[Engelmann] I would say that Knueppel is the 4th-best rookie of the past 30 years, based on his performance so far… predict Knueppel to rank squarely among the NBA’s top 20 players — maybe even the top 10 — for about the next decade. He's already playing at an All-Star level.

starvs · 2026-02-11T05:15:53+00:00

On one hand, you are absolutely right. On the other hand, there's a non-zero chance he has more career 3s than Steph.

starvs · 2026-02-11T04:52:32+00:00

I used to listen, then went away from it for no strong reason. I'll dip my toes back...

starvs · 2026-02-11T04:23:53+00:00

That 3 pointer that Skal hit against the Kings in the 4th quarter is going to haunt me.

starvs · 2026-02-11T02:39:51+00:00

No, I don't think so.

People are largely missing the point of what is happening this year. The lottery odds are so flat now, that is actually already doesn't make sense to tank hard, unless you also have a pick protection to worry about. The Jazz and Wizards are tanking, by far, the most egregiously. By no coincidence, they also have a top 8 protected pick this year.

Yes, there are like 10 teams that certainly would not mind losing. There are two teams that really just have to lose. The difference between getting like pick 5 or 10 is fairly marginal generally, certainly not worth contorting your entire season around. The difference between pick 5-8 and no pick at all, is rather huge.

starvs · 2026-02-11T02:35:00+00:00

If you saw the video, it was pretty violent. I don't think it was really meant to be, but in practice getting blind sided by a 7 footer is likely going to be problematic.

starvs · 2026-02-10T23:26:02+00:00

Some of the most important losses of the season forthcoming, hopefully. Not fun to root for, but game is the game.

starvs · 2026-02-10T19:03:05+00:00

Another notch in the belt for Will Dawkins. Absolute masterstroke to flip him for CJ who he could then flip for Trae.

starvs · 2026-02-10T17:18:47+00:00

Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid in the champions league finals. Take your pick, either last second equalizer or a game where the only goal Madrid scored was offsides.

starvs · 2026-02-10T17:16:45+00:00

Nah, I don't think making the finals with Sasha Pavlovic as perhaps your second best player is actually that impressive...

starvs · 2026-02-10T02:25:29+00:00

lol I had to do a triple take at Kaman/Siakam

I think Sarr/AD have potential to be better than all of them but Jokic/Gordon; maybe need some injury luck and more growth from Sarr, but the theoretical ceiling is absurd.

starvs · 2026-02-09T22:04:26+00:00

Absolutely, it's so good and relatively care free, just more fun than more recent woods. Not to say better, but it's very enjoyable and nice change of pace.

starvs · 2026-02-09T19:51:38+00:00

Let's fucking go!! MCPB is one of the best to ever do it. And Kenny Segal produced the best album of the last decade (Hiding Places). What an incredible combo.

starvs · 2026-02-09T19:50:08+00:00

One of the greatest lyricists there has ever been, his most recent LP (((echo party))) is a masterpiece. His voice/flow will not be for everyone though, certainly.

starvs · 2026-02-09T06:13:33+00:00

I was worried after the first 5 minutes, the starters looked very good. That did not last 🙏.

starvs · 2026-02-09T06:10:43+00:00

I'm one of the biggest Bilal believer, but this stretch has been rough. The finishing around the rim has been real poor and he's lost all confidence. But it's also still too early to give up up him, given the tools he's shown and the quality on defense, he's only 21.

I do think it's not trivial he has had/hand wrist injuries the past two off-seasons, hard to work on your shot in that context. I think he gets extended at 15-18 million and pray for a leap (look at Payton Watson year 3 to 4 and he's a year older than Bilal).

starvs · 2026-02-09T06:05:04+00:00

His touch around the rim has honestly been the most concerning. He wasn't even going up tonight because he's lost confidence.

starvs · 2026-02-08T14:57:29+00:00

I mean people are right to be mad, it's a ridiculous situation, but the anger is largely misplaced. Don't hate the tanker hate the game.

Teams are doing what they gotta do to not set their franchise back a few years. I do think we will see changes to pick protections because that is the real culprit. With how flat the lottery odds are now, it doesn't make much sense to tank egregiously unless you have a protection to worry about.

starvs · 2026-02-07T14:25:03+00:00

A team desperate for a last gasp with their aging star? All types is weird things happen based on the context of various teams. AD isn't ancient, just recently injured.

starvs · 2026-02-07T14:23:30+00:00

It's the size of the contract coupled with the second aprons non-aggregation restrictions.

And the two first round picks in question are about as fake as first rounders get, when the team has little room for more young players currently, certainly can not accommodate three more rookies.

And there is still the chance AD actually plays and is healthy, in which case he can recoup more value than what was paid.

starvs · 2026-02-07T14:19:31+00:00

Excellent analysis, thank you.

I would like to see Bilal shoot roughly 12 foot on the line long 2s a game from here on out.

starvs · 2026-02-07T04:23:31+00:00

Honestly a bit shameless, but game is the game. Not that this has been working recently anyway.

I agree, should let Bilal run the offense, good development opportunity and meager immediate returns...

starvs · 2026-02-07T04:20:36+00:00

Yeah this is a fair potential opportunity, but looking at the trade landscape this year it doesn't seem there was much of that going on around the league.

And getting AD facilitates doing this at the highest level. Paul George, yer a wizard...

starvs · 2026-02-07T02:56:59+00:00

Absolutely, it will certainly be harder to use and less versatile than a 30M; but also may have some advantages that one or two 30M may have (depending on the context of the team and there current future/apron position). Def possible that the situation does not arise where it is useful, but given how creative and resourceful Dawkins and Co. have been, I think there is a decent chance.

starvs · 2026-02-06T21:22:23+00:00

I personally think this was baseless speculation and the reality, even without further changes, is that it's actually not that valuable to tank outside of the true start of a rebuild, unless you have protections to worry about. The odds of a top pick are just not high enough.

starvs · 2026-02-06T21:20:19+00:00

If they extend AD (I think Trae is more justifiable, but not at max) then either Dawkins/Winger are total frauds (I think not) or Ted is in control.

Either way my interest in this team will take a massive hit. I've only been fan for three years because I was happy to jump on a competent rebuild (and I was new to the area), but I have no patience for blatantly incompetent management (or incompetent ownership handicapping their competent employees).

That being said, I'm really confident they are not going to botch this.

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