Im Super happy for your city man Big win for sure!

I heard that James Harden's trade value may have just increased. I just hope that's true.
Especially from the Eastern Conference teams that wanted to land Giannis next off-season.

I want all the smoke

Why is Jrue so valued? He's a good player. Excellent defender. He made the all-star team like one time in 2013?
I don't view him as a difference maker like James Harden can be. But to each their own. I don't hate the Bucks.
Defense aside, Harden does everything else at an elite level. The type of player that would dominate with Giannis.

James Harden can opt out and become an unrestricted free agent after next season. That's still a long time away but...
At some point the Houston Rockets will lose their leverage. They may have to take a lesser package if nobody overpays.
It's like when I try to make a good trade on Diablo II. Sure, I want a lot! But I end up settling for less just to find a deal.

Also, I disagree about the Nets trade package being better. Spencer Dinwiddie can opt out after this season.

Let's say we take their deal and lose Dinwiddie in free agency next off-season. That's a one year rental.
So far I haven't seen the Nets offering three or four first-round picks to compensate. So that's a big no.

And the 76ers claim they don't want to deal Ben Simmons just yet. Who wants James Harden? Where's the big offers?
If the Miami Heat offer Tyler Herro in a package deal, along with three unprotected first-round picks, maybe I'd take that.

But I don't see any reason why other teams, including the Bucks, can't put their best foot forward and at least make an offer.

Crazy thing is Khris Middleton is a 29-year-old all star. John Wall and Boogie Cousins are 30-year-olds trying to regain their past all-star form. So far in the preseason it appears that both of them are back to being dominant players! Wall, in particular, has looked sensational after a two-year absence. He looks quicker than ever and is a stud on both ends of the court.

I think a team led by Wall, Boogie and Middleton. Three all-star players if healthy. It's a 6th or 7th seed in the tough West?
But of course I'd rather land a 24-year-old Ben Simmons or a 20-year-old Tyler Herro. Don't get me wrong. That's the goal.

Defense wins Championships, literally the oldest proverb in the proverbial Sports tactics 101 book.

I do agree with that but the NBA has become such an offensive game over the past few decades. I'd probably value exceptional offense a little more these days. In another era I felt like great defensive play could win championships. It still can but ever since the NBA banned hand checking against perimeter players after the 2003-2004 NBA season the game started to shift towards more offense.

Four of the most physical NBA Finals I had ever seen: 2003 Spurs vs. Nets, 1999 Spurs vs. Knicks, 1995 Rockets vs. Magic and 1994 Rockets vs. Knicks. You had to be a man's man to compete in those NBA Finals! You could just about get away with murder on the court. Anything short of body slamming a player was encouraged and cheered upon. You could even smack a player in the head from time to time and no foul was called. There was physical contact every time down the court. It wouldn't be uncommon to hold a team under 80 points. Touch fouls didn't exist because hand checking was legal.

Back then I had fun watching the NBA Finals. Compare that to the 2020 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Heat. Yeah, I watched it because I'm a fan of basketball but it was so boring despite the greatness of LeBron and AD. Also Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro put on a show and did their thing. The poor TV ratings proved just how disinteresting it was. Even though political factors played into the low ratings, but from a pure basketball standpoint I wasn't jumping out of my seat and yelling in excitement. I was yawning and watching just to watch.

The NBA used to be better than the NFL at one point. Now it's not even close. Literally, the NBA has work to do to get back on top.

Holiday will be big to glue to guys like Tatum and Butler

XD