2018 NBA offseason

[DJ Fieri]

@DJ

I'm shocked.

Signed, Nobody ever....

Injury or not, I thought it would go this way to start the Season.

Less pressure on the young guys.

Lakers News: Rajon Rondo to Start over Lonzo Ball as PG Recovers from Surgery

Lakers plan to start Rajon Rondo at point guard as Lonzo Ball makes full recovery from knee surgery

I'm no stunned at all....not after how Rondo played for the Pelicans in the playoffs.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

@Bolts

Kings trying to help facilitate a Butler deal.

Do you need a Sf or a Center more?

Is Bagley the starting 3?

 

[DJ Fieri]

Wonder what the Kings would get....

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I'm no stunned at all....not after how Rondo played for the Pelicans in the playoffs.

Agree.

I still expect Lonzo to supplant him by Season's end.

But, Rondo and LeBron will be able to get McGee some easy baskets.

If you get anything out of that position, that is huge.

Both those guys will also make it easier for Svi, Mo to get many open 3's.

 

[trojanfan12]

@DJ

I'm shocked.

Signed, Nobody ever....

Injury or not, I thought it would go this way to start the Season.

Less pressure on the young guys.

Lakers News: Rajon Rondo to Start over Lonzo Ball as PG Recovers from Surgery

Lakers plan to start Rajon Rondo at point guard as Lonzo Ball makes full recovery from knee surgery

Figured as much. Even though he's been cleared 100%, the Lakers said a few days ago that they are going to take it slow with him and that he likely won't be part of any "full contact" scrimmages for the start of training camp.

I suspect that it's also about trying to get off to a better start because they know they can't allow themselves to fall very far behind the rest of the pack while they're figuring everything out.

Folks can say what they want about Rondo, but his experience and basketball IQ should help with that.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Wonder what the Kings would get....

Well, they need to be involved because they have 11 mil in open cap space and Minny wants to package Dieng in any Butler trade.

So, they'd get him, picks and maybe a prospect to eat that salary.

 

[trojanfan12]

I don't think he'd have the guts to sign with them after 2 straight chips.

Boogie did.

But, that was out of spite because the Lakers and Pelicans balked at signing him.

Plus, Boogie is coming off a potentially career altering injury and wasn't on a team that was considered a contender.

 

[Heatles84]

And it starts already @Heatles84 @TurnUpTheHeat

Of course. We only pay Waiters $12 mil per year as the starting 2-guard, which isn't bad.

Problem is, he never plays. So it's an absolutely horrid contract.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Agree.

I still expect Lonzo to supplant him by Season's end.

But, Rondo and LeBron will be able to get McGee some easy baskets.

If you get anything out of that position, that is huge.

Both those guys will also make it easier for Svi, Mo to get many open 3's.

I agree.....looking forward to it.

Playoff baseball, college and pro football, and NBA!!!!! Stacey may move her into her mom's room.....LOL.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Figured as much. Even though he's been cleared 100%, the Lakers said a few days ago that they are going to take it slow with him and that he likely won't be part of any "full contact" scrimmages for the start of training camp.

I suspect that it's also about trying to get off to a better start because they know they can't allow themselves to fall very far behind the rest of the pack while they're figuring everything out.

Folks can say what they want about Rondo, but his experience and basketball IQ should help with that.

Yep.

I actually love the Rondo signing.

He is a very good choice to mentor Lonzo.

But, you hit the nail on the head about not getting off to a bad start.

I don't think the kiddie corps understand what a spectacle this Season is going to be with Lebron.

Rondo is unafraid.

Bright lights won't make him nervous.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Figured as much. Even though he's been cleared 100%, the Lakers said a few days ago that they are going to take it slow with him and that he likely won't be part of any "full contact" scrimmages for the start of training camp.

I suspect that it's also about trying to get off to a better start because they know they can't allow themselves to fall very far behind the rest of the pack while they're figuring everything out.

Folks can say what they want about Rondo, but his experience and basketball IQ should help with that.

That's why I didn't understand he people knocking the signing when it happened. That was one of the better adds after James.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Yep.

I actually love the Rondo signing.

He is a very good choice to mentor Lonzo.

But, you hit the nail on the head about not getting off to a bad start.

I don't think the kiddie corps understand what a spectacle this Season is going to be with Lebron.

Rondo is unafraid.

Bright lights won't make him nervous.

I love you.....just throwing that out there.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Computers down at work.....time to play!!!

 

[bksballer89]

Of course. We only pay Waiters $12 mil per year as the starting 2-guard, which isn't bad.

Problem is, he never plays. So it's an absolutely horrid contract.

The only thing about Waiters is he is still on schedule. The James Johnson thing came out of nowhere. Waiters was told he would be out 8-10 months and I believe October is the 10th month but his ass better play 65+ games this year.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yep.

I actually love the Rondo signing.

He is a very good choice to mentor Lonzo.

But, you hit the nail on the head about not getting off to a bad start.

I don't think the kiddie corps understand what a spectacle this Season is going to be with Lebron.

Rondo is unafraid.

Bright lights won't make him nervous.

I liked the Rondo signing too. Despite his history of clashes with coaches and teammates, from everything I've heard, he's great mentoring younger players and the young guys from the Bulls and Pelicans are said to have loved him.

How would you like to be Lonzo? I heard that Magic, Rondo and Lonzo have all gotten together a couple of times to breakdown film. What a great learning opportunity for Lonzo.

And yeah, the kids are going to see a bright spotlight like nothing they've experienced in their lives. Plus, with Lebron, they now have a legitimate target on their backs. They're gonna get everyone's best shot.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Of course. We only pay Waiters $12 mil per year as the starting 2-guard, which isn't bad.

Problem is, he never plays. So it's an absolutely horrid contract.

His deal is almost a perfect fit to slide into the Kings open capspace.





To facilitate a Butler trade, the sort of broader deal necessary to meet the financial needs of Minnesota and Butler's future team, circumstances will necessitate bringing the Sacramento Kingsinto the process. If the Timberwolves remain intent on unloading backup center Gorgui Dieng and the three years and $48 million left on his contract, they will need the Kings. No one in the NBA comes close to the $11 million in salary-cap space that the Kings possess to absorb a contract, as well as the several expiring contracts -- including Zach Randolph ($11.6 million), Iman Shumpert ($11 million) and Kosta Koufos ($8.7 million) -- to move onto a team that prefers to clear cap space in July.


In recent days, Sacramento has been aggressive in courting Minnesota and several of Butler's trade suitors -- offering to use its space as a landing spot for bloated contracts.

Sources: Butler uninterested in rejoining Wolves

 

[WiggyRuss]

LeBron James' first public appearance in a Lakers uniform is exciting to everyone but himself - Los Angeles Times

James wasn’t playing any of that.

Championship or bust? Not quite.

“I don’t believe the only thing of success you mark in a season is winning a championship,” he said, and you know Bryant heard this and wept. “There’s only one champion. But that doesn’t mean you’re not successful.”

Any shot at challenging Golden State any time soon? Not a chance.

“We have got a long way to go to get to Golden State,” he said plainly. “They can pick up right where they left off … we’re picking up from scratch … hopefully some day we can put ourselves in a position where we can compete for a championship.”



-
But during a strangely short 12-minute news conference on Lakers media day, one of basketball’s most emotional players oddly didn’t seem to feel anything.

He didn’t emote. He didn’t engage. His tone was flat. His face was stone. His mood was odd.

He talked about the excitement of joining the Lakers with a decided lack of excitement.

”It’s always humbling for me any time I get an opportunity to be a part of something special … I’m happy to be at this point today,” he said without expression.

He talked about adjusting to Los Angeles like it was less an adventure and more of a chore.

Yet once James began answering questions, celebratory quickly turned to dour. It was strange. It was unsettling.

James showed no glimpses of joy, and that’s one thing you could always count on when a new Laker has been introduced over the years. They are always so happy to be a Laker. The franchise’s success has been built on this happiness, this feeling that they are lucky to be playing for the NBA’s greatest franchise in the league’s greatest city.

 

[DJ Fieri]

LeBron James' first public appearance in a Lakers uniform is exciting to everyone but himself - Los Angeles Times

James wasn’t playing any of that.

Championship or bust? Not quite.

“I don’t believe the only thing of success you mark in a season is winning a championship,” he said, and you know Bryant heard this and wept. “There’s only one champion. But that doesn’t mean you’re not successful.”

Any shot at challenging Golden State any time soon? Not a chance.

“We have got a long way to go to get to Golden State,” he said plainly. “They can pick up right where they left off … we’re picking up from scratch … hopefully some day we can put ourselves in a position where we can compete for a championship.”



-
But during a strangely short 12-minute news conference on Lakers media day, one of basketball’s most emotional players oddly didn’t seem to feel anything.

He didn’t emote. He didn’t engage. His tone was flat. His face was stone. His mood was odd.

He talked about the excitement of joining the Lakers with a decided lack of excitement.

”It’s always humbling for me any time I get an opportunity to be a part of something special … I’m happy to be at this point today,” he said without expression.

He talked about adjusting to Los Angeles like it was less an adventure and more of a chore.

Yet once James began answering questions, celebratory quickly turned to dour. It was strange. It was unsettling.

James showed no glimpses of joy, and that’s one thing you could always count on when a new Laker has been introduced over the years. They are always so happy to be a Laker. The franchise’s success has been built on this happiness, this feeling that they are lucky to be playing for the NBA’s greatest franchise in the league’s greatest city.

"Or maybe he was upset at two questions, one asked by me, involving the business motivation in his decision to come to Los Angeles and how he will balance both Hollywood and basketball. They seemed like fair questions, considering his name is attached to 10 entertainment projects, and some of those projects, including an HBO series “The Shop” and the planned movie “Space Jam 2,” have made news since he joined the Lakers.

“My decision was based solely on my family and the Lakers,” he said in answering my question. “I’m a basketball player. I play ball. That’s what I do, that’s what I live by, and when I do it at the level I do it at, everything else takes care of itself.”

He added, “As far as my business, those things have been taken care of themselves way before I came out there to be part of the Lakers franchise.”

 

[DJ Fieri]

Plaschke pissed him off? LOL....

Not worried, I'm certain he'll still bring it 100% on the court and not mail it in.

 

[trojanfan12]

LeBron James' first public appearance in a Lakers uniform is exciting to everyone but himself - Los Angeles Times

James wasn’t playing any of that.

Championship or bust? Not quite.

“I don’t believe the only thing of success you mark in a season is winning a championship,” he said, and you know Bryant heard this and wept. “There’s only one champion. But that doesn’t mean you’re not successful.”

Any shot at challenging Golden State any time soon? Not a chance.

“We have got a long way to go to get to Golden State,” he said plainly. “They can pick up right where they left off … we’re picking up from scratch … hopefully some day we can put ourselves in a position where we can compete for a championship.”



-
But during a strangely short 12-minute news conference on Lakers media day, one of basketball’s most emotional players oddly didn’t seem to feel anything.

He didn’t emote. He didn’t engage. His tone was flat. His face was stone. His mood was odd.

He talked about the excitement of joining the Lakers with a decided lack of excitement.

”It’s always humbling for me any time I get an opportunity to be a part of something special … I’m happy to be at this point today,” he said without expression.

He talked about adjusting to Los Angeles like it was less an adventure and more of a chore.

Yet once James began answering questions, celebratory quickly turned to dour. It was strange. It was unsettling.

James showed no glimpses of joy, and that’s one thing you could always count on when a new Laker has been introduced over the years. They are always so happy to be a Laker. The franchise’s success has been built on this happiness, this feeling that they are lucky to be playing for the NBA’s greatest franchise in the league’s greatest city.

Yeah, I saw the press conference. If the presser "turned to dour" when the questions began, it was because they were trying to goad him into making declarations and/or questioning his motivations.

As @DJ pointed out (and you conveniently left out) he was being asked about his motivation being business over basketball and whether or not it was "championship or bust" this season.