Poll: Should The Raptors Trade Andrea Bargnani?
The early word on the 2013 NBA Draft is that it'll be rather thin at the top and likely one of the weakest classes in recent years. The last draft class to elicit such a tepid reaction was 2006, a year in which there was no real consensus number one pick. Many fans saw Texas forward LaMarcus Aldridge as the top choice, but Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo was smitten with Italy's Andrea Bargnani.
It's easy to see why Colangelo and other GMs had Bargnani pegged as the best talent in the draft – his combination of athleticism and outside shooting is wildly impressive for a 7-footer. In recent years, the Raptors have worked to build an offense and a roster around Bargnani and his unusual skill set. At this point, however, the plan isn't working as well as Colangelo would have hoped. Toronto hasn't seen the postseason since 2007/08 and they're not likely to return this year as they sit in the cellar of the Atlantic at 4-16.
Bargnani hasn't been playing up to his ability in the first 20 games of this campaign and his stat line shows it. The big man's numbers are down across the board as he is averaging 17.0 PPG and just 4.6 boards. Bargnani was never confused for Rick Mahorn on the court, but his rebounding ability appears to have regressed even further. His trade value obviously isn't what it once was, but it might be time for the Raptors to cut the cord and start fresh. At the very least, the Raptors know that there's still a fan of Bargnani's in Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni. Bargnani is the perfect forward for D'Antoni's trigger-happy offense and can help detract pressure away from center Dwight Howard. The Raptors might not be as excited about Pau Gasol given his current woes, but they could explore a three-way trade to get the right mix of NBA-ready talent in return.
Should The Raptors Move Bargnani?
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Yes 86% (546)
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No 14% (90)
Total votes: 636
Poll: Should The Hornets Trade Ryan Anderson?
Ryan Anderson sure has come a long way since his humble beginnings with the Nets in 2008. The Nets “reached” for the California product with the 21st overall pick in that year’s draft and plugged him in to the rotation of a weakened team that had recently jettisoned Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. When it came time for the Nets to start their rebuilding effort in earnest and move Vince Carter, the Magic pushed to have Anderson included in the deal. The forward was more than a throw-in but far from the focal point of the five-player swap.
A few years and a sign-and-trade later, Anderson is shining in New Orleans as he breaks in his four-year, $36MM deal. So far this year, Anderson is averaging career-highs across the board with 17.5 PPG and 7.9 RPG while shooting 42.3% from the outside. The 24-year-old figures to be on the fast track to All-Star Weekend in Houston and the Lakers reportedly see him as the solution to their frontcourt problems. The Hornets are obviously a long way from contention and could net a nice package of young players and draft picks in exchange for last year’s Most Improved Player.
However, the Hornets say they have no interest in parting ways with Anderson. The club is enthused by his early season play and is eager to see how the team looks when Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon return to action. It’s hard to argue with that reasoning – this green (no pun intended) Hornets squad won’t get near the playoff chase this season but they certainly play the role of spoiler for other clubs late in the year. More importantly, the trio could blossom into a legitimate force with time.
If you were in General Manager Dell Demps‘ shoes, would you trade Anderson or hold on to him?
Should The Hornets Trade Ryan Anderson?
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No 51% (309)
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Yes 49% (300)
Total votes: 609
Poll: Should The Cavs Move Varejao?
Anderson Varejao is having an outstanding season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 15.1 PPG and 15.3 RPG. It has been reported that, should the Cavs decide to move the 30-year-old Brazilian, he would likely be the most sought-after player on the trade market. The return the Cavs could get for Varejao could be substantial, meaning there may be a major incentive to move him if they can surround Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters with more young talent. However, some believe he is valued too highly within the Cleveland organization to move at this time.
What do you think? Would it be smart for the Cavs to look into a Varejao trade? Vote in the poll and weigh in with what you think a package could look like in the comments.
Should The Cavs Trade Anderson Varejao?
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Yes 69% (568)
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No 31% (250)
Total votes: 818
Poll: Was Popovich Wrong To Send Stars Home?
When I made my predictions for the 2012/13 NBA season, I anticipated the Spurs and Heat meeting in next June's NBA Finals. Given how far off the rails many of my other predictions have already gone, I don't expect that one to pan out either, but the two teams are off to good enough starts that it's still a real possibility. As such, last night's Spurs/Heat game in Miami had the chance to be a Finals preview.
Well, except for the fact that Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Danny Green weren't in the building, having been sent home by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich earlier in the day. The Spurs still managed to make things interesting, holding a lead late in the game, but the Heat eventually closed out a 105-100 victory.
Reactions around the league to Popovich's decision have been divided, with some defending his decision to rest his stars during a stretch when the Spurs were required to play four road games in five nights.
"I don’t think Pop was in the wrong," said LeBron James. "It’s not in the rules to tell you that you can’t not send your guys here or send your guys home. But the commissioner will make his decision and everybody else will deal with it."
Indeed, NBA commissioner David Stern took exception to Popovich's approach, releasing an official statement prior to the game to express his displeasure: "I apologize to all NBA fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming."
Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel agreed with Stern, arguing that Popovich was thumbing his nose at paying fans and TNT, each of whom support the NBA and help "pay all the ridiculous salaries." On the other hand, as LeBron pointed out, there's certainly no rule that says the league has the right to step in and tell a coach how to manage his team — Popovich rested his starters on multiple occasions last season, and the NBA didn't say anything about it.
Where do you fall on this issue? Do you mind Popovich sending healthy players home?
Was Gregg Popovich wrong to send his stars home?
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No, he's free to coach his team as he sees fit 83% (981)
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Yes, it's disrespectful to the league and to fans 17% (200)
Total votes: 1,181
Poll: Should Sixers Have Made Bynum Deal?
When the 76ers acquired Andrew Bynum in a four-way blockbuster back in August, they were praised by most pundits for having secured a player capable of being a franchise cornerstone. Bynum was viewed as the NBA's second-best center, and the trade ensured that the league's best center, Dwight Howard, would no longer be playing in the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, the deal has yet to pay dividends in Philadelphia. Bynum's ongoing knee problems have prevented him from making his 2012/13 debut, and the 25-year-old is said to be out "indefinitely." At this point, it's easy to second-guess the summer blockbuster, questioning whether the Sixers could have acquired a more reliable star, rather than one with an injury history, for a package that included Andre Iguodala, Maurice Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, and a future first-round pick.
But it is that simple? It's not as if Bynum's stint with the Sixers can be written off already. He could return later this season, and even if he doesn't, perhaps his health concerns mean Philadelphia will be able to lock him up next summer at a reduced price. Additionally, it didn't seem as if the Iguodala-led Sixers were a legit title contender as constructed. Danny Pommels of CSNPhilly.com wrote yesterday that the Sixers are a better team without AI, and that the deal was still a worthwhile one.
So what do you think? Should the 76ers have stood pat and moved forward this season with Iguodala, hoping that further development from Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner took the team to the next level? Should they have sought out the next-best deal for Iguodala, even if it didn't involve landing a potential franchise player like Bynum? Or do you think, taking into account the previous roster's ceiling and Bynum's long-term upside, that the trade still makes sense for Philadelphia?
Should the Sixers have traded for Andrew Bynum?
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Yes, it was a worthwhile risk. 54% (749)
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No, they should have traded Iguodala in another deal. 30% (421)
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No, they should have kept Iguodala. 16% (223)
Total votes: 1,393
Poll: Most Improved Player So Far?
Now that we’re almost a month into the season, it’s time we look at a few guys who’ve shown serious improvements in their game so far. Who do you think has come the farthest?
Who Is The Most Improved Player So Far?
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Kemba Walker 36% (321)
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Chandler Parsons 29% (253)
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DeAndre Jordan 12% (107)
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Other 12% (102)
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Eric Bledsoe 11% (98)
Total votes: 881
Should The Lakers Make A Move?
Last night, the Lakers lost to the Grizzlies to dip back below .500 on the season. Afterward, coach Mike D'Antoni, 1-2 in his brief Lakers tenure, took a jab at Pau Gasol, standing by his decision to bench him in the fourth quarter and questioning the big man's conditioning. It's not the first time Gasol has drawn such criticism from his coach, as Ramona Shelburne noted via Twitter that Phil Jackson used try to get under the Spaniard's skin at times. Still, D'Antoni's comments seem destined to spark another round of Gasol trade rumors, just a week or so after a report by Marc Stein of ESPN.com denied speculation about a deal with the Hawks.
The Lakers have been linked to Raja Bell and Mickael Pietrus in the last 48 hours, and it seems like GM Mitch Kupchak and company are poised to make some kind of move. Still, Steve Nash will likely be returning from injury soon, and the team's roster coming into the season was perhaps the most impressive in the league. Nash has only appeared in two games so far, so maybe a change would be premature, since the team really hasn't had a chance to play together. How do you think the Lakers should approach their personnel? Let us know below, and feel free to share ideas in the comments.
Should The Lakers Make A Move?
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Yes, this roster won't win it all 59% (417)
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No, they should wait until Steve Nash gets back 41% (288)
Total votes: 705
Poll: Which Team Is A New Title Contender?
It's Thanksgiving Day, and based on the first month of action in the NBA, fans of some teams have more reason to be thankful than others. Supporters of the Grizzlies, Knicks, and Clippers, for instance, have to be pleased with the way the season has started.
Heading into the year, the general consensus suggested that the Heat, Celtics, Thunder, Lakers, and Spurs were the big five title contenders. However, a few weeks into the season, that group of legit contenders isn't quite so clear-cut.
The Grizzlies enjoyed an early eight-game winning streak that included victories over the Heat, Knicks, and Thunder. The Knicks knocked off the Heat as well, and beat the Spurs in San Antonio en route to an 8-2 start. And the Clippers' season has already featured two wins over the Spurs, along with victories against the Heat, Lakers, and the aforementioned Grizzlies.
All three clubs have looked better than expected so far, but are you ready to include them in that group of elite teams that have a chance at a championship? Weigh in below with your thoughts.
Which team has the best chance to contend for a title this season?
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Los Angeles Clippers 28% (223)
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Memphis Grizzlies 28% (223)
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New York Knicks 27% (210)
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None of them are legit title contenders 17% (130)
Total votes: 786
Was It A Mistake For The Wolves To Sign Roy?
Brandon Roy's comeback attempt is off to an inauspicious start. He's out for a month after undergoing right-knee surgery today, having already missed the last four games for the Wolves. In the five contests in which he has appeared, he didn't look like his old self, averaging just 5.8 points on 31.4% shooting in 24.4 minutes per game.
He signed a two-year, $10.43MM contract this summer, but only the first year is guaranteed. The second year can become guaranteed if Roy hits at least one of two benchmarks this season: playing 1,400 or more minutes or appearing on the active list for 65 or more games this season. Both will be tall orders for him now. Roy could also have triggered a guarantee for 2013/14 if he were sidelined for any ailment other than his knees, but alas, that's already by the boards.
So, in light of Roy's latest surgery, what do you think of the decision of GM David Kahn and Wolves management to take a flier on Roy this season? Vote below, and if you have other ideas about Roy's deal, let us know in the comments.
Was It A Mistake For The Wolves To Sign Roy?
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Maybe, the Wolves were smart to give themselves an out after one year 63% (677)
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Yes, he'll never be productive again 27% (292)
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No, he'll come back strong and justify the entire deal 10% (106)
Total votes: 1,075
Poll: Who Is The NBA’s MVP So Far?
Granted, we're only about an eighth of the way through the 2012/13 season, but enough basketball has been played to gauge how well some of the league's stars are impacting their teams. Who do you think is the MVP so far?
Who Is The NBA's MVP So Far?
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Carmelo Anthony 28% (243)
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LeBron James 24% (204)
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Other 17% (146)
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Rajon Rondo 14% (120)
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Zach Randolph 9% (78)
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Chris Paul 8% (72)
Total votes: 863