If Philly gets the #2 and #11 picks they could start a line up next year of

1-M Carter Williams
3-J Parker/A Wiggins
4-T Young
5-N Noel
2-R Hood/G Harris

And still have a ton of cap space to sign some veteran depth
and that is with 4 2nd rd picks too though they will most likely deal a few of those of draft and stash some euros.

They only have 26 million committed and even with approx 8 million in lottery salaries they will have significant space.

Thats pretty good for a team that is currently getting thrashed nightly

What are the chances of the Sixers buying out Granger and he ends up playing for the Heat?

Sounds like he is trolling for that. Hinkie more or less said that they would consider it however they can keep him they can use his expiring contract as a chip in a sign and trade this summer. Generally guys who are going to be bought out are done right away and the Sixers owe him no favors so I'd guess no but who knows? They may not want him moping around or worse come in, play well and win a game or two lol.

3 weeks ago on sportsinteraction.com Indiana was even money to win the East, Miami was plus 150. Not a giant favorite, but a favorite. I wish I could bet Miami at plus anything to win the East. They have made it clear that they want home court and they are coming for it. Indiana talked all this **** about getting it, and they are letting it slip away.

Harden's playing like he's half shot in the a$$ tonight. Ugly.

THey won again though, and he really picked it up late.
Houston is the best team in the West right now. They are 9-1 in there last 10, the only loss being at Golden St.

The West is totally up for grabs. Whoever goes into the playoffs healthy and playing their best basketball at the end of the season will most likely be who ends up coming out of the West. Still a long way to go.

He injured his elbow (nothing terribly severe) vs. Golden St. on Thursday night and was not quite himself early in last night's game. Amazingly, he has picked up 10 fouls in the Rockets' last two games, which is a positive sign that he's even attempting to play defense.

Dwight Howard played great and has been doing so on a nightly basis. He won't get any credit for it because of how hated he's become in the league, and that's a good thing. He plays better as a big fish in a small pond.

Agreed on all counts, and to be fair, after I posted that last night, he pulled it together on both ends of the court. He made a few horrible passes, which prompted me to jump the gun.

Howard looked phenominal last night.

They'll likely be a very tough draw any team in the West.

It think you guys are delusional if you think the west is up for grabs. Of course OKC is going to struggle for a while with Westbrook coming back, but once the rust is off, they are still the clear favorite.

OKC is the best team, but they are not that much better then Houston or GS IMO. Also I dont really believe in the Clippers, but they match up very well with OKC.

Tonight is a new low for the 76'ers. Getting hammered by the dreadful Bucks by 30 in the 3rd quarter.

And in other news, Melo jacks up 15 first half shots.

At least they're getting time to rest up and practice, you know with their two games since the All Star break so far...some teams like Detroit have already played five.

Don't you think that all evens out? I don't even think it is a good thing to be honest.

I'm not buying any of that. GS causes some match up problems, the other teams not so much. If you want to base anything on how they are playing right now with Westbrook rusty as hell, you're making a mistake.

OKC swept the Clippers last year. This year they had a nice lead before Ibaka was wrongly ejected (they even rescinded the technical later), thrashed them next time, then there was Sunday. If I had to pick one team that could beat them in the West in a 7 game series, it would be Golden State, and then next maybe Memphis if they even make it. I'd be surprised if the Clippers did, and shocked if Houston did.

I guess you can't really can't out the Spurs, though they look bad against the Thunder for two years now. But the playoffs are different, and they have Pop.

44pts
9 reb
4 assists

I think the Spurs amazing run is over. This is not like the East where there are literally only 2 teams. 6 teams can win the West and Golden St, last year gave the Spurs a real run as a huge underdog. I rank SA 6th most likely team to win the West, I guess they can still do it, but I doubt it.
I know your an OKC fan, but Westbrook is world class. These issues are not going to go away because Westbrook is an alpha. He wants to be the man. They were actually better without him. When I said Houston was the best in the West, I said right now. 9-1 in there last 10. That could change though, I think it was 6 weeks ago when GS had won like 12 in a row. If the West playoffs started today, I think OKC would go out round 2 to the Clippers. Thats just my opinion though.

Really Chuck?
They lost, AGAIN!!!
He cant carry a team, period.

I wish Ray Felton shot you

Enough of this nonsense, it has gotten old. Anyone who watches the Knicks understands that he IS carrying the team, that without him they'd be the Sixers.

Last night they started a guy on minutes limitations, 2 back up PG's and Chandler. Your boy Hardaway who is being called haraway (no D) and JR smith went 11-26. The other two players that played were Cole Aldrich and Jeremy Tyler.

I have never heard anyone insult Hardaway. As a matter of fact I heard that people are calling him Timmy Ice Jr.
Chuck your making no sense, at all about Melo carrying anyone.
They would be the Sixers?? Jesus Christ they are 6 games better then them. They are literally barley better then Philly. What is he carrying them to? 3-8 in the East is as bad as it gets, and they are not even sniffing the playoffs. Guys dont want to play with him.

This is more idiotic than usual.

Acting like the Knicks are bad because of Anthony is stupid. Pretending that he is not playing great is foolish.

It just gets old

Well they certainly aren't good because of him. I'm sure you're response will be some insult or hoping Felton kills me.

This is the stuff that is just silly. You watch too much First Take I guess. Before going out at Christmas, Westbrook was playing the best basketball of his life and racking up assists. He has no problem deferring when it is warranted. They were 21-4 with Westbrook, but they were better without him? Come on, short memories.

The biggest problem the Thunder have is they still trot out two guys to start that are horrible on offense, and they often dig a hole for themselves because of it. Good teams exploit those two. They totally ignore Perkins, and only pay a little attention to Thabo. It is tough to change until next year, because those guys still need to play minutes. If you make them bench players, you will virtually never score with the second unit. KD/Russ can overcome them somewhat, Reggie and Lamb, not so much.

Little known fact, Perkins almost NEVER is on the court without KD. Brooks tries to hide his total lack of any offensive skill.

The way Felton has been shooting he'd miss for sure

What exactly do you want him to do? Score 50 a night? He was the Eastern Conf player of the month in Jan and is averaging 33/8/3 on 51% shooting/43% on 3's in Feb. He was 2nd team All NBA last year and by virtually every measure is having an even better year. He is shooting 43% on 3 point shots (better than Curry at 42%) versus 38% last year. He is averaging more rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and less turnovers. His player efficiency rating (PER) is a career high 25.3 despite often being the only viable offensive option on the floor.

But you say he sucks because Amare is crippled, Felton is fat, Chandler has been injured and a shell of himself, Shumpert is hurt, the Italian blackshole has been hurt, JR Smith is high, Smiths brother who is probably the worst NBA plaer of the 2000's actually was on the team, Metta world peace further imploded, Urdich got paid to go away, and Hardaway has a defensive rating of 113 which if he never crossed over halfcourt on defense couldnt be much worse.

Well ok you are correct, he just isnt good enough to overcome that.

The Knicks stink, but it isn't because of Carmelo.

Did you guys see the Knicks passed up a 1st round pick for Shumpert from OKC? Granted, it would be a late pick, but they apparently wanted a player back for a "playoff push". Now that is hilarious.

James Dolan is the gift that keeps on giving.

The Thunder won't have to worry about that for a while

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...-groin-injury/

Word today is Granger is begging for buyout because Spurs want to sign him.

The Sixers would have to be nice to do it, because he does have some value as a sign and trade for next year. Not sure they are in any position to give up anything!

I think the question that they are weighing could be is there a real chance that they make a trade for someone this off season. And is that trade chip worth having an influential vet moping around, not wanting to play and poisoning the well so to speak for the younger guys like Carter Willliams and Noel?

Thad Young could be moved but they have so many 2nd rd picks they can use as a trade sweetener too

Honestly I do like First Take, but because of work I can only watch it on Thursdays. I think OKC is the team to beat, I just dont think its by that much.

Other word is Jimmer to the Heat.

Stop.
You want the 28th pick or Shump?
I want Shump and Hardaway and no one else on that roster.

We will see. Might be better off going to team that will actually play him.

I'm ambivalent about Shumpert. He has not played well this season but some of that can be blamed on him being hurt. But he is always hurt so yeah I wouldn't be that upset over moving him for a late 1st rounder. He is a really good on and off the ball defender but his offense has been erratic and he could probably benefit from a change of scenery.

You would love that trade. That trade would make OKC that much better. A borderline great defender for guys like Harden, Curry and THompson. Athletic young kid. Im glad NY held on to him.

You sound like Skip Bayless when talking about Westbrook. I used to watch, but I can't do it any longer. Those guys just spew crap to create controversy, it is never based in fact.

I'm always amazed that people think a guy that can't play for a bad team can help a good one. Jimmer stinks.

I don't know, kind of just a younger Thabo if you ask me, with less size.