The 2024-2025 NBA Basketball Season

[shopson67]

It's a fake league that always needs the Lakers to have the best star. Too bad that fire didn't burn Adam Silver and all his people to ashes.

Jelly?

 

[shopson67]

AD is a hurt, old big. Career basically over.

Say you don't know the NBA without saying directly you don't know the NBA.

26/12/3/2b per game in 24/25, 42 of 47 game played, may be out another week or so (or maybe this injury was a fabrication due to trade talks).

 

[shopson67]

Mean no disrespect to lakers

Thibs can’t get his guys motivated to play all teams to win

His record non contenders stink

Lakers only have 2 more losses than the Knicks on the season. Won IN MSG without AD.

 

[shopson67]

Dallas was a pretty serious threat when they had Luka Doncic too. See: last season.

Are they a more serious threat now? That's the question... but I say not.

IOW: I would have kept trying to build around Luka.

I think most feel that way, but Dallas wasn't comfortable giving Doncic the supermax with their conditioning and attitude concerns, wanted to build defensively, and both Harrison and Kidd have strong ties to AD.

They reportedly talked to one other team, not identified. Maybe Miami for Bam, given what they wanted in AD? Bucks for Giannis?

 

[Gman]

I think most feel that way, but Dallas wasn't comfortable giving Doncic the supermax with their conditioning and attitude concerns, wanted to build defensively, and both Harrison and Kidd have strong ties to AD.

They reportedly talked to one other team, not identified. Maybe Miami for Bam, given what they wanted in AD? Bucks for Giannis?

Dallas is some combination of dumb and cheap.

"Wanting to build defensively" (and similar explanation given) are, simply put, not good enough reasons to bail on a guy like Luka.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

I think most feel that way, but Dallas wasn't comfortable giving Doncic the supermax with their conditioning and attitude concerns, wanted to build defensively, and both Harrison and Kidd have strong ties to AD.

They reportedly talked to one other team, not identified. Maybe Miami for Bam, given what they wanted in AD? Bucks for Giannis?

Both of those options were superior to AD. Not for one year mind you (well Giannis is) but give me 27 year old Bam over AD on a on a long term level. Additionally the Heat have some other cheap pieces to throw in as well.

It seems like Dallas is anticipating going full tank in 3 years which is a really weird reset when you have a top 5 type guy in Luka

 

[shopson67]

People always want to proclaim a winner right away when in reality we won't know the winner for a while.

Right now it looks like the Lakers are the winner but we shall see....

Right now, both teams are winners at some level as each got what they wanted. Lakers got their long term alpha star, Dallas eased their discomfort in extending Luka and got the specific defensive piece they wanted (as well as an upcoming 3&D wing and a future 1st), dumping a few unnecessary contracts in the process.

The negative is that Dallas probably should've gotten more (more draft capital, Dalton and or AR) which Dallas could have then flipped for even better assets. I'll give Rob some credit there for minimizing the cost. Keeping this whole thing quiet may have worked in his favor in that regard.

 

[shopson67]

Dallas is some combination of dumb and cheap.

"Wanting to build defensively" (and similar explanation given) are, simply put, not good enough reasons to bail on a guy like Luka.

Luka concerns have been well documented. He quit defensively in last year's run at times, is never in prime shape seemingly, has a recurring calf issue, and was due the Supermax this summer. Having said all that, he's been top 5 in the league despite all of those issues and has been all NBA 5 times already at age 25. With guys like Embiid and Zion having health/conditioning issues so publicly taking their teams down, the Mavs cut bait.

Would most of us (if not all) choose Luka over the concerns? Sure. They didn't. They had the good sense to come to the Lakers with their concerns, and Rob was there with a shoulder to cry on and a caring attitude (lol).

 

[shopson67]

Both of those options were superior to AD. Not for one year mind you (well Giannis is) but give me 27 year old Bam over AD on a on a long term level. Additionally the Heat have some other cheap pieces to throw in as well.

It seems like Dallas is anticipating going full tank in 3 years which is a really weird reset when you have a top 5 type guy in Luka

Whomever they approached was not interested. It's not that they chose the Lakers over that other team, the other team declined.

 

[shopson67]

The Warriors allegedly were the other team Dallas approached.

That makes little sense if true. Who did they ask for, Steph lol?

 

[DJ Fieri]

Right now, both teams are winners at some level as each got what they wanted. Lakers got their long term alpha star, Dallas eased their discomfort in extending Luka and got the specific defensive piece they wanted (as well as an upcoming 3&D wing and a future 1st), dumping a few unnecessary contracts in the process.

The negative is that Dallas probably should've gotten more (more draft capital, Dalton and or AR) which Dallas could have then flipped for even better assets. I'll give Rob some credit there for minimizing the cost. Keeping this whole thing quiet may have worked in his favor in that regard.

I think it was a good trade for both teams. AD is going to help them a lot on defense (and they were already a top 12 defense I believe), rebounding and scoring in the low post. Something a lot of teams have gotten away from with this launching 45-50 3's a game BS.

AD and Irving are on the same timeline as far as playing....if Irving stays....he is so unpredictable he could decline his player option and bolt next summer.

And clearly for the Lakers it gives them a face of the franchise in the post Bron era. I think it will help Bron having a guy like Doncic to run the offense and get him the ball so he can focus on scoring. And James will find Doncic when he gets doubled so they will be able to play off each other.

Pelinka thought he was being pranked.....LOL. I hate giving up Christie who was really coming around on offense as well as his good defense he provides but shiiiiiiiiiiiit, Doncic is worth it. And more. Just 25? We got a centerpiece for the next 10 years at least..

 

[DJ Fieri]

Whomever they approached was not interested. It's not that they chose the Lakers over that other team, the other team declined.

Nico said at his press conference he only talked to the Lakers.

 

[shopson67]

Yeah, word was that he wasn't giving up and 1sts unless it was for a difference maker...well, he got one.

Also shows that sometimes the best thing to do is to not be too aggressive, sit back and see who calls you. lol

He got one and kept one of the 2 firsts. Unbelievable. Still wish they could've kept Christie (would've preferred Knecht in the deal personally), but not remotely enough to stall the discussions. I'm sure Dallas was talked down to AD/Christie/2029 1st as the bare minimum.

 

[shopson67]

How spoiled are Laker fans?

They acquire a player who has been top 5 player in the league for the last couple of years who is only 25 years old for a player who unquestionably has not a top 10 player in the league and who is 31 and they still can’t help but look that gift horse in the mouth.

Like a 16 year old who is gifted luxury car for their birthday who doesn’t like it because it isn’t red.

What Laker fans are complaining lol? The trade just leaves more work to do, as their former trade needs are now magnified, giving up guard defense and a big on top of their previous needs.

It's as if other fanbases need to dump on Lakers fans somehow even when the team makes a massively positive move, lol.

 

[shopson67]

Doncic is out till before the AS break I believe.

Has reportedly been ramping up towards a return. That matches the timeline that AD was expected to miss, so overall the team is unchanged over that period (other than Christie being replaced by Keef). Kleiza is likely out for the season with his broken foot.

 

[shopson67]

I agree how could a team turn down Luka? He’s a beast. I think this trade is going to possibly put the lakers in the finals conversation for atleast the next few seasons

If it was the Warriors, there's no way their fan base would accept a Steph trade.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Has reportedly been ramping up towards a return. That matches the timeline that AD was expected to miss, so overall the team is unchanged over that period (other than Christie being replaced by Keef). Kleiza is likely out for the season with his broken foot.

Kleber has not been ruled out for the season yet. He could return late in the season or for the playoffs.

Saw that yesterday when somebody else said the same thing.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Feb 25th Lakers vs Mavs!!!!

 

[DJ Fieri]

What Laker fans are complaining lol? The trade just leaves more work to do, as their former trade needs are now magnified, giving up guard defense and a big on top of their previous needs.

It's as if other fanbases need to dump on Lakers fans somehow even when the team makes a massively positive move, lol.

Haters gonna hate....

 

[shopson67]

He wasn’t. The Mavs didn’t plan on offering him the super max is what it sounds like from what the gm hinted at today. How do you not open up a bidding war for Luka if you know you won’t give him the super max deal? It is poor management

They identified who they wanted and got him. Their judgement in that is obviously questionable, but they set a goal and achieved it in their minds. They're clearly more concerned with now over long term roster building. That may keep them employed in the short term as this roster should be very competitive, but it's heavily depending on two guys in their 30s that historically have missed time in AD and Kyrie, while neither has been the alpha on a championship contender.

It really comes off as a middle tier franchise move, more interested in being competitive than winning it all.