2022 NBA Offseason thread

[trojanfan12]

Right.

They can continue to go the we go low, you go high, we meet in the middle route and hope their targets are still available when they decide to make a serious bid.

I have no clue what was offered to Indy.

But, whatever it was clearly is not enough considering they've turned it down for the second time.

I wonder if part of it is the Lakers trying to loop in a 3rd team?

A Turner/Hield package (or even trading them separately) has got to interest teams a lot more than Kyrie. Especially since the Lakers are currently the only market for Kyrie. Unless they're including Lebron or AD, I can't think of a package the Lakers could put together that couldn't be easily beat by someone else.

I also wonder if some of the internal push for Hield/Turner is coming from Jeanie? She pretty much sticks to the business side, but she also doesn't seem to have the tolerance for crazy that her Dad did.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Mixing up your hate teams again

LOL.

 

[trojanfan12]

That makes a lot of sense as a standard. But it’s questionable when you’re trying to unload 47.5 million dollars of useless dog shit that is a horrible fit for the team.

Maybe. I'd say though that the less attractive your side of the trade is, the more important it is to negotiate because it's easier to make a panic move. Also, while no one wants Westbrook, no one but the Lakers want Kyrie and they only want him because of Lebron and their lack of other options.

From reports, there aren't even real negotiations happening yet. So there's really no need for anyone to really be reacting yet.

John Wooden used to say ''Be quick, but don't hurry''. I think that's the smart move here. Take their time to explore all options, which is what I think/hope they're doing, but once the real negotiations start, be ready to move quickly so they don't miss the opportunity.

There seems to be a new quote from Ham almost daily about how he thinks he can make Westbrook fit. I wonder how much of that is him trying to get other teams to think the Lakers aren't all that desperate to move him?

 

[fightinfunbags]

Maybe. I'd say though that the less attractive your side of the trade is, the more important it is to negotiate because it's easier to make a panic move. Also, while no one wants Westbrook, no one but the Lakers want Kyrie and they only want him because of Lebron and their lack of other options.

From reports, there aren't even real negotiations happening yet. So there's really no need for anyone to really be reacting yet.

John Wooden used to say ''Be quick, but don't hurry''. I think that's the smart move here. Take their time to explore all options, which is what I think/hope they're doing, but once the real negotiations start, be ready to move quickly so they don't miss the opportunity.

There seems to be a new quote from Ham almost daily about how he thinks he can make Westbrook fit. I wonder how much of that is him trying to get other teams to think the Lakers aren't all that desperate to move him?

I’m not sure the Nets don’t want Kyrie now that KD’s camp leaked that he asked for a trade from the owner. No Kyrie = No KD and that likely means a rebuild with all of their tank potential sitting in Houston.

 

[thunderc]

I’m not sure the Nets don’t want Kyrie now that KD’s camp leaked that he asked for a trade from the owner. No Kyrie = No KD and that likely means a rebuild with all of their tank potential sitting in Houston.

If so KD making himself look bad sticking up for that head case

 

[trojanfan12]

Lighten up man.

Was mostly joking.

But yeah, clearly a lot of ways that it wouldn’t go right even if the players they acquire do well. So I do believe your comment is an exaggeration.

From a ''basketball fit'' perspective, I don't think they can really go wrong. Hield and Turner would seem to fit a little better than Kyrie. But given Lebron's age, having someone like Kyrie, who can run the offense at times without driving it off a cliff, would be a huge help in getting Lebron to the playoffs rested and healthy.

It's the crazy that comes with Kyrie that can cause things to go off the rails.

And I believe the phrase you were looking for is ''Lighten up, Francis''.

 

[fightinfunbags]

If so KD making himself look bad sticking up for that head case

It’s probably about the Ball. He doesn’t want to play for a team that’s idling and KD Ben and role players isn’t a great spot.

 

[The Q]

Every team that passed on Hardy in the second round will have deep regrets for many, many moons.

I loved that move by the mavs

I really thought the warriors or heat we’re gonna take him and culturize them into a star

 

[trojanfan12]

I’m not sure the Nets don’t want Kyrie now that KD’s camp leaked that he asked for a trade from the owner. No Kyrie = No KD and that likely means a rebuild with all of their tank potential sitting in Houston.

Possible. It has been reported that the Nets were expecting a huge bidding war for KD and that hasn't materialized. So maybe they're pivoting back to trying to get 1 more run with KD and Kyrie.

But unless something has changed over the past couple of days, the Nets have been reported to be done with Kyrie. Plus, Kyrie has said he intends to get to the Lakers this year or next and we already know what a pain in the ass he can be when he wants out.

Gonna be fun to see how it plays out.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Possible. It has been reported that the Nets were expecting a huge bidding war for KD and that hasn't materialized. So maybe they're pivoting back to trying to get 1 more run with KD and Kyrie.

But unless something has changed over the past couple of days, the Nets have been reported to be done with Kyrie. Plus, Kyrie has said he intends to get to the Lakers this year or next and we already know what a pain in the ass he can be when he wants out.

Gonna be fun to see how it plays out.

Of course I don’t really know for sure. Just speculation. But the environment for potential change in attitude on Kyrie comes from KD leaking his trade demand.

 

[thunderc]

It’s probably about the Ball. He doesn’t want to play for a team that’s idling and KD Ben and role players isn’t a great spot.

Yeah with Ben I guess I should have been more specific when talking about head cases.

 

[Retroram52]

I am not sure why the Lakers would consider the input of James the GM/Player on Kyrie when Turner and Hield are there and the Lakers want those two more than Kyrie. Have not the Lakers learned anything from last year when James, the GM was given a lot of rope and the result was a complete an utter cluster?

A recent article indicates that James and Westbrook were at the Lakers Summer league game and alot was made about the maintained distance in the arena between James and Westbrook and the observed consistent avoidance. Not sure that has much to do about anything but continuing to give James alot more input than perhaps he should receive remains a mystery.

Perhaps the most pressing issue focus should be on moving Westbrook. That is going to be tough in light of nobody in their right mind wants Westbrook and that is going to be a problem until he actually leaves.

Lakers' Ham on trade buzz: 'We love our roster'

Lakers coach Darvin Ham addressed the trade rumors swirling around the team on a night when LeBron James and Russell Westbrook showed up for the summer league game but sat far apart from each other.

www.espn.com

 

[ElPatron1]

Make the team better and he will commit. He’s done it his entire career. Nothing new

Lebron is as good as gone from LA imo. He did the same thing in Cle in his last year. It's not like he is some genius, he has a proven track record of blowing out of teams when they turn sour. Cleveland decided to keep their draft picks vs at the time sign Deandre Jordan who Lebron was pushing for hard. It was the correct move imo.

The Lakers smartest move would be to trade Lebron now. AD is young, load up on some picks and cap space. The Cavs should have also tried to trade Lebron in his last year, but for some reason teams think keeping him when the writing is on the wall is the smart decision lol

As an owner listening to Lebron must be annoying. Unlike Curry who just shows up and plays, Lebron always desperately needs new players on his team to "win"

 

[trojanfan12]

Of course I don’t really know for sure. Just speculation. But the environment for potential change in attitude on Kyrie comes from KD leaking his trade demand.

I agree. I think there are still some twists and turns coming.

What I find weird is some folks are saying that KD's trade demand is an attempt to get a contract for Kyrie. But Kyrie doesn't seem to be backing off of his claim that he's going to the Lakers.

So, either KD is trying to get Kyrie a contract he claims he doesn't want...or they are working together on what may be a pretty incredible contract negotiation to try to get the Nets to give him a max deal.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Lebron is as good as gone from LA imo. He did the same thing in Cle in his last year. It's not like he is some genius, he has a proven track record of blowing out of teams when they turn sour. Cleveland decided to keep their draft picks vs at the time sign Deandre Jordan who Lebron was pushing for hard. It was the correct move imo.

The Lakers smartest move would be to trade Lebron now. AD is young, load up on some picks and cap space. The Cavs should have also tried to trade Lebron in his last year, but for some reason teams think keeping him when the writing is on the wall is the smart decision lol

Cleveland isn’t LA though. And LeBron is now on the back end. LeBron is a billionaire. His financial interest go beyond basketball and much of what he’s pursuing works best if home base is LA. It’s a completely different dynamic. Who knows what he will do and what he will value in the end, but clearly the calculus is different this time around.

 

[ElPatron1]

Cleveland isn’t LA though. And LeBron is now on the back end. LeBron is a billionaire. His financial interest go beyond basketball and much of what he’s pursuing works best if home base is LA. It’s a completely different dynamic. Who knows what he will do and what he will value in the end, but clearly the calculus is different this time around.

If that was true he would have already signed an extension imo

I actually think he will end up back in CLE if i was to place a bet

 

[fightinfunbags]

I agree. I think there are still some twists and turns coming.

What I find weird is some folks are saying that KD's trade demand is an attempt to get a contract for Kyrie. But Kyrie doesn't seem to be backing off of his claim that he's going to the Lakers.

So, either KD is trying to get Kyrie a contract he claims he doesn't want...or they are working together on what may be a pretty incredible contract negotiation to try to get the Nets to give him a max deal.

Again just speculation but maybe it’s just a desire to have one more run and not necessarily a new deal for Kyrie.

 

[fightinfunbags]

If that was true he would have already signed an extension imo

Not sure that would be in his best interest. If he delays until FA hits he has more options. It also seems like he strongly desires to do the Ken Griffey Sr and JR thing with his son. It’s easier to do that if he isn’t locked into a deal.

 

[ElPatron1]

Not sure that would be in his best interest. If he delays until FA hits he has more options. It also seems like he strongly desires to do the Ken Griffey Sr and JR thing with his son. It’s easier to do that if he isn’t locked into a deal.

That is part of why i think he is leaving. I mean he basically spelled it out already

 

[DJ Fieri]

I’m not sure the Nets don’t want Kyrie now that KD’s camp leaked that he asked for a trade from the owner. No Kyrie = No KD and that likely means a rebuild with all of their tank potential sitting in Houston.

They have acquired some solid players in Warren and O'Neale. If they lower their standards for a trade in KD.....ie getting some good players and not great players.....they could still be competitive and not a total disaster.