Basketball (NBA/College/International)

I just want Harden to stop trying to be his own agent or hiring one on the cheap like he did with his current one who has no experience and no other clients.  He's really, really terrible at negotiating, and he's chosen to deal with that weakness by trashing Daryl Morey in the press.  🙄 

NO team will ever give that guy a long-term contract again.  Three trade requests in four years, including two to get away from first Durant and then Embiid?  What a flake.  It's no surprise that Steve Ballmer barely offered anything for him.  Who can trust him from now on to not just flake out yet again?

If you didn't catch it check out what Kevin McHale had to say about him last week.  He broke down ALL of Harden's problems as a player and a person incredibly well:

https://heavy.com/sports/houston-rockets/kevin-mchale-james-harden-daryl-morey-fallout/

This thing where Dame and Harden demand to only be traded to one team is inane.  No better way to ruin your market and therefore the chances you actually get traded than by stating that publicly.  If they're really set on Miami or the Clippers then that's fine, but keep that to yourself.  Ballmer and Pat Riley knowing that they're bidding against nobody isn't the way to make your trade happen.  🙄 

Harden is a joke. Fat, lazy, overrated, no defense, practically no playoff success. About the best thing he has going for him is that at least he's not as big of a black hole ballhog as Carmelo Anthony was.

Always enjoy remembering how Ginobili, on his worst day twice the player Harden ever was, blocked him from behind in the playoffs. Another in a long list of playoff low lights for this bum.

Lillard is at least a gamer. A real ball player. I'm sure he will end up in Miami, and I don't really mind. Not really sure he makes Miami a true contender for more than a couple of years. Jimmy is getting up there, as amazing as he is.

The most amusing thing about the Lillard situation is the Jerami Grant contract.

It is bittersweet that Lillard wants to leave. I would've wanted him to finish his career as a Blazer. 

Scoot Henderson hopefully becomes another franchise player. Curious how this backcourt with Simons will work out. Lillard/McCollum 2.0? 

I think Billups has not found his footing as a coach yet. 

Quite a HoF enshrinement recently. Happy for Dirk. Seems like a genuinely humble person. What a treat to see him play all those years.

and there it is... Henderson, Simons and Holiday? Ayton an upgrade over Nurk. 

I'm not an Ayton fan, but I like what the Blazers did. I'd like to see them keep Holiday, too. It'd give them some veteran presence (and much-needed defense) around their young guys.

this is one of those trades where all the commentators seem to feel like everyone came out ahead -  which is wild to me.   Lillard finally has a teammate as good or better than him, so that should be fun to watch.

Concensus from the talking heads is that Portland is going to trade Holiday quickly to flip for picks or younger assets for their future build.    

ha yeah this team will be built to play minimal defense.

dame's post.