NBA OFF TOPIC THREAD

[dtgold88]

@dtgold88 @Stakesarehigh @Shanemansj13

2021 locker room issues details show problematic division

After OBJ's dad went to social media and ripped Mayfield multiple players lobbied to keep OBJ in Cleveland.

It's an interesting article.

Not able to see article. I don't doubt there could be players who don't like baker....but this so-called drama is media and fan driven IMO.

Hell, even in Ward's presser the media did what they could to find some controversy/drama and asked Ward about the QBs. He said he still talks to Baker a lot and he was among first to congratulate him for his new deal.

 

[shopson67]

I think Stephen A. is saying they should trade Lebron bc they can't trade Russ or AD which makes sense but still doesn't seem very realistic.

Russ is in a terrible contract and it would be extremely difficult to move him, stick it out for one more year then rebuild the next season.
AD's value has gone down dramatically I wouldn't say it would be difficult to move him but he isn't worth trading bc of the lack of return LA would get back to how they value him as a player. Maybe LA thinks even with AD and Lebron the time is done and they can't win any more championships, which is definitely reasonable considering AD's injury concerns and all three of those guys' contracts, lack of roster depth, etc.

The only team that actually checks every single box is CLE. They can contend after they trade for Lebron, Lebron would go back to CLE and they have the assets to make a trade and not give up their core. I really don't see any other teams that check all those boxes.

They can't waste another year of Lebron with Russ on the roster. Take what you can get and move forward. Waiting for Russ' contract to expire isn't going to create any usable cap space to note. If Lebron wants to move on after next season, it will most likely require a S&T anyway, so they can worry about that next year.

LA isn't the franchise that ever thinks about the end of an era like that. They will milk Lebron and AD as long as they can unless one or both forces their way out. If they had a real knowledgeable president and GM running things, maybe things would be a bit different (or at least they would build better around those two pieces).

 

[shopson67]

Exactly. Lebron with a healthy AD and Hayward for around 70 games, could definitely contend if they get solid role players to put around them. But at this point, what are the chances that 1 of them manages that, let alone both?

I'm resigned to, unless some team just gets stupid, the Lakers having Westbrook at least until the trade deadline, if not the entire season. There are worse things than going into a season over $100 million coming off the books.

That $100M (max is more likely $78M) in cap space includes Lebron leaving, so who's coming to play with AD? Harden and Wall are damaged goods and out of the question, Beal and Irving are likely locked up before then, and everyone else is probably a #2 or 3 on a championship team (and that is likely a stretch) at best, other than Jokic (who I doubt becomes available either).

If 22/23 is the last season with Lebron (which I kinda doubt), they need to go all out, otherwise they might as well move Lebron now (and maybe AD too) and just start over.

 

[shopson67]

No.

You have it right.

Its just guys in Lebron's tier are at the highest salary.

Your cap hold is gonna be higher than the previous salary because they assume the guy will get a raise.

Look at what Miami did with Olidipo.

He went from 20 plus mil to a vet minimum contract.

So, his cap hold is like 2 mil and they have his bird rights.

Tim Duncan did that kinda a thing a few times Dirk too in order to free up money/remove cap hold/ sign guys to get over the hump.

LeBron will likely never do that.

There are several people here that think Lebron's going to take vet min or an MLE deal to move on from LA.

 

[Wamu]

Not able to see article. I don't doubt there could be players who don't like baker....-->but this so-called drama is media and fan driven IMO.<--

Hell, even in Ward's presser the media did what they could to find some controversy/drama and asked Ward about the QBs. He said he still talks to Baker a lot and he was among first to congratulate him for his new deal.

The article is from brownswire.usatoday.

"but this so called drama is media and fan driven IMO"

Okay. Then explain this comment from John Johnson III who played for the Browns last season. I mentioned multiple players lobbied to keep OBJ around.

"I feel like the majority of this locker room would love to have him in this building, flat out."

How is a players comment media or fan driven?

 

[Heatles84]

Maybe. More likely that in the off-season they go the "2 years with an option on year 2" route, imo. Lebron may want to see who they can get in FA. Plus, if I understand the cap correctly (I probably don't. lol) they could sign FA's then go over the cap to sign Lebron. Hopefully allowing them a little more cash to go after FA's.

Bird Rights, Lebron's going to eat up a sizeable chunk of salary cap space until he's re-signed or moves/is traded to a different team.

 

[dtgold88]

The article is from brownswire.usatoday.

"but this so called drama is media and fan driven IMO"

Okay. Then explain this comment from John Johnson III who played for the Browns last season. I mentioned multiple players lobbied to keep OBJ around.

"I feel like the majority of this locker room would love to have him in this building, flat out."

How is a players comment media or fan driven?

Because he would prefer OBJ to Baker...or just that he wants OBJ there?

That comment not fan driven but just dumb. why would he want a player in the locker room who clearly sabotaged his own team and tried to play his way off the team?

 

[thunderc]

No basketball tonight but at 6 central on espn there is a big softball game for those interested. No 1 OU vs No 7 Okie light. In fact espn is carry the 3 game series the next few days.

 

[Shanemansj13]

No basketball tonight but at 6 central on espn there is a big softball game for those interested. No 1 OU vs No 7 Okie light. In fact espn is carry the 3 game series the next few days.

 

[Wamu]

(1)Because he would prefer OBJ to Baker...or just that he wants OBJ there?

That comment not fan driven but just dumb. why would he want a player in the locker room who clearly sabotaged his own team and tried to play his way off the team?

1- You could always read the article I mentioned instead of coming up with your own conclusions. So anything critical of Mayfield is dumb? Okay.

It seems like Stephanski himself could say something critical of Mayfield and you'd still say things are media/fan driven.

Don't you find it odd that not a single teammate of his has spoken up and said something decent about him?

 

[dtgold88]

1- You could always read the article I mentioned instead of coming up with your own conclusions. So anything critical of Mayfield is dumb? Okay.

It seems like Stephanski himself could say something critical of Mayfield and you'd still say things are media/fan driven.

Don't you find it odd that not a single teammate of his has spoken up and said something decent about him?

anything critical of Baker dumb? Nope. Didn't say that. I'm often critical of Baker. Kind of dumb to go all out to back a player who sabotaged his own team and tried to play his way out of town though.

 

[dtgold88]

1- You could always read the article I mentioned instead of coming up with your own conclusions. So anything critical of Mayfield is dumb? Okay.

It seems like Stephanski himself could say something critical of Mayfield and you'd still say things are media/fan driven.

Don't you find it odd that not a single teammate of his has spoken up and said something decent about him?

To your last comment I offer 2 things. First, IF that was true, no I don't find it odd. Despite what media and fans might think guys can talk privately and not share everything on IG or Twitter. Hell, maybe they think a public post supporting Baker might not be the best thing to do as it might be seen as a negative toward the current QB?

Second, when he was asked about him at his presser (as I mentioned) Ward said he still talks often with baker and mentioned he was among the first to congratulate him.

 

[DJ Fieri]

In the way too early 2023 mock draft.....McShay has 5 QB's going in the 1st round.

 

[Black Adam]

In the way too early 2023 mock draft.....McShay has 5 QB's going in the 1st round.

Definitely way too early...

 

[Shanemansj13]

 

[mr.hockey4242]

NBA is a fucking strange ass league.

So the 2 series that had game 2s on Tuesday play game 3 on Saturday?

But the 2 series who played on Wednesday play their game 3 on........Friday??

 

[dtgold88]

no idea who this guy is. First one he could have made up. Third is just kooky talk. Sure...make him look bad if you may want to trade him. Makes sense.

 

[Wamu]

anything critical of Baker dumb? Nope. Didn't say that. I'm often critical of Baker. Kind of dumb to go all out to back a player who sabotaged his own team and tried to play his way out of town though.

I'm talking about Mayfield.

You wanna talk about OBJ.

I wasn't talking about him.

 

[trojanfan12]

That $100M (max is more likely $78M) in cap space includes Lebron leaving, so who's coming to play with AD? Harden and Wall are damaged goods and out of the question, Beal and Irving are likely locked up before then, and everyone else is probably a #2 or 3 on a championship team (and that is likely a stretch) at best, other than Jokic (who I doubt becomes available either).

If 22/23 is the last season with Lebron (which I kinda doubt), they need to go all out, otherwise they might as well move Lebron now (and maybe AD too) and just start over.

Yeah. I'm just talking about how much could come off the books. I assume that if he wants to stay, the Lakers will re-sign him.

 

[shopson67]

Yeah. I'm just talking about how much could come off the books. I assume that if he wants to stay, the Lakers will re-sign him.

The assumption is that the extension will be offered this summer.