Around The Horn 2021-2022 Season

I’m not going to let Ben completely off the hook for other reasons but for everyone scoffing at him for not playing because of his back issues, here’s to you.
I couldn’t believe how many players were questioning it saying ignorant stuff like “Duh how can he have a hurt back if he hasn’t played” For fans questioning it I get it, fans don't know any better they just want players out there because after all, they make millions and are not human beings. For athletes to even utter something about playing and back issues is ignorance to the max.
I haven’t played ball for 20 yrs and I have back issues. I’m willing to bet that most of us on this board has had some issues with their back. Hell, I just got a spasm writing this ( I’m only serious). But honestly, I did have spasms 2 weeks ago and i’m still sore AND I wasn’t playing sports, I was in a chair working on a computer.
So, Ben has his issues and deserved to be taken to task for them but to intimate that he’s been malingering and faking back issues was totally unfair.

dbrown4 wrote:Yeah, Stephen A. was going off on FT about this.  Still not backing down (no pun intended) and saying BS is going to be the main reason for the insertion of the new play to pay/pay to play clause in the upcoming CBA, next to Kryrie, of course.  

Again for BS, this creates more questions than it answers which for BKN is par for the course.

db

I wonder how Stephen A would've liked it if people doubted him when he claims to have busted his knee while playing at Winston Salem college back in the day. I can hear his loud big ass mouth going off right now. (And so can every moose in Canada)

I don't think anyone following the BS saga has a problem with his now needing back surgery or how it happened (Stephen A. definitely has a problem with but the rest of us have no clue and can only react to what has been revealed).  If he needs back surgery, Lord help him and go get it done.

The problem is with all this has been in the revelation, dissemination and sequencing of all the news surrounding this "poor" kid beginning in PHI.  Some may correctly argue and say it goes all the way back to LSU days or further.  Nothing adds up just like it doesn't all add up with Kryrie.    

Ktron, you can clarify this for all of us but it sounds like BS does his own PR.  We have a 20-something year old under the hot lights of the NBA, being a superstar having to handle his own perception of himself and daily facing a savvy media and publicly scrutinizing fan base.  Being his own PR person his own way has clearly blown up in his face via the unpinned hand grenade.  Now, no one can believe what comes out of his mouth.  Period.  Anything he says now, unless he hires someone to do a PR makeover, will continue to be met with monumental scrutiny requiring volumes of proof beyond a shadow of a doubt.  No simple yes or no answers will do now.  

Add in the general perception of the BKN organization is sketchy at best.  They really need a PR person as well.  I think all of this whole BKN mess started out somewhere as maybe a little white lie hoping the press would buy it (and I can't clarify the "it" or when "it" happened.  All I can see is where I'm at right now.  But "it" started somewhere) and move on.  And maybe at first the press did say to themselves, well "that" makes sense.  OK, next issue!  But somewhere along the line what started out as an innocuous white lie, the snowball started getting bigger and bigger and then at some point, things began to sound a bit fishy coming out of BKN.    

When I was down and out from my first divorce with no job, no money, and child support due, I thought was the master of covering myself.  I'd tell one little lie and no one would fact check it.  Then I'd get bold and try it again.  And again, and again.  But you eventually get caught.  When you are desperate, these are some of the things that you do.  I know first hand what desperation looks like and what is going on in BKN throughout looks exactly like this.  

This is to say that not only do I believe BS is now desperate but the BKN organization is definitely desperate.  Wouldn't you be with that cast of characters all milling around thinking they own the place?  There has to be so much yelling and screaming going on in the front office and on the court right now it's beyond belief!!  Oh, to be a fly on the wall.  

Unfortunately for him, BS has gone from the frying pan of PHI to the fire of BKN.  He's clearly crying out for attention.  It's just the wrong kind of attention he's getting back.  There is no filter.  Not what he was hoping for.  Hmmmm.  This should sound VERY familiar...Just like Kryrie.    

That said, what do you do?  Well, someone has to pay the price.  What's the price?  BS has a damaged image.  That can be fixed.  BKN definitely has a jacked up image and persona.  They can keep that and turn it into something positive like the Bad Boys of Detroit did or go off in another direction.  But it is fixable.

BS can't sell himself by himself anymore.  That has miserably failed.  He's fired.  And the damage of him speaking for himself or letting his actions speak for himself may have been so sever and may have forced him to have to start all over, who knows.  I certainly did. But right now, like it or not, no one believes him.  Period.  End of story.

db

I'm not calling Ben Simmons "a malingerer" (I know nobody has said I did, but for the record...).  He has said he has mental issues, which I also do not doubt.  Fears are real to those experiencing them (in Ben's case that would include taking 3 point fgas).  If, however, you are unable to do your job because of those fears you need to either overcome them (easier said than done in many cases) or you need to find a new line of work.  Now that Ben Simmons is no longer facing Philly fans I expect him to conquer one particular fear.  The 3pt fga one I'm not as confident in.

Physically, I don't understand why it took him so long to get this procedure.  I'm not doubting he needs it, I'm just wondering why he didn't git'er done?  He complained about back issues all of of last season.  Are we to believe neither Simmons nor the Sixers nor the Nets knew about this impinged vertebrae?  Of course they did, all of them.  Were they hoping that his spine would suddenly magically realign itself and it would go away?  As ktron pointed out many people have back problems and know that's not how things work.  If you pull a muscle, sure, but not if it's a spine thing.  That often requires more than just rest.  Why did Ben wait?  Did he really think it might magically heal?  Who's his orthopedic surgeon, Sweeney Todd? The recovery time for Ben's microdissection is now being put at 3-4 weeks. He was traded to the Nets on February 10th. Assuming he didn't trust the Sixers' medical staff he still could have had the surgery in the 3rd week of February and been back for Game 1 of their series against the Celtics starting on April 17th. April 17th is 9 weeks after he was traded.

"Curiouser and curiouser", said Alice.


Bob


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First, I’m not sure who does what for Ben Simmons. I do know that up until now and I haven’t heard anything to the contrary so I’ll assume that Rich Paul is still his agent. I don't know if there is an in-house PR person within Paul’s agency or not so as far as public relations go, I haven’t a clue. If it happens to be Ben himself, I agree, its a mistake that needs to be corrected. The only athlete that I know of that didn't need a PR person was Muhammad Ali. Quick story- Ali hired a former co-worker of mine to handle his PR and that came and went within 6 months. It wasn’t long before the former co-worker became once again a co-worker and his explanation was “What the hell was I thinking and what was was Ali thinking. Why would the greatest PR person in sports need a PR person? Ali didn't and doesn't so I gracefully bowed out and bounced back to what I love doing and that is radio” . Basically he literally did nothing the entire time he was there but Ali liked him so much that he wanted him to work for him.
I know Ive gotten a little side tracked but basically, unless one has the personality type of a Muhammad Ali one best try and find someone to handle the PR.
Clearly Ben’s personality doesn't even come close. I’ve watched his documentary and have followed him since he’s been in the NBA and he says nothing over and over again. So, if he does have a PR person other than himself, that person needs to be fired. If its he himself doing the PR than he needs to be fire himself -twice. The second time as a reminder to never ever think about what he did in the first place.

Bob, you raise some very good questions. Why did it take so long for this to be diagnosed, what did they know or what didn’t they know? I know and have been told that back surgery should always be the last resort so maybe they were trying avoid it by trying other methods which they later discovered wasn’t going to work. If so, they should have been more transparent about it and maybe folks wouldn't be so speculative about it. Instead it was Left lingering so I agree, it was and still is a bad look. The one thing I will always admired about Antoine Walker was as soon as it got out that he was damn near broke, he took to media and explained it. One person interviewing him asked what made him go public and talk with media concerning his personal finances and his answer was “Be cause I wanted to get ahead of it. If I said nothing, people would start speculating and creating their own narratives. By doing this, they’re hearing why and how the entire embarrassing situation came about and they’re hearing it from the person they should be hearing from -Antoine Walker.”

The entire Simmons saga is a mess shrouded in secrecy and it all can go away quickly if and when he gets back on the court and plays basketball at the level that was once expected of him. We’ll see.

bobheckler wrote:I'm not calling Ben Simmons "a malingerer" (I know nobody has said I did, but for the record...).  He has said he has mental issues, which I also do not doubt.  Fears are real to those experiencing them (in Ben's case that would include taking 3 point fgas).  If, however, you are unable to do your job because of those fears you need to either overcome them (easier said than done in many cases) or you need to find a new line of work.  Now that Ben Simmons is no longer facing Philly fans I expect him to conquer one particular fear.  The 3pt fga one I'm not as confident in.

Physically, I don't understand why it took him so long to get this procedure.  I'm not doubting he needs it, I'm just wondering why he didn't git'er done?  He complained about back issues all of of last season.  Are we to believe neither Simmons nor the Sixers nor the Nets knew about this impinged vertebrae?  Of course they did, all of them.  Were they hoping that his spine would suddenly magically realign itself and it would go away?  As ktron pointed out many people have back problems and know that's not how things work.  If you pull a muscle, sure, but not if it's a spine thing.  That often requires more than just rest.  Why did Ben wait?  Did he really think it might magically heal?  Who's his orthopedic surgeon, Sweeney Todd?  The recovery time for Ben's microdissection is now being put at 3-4 weeks.  He was traded to the Nets on February 10th.  Assuming he didn't trust the Sixers' medical staff he still could have had the surgery in the 3rd week of February and been back for Game 1 of their series against the Celtics starting on April 17th.  April 17th is 9 weeks after he was traded.

"Curiouser and curiouser", said Alice.


Bob


.

Bob, is it 3-4 weeks or 3-4 months?
Im hearing he won’t be returning until Sept-Oct

Ktron wrote:

bobheckler wrote:I'm not calling Ben Simmons "a malingerer" (I know nobody has said I did, but for the record...).  He has said he has mental issues, which I also do not doubt.  Fears are real to those experiencing them (in Ben's case that would include taking 3 point fgas).  If, however, you are unable to do your job because of those fears you need to either overcome them (easier said than done in many cases) or you need to find a new line of work.  Now that Ben Simmons is no longer facing Philly fans I expect him to conquer one particular fear.  The 3pt fga one I'm not as confident in.

Physically, I don't understand why it took him so long to get this procedure.  I'm not doubting he needs it, I'm just wondering why he didn't git'er done?  He complained about back issues all of of last season.  Are we to believe neither Simmons nor the Sixers nor the Nets knew about this impinged vertebrae?  Of course they did, all of them.  Were they hoping that his spine would suddenly magically realign itself and it would go away?  As ktron pointed out many people have back problems and know that's not how things work.  If you pull a muscle, sure, but not if it's a spine thing.  That often requires more than just rest.  Why did Ben wait?  Did he really think it might magically heal?  Who's his orthopedic surgeon, Sweeney Todd?  The recovery time for Ben's microdissection is now being put at 3-4 weeks.  He was traded to the Nets on February 10th.  Assuming he didn't trust the Sixers' medical staff he still could have had the surgery in the 3rd week of February and been back for Game 1 of their series against the Celtics starting on April 17th.  April 17th is 9 weeks after he was traded.

"Curiouser and curiouser", said Alice.


Bob


.

Bob, is it 3-4 weeks or 3-4 months?
Im hearing he won’t be  returning until Sept-Oct

ktron,

You are quite correct.  I said 3-4 weeks, all my analysis from there on was based upon that timeframe, and I was wrong.  It is 3-4 months.

Thank you for correcting the record.


Bob


.

bobheckler wrote:

Ktron wrote:

bobheckler wrote:I'm not calling Ben Simmons "a malingerer" (I know nobody has said I did, but for the record...).  He has said he has mental issues, which I also do not doubt.  Fears are real to those experiencing them (in Ben's case that would include taking 3 point fgas).  If, however, you are unable to do your job because of those fears you need to either overcome them (easier said than done in many cases) or you need to find a new line of work.  Now that Ben Simmons is no longer facing Philly fans I expect him to conquer one particular fear.  The 3pt fga one I'm not as confident in.

Physically, I don't understand why it took him so long to get this procedure.  I'm not doubting he needs it, I'm just wondering why he didn't git'er done?  He complained about back issues all of of last season.  Are we to believe neither Simmons nor the Sixers nor the Nets knew about this impinged vertebrae?  Of course they did, all of them.  Were they hoping that his spine would suddenly magically realign itself and it would go away?  As ktron pointed out many people have back problems and know that's not how things work.  If you pull a muscle, sure, but not if it's a spine thing.  That often requires more than just rest.  Why did Ben wait?  Did he really think it might magically heal?  Who's his orthopedic surgeon, Sweeney Todd?  The recovery time for Ben's microdissection is now being put at 3-4 weeks.  He was traded to the Nets on February 10th.  Assuming he didn't trust the Sixers' medical staff he still could have had the surgery in the 3rd week of February and been back for Game 1 of their series against the Celtics starting on April 17th.  April 17th is 9 weeks after he was traded.

"Curiouser and curiouser", said Alice.


Bob


.

Bob, is it 3-4 weeks or 3-4 months?
Im hearing he won’t be  returning until Sept-Oct

ktron,

You are quite correct.  I said 3-4 weeks, all my analysis from there on was based upon that timeframe, and I was wrong.  It is 3-4 months.

Thank you for correcting the record.


Bob


.

We may never see Simmons on the floor in a Net uniform….

The biggest failure that this young man may have is the fear of failure. From his early years he has been touted as a rising star. Those who worked with him all these years had to have seen the flaw in his game. Now it has become a major issue. You are right though, maybe a change of scenery will help him to rise above all of this and he will become the superstar he is being paid to be. Mental issues can take a while to overcome, for his sake I hope he gets the proper help he needs

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/05/kyrie-irving-wearing-out-welcome-with-nets-sean-marks-non-committal-about-guards-long-term-future-with-team.html



Kyrie Irving wearing out welcome with Nets? Sean Marks non-committal about guard’s long-term future with team



Updated: May. 11, 2022, 1:13 p.m. | Published: May. 11, 2022, 1:12 p.m.


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



Kyrie Irving said after the Nets were swept by the Celtics in the first round that he considered himself as a part of the Nets decision-makers to get the team back on track this offseason.

“It’s a co-management relationship,” Irving said last month of the setup between himself, Kevin Durant and Nets GM Sean Marks. “When I say I’m here with Kev, I think that it really entails us managing this franchise together alongside Joe [Tsai, the owner] and Sean and just our group of family members that we have in our locker room and our organization, I think we just got to make some moves this offseason and really talk about it and really be intentional about what we’re building and have some fun with it.”


However, that assumption may have been a bit premature by the All-Star after a tumultuous season for the franchise. In a press conference on Wednesday, Marks refused to make a long-term commitment towards having Irving on the roster.

“I think that’s something we’ve been discussing and will continue to debrief on and discuss throughout the offseason,” Marks said. “Honestly, it’s not just Kyrie. We have decisions to make on a variety of free agents throughout our roster.”

Irving holds a $36.5 million player option for next season but he’s also eligible for an extension worth nearly $200 million over five years if he elects to decline it.

“We haven’t had any of those discussions yet so it would be unfair for me to comment on how it looks with us and Kyrie because to be quite frank, he has some decisions to make on his own,” Marks said. “He has to look at what he will do with his player option and so forth.”

However with Irving having played just 93 games during his first three seasons with the franchise, it’s apparent now that it’s no slam dunk the team will put all of their eggs in Irving’s basket without a better feeling about the relationship with the All-star.

“I think we know what we are looking for guys that want to come in here and be part of something bigger than themselves,” Irving said. “Play selfless and team basketball and be available. That goes not only for Kyrie but everyone here.”

The Nets already have $156 million in payroll committed for next season to just nine players (including Irving on his player option) so there would be no easy path to replacing Irving’s production if the team elected to trade him (or if he opts out and signs elsewhere). The team would not have cap room in said scenario, only the mid-level exception and some trade exceptions.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Not exactly an effusive embrace by GM Sean Marks, especially given that Kyrie has said he wants to stay with the Nets in the future and Marks has no control over whether Kyrie chooses to exercise his player option.  He said Kyrie has to decide what to do about his option.  There'd be nothing to decide if Marks was willing to offer him a full extension, would there?  Kyrie has flat-out said he wants to be extended.  The question, therefore, is "do the Nets front office want him and, if they do, are they willing to pay him his price?".  My gut, right now, says "no".  His 21/5 playoff numbers vs Boston are not max contract numbers.  Throw in his belief that he's some kind of "GM/Coach/Player" platypus and I think Sean Marks is on the phone already with Laker GM LeBron James about swapping Kyrie for Westbrook (UNLESS there is still bad blood between KD and Westbrook because of how KD left OKC for GSW.  Rumors say they're back to being friends again). I presume LA would have to throw in some draft picks, Westbrook is 3 1/2 years older (33 1/2 vs 30).


.

bobheckler wrote:https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/05/kyrie-irving-wearing-out-welcome-with-nets-sean-marks-non-committal-about-guards-long-term-future-with-team.html



Kyrie Irving wearing out welcome with Nets? Sean Marks non-committal about guard’s long-term future with team



Updated: May. 11, 2022, 1:13 p.m. | Published: May. 11, 2022, 1:12 p.m.


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



Kyrie Irving said after the Nets were swept by the Celtics in the first round that he considered himself as a part of the Nets decision-makers to get the team back on track this offseason.

“It’s a co-management relationship,” Irving said last month of the setup between himself, Kevin Durant and Nets GM Sean Marks. “When I say I’m here with Kev, I think that it really entails us managing this franchise together alongside Joe [Tsai, the owner] and Sean and just our group of family members that we have in our locker room and our organization, I think we just got to make some moves this offseason and really talk about it and really be intentional about what we’re building and have some fun with it.”


However, that assumption may have been a bit premature by the All-Star after a tumultuous season for the franchise. In a press conference on Wednesday, Marks refused to make a long-term commitment towards having Irving on the roster.

“I think that’s something we’ve been discussing and will continue to debrief on and discuss throughout the offseason,” Marks said. “Honestly, it’s not just Kyrie. We have decisions to make on a variety of free agents throughout our roster.”

Irving holds a $36.5 million player option for next season but he’s also eligible for an extension worth nearly $200 million over five years if he elects to decline it.

“We haven’t had any of those discussions yet so it would be unfair for me to comment on how it looks with us and Kyrie because to be quite frank, he has some decisions to make on his own,” Marks said. “He has to look at what he will do with his player option and so forth.”

However with Irving having played just 93 games during his first three seasons with the franchise, it’s apparent now that it’s no slam dunk the team will put all of their eggs in Irving’s basket without a better feeling about the relationship with the All-star.

“I think we know what we are looking for guys that want to come in here and be part of something bigger than themselves,” Irving said. “Play selfless and team basketball and be available. That goes not only for Kyrie but everyone here.”

The Nets already have $156 million in payroll committed for next season to just nine players (including Irving on his player option) so there would be no easy path to replacing Irving’s production if the team elected to trade him (or if he opts out and signs elsewhere). The team would not have cap room in said scenario, only the mid-level exception and some trade exceptions.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Not exactly an effusive embrace by GM Sean Marks, especially given that Kyrie has said he wants to stay with the Nets in the future and Marks has no control over whether Kyrie chooses to exercise his player option.  He said Kyrie has to decide what to do about his option.  There'd be nothing to decide if Marks was willing to offer him a full extension, would there?  Kyrie has flat-out said he wants to be extended.  The question, therefore, is "do the Nets front office want him and, if they do, are they willing to pay him his price?".  My gut, right now, says "no".  His 21/5 playoff numbers vs Boston are not max contract numbers.  Throw in his belief that he's some kind of "GM/Coach/Player" platypus and I think Sean Marks is on the phone already with Laker GM LeBron James about swapping Kyrie for Westbrook (UNLESS there is still bad blood between KD and Westbrook because of how KD left OKC for GSW.  Rumors say they're back to being friends again).  I presume LA would have to throw in some draft picks, Westbrook is 3 1/2 years older (33 1/2 vs 30).


.

But I thought that he and Kevin, Sean and Joe were going to sit down and figure out what management moves need to be made? Thats hilarious. Sounds like he wont be on the conference call after all.

If there is a good enough offer out there, Kyrie is gone. I am betting management was not happy with his decision making about the vaccination shot, and the time he took off. He has to be held responsible for the position they were in at the end of the season, working Durant to the bone to just make it into the playoffs. This guy has many teams he will be on before his career is over or….he retires young.

(In my Philly announcer voice) “ They're down to 41 secs and James Harden has taken 2 shots the entire second half. I believe Ben took more shots in our elimination game last year.” (In my Johnny Most voice ) “Thats it. Its over! Its all over. Philly has lost again. Its allll over”

Good bye Doc, good bye James Harden. (He is a loser)

Is that someone I hear sharpening up an ax?!!!!

db

P.S.  Don't forget Morey....He GONE!!!

P.S.S. Can't complain about Embiid. I was really worried for him. Something ain't right, especially with all that falling down. Philly looked desperate. You ain't seen nothing yet.

Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
about 8 hours ago
Joel Embiid: "I'm sure since we got him everybody expected the Houston James Harden, but that's not who he is anymore. He's more of a playmaker." In other words, if Embiid was the Philly GM, Harden shouldn't opt out of his last year thinking he'll get a full max deal.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Daryl Morey told Sixer fans to be patient, don't want or expect a quick trade on Simmons, because he wanted to wait for a good deal.  It sure isn't looking like this was worth waiting for.  Even if Simmons is just as done as Harden Morey also gave up Seth Curry and Drummond and two first round picks for Harden and 37 year old Paul Millsap.  Brooklyn now has Simmons and Kyrie, a non-shooter who needs the ball in his hands and a ballhog who demands the ball in his hands.  I have to believe one of those will be gone before next season.  Amar'e Stoudemire was an assistant coach for Brooklyn.  He just quit and, as he's walking out the door, took a shot at Kyrie's selfishness which, to me, is like making the world-shattering observation that water is wet.  Is he voicing the sentiment of the coaching staff and front office, and can say it because he's leaving, or is he leaving because he feels that way and nobody else does?

And as far as "The Process" is concerned all that is left is Embiid.  A pearl of great price, no doubt, but we just got reminded that basketball is a team sport and one player cannot do it alone.  All those years of suffering by Sixer fans, deliberately tanking for the #1 pick year after year after year, and all they've got to show for it is Joel Embiid and a ceiling.  That's why nothing beats winning.  Nothing succeeds like success.  LeBron won, and that's why people want to play with him.  Giannis won, that's why players want to play with him.  Nobody worth a damn is going to want to play with a team of 19-22 year old kindergarteners fresh out of college and new to the league.  Offer a needle-mover a contract with a contender and they'll sign up for a year or two to see if it can work.  Offer a needle-mover a contract on a rebuild project and they'll look at how much time they have left in their career and pass.  When was the last time a young team won a Championship?  Youth is wasted on the young.  It's the grizzled veteran with the thousand yard stare that will kill for what they want.  We want them.  Not everybody in green has to go up to the rafters.  Rentals like Eddie House or James Posey or even really short-timer like PJ Brown will help us get it done.  Tell me you wouldn't trade Nesmith for Terrence Ross, even though Nesmith is young and could have a decade of NBA play ahead of him and Ross is 31?  Ross is a stone-cold killa.  Nesmith is a puppy.



.

I don’t know how much Terrence Ross has left, but agree if Nesmith can’t show anything by early next year, he should be gone for a veteran sharpshooter.

Kelly Oubre would be a good fit here off the bench, not a perfect player, but a young veteran wing with length and can get hot and hit shots. Playing with and off 2 J’s and Smart and White he could really give the bench the spark we may never get from Nesmith.

I’m not in the Oubre camp. Sure he’s young and can get hot but I want consistency. Also he’s been on 4 teams in 7 yrs. 2 of those teams were GS and PHX. Thats a huge red flag for me. I’d pass on him not to him.

Ktron wrote:I’m not in the Oubre camp. Sure he’s young and can get hot but I want consistency. Also he’s been on 4 teams in 7 yrs. 2 of those teams were GS and PHX. Thats a huge red flag for me. I’d pass on him not to him.

I look at those as reasons he may be available, would you prefer Romeo or Nesmith over him? 2 kids that have done nothing, this guy can get hot, those other kids are still deers in headlights.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-76ers-not-expected-offer-221815066.html



Report: 76ers not expected to offer James Harden max contract


Dan Feldman
Mon, May 16, 2022, 3:18 PM


The Nets tried to sign James Harden to a three-year, $161,141,718 max contract extension in October. When his team traded for Harden in February, 76ers owner Josh Harris giddily declared, “This is going to be awesome.” In March, 76ers president Daryl Morey – who let Harden do whatever he wanted with the Rockets while heaping praise on the guard – called Harden “my basketball Jesus.”

But life comes at you fast.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN:

I think, at this point, nobody in the NBA believes that the 76ers are going to give James Harden a max contract.

Harden had a dreary postseason, especially his low-energy performance (zero points on two shots) in the second half of Philadelphia’s final game. Eligible to opt in and sign a max extension that’d pay him $270,179,999 over the next five years, Harden looked far from deserving of that deal.

The big question: What contract will Harden get?

Maybe he’ll exercise his $47,366,760 player option then try to sign long-term when his stock is higher. That’d be risky, but there’d be upside for the former MVP. He could get healthier and play better.

The 32-year-old could also opt out and sign a longer contract with a lower starting salary but more total compensation. That could be in conjunction with taking a discount to allow the 76ers to add a third star with Joel Embiid and Harden (or, cynically, a second star with Embiid). There are Bradley Beal rumors.

Harden could even explore free agency. Though he keeps saying he wants to be in Philadelphia, he said similar things about Brooklyn before forcing a trade. However, there isn’t an obvious outside suitor.

This likely come down to internal leverage between Harden and the 76ers. Once thought to be Philadelphia offering a max contract and Harden either accepting it or not (or choosing to take a discount), these negotiations will be more complicated.


Bob
MY NOTE:  


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MY NOTE: Cowens showed me this article.


https://www.delcotimes.com/2022/05/16/mccaffery-as-management-miscues-and-playoff-losses-mount-sixers-back-where-they-started/?utm_content=fb-delcotimes&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social



Years of horrible personnel choices left Sixers with wrong players


By JACK MCCAFFERY | jmccaffery@delcotimes.com | The Delaware County
Daily Times
PUBLISHED: May 16, 2022 at 3:16 a.m. | UPDATED: May 16, 2022 at 10:28 a.m.



PHILADELPHIA — Jimmy Butler demolished the 76ers in the second round of the playoffs, scoring at will, in big spots, against a variety of defenses.

Then, just in case not enough noticed, he demolished them again.

“Tobias Harris?” he snarled, in an outburst caught on video, “over me?”

Fair question, as a man who once tried to coach him might have said, but only in a Maine accent.

While nothing in pro sports is ever that uncomplicated, Butler’s flawless hindsight did supply a worthwhile talking point. The short version of his gripe was that he was a 76er, preferred to remain a 76er, but in 2019 was denied the kind of contract that would soon go to Harris. Thus, Butler did a cannon-ball into the free agent pool. And even if he missed some vital issues – specifically that he was a noted in-house pest who demanded to sit in on coaches’ meetings among other impolite actions – his remark did say plenty about how the Sixers have arrived back where they started.

They have again become one of those teams that qualifies for the playoffs only to lose quickly because they have had a series of personnel bosses who apparently didn’t like their jobs.

Anyone in the position to draft, sign or unearth basketball players will make the occasional talent-evaluation mistake. The difference with the Sixers is not that they failed to recognize the skills that may have been available through the usual tributaries, but that they have been frighteningly inept about recognizing the value of players they’d already decided they liked.

Accepting the realities of sinister agents, salary cap considerations and the factors that separate real talent acquisition from the rotisserie-league variety, consider what the Sixers would be in the 2022 tournament with this foundation:

• Joel Embiid, the MVP runner-up.

• Butler, the edgy, late-game leader they have acknowledged they lack.

• Jrue Holiday, the 18.3 ppg. scoring point guard and defensive force for the world champion Milwaukee Bucks.

• Mikal Bridges, a starting forward for the Suns, who had the best regular-season record in the NBA.

• Nik Vucevic, the ninth-leading rebounder in league history.

• Andre Iguodala, a Hall of Fame bound winner.

• Thad Young, a contributor for the Raptors, another with that toughness streak that is about to become an offseason priority.

• Seth Curry, a better shooter than James Harden.

• Tyrese Maxey, a developing All-Star.

Every one had been in a Sixers uniform, with the exception of Bridges. He was only in a Sixers hat before a Draft Night trade to acquire – wait for it – Zhaire Smith.

That constellation combined to earn $147 million this year, a manageable figure. With it, the Sixers could have filled out the roster with the kind of dollar-store backups who dirtied their celebrated rebuilding process and still won 65 games.

That didn’t happen, though, for a few reasons. Sam Hinkie was a huckster who knew nothing about judging a basketball player and even less about how to maintain an organization’s dignity. Bryan Colangelo was a legacy basketball executive caught in a burner-phone scandal that left his best player insulted on the socials. And Brett Brown was a coach by trade thrown into a personnel role for just long enough to mangle the Bridges situation. That think tank was followed by Elton Brand, who traded for Butler and then let him roll, and Daryl Morey, who just drafted three players who combined to provide 70 points as rookies.

“You have to have,” Morey decided the other day, “good fortune to win.”

A little better talent evaluation wouldn’t hurt, either. But yes, the Sixers go to the June 23 draft, still technically without one bloody pick in either of the two rounds. Beautiful, isn’t it? They spend nearly a decade trying to acquire assets so they are not the team that always disappears into the middle of the postseason crowd, then wind up exactly as that team but without any draft picks.

Then again, at least they won’t be able to do any Draft Night damage. They had the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft and came away with Ben Simmons, two picks before the Celtics found Jalen Brown. They maneuvered to grab the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft and came up with Markelle Fultz two picks before the Celtics found Jayson Tatum. They had Bridges – whose mother only worked for the organization, that’s all – and gave him away.

Obviously, the Sixers could not have kept all their players through all those years. And if they had, the salary structure would have been different. And Simmons had to go, complicating what Morey had to do this season. And every team makes the odd draft decision. And the drafting opportunities would have been different.

So to retro-fit any pro sports roster is but a fantasy exercise. Yet as the postseason rages, imagine what it would have been like if Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Mikal Bridges, Jrue Holiday and Seth Curry were in Sixers gear.

Better still, search for the old photos of when they were.


Bob
MY NOTE: And now Morey is faced with the question of what to do with James Harden, who has a $47M Player Option year coming up and there are serious questions as to how much he has left. He has NOT shown up in the proper physical shape the last few years. I feel sorry for Joel Embiid, I really do. He's an Honest-to-God warrior but his management has been completely incompetent.


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https://sports.yahoo.com/nets-unwilling-offer-kyrie-irving-161911545.html



Nets unwilling to offer Kyrie Irving long-term extension


Wed, May 25, 2022, 9:19 AM·3 min read


This is why, as I’ve already written, the Nets’ championship hopes hinge on an amicable solution with Kyrie Irving, whose personal decision not to get vaccinated and unpredictable injury history have left the Nets hesitant, and now, according to a source familiar with the Nets’ thought process, outright unwilling to give him a long-term extension.
Source: Kristian Winfield @ New York Daily News


What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Kyrie Irving @KyrieIrving
Protect our Youth, by any means necessary!
My prayers are with you
God/Creator.
Please place your hands on our families everywhere. – 8:15 AM

Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
I feel like it was yesterday when I was watching Jonathan Kuminga go off at the Kyrie Invitational at Barclays Center. Now he’s hitting big shots in the playoffs on a championship contender. – 11:28 PM

Ian Begley @IanBegley
Below is the voting for All-NBA teams, including players who received votes but didn’t make teams. Nets’ Kevin Durant made second team All-NBA. Kyrie Irving received one third-team vote: pic.twitter.com/3TpmV5TUFB – 8:32 PM

Ric Bucher @RicBucher
Messages to Harden and Kyrie Are Far Different shows.acast.com/bucher-and-fri… via @acast – 2:23 AM

Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Saw LeBron tweet about playing with KD and Kyrie and cooked up a trade to make it happen nydailynews.com/sports/basketb… – 5:52 PM

More on this storyline
Talks between Irving, Marks and Nets owner Joe Tsai have yet to happen. “I look forward to [it],” Marks told YES Network. “We have not had a conversation yet. So I look forward to getting in a room with him and Joe and his team, and we will. We’ll see what it looks like for Kyrie moving forward here, and what he needs from us and so forth. “So, again, it wouldn’t be right for me to comment on what hypothetical could happen, because we don’t know. We haven’t had those conversations with Kyrie yet. But when they do, we’ll see if it’s the right fit for both sides.” -via New York Post / May 18, 2022

If Irving opts out, he would be eligible for a four-year, $189.7 million extension or even a five-year, $245.6 million deal, with only the Nets able to offer him the fifth year. If he picks up his option, he could ink extensions of either three or four years, picking up in 2023-24, but that would require leaving more than $5 million on the table next season. The Nets should be expected to try to protect themselves, either with a shorter deal or baked-in incentives. Irving’s current four-year, $136 million deal contains a total of $4.3 million in incentives, per Spotrac, with $3 million of that so-called “unlikely bonuses.” -via New York Post / May 18, 2022

Kristian Winfield: Sean Marks says he hasn’t discussed a long-term extension with Kyrie Irving yet, and that Kyrie has to decide on his player option as well: “I think that’s been something we’ve been discussing and that’s something we’ll debrief on.” -via Twitter @Krisplashed / May 11, 2022


Bob
MY NOTE:  So I guess being a GM/Player is just as out of the question as being a Player/Coach, huh?

My opinion has been that the owners and the players have been making a killing and priced the average fan out of tickets.  I realize it's a free-market capitalist society we live in and everybody should get whatever the market will bear, blah, blah, blah; but I think that some players think they piss Perrier and crap eclairs and that arrogant, self-serving attitude is really annoying to those of us who actually do.  Kyrie Irving is the poster child of these players.  Two players I will not miss when they retire will be Kyrie Irving and Kyle Lowry.  Kyrie should get nudged off the edge of his flat Earth and Lowry should hurt himself faking a foul on himself, and then look in the mirror and whine about the lack of a whistle while at the same time complaining the whistle should have been blown sooner...on himself.

Bottom line: Maybe the Nets aren't as dumb as we think they are.


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https://sports.yahoo.com/report-deandre-ayton-likely-leave-190032005.html



Report: Deandre Ayton likely to leave Suns


Dan Feldman
Mon, June 6, 2022, 12:00 PM·1 min read


The Suns didn’t offer Deandre Ayton a max contract extension last offseason. They don’t want to offer him a $30 million salary this summer.

But he could draw a max offer sheet in restricted free agency. Keeping Ayton is Phoenix’s most direct path to a player anywhere near his caliber. Capped out, the Suns would be limited to about the mid-level exception for an outside free agent barring other major moves. In championship contention with an aging Chris Paul, this is not the time to take a step back.

How will Phoenix handle this dilemma?

James L. Edwards III and John Hollinger of The Athletic:

sources tell The Athletic that it’s “more likely than not” that Ayton plays somewhere other than Phoenix next season.

The way free agency takes off well before it officially opens, this could be more than mere speculation.

A sign-and-trade might be the solution for everyone involved. The Suns would get return for their talented 23-year-old. Ayton would get to a team willing to pay him and, therefore, more likely to give him a larger offensive role. The acquiring team would get Ayton without fearing Phoenix matching an offer sheet. If the acquiring team lacks cap space, a sign-and-trade would be even more helpful to that team.

It’s a lot to sort out.

Which is why teams and players sometimes get a head start on moves like this – and that maneuvering can leak.


Bob



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