What I don’t understand is that Rich Paul is saying that even the upcoming season with the Lakers is an audition. Anthony Davis will still look at his options in free agency. But that makes no sense to me if they had narrowed their choice to only New York and Los Angeles. The other thing is New Orleans. To me quality is more important than a bunch of players. What would make sense is that David Griffin is going to use all of the assets he got from Los Angeles to trade for a player. Or players. Just as the Blazers would do to get a player they might not get in free agency. Otherwise, I would have demanded Kuzma. I don’t think anybody would’ve blamed Griffin if he had said he didn’t like with the Lakers were offering and that Anthony Davis could just sit for the year, seeing that his agent had limited his trading partners.
If he turned down Ball, Ingram and essentially four picks and let Davis go for nothing, he would have rightly been blamed for setting the franchise back a good few years. I also don’t get ‘quality over quantity’. Ingram and Ball are both very young and very talented. Both have the potential to be top 30 players in the league. It’s not like they traded AD for Dennis Smith and Frank Ntilikina, or a bunch of mediocre players. This is a good deal.
I hope the lakers drown in a million puddles of tears as they suck again this coming season. Fucking fuckers...... Anthony davis is a bitch. Bitch. Bitch. Bitch. Fuck that pussy.
So as i understand this deal has been set to happen after July 6th so the Lakers have 30 million to work with in signing free agents?
With the situation as a healthy team and solid contributions from both Lebron and Davis i agree. But with what we just watched in the playoffs and in the month leading up to them. We all know anything can happen.
So what happens if Lebron and Davis don't really mesh well and then they pick up another big time free agent and the Me Me Me type stuff starts and Davis says he doesn't want to stay. Then Lebron shows even more age and the big free agent signing is left to hold together a bunch of whiny Laker fans and rookies? Seriously. It's not like we have never seen ego's take over in Los Angeles......
I think he has potential. Not within the next 2-3 years but he can get to a very high level Won’t be surprised at all if at one point he’s considered a top 10 or even top 5 point guard in the league. Boy is 21 and is already one of the best playmakers and defenders in his position.
His three point shot is actually not that terrible. There were times he was shooting 40% for weeks. It’s his free throw and mid range that is lacking. If I am Pelicans I am trading out of 4th and trying to get 2-3 picks instead. Like 8, 10 from Atlanta with 10 swapped for two of Celtics picks. I like Bol Bol’s fit next Zion.
That picks haul is unbelievable. #4 this year Top 8 protected 2021 pick which becomes unprotected in 2022 Unprotected 2024 Unprotected swaps in 2023 and 2025 Wow Lakers could be proper bad post LeBron. They will have zero flexibility and zero trade assets, and we have seen AD on a team without top class support - wasn’t very good. I love that deal from Pelicans point of view. Compared to what Spurs got for Kawhi and what Pacers got for George it’s just so much better.
I was wondering something along the same lines. When has LeBron played with a low-post difference-maker. Love was a good rebounder, but he plays offense like a stretch four. Bosh was a handful in the low post with Toronto who could face up from 19 feet, but he turned into a stretch four in Miami with LeBron and D-Wade. Talent-wise, it's a trade the Lakers had to make. Getting it all to fit together might be the devil in the details. A lot's going to depend on who they sign in free agency and how the heck they fill out their rotation. Even if their two stars stay healthy.
You know what, though? It's not hard to imagine ALL of those picks (beyond this year's) being in the 14-20 range. You need a good scouting department to turn those into contributors, or a good GM who can flip them for supporting pieces.
I dont get it honestly. I think thats a terrible haul for him. They could easily come away from this with the best player they get as Brandon Ingram, who has a pretty serious condition... Its easily possible that LA goes and gets another guy or two that are good and the Lakers are playoff or better every single one of those picks. So could be a bunch of mid 20 draft picks. I guess, its just my opinion.
No, I think what you write makes a lot of sense. Pelicans missed out by not holding out for Kuzma. That's what happens when you set silly deadlines on yourself and let them leak to the press. Nothing was stopping New Orleans from exploring options for the fourth pick with other teams on the condition they got it from the Lakers. The reports that their GM was dead set on making the deal this weekend so they had a chance to scout their options was ridic.
