[festar35Participant]

 I’m really excited for the stretch run once we get back to it after the All-Star break. 3 things in particular I am interested in.

#1: Mario Hezonja – Going into the break has had three 20+ point games and is looking like Magic will regret not picking up his option. I want to see if he can keep it up and legitimately hit free agency viewed as a future building block for a team. I think he can be a near 20ppg guy for multiple seasons to come and flirt with some All-Star appearances. I think he can be a lot like what Gallo was meant to be before the injuries.

#2: Eastern Conference Playoffs – From the 4th spot to the 9th there are teams that can get into the playoffs. Was, Ind, Mil, Phi, Mia, Det are the teams sitting in those spots at the moment, Detroit the only one with a losinv record but a wildcard in BG now in the team. I think that we see Washington and Indiana battle for that 4 seed with Philly climbing past Milwaukee into the 6th spot and Detroit ultimately going past Miami. Milwaukee still need to establish there identity and I think that happens this coming off season when they bring in their new coach and Philly will get still have a few too many hiccups to climb to high due to their youth.

#3: West Conference Playoff Race – 5th through to 10th is separated by 2.5 games. The battle for the 8th seed to me will come down to LAC & NOLA. Utah have been playing some inspiring basketball but I just think they will run out of steam a little bit. I think OKC, Denver and Portland maintain their playoff seedings with Denver and Portland battling for 6th place. I have no idea who will come in at that 8th spot should be a real fun battle.

 

 

 

 

[The GoatParticipant]

 Utah will get in for sure. They have quite a few home games. I believe there was an analyst projection on ESPN saying that they had a 90+% chance of making it. Rubio has played well, Ingles has scored in the 20s a number of times in the last month and Mitchell’s confidence is through the roof. 

NOLA were in with Boogie who was having an MVP level year, and as good as AD has been, he cant be expected to average 40 the rest of the way. I have to admit I’m not 100% sure on whether they still have their pick.. do they? If so, best thing for them is to hit the lottery, get a wing, get Boogie back and have a big year next year. 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 It will be interesting to see what sort of offers Hezonja gets in the off season, I could see a rebuilding team having a good look at him as he’d have upside but also some nice experience. His size for an SG will also appeal to a lot of teams.

Gallo is more a combo forward whilst Herz is a swingman but I could see Herz having a Gallo level career in the NBA. Gallo still plays well when he is sound and put up better numbers after his first long injury lay off but he just seems to never be sound for a full season. But he’s got a great contract so good luck to him.

 

[festar35Participant]

 Hezonja has actually been Orlando’s starting PF whilst Gordon has been out and that has been his last 3 games. I think he has the potential to play 2,3 and 4 spot.

Teams I think will be interested are Atlanta, Chicago, Indiana and Dallas as a long shot. They all will have cap space and a young guy with high offensive upside would fit nicely.

 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

He’d be such a great fit with Indiana.

 

 

[festar35Participant]

 Yup a better and more athletic Bogdanovic, would have every chance to be the #2 scoring option in Indiana.

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

I want my 76ers to sign Mario Hezonja and I think they make the playoffs as the 6th seed, Cavs and 76ers play a tough 5 game series with the the Cavs taking the win

The Warriors and Rockets are too good not yo male it to the Conference Finals

 

 

 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 Playoff matchups I would like to see happen:

GSW vs Jazz first round. They would be the most likely to at least take 1 game out of GSW at the 8 spot. Which is good for all the other teams in the west as if they get GSW in the 2nd round they may not be so fresh making  a team like Minesota,Houston or OKC have a shot at beating GSW(assuming the have no injuries),

Spurs vs OKC as that way my team doesn’t have to play the T-wolves as they don’t seem to play to flash against them + I want to see OKC and Minesota make it out of the first round at least as those are my two teams I follow.

Houston vs OKC in the WCF(assuming one of them bounces GSW somehow) That would be a cool rematch of last years first round but with both having better lineups.

 

Cavs vs Celtics in the ECF would be interesting to see on the big stage who is better and if Kyrie made the right choice.

As for Mario Herzonja. I wouldn’t mind seeing him on OKC at the end of the Season as we need as many offensive players who have two way potential as possible he would be a nice 6-7th man or maybe even starter(assuming robersons rehab takes him through to at least the start of the season). I could see a mid level exception at least being available if we can stretch singler,let a few players walk(huestis,collison-move him into a front office role and maybe 1 other player) and convince P.G to take a couple of million less.As mentioned above he can play a Dario saric type role where he does some scoring,ball handling,some reasonable defense and rebounds a little. The only issue with OKC is we have to hope the following happens though: Mello opts out and take less but more years(giving him overall more money) and Paul George does a K.D and gives us a couple of million to help shore our bench up as only having Jermi, Raymond Felton and sometime Alex Abrines give us something is the challenging part for us if we want to be legit title contenders…

 

 

 

 

 

 

[festar35Participant]

Houston vs Oklahoma City would be such an awesome 2nd round match-up. Would love to see the Celtics vs Philadelphia in round 1 as well.

 

I don’t see OKC beating out the likes of Chicago, Atlanta & Indiana as they can offer far more money as well as a far higher opportunity which is what I think Hezonja wants. If you’re are going to say that winning may draw him there, Indiana has as many wins as OKC & has guys his age that he can build with.

 

 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 The Celtics vs 76ers would be that matchup that could have the making of a wildcard upset especially if Embiid and Simmons go off and Futlz somehow makes a comeback at the right time.I could see that series going to 6 or 7 at least(baring injuries that is)

Chicago-May have more money but bigger role I’m not so sure if they are playing him at the Sg position if they Re-up Lavine then he is in the exact same spot as if he Went to OKC. If he is playing PF it is the exact same thing if Lauri M is your guy(unless he is there Center longterm not sure yet.) and Portis. Which only leaves if you believe he is a Sf I don’t if they would do that if they get Bagley somehow which puts him in that 6th-8th spot same as OKC in terms of minutes again…

Indiana: The only question is this which one are you legit giving up on? Sabonis,Turner or Oladipo. Well unless you are bringing one of Turner or Sabonis off the bench that is or if you believe he is going to play Sf fulltime, as the pacers pick won’t be that low this year(baring a freak flame out that is). So if you are saying he can somehow play Sf fulltime then fair play he would make complete sense there and the money could intise him. Otherwise he will be 6th/7th man like OKC so then it comes down to who does he think has a great chance at winning + minutes and how great is the $ difference..As getting good minutes on OKC could pump up his value and help him next contract.

Atlanta they have the most cap and Minutes to give so this would be his bet if $ and minutes are what he desires but if its winning though..That is where Atlanta lacks, at least for now.

Realistically though I wouldn’t mind OKC going after any of the following though in Free agency/Draft day if we miss out on Mario though:

Bigs: One of these two

Jahlil Okafor-If we promise him regular minutes maybe he may come as he could play that Kanter role for us and give us instant offense.

Georgis Papagiannis-He looks like a low risk high reward sort of move if he gets in with Mark Bryant he could be Brook lopez take 2 which for a cheap deal wouldn’t be horrible off our bench.

Wings/Guards:

Bring back Felton-As long as we keep Melo and Jermi G this move legit makes sense as Felton has been a nice pick up this year for us. He is the first P.G since Reggie J that allows us to give Russ some legit rest.

Bring back Jermi G on the right price.As he has looked like he is slowly figuring out his role on this team. 

The maybe if we don’t get out bid or if they can sign with us(most likely though we do though):Will barton(would be nice in the 6th man role). Avery Bradley-Very unlikely but if  P.G and Melo stay and take less to make it work…But he most likely goes where the money is…  Enes Kanter(I don’t know if he can if he somehow opts out..), but the familarity and the fact you can have him run your bench offense + the stache bros front court is nice ,it just means melo plays sf and PG(if stays plays Sg full time)..

Try swing a trade for Ben Mclemore. I think having Donovan and Russ hyping up telling him to keep shooting would do wonders for his offensive confidence and he has the tools to be alright on Defense.It is the sort of low key move Presti could make if we gave them a cheap deal in exchange to help their cap situation..

Who do you see the pacers legit going after though?If they miss out on Mario H?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[festar35Participant]

Genuinely have no idea. Would love them to go after Terry Rozier as I think Boston won’t be able to afford him come 2019 and they may decide to move early like OKC did with Harden and Jackson. 

Most of the All-Star potential this coming free agency are RFA’s and at PF position, I don’t think we have a need there with Young being an extremely valuable glue guy and Sabonis and Leaf on the roster. Randle, Gordon, Parker. I think Jabari is the most likely get and he could play SF as well as score 20ppg but his injury history scares me.

So I think we look at Hezonja and Parker (He ain’t getting max) and if that fails we use our cap space to try trade for an All-Star caliber player like a Kemba Walker or Dennis Schroeder. Tobias Harris or Harrison Barnes could be had and they the same age as Oladipo so young enough to fit as well as good scorers with a bit of a proven background.

 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 Rozier what player would you compare him to? Some people I know would compare him to Reggie Jackson..Would you want the pacers throwing big money at that type of player?

Jabari parker though that is a wild card pick right there…Isn’t he a RFA or are you implying you throw big money at him and force the bucks to not match sort of move? As those leg issues are slightly concerning and the frequency that they have occured at…But age and talent wise he could be a solid fit.

The trade partners that you have mentioned are interesting though. What do you think it would take to get them? All could work except I don’t know if Kemba and Victor Oladipo would exactly work(think Russ and Vic in OKC which wasn’t bad but won’t be great longterm wise).

 

 

[festar35Participant]

 I would compare Rozier to Eric Bledsoe due to his athleticism (not as strong) and defensive ability. 

Parker would be expensive due to his restricted free agency and yeah that’s my suggestion, I don’t think any team will offer him max and it’d be a huge risk for Indiana to take.

In terms of trades I’d say cap space and picks. Oladipo,Turner and Sabonis are probably not going anywhere, but Collison, Bogdanovic, Jefferson each have $10mil expiring deals if Young and Joseph opt in they have expiring deals of $14mil and $7mil. 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 In his last three games your talking about he is also averaging 6 rebounds 3 steals and 1 block while shooting above 50% FG. They lost all three games though but not by much. I dont think he can be a 2nd option on a playoff team, he is too mechanical and lacks creativity. One on one his moves seem premeditated and easy to read but the question is whether you can stop him. Seems to me like he can become a very good third option though on a playoff team as he has the versatility, size and athletisism to play 3 positions and the skill to back it up.

[kobyzParticipant]

i better draft Bates-Diop than sign Hezonja,  that same type of player but will be cheaper  and i belive could give even more production…

 

[cominup7Participant]

 As a Bulls fan I’m praying NO falls apart down the stretch, the 1st rounder they’re getting from the Pelicans could be a top 6-10 (but likely 10-14) on top of their own pick. Slept on trade from the deadline

 

I doubt Orlando gives Hezonja a bunch of PT once Gordon comes back, as they’ve kinda already made their minds up and. would only be driving the value up on a player they can’t resign, since i’m sure he doesn’t want to be there. ORL is such a terrible organization all around smh

 

 

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