Community Shootaround

The unsuccessful tenure of Deron Williams in Brooklyn came to an end this week with the two sides reaching a buyout agreement. Williams never became the superstar the team envisioned when it acquired him from the Jazz during the 2010/11 campaign, and his time in Brooklyn ended with a whimper instead of a bang. The 31-year-old wasn’t out of work for long, with him quickly agreeing to a two-year pact with the point guard starved Mavericks.

Now here’s my segue into the question(s) of the day: Will Deron Williams revitalize his career with the Mavs, and does he make Dallas a playoff-caliber team?

Admittedly, I snuck two questions in for the price of one today, but they do go hand-in-hand. If Williams can somehow turn back the clock on his weary legs and put up numbers similar to what he did in Utah, the Mavericks would certainly have to be taken seriously in the Southwest Division. If not, then the team is likely headed for the draft lottery. What’s your take on Williams’ departure from Brooklyn and arrival in the Lone Star State? Will the change of locales, and return to his home state of Texas, revitalize him? Or is he done for good as an upper-tier playmaker? What are your predictions for the Mavs’ record this season? If you’re a disgruntled Nets fan who just needs some closure, feel free to vent your feelings as well. We look forward to what you have to say.

Of course, there will always be differing opinions. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy.  Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors.  Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

The Nuggets’ Ty Lawson is a statistically productive point guard who is routinely criticized for not making his teammates around him better. Lawson’s attitude has also come under fire at times, and Denver has reportedly been looking to find a trade partner who will take the 27-year-old off of its hands. The guard is set to earn $12,404,495 in 2015/16 and $13,213,482 the following season, which is also the final year of Lawson’s current deal. Lawson’s contract won’t make him easy to trade, nor will his off the court baggage. The veteran was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of DUI, his second DUI-related arrest in six months time.

This brings me to our question/topic of the day: What should the Nuggets do with Ty Lawson?

Should Denver trade Lawson even if it means receiving less than adequate compensation in return? If so, which team do you see as being a good fit, and for whom do the Nuggets deal him? Or should the Nuggets hang onto Lawson? If so, should it be for the long-term, or just until he can potentially rebuild some of his trade value? The other alternative is for the team to attempt to work out a buyout arrangement with Lawson and just cut ties with him altogether. Take to the comments section below with your thoughts, opinions, and trade ideas. We look forward to what you have to say.

Of course, there will always be differing opinions. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy.  Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors.  Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

The offseason is generally a time of hope and optimism for teams. It is the time when rosters are constructed and draftees begin to tantalize their respective teams with what they have to offer on the Summer League court and on the practice floor. It is also a time when every team is still undefeated and dreaming of a championship run. Of course, the moment the regular season tips off, all bets are off and reality quickly sets in for the “also rans” around the NBA. The first person to shoulder the blame when things go poorly is usually the team’s head coach. It’s far easier for teams to replace one man than to overhaul a roster while in the midst of an 82 game campaign. Whether this is fair or not is up for debate, but it is the reality that all professional coaches face.

It’s with this in mind that I segue to the question of the day: Who will be the first head coach to be issued his walking papers during the 2015/16 season?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on who you believe will be the first coach to get some unexpected free time next season, and why. We look forward to what you have to say.

The free agent signing period is underway, and a number of big names have already come off the board by agreeing to new deals. If history is any guideline, some of these deals will be considered bargains, while others will weigh down teams’ salary cap figures like an albatross for years to come. Yesterday we discussed which recently agreed upon deal was the most team friendly. Or to put it another way, which team got the best value on the free agent market thus far. Today we focus on the opposite end of the spectrum. I’m talking about the signings that are true head-scratchers as to the length and amount agreed upon to be forked over to the player.

It’s with that sentiment that I present to you the question of the day: What free agent agreement made thus far is the worst value?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on which recent deal offends your sense of propriety (and economics) the most, and more importantly, why? We look forward to what you have to say.

Of course, there will always be differing opinions. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy.  Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors.  Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

The free agent signing period is underway, and a number of big names have already come off the board by agreeing to new deals. If history is any guideline, some of these deals will be considered bargains, while other will weigh down teams’ salary cap figures like an albatross for years to come. The big trend thus far this offseason is for players to go for deals that include player options that will allow them to hit the market again just as the salary cap is predicted to explode. This is a sound financial strategy…provided one doesn’t suffer a major injury early in the contract. It will take some time before all of these new agreements can be fully judged. But what fun is waiting?

It’s with that sentiment that I present to you the question of the day: Which free agent signing thus far can be considered the best deal for the team?

Do you think the Knicks got the best deal by inking Arron Afflalo to a short-term pact? How about the Warriors locking up Draymond Green for a slightly less than max deal? A different arrangement altogether? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on which signing you believe is the best, both in terms of talent locked down, as well as how much it cost the franchise to do so. We look forward to what you have to say.

Of course, there will always be differing opinions. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy.  Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors.  Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

Some of the greatest joys of being a sports fan, besides your favorite team winning the championship, are the debates that arise between fellow sports nuts along the way. It’s with this in mind that we have begun providing a forum for basketball fanatics to voice their opinions, debate trending topics, and simply hang out with like-minded hoops aficionados. We’ve begun been posting a new topic for readers to discuss each weeknight, which we hope that this will become a regular part of your sports day. If you missed our previous discussions you can view them here, or simply head over to the sidebar and select “Hoops Rumors Community Shootarounds.”

Of course, there will be differing opinions from time to time. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy.  Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors.  Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

Now that the preamble has been taken care of, on to the topic of the day: What team is the best fit for Greg Monroe?

Monroe, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this Wednesday, will reportedly meet with the Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Lakers and Trail Blazers once free agent negotiations begin. While it doesn’t appear that a return to the Pistons is likely to occur for the big man, stranger things have happened. Which of the previously listed teams would be the best fit for Monroe’s skill set? How much is Monroe worth annually, and how much do you think he’ll eventually sign for? Will Monroe’s performance over the life of his next contract be considered a bargain, a bust, or just right? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.