Bucks center Brook Lopez will be facing his former team in the conference semifinals and Nets coach Steve Nash believes he could be a key player in the series, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. “He could be one of the wild cards,” Nash said. Lopez, who is signed through the 2022/23 season, averaged 15.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 1.3 BPG during the first-round sweep of the Heat.
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Pistons raised a lot of eyebrows when they signed Nuggets reserve center Mason Plumlee to a three-year, $24MM+ contract last fall but Plumlee justified it with a productive season, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes. Plumlee averaged 10.4 PPG, a career-high 9.3 RPG and 3.6 APG while serving as a post facilitator and setting solid screens. He’ll remain a rotation fixture in his second season with the franchise, Langlois adds.
- The Pacers’ offseason appears to be on hold until the front office decides what to do with head coach Nate Bjorkgren, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files writes. It’s the biggest decision that team president Kevin Pritchard will make to date and he’s pondering all his options.
- If the Pacers decide to break up their frontcourt duo of All-Star Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, it’s generally assumed the front office will move Turner. Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel (subscription required) explores a variety of metrics and concludes that it’s not a clear-cut decision.
Pacers…. (Bird)… Ainge?
If Myles Turner comes available the warriors should make a good offer for him. If they want Oubre let the do a sign and trade while throwing in a 1st round pick.
4 year contract of 14th pick is valuable
Pacers get 14th pick, Paschall and Kuzma
Warriors get Turner
Lakers get Oubre and Pacers other consideration
That wouldn’t be a bad trade for all involved.
Turner would get way better offers than that
Bos and Cha would double that offer
Indy dont deal much so if they Do it wont be selling short
Lol sorry dude
I believe the skepticism raised when Plumlee was signed can be attributed to a tendency to bash veteran additions on rebuilding teams. However, signing Plumlee did not exactly break the bank, while his veteran leadership is hardly something that should go unnoticed. I imagine Stewart’s development will unfold much more smoothly with the presence of Plumlee. Furthermore, he could be flipped at the trade deadline either this year or next for an additional asset. I feel the addition can be likened to that of Rose a couple years back
My main issue was just Plumlee starting, when they should have used Blake at the 5, with what else they had. Their spacing was terrible when they tried to use them together, and they had too many guys that needed the ball in that same unit, which made Blake look way worse than he is
They had good chemistry I thought. Blake just ain’t that dude anymore. His days as the number 1 option were long over.
Could argue Plumlee > Blake now
A lot of players these days are better than Blake Griffin.
Plumlee is a good rebounder and a good passer for a big guy….I think the most surprising part of that contract was that a rebuilding team signed him
Plumlee has been undervalued since his Net days. Neither the Nets, nor the Blazers, really wanted to move him. His shot (to the extent he has one) is a joke. But he brings a rare combination of athleticism, physicality and basketball IQ to the table.
Turner & Lamb for Porzingis…
If Im Det I dish both Mason and Grant and then try and rinse and repeat the same process once more during this rebuild-
This is a deep deep build, take the value and bottom out next 2 years. Mason fits on about 15-18 teams right now and Grant like 25 ….Get it done. should be a solid sellers market this offseason
Just remember you have to be above the cap so have to sign someone.
Totally Spike, try and rinse and repeat the process or even take on a bad contract for future assets – Next 2 years should be lottery and thats fine, Bigger Q will be how they look afterwards, they should be formidable at least and in cap heaven at that time