2014-2015 NBA Off Season, Draft, Free Agency

• robj55

  

  Been watching the Vegas Summer league and I'm becoming more convinced that Aaron Craft is going to make an NBA roster. His defense and intangibles are off the charts, he completely changes the game when he comes in and takes the lead guard out of the game causing turnovers and disruption. He just makes plays when he is out there. Steve Kerr seems to be in love with him as well which bodes well.
• lhslep134

  

  Eh I dunno. I've thought all along I think he'll get an invite to a training camp and get cut. At that point he'll probably decide between D-League and whatever post-basketball life he wants to pursue.
• robj55

  

  lhslep134;1636157 wrote:Eh I dunno. I've thought all along I think he'll get an invite to a training camp and get cut. At that point he'll probably decide between D-League and whatever post-basketball life he wants to pursue.

  Right I'm not saying it's a certainty by any means because he will have an uphill battle due to his deficiencies. But Steve Kerr seems to love him as a player. Your 14th or 15th guy on the roster is never going to play anyway, Craft would be an incredible addition to a team based on practice alone.
• Enforcer

  

  robj55;1636156 wrote:Been watching the Vegas Summer league and I'm becoming more convinced that Aaron Craft is going to make an NBA roster. His defense and intangibles are off the charts, he completely changes the game when he comes in and takes the lead guard out of the game causing turnovers and disruption. He just makes plays when he is out there. Steve Kerr seems to be in love with him as well which bodes well.

  what team is He playing for??
• robj55

  

  Enforcer;1636167 wrote:what team is He playing for??

  Golden State
• Heretic

  

  lhslep134;1636157 wrote:Eh I dunno. I've thought all along I think he'll get an invite to a training camp and get cut. At that point he'll probably decide between D-League and whatever post-basketball life he wants to pursue.

  I was thinking more Europe. Read an article around draft-time where he basically said that basketball is his main immediate goal (one of those questions teams asked him a lot due to having legit out-of-sport life prospects) and I got the idea he had no trouble going to Europe if he had to.
• wildcats20

  

  2 years, $32mil for Wade; player option for a 3rd year.
  
  Probably will be done after 2 years anyway.
• Con_Alma

  How much did he leave on the table when he opted out?
• wildcats20

  

  Ok so now I'm seeing it's $34 mil and a player option for NEXT season. So, the 15-16 season.
• wildcats20

  

  And Dirk took an even bigger paycut. Wow.
  
  @ESPNSteinLine: ESPN sources say Dirk Nowitzki has taken bigger pay cut than previously thought. Deal finalized today at three years, $25 mil for Mavs lifer
• Ironman92

  

  wildcats20;1636334 wrote:And Dirk took an even bigger paycut. Wow.
  
  @ESPNSteinLine: ESPN sources say Dirk Nowitzki has taken bigger pay cut than previously thought. Deal finalized today at three years, $25 mil for Mavs lifer

  Dirk has made over $200 million dollars in his career and that doesn't even include his sponsors here or in Germany. He's played forever and $25 million more, maybe he's leaving about $15-$20 million but he just simply cannot possibly even care much about the money.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Bulls amnesty boozer and his 17M a year
  
  Wonder where he'll end up. Maybe Atlanta?
• gport_tennis

  Boozer to the Lakers lol
• Laley23

  

  SportsAndLady;1636384 wrote:Bulls amnesty boozer and his 17M a year
  
  Wonder where he'll end up. Maybe Atlanta?

  I heard he had a handshake deal in place with Chicago. So, he will be anywhere but there...
• lhslep134

  

  Rob maybe you're right about Craft lol
  
  http://www.971thefan.com/content/blogs/buckeye-show/2014/07/craft-summer-league.html
• KB0938

  I cannot fathom Craft making an NBA roster lol. I mean I know he plays defense and hustles, but a few things bother me about Craft.
  
  1. He is literally zero offensive threat, probably less so than Rondo because at least Rondo can finish at the hoop.
  2. Hes really not that great of a passer or at running the pick and roll (That or OSU just dint really run it, maybe he is okay at it)
  3. I dunno if hell be able to stick regular season caliber NBA guards either in practice or if he gets in the game
  
  I mean i guess he could be a practice player like mentioned, I just would be really surprised if hes on a roster
• robj55

  

  lhslep134;1636420 wrote:Rob maybe you're right about Craft lol
  
  http://www.971thefan.com/content/blogs/buckeye-show/2014/07/craft-summer-league.html

  Yeah I've watched all his games in Vegas so far and he has absolutely changed the game once he is on the floor. He is a complete lock down defender, his feet are tremendous and he is doing it without fouling. He makes so many little plays on the floor in the short amount of time he is on the floor it's crazy really, forces so many turnovers. What has shocked me the last few games is how comfortable he looks on offense, he made three long range jumpshots in the last game including two threes and look very confident in taking them. He seems to have worked out the hitch in his jumper already and he has very good quickness and an ability to get into the lane. I still think it is an uphill battle but I've said before I can see him making the roster as a 14th-15th guy. Never going to get into the game but will be an incredible practice player who will make your guards better just by guarding them in practice.
• robj55

  

  KB0938;1636425 wrote:I cannot fathom Craft making an NBA roster lol. I mean I know he plays defense and hustles, but a few things bother me about Craft.
  
  1. He is literally zero offensive threat, probably less so than Rondo because at least Rondo can finish at the hoop.
  2. Hes really not that great of a passer or at running the pick and roll (That or OSU just dint really run it, maybe he is okay at it)
  3. I dunno if hell be able to stick regular season caliber NBA guards either in practice or if he gets in the game
  
  I mean i guess he could be a practice player like mentioned, I just would be really surprised if hes on a roster

  Why don't you think he will be able to guard NBA guards? Craft has some of the best feet/lateral quickness/hands I've ever seen on a guard.
• KB0938

  Because who did he really guard in college and lockdown that was NBA caliber? And mostly because good offense beats good defense every time in a 1 on 1 situation and the NBA is very offense oriented
  
  I mean he was even with Burke , and the B1G didnt really have any other pro caliber guards that he was matched up against when he was there really ti didnt seem like. I forget the out of conference match ups for the most part, id have to dig it up
• robj55

  

  KB0938;1636497 wrote:Because who did he really guard in college and lockdown that was NBA caliber? And mostly because good offense beats good defense every time in a 1 on 1 situation and the NBA is very offense oriented
  
  I mean he was even with Burke , and the B1G didnt really have any other pro caliber guards that he was matched up against when he was there really ti didnt seem like. I forget the out of conference match ups for the most part, id have to dig it up

  I don't know name wise but I'm sure you could say that for 99% of college players. What we do know is that he was a lockdown defender and one of the best we have seen in a long time. He's guarding NBA caliber guys right now and completely disrupting them and making plays on both ends. I still think he has an uphill battle but he's not as bad offensively as most say. He's not a good shooter but the numbers suggested he was pretty decent, and he has very good quickness to get into the lane and to the basket and make a play there. Shooting is something that can be improved and tweaked, but no one can teach the heart/toughness/desire and intangibles that a player like Craft has.
• KB0938

  Who has he been guarding in these summer league games? Europe players or young NBA team guards
  
  I know hes a good defender, I just think given the chance, actual guards in the NBA would have little problem with him. Guess ill have to wait n see
• robj55

  

  KB0938;1636502 wrote:Who has he been guarding in these summer league games? Europe players or young NBA team guards like most of them are.
  
  I know hes a good defender, I just think given the chance, actual guards in the NBA would have little problem with him. Guess ill have to wait n see

  Both really. Why would they have little problem with him? Aaron Craft is absolutely elite defensively, you've watched him play. His feet and lateral quickness are unbelievable on the ball. I can see having questions about him offensively and rightfully so but not defensively.
• KB0938

  I already said why they wouldnt have much problem, good offense beats good defense....majorrrrity of the time. Its a game with rules that favor offensive players. And he was elite defensively in college and against summer leaguers i guess, i havent watched him. Ill eat crow if he does it against NBA caliber guards who get playing time, but i honestly do not see it happening
• robj55

  

  KB0938;1636504 wrote:I already said why they wouldnt have much problem, good offense beats good defense....majorrrrity of the time. Its a game with rules that favor offensive players. And he was elite defensively in college and against summer leaguers i guess, i havent watched him. Ill eat crow if he does it against NBA caliber guards who get playing time, but i honestly do not see it happening

  I'll put it this way, if Craft can't guard NBA guards then nobody can. Yes good offense beats good defense but not every time.
• KB0938

  So you're saying craft would be the best defender in the NBA on the perimeter?