Kawhi wants out of San Antonio

[WiggyRuss]

The 76ers can add in more than that and it is a offer that doesn’t have to be better than LA, just good enough. A package of: Fultz (not keen on), Covington, TLC, Zaire Smith, 19 and 21 (PHX) 1st rd picks, possibly Saric.

That isn’t as good as Kuzma and Ingram but since the Spurs aren’t interested in Ball, from reports, that offer is that much better than the 76ers. Boston would hold the cards bc they have better assets to offer than anyone

why do people think Kuzma is a significant trade asset?


power forwards that play no D and can score are a dime a dozen in the NBA.

 

[flyerhawk]

It's funny, because Ball shot almost the exact same percentages as Smart, who's considered likely for a hefty raise for his defense. His shooting is excused (as a multi-year vet), but as a rookie for some reason Ball is vilified for his shooting. It's not like Smart was a low draft pick either (#6 overall). Everyone just wants to bag on the Ball family.

Ball shot 45% from the free throw line. Smart shot 72%. Furthermore Smart is a specialist who is a lock down defender and high energy player. No one is signing him for his offense.

I have no desire to bag on Ball. As you said he is a rookie and he could most certainly improve. But to pretend that his shooting is NBD is kinda ridiculous.

 

[flyerhawk]

The Spurs have Murray who also was NBA all-defense, got to question how much they value Fultz if at all. If the Celtics are offering a Jaylen Brown/Kyrie package I'm taking that all day. Even a Brown/Horford package above that Philly deal, personally.

Kyrie is an expiring contract. No way the Spurs are going to trade Kawhi for basically Jaylen Brown and a year of Kyrie if the other offers being discussed are offered.

 

[tlance]

Kyrie is an expiring contract. No way the Spurs are going to trade Kawhi for basically Jaylen Brown and a year of Kyrie if the other offers being discussed are offered.

Kawhi is an expiring contract also who the Spurs have basically no chance to resign.

If they think they do have a shot to resign Kyrie, that is one hell of an offer.

 

[flyerhawk]

Kawhi is an expiring contract also who the Spurs have basically no chance to resign.

If they think they do have a shot to resign Kyrie, that is one hell of an offer.

Agreed. But I doubt that Kyrie is going to give them those assurances. So why would they trade an expiring asset for another expiring asset?

I would imagine that Buford is going to primarily want controllable assets.

 

[Shanemansj13]

why do people think Kuzma is a significant trade asset?


power forwards that play no D and can score are a dime a dozen in the NBA.

I like Kuzma (we don’t know how good his D is after one season especially if he plays with better defenders) he isn’t a better asset than Brown, Tatum or Ingram but he can play the 2, 3, 4. I would think Lebron would want him to stay and maybe Ingram UNLESS it’s for Kawhi. Ball is probably gone imo

 

[flyerhawk]

I like Kuzma (we don’t know how good his D is after one season especially if he plays with better defenders) he isn’t a better asset than Brown, Tatum or Ingram but he can play the 2, 3, 4. I would think Lebron would want him to stay and maybe Ingram UNLESS it’s for Kawhi. Ball is probably gone imo

Trading Ball now would be a pretty bad idea as his trade value is not great.

 

[BigKen]

The Celtics are not going to give the Spurs anything more than they'd get with Kawhi. Ainge is not stupid and he will not trade assets for a one year player. Too many of you make the best possible deal for your team and never think about anything else.

The Spurs are in a corner and the rest of the room has wet paint on the floor. Kawhi has stated publicly that he will not sign with any other team and plans to sign with the Lakers at the end of the 2019 season. The absolute best thing the Spurs can do is try to work a trade with Lakers. Kawhi would be happy, the Spurs would be happy and the Lakers would be happy. The key is for the Lakers is to give up a couple of big contracts with decent players.

If Lebron and Paul George get together and decide to play in Houston, then all of the FA interest will immediately go elsewhere. Who are the major "Must Haves" remaining? Can teams interest them enough? Houston, with Harden, Paul and Lebron will give the Warriors all they can handle.

FA interest will be squarely in the East to who is will to pony up the Max contracts.......

 

[BigKen]

Trading Ball now would be a pretty bad idea as his trade value is not great.

That and BBB Company is under legal attack by debtors. They haven't paid one bill since Janyary 2018. Can a father and son share a prison cell?? Notice how quiet Lavar has been lately??

 

[LogicMan]

The absolute best thing the Spurs can do is try to work a trade with Lakers.

I tend to agree but I would not reach out until I at least tested Philly and Boston and tried to use that dialog to get enough leverage for Lakers to give up assets

 

[Shanemansj13]

Trading Ball now would be a pretty bad idea as his trade value is not great.

His value is different for every team. It would be higher than a guy like Fultz but do you think Lebron wants the Lavar drama around. They could keep him and see if his shooting improves, he still has plenty of potential and playing with veterans can only play imo

 

[trojanfan12]

Whoa whoa. I have REPEATEDLY said that Ball is far from a finished product.

And you have REPEATEDLY commented about his shooting while ignoring everything else and now want to claim that Lakers fans ignore his shooting.

Unless you are someone like Bennett who looked completely lost on the court, judging a player as a rookie is a terrible idea.

This is especially true of point guards who almost always take more time to develop. No point not named Magic Johnson* was an impact player as a rookie.

We overanalyze all of these players today.

* - Ben Simmons is also a player in that vein depending on how you look at him.

Agree with all of this. As to Simmons...he will be a very good player if he stays just as he is. If he develops a solid perimeter shot...he could be great, maybe even generational.

If Lonzo develops a solid perimeter shot (and quits using Shaq as his free throw coach), he could be all star level...but he won't be generational like Simmons could be.

 

[trojanfan12]

I tend to agree but I would not reach out until I at least tested Philly and Boston and tried to use that dialog to get enough leverage for Lakers to give up assets

Agree. I think the Spurs can and will work with the Lakers if they have to. But to do that, they will need to have a way to save face.

Part of how they do that is by doing exactly what they are doing right now. Saying they think they can work things out with Kawhi, refusing to talk to the Lakers (or really any WC teams at this point), saying they're in no hurry and dragging it out for awhile.

If a 3rd team can be involved to take on Lonzo and the Deng contract...that's even better for them.

Then, they can say they looked under every rock, took the best offer available and didn't get saddled with the Deng contract.

 

[trojanfan12]

It's funny, because Ball shot almost the exact same percentages as Smart, who's considered likely for a hefty raise for his defense. His shooting is excused (as a multi-year vet), but as a rookie for some reason Ball is vilified for his shooting. It's not like Smart was a low draft pick either (#6 overall). Everyone just wants to bag on the Ball family.

Yeah, unfortunately for Lonzo, his Dad's big mouth has been writing checks that Lonzo is forced to try to cash.

How it all works out, depends on Lonzo, imo. He can use all of the criticism, etc. as motivation to go out and shut everyone up...or he can let it break him and possibly ruin his career.

 

[flyerhawk]

And you have REPEATEDLY commented about his shooting while ignoring everything else and now want to claim that Lakers fans ignore his shooting.

I'm really not. This particular argument stemmed from DJ calling Fultz a bust. I pointed out that Ball's shooting was JUST AS BAD if not worse than Fultz's. That's all. I would hope that Ball is working with a trainer, like Fultz is, in order to fix his jumper. But regardless I'm not passing judgment on him because of one season. FTR, I'm also not passing judgment on any of the rookies. That includes guys like Malik Monk who had really rough rookie years.

Agree with all of this. As to Simmons...he will be a very good player if he stays just as he is. If he develops a solid perimeter shot...he could be great, maybe even generational.

If Lonzo develops a solid perimeter shot (and quits using Shaq as his free throw coach), he could be all star level...but he won't be generational like Simmons could be.

I definitely think that Lonzo could become an All-Star. Even if he never becomes a great shooter I think his floor is Rajon Rondo.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Kyrie is an expiring contract. No way the Spurs are going to trade Kawhi for basically Jaylen Brown and a year of Kyrie if the other offers being discussed are offered.

Spurs were on his list of preferred destinations when he demanded that trade out of Cleveland.

 

[flyerhawk]

Spurs were on his list of preferred destinations when he demanded that trade out of Cleveland.

Sure. But would they still be on his list if they don't have Kawhi?

Of course there is no way for any of us to know what's really going on. It's questionable whether Ainge/Stevens would want to trade Kyrie/Brown for a possible one year rental.

 

[shopson67]

Ball shot 45% from the free throw line. Smart shot 72%. Furthermore Smart is a specialist who is a lock down defender and high energy player. No one is signing him for his offense.

I have no desire to bag on Ball. As you said he is a rookie and he could most certainly improve. But to pretend that his shooting is NBD is kinda ridiculous.

71 attempts from the FT line is a pretty small sample size, but regardless I was talking from the field following from the previous post. They both have eFG% of .440. His mental block at the line is odd though.

I wasn't saying it was NBD, but calling him the worst shooter in the league isn't true either.

 

[Gman]

Even if he never becomes a great shooter I think his floor is Rajon Rondo.

One thing about Rondo is he is an intense competitor.

I know he runs hot and cold... and tends to dog it in the regular season, especially as his career has drawn on... but 'Playoff Rondo' is a tough customer... saw that both with the Pels this past year and Chicago before... where the Bulls likely would have beat Boston that year.

We'll see if Lonzo has that 'eye of the tiger' thing.

 

[flyerhawk]

71 attempts from the FT line is a pretty small sample size, but regardless I was talking from the field following from the previous post. They both have eFG% of .440. His mental block at the line is odd though.

I wasn't saying it was NBD, but calling him the worst shooter in the league isn't true either.

Statistically he was one of the worst shooters in the league last year. Monk, Smart, Rondo are all in the conversation as well.