The NBA Thread

[W]

Am I the only one who thinks of the late Gene Siskel when they see Jeff Van Gundy?

I always see this guy from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest":


or that guy that's in all the New York cop movies, but I couldn't tell you which ones...

[Shrykespeare]

His name is Vincent Schiavelli. Or rather, WAS, he died a few years ago.

Another memorable role for him was the pissed-off subway ghost in Ghost. He also played the teacher who asked John Cusack for permission to date John's ex immediately after their breakup in Better Off Dead.

[Buscemi]

He was also Paragon in Heat Vision and Jack.

[W]

Nonetheless, he looks like Jeff van Gundy.

[Buscemi]

And the Number One pick goes to....

THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS?!?!?!?!?!

Why do I see this pick being traded before June 24th?

[W]

Why do I see this pick being traded before June 24th?

Because you're nuts. The only way this pick is dealt is if they get a Carmelo Anthony type player that can come in and be a star right away or if they can get a C-Webb deal of 3 #1 picks. I don't see either one happening.

[Buscemi]

But seriously, the Wizards? Do they really need the pick?

Then again, I was really wanting to see the Nets get the pick so we (possibly) could see a LeBron/John Wall pairing in 2010.

[W]

The team that destructed the most last year? Do they need the pick? Yes... They do.

They're in serious rebuilding mode. They dealt every large non-expiring contract they could, which is why the Mavs got both Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood for a guy that would have walked at the end of next season anyways. It's also why they dealt Antawn Jamison, a 20-9 guy the past two seasons for them for the last pick in this year's first round. They're in complete rebuilding mode and the only thing holding them back is Gilbert Arenas' $80 million left on his contract.

They're going reject the TO on Josh Howard and they'll have these guys under contract for next year: Gilbert Arenas, Randy Foye (who has a qualifying option), Andray Blatche, Al Thornton, Nick Young, JaVale McGee, and Quentin Ross who probably leaves with his player option. So anywhere from five to seven players on their roster with a few decent young pieces, but a massive untradeable contract owed to what will probably be Stephon Marbury in a couple of years. They may be out from under Arenas in 2013.

The Nets have a better core than the Wizards. They're tied for the fifth worst record in the league and that's with Arenas, Jamison, Caron, and Haywood half the year. Yes, they need the pick. They need it more than the Twolves and the Nets.

[W]

Why would you want to see LeBron playing with John Wall next year anyways? Why watch a rookie probably struggle? I mean, you wouldn't rather see him with Derek Rose, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, or Dirk Nowitzki? Maybe team up with Carmelo? I would.

[Ron Burgundy]

Good call W, yeah i think the Wizards needed it most, lucky bastards.

And i would rather see LeBron go to the Clippers, i mean they could actually contend with the Lakers for a change, check the starting lineup:

PG: Baron Davis
SG: Eric Gordon
SF: LeBron James
PF: Overated No. 1 Pick
C: Chris Kaman

[W]

Though probably true, to call someone an overrated number one pick without giving them a chance to prove themselves isn't fair. Without hindsight, who would you have taken? Thabeet? Rubio? Harden? Stephen Curry or Brandon Jennings? With hindsight, you'd grab Tyreke Evans, sure, but everybody in last year's draft had major questions/flaws.

Even in weak drafts, someone has to be the first guy taken.

[Geezer]

I agree. At least let the guy take the court before calling him overrated. That is, if he actually gets on the court.

[W]

The luckiest team last year was the one that had a 65% chance at the top three picks, missed, and got the best player because of it.

[Buscemi]

I saw that Mike Brown has been fired as the head coach of the Cavaliers. Why does this not surprise me?

[W]

I saw that Mike Brown has been fired as the head coach of the Cavaliers. Why does this not surprise me?

...because it isn't surprising.

He's probably better than the next guy they hire anyways, unless it's Phil Jackson or someone like that which is extremely doubtful. They're just trying to tell LeBron they'll do whatever it takes I think.