NBA Thread

[Hoosierfan2017 21,390]

7 minutes ago, mdn82 said:

Hayward to the Celtics. Great get for them.


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It's being reported by Woj that no decision has been made though. The tweet I linked might not be showing up on the app  

It's probably to avoid bad publicity but still a strange situation. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,744]

It is now official - 4 years $128 million.

GORDON HAYWARD

SMALL FORWARD / NBA

This has been the toughest decision that I’ve ever had to make in my life. This weekend has probably been the longest weekend of my life. And today … well, today has definitely been one of the craziest days of my life. But I wanted to make sure that I got this right.

As you can see, it’s taken me a while, and thanks to everyone for their patience. I can’t even begin to count the number of conversations I’ve had with my wife, Robyn, and the rest of my inner-circle, since the season ended, and all the way up to this evening — just going through every possible angle, in every potential direction.

My meetings with all three teams during this process — Miami, Boston and Utah — were just unbelievable. They couldn’t have been more impressive. Each meeting left me convinced that the team I’d just met with was the right fit. And even after I slept on it last night, while I was leaning heavily in one direction … I still wasn’t 100-percent convinced about what I wanted to do.

What’s crazy is — before I even had a chance to make my decision, before I had a chance to sit down and write this, and before I even had a chance to talk about it with the people I love — I was already reading reports about where I was going. And I guess that’s just the way things work, in 2017. But I’m sorry it had to work out like that.

This was a life-changing decision for me and my family, and something we took really seriously. And from the very start of this process, one thing stood out as important: I knew that I wanted the fans and the organizations to hear my decision directly from me.

After seven years in Utah, I have decided to join the Boston Celtics.

I know that will be tough to hear for Jazz fans — and I really want you all to know that you mean the world to me and my family. Over the past few days, I’ve been genuinely torn. And I know that this process isn’t easy on the fans, either. So I just want to be as straight-up as possible about why I’m coming to Boston.

First, though, if you don’t mind, I would really like to just take a moment and express how much these last seven years in Utah have meant to me. Because there’s only one fair way to say it: They’ve meant everything.

When I got to Salt Lake City, in the summer of 2010 — I know it’s a cliché, but man, it’s the truth: I was just a kid. I remember the drive. I drove all the way there, with my dad, from Indiana to Salt Lake City, just to save money. I knew I had all of these expectations as a top 10 pick … but at the same time, I was only 20. This was my first job away from home. And I was so nervous about everything that was in front of me. I remember my first real routine as a pro — finding a Subway near me (well, a mile or two away), and just walking there, every day, so I could use my Subway card like I always had. And that was really it for me, at first: Practice, and Subway, and video games. I was pretty closed off.

And then I just think about how far I’ve come during my time here. I’ve truly grown up in Salt Lake. I’ve become a man, and I’ve become a professional. I’ve gone from being a kid … to now having a wife and two kids. I’ve gone from having anxiety over leaving my family … to now having a family of my own. A lot has happened to me during my time here, and I honestly can’t think of any part of it that I haven’t cherished. This is a special place, and I know that the impression it’s made on me will long outlast the impression I’ve made on it.

The Jazz organization, and everyone there who’s played a part over the course of my career in Utah … more than anything else, they’re the people who make this decision so difficult. Steve Stark, and the entire Miller family — they’re first-class in everything they do. Dennis Lindsey — if there’s anyone who’s most responsible for the winning culture in Salt Lake, it’s him. I really could just go on here, naming people, forever.

I was literally the last Jazz player left who played under Coach Sloan — and I always took that as a lot more than just some piece of trivia. That was something that truly made me feel like a part of the fabric of this franchise. And that fabric is something that has meant a lot to me, ever since.

And there are so many people who have been a part of that fabric, who have made such a huge impact on my life — people who a lot of casual fans probably don’t even know. And when I think about leaving Utah now … those are some of the people who I’m going to miss the most.

I think about our assistant coach, Mark McKown, who has been with me from Day One. I remember he took me to Santa Barbara as a rookie, with Jeremy Evans, back when he was our strength coach — he called us G-Dilly and J-Dally. Because we were rookies, and “all we did was dillydally.” I doubt I’ll ever remember that and not smile.

I think about Doug Birrell, who’s our massage therapist — who was there from the start, with John and Karl. And we’ve just had … man, just hours and hours of conversation, over the years. Everything from arguments, to debates, to heart-to-hearts. Stuff that would never be repeated — which is something you really learn to value as a professional athlete. But that’s how it’s always felt within this organization. There’s always been real friendship here. There’s a circle of trust.

I think about Isaiah Wright, who’s now our strength coach — but when I got there he was just a pudgy little ball boy. And we’re about the same age, so in a lot of ways we’ve grown up together, and worked our way up together in the franchise. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the work he’s put in with me, just to make me a better basketball player. Oh yeah — and that one party he invited me to, back when I was a rookie.

I think about all of the great teammates I’ve had here, like Jeremy. I’ll never forget — 2012, Jeremy is in the dunk contest, and I’m supposed to help him with a dunk. And it’s the night before, and we’re at our hotel in Orlando … and we’re like two kids who didn’t study before the final. We’ve got nothing. And man, we’re just panicking, we’ve got no ideas, we’re trying to think of something. And then we finally end up finding this ratty little YMCA court, near the hotel, at like 3 in the morning, and we try to get a few reps in. And that’s when Jeremy thinks up his dunk where I toss him two balls at once. So we practice it one time, literally once, and that’s it. Totally wing it. And of course Jeremy ends up nailing it, and winning the dunk contest.

I think about Coach Snyder, who, our first conversation, when we met for dinner after he was hired — we didn’t even talk basketball once. Not a single word. It was just life … and family … and who we were as individuals. As a coach, Coach Snyder is incredible in every aspect of the game. His leadership, his unique ability to motivate, and his insane attention to detail are such special qualities that I will miss so much. There’s a lot of people I have to thank for where I am today as a basketball player, but honestly none more than Coach Snyder.

I think about Johnnie Bryant, a guy who was a developmental coach when I first got here, and now he’s on the bench as an assistant. This past summer was probably the most important summer of my career, basketball-wise — just training to really take that next step as a player. And Johnnie, he’s just the best there is — he was right there, every step of the way, with me. He’s the guy who was having me work out with Kobe. He’s the guy who was sending me texts, late at night, early in the morning, just encouraging me, pushing me, “study this video,” “look at this game film.” He’s really the guy, at the end of the day, who found the All-Star in me.

And then I just think of the people of Utah, in general. They say that Salt Lake is a great place to raise a family — and I know that sounds like something people just say. But you spend enough time here … and you realize that it’s true. And for me, as far as that goes — I feel like I’m indebted to Salt Lake, twice over. Because not only has this been the city where I’ve started my family, and not only has this been the city that’s helped raise my daughters for the last couple of years … but long before that, during my first few years in the league — I also feel like this city helped raise me. And I feel like this city took me in, as part of its own family.

And I just wanted to say thank you for that.

And thank you for everything.

The last time I had a decision this tough … it was in college, during my sophomore year, after we lost to Duke in the national championship game. I’d gotten on NBA radars as a result of my play that March, and there were projections that I might even be a first-round pick in the draft. And so I had a decision to make: Should I leave my comfort zone at Butler and move on to the NBA? Or should I stay another year, and give it another go, and try to finish what we’d started — try to win a championship?

It was such a tough decision. But there was one person who I knew I could talk to about it from every angle, who I knew would give me the smartest and most honest perspective available: Coach Stevens.

Coach Stevens was so great about it, all of it. He helped me lay out my options, and talked it through from both sides … but in the end, when I needed it, he also gave me my space. And he also let me know that it was my choice to make — and that he would be there for me, on the other side of it, either way. And of course I ended up deciding to leave: I declared for the draft, and got drafted, and started my new NBA life in Utah. But it always meant a lot to me, to know how, in that moment, even with our lives at this strange crossroads together, Coach Stevens was someone I could count on.

And I guess it’s pretty crazy. Because seven years later, I had to make an even tougher decision — and again, Coach Stevens and I found ourselves at a crossroads together. And again, he was the person I knew I could count on the most.

And now I’ve decided to sign with the Boston Celtics.

There were so many great things pulling me in that direction. There was the winning culture of Boston, as a city — from the Sox, to the Pats, to the Bruins. There was the special history of the Celtics, as a franchise — from Russell, to Bird, to Pierce, and it goes on. There was the amazing potential of this current Celtics roster, as a team — from ownership, to the front office, to a talented roster with Isaiah, and Al, and everyone else. And of course, there was Coach Stevens: Not just for the relationship that we’ve built off the court — but also for the one that we started building on the court, all of those years ago, in Indiana.

And that unfinished business we had together, back in 2010, when I left Butler for the NBA … as far as I’m concerned, all of these years later, we still have it:

And that’s to win a championship.

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

Boston will have a team to compete for the Eastern Conference title in 2-3, maybe sooner if LeBron bolts again.

[BGleas 7,903]

Awesome pickup for the Celtics. Hayward fits what they need so perfectly. The Celtics biggest flaws were a consistent second scorer to take pressure off IT, a shooter/scorer on the wing and a rebounder. Hayward solves the first two perfectly. 

[mdn82 25,510]

Boston will have a team to compete for the Eastern Conference title in 2-3, maybe sooner if LeBron bolts again.

I wouldn't be surprised if this upcoming season it goes to a game 7 and a toss up. I also wouldn't be surprised if they beat the Cavs and Lebron goes to LA.


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[mdn82 25,510]

Can you all imagine the East if Lebron wasn't in it? Honestly it would be the Celtics, Wizards, and maybe the Sixers in a few years. The West is brutal.


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[BGleas 7,903]

7 minutes ago, mdn82 said:

Can you all imagine the East if Lebron wasn't in it? Honestly it would be the Celtics, Wizards, and maybe the Sixers in a few years. The West is brutal.


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Agree, but don't sleep on the Bucks. The Greek Freak is legit and they have a nice young, athletic core. 

[KingPG21 6,584]

Pacers are reportedly open to taking on Cole Adrich along with the 2018 OKC first rounder in a sign and trade for CJ Miles.

 

That OKC pick is gonna suck, but its another first

[KingPG21 6,584]

34 minutes ago, BGleas said:

Agree, but don't sleep on the Bucks. The Greek Freak is legit and they have a nice young, athletic core. 

Maker turned out better than anyone could have expected. Dude went from probably struggling to contribute at the college level to producing decent at the NBA level as a rookie at a position that takes longer to get used to the physicality. 

 

If he turns out he could be a big step towards them keeping Giannis past his second contract. Curious to see how DJ Wilson turns out for them. If he is as versatile in the NBA as he was in college could make Parker expendable. Their front office has knocked it out of the park recently in the draft, which is huge for small market teams

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

I do agree LeBron will be looking to join a super team to chase a few more rings before he falls off a cliff. I'm not sure it'll be smart to go out west unless the Lakers can land Westbrook, George, and LeBron. If LeBron does go to the West they should just crown the winner of the West and have the second or third place team play the best if the East for shits and gigs.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,744]

And speaking of the Celtics - a very unique player in the history of professional sports, Gene Conley, passed away at the age of 86.  He lays claim to the fact he pitched to Willie Mays and guarded Wilt Chamberlain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Conley

[Crimson and Cream 5,811]

11 hours ago, KingPG21 said:

Pacers are reportedly open to taking on Cole Adrich along with the 2018 OKC first rounder in a sign and trade for CJ Miles.

 

That OKC pick is gonna suck, but its another first

I expect it to be around 20-22

[KingPG21 6,584]

Pacers waived Monta Ellis

 

So happy to never see him as a Pacer again

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,370]

I've been inclined to be a Pacers fan but haven't really liked their roster since the Reggie Miller days.

Vic and TJ Leaf will be easy to root for. I'll be watching more Pacers going forward.


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[Brass Cannon 24,801]

28 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

I've been inclined to be a Pacers fan but haven't really liked their roster since the Reggie Miller days.

Vic and TJ Leaf will be easy to root for. I'll be watching more Pacers going forward.


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Kinda my boat. I sorta liked the Hibbert West and George teams but it still astounds me how they fail to form a semblance of a decent bench 3 years running. 

[HoosierHoops1 5,024]

2 hours ago, KingPG21 said:

Pacers waived Monta Ellis

 

So happy to never see him as a Pacer again

The Indiana Pacers have waived guard Monta Ellis, a league source confirmed. Teams have 48 hours to claim him and assume the final two seasons of his contract but that is unlikely to occur.

That would leave Ellis as a free agent with the Pacers responsible for paying his $11.2 million salary this season. But by waiving him, his 2018-19 contract is no longer on the Pacers' salary cap for that season.

Ellis, a 12-year veteran, didn't fit within the Pacers' rebuilding effort. Darren Collison and Victor Oladipo are expected to be the Pacers' starting backcourt with Lance Stephenson as the primary reserve, leaving Ellis with a significantly reduced role. He averaged 8.5 points and 3.2 assists in 27.0 minutes per game last season, starting 33 times.

Last moth Ellis was suspended for 5 games for violation of the substance abuse policy. The NBA did not disclose details in accordance with league policy, but the five-game suspension indicates that Ellis tested positive a third time for marijuana use. No other violations in the NBA carry a suspension of that length. The unpaid suspension will cost Ellis $387,000, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN.com. The suspension would follow Ellis wherever he signs.

Within minutes of Ellis’ suspension being announced, Pacers President Kevin Pritchard voiced his displeasure with the veteran’s actions through a statement released by the team.

“Monta’s suspension is a very serious matter to our franchise and it will be dealt with accordingly,” Pritchard said.

When Ellis signed a four-year deal with the Pacers in 2015, he was expected to be the guard who could help Paul George and George Hill ignite the franchise’s new up-tempo offense. Ellis did his best to bring veteran wisdom, leadership and stability as an additional ballhandler. But Ellis’ two seasons with the Pacers have been inconsistent because of injuries, turnovers and his questionable shot selection.

Ellis, 31, struggled throughout last season to find the explosiveness and quickness that had made him a successful scorer throughout his career. After averaging 13.8 points and 4.7 assists in his first season with the team, Ellis' 8.5 points were his fewest since his rookie season.

Call IndyStar reporter Nate Taylor at (317) 444-6484. Follow him on Twitter: @ByNateTaylor.

[HoosierHoops1 5,024]

2 hours ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

I've been inclined to be a Pacers fan but haven't really liked their roster since the Reggie Miller days.

Vic and TJ Leaf will be easy to root for. I'll be watching more Pacers going forward.


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I hope Vic has a break out season. He's been hovering right around 16 and hopefully the Pacers and an Indiana crowd will provide the catalyst.

[mdn82 25,510]

I've been inclined to be a Pacers fan but haven't really liked their roster since the Reggie Miller days.

Vic and TJ Leaf will be easy to root for. I'll be watching more Pacers going forward.


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Agreed. I used to go to quite a bit of Pacers games due to my dads suppliers giving him tickets. Those mid to late 90 Pacers teams were stacked. They should have won a title. That 97-98 team was awesome. I got to see a Bulls vs Pacers game in Indy that year. The Davis brothers got into it with Rodman. Jordan and Reggie went back and forth. Great game


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[Hoosierfan2017 21,390]

Boston shipping out Avery Bradley minimizes the Hayward addition imo. He was a very good two way player that guarded both Wall and Irving. 

[KingPG21 6,584]

Pacers signed Bojan Bogdanovic to a 2 year 21 million dollar deal.

 

Guy can shoot, can't defend a bag blowing in the wind. Best pure shooter the Pacers have had in a long time. Like that we're signing guys to short term deals. 

 

Pritchard and Nate has been making the rounds with the press recently. One interesting thing that was brought up was as of right now, Vic and Turner are the only starters slated right now. Could just be they thought it was a dumb question in July. Might mean Thad is on the block to get traded. Really think he is gonna be traded before the start of the year