YES!!!!!!

[HurricaneDij39]

Sabonis was a pleasant surprise last year---- but isnt he more ofa true center?

Can Turner shoot well enough to play PF? He is def. quick enough- and i saw he started to add a 3 pointer to his game.......if thats the case his value could sky rocket as he is a good defender as well---- but it takes a lot to add an outside shot.

I obviously agree with most people that the PAcers got a below avg. return for George. I think that if Oladipo DIDNT go to IU- he prob wouldnt be on the Paceres right now. I almost think the team decided to just throw a bone to the fans.

but- the Pacers arent a disaster like the Hawks or some other teams. Leaf and Sabonis both have talent. Myles Turner is one of the best young big men in the league. Oladipo is a legit above avg. starter. I dont expect them to make the playoffs- but this isnt a 25 win team shit show either.

It's not a "great" return by any means but the fact is it's probably the best we could have gotten. Boston was lowballing us and they did not deserve to be rewarded for it. They were offering low first rounders that would have been used on players with 50/50 shots of making an NBA rotation. And Jordan Clarkson was the best perimeter piece the Lakers were able to offer? Give me a fucking break.

 

[trojanfan12]

it would be very VERY surprising to see the league take any action against the Lakers unless their is a "smoking gun" where they have no choice but to do so----- and i cant see that happening.

It would be an over the top remedy to disallow the Lakers from pursuing George unless there is some behind the scenes contact that none of us are privy to.

Nowicantbelieve- Pritchard filed the case without at least some basis- because the league would NOT take kindly to that--- but i cantbelieve there was an egregious enough violation to warrant league intervention.

About the only way the Lakers would truly be hammered over this is if there is proof that they had a "side deal" set up with PG. That would be close to impossible to prove.

The Lakers will probably be fined for what Magic said in the Kimmel interview.

Here is what the league has said as of an article I read this morning:

"The Lakers have been cooperative and, at this point, no findings have been made. We have asked both teams to refrain from commenting while the investigation is ongoing."

From the Lakers:

"As the NBA's statement made clear, we cannot comment about the specifics of any ongoing investigation. We can confirm, however, that we are cooperating fully with the NBA in the hope of clearing our name as soon as possible."

 

[WiggyRuss]

It's not a "great" return by any means but the fact is it's probably the best we could have gotten. Boston was lowballing us and they did not deserve to be rewarded for it. They were offering low first rounders that would have been used on players with 50/50 shots of making an NBA rotation. And Jordan Clarkson was the best perimeter piece the Lakers were able to offer? Give me a fucking break.

I do agree with you---- sticking it to the Celtics because they made a marginally better offer when they EASILY could have had him if they parted with even 1 of their big time assets- is just fine with me.

The Lakers offer of a couple late first rounders and Jordan Clarkson was crap tooo--- id rather have Oladipo and Sabonis- as Sabonis is a better prospect than anyone you could have gotten with a non-lotto first rounder.

If Boston was offering Brown or the Nets or Lakers pick- i would have prob taken it-- if they werent- id rather have Oladipo and Sabonis.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I agree to an extent. I think the Nick Young situation made it easier to justify moving Russell to the Nets to afford some cap relief to set yourself (the Lakers) up for a prime free agency in 2018. It's unfortunate, because I think Russell would make for a really good 2-guard in the league and would've been a great spark off the bench should the Lakers somehow land George and Lebron.

right.

obviously Lakers fans/mgmt. would wish they never made awful signings like mozgov and deng in the first place. Giving up a #2 overall pick 2 years in to his career get off of a guy you signed 1 year into a 4 year deal is laughably bad....but it is a move that prob had to be made.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Perhaps the reason people are still talking about the Pacers return value on the trade is because the Pacers waited until 4 months after the Kimmel interview to file the required paperwork for tampering charges. No one was really talking about the trade anymore until the Pacers decided to file tampering charges.

The Kimmel interview was in April and the Pacers just now get around to filing the paperwork? It's not a good look for the Pacers since they stand to gain literally nothing from this. It's not like the NBA is going to make the Thunder return PG to the Pacers.

Even in the very unlikely event that the league rules that the Lakers can't sign or trade for PG (which is only likely to happen if the league can prove that the Lakers had a side deal with PG), it still does nothing to help the Pacers. They still took the worst of the offers they received and PG still isn't going to be a Pacer.

If anything, the Pacers make themselves look bad and make it so that teams are likely to be less willing to do business with them in the future.

Also, other Pacers fans may have moved on, but you clearly haven't. After all, not only did you create this thread, but you also you commented "Awesome" on the Indy Star website and got shut down by other Pacers fans who wanted to move on and didn't like the fact that the Pacers did this.

You're missing a lot of the point. Pritchard was not "blindsided" because he wasn't aware of media or fan speculation. He was blindsided by the fact that he had multiple conversations with George after the season's conclusion on what style the two wanted to play and what players to potentially add, only to have George's agent make the claim that he would be out of Indiana within the next year. In other words, George was two-faced on his desires the entire time.

The tampering charges have actually been planned for months...The Pacers simply needed time to get their evidence together to ensure they have a case for it.

 

[trojanfan12]

the Lakers had to make that move with Russell---- my point was--- if you are trading a #2 overall pick 2 years after you took him just to get off a bad contract- something seriously fucked up happened and you just wasted a pretty big time asset just to make up for an egregious mistake.

What you're missing is that it wasn't done just to get out from under the Mozgov contract. Having Russell wasn't working out and the Lakers wanted to move on from him. He is a ball dominant type of player and that's not what the Lakers are looking for. They are looking to be more like the Warriors who don't really have ball dominant players.

Add to that his relative immaturity and it was best for him and the team that he move on. I'm sure getting rid of Mozgov's contract had a lot to do with it too. But I think Russell would have been dealt regardless.

 

[WiggyRuss]

What you're missing is that it wasn't done just to get out from under the Mozgov contract. Having Russell wasn't working out and the Lakers wanted to move on from him. He is a ball dominant type of player and that's not what the Lakers are looking for. They are looking to be more like the Warriors who don't really have ball dominant players.

Add to that his relative immaturity and it was best for him and the team that he move on. I'm sure getting rid of Mozgov's contract had a lot to do with it too. But I think Russell would have been dealt regardless.

yah i get all that

my point is you wasted an incredibly valuable asset- a #2 overall pick still on his rookie deal- just to get off a bad contract 1 year into his 4 year deal. Thats awful.

obviously that would have been better served either trading for another good young player/asset/whatever---- rather than using it just to remedy a past fuck up.

 

[trojanfan12]

And Jordan Clarkson was the best perimeter piece the Lakers were able to offer? Give me a fucking break.

That's not what the Lakers offer was. Nice try though.

Even with the "lowballing" the Celtics offer was better than what the Pacers got and so was the Lakers offer.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

That's not what the Lakers offer was. Nice try though.

Even with the "lowballing" the Celtics offer was better than what the Pacers got and so was the Lakers offer.

How are late first round picks better than Oladipo and Sabonis???

You should probably just admit you're bitter that the Pacers didn't want to negotiate with your team in trade talks...

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Actually, if you read the definition of tampering under league rules, the "wink wink" comment that Magic made during the Kimmel interview meets the criteria for a tampering charge.

Not the kind of tampering that would cause the Lakers to be hit with the loss of draft picks, a suspension and/or not being allowed to sign or trade for PG. But enough for the Lakers to be fined.

A great example was presented on the Dan Patrick Show this morning. Awhile back (pre-KD joining them), Steve Kerr was interviewed on the Dan Patrick Show. DP asked him about the possibility of Lebron joining the Warriors. Kerr tried to avoid saying anything. I don't remember the exact quote, but it was something along the lines of "Of course we'd love to have Lebron, but he's not signing for a mid-level." The NBA fined him $25,000 for that remark.

Yes, I heard about the wink, wink comment shortly after making this post and I agree that it would have been worthy of a fine, and still might be depending on the statute of limitations and how soon after he was signed by the Lakers, that Magic made the statement. He did shortly after that go to the head office of the NBA for training in the new CBA, so they might let him pass on that one. That being said, however I don't think they are going to fine anywhere the amount of collusion that Indiana is accusing the Lakers of. That is just sour grapes by Indiana who now realizes they panicked and traded Paul George to quick for too little.

 

[trojanfan12]

You're missing a lot of the point. Pritchard was not "blindsided" because he wasn't aware of media or fan speculation. He was blindsided by the fact that he had multiple conversations with George after the season's conclusion on what style the two wanted to play and what players to potentially add, only to have George's agent make the claim that he would be out of Indiana within the next year. In other words, George was two-faced on his desires the entire time.

Sorry, but I'm calling bullshit. PG wanting to be a Laker had been the worst kept secret in the NBA for at least 6 months and I've seen reports that say it's been known for a year. So no, PG wasn't 2 faced about anything. Also, it wasn't too long after the season was over that his agent informed the Pacers of what everyone already knew...PG wanted out and wanted to go to the Lakers.

You can try to continue to put this on PG all you want, but no one is buying it. The Pacers fucked up by not taking action and by taking the worst deal they were offered. From the look of it, they didn't even try to get more from the Celtics or the Lakers. Had they been patient, they could have definitely gotten a better deal from the Lakers and probably from the Celtics too.

The tampering charges have actually been planned for months...The Pacers simply needed time to get their evidence together to ensure they have a case for it.

Again, I'm calling bullshit. The only "evidence" they have is Magic tweeting "God is good" after the announcement that PG wanted out and wanted to go to the Lakers (which probably doesn't qualify as tampering) and the Kimmel interview (which probably does). The Kimmel interview was in April. The Pacers took 4 months to gather "evidence" that has been available on youtube for all of that time.

 

[WiggyRuss]

How are late first round picks better than Oladipo and Sabonis???

You should probably just admit you're bitter that the Pacers didn't want to negotiate with your team in trade talks...

id much rather have Oladipo than Clarkson and id rather have Sabonis - a lotto pick that looked good- rather than 2 1st rounders at the very end of the first round.

I mean- correct me if i am wrong- but wasnt the Lakers offer supposedly Clarkson, and the 2 late first rounders they had?

 

[True Lakers Fan]

How are late first round picks better than Oladipo and Sabonis???

You should probably just admit you're bitter that the Pacers didn't want to negotiate with your team in trade talks...

Why would the Lakers be bitter about that? Lakers weren't ready for Paul George this summer any way and the dude already said he is coming to Los Angeles in 2018.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

id much rather have Oladipo than Clarkson and id rather have Sabonis - a lotto pick that looked good- rather than 2 1st rounders at the very end of the first round.

I mean- correct me if i am wrong- but wasnt the Lakers offer supposedly Clarkson, and the 2 late first rounders they had?

It was either Clarkson or Randle plus the two late first rounder. Out of that group, only Randle was capable of playing in the Pacers rotation for next season.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

id much rather have Oladipo than Clarkson and id rather have Sabonis - a lotto pick that looked good- rather than 2 1st rounders at the very end of the first round.

I mean- correct me if i am wrong- but wasnt the Lakers offer supposedly Clarkson, and the 2 late first rounders they had?

Yes, you are wrong - the Lakers would have gladly given up Randle and Deng along with a pick, the Indian wanted both Randle and Lonzo Ball and that wasn't happening

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

How are late first round picks better than Oladipo and Sabonis???

You should probably just admit you're bitter that the Pacers didn't want to negotiate with your team in trade talks...

You saying Oladipo and Sabonis is a better deal than Clarkson, Randle and two first round picks?

I know you're a massive butthurt homer but even you have to laugh at that bullshit!

 

[WiggyRuss]

It was either Clarkson or Randle plus the two late first rounder. Out of that group, only Randle was capable of playing in the Pacers rotation for next season.

Randle def. still has some upside- but that dude needs to find his niche.

he def. cant play center....as a PF he doesnt have range and is really bad defensively....hes a good rebounder and slick around the basket.....but if you cant guard the rim and you cant shoot the 3- and you cant play D....you gotta figure something out.

esp. since wont Randle get paid this next offseason? is he restricted?

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

It was either Clarkson or Randle plus the two late first rounder. Out of that group, only Randle was capable of playing in the Pacers rotation for next season.

Clarkson AND Randle plus the picks were offered..

Keep convincing yourself though

 

[WiggyRuss]

Yes, you are wrong - the Lakers would have gladly given up Randle and Deng along with a pick, the Indian wanted both Randle and Lonzo Ball and that wasn't happening

dude....Deng? lol.....youd have to give up something substantial just to be able to trade Deng.

trading Deng is a net negative...a huge net negative....you couldnt give Deng away for free.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

It was either Clarkson or Randle plus the two late first rounder. Out of that group, only Randle was capable of playing in the Pacers rotation for next season.

I don't blame Indiana for not being interested in Clarkson - Clarkson is a solid player, but not the caliber of Paul George and his years in the NBA has erased any mystery of how much he will improve. Randle with a few picks would have been worthy and the Lakers picked up those two first round picks that look pretty good