The race for the 2020 NBA title

[Nathan]

I'm fairly confident in Lowry's ability to age gracefully, but I'm optimistic about Millsap too. I see him following the same trajectory as David West (or maybe slightly better) if he stays healthy, and that would make him a very worthwhile 6th man through the end of a 4-year contract. I feel like I need to watch some tape to figure out how much Millsap really declined last year, though. His block, steal, and rebound rates all fell off a cliff, but RPM suggests he didn't decline at all on defense.

As good as Lowry is, I feel like you get more bang for your buck pairing Jokic with a 2-way glue guy like Millsap than with another ball-dominant creator like Lowry. As I noted earlier, they already had a super-efficient offense last season, so at a basic level adding a defensive stalwart seems like the right way to turn that team into a contender.

[jgoldstein34]

My view would be that Lowry is currently better than Millsap so he has further to fall and thus I think will be a bit more valuable 4 years from now and the contract would be as atrocious.

[Crow]

A view of recent NBA history:

2008 Celtics. Shrewd moves (Garnett & Allen) / maybe "gifts" to replace the Spurs as titleholder.
2009-10 Lakers shrewd move (Gasol) / "gift" to replace Celtics.
2011 Mavs, Kidd to take over from Lakers.
2012-13 Heat. Players help Pat take over.
2015 Warriors win with "steals" of Iggy, Bogut (and draft steals)
2016. LeBron wins with NBA lottery "good fortunes" / "steals", Love steal, etc.
2017 Warriors add second title with Durant shrewd move / steal.

Seems like GMs moves are important, valuable. Maybe the best GMs should be getting Phil Jackson of JJ Redick level money. Or more?

Shrewd and / or lucky owners are getting what? $50-200 million bumps and runs of bumps in franchise values.

I should probably give up following the financial side of the show.

[colts18]

No one had the Lakers winning. Neither did anyone think Miami would be in the finals.

[Crow]

Closest people got on star leadership was A. Davis, listed in tier 2.

I don't recall how much Davis to LA talk there was then. Some or a lot. LBJ going there wasn't common talk I don't think. The combo would have been considered promising if it was considered.

What 2022 or 2023 combo sounds good, without being limited initially by likelihood of it happening?

Doncic - Gobert?

Heat with Gobert?

Celtics with a new PG (Lowry?) and / or Center (Vucevic or C Wood)?

Pacers with some perimeter star? (Possibly Conley or Lowry)

Clippers with a new PG (possibly Conley)?

Nets with a cheap new Center? (G Dieng?)

Any other team & strategy in the west? Current Grizzlies and what? A great / high volume 3pt shooting SF? Morant - Melton / Bane - Jackson Jr. - Clarke - Valanciunas is pretty good but probably need more.

[Crow]

Nets already add Pelle. Looking at McGee. I can't see a Drummond buyout unless he gives up some money.