for jackie getting him to talk so much. he could still do anything and i wouldn't be surprised but that was comforting to read.

yeah i mean he seems happy on the celtics, he cldnt ask for a better basketball situation, theres always the chance he just feels like he needs to be on the knicks or whatever, but it doesnt really make sense

KAT is so frustrating. i don't have rooting interests either way, but he's such an offensive talent that it pains me to see him suck so bad on defense.

i'm the weirdo who actually likes the goaltending rule as-is. it feels right to have to let the shot go in or not on its own as long as it still has a chance.

after more thought i don't actually like the offensive rebound thing and also don't think anything else should set the clock to 14 the only options should be back to 24 or paused

kat signed 5/190

hmmm

Thibodeau’s general manager, Scott Layden, had been shutting down trade inquires for Butler in recent days, and Taylor has demanded that Layden not only take calls on potential deals, but reach out to initiate conversations, league sources said. This is all really...unique. https://t.co/RwoI9RSvGz

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2018

i....agree with glen taylor?

also it's really fucking with me that this is being reported as a super-max extension on espn dot com, this is a 30% max extension, not the 35% supermax.

fake news

Never forget when Muggsy Bogues and Charles Barkley tricked JR Reid into thinking he was traded to the Sixers lmao. I mean they had the fake interviews and everything. pic.twitter.com/0bTGCKaBnM

— Jasmine (@JasmineLWatkins) September 21, 2018

Think the won’t be eligible for the super duper max until his next contract.

But this is the most they can give him i think. Same deal booker got. Both players will have the same problem of not being able to get their teams anywhere meaningful if they aren’t willing to commit consistent effort on the defensive end.

yeah, it's the most they can give him. it's the traditional max contract. the 35% designated veteran they added in the last CBA is the supermax. espn is just using the wrong word.

concept

https://i.imgur.com/wcCDncw.png

i'm starting to get a little.....protective of tatum.

he has mvp potential, ant davis has mvp fulfillment

he's not 6'8". It'd never work.

hmm prob true

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dn3cOp1U4AAWnU6.jpg

feel the joy

speaking of davis

Anthony Davis has signed with agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) September 23, 2018

and he bought a house in l.a. so commence the speculation that will likely turn out to be accurate.

eh hes got 3 years left on his contract

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— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) September 24, 2018

We off to a great start with Kawhi in Toronto pic.twitter.com/tzME93Kucq

— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) September 24, 2018

i'm a fun guy

oh, spottie got it in the other thread.

what a weird ass dude

weird energy for sure

oh my god I cannot stop laughing at this

LeBron's Worst Nightmare. ☠ #NBA2K19 pic.twitter.com/Wmdc5HgEjx

— Shady00018 (@Shady00018) September 20, 2018

just heard a rumor that kd is going to ny next year, why is it popular for elite free agents to be rumored to be future knicks these days idgi

haven't we talked before abt the kyrie/durant to knicks rumors that were flying a couple months back?

While Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson insists that Lonzo Ball corrected his shaky jumper and is prepared for “a breakout season,” and newest L.A. superstar LeBron James suggested that the second-year point guard is “destined for greatness,” the oft-criticized and highly scrutinized 20-year-old will have to achieve both from the bench, at least to start the season.

“Luke Walton told me today that Rajon Rondo will be the Lakers’ starting point guard to start the year,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said on the radio on Monday, via Silver Screen and Roll. McMenamin clarified in print on Tuesday, via ESPN colleague Ohm Youngmisuk, that Walton’s plan is to start Rondo at the point “as Ball makes his way back” from the surgery to mend his torn left meniscus in mid-July.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/rajon-rondo-will-start-point-guard-lakers-just-cleared-lonzo-ball-192349045.html

at first i was like wtf but he is coming off a pretty major surgery

haven't we talked before abt the kyrie/durant to knicks rumors that were flying a couple months back?

― Clay, Tuesday, September 25, 2018 7:38 PM (two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

feel like i only heard kyrie/butler?

tbf ball is bad tho also xp

this knee situation is actually a perfect cover to hold him out the whole season to learn to shoot from the normal side of his head

Dame Lillard says he'll play off ball more https://t.co/4jCQua7Q7M

— Rotoworld Basketball (@Rotoworld_BK) September 26, 2018

this has gotta be the last year for the mccollum-lillard situation

Excited to read that every 7 footer is going to shoot 3 pointers now.

i'm watching the first episode of this basketball a love story thing on espn and it's really wonderful. they've got present-day bob cousy getting fired up about games that happened 60 years ago! there was a whole section on signature moves where they have a.i. talking crossover, wes unseld talking outlet passes, etc...this thing comes from the heart.

90-year old bob cousy talking about traveling through the jim crow south and saying he felt ashamed to be white is something

tbf ball is bad tho also xp

― sprout god (lag∞n), Tuesday, September 25, 2018 7:42 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

wtf I thought you were one of the ball is actually good bros

the eps of “basketball a love story” I’ve seen have been great

what im the original ball hater on this site

haven't we talked before abt the kyrie/durant to knicks rumors that were flying a couple months back?

― Clay, Tuesday, September 25, 2018 7:38 PM (two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

feel like i only heard kyrie/butler?

― sprout god (lag∞n), Tuesday, September 25, 2018 4:41 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

gonna be wild when jimmy, kyrie and kd join the knicks in a year.

― Hall of Fam (Spottie), Friday, July 13, 2018 12:28 PM (two months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

kd to the knicks seems like a thing that could happen

― InfoWarriors (Spottie), Wednesday, July 25, 2018 8:25 PM (two months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

for anyone interested in watching 10+ minutes of nba stars practicing and interacting (KD and Russ seem cordial) here you go:

I think KD wants to play with Kyrie at some point. They are always heaping praise on eachother and they hang out a lot and Kyrie is obv gonna leave boston...

― InfoWarriors (Spottie), Thursday, July 26, 2018 5:32 PM (two months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

kd, kyrie. and butler to new york confirmed

― 21st savagery fox (m bison), Thursday, July 26, 2018 5:35 PM (two months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I’m just messing to razz up ilceltics. More fun to speculate and spread nonsense. We don’t really know Kyrie very well tbf who knows what he wants, same w KD, but I know they are friends and always go out of their way to hype up the other and everyone always speculated Kd is gonna bounce.

― InfoWarriors (Spottie), Thursday, August 2, 2018 8:18 PM (one month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i've seen the kd & irving to knicks thing outside of ilx fwiw

and yes welcome back goon

― Clay, Thursday, August 2, 2018 8:27 PM (one month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ha i have no memory of that, anyway kyrie is saying ~all the right things~ as far as staying with the celtics none of this i focusing on this season then well see what happens, which makes sense to me the celtics are championship contenders and the knicks are the knicks

When you're a Knick
You're a Knick all the way
From your first 3 point brick
To your last dyin' day

Phoenix's pursuit of a starting point guard could factor into the Jimmy Butler trade discussions as a potential third-team partner, league sources tell ESPN. If Minnesota trades for Goran Dragic in a Miami/Butler scenario, that could make Wolves PG Jeff Teague available for Suns.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 26, 2018

the suns not having a viable pg (the most stacked position) three weeks before opening night is very suns.

the suns should trade for goran dragic