[chuckice]

Everything about the Rockets is hard to digest...
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/w...-harden-tweet-after-giannis-wins-2019-nba-mvp

 

[SystemShock]

Delayed sign and trade seems to be forming for KD. Very interesting.

It would be great for GS, but is Durant really going to be that nice?

All those players and picks his alleged new team would have to give up to get him would mean less of a chance of KD's new team being competitive. He'd be hurting his own shot at getting more rings.

Assuming he even leaves GS, that is. I think that's a 50-50 thing now.
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[SystemShock]

Everything about the Rockets is hard to digest...

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/w...-harden-tweet-after-giannis-wins-2019-nba-mvp

The Rockets are like a school on Saturday... no class.

And it comes from the top with them. I think they're trying to be the Dallas Cowboys of the NBA. And are succeeding.
.

 

[thatsmybush]

It would be great for GS, but is Durant really going to be that nice?

All those players and picks his alleged new team would have to give up to get him would mean less of a chance of KD's new team being competitive. He'd be hurting his own shot at getting more rings.

Assuming he even leaves GS, that is. I think that's a 50-50 thing now.
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Exactly, ever since Grant Hill and the Pistons I don't think sign and trade is a thing. The Pistons got pieces and a sudden defensive stalwart that helped them win a championship (Big Ben Wallace) while Grant gimped around Orlando.

The Grant Hill trade should be a lesson to all teams when signing someone coming off of an injury, ankles and achilles are tough in the NBA.

 

[chuckice]

The Rockets are like a school on Saturday... no class.

And it comes from the top with them. I think they're trying to be the Dallas Cowboys of the NBA. And are succeeding.
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Seriously. Just say "congrats, well deserved"... or STFU.

 

[SystemShock]

Free agency kicks off 6pm Sunday (though no contracts can actually be signed 'til July 6). Seems like a lot of major re-alignments are gonna happen this go 'round.

Should be delightfully unpredictable... if you bleed for a particular team or teams, put yer crash helmet on. :yesnod:
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[thatsmybush]

So Lakers offloaded everyone not named Lebron, Davis, or Kuzma.

They have 32 million to play with so can max one person out yet.

Then since they have no more money they will have to find 8 stiffs to fill out their roster and hope Anthony (always misses games), 35 year old Bron Bron and insert third max player here--can play the full 48 every night for 82.

 

[chuckice]

Kyrie seems bound for Brooklyn. I'm guessing KD to Brooklyn as well. Klay back to Ws. Kawhi to Clips.

/crystalball

 

[SystemShock]

So Lakers offloaded everyone not named Lebron, Davis, or Kuzma.

They have 32 million to play with so can max one person out yet.

Then since they have no more money they will have to find 8 stiffs to fill out their roster and hope Anthony (always misses games), 35 year old Bron Bron and insert third max player here--can play the full 48 every night for 82.

Not a Lakers fan (at all), but can't they just go deep into the luxury tax to fill out the roster?

Not that they'll get a bunch of wonderful backups (money would still be relatively limited plus their front office is obviously dysfunctional)... but, maybe something better than a bunch of total scrubs to put around their new Big Four.
.

 

[SystemShock]

Kyrie seems bound for Brooklyn. I'm guessing KD to Brooklyn as well. Klay back to Ws. Kawhi to Clips.

/crystalball

Think you're right about Kyrie and Klay. Hope you're wrong about KD, but deep down I realize that it's at least a 50-50 chance he's g-o-n-e.

And Kawhi I think is very torn between staying a Raptor and going to LAC. Toronto (the city) now LOVES him in a way that few players ever get to experience. Not impossible that he stays another year or two, maybe. But it's hard to tell with him, since we don't know what kind of guy he is/he's so internalized.
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[thatsmybush]

Not a Lakers fan (at all), but can't they just go deep into the luxury tax to fill out the roster?

Not that they'll get a bunch of wonderful backups (money would still be relatively limited plus their front office is obviously dysfunctional)... but, maybe something better than a bunch of total scrubs to put around their new Big Four.
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I don't think you can go into the tax when you are signing new players, only re-sign players on your roster.

So if that is the case and I am pretty sure it is, (minus maybe a veteran exemption or mid-level exemption--both pretty small extras) then what you are left with is--not much.

The bigger issues is the number of teams with money. Guys that might be intriguing are now going to get 60-80 million over 4. Guys like Brogden, Reddick, Lopez are all going to command salaries that are going to have me waking up on Monday going--wha???

So the Lakers won't be able to find folks on the cheap. They need shooting and so does everybody else.

 

[thatsmybush]

My Crystal Ball.

Kyrie to the Lakers

Cousins to Knicks

Durant signs long term with Golden State with an option to trade when healthy.

Clay stays

Russell goes to Orlando

Kemba lands in Boston (Jordan has no one to blame but himself for all of the absolutely toxic contracts he has on the books). If Kemba stays it will only because the toxicity starts sloughing off after the upcoming season and they end in 2 years, so they might take the tax for a year knowing they won't be a repeat offender in year 2. Dallas is a darkhorse for his services as well.

Kawhi goes Clip/ but will hedge and say a 1and1 with Toronto is an option, but with his leg issue, I would want the four max from the clips if that is where I want to end up eventually.

Middleton stays, gets max from Bucks.

Horford to Dallas

Malcolm Brogdan is going to get super rich

 

[chuckice]

Kyrie seems bound for Brooklyn. I'm guessing KD to Brooklyn as well. Klay back to Ws. Kawhi to Clips.

/crystalball

So far close. But whoa, Russell to Ws...

 

[SystemShock]

My Crystal Ball.

Kyrie to the Lakers

Cousins to Knicks

Durant signs long term with Golden State with an option to trade when healthy.

Clay stays

Russell goes to Orlando

Kemba lands in Boston (Jordan has no one to blame but himself for all of the absolutely toxic contracts he has on the books). If Kemba stays it will only because the toxicity starts sloughing off after the upcoming season and they end in 2 years, so they might take the tax for a year knowing they won't be a repeat offender in year 2. Dallas is a darkhorse for his services as well.

Kawhi goes Clip/ but will hedge and say a 1and1 with Toronto is an option, but with his leg issue, I would want the four max from the clips if that is where I want to end up eventually.

Middleton stays, gets max from Bucks.

Horford to Dallas

Malcolm Brogdan is going to get super rich

Lots of hits, lots of misses there, but 'tis to be expected. This is one kray-kray free agency period, I tell u whut.
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[SystemShock]

So far close. But whoa, [D'Angelo] Russell to Warriors...

Blew my mind too.

But as with most good things, there was a price to pay... Iggy got shipped to Memphis. 'Cuz. Salary.

After all he's done for GS, he must be feeling like, "No good deed goes unpunished..." :cryin:
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[SystemShock]

I don't think you can go into the tax when you are signing new players, only re-sign players on your roster.

So if that is the case and I am pretty sure it is, (minus maybe a veteran exemption or mid-level exemption--both pretty small extras) then what you are left with is--not much.

Frankly, I know a lot more about the on-court stuff than the off-court... i.e., the NBA cap rules make my head hurt.

That said, my thought process was that the Lakers could at least go into the lux tax to re-sign their more promising free agents that are eligible under the rules (they do have a few, such as KCP), while letting the duds go, and then exercise their mid-level exception to pick up one more decent guy.

Problem is, as you noted, many of their free agents don't fit into the (many) different exceptions/rules that would allow the Lakers to go into the lux tax... so the Lakers then have a choice between getting a third max player and surrounding him with duds, or filling out the roster with quality role players (either their own or via shopping around the league) but saying 'nope' to having an awesome third superstar on the team.

Choices, choices.

The bigger issues is the number of teams with money. Guys that might be intriguing are now going to get 60-80 million over 4. Guys like Brogden, Reddick, Lopez are all going to command salaries that are going to have me waking up on Monday going--wha???

So the Lakers won't be able to find folks on the cheap. They need shooting and so does everybody else.

The funny thing is, there's so much money flying around that even mediocre shooters like Ricky Rubio are making out. He just scored a $51 million contract over three years with the Suns... even though he's a point guard who shoots only 31 percent from three and strikes fear into no one/provides nothing in the way of spacing (though he can pass, at least). Go figure. :skep:

Getting back to the Lakers though, it'd be almost comical if they DID land Kawhi, as they're currently desperately trying to do.

If they did, they'd have Davis at the 5, Kuzma at the 4, LeBron at the 3, Kawhi at the 2, and for a starting point-guard, they'd probably have to use their mid-level exception to get anyone halfway-decent (and then pray that said point-guard never ever got injured during the season).

Everyone else? Minimum contracts, a second round pick they got in a trade (aka another minimum contract), plus Alex Caruso and maybe KCP, if KCP is willing to accept less money to stay.

That would be a hilariously top-heavy team. :lol:

On the plus side, yes, it's terrifying that they'd have three of the top six or seven players in the league on the same team. But on the downside, their vulnerability to injury would be severe, and in the playoffs (not to mention much of the regular season), they'd have to play all of their starters 40+ minutes a game, every game, and risk wearing them down.

Hmm.

Call me crazy, but maybe it'd almost be better for the Lakers if they DON'T pick up Kawhi, and instead used that $32 million in cap space they have left to pick up two or thee good role players (plus one more via the mid-level exception). Maybe KCP too.

That could be a nice well-rounded team, with enough shooting and defense and depth to take Anthony Davis and a now-getting-kinda-old LeBron to the playoffs without wearing them down to the nub.

But what do I know? Oh, wait... it's the Lakers front office. So basically, you, me, and half the basketball fans in America know more than they do. :lol:

 

[SystemShock]

Congrats to the Nets on adding Kyrie and KD to a talented, young up-and-coming squad. :thumbsup:

But... why do I feel like it still won't work out somehow? Is it 'cuz Kyrie seems to be pure locker-room poison?
Or, am I just sour-graping 'cuz GS lost KD? Or is it both? Hmm.... :idea:
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[thatsmybush]

Congrats to the Nets on adding Kyrie and KD to a talented, young up-and-coming squad. :thumbsup:

But... why do I feel like it still won't work out somehow? Is it 'cuz Kyrie seems to be pure locker-room poison?
Or, am I just sour-graping 'cuz GS lost KD? Or is it both? Hmm.... :idea:
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I don't know man, Russell, Curry and Clay when he comes back with a three guard offense, all can shoot all can create. Of course someone is going to have to rebound but so it goes.

Hoping Kawhi either stays in Toronto or goes to the clips. If it either of those two the NBA is going to have 12-14 teams that are viable, not true contenders but maybe a trade or February salary dump from making a run.

My Pistons picked up Rose for 2 years and considering their cap number, that is about as good as it was going to get. But I can see that team getting blowed up in Feb if they don't get better in a hurry. (Really like their pick at the 15 spot this year as well.)

As for the Lakers--if they don't get Kawhi--they are toast. The second and third level cream have all been accounted for. Even Butler if it stands is in Miami, Brogdan is in Indiana, Horford, et al. They may be like an uptown version of the Knicks, sitting on a pile of cash and putting the best face on. After last weeks Rob Pelinka is a genius week from the talking heads they can go back to bashing him for being incompetent if the Kawhi thing doesn't work out.

And as an aside why should it? Kawhi is THE MAN in the NBA, why would you go and be the third option, you don't need to ring chase, rings chase you.

 

[chuckice]

The Ws will have a new/same-old problem...they need a consistent big man. Without that they will be top tier but not a champion. Especially if the Lakers get Kawhi.

And the Nets...meh...in the history of the league only one player has come back the same from Achilles (The Human Highlight Reel). Everyone else has been a shadow...probably the best for the Ws to not land him. Reality is also that KD is out next season and I don't think he's remotely prepared for NY media.

 

[chuckice]

Blew my mind too.

But as with most good things, there was a price to pay... Iggy got shipped to Memphis. 'Cuz. Salary.

After all he's done for GS, he must be feeling like, "No good deed goes unpunished..." :cryin:
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While I hate to see him leave...he knows better than anyone that it's a business AND he can't have much left in the tank.