With the Durant and Thompson injuries, it seems like the West next year is going to be more wide open than it has since the dawn of the Golden State dynasty. This summer's trade season has the potential to totally reshape the Lakers and Clippers if they succeed in their quest for Davis and Kawhi, respectively...or leave them competing for the bottom tier of the playoffs if they don't. The Rockets are looking to totally rehab around Harden, but that has the potential to blow up in their faces if they can't find good trading partners. Denver, Utah and the Blazers can play it conservative and field teams that will compete for the upper tier of the playoff bracket, or try to go all-in to make a trade that will push them towards true contention. The Warriors will probably try to re-sign Klay and Durant and then pick up bandaid vets on minimum salaries to try to get through the year and possibly be in a position to make a playoff push if one or both of those guys should prove able to return before the end of the season. It's going to be a crazy summer with GMs trying to make the critical deals that will push their teams into contention. Any attempt to handicap the West until after free agency is a futile exercise.
No doubt and why i thought it was hilarious that ESPN came out with their worthless poll with Lakers having the best odds to win a championship next year where nobody even knows who is going to be on what team.
So when do the dominoes start falling? Any prediction on that? I don't know the order in which transactions can happen, only that the draft is on the 20th. When can the free agents sign new contracts? When can Anthony Davis be traded?
Any player that is under contract for next season can be traded right now. Pelicans were hoping to have a trade finalized Monday or Tuesday. If they don't find the deal they want, I'm guessing that they'll wait until about July 10th (after some teams strike out in FA). Teams can start talking to FA beginning July 1. Players/teams can come to a verbal agreement - but can't officially sign a contract until around July 10th.
Since last 50 years 17/30 all current teams have won championships. Several many times over. We are in that club...
Actually, teams can start talking to free agents June 30th 6 pm eastern time and can be signed on July 6th starting at noon eastern time. It's changed this year.
I really thought the Lakers would be a big player trying to bring in Klay. With the injury, I think he ends up re-signing with Golden State. I don't think he makes any sense for the Lakers because they are all in for this season. I think Kawhi might give the Raptors more of a chance than the media is giving them. My gut says Durant and Kyrie end up in Brooklyn. DeAngelo Russell's destination is going to be interesting. Could see him going back to the Lakers or to the Clippers, although he'd be smart to stay with the Nets, IMO. And I think whoever gets Jimmy Butler probably is going to regret it, unless they have a really good alpha dog to keep him in check.
Okay, so the first move towards contention goes to the Lakers. May they fail miserably from this point on.
So now ESPN has the Lakers as the 7:1 odds best chance to win the Championship next year. Not just the west. We are talking finals Championship.
Only because they know that there are about 30 million uninformed, bandwagon riding, front-running, Laker fans who will bet the farm on a incomplete roster and two superstars.
If I had to make a bet right now who will have a better record amd go further in the playoffs between Portand and LAL Id bet LAL, there stars are better than ours and theyve got plenty of money to go fill out the roster.
Fortunately for you, you’re a Blazers fan and, thus, smart enough to wait until the end of the offseason before deciding how to wager...if you’re so inclined.
Not sure about that bet. Something to be said for the moves Olshey has made and the ways he has put players on this roster. Also i like continuity. The Blazers have been together for a longer time. They will benefit from winning at the beginning of the season.
