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Post by eddieeddie on Jan 16, 2020 13:00:30 GMT -5
Via Heavy.com: "Here’s what [Stephen A] Smith had to say on the possible trade between the Western Conference teams.
“If I could package Kuzma with a multitude of players and even a pick and I can get myself Devin Booker to join Anthony Davis and LeBron James, would I do that? Hell Yes!,” Smith exclaimed. “Because I love Devin Booker and I think that was has happened to him in Phoenix is criminal until they hired Monty Williams because Monty Williams can coach and I am proud of the job that he is doing and he is exactly what that franchise needed. Finally, Sarver did something right. Ok, and I think they got James Jones in their front office, good brother as well. I am proud of what I am seeing from Phoenix.”
After getting some backlash for this dumbass idea that Phoenix would never do and would be near impossible to match salary-wise. Stephen A. said:
"“I never said something like that could be accepted, I said it was on my wish list because I would love to see Devin Booker on a contender, specifically with LeBron (James) and A.D. (Anthony Davis).” Smith responded.” That is all I said. You are the one that is taking it to another level, not us. Hold yourself accountable. Don’t look at us.”
Cool. So the job of an analyst is to throw out wild ideas that you don't actually view as realistic when pressed on it.
Stephen A. is basically just a twitter troll who happens to be on TV and ridiculously overpaid to do so.
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Post by doakley8 on Mar 1, 2020 18:37:37 GMT -5
Lakers are waiving Troy Daniels.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Mar 1, 2020 18:49:30 GMT -5
Lakers are waiving Troy Daniels. Most likely for Dion. But I'm sure they'll take their time all the way up until the playoff roster cutoff. Personally I'd prefer JR (since word was LBJ and Dion didnt get along in CLE). Would have been nice if Jordan McRae would tumble down the waiver wire, but it seems he won't get past Phoenix and will be a Sun for the rest of the season.
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Post by doakley8 on Mar 1, 2020 18:56:06 GMT -5
Meeting with Dion tomorrow, so yes wouldn't be surprised if hes signed by end of week.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Mar 2, 2020 9:09:33 GMT -5
Still hope...
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Post by eddieeddie on Mar 2, 2020 15:12:18 GMT -5
With no Caruso and the backcourt players being Bradley, Green, Rondo, KCP, Cook, what this team needs is exactly what has been repeated for weeks: Another quality ball-handler. Preferably someone who can consistently hit the mid-range/3pt shot - i.e. not Rondo.
Neither Waiters or JR Smith fits that criteria. Between Bradley, Green, Caruso, KCP, the team doesn't need another SG-type. It's need a PG-type.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Mar 2, 2020 16:15:25 GMT -5
Agreed, but who is currently available (or known to be bought out soon) that fits that description?
They apparently tried to get in on Reggie Jackson (hard pass) and Collison chose to stay retired. Detroit wasn't going to trade Rose.
Options are pretty thin, so you get some more scoring with JR or Waiters (maybe a touch of defense and some secondary playmaking) and go to battle with the roster you have. Maybe do better preparing your roster next offseason.
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Post by eddieeddie on Mar 2, 2020 17:05:50 GMT -5
Agreed, but who is currently available (or known to be bought out soon) that fits that description? They apparently tried to get in on Reggie Jackson (hard pass) and Collison chose to stay retired. Detroit wasn't going to trade Rose. Options are pretty thin, so you get some more scoring with JR or Waiters (maybe a touch of defense and some secondary playmaking) and go to battle with the roster you have. Maybe do better preparing your roster next offseason.
I don't believe the Lakers need more scoring per se. 3pt shooting could use a boost but what they need is to not fall apart every time Lebron is off the court and the drop off is in ball-handling and play-making. Lebron ranks 2nd in real plus/minus behind Giannis, difference is the Bucks are still fairly good when Giannis is off the court. Rondo isn't cutting it and Cook isn't trustworthy at this stage.
What Waiters has going for him is he can get hot. Quickly. If you're a team that is mediocre offensively and needs a bench weapon, then sure. Could the Lakers use a higher ceiling 4th scorer next to Lebron, AD, Kuz? I mean, I get it but Waiter is wildly inefficient, not good defensively (mainly due to his lack of size and constantly being out of shape) and the stats he has accrued in the past are more of being a ball-pounder than a viable playmaker. Assuming he actually is playing given his propensity for missing games. Plus chemistry is wildly important to the Lakers and this guy is a headcase. Lebron/AD have enough pressure on them without having to babysit someone. He's talented and guys like him don't hit the FA market that often but eh, he doesn't really interest me with his particular skillset.
I really don't see Smith providing much of a scoring upgrade as a 34 year old who hasn't played since November 2018 and was dreadful right before that point. There's a reason he's been out of the league and this isn't a Melo situation where he magically comes back and produces and everyone wonders why no one took a chance on him earlier. Smith can play defense and does bring postseason experience but I don't see how he elevates the team beyond what it already has. He's just a lesser version of KCP, Bradley, Green. All he has going for him is his connection with Lebron and for me personally, his brainfart in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals is still fresh in my brain.
It's true the options are dwindling though. I see why the Lakers would look at these two. Best to cover all your bases.
Honestly I'd rather bring back Lance. He's in shape having played in China - averaging 26.7ppg 7.4rpg. He was with the Lakers last season so there is that familiarity. Plus he has versatility on offense and defense - which includes being a capable distributor. Also shot the 3-ball well. While not a pure passer by any stretch, I think he just brings so many things to the table that he'd be more useful than a Smith/Waiters.
There is also Tyler Johnson, who actually is a viable backup PG and he has that grit given how he had to fight to make it in the NBA and is now having to fight his way back. He stunk in PHX - injuries didn't help - and that's why they cut him despite his salary but he did fairly well in Miami and was known for his athleticism, floor spacing, passing and energy on defense. He got a big offer sheet which Miami matched based on his upside. It didn't pan out but the elements were there and he's still only 27. I'm sure Lebron can respect someone who made it in Miami knowing what Riley/Spoelstra expect out of guys - and similarly he might perceive Waiters' fallout with Miami as a negative. Tyler is basically another Caruso and I don't mind that.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Mar 2, 2020 17:14:02 GMT -5
Actually Tyler isn't a bad option. I completely forgot about that.
I'm not sure Lance is an option, if memory serves the CBA season is on hiatus due to the Coronavirus and guys aren't going to be let out of their contracts/allowed to travel back to the States. But Lance wouldn't be a bad option either.
Ultimately, if LBJ can let bygones be bygones and the chemistry can sustain, then I would be okay with Dion. But given how much they've banged the drum of "chemistry and cohesion" when discussing not going for guys in the trade market, I'm just not sure of the fit off the court with Dion and the Lakers.
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Post by eddieeddie on Mar 2, 2020 17:47:47 GMT -5
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Post by doakley8 on Mar 2, 2020 18:14:13 GMT -5
32pts & 13.5reb per game on 55% shooting and 88%ft Hansborough is beast mode in China
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Post by eddieeddie on Mar 2, 2020 20:03:00 GMT -5
That 2008-2009 UNC Basketball Team was excellent. Hansborough. Ty Lawson. Wayne Ellington. Ed Davis. Some dude named Danny Green.
Funny that in 2009 Hansborough went #13, Lawson went #18, Ellington went #28 and then Ed Davis went #13 in 2010 - and fast forward to now and it's Danny Green picked #46 in 2009 who has had far and away the best NBA career.
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Post by eddieeddie on Mar 2, 2020 20:13:37 GMT -5
While he doesn't fit the "play making" type himself, if the Lakers were OK adding guys who can shoot and play some defense ala JR Smith, Allen Crabbe is also out there. Much like Tyler Johnson, he too is a 27 year old that has had a crap season after a team change over the summer - and much like Tyler he was also grossly overpaid in 2017 - but the talent and skill is there. Crabbe showed it from 2015-2016 to 2018-2019.
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Post by eddieeddie on Mar 5, 2020 18:04:39 GMT -5
Via Shams: "Free agent Dion Waiters has agreed on a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for the remainder of the season, sources tell @theathleticnba"
Via a tweet I saw....
Dion Waiters this season:
- Suspended three different times for a total of 17 games - Lost over $1.4 million to suspensions - Got too high on edibles on team plane - Called in sick and got caught on a boat - Traded to and cut by Grizzles
Lakers were said to be impressed with his workout 3 days ago. Trumps all that other stuff.
Worth noting is Waiters is a former client of Pelinka's. So probably a sense of Pelinka wanting to give this guy, a talented guy but a troubled one, a chance at redemption. I mean, it's worked out thus far for Dwight.
I mean, if he's healthy and his head is on straight, hard to argue with swapping out Troy Daniels for Dion Waiters.
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Post by mark808 on Mar 6, 2020 2:27:13 GMT -5
Worth noting is Waiters is a former client of Pelinka's. So probably a sense of Pelinka wanting to give this guy, a talented guy but a troubled one, a chance at redemption.
not to mention he is a current client of Rich Paul
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Post by varsity on Mar 6, 2020 9:25:04 GMT -5
I don't understand either JR Smith or Dion Waiters to be honest. The former hasn't played all year and the latter practically hasn't played all year and I don't see what value they add to the Lakers that they don't already have.
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Post by eddieeddie on Mar 6, 2020 11:15:42 GMT -5
I don't understand either JR Smith or Dion Waiters to be honest. The former hasn't played all year and the latter practically hasn't played all year and I don't see what value they add to the Lakers that they don't already have.
Yup, that's what I'd been saying.
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Post by eddieeddie on Mar 9, 2020 12:18:33 GMT -5
Big wins over the Bucks and Clippers
As long as Lebron and AD are healthy, they have to be considered the top team in the league.
They beat the Bucks pretty much getting nothing from the rest of the team and beat the Clippers with only Bradley providing much scoring help - albeit 24 points is solid.
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Post by eddieeddie on Mar 16, 2020 11:37:05 GMT -5
Saying NBA season may not resume until June.
Obviously there are bigger things in the world than the NBA season but obviously a part of me would be really sad if the NBA season was in fact ended with no conclusion.
49-14. 1st in the West. First playoff berth since 2013. Obviously Lebron is old (in NBA terms). Rondo, Dudley, Howard, Green, McGee all have 10+ years in the league and Bradley is at 9. AD has been relatively healthy. This is a win-now team that was winning with at least a conference finals appearance expected - with certainly realistic hopes for more. It'd be a dang shame if the Lakers didn't get a chance to fulfill the potential of this team and also to win it for Kobe.
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Post by eddieeddie on May 9, 2020 12:53:14 GMT -5
So Pau was asked about finishing his career with the Lakers:
“It’s something that has been on my mind,” Gasol said. “Kind of like the potential of maybe finishing or playing my last year with the Lakers would be great. It’s appealing if you will, but the opportunity never really kind of presented itself in a serious official manner.
“I have a great relationship and love for (Lakers owner) Jeanie (Buss) and the Lakers organization and the city of Los Angeles, which is always going to remain extremely meaningful to me no matter what, but we’ll see…”
I mean for nostalgic purposes I'm all for it but the guy is turning 40 in two months. This isn't like a Vince Carter-type age 40 given his health issues where he played 30 games in 2018-2019 and played 0 games this season due to a foot injury.
This sounds like it could just end up like similar aging players who returned "home":
Pippen coming back to Chicago in 2003 and only playing 23 games his last season (5.9ppg 3.0rpg 2.2apg 37.9fg%)
or Garnett going back to Minnesota and playing 38 games his last season (3.2ppg 3.9rpg)
or Chris Mullin finishing his career out with Golden State in 2000 playing just 20 games (5.8ppg 2.1rpg 34fg%)
or CWebb doing the same with Golden State and mustering just 7 games in 2007 (3.9ppg 3.6rpg) or Billups returning to Detroit in 2013 en route to 19 games (3.8ppg 1.5rpg 2.2apg 30.4fg%) or Divac with one last run with the Lakers in 2004 to the tune of 15 games (2.3ppg 2.1rpg 41.9fg)
Sure there may be a success story here and there but I can't think of any. Wade doesn't count since he only left the Heat for less than 2 seasons before his return. Likewise for Magic unretiring since he never actually left the Lakers.
Byron Scott returning to the Lakers in 1996 wasn't that bad. He averaged 6.7ppg and more importantly played 79 games and was a viable rotation player in the playoffs. That said, at 35 entering the season, he's on the younger spectrum of final seasons. He's also not a HOFer or HOF-caliber type player like the above individuals.
I mean, if Pau passes a physical and is willing to sign for the veterans minimum, I guess. Boogie is gone and Howard, Markieff, Dudley and Greek Freak's little brother are free agents and Javale has a player option - and technically AD can be a free agent too - so there is potential room on the roster. I just wouldn't expect much other than a nostalgic boost to the team and fans, especially knowing how close Pau was to Kobe and how close Pau still is to the Bryant family.
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