Poll: Lakers/Clippers Arms Race
The Lakers and Clippers have each spent the offseason competing in a blatant arms race to takeover the city of Los Angeles. The Lakers made the two biggest splashes, trading for Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, but the Clippers improved their depth, signing multiple free agent veterans like Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Lamar Odom, and Matt Barnes.
Which team do you think won the offseason battle, and heads into the 2012/13 season as the better team?
Lakers/Clippers Arms Race
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Lakers 87% (520)
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Clippers 13% (80)
Total votes: 600
How Will Thunder, James Harden Proceed?
We passed along a piece by Sean Deveney of The Sporting News yesterday that laid out five scenarios that could play out for the Thunder and James Harden, who face an Oct. 31st deadline for negotiating an extension. Here's what Deveney says could happen:
- The Thunder could trade Harden, as with a rumored deal for Bradley Beal at draft time.
- Harden could sign a max extension with the Thunder, putting the team in a serious payroll bind.
- Harden could sign an extension with the Thunder at a discount, as Serge Ibaka did with his four-year, $49MM deal.
- The Thunder fail to match another team's deal with Harden after letting him become a restricted free agent next summer.
- The Thunder let him get to restricted free agency, but re-sign him next summer.
Deveney believes the final option is the one that will play out. That's the only scenario in which Harden could get a five-year deal, so it might be the most lucrative scenario for him, but it involves risk for both sides.
What do you think? Let us know how you believe the Harden situation plays out by voting below. If you have anything to add to the debate, feel free to leave a comment.
How Will Thunder, James Harden Proceed?
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The Thunder will trade Harden 30% (108)
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Harden will sign a discounted extension with the Thunder 28% (102)
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Harden will sign a max extension with the Thunder 15% (56)
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The Thunder re-sign Harden as a restricted free agent 15% (55)
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The Thunder let Harden walk in restricted free agency 11% (41)
Total votes: 362
Poll: First-Round Home Court In The East?
Chicago, Miami, Indiana, and Atlanta finished with the top four records in the East last season. Interestingly enough, although the Atlantic Division champion Celtics were awarded the fourth seed in the playoffs, they did not have homecourt advantage in their first round series against the fifth-seeded Hawks, who had one more regular season win than Boston.
A significant amount of roster changes with several teams in the East could have a major effect on the playoff landscape, including Dwight Howard's move to the West along with Derrick Rose's recovery from injury. Having said that, which Eastern Conference team that did not finish with homecourt advantage in the first round last season has the best chance of doing so in 2012-13?
Which Eastern Conference Team Without Home Court Advantage Last Year Has The Best Chance At Home Court In 2012-13?
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Boston 33% (235)
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Philadelphia 21% (150)
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New York 19% (137)
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Brooklyn 17% (123)
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More Than One Of The Above 3% (24)
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Other 3% (23)
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Orlando 2% (14)
Total votes: 706
Poll: Which Acquisition Was Phoenix’s Worst?
Keeping on with today’s Phoenix Suns obsession, Hoops Rumors would like to know who of the team’s offseason acquisitions you think ends up being the least productive, relative to their pay and expectations.
Which Acquisition Was Phoenix's Worst?
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Jermaine O'Neal 57% (649)
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Wesley Johnson 24% (272)
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Michael Beasley 10% (118)
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Goran Dragic 5% (57)
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Luis Scola 4% (47)
Total votes: 1,143
Who Is The Best Remaining Free Agent?
There are several serviceable NBA players who remain on the free agent market with just weeks to go before training camp begins. Most of them are trying to pry more than the minimum salary from teams with limited cap space and exceptions remaining. Who do you think is the best free agent yet to sign?
Perhaps it's Alonzo Gee, a restricted free agent who seems destined to return to the Cavs. Leandro Barbosa, a double-figure scorer six of the last seven seasons, is an intriguing candidate. It could also be veteran swingman Mickael Pietrus, who has averaged double-figure points only once in his nine-year career but has consistently been a part of the rotation for playoff teams. Kenyon Martin is a season and a half removed from being a fixture in the Nuggets starting lineup, and helped the Clippers to the playoffs last year. Maybe it's Derek Fisher, who possesses five championship rings and more postseason experience than any remaining free agent. Mehmet Okur has a rare combination of size, at 6'11", and an outside shooting touch. Matt Barnes could shore up a team's perimeter defense on the second unit. Maybe it's someone else.
In any case, let us know who you think is best, and feel free to look over our comprehensive list of free agents before you cast your vote.
Who Is The Best Remaining Free Agent?
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Leandro Barbosa 43% (300)
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Kenyon Martin 13% (93)
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Mickael Pietrus 12% (82)
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Alonzo Gee 11% (75)
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Derek Fisher 7% (52)
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Matt Barnes 5% (37)
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Mehmet Okur 5% (35)
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Someone Else 4% (25)
Total votes: 699
Poll: Who Will Dallas Land Next Summer?
The Heat are the champs and the Lakers are sure to be a popular pick to challenge them next June. What do those two teams have in common? They are absolutely loaded with superstar, franchise-changing talent. In today's NBA, where star players seem to be able to dictate their destination at will, collecting that level of talent is what it takes to build a legitimate contender and teams are desperate to do it.
The Mavericks are perhaps the best example. A year after winning it all, some say the Dallas front office sacrificed their title defense for an opportunity to hit it big in free agency this past summer. But they swung and missed. Deron Williams re-upped in Brooklyn and they couldn't figure out a way to land Dwight Howard. And now, they're already looking to next offseason, when they should again have ample cap room to sign at least one big-time free agent.
Eddie Sefko at the Dallas Morning News has put together a five-part preview of next summer's free agent crop, including analysis of what it will take for Dallas to sign each player(s). His targets include Dwight Howard (link), Chris Paul (link), Andrew Bynum (link), Al Jefferson (link) and a package of Kevin Martin and Josh Smith (link). It is highly unlikely that all of these guys hit free agency, but several of them should. That said, which free agent(s) will Dallas end up with next summer?
Which Free Agent Will Dallas Land Next Summer?
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None, they will strike out again 39% (220)
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Al Jefferson 22% (126)
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Kevin Martin and Josh Smith 20% (115)
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Andrew Bynum 7% (42)
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Dwight Howard 6% (36)
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Chris Paul 5% (30)
Total votes: 569
Which Second Round Pick Will Break Out?
Last night we asked you which 2012 first round pick who fell out of the lottery would contribute this season, and earlier tonight we went over the contract status for all 30 of the second round picks. There always seems to be a steal from late in the draft, and last year was no exception, with Isaiah Thomas and Lavoy Allen becoming important parts of their teams. So, let us know which 2012 second-rounder has the best chance to emerge as a productive player either this year or down the road.
Choose from any of the second round picks who've signed with their NBA team so far. If you think the gem of this draft class is overseas or still awaiting a contract, choose the option at the bottom.
Which Second Round Pick Will Break Out?
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Jae Crowder, Mavs 14% (141)
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Draymond Green, Warriors 13% (131)
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Doron Lamb, Bucks 12% (124)
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Quincy Acy, Raptors 11% (106)
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Tyshawn Taylor, Nets 8% (83)
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Will Barton, Trail Blazers 8% (78)
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Kris Joseph, Celtics 8% (78)
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Jeff Taylor, Bobcats 6% (60)
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Kyle O'Quinn, Magic 5% (51)
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Kim English, Pistons 4% (38)
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Someone Who Hasn't Signed Yet 4% (36)
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Darius Miller, Hornets 2% (22)
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Orlando Johnson, Pacers 2% (21)
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Tornike Shengelia, Nets 2% (17)
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Bernard James, Mavs 1% (14)
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Khris Middleton, Pistons 1% (9)
Total votes: 1,009
Poll: Who Is Ready To Contribute?
The 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie team was headlined by Kyrie Irving and Ricky Rubio, as well as other former lottery picks such as Klay Thompson and Brandon Knight. The other three selections, Kenneth Faried, Kawhi Leonard, and Iman Shumpert were all selected outside of the lottery.
There are factors that a rookie faces which can determine his role during his first year, especially with regard to who may or may not be ahead on the team's depth chart and how they perform during training camp. With that in mind, which non-lottery first round pick appears to be in the best position to contribute right away?
Which Non-Lottery First Round Pick Is Ready To Contribute?
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Tyler Zeller 21% (159)
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Royce White 20% (149)
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Terrence Jones 14% (110)
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Fab Melo 14% (103)
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Moe Harkless 13% (100)
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Marquis Teague 10% (74)
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Other 9% (67)
Total votes: 762
Poll: Which Player Is Most Likely To Change Teams?
Taking a look at four talented players from the 2009 draft class, which of them do you think is most likely to change teams for their next contract?
Most Likely To Change Teams?
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Tyreke Evans 51% (510)
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James Harden 25% (252)
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Brandon Jennings 15% (151)
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Stephen Curry 8% (82)
Total votes: 995
Poll: Which Free Agent Will Get Signed First?
With most of the offseason's free agents already signed to a team, a few players with reputable names are still searching for a place to play. Who do you think will get signed sooner rather than later?
Which Free Agent Will Get Signed First?
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Leandro Barbosa 41% (312)
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Kenyon Martin 22% (164)
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Josh Howard 21% (161)
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Derek Fisher 7% (54)
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Tracy McGrady 5% (38)
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Other 4% (27)
Total votes: 756