Paul George forces his second trade in barely two years...

[Heatles84]

It doesn't help that most teams have refused to trade with the Lakers of late. Pels at first, Spurs with Kawhi, etc. I'm sure if the Lakers had convinced PG13 that he should come to LA via trade, the Thunder wouldn't have been so quick to act.

Jealousy is a coldhearted bitch.

His point was in free agency. Never said anything about teams willing to trade with the Lakers.

We've now see a number of all-star players play elsewhere instead of with Lebron. Last year we saw it with Paul George who had a chance to go to the Lakers. This year we saw it with Kawhi.

 

[Myles]

The 2 situations aren't rea

If once was to look from outside and in, one time may be a coincidence. But twice??? Well...

Fuck it, PC13's nuthuggers, as always will continually detract the blame to his surroundings regardless of circumstance.

Just like two years ago.

The 2 situations aren't really the same though. He did the Pacers a favor by telling him he would not remain in Indy after his contract was up. Otherwise the Pacers would have received nothing in return. Instead they got Sabonis and Dipo.

 

[Heatles84]

I think it's humorous you believe Harbaugh's a better college football coach than Saban because he had more success coaching in the NFL. And are you still insisting JH is currently 1 of the 3 best coaches in all of CFB?

When Harbaugh first came back to coach in Michigan, I actually thought Ohio State would be in some trouble and that he'd have Meyer shaking at some point given the success the former had in the NFL. Harbaugh's been the biggest disappointment in college since his return. If he loses to Ryan Day, he may as well close up shop.

 

[tlance]

His point was in free agency. Never said anything about teams willing to trade with the Lakers.

We've now see a number of all-star players play elsewhere instead of with Lebron. Last year we saw it with Paul George who had a chance to go to the Lakers. This year we saw it with Kawhi.

Yet,

All of them seemed to have the Lakers on their final list.

Why would Kawhi even go through the process of meeting with the Lakers if he did not want to play with LBJ? I doubt it was merely a leverage play. He was considering it.

I would guess that at the end of the day the reason that stars chose other teams probably has as much or more to do with Laker front office than anything else.

 

[Heatles84]

The 2 situations aren't rea

The 2 situations aren't really the same though. He did the Pacers a favor by telling him he would not remain in Indy after his contract was up. Otherwise the Pacers would have received nothing in return. Instead they got Sabonis and Dipo.

Yeah, I guess you and I are in the minority. I'm not backing up George's move in telling OKC to trade him to the Clippers 1 year removed from signing a 4-year contract. But he never forced his way out of Indy; he basically told the Pacers that he's not re-signing with them so do with that information as you will.

 

[Heatles84]

Yet,

All of them seemed to have the Lakers on their final list.

Why would Kawhi even go through the process of meeting with the Lakers if he did not want to play with LBJ? I doubt it was merely a leverage play. He was considering it.

I would guess that at the end of the day the reason that stars chose other teams probably has as much or more to do with Laker front office than anything else.

I'm sorry, but being on a list really doesn't mean dick where in the end you didn't land star player.

And do we really know if he was set for playing on the Lakers? There's conflicting reports that if the Clips wouldn't have been able to trade for another star that he would sign with the Lakers or stayed put with Toronto for another year.

As far as going through the process with the Lakers, look at what happened. He did the same thing to the Lakers that Lebron did to Miami in 2014 - he kept the team thinking that they were going to sign him in a holding pattern until all of the other quality free agents were gone, then went elsewhere. By then, the Lakers had to scramble and sign other guys.

Sure, the delay could've probably come from the Clippers and Thunder being in negotiations with one another. But the points I mentioned is what actually happened, whether intended or not.

 

[Wamu]

When Harbaugh first came back to coach in Michigan, I actually thought Ohio State would be in some trouble and that he'd have Meyer shaking at some point given the success the former had in the NFL. Harbaugh's been the biggest disappointment in college since his return. If he loses to Ryan Day, he may as well close up shop.

I do agree w/ what you've said about JH. Not sure if you're fimiliar w/ that trustmeimright fella. He's in a very special class of over the top homers on SportsHoopla. Some of the nonsense borders on insanity. Here are a few of his greatest hits.

-JH was a 1st team All American in '86 (even though Vinny Testaverde won the Hesiman that year)

-he helpd the Raiders beat the Bucs in the S.B. (even though T.B. crushed Oakland in that game)

-he can't win in ann arbor until he gets his own recruits (even though in his 1st year w/ Hoke's player he double the win total)

 

[Heatles84]

I do agree w/ what you've said about JH. Not sure if you're fimiliar w/ that trustmeimright fella. He's in a very special class of over the top homers on SportsHoopla. Some of the nonsense borders on insanity. Here are a few of his greatest hits.

-JH was a 1st team All American in '86 (even though Vinny Testaverde won the Hesiman that year)

-he helpd the Raiders beat the Bucs in the S.B. (even though T.B. crushed Oakland in that game)

-he can't win in ann arbor until he gets his own recruits (even though in his 1st year w/ Hoke's player he double the win total)

Oh wow on the first 2 points.

In terms of the last point, by year 3 the team takes on the identity of their coach considering programs like Michigan will have players leave early, attrition, etc...

Michigan was plagued by inconsistent QB play during Harbaugh's tenure, which is startling because JH is supposed to be some QB whisperer (at least what I've been spoon fed). And last I checked, Harbaugh just finished his 4th year at Michigan and got ran out the building by Ohio State.

Like I said, if Ryan Day beats him this year, JH's tenure at Michigan's over. You can't go 0-5 against Ohio State, where a rookie HC beats you.

 

[tlance]

I'm sorry, but being on a list really doesn't mean dick where in the end you didn't land star player.

And do we really know if he was set for playing on the Lakers? There's conflicting reports that if the Clips wouldn't have been able to trade for another star that he would sign with the Lakers or stayed put with Toronto for another year.

As far as going through the process with the Lakers, look at what happened. He did the same thing to the Lakers that Lebron did to Miami in 2014 - he kept the team thinking that they were going to sign him in a holding pattern until all of the other quality free agents were gone, then went elsewhere. By then, the Lakers had to scramble and sign other guys.

Sure, the delay could've probably come from the Clippers and Thunder being in negotiations with one another. But the points I mentioned is what actually happened, whether intended or not.

As a fan of a team who is never on anybody’s list I couldn’t disagree more.

If you get in the room with the player, you have a chance to convince him to join your team. THe Lakers always seem to get in the room and that matters a lot. Even if they come up short.

 

[shopson67]

His point was in free agency. Never said anything about teams willing to trade with the Lakers.

We've now see a number of all-star players play elsewhere instead of with Lebron. Last year we saw it with Paul George who had a chance to go to the Lakers. This year we saw it with Kawhi.

I widened the point. Free agency wouldn't be an issue if the Lakers could get the trades done first. It's not necessarily Lebron that is the issue now, but Lebron's age. We're all expecting the slide to start at some point here.

PG didn't stay in OKC because of Lebron. He agreed to stay before free agency even started. Lebron announced several days later.

 

[Heatles84]

As a fan of a team who is never on anybody’s list I couldn’t disagree more.

If you get in the room with the player, you have a chance to convince him to join your team. THe Lakers always seem to get in the room and that matters a lot. Even if they come up short.

I always relate it to college basketball/football recruiting. It's great making a Top X for said player. But whether you come in second, fifth, or tenth the result is all the same - you didn't land the player.

 

[shopson67]

I made the point last season that the Thunder were stuck as currently constructed and wouldn't advance anywhere of note and so many were quick to argue against my point. I'm actually surprised that the OKC front office realized this enough to allow PG to move on.

 

[tlance]

I always relate it to college basketball/football recruiting. It's great making a Top X for said player. But whether you come in second, fifth, or tenth the result is all the same - you didn't land the player.

Right.

But this perspective is coming from a destination market fan who has a chance at a lot of these guys.

If you never got a meeting with a free agent you can’t get him.

So in your college recruiting example, I would add that being in the conversation means that eventually you will get the guy. It is better to be 3rd in the race for the 5 star recruit than it is to not be considered at all. That is where the majority of college programs and NBA franchises stand.

 

[tlance]

I made the point last season that the Thunder were stuck as currently constructed and wouldn't advance anywhere of note and so many were quick to argue against my point. I'm actually surprised that the OKC front office realized this enough to allow PG to move on.

The tax had a lot to do with it.

Odds of winning with this core were almost nonexistent. I do think they would have been willing to keep Russ and PG together, but when he asked to be traded and LAC offered so much, it gave OKC an easy out. And they took it.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Trading for a big star hasn't really paid off in recent years except for Kawhi. Kyrie left Boston. PG leaves OKC. Chris Paul in decline and the Rockets are rumored to be trying to trade him. Cousins didn't last long in New Orleans. We'll see how it goes with AD.

The reality is becoming, get a star or two or you're just another team.

Most of the teams that you mentioned that have made big moves and still haven't won anything, they reached for the wrong players (BOS) or they were still lacking critical pcs (NO)...I think Paul George is finally seeing that OKC is never going to be much more than a Russell Westbrook stat machine....maybe OKC is finally realizing this as well.

 

[shopson67]

The tax had a lot to do with it.

Odds of winning with this core were almost nonexistent. I do think they would have been willing to keep Russ and PG together, but when he asked to be traded and LAC offered so much, it gave OKC an easy out. And they took it.

If there wasn't the tax, anyone could build a team by throwing money at it. The idea is build a team responsibly, not an easy thing to do (or maintain).

 

[tlance]

If there wasn't the tax, anyone could build a team by throwing money at it. The idea is build a team responsibly, not an easy thing to do (or maintain).

Of course

 

[dtgold88]

Yet,

All of them seemed to have the Lakers on their final list.

Why would Kawhi even go through the process of meeting with the Lakers if he did not want to play with LBJ? I doubt it was merely a leverage play. He was considering it.

I would guess that at the end of the day the reason that stars chose other teams probably has as much or more to do with Laker front office than anything else.

FO certainly possibly, but not so crazy they don't want to deal with LeDrama.

And I've thought this even when he was here.

 

[dtgold88]

As a fan of a team who is never on anybody’s list I couldn’t disagree more.

If you get in the room with the player, you have a chance to convince him to join your team. THe Lakers always seem to get in the room and that matters a lot. Even if they come up short.

Getting in a room and coming up short means a lot? Being able to say you can play in LA and a certain top 5 player (probably top 3 or higher) isn't enough?

 

[tlance]

Getting in a room and coming up short means a lot? Being able to say you can play in LA and a certain top 5 player (probably top 3 or higher) isn't enough?

Yeah.

And as a Cleveland fan you of all people should understand this.

If you can’t get in the room, your only viable rebuild option is through the draft.