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Q: Ira, saw you listed teams that could be in play for Giannis Antetokounmpo. But what about the Knicks? They haven’t won anything yet. – Salvatore.
A: You are correct, which potentially yet could have them in play for Giannis Antetokounmpo if there is any degree of a flop in the NBA Finals. While rising to such levels generally leads teams to remain intact, we’re already seeing potential splintering of the Cavaliers after their rise to the Eastern Conference finals and then collapse in that round against the Knicks. And New York, after all, did make a coaching change after advancing to last year’s East finals, firing Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with Mike Brown. So perhaps there could yet be a New York play for Giannis if Knicks’ big men Karl-Anthony Towns or Mitchell Robinson struggle against size in the NBA Finals. One thing we do know is that Giannis long has expressed an affection for New York, so perhaps he winds up arriving as savior should there be struggles in the Finals. To that degree, it could put the Giannis situation on further hold, considering Game 7 of the NBA Finals is not scheduled until June 19, with the first round of the NBA draft on June 23. So, potentially, we wait.
Q: Ira, these Heat builds don’t go forever. After a few years, things tend to go south for a few years until we recover. It happened after Alonzo Mourning-Tim Hardaway, Dwayne Wade-Shaquille O’Neal, the Big 3, Playoff Jimmy Butler. We’re going to be bad at the exact point we owe those first-rounders to Milwaukee in a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. It’s hard enough to recover when you have your picks. Why make it impossible? – John, Ocala.
A: And you might not be wrong. But the Heat also tend to live in the moments, and eventually do find their way to something better. Still, say the first-rounders going to Milwaukee in a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal are in 2031 and ’33, those would come at stages when Giannis would be 36 and 38. Then again, perhaps he proves to have the enduring durability of LeBron James or Kevin Durant?
Q: Let’s play what if: The Heat get Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James agrees to join for minimum money. Would Giannis, LeBron and Bam Adebayo be enough to make noise in the East? – Michael, Port St. Lucie.
A: Sure. But LeBron James is not playing for minimum money here, there or anywhere. So such fantasy is moot. As it is, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo should be enough to make noise in the East, since there is no OKC or San Antonio to go up against. Could those two make noise in the West? That is another question, but also moot.
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A: You are correct, which potentially yet could have them in play for Giannis Antetokounmpo if there is any degree of a flop in the NBA Finals. While rising to such levels generally leads teams to remain intact, we’re already seeing potential splintering of the Cavaliers after their rise to the Eastern Conference finals and then collapse in that round against the Knicks. And New York, after all, did make a coaching change after advancing to last year’s East finals, firing Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with Mike Brown. So perhaps there could yet be a New York play for Giannis if Knicks’ big men Karl-Anthony Towns or Mitchell Robinson struggle against size in the NBA Finals. One thing we do know is that Giannis long has expressed an affection for New York, so perhaps he winds up arriving as savior should there be struggles in the Finals. To that degree, it could put the Giannis situation on further hold, considering Game 7 of the NBA Finals is not scheduled until June 19, with the first round of the NBA draft on June 23. So, potentially, we wait.
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Q: Ira, these Heat builds don’t go forever. After a few years, things tend to go south for a few years until we recover. It happened after Alonzo Mourning-Tim Hardaway, Dwayne Wade-Shaquille O’Neal, the Big 3, Playoff Jimmy Butler. We’re going to be bad at the exact point we owe those first-rounders to Milwaukee in a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. It’s hard enough to recover when you have your picks. Why make it impossible? – John, Ocala.
A: And you might not be wrong. But the Heat also tend to live in the moments, and eventually do find their way to something better. Still, say the first-rounders going to Milwaukee in a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal are in 2031 and ’33, those would come at stages when Giannis would be 36 and 38. Then again, perhaps he proves to have the enduring durability of LeBron James or Kevin Durant?
Q: Let’s play what if: The Heat get Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James agrees to join for minimum money. Would Giannis, LeBron and Bam Adebayo be enough to make noise in the East? – Michael, Port St. Lucie.
A: Sure. But LeBron James is not playing for minimum money here, there or anywhere. So such fantasy is moot. As it is, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo should be enough to make noise in the East, since there is no OKC or San Antonio to go up against. Could those two make noise in the West? That is another question, but also moot.
Continue reading...
