NBA free agency/LeBronapalooza 2018

[OrangeDW]

Can someone explain the Lakers mindset on that pick? You stink - you may get LBJ or Leonard or Paul George or whoever, but why not take a gamble on a much bigger talent than the Michigan kid? He may stick in the league but what is his ceiling? You aren't getting fired - take a gamble!

I wanted Williams, but I’m not mad. From what I’ve seen, I think this kid can be a player. After trading Nance and with Randle up in the air, it gives them some depth at the 4 spot.

And as others pointed out, they’ve done well in the late first-early second range in recent years. Kuzma and Hart last year. Nance and Clarkson a few years back.

 

[Melancer46]

Was just listening to the Zach Lowe podcast, and he brought up an amazing fact.

A few years back, Phoenix traded the Lakers 1st round pick to Philly as well as trading Goran Dragic to Miami for two future 1st round picks.

Last night, they traded both of the picks that they got for Dragic to get that Lakers pick back.

 

[Knicks411]

Was just listening to the Zach Lowe podcast, and he brought up an amazing fact.

A few years back, Phoenix traded the Lakers 1st round pick to Philly as well as trading Goran Dragic to Miami for two future 1st round picks.

Last night, they traded both of the picks that they got for Dragic to get that Lakers pick back.

And they traded an unprotected 1 in a draft that could effectively have 2 classes worth of players (one and done, and high school seniors) in it!

 

[Melancer46]

Lowe also reporting that Denver called every team picking 15-18 to try to acquire Zhaire Smith and was offering #41, a very lightly protected future 1st, and one of their young guys that hasn't played much (presumably Lydon or Hernangomez)

 

[Melancer46]

Windhorst was also on the pod and said that based on what he's hearing, he would say it's a 51% chance that LeBron signs with LA, 40% Cleveland, and 9% Philly. He adds that he thinks he'll sign before July 4th and that it sounds like he's likely signing with LA regardless of what other moves the Lakers make so that his family will be happy; it's still completely realistic that it might be Lonzo, Ingram, Kuzma, LeBron, and Randle in LA and that he may have regrets later on when the team is flirting with .500, but that it sounds like that's where things are headed right now.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Windhorst was also on the pod and said that based on what he's hearing, he would say it's a 51% chance that LeBron signs with LA, 40% Cleveland, and 9% Philly. He adds that he thinks he'll sign before July 4th and that it sounds like he's likely signing with LA regardless of what other moves the Lakers make so that his family will be happy; it's still completely realistic that it might be Lonzo, Ingram, Kuzma, LeBron, and Randle in LA and that he may have regrets later on when the team is flirting with .500, but that it sounds like that's where things are headed right now.

I just can't believe he'd go to a team out of the mainstream NBA conversation, but maybe he's willing to stink a year to try and get Kawhi next season?

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I just can't believe he'd go to a team out of the mainstream NBA conversation, but maybe he's willing to stink a year to try and get Kawhi next season?

Truth is, he's available at a horrible time. He wants to compete and get his full contract. Nobody really offers a great mix of that.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Truth is, he's available at a horrible time. He wants to compete and get his full contract. Nobody really offers a great mix of that.

There’s teams he could go to and compete, but they don’t meet his geographical preference.

 

[OrangeDW]

Windhorst was also on the pod and said that based on what he's hearing, he would say it's a 51% chance that LeBron signs with LA, 40% Cleveland, and 9% Philly. He adds that he thinks he'll sign before July 4th and that it sounds like he's likely signing with LA regardless of what other moves the Lakers make so that his family will be happy; it's still completely realistic that it might be Lonzo, Ingram, Kuzma, LeBron, and Randle in LA and that he may have regrets later on when the team is flirting with .500, but that it sounds like that's where things are headed right now.

LA won 35 last year. I expect them to be flirting with .500 without LeBron just off normal improvement of extremely young and talented players like Ball and Ingram.

I think they’re flirting with 50-55 wins with LeBron.

 

[Cusefan0307]

LA won 35 last year. I expect them to be flirting with .500 without LeBron just off normal improvement of extremely young and talented players like Ball and Ingram.

I think they’re flirting with 50-55 wins with LeBron.

50-55 wins in the West gets you the Warriors or Rockets in the Conference Semis.

 

[Trueblue25]

50-55 wins in the West gets you the Warriors or Rockets in the Conference Semis.

Im not 100% convinced the rockets would have beaten the cavs had they met up in the finals

 

[moqui]

I just can't believe he'd go to a team out of the mainstream NBA conversation, but maybe he's willing to stink a year to try and get Kawhi next season?

or at the mid season deadline

 

[Melancer46]

I just can't believe he'd go to a team out of the mainstream NBA conversation, but maybe he's willing to stink a year to try and get Kawhi next season?

With Lonzo and LeBron and 90% of their games being on national TV, the Lakers will never be out of the mainstream NBA conversation

 

[Cusefan0307]

With Lonzo and LeBron and 90% of their games being on national TV, the Lakers will never be out of the mainstream NBA conversation

Fair enough. Big difference than playing into late May. I'm not sold Lonzo lasts there regardless of what Lebron does.

 

[OrangeDW]

Speaking of the Lakers, can ESPN stop running articles telling us that they’re NOT inviting some scrub player to play on their summer league team?

Good Lord, they love them some BS at that company.

 

[Knicks411]

Im not 100% convinced the rockets would have beaten the cavs had they met up in the finals

I am pretty much 100% convinced of that. Unless you mean if Paul wouldn't have played?

 

[Alsacs]

LeBron James current odds for next year.
Lakers
4/13
Cavaliers
13/4
Rockets
15/2
76ers
10/1
Celtics
18/1
Spurs
20/1
Clippers
25/1
Knicks
30/1
Heat
40/1

 

[Knicks411]

LeBron James current odds for next year.
Lakers
4/13
Cavaliers
13/4
Rockets
15/2
76ers
10/1
Celtics
18/1
Spurs
20/1
Clippers
25/1
Knicks
30/1
Heat
40/1

Best part of this is if you add everything up, the implied odds are 140%. Gotta love Vegas

 

[moqui]

Can someone explain the Lakers mindset on that pick? You stink - you may get LBJ or Leonard or Paul George or whoever, but why not take a gamble on a much bigger talent than the Michigan kid? He may stick in the league but what is his ceiling? You aren't getting fired - take a gamble!

a little more on this: @lakerfilmroom says he's a poor man's jokic - very good 3 pt shooter, good passer for a big man (but not as good as jokic). says what separated him from williams was his competitiveness and attitude. plays hard all the time and a high character guy - basically the opposite of williams

 

[Trueblue25]

Philly’s all in. Whatd we do if he goes to the 6ers? Our team is young and “great” we are every bit a contender. But Lebron, Simmons, Embiid etc.. thats crazy. I dont thiNk simmons and lebron will play well together so because of that ill go against what everyone else is going to say and believe we should still hold and continue building. Kyrie and co should still be able to outwork that team with the possible chem issues Alsacs

 

[Alsacs]

Philly’s all in. Whatd we do if he goes to the 6ers? Our team is young and “great” we are every bit a contender. But Lebron, Simmons, Embiid etc.. thats crazy. I dont thiNk simmons and lebron will play well together so because of that ill go against what everyone else is going to say and believe we should still hold and continue building. Kyrie and co should still be able to outwork that team with the possible chem issues Alsacs

It’s already likely Philly-Boston ECF.

I don’t see Simmons and LeBron working as LeBron will get doubled and Simmons defender will give him open jump shots. LeBron will hate that.

It’s just an awful fit for Philly plus Philly loses JJ Redick.
Barring injury Boston is a good bet to win the East next year and they just drafted the piece they were missing. A second unit big who is defense and rebounding first.

 

[Alsacs]

Look for this deal.
Leonard for
Fultz/Saric/Covington/Miami 2021 unprotected pick.

 

[OrangeDW]

Look for this deal.
Leonard for
Fultz/Saric/Covington/Miami 2021 unprotected pick.

If I’m Philly, I try to sign Paul George.

Sure Leonard is better than George.

But George, Saric, and Fultz >>>> Leonard.

 

[Alsacs]

If I’m Philly, I try to sign Paul George.

Sure Leonard is better than George.

But George, Saric, and Fultz >>>> Leonard.

If Paul George leaves the max offer from OKC he is going to LA.
I don’t see George giving up that money for Philly.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Here are all of your NBA free agents ranked. FYI: Jeremi Grant #66, MCW #105 and CMac #126.
NBA Free Agency 2018: The top players