Kawhi wants out of San Antonio

[tlance]

Still not enough to make that deal.

Again, they could do it. But why would they do it? It doesn't make sense. They could go get Shröeder for less than that if they wanted to.

First, Shroeder sucks.

Second, because Ball is on a rookie deal for the next 3 years, it sets the Suns up to be big players in the 2020 free agent market. By then, hopefully their young core will improve enough to get them to the playoffs and because Ayton, Ball, Jackson and Bridges will still be on rookies deals they will have a ton of cap space.

That is precisely how a bottom dweller builds a contender. Add one max player to that core and you have something special.

 

[DJ Fieri]

i think the Lakers get LeBron and George- but doubt they get Kawhi.

Exactly......I'm just hoping Leonard bends the Spurs over and says he only wants to play for the Lakers.

 

[DJ Fieri]

The Suns get Schroder? LOL.

He's not a pass first PG, wouldn't fit the Suns very well IMO.

 

[DJ Fieri]

First, Shroeder sucks.

Second, because Ball is on a rookie deal for the next 3 years, it sets the Suns up to be big players in the 2020 free agent market. By then, hopefully their young core will improve enough to get them to the playoffs and because Ayton, Ball, Jackson and Bridges will still be on rookies deals they will have a ton of cap space.

That is precisely how a bottom dweller builds a contender. Add one max player to that core and you have something special.

BOOM.

 

[flyerhawk]

Again, they are going to want a verbal commitment before they offer the moon....it's why Ainge wants to personally meet with him.....something Leonard may not want to do.

We don't know what the Lakers are offering much less what the Sixers or Celtics are offering.

If the Celtics only had to give up Rozier and the Sacromento pick, you think they blink twice before making that deal REGARDLESS of whether Kawhi is willing to stay?

 

[DJ Fieri]

If the Celtics only had to give up Rozier and the Sacromento pick, you think they blink twice before making that deal REGARDLESS of whether Kawhi is willing to stay?

No chance SA accepts that.

Rozier is going to want to get paid and SA has Murray....they aren't making that trade because Rozier's salary is expiring. They can get more.

 

[flyerhawk]

First, Shroeder sucks.

Second, because Ball is on a rookie deal for the next 3 years, it sets the Suns up to be big players in the 2020 free agent market. By then, hopefully their young core will improve enough to get them to the playoffs and because Ayton, Ball, Jackson and Bridges will still be on rookies deals they will have a ton of cap space.

That is precisely how a bottom dweller builds a contender. Add one max player to that core and you have something special.

Bottom dwellers don't become contenders by trading away their 1st round picks. Ask the Nets.

I used Shröeder for illustrative purposes. Replace him with Rajon Rondo or keep Payton. Or if they are really looking to make a big move, look to get Kyle Lowry or Kemba Walker.

Giving up a 1st rounder AND taking on a shitty contract is an awful lot to get Lonzo Ball.

 

[BigKen]

How (and when) the Lakers can add two superstars after a big trade

• By BOBBY MARKS via ESPN

Can the Lakers afford Kawhi, LeBron and George?

Under contract in 2018-19
Creating cap space is like putting together a complicated puzzle. For the Lakers to optimize room in July, the pieces will need to fit. And right now they don't.

Although the Lakers have only $34.7 million in guaranteed contracts, plus $4.5 million in non-guaranteed salary, the $100 million in combined free-agent cap holds has Los Angeles over the salary cap.

The double-max option
The Clarkson trade to the Cavaliers now opens up the possibility of the Lakers chasing two superstar players in July. The deal not only reduced payroll this summer (and in the future) but also brought back a first-round pick from the Cavaliers. League executives felt that the Lakers would have to attach a draft pick -- not receive one -- if they went in the direction of clearing room.

Now with Clarkson off the cap ledger, L.A. is projected to have $47 million in room. The amount includes renouncing all free-agent cap holds, except for Julius Randle, and keeping Luol Deng's $18 million salary counting against the cap. The Lakers also could create additional savings if they waive the $4.5 million in non-guaranteed contract for? Tyler Ennis, Ivica Zubac and Thomas Bryant.

Stretching the Deng contract and waiving the three players on non-guaranteed contracts would leave the Lakers with $57.6 million in cap space, roughly $7 million short of the magic number of $65 million. The dilemma for the Lakers would be creating additional savings but also keeping Randle.

Would Randle sign a one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer to help the Lakers in free agency? Unlikely. Even though Randle and Paul George share the same agent, bypassing a contract on the free-agent market would signal that there is an under-the-table agreement in place between both sides, something that the NBA would certainly investigate (especially considering that no first-round pick has ever signed a qualifying offer during the first two weeks of free agency). Having already been fined $500,000 for tampering with Paul George last summer, Lakers management would be hesitant to go in this direction.

The free-agent pitch
Here is where things get complicated.

When the Lakers are likely granted July 1 meetings with LeBron James, Paul George and DeAndre Jordan, each of the All-Stars should ask Magic Johnson and GM Rob Pelinka three questions:

1. Who am I going to play with on the current roster?

2. What other free agents can we sign?

3. What is the future flexibility to improve

While a combination of James and George (or Jordan) on paper has the Hollywood appeal, L.A. would need to replenish its bench. If both James and George are signed, the Lakers would have roughly $5 million in room plus the $4.4 million midlevel exception to use. The Lakers would have $11 million available if they went with the combination of James and Jordan.

Each player will need to consider whether Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart are a foundation strong enough not just to compete for a playoff spot, but also to challenge the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs for the foreseeable future.

The Philadelphia option
Last summer the Philadelphia 76ers proved that you can stay competitive without risking future cap flexibility. The one-year signings of JJ Redick at $23 million and Amir Johnson at $11 million allowed the 76ers to add two veterans, compete for a playoff spot and preserve cap space. Even with the contract extensions of Robert Covington and Joel Embiid, Philadelphia is set to have $30 million in room this summer or preserve it for the summer of 2019.

The Lakers are in a similar position, though one year early.

With the high salaries of Brook Lopez and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope set to be off the books, L.A. will have $47 million in cap space. That includes not stretching the $36 million owed to Deng and letting the market dictate the free agency of Randle. Randle's cap hold is $12.4 million, a figure that should mirror his 2018-19 salary.

The Lakers would still have a league-best $45.7 million in room to go out and sign two veterans to one-year contracts without taking a cap hit the following season. With the league heading toward a financial crunch, free agents will be lined up outside of Magic Johnson's door looking for a big one-year deal.

With a glaring need at shooting guard, either Will Barton or Avery Bradley would be a perfect fit on a one-year, $15 million contract. Or the Lakers can turn to Isaiah Thomas and bring back the point guard on a one-year deal. The Lakers could also pursue bringing back their own free agents in Caldwell-Pope and Lopez on similar contracts. Both players are projected to get around the $8.6 midlevel exception on the open market and could see that salary double on a one-year contract.

This is assuming George decides to stay in OKC. Of course, if the All-Star forward wants to sign with the Lakers, L.A. should use its cap space on him and then decide what to do with Randle and Deng from there.

The two players who were thought to be on the trade block or eventually waived -- Randle and Deng -- would all have value in 2018-19.

If Randle continues to play well next season, his new contract would present significant value for a team looking for someone who can play multiple positions and come off the bench or start. The risk comes if the Randle contract becomes untouchable in restricted free agency, something that the Trail Blazers have faced with Meyers Leonard. However, if structured right in both years and salary, Randle's contract wouldn't be a hindrance if they needed to shed the deal.

In the case of Deng, not stretching the veteran until the 2019-20 season would give the Lakers flexibility in a lower cap hit with shorter years. If Deng was stretched this summer he would count $7.4 million toward the cap for the next five years. Wait until 2019, and Deng counts $6.3 million for only three seasons.

The summer of 2019
The benefit of having cap space in 2019 is that the market still has not corrected itself. The albatross contracts signed in the summer of 2016 will still count toward the cap for the majority of teams. While the number of teams with cap space is projected to increase from seven this July to 16 in 2019, the Lakers will still be in the lead with total room available.

The salary cap is also projected to increase from $101 million to $108 million. Plus, factor in that Ball, Ingram, Kuzma and Hart will have another season of development under their belts, along with the Lakers having their own 2019 first-round pick.

The Lakers' patience will be tested. The one thing they cannot do is follow 2016's plan, when they spent cap space on Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng. If they're judicious, the goal of once again having a championship-level roster becomes realistic.

 

[flyerhawk]

No chance SA accepts that.

Rozier is going to want to get paid and SA has Murray....they aren't making that trade because Rozier's salary is expiring. They can get more.

My point is that we don't know what teams are actually offering for Kawhi.

 

[flyerhawk]

REPORT: Kawhi Leonard's Shocking True Feelings About Playing With LeBron James, Revealed

Sounds like Stephen A is certain that Lebron is going to LA and that Kawhi isn't keen on playing with Lebron due to the circus he brings.

 

[WiggyRuss]

REPORT: Kawhi Leonard's Shocking True Feelings About Playing With LeBron James, Revealed

Sounds like Stephen A is certain that Lebron is going to LA and that Kawhi isn't keen on playing with Lebron due to the circus he brings.

thats why i think its LeBron and George in LA. Kawhi will get traded somewhere in the East...maybe even Orlando. lol.

 

[Raw_Bee808]

 

[DJ Fieri]

REPORT: Kawhi Leonard's Shocking True Feelings About Playing With LeBron James, Revealed

Sounds like Stephen A is certain that Lebron is going to LA and that Kawhi isn't keen on playing with Lebron due to the circus he brings.

"Now obviously this could all be a smokescreen. It could be the Clippers leaking stuff out there to the masses hoping somebody grabs hold of it and just puts it out there without acknowledging the fact that the Clippers could be putting this out there because in their perfect world, they want people to believe they have a chance for Kawhi Leonard."

 

[DJ Fieri]

REPORT: Kawhi Leonard's Shocking True Feelings About Playing With LeBron James, Revealed

Sounds like Stephen A is certain that Lebron is going to LA and that Kawhi isn't keen on playing with Lebron due to the circus he brings.

"This latest report is completely the opposite from what Leonard’s camp has put out throughout the offseason, telling Spurs representatives that his preferred landing spot is his native Los Angeles."

Because Leonard had to know the Lakers were the obvious destination for James.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Stephen A. Smith: LeBron James Texted Kevin Durant About Joining Lakers

 

[flyerhawk]

"This latest report is completely the opposite from what Leonard’s camp has put out throughout the offseason, telling Spurs representatives that his preferred landing spot is his native Los Angeles."

Because Leonard had to know the Lakers were the obvious destination for James.

Pick the rumor you prefer. Some of them will turn out to be right. Who knows which ones?

 

[WiggyRuss]

@DJ

funny we were talking about Suns...

for what its worth

elieveland Insider‏ @Believeland24x7 2m2 minutes ago
#Cavs are very close to a trade with the Phoenix #Suns



would not surprise me one bit if its Kevin Love.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Stephen A. Smith: LeBron James Texted Kevin Durant About Joining Lakers

Unlikely but man if they did?

Just those 2 would be insane.

 

[DJ Fieri]

@DJ

funny we were talking about Suns...

for what its worth

elieveland Insider‏ @Believeland24x7 2m2 minutes ago
#Cavs are very close to a trade with the Phoenix #Suns



would not surprise me one bit if its Kevin Love.

Love for what?

 

[WiggyRuss]

Love for what?

???

i dont even necessarily know its Love---- but it would not surprise me.

Who knows who/what it is or if it will even happen. It may be contingent on other things. Just seeing how thingsa re going id even ballpark it at happening as less than 50-50 but who knows.