>As the Lakers’ longtime roster architect, West was famously smitten by the predraft workout performance that Bryant, then 17, unleashed against the longtime Lakers defensive standout Michael Cooper, who was an assistant coach by that point. As Harris tells it, Tracy McGrady had an even more impressive audition for the Lakers one year later, prompting West to make a brief but serious push to try to acquire McGrady’s draft rights and team him with O’Neal and Bryant.

>...

>“McGrady came in the next year with a more mature body and worked out so well that Jerry kind of tooled around with the idea that maybe we should just go ahead and make a deal for whatever it took to get this guy — even though it’d be a step back in the short term — to have two guys like this on the same team.”

> It was the Lakers’ owner Jerry Buss, hungry to end a championship drought that would ultimately last 11 seasons before Shaq, Kobe and their new coach Phil Jackson won their first of three successive titles together in 2000, who shot down the idea of a Bryant/McGrady partnership.

> Harris, himself, also didn’t want to surrender an All-Star like Eddie Jones for McGrady, either, fearing it would take the Lakers out of the title mix. Bryant was the first guard in N.B.A. history to make the jump directly from high school to the pros and working one teenager into a lineup with championship aspirations was already a sizable undertaking.

Holy shit, what a team that would've been.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/sports/kobe-bryant-lakers-uniform-numbers.html

Hello,

As a kid from Toronto, the Raptors were my “default” team. After the Carter and McGrady years, through the Bosh and Calderon years, Raptors fans held on. Then, a hardworking, driven, focused, determined LEADER came to the city.

With a keen eye for talent, you’ve built a TEAM focused on hard work and success. If Kawhi’s “Boardman gets paid” phrase had a managerial equivalent.. it’d be personified by you.

You brought us Lowry. You brought us DeRozan. You yelled “Fuck Brooklyn”, and took us to the playoffs 8 of the past 9 years. You managed to acquire Kawhi, in a deal that made me sad (lol) at the time. Had I known it’d be a deal that’d lead us to our first championship I think I’d have moved on much quicker.

It’s like the saying goes, “Trust in Masai”.

You brought us Pascal, OG, Fred, Scottie.. SCOTTIE! The list goes on! Nick Nurse!

You collaborated with Drake.

This off season we lost a Raptors legend in KLo. But we managed to keep you. HUGE DEAL! You’ve built a culture of We The North. The parade in the city in 2019 brings to life the excitement you’ve created. Happiness, joy, a team to root for.

As a kid I cheered for the Raptors by default. As an adult I cheer for the Raptors by choice. I’m a proud Raptors fan. You’ve given us a team to be proud of.

Front office, back office, front court, backcourt.. you’ve built something truly special.

When we won, that cop spoiled your moment. When your contract came up, Eddy Rogers tragically disrespected your value. Still, you’re here.

I’m grateful that you’ve given so many people in this city so many positive memories. I hope you’re being appreciated the way you deserve to be. For a man to be as accomplished as you and remain as humble as you are.. it’s legendary.

So, to the Giant of Africa Thank you,

Toronto

>Resplendent in a sleek navy blue suit, his burnished dome gleaming in the light, Michael Jordan steps into the tunnel of Cleveland's Gund Arena, flashes a million-watt smile and gives LeBron James, the top high school player in the country, a warm, we're-old-pals handshake. "Where's Mama?" Jordan asks.
>
>"She's in New Orleans," LeBron says, grinning at the memory of how well his mother, Gloria, had gotten on with Jordan when they met in Chicago last summer.
>
>It's 10 p.m. on the last night of January, and the moment feels charged, even a little historic. Remember that photograph of a teenaged Bill Clinton meeting JFK? Same vibe. Here, together, are His Airness and King James, the 38-year-old master and the 17-year-old prodigy, the best of all time and the high school junior whom some people--from drooling NBA general managers to warring shoe company execs to awestruck fans--believe could be the Air Apparent.
>
>Jordan has just hit another buzzer-beater to sink the Cavaliers, but another game is afoot. A spectacularly gifted 6'7", 225-pound guard who averages 29.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists for St. Vincent-St. Mary High in Akron, LeBron is thought to possess all the elements necessary to do for some apparel company what Jordan did for Nike. Not only does he have the requisite high-flying game and an Iversonian street cred that Jordan himself lacked, but he can also turn on the charm when necessary. It's why LeBron is a year from signing what's expected to be the most lucrative shoe deal in history for an NBA rookie, estimated at $20 million over five years, and why Jordan, who represents his own division of Nike athletic wear, would want LeBron in the Swoosh family.
>
>Tonight, however, LeBron is wearing a black coat and stocking cap bearing the logo of Adidas, his high school team's sponsor, which Jordan can't help but notice yet chooses to ignore. They schmooze for a few minutes, bantering about LeBron's upcoming game, until Jordan leaves, offering this piece of advice: "One dribble, stop and pull up. That's what I want to see."
>
>LeBron nods and smiles. "That's my guy," he says. All things considered, it's hard to decide what's more impressive--that LeBron could be hailed as the best high school player even though he's only a junior, or that many NBA scouts believe he would be the first pick in this year's draft (if league rules didn't forbid his entering it), or that he can get an audien

TL;DR

Made all-time hometown rosters with original 30 NBA teams + 25 new teams to split populated areas and big teams (spreadsheet + map)

Player Pool and Team Pool

I used the top 969 players who have at least 10000 minutes played in their career.

Why 10000 minutes played? Because that's the lower standard set by Basketball-Reference to get on their ABA career leaderboard (15000 MP for NBA). I added George Mikan, because even though he hasn't played enough minutes, he's featured in All-Time ESPN NBARank and Bill Simmons Hall of Fame Pyramid.

I started off with the current 30 teams. To split up the Lakers and Clippers, I gave the Clippers their proposed Inglewood site.

As I looked at the map of player hometowns, I realized that there were:

• some areas that had a lot of players, but few close NBA teams
• some areas that had bloated rosters with too many players

Based off city population and arena size, I added 25 new teams.

• I obviously had to give Seattle their team back
• Birmingham, North Little Rock and Shreveport helped to split up the South
• Pittsburgh and St. Louis were big cities without teams
• Berkeley added to siphon off San Francisco
  • if I add Oakland, it takes away too many players
• Anaheim and Westwood added in Southern California (Clippers & Lakers)
• Winston-Salem and Raleigh to pare down Charlotte
• Lansing to prune Detroit
• 2nd Atlanta team in suburb of College Park
• 2nd Washington team and Baltimore
• 2 more teams in Chicago (Rosemont and South Side) + a team in Gary
• 2nd Indiana team + Louisville & Lexington
• 2nd Philadelphia team in suburb of Wynnewood
• 3 more teams in the New York Area (Newark, Queens and Long Island)

The Method

I started off gathering hometowns due to this fantastic database by Reuben Fischer-Baum ([original article source here](https://deadspin.com/infographics-where-do-pro-basketball-players-come-from-5132615

See comments for links to earlier seasons -

2000-01 NBA Newswire

EARLY SEASON TRADES

Knicks sends Derek Anderson (8.06, 58/60, 27 yr, 2004), Cedric Henderson (840k, 50/56, 26 yr, 2002), Larry Johnson (1.9, 58/58, 32 yr, 2001), 2001 1st rnd (POR), 2004 1st rnd to Nuggets for 2004 1st rnd

Knicks send G Howard Eisley (1.02, 48/48, 29 yrs, 2001) and PG Randel Jackson (300k, 40/46, 25 yrs, 2002) to Jazz for Karl Malone (7.71, 54/54, 38 yrs, 2002) & F/C Bison Dele (300k, 41/41, 32 yrs, 2002)

Knicks send SG Jon Barry (1.91, 48/48, 32 yrs, 2002) & 2004 2nd rnd pick to Trail Blazers for SF Cedric Ceballos (2.28, 44/44, 32yrs, 32) & PG Eric Murdock (930k, 43/43, 33 yrs, 2002) & 2004 2nd rnd pick

So, about that whole Knicks being a playoff contender thing? I’m not sure if the Knicks got Kittles OK to do these series of trades, sending away much of their starting lineup (Anderson, Johnson, and Henderson) along with some of their older bench players along with 2 first-round picks in exchange for a 1st rounder, an aging Karl Malone who will be an expiring contract next year, and a bunch of other expiring contracts. It’s an interesting series of trades but torpedoed any real playoff hopes Knicks fans had basically days into the season.

On the other side of the trades, the Nuggets suddenly look like playoff contenders, it’s officially the dawn of a new era w/ Malone being gone in Utah, and shockingly, Portland got oh so slightly younger after a trade.

Seattle Sonics send #12 pick Courtney Alexander (1.01, 48/56, 24 yrs, 2003), 2001 2nd, and 2001 2nd (ORL) to Houston Rockets for PG Tyron Lue (870k, 53/57, 24 yrs, 2003) & C Soumalia Samake (300k, 34/39, 23 yrs, 2002)

A somewhat big trade early on, with the Seattle Sonics attempting to kickstart getting better somewhat earlier by getting rid of their #12 pick and some draft ballast in exchange for Tyrone Lue, who’s a cheap decent guard option and a third-string center to make up the contracts. Interesting risk for the Rockets, who could possibly challenge for a late playoff spot.

Mid-Season Trades & Notes

Charlotte Hornets sends SG Dion Glover (640k, 53/60, 23 yrs, 2002), PG Stephon Marbury (9.41, 53/60, 24 yrs, 2004), PG Eddie Gill (300k, 37/44, 23 yrs, 2002) & 2001 2nd rnd pick to Cleveland Cavaliers for F/C Vin Baker (8.0, 62/62, 30 yrs, 2003), G/F Dan Majerle (300k, 37/37, 36 yrs, 2002) & 2001 1st rnd pick

Despite the fact they’re fighting for a playoff spot

I don't want to step on anybody's toes here, but the amount of non-dad jokes here in this subreddit really annoys me. First of all, dad jokes CAN be NSFW, it clearly says so in the sub rules. Secondly, it doesn't automatically make it a dad joke if it's from a conversation between you and your child. Most importantly, the jokes that your CHILDREN tell YOU are not dad jokes. The point of a dad joke is that it's so cheesy only a dad who's trying to be funny would make such a joke. That's it. They are stupid plays on words, lame puns and so on. There has to be a clever pun or wordplay for it to be considered a dad joke.

Again, to all the fellow dads, I apologise if I'm sounding too harsh. But I just needed to get it off my chest.

Edit: it's actually 34 years as /u/AceStarS pointed out

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned on here, but I got curious after the post about Shaq's 37 year run with a teammate in the finals coming to an end. After some data mining from basketball-reference, I believe I've made a list of the longest active streaks.

Jerry Stackhouse has the longest at 34 years with a few others at 32 years. I've still got some other stuff to look at, but thought this sub might find this interesting.

Jerry Stackhouse 34 Years

2021 Brook Lopez, Jeff Teague

2020 LeBron James, Udonis Haslem

2019 Jodie Meeks, Andrew Bogut

2018 Zaza Pachulia, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade

2017 Zaza Pachulia, Andrew Bogut, LeBron James, James Jones, Deron Williams

2016 LeBron James, James Jones, Andrew Bogut

2015 Andrew Bogut, Brendan Haywood, LeBron James, James Jones

2014 Damion James, Joel Anthony, Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, LeBron James, James Jones, Dwyane Wade

2013 Joel Anthony, Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, Juwan Howard, LeBron James, James Jones, Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady

2012 Joel Anthony, Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, Juwan Howard, LeBron James, James Jones, Dwyane Wade, Royal Ivey

2011 J.J. Barea, Brian Cardinal, Brendan Haywood, Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry.. many more

2010 D.J. Mbenga, Josh Powell, Marquis Daniels, Michael Finley, Eddie House

2009 D.J. Mbenga, Josh Powell, Keith Bogans, Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue

2008 Eddie House, Scot Pollard, Kwame Brown, D.J. Mbenga

2007 Francisco Elson, Michael Finley, Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, LeBron James, Damon Jones, Scot Pollard

2006 Udonis Haslem, Dwyane Wade, Darrell Armstrong, Erick Dampier, ... many more

2005 Tony Massenburg, Carlos Arroyo, Derrick Coleman, Carlos Delfino, Anthony Goldwire, Lindsey Hunter, Ben Wallace

2004 Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter, Ben Wallace, Corliss Williamson, Devean George, Jannero Pargo, Bryon Russell

2003 Anthony Goldwire, Kevin Willis, Jason Collins, Lucious Harris, Anthony Johnson, Jason Kidd

2002 Devean George, Lindsey Hunter, Jason Collins, Lucious Harris, Anthony Johnson, Jason Kidd, Keith Van Horn

2001 Devean George, Tyronn Lue, Allen Iverson, Vernon Maxwell

2000 Devean George, Tyronn Lue, Austin Croshere

1999 Kurt Thomas

1998 Jud Buechler, Michael Jordan, Bryon Russell

1997 Jud Buechler, Bison Dele, Michael Jordan, Bryon Russell

1996 Jud Buechler, Michael Jordan

1995 Adrian Caldwell, Vernon Maxwell, Darrell Arm

Do your worst!

I'm surprised it hasn't decade.

For context I'm a Refuse Driver (Garbage man) & today I was on food waste. After I'd tipped I was checking the wagon for any defects when I spotted a lone pea balanced on the lifts.

I said "hey look, an escaPEA"

No one near me but it didn't half make me laugh for a good hour or so!

Edit: I can't believe how much this has blown up. Thank you everyone I've had a blast reading through the replies 😂

They’re on standbi

Pilot on me!!

Because she wanted to see the task manager.

Nothing, he was gladiator.

Dad jokes are supposed to be jokes you can tell a kid and they will understand it and find it funny.

This sub is mostly just NSFW puns now.

If it needs a NSFW tag it's not a dad joke. There should just be a NSFW puns subreddit for that.

Edit* I'm not replying any longer and turning off notifications but to all those that say "no one cares", there sure are a lot of you arguing about it. Maybe I'm wrong but you people don't need to be rude about it. If you really don't care, don't comment.

When I got home, they were still there.

What did 0 say to 8 ?

" Nice Belt "

So What did 3 say to 8 ?

" Hey, you two stop making out "

I won't be doing that today!

[Removed]

Where ever you left it 🤷‍♀️🤭

This morning, my 4 year old daughter.

Daughter: I'm hungry

Me: nerves building, smile widening

Me: Hi hungry, I'm dad.

She had no idea what was going on but I finally did it.

Thank you all for listening.

You take away their little brooms

It was about a weak back.

Why

It’s pronounced “Noel.”

After all his first name is No-vac

What, then, is Chinese rap?

Edit:

Notable mentions from the comments:

• Spanish/Swedish/Swiss/Serbian hits

• French/Finnish art

• Country/Canadian rap

• Chinese/Country/Canadian rock

• Turkish/Tunisian/Taiwanese rap

There hasn't been a single post this year!

(Happy 2022 from New Zealand)

Nothing, it just waved

It really does, I swear!

Season One - https://www.reddit.com/r/BasketballGM/comments/p36pjh/do_you_believe_in_magic_season_one_199697/

Season One Off-Season - https://www.reddit.com/r/BasketballGM/comments/p72rok/do_you_believe_in_magic_season_one_offseason/

Season Two - https://www.reddit.com/r/BasketballGM/comments/p8g52v/do_you_believe_in_magic_season_two_199798/

Season Two Offseason - https://www.reddit.com/r/BasketballGM/comments/pbgwls/do_you_believe_in_magic_season_two_offseason_1998/

Season Three - https://www.reddit.com/r/BasketballGM/comments/pfzwy9/do_you_believe_in_magic_season_three_199899/

Season Three Off-Season - https://www.reddit.com/r/BasketballGM/comments/pj4on5/do_you_believe_in_magic_season_three_offseason/

Season Four - https://www.reddit.com/r/BasketballGM/comments/qh66h4/do_you_believe_in_magic_season_four_199900/

DRAFT LOTTERY

Boston - 13th to 2nd

Los Angeles Clippers - 5th to 6th

Milwaukee Bucks - 4th to 5th

Cleveland (via Charlotte) - 3rd to 4th

Seattle - 2nd to 3rd

Utah - 1st to 1st

The Jazz holds on to the #1 pick in a relatively weak draft, but Boston makes the huge jump to the #2 pick, which should slightly make up for missing the playoffs.

2000 NBA DRAFT

1st - Mike Miller, Utah Jazz

2nd - Darius Miles, Boston Celtics

3rd - Quentin Richardson, Seattle Sonics

4th - Jamal Crawford, Cleveland Cavaliers (via Charlotte)

5th - Hedo Turkoglu, Milwaukee Bucks

6th - Stephen Jackson, Los Angeles Clippers

11th - Kenyon Martin, Houston Rockets

19th - Chris Mihm, Orlando Magic

28th - Michael Redd, Los Angeles Lakers

2000 FREE AGENCY CHAOS

In truly the first 'big' free agency in years in the NBA, nearly a dozen top-tier players changed teams, and it's time to go over them all.

The first wave of signings started the dominos falling, as to start off with, Kerry Kittles jumped across town, announcing his signing with the New York Knicks at the max of 13.92 million/yr.* Next up was Kings shooter extraordinaire Peja Stojaković signing in the Motor City for the Detroit Pistons at a near-max of 13.43 million per year. Then, Joe Smith made the Jazz a playoff threat in one signing by booting pen to paper on a max contract of $13.92 million per year. Finally, it seems that the superteam that was the T'Wolves was bound to fall apart as Ray Allen took his talents to the sunny city of Phoenix, signing with the Suns for $12.3 million per year.

The next wave of signings were some reactions to the above, and fu

There hasn't been a post all year!