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QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Aug 23, 2017 -> 03:30 PM) Those scenarios are way less likely. Even if the Nets are the worst team (which isn't a lock), they only have a 64% chance at a top-3 pick. Then they have to take the right guy. Then he has to be good relatively fast. Oh, and Thomas has to resign. All the Lakers need is to convince someone like George, who already said he wants to go to the Lakers. Then they're at least in the running if not the favorite. George's tone has changed since the trade. He's mentioned he's willing to stay in OKC if they are competitive next year. Russ is loyal to OKC, so we will see if he could convince him to stay. Even if PG goes to LA, would a core of him, Lonzo, Ingram, Clarkson, and Randle be definitively better in 2018 and 19 than Love, IT, Crowder, Porter Jr (or another top prospect), and Zizic? I think not. Not to mention now they have to play in the same conference as Warriors, Spurs, and Rockets.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Aug 23, 2017 -> 12:34 PM) Again, we have no idea what the pick will be. What if the Nets win 30 games? What if they get bad lottery luck? What if the top guys right now disappoint or get hurt? Someone like Ingram or Brown could very easily be their top option. Even then It's no lock they're good early. Look at Wiggins, he's the 3rd best player on a 6-seed type team. You're assuming great things for the pick but discounting development for a guy with as much raw talent as almost any draft prospect. Well does that sound more ridiculous than saying Lebron is 100% going to Lakers next year (Not you, but you were supporting Jenk's proclamation)? What if KD and Curry gets hurt and Cavs wins championship this year? What if Lonzo totally bombs and Ingram doesn't improve? A lot more can go wrong with that theory than Nets landing a top 3 pick next year. All I said was Cavs have a higher chance of retaining Lebron with the 4 pieces they got than they did before the trade, which I still think is true.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Aug 23, 2017 -> 08:37 AM) I lost a bigger post I don't feel like retyping. This is the cliffnotes. You're putting so much stock in the 2018 pick while hand-waving the last two #2 picks. It's a good asset, it might be as good as Ball and Ingram! We have no idea where the pick will be right now, who it will be or how ready the player will be. Ball will have a year in the NBA and Ingram will have 2. That's big on the development curve. They don't fit any worse than Irving and Love. Kyrie does plenty of dribbling and Love is a bad defender that can't switch. Ingram has tons of talent and another year to develop before Lebron arrives. He has the length and athleticism to switch and his shot isn't broken. He needs polish. It's close to impossible to have too many versatile wings in the current NBA environment. Ball looks like as good a bet as any rookie guard right now. Minimally he shouldn't suck. Is he Kyrie? Probably not. The big deal is the other FA. As for Kyrie, if it was just a LeBron issue, he could have waited a year. He got out first to get away from a bad management group that creates drama (with a big assist from Lebron). Cavs definitely wouldn't be drafting someone like Ingram with the Nets pick next year. Ingram is a raw kid with upside, Cavs would likely be targeting someone in the Tatum or Fultz profile, guys who can come in day 1 and be a contributor. So no, even though Ingram was a high pick, he's the not the type of player 2018 Cavs would be targeting if they want to convince Lebron to stay. Like you said, if Lebron leaving, he's leaving to go to the best situation to win. I don't think Laker is unless they could fit 3 max contracts, and that won't happen unless they trade Deng, and Clarkson (and use Randle as a sweetener ). It could happen, but no guarantees.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Aug 22, 2017 -> 10:49 PM) Lonzo/Ingram aren't the primary reason to go to LA. Its the 60-80m they'd have to spend on him (who will take a team friendly deal) + whoever else he wants. There will be other teams with cap space who could afford two near max free agents. So Lebron to LA is possible, but definitely not 100%. And Lonzo and Ingram aren't great fits to play next to Lebron. However, if Lonzo proves he could be a good shooter and could do damage when Lebron does the ball handling, and if Ingram takes a HUGE step forward, especially as a shooter, then I like the chances better.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Aug 22, 2017 -> 10:29 PM) He's not going to know how good they are before he has to make a decision. Also, none of those guys were superstars as rookies. It's going to be 2 more years off his career before those guys are real difference makers even in the best case scenario, probably more. Kyrie and Love weren't enough to make him commit, so downgrading at PG and adding a role player aren't likely to swing things much. Because we did not know those 3 guys were going to be good and 90% of the league didn't pick them to win ROY. Just as we do not know Markelle Fultz is the most NBA ready rookie this year. QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Aug 22, 2017 -> 10:31 PM) Lonzo, Ingram (pretty big one to skip) and Randle are in the league already. That's a big difference. He's also likely not going alone. It's obviously a concern for the Cavs, otherwise Kyrie wouldn't have been so anxious to get out of there. What? That's not the story. And how many years of Lebron's career will it take off for Lonzo/Ingram to be real difference makers on a championship team? I purposely did not mention Ingram because he looked BAD last year, and he's also a bad fit on the floor at the same time as Lebron.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Aug 22, 2017 -> 10:20 PM) Moving Thompson or Smith won't exactly be easy. A lot fewer teams have room for them now that the cap spike has passed. They also don't have a ton of assets to use as sweeteners. Also, LOL at tampering charges mattering. The Lakers will probably get fined, MAYBE lose a draft pick after the fact. Every team does it every off-season and it's extremely difficult to prove. You said Lebron don't have patience to wait for young guys to develop but he would go to LA to play in a much tougher conference with Lonzo/Randle and whoever else they could fit under cap?

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Aug 22, 2017 -> 09:50 PM) They won the East last year with a 25 year old stud PG, and yet here we are. If they don't beat GS, it's not going to change anything. By the time that pick is good enough to move the needle, he's going to be 35. I said the chance of him staying is greater after this trade than before. Much of it depends how ready are the top 5 guys in the draft. If they show that they could come in year 1 and play like a rookie KD, Towns or Davis, add that to IT, Love, and Crowder, it's a more convincing case for Lebron to stay.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Aug 22, 2017 -> 09:45 PM) IT is absolutely not signing a team friendly deal. Lebron is 100% gone to a super team in LA I like how you speak with a absolute certainty about the future. What are you doing on a forum then? IT does not in fact have to sign a team friendly deal, Cavs can afford him on any deal by moving Thompson or JR. But it was more of a suggestion since he gets to stay with a contender. And if you think Lebron is "100%" going to LA you're wrong. League is already onto them for tampering with George and possibly Lebron. And who exactly is on that LA super team? Lonzo and Lavar? Not to mention leaving East for West is just dumb.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Aug 22, 2017 -> 09:12 PM) Lebron isn't going to stay because of a guy that might be good in 3 years. That's why they traded Wiggins almost instantly. But he would consider staying if they could win the East AND get the first or second pick. Remember, they don't have to give up anything to get the pick, they could still have keep IT (who could re-sign on a friendly deal) and Crowder beyond 2018 and the pick is just a bonus.

I was flipping channels so didn't see the homeruns. But he was leaving a lot of pitches up, not surprised he got tag for 3 long ones.

The more I think about this trade, the more ridiculous it sounds. 1. This trade helps Cavs maintain its advantage over Celtics in 2018. IT + Crowder > Kyrie 2. This trade gives Cavs a chance at a superstar to play next to Lebron, and may ultimately convince him to stay past this year. Celtics basically gave their biggest roadblock a chance to remain relevant. Had they let Kyrie go elsewhere and Cavs trades him for whatever they could get, Lebron most likely leaves, and Cavs go back to rock bottom. 3. Cavs had no leverage, they had to trade Kyrie, yet Celtics were dumb enough to give them more value in return. 4. Lose out on Butler and George so you could pay an arm and leg more for Kyrie, just dumb. I was giving Ainge the benefit of the doubt for holding onto his picks, but turns out he's just a f***ing idiot.

That's an awful f***ing trade. Major fail since he wouldn't give anywhere close to that for Jimmy, who is undoubtedly a better 2 way player.

Regardless of the slot the Sox will pick from or the prospects they have acquired, I would like to see the Sox start showing success in scouting and developing young position talents, that is the only way to have a perennial top farm like the Braves have. Of all the positional prospects, Zavala is the only one who took a big step forward, same for Delmonico (but we will see how much he will regress, his AAA stats don't scream MLB starter). Adolfo is finally healthy, but with him the glass is half full. There is not much else to show for from LatAM (even on the pitching side). Every other positional prospect has been disappointing.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Aug 21, 2017 -> 06:49 PM) Luis Martinez already has 4 K's in 3 IP (1 H). Definitely my favorite sleeper for next season. And Gavin Sheets literally just went yard. 2 run shot. Was my sleeper 2 years ago, but developing very slowly and doesn't have great stuff. Been at the same level for two and a half years now.

Braun stole the show, but what an anticlimactic finish.

Pretty sure AJ just botched that pinfall attempt and immediately turned it into a styles clash. That man is amazing.

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 20, 2017 -> 10:12 AM) Weekend games have been fairly boring recently Mostly because the position players at Kanny are dropping some stinkers.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 19, 2017 -> 09:44 PM) NXT Takeover's have to be the most consistent thing in wrestling history. They're incapable of having a bad one. And damn, I knew Cole was coming but that was a perfect way to debut him. Loved it. Yep, it's almost to a point where I hate to see a guy promoted to the main roster. Speaking of promotion, AOP and Glorious will almost certainly be promoted after what happened at the end of their matches.

QUOTE (Scoots @ Aug 19, 2017 -> 12:03 PM) Not gonna lie guys, I think the Sox are gonna score some runs next year. This is exciting to think about right now because the offense is hitting, but what I think is so unique about this bunch is they have a good balance of different tools they can choose from. They have the ability to hit homeruns, but they also have speed and quite a bit of contact guys. They also have a good mix of righties and lefties. Renteria can do a lot with this bunch. Check out this potential starting lineup... 1. Leury Garcia LF 2. Moncada .....2B 3. Abreu .........1B/DH 4. Avi .............RF 5. Delmonico....DH/1B (He can learn 1B) 6. Davidson......3B 7. Anderson......SS 8. Smith/Omar...C 9. Engel............CF Lots of balance in that lineup. If we can get August 2017 Tim Anderson to play for 3-4 months out of the year, and if all those players put up offensive numbers like they have been to go along with the tools they are known for, then this team will be fun to watch, even if the bullpen blows all the games. Delmonico is also still a big question mark, but I'm let's ride that horse as far as it will take us. He is hitting like a 3-5 hitter right now. Power lefty bat? Yes please!! Bench= Yolmer (I see him platooning quite often with Davidson), Smith/Omar, Outfielder (Hansen?), and Saladino. What are your thoughts? Not really. Many of these guys are overperforming, so you want that to continue and basically everyone else to hit their ceiling? That's just not going to happen. It's likely one of the worst offense in the league, which is fine.

Scherzer to DL. Gonzalez would fill in nicely for him. Maybe Robles +?

That Bham team suddenly became fun to watch.

QUOTE (kingranch @ Aug 17, 2017 -> 02:51 PM) safest as in becoming a star MLB player? safest as becoming average player? How would you rank Kopech? Safe as in a starting pitcher? Or just as a solid pitcher (relief or starter)? I would say with the adjustments he has made in the second half that he will be a pretty good pitcher. Now whether he is a starter or shut down pitcher in bullpen I am not sure Safest as in the highest floor, and I think his floor is league average RF, obviously it's a lot higher if his hitting catches up to his power. Kopech is having a great stretch no doubt, but I like to see him keep this up for a bit longer before I fully by into it. If he can sustain his improved control, his floor would be a solid mid rotation starter. And what's separating his floor and ceiling is command of his pitches.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Aug 17, 2017 -> 11:39 AM) I wouldn't put Eloy above Moncada. A corner outfielder with average speed and likely average at best defense vs. a middle infielder with 5 tools? I think Eloy will be a beast at the plate but Moncada just has the capability to provide value in so many other ways. I've been saying it for a while, I think Eloy is he safest prospect in this organization. I have a hard time seeing him not put up Nelson Cruz (the younger version) type numbers. While Moncada has a spacious ceiling and could be a Robbie Cano or Tim Raines, he's just as likely to be come a Jurrickson Profar or Byron Buxton. I would be Eloy over Moncada in my list.

Great night for Hansen, Gio and Eloy last night, and also first time in a LONG time that all teams won the organization.. Wait no sorry, that bum Petricka.

Moncada coming into today has a 35% K rate and 57% GB%. That number has only increased.