BGleas

Yeah, I think he should definitely be on the list. I think he's doubtful though, as I believe he has a son on the team now and another that's maybe a senior in high school that will probably go to Michigan. Off the top of my head, my list for the Celtics would be something like Billups, Cassell, Howard, Hammon, Lawson...

I don't know. I'm sure he was emotional after the game, so you can't take this as what he'll be feeling in a few weeks, but he did post this after the game...Notice the caption.

That would be a good option for the Pacers. I'd also look at guys like Billups and Sam Cassell (same for Boston).

Will never happen, but every GM in the league must be calling Portland today... Jaylen Brown/Romeo Langford for Dame Lilliard. Of course the Celtics would have to throw in several picks, and then find a trade partner for Kemba. http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=y5g7jh6m

Starting matters because it's about depth. If Hardaway and Kleber are coming off the bench as your 6th/7th men, then that means you have two better players starting in their positions. That is a deep team that is probably a legit title contender. As currently constructed, the Mavs need Luka to be Superman to win a title. Don't get me wrong they're still a good team, and with the Lakers so banged up I could see Dallas making a run to the Finals, but having Hardaway and Kleber off the bench makes Dallas a legit, deep contender.

You're working hard to get Turner and Warren traded 🤣

And yet you never hear a peep about that from fans and media. I understand they play more games in MLB, but at the same time the travel is less impactful (you stay in the same city for 3-4 days at a time) and the sport is not as strenuous physically.

Good thing IU's roster is full, we wouldn't want a player that selfish at IU

I can't think of a single team that LeBron has been on the would even be a title contender, let alone a title favorite, without LeBron?

Just to note, I'm not even a LeBron guy. I can't stand him as a Celtics fan that battled him for years. I root for him to lose every series.

LeBron is regarded as one of the best teammates and leaders you can have in basketball, so not really sure what your point is here? LeBron had a high ankle sprain that isn't going to be fully healed until the offseason and he's playing through it. I'm sorry he hasn't had a more severe injury to fight through.

You don't think LeBron James isn't playing on a compromised ankle right now? I'll take LeBron James' resume of performance, winning and leadership over all of those guys. He's the most successful team sport athlete on that list in terms of his numbers and winning, literally dragging teams to the Finals.

It's nothing new. The ultra-talented have always had more leverage and power, and again its not just athletes and entertainers, it applies to any profession that is a commodity (doctors, top CEO's, politicians, scientists, etc.)

Also, LeBron has never really load managed. He had 10 day or something rest in his 2nd or 3rd year with Cleveland (the 2nd stint) but otherwise LeBron doesn't really load manage. Why don't people get mad when baseball players take games off? The travel in the NBA is way, way worse. The NBA is far more taxing on your body, etc., etc.

He's arguably the greatest basketball player that has ever walked the Earth. You really don't think LeBron James hasn't given the fans their money's worth? That's an odd stance to take on a guy that has dragged a few teams to the Finals (I'm not even a LeBron guy) The guy has played the equivalent of close to 40 college basketball seasons, not counting his playoff games. He's been to 10 NBA Finals, etc., etc.

You're promised 48 minutes of basketball, not 48 minutes of LeBron James. There's not a player that averages 48 minutes per game.

It's not my reality, it is the reality, and it's not just athletes. Anyone that is ultra-talented and that talent is a commodity is going to have a different set of leverage or even rules.

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on the perspective you come at it with, the ultra-talented, ultra-famous and ultra-rich have way more leverage and often a different set of rules than they everyday Joe person that has a contract at their job. It's just the reality of the world. LeBron James is the most valuable basketball player on the planet, he can walk off with 5 minutes left if he wants.

What does one have to do with the other? Your friend that works in construction has no leverage or power and isn't in the top 1% of their field in the world. A top NBA player makes hundreds of millions of dollars and is a commodity that the NBA, their teams and partners have invested millions to billions in, and the team needs their commodity healthy for the playoffs and the long term. They're not relatable at all.

This. There is no comparison between what NBA players put their bodies through and what college players do. The travel alone for NBA teams is unparalleled. Different city every night. Semi-regular back-to-backs, etc. I've landed in Boston at 2am after a game and then we had a home game that night. I was just an office guy and the season was exhausting, can't imagine how the players do it. That doesn't mean I love the rest games guys take in this era, but I do get it, and there is no comparison for college guys.

Not everyone has to like all the same things of course. Would be boring if we all did. I'm not trying to get into another NBA debate, and I get that it's not for everyone just as college basketball isn't for everyone. The only thing I try to do is push back against false narratives that people push about the NBA, and there are a lot of them.

Most teams at all levels that play hard, with urgency and intensity win. My point was the idea that NBA players don't play hard and college players all play hard all the time is an extremely false narrative.