-Numerous articles popping up suggesting PG13 is openly saying he wants to be a Laker. I suspect Magic trades for him vs. risking losing him ala "Westbrook will be a Laker". PG13 in LAK likely means the Lakers are not a Melo destination but also would take 1 option off the table for teams like the Celtics
It would be difficult to trade for PG13 if the lakers don't keep there top pick this year. But trading for Melo I think the knicks would do a deal centered around Julius Randle.
The Pacers would probably do a deal centered around Brandon Ingram or the top 3 pick and d'angelo russell.
I think the lakers dream scenario would be to trade for Melo with a Julius Randle/Clarkson (need fill in like Deng) package then trade for PG13 with a Ingram/Russell package.
Then use the top 3 pick to pick Lonzo Ball.
Ball/PG13/Melo with Melo at the 4 would be a great small ball lineup.
Magic trying to put the showtime
It all depends on what they have to trade for PG13 and whether they want him as a SG or SF. Randle, Melo, and PG13 dont make sense if George is a SF there. Randle of course may be part of the George trade -- it's probably the Lakers #1 pick, but if not, Ingram or Randle plus would be the deal.
Plus, I could see someone believing Deng isnt done. Moz is a terrible contract. But why wouldnt the Nets take him plus Russell or Ingram? What better use do the Nets have for their cap space than getting 3 years of Ingram for 20-23 million per season, with a free backup center included (and Moz may play a bit better)? The Nets HAVE to spend the money anyway due to the cap floor.
The team denied this.
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Simmons reportedly has grown 2 inches and is now 6'11.5. Simmons vs. Greek Freak should be fun.
The team denied this.
"So there are conflicting reports, but this could be some gamesmanship on the part of Brown. After all, if Simmons is actually 7-feet tall, it might be worth hiding that fact from other teams until they see it for themselves.
Simmons wouldnt be the first player to add inches after coming into the league -- Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett and probably some other players not named Kevin come to mind -- but its Simmons skill set which makes his new height so intriguing."
Plus, I could see someone believing Deng isnt done. Moz is a terrible contract. But why wouldnt the Nets take him plus Russell or Ingram? What better use do the Nets have for their cap space than getting 3 years of Ingram for 20-23 million per season, with a free backup center included (and Moz may play a bit better)? The Nets HAVE to spend the money anyway due to the cap floor.
as bad as deng or moz's contracts are no way in hell are the lakers attaching Russell or Ingram just to move that salary. They are too worthy of that pick.
Maybe if it was a future pick or Randle that would make much more sense. But Russell and Ingram have much more value that just to move a bad contract.
Plus, I could see someone believing Deng isnt done. Moz is a terrible contract. But why wouldnt the Nets take him plus Russell or Ingram? What better use do the Nets have for their cap space than getting 3 years of Ingram for 20-23 million per season, with a free backup center included (and Moz may play a bit better)? The Nets HAVE to spend the money anyway due to the cap floor.
It's totally a rumor at this point but there have been rumors Paul was interested in the Spurs so if we pretend that is "true" then it would seem like yeah he's open to less.
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George's contract is under 20 million. Melo will make 30 million with the kicker. If Paul would take 30 million to switch lockerrooms at the Staples center and play with his buddy Melo, Lakers could probably make it work. They'd have to attach assets to dump the Moz and Deng contracts. Normally I'd say that's impossible, but with the era of superteams, and the number of teams willing to do a full f'ing rebuild, just maybe.
Plus, I could see someone believing Deng isnt done. Moz is a terrible contract. But why wouldnt the Nets take him plus Russell or Ingram? What better use do the Nets have for their cap space than getting 3 years of Ingram for 20-23 million per season, with a free backup center included (and Moz may play a bit better)? The Nets HAVE to spend the money anyway due to the cap floor.
as bad as deng or moz's contracts are no way in hell are the lakers attaching Russell or Ingram just to move that salary. They are too worthy of that pick.
Maybe if it was a future pick or Randle that would make much more sense. But Russell and Ingram have much more value that just to move a bad contract.
I think most teams would turn down Russell and Mozgov for a scrub. You can quibble over whether Russell is worthy of his draft status, but that's not the question. The question is whether he has more positive value than Moz has negative value. What can you do with that 20-25 million a season? Russell isnt producing 20-25 million in value now. There is however upside in him, including the upside of giving him his second contract if he pans out.
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In comment 13441096 DanMetroMan said:
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Simmons reportedly has grown 2 inches and is now 6'11.5. Simmons vs. Greek Freak should be fun.
The team denied this.
"So there are conflicting reports, but this could be some gamesmanship on the part of Brown. After all, if Simmons is actually 7-feet tall, it might be worth hiding that fact from other teams until they see it for themselves.
Simmons wouldnt be the first player to add inches after coming into the league -- Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett and probably some other players not named Kevin come to mind -- but its Simmons skill set which makes his new height so intriguing."
What would such gamesmanship accomplish? Was there a team building it's roster on the basis of a 6'10 Ben Simmons, whose best laid plans will be blown to hell when he shows up nominally taller?
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I hope we do get blackballed for a year - might be the best thing for us. We'll probably get back a player and a pick for Melo, and we have three draft picks already (figure two of them make the team). We have some good players under contract - including Lee and O'Quinn, who are tradeable - and free agents worth signing at the right price (Holiday and Baker). Why not use this summer to get our own house in order? We could lock in a nice supporting cast for the next few years while we develop KP, this year's and next year's lottery picks.
But if there is legitimate reason to worry about PG leaving the Lakers should have leverage. Maybe can get PG for just something like Randle + Clarkson. Not necessarily a horrible return for Indy, Randle and Turner seem like a great front court fit.
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I fear players/agents will blackball the fuck out of them
I hope we do get blackballed for a year - might be the best thing for us. We'll probably get back a player and a pick for Melo, and we have three draft picks already (figure two of them make the team). We have some good players under contract - including Lee and O'Quinn, who are tradeable - and free agents worth signing at the right price (Holiday and Baker). Why not use this summer to get our own house in order? We could lock in a nice supporting cast for the next few years while we develop KP, this year's and next year's lottery picks.
I agree with this. I would help for agents to give Phil some bitter truth -- that players want overpays to come to this shit show. Stars no longer need to be in the 5 biggest cities to be global brands.
that's a foreign concept to this front office. I'm not counting on them doing anything smart this summer. Expect the worst.
unless we clear a ton of cap space this offseason. I don't see how we can afford to even give Holiday what he will be looking for. Even if we renounce rose we still would have under 20 million a year.
And detrimental to the Knicks
Let's build the right way. Use the draft intelligently, nurture your young players, fill in with smart vets (like Lee) and think long term.
Between KP, Willy, a lotto pick this year, a lotto pick next year, and whatever they get for Melo + resigned Holiday, and an improving Baker, there will be a strong nucleus to grow from.
It does sound like I'm preaching to the choir as many on this thread are tired of the chasing-of-the-star philosophy.
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He'd be a good fit there, and they can afford his brother, too. Jrue/Monk(?)/Saric/Simmons/Embiid is a promising team.
And detrimental to the Knicks
If we're going to go about comparing the knicks to other rebuilding teams it's not going to be promising. Really need to strike gold on these next two drafts. The one saving grace is that they are in the East, but Milwaukee and soon the Sixers will be scary to think about. At least neither team has Lebron. Right?
I wonder if a juggernaut Sixers could sacrifice the regular season every year, resting Embiid 40-50 games, and have him there for the playoffs.
right now there is one sure thing young superstar in the East, Giannis. Everything else is up for grabs.
Even so I don't think thats going to be an issue long term. They have enough fringe assets to challenge any playoff team for "disgruntled" stars or teams selling to rebuild (e.g. Butler).
Foot injuries for big guys are scary but I'm not sure there's a major reason to worry long term about Simmons. I think he's the 2nd most valuable young player in the east after GF (just my opinion). Holmes/Saric are better than any young player on the knicks outside KP. No, they're not Embiid but I think both have some chance of becoming all star-caliber. Everyone is hyping the C's for having 2 BKN picks but the Sixers will have 3 such assets over the next 2 years.
Willy > Saric.
It's funny how Willy's flaws are magnified because we watched him, because of his draft position, and because of OTHER PEOPLE's flaws (eg Kanter). But the stats dont lie -- Willy was significantly better than Saric, albeit in more limited minutes. Saric was a 1 win player in 2200 minutes. Willy was a 3.4 win player in 1300 minutes.
Overall Kanter is a .2 (!!) WS/48 player over the last two years and has been completely marginalized in the playoffs.
I understand kanter is a whipping boy, but what about JV in Toronto? He's my "favorite" Willy comp. Willy is more adept offensively but if he became JV defensively (not even that great) I think we'd all take that. Also a roughly .2 WS/48 the past two years. He's been benched in the playoffs. He gives 20-22 minutes a night (very good minutes).
I just see it much harder to visualize Willy as a guy who gets 40 minutes a game in the playoffs than guys like Ingram/Saric. I'm sorry if WS/48 says otherwise. WS/48 also says jabari Parker is a better player than Kris Middleton yet the Bucks were the 10th seed with Parker and had the 2nd best record in the east with middleton. Watching the Bucks play with middleton it isn't hard to realize who the more impactful player really is.
I wonder if KP is having second thoughts about that strategy...
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Probably Zizic because the Celtics have such an obvious need for what he does (rebounding, toughness, getting buckets inside)
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Willy is also a fantastic rebounder, which historically has made up for some defensive deficiency. Willy was 10th in the NBA in total rebound% (1000+ minutes).
No. He's not. He is just as bad a defender as Kanter.
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to other teams. Philly has even more picks coming in the next couple of years. As others have said, Embiid's health and KP blowing them off in pre-draft workouts are the only things stopping them from already having a championship core in place. We need to do a lot of heavy lifting over the next couple of years to catch up. Hopefully we'll commit to it.
I wonder if KP is having second thoughts about that strategy...
KP's blowoff helped Philly. The wouldnt have Simmons if they had KP. And Simmons' injury begot another high pick this season. If they had drafted KP, without the #1 overall in 2016 Im guessing that they'd have taken Dunn last year (maybe Hield or Murray or Brown). Noel probably doesnt get disillusioned/traded with no Okafor and Embiid playing 31 games, so you're facing a max on him and no Holmes (and I like Nerlens). Saric probably doesnt get the run he got this season. And you're enough wins better that you end up exercising the pick swap with Sacto, whose pick would move up to 7th, so a fall from 4th to 7th pre-lottery.
15 mins ago via The Players' Tribune
I knew right away Pat was a real guy, because he wasnt even asking me about basketball. He was asking me about life. Then Pat says, Were going to get you in world-class shape. Not good shape. Not great shape. World-class shape. I mean, Im in the NBA. In my mind, Im already in good shape. But do I eat a Philly steak every now and then when Im home? You know I do. So Pats looking at me like, Give us a season, and youll see. World-class. Even the way this man pronounces world-class is world-class, you know what I mean? And then he says to me, Tell me something about Dion that I dont already know. Not about basketball. About life.