Bjelica Close

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Not having a D League team is a problem right now. Solving the minutes crisis is as easy as sending AB and AP to the D League to get big minutes (if we had our own team), but they can't get that on the D League collective team that supports half the league. Then we'd still have them under contract and playing a lot and building their confidence while being ready to be called up whenever needed due to injuries. The D League should turn into a legitimate minor league system for the pros. Make the draft 3-4 rounds and require every team to have their own affiliate. If baseball can support multiple levels of minor leagues and still keep them running, basketball can do it too with one level especially because it's the second most popular sport right now behind football.

[mrhockey89]

Hamilton is definitely out. Heck, he wasn't in last year until we had injuries. My predictions:

Players that are IN (virtual lock):
Rubio
Tyus
Lavine
Martin
Wiggins
Bazz
KG
Pekovic
KAT
Dieng

Players that are more likely than not IN:
Payne
Bjelica
Budinger (can swing SG/SF, Flip just talked him up as a vet with good experience on the team during an interview)

Players more likely than not OUT:
Bennett
Hummel

Players that are OUT (virtual lock):
Hamilton
Onuaku
LoBro
Neal

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Not having a D League team is a problem right now. Solving the minutes crisis is as easy as sending AB and AP to the D League to get big minutes (if we had our own team), but they can't get that on the D League collective team that supports half the league. Then we'd still have them under contract and playing a lot and building their confidence while being ready to be called up whenever needed due to injuries. The D League should turn into a legitimate minor league system for the pros. Make the draft 3-4 rounds and require every team to have their own affiliate. If baseball can support multiple levels of minor leagues and still keep them running, basketball can do it too with one level especially because it's the second most popular sport right now behind football.

Amen on the D-League needing to become a legit minor league. Think of all the guys who failed out of the league because they weren't ready or got onto a roster that was too talented for them to see the minutes to develop. And think of all the teams that had to deal with those guys taking up a roster spot.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

It looks like an AB trade is looking more likely, but I fear flip will sell too low here. His cluster of pfs might bite him in the ass.

[TheGrey08]

On Pek, the surgery he underwent was described as "a last resort procedure". We should get an update on how he's doing in the next week or two. So it would be foolish to assume he will play again.

They said that initially, but a local report (may have been team statements I forget) said that when the Dr went in he realized a bone may be the cause so they shaved that bone down and the ligament didn't need to be repaired. Of course the national media had a different report so idk exactly. If the local report is accurate then I expect Pek to play.

[60WinTim]

I hope that's the case. But whatever they did, Flip said Pek wouldn't even be able to start rehab until July, which is why he is coming here on July 1st, I assume.

[Monster]

Not having a D League team is a problem right now. Solving the minutes crisis is as easy as sending AB and AP to the D League to get big minutes (if we had our own team), but they can't get that on the D League collective team that supports half the league. Then we'd still have them under contract and playing a lot and building their confidence while being ready to be called up whenever needed due to injuries. The D League should turn into a legitimate minor league system for the pros. Make the draft 3-4 rounds and require every team to have their own affiliate. If baseball can support multiple levels of minor leagues and still keep them running, basketball can do it too with one level especially because it's the second most popular sport right now behind football.

Amen on the D-League needing to become a legit minor league. Think of all the guys who failed out of the league because they weren't ready or got onto a roster that was too talented for them to see the minutes to develop. And think of all the teams that had to deal with those guys taking up a roster spot.

I've been railing on the minor league thing and Flip and Glen for not having an affiliate team. I will give them a bit of a pass because the new Mayo facilities sound pretty impressive and maybe flip and Glen are doing the legwork to do their d-league affiliate right. I am impatient for it to happen though.

[Monster]

I thought Flip's comment indicated that he was not going to look for a 3rd PG, but will instead rely on LaVine for spot minutes at the 1 if/when needed. He played him a TON there last year, and like Lip says, Flip is a straight shooter, so I expect that will be the case. The real question is if Rubio goes down again, whether Flip would pick up a veteran backup, or really just rely on Tyus and LaVine. I think that would probably be a mistake (unless Tyus REALLY impresses me), but he went with LaVine last year at the point, and Tyus is more ready to run it, so I could see him letting those two take all the minutes at the 1 next year. That would be putting Tyus through the same wringer LaVine went through last year though, so I'd be ready to bring in a vet if it was hurting the team too much and not helping Tyus and LaVine (who I think should play almost entirely at the 2).

At this point if Flip doesn't move anyone there is one roster spot open so he may have guys like Lorenzo Brown Hummel etc battle it out for the spot. If Brown plays well maybe Flip keeps him on the roster. I don't think Flip is actively pursuing anyone but a guy like Heslip may have a shot also.

[Monster]

One thing I think hasn't been talked about enough is Bjelica's rebounding which is pretty good for a guy that I assume spends some decent time on the perimeter at around 7+ rebounds per 30mins. This last year he was terrific over 8 rebounds in less than 28mpg. Guys in the past have out performed their rebounding numbers from Europe when they came over here so there is some real hope he will be an above average rebounder or at least average for a PF and a real asset in that area if he plays SF. Luis Scola was 27 when he came over so... :)

[Monster]

One thing I think hasn't been talked about enough is Bjelica's rebounding which is pretty good for a guy that I assume spends some decent time on the perimeter at around 7+ rebounds per 30mins. This last year he was terrific over 8 rebounds in less than 28mpg. Guys in the past have out performed their rebounding numbers from Europe when they came over here so there is some real hope he will be an above average rebounder or at least average for a PF and a real asset in that area if he plays SF. Luis Scola was 27 when he came over so... :)