NBA ALCHEMY Trade Special

CP3 had to change his game up quite a bit to fit with Harden but he made it work. Westbrook though... I guess Morey's thought process was CP3 and Harden had too many emotional problems.

Paradox

So I never did really understand this trade. My understanding was that Russell was a restricted free agent and the Nets had to essentially let him go in order to fit Durant and Irving and be under the cap. So GSW comes to them and says sign him at some (perhaps inflated) level and then trade him to us for Durant, who will sign with us. But why do the Nets do that unless they get something for it? They said it was a kind of favor to Russell, assuming he got something more than he was worth and with perhaps a better landing spot (at least temporarily), but they had to get something. The Dubs did take the two other guys as well, and I assume those were contracts the Nets wanted/needed to get rid of. But because of the trade the Nets also got hard-capped for a year (assuming the trigger was exceeded, which it may not have been), and I don't know if that's an issue for them the way it is for GSW. Then they get shipped to MTW and what did GSW get for that? Then they ship Iggy to Memphis with another pick and what did they get for that? That was a salary dump of coure, but don't you actually have to get something in return for it to be a trade? Anyway, it makes sense that the Nets would have wanted more than just Durant in a deal they didn't have to make, and Durant didn't get what he could have gotten, which was the five-year Bird-level contract. But what doesn't make sense is what that link is saying - why would Durant feel better about the Dubs getting Russell for KD AND a draft pick? That makes it look like Russell was more valuable.

Houston reeks desperation, we'll go after a volume 2 PT scorer antithetical to our analytics system of 3's and layups....best case they take turns running opposite systems off and on. Say what you want about Chris, he was tough to guard in the pistol stuff Houston ran.

Steven Stanley

There is going to be so many moments and interactions ...gonna be good!

Athletic Alchemy

I don't see how this will work. You take two of the highest usage rates in the league, who are useless off ball, and you pair them together? I despise both of them, so this is going to be a great season for me to shit on both of them

Branden Edwards

Whether Houston's better or not, they're gonna be easier to route for than the last couple of years. I would have erased the season from my mind if Harden and Paul won a ring, but it wouldn't be the worst thing if Harden and Westbrook won.

Cory Brewer with muscles? C'mon Alch you ain't have to do him like that!...I'm steal that

SunniDaZambi

100% agree on your KD take. If you look at the way the media reported it, they phrased it in a super misleading way to make people think KD was being sensitive about his perceived trade value when in reality it was the exact opposite where he technically "devalued" himself by making us include a draft pick with him. Just watch the first 22 seconds of this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GP4hJTCf_Y Towards the end, Rachel Nichols says "He didn't even want it visualized that he got traded straight up for D'Angelo Russell", making it sound like a weak ego thing rather than a smart move to help his team out. Just incredibly dishonest reporting smh

alch talk your shit lol, had me laughing out loud on this one. russ and harden is probably going to be a shit show but I think there is s o m e potential, if harden learns to play off ball it could be a pretty lethal combo

Ezra Abbey

oh ok...

Athletic Alchemy

agreed...thats why its going to be so fun to watch unravel

Athletic Alchemy

dang! facts!

Athletic Alchemy

naw they said that pick kd wanted helped them get dj

The main stream media talk soup create superficial takes on everything because they watch a tiny bit of everything. They have a very superficial understanding of the sport, as do most fans. So it works. Their thin analysis is about the same as their audience. But professional GMs ... guys who get paid millions to make teams work. How the fuck do so many NBA professional team builders NOT know by now that this shit is not Fantasy Sports??? You don't just get to add a guy's previous box score to your team! And you can't replace Chris Paul in Houston with Russ Westbrook and expect it to work the same. Sure, Harden wants to play with his buddy Russ, but Harden also wants to play basketball HIS WAY. Harden doesn't want anyone to tell him what to do, especially not what he's NOT doing. Harden is not changing his game, especially for a guy who's a lesser player. This is Harden's team. Harden is an MVP and feels like he should have been one TWO OTHER TIMES. Harden knows that playing the game HIS WAY leads to wins. And if he's not playing the game his way, he just impatiently stands around and waits until you fail so he can go back to showing you how an MVP wins at basketball.

Thomas Ogas

You know what this trade really means? You gotta update your Pateron/YouTube banner. Russ in is there in an OKC uni :)

Pop

Corey Brewer with muscles, that's tough😂😂

Toulivinho

There is no doubt he is slowing down, it depends on his willingness to play differently. This whole pg thing is definitely not the way to preserve him. Id say its 50/50 giving him the benefit of the doubt because of all he puts into his body.

Athletic Alchemy

Alc, one more question. What percent chance do you give it that by this time next year the Lakers experiment will have been a total failure due to LeBrons age .. and he will not be referred to as top 5/10/15 anymore? 35 in December. THere is just no way he is going to keep up with 20 somethings that can play. I have been there, Im also not great

Jim

He had a meteoric rise and was caught in the east during Brons prime. He is just not a type A...thats why everybody wants to play with him.

Athletic Alchemy

Thanks again, Alc. ESPN and mainstream sports media guys dont worry about the truth. They like changing the narrative to the most superficial new datapoint that comes in every day. Its easy, voluminous, and appeals to the 80%. I hope real people build your support every day! On another topic, why has Paul George never seen real success? I have not had the opportunity to watch him a ton because 1) Pacers 2) he doesnt do shit in the playoffs.

Jim

I can’t believe people think they are contenders!

Athletic Alchemy

💯

Athletic Alchemy

Appreciate it! I think he fits well... but now your window would be much smaller.

Athletic Alchemy

Morey out here playing myLeague on 2K in real life

Edward Zeng

That rockets GM is a crazy mf 😂

Kurtis Forge

Love the content Alc. What do you think about a potential CP3 to 76ers for Ben Simmons?

Thomas Joseph