I think, sadly, he's gone. I also think, and read somewhere, that he would be open to a S&T. Any thoughts? The Lakers make some sense to me. He lives there in the offseason, he would be a second banana behind Kobe, they have young assets they could maybe package...
Not buying that he's gone. BUT, to play your game: OBVIOUS: The Bulls, for Mirotic and change NOT SO OBVIOUS: The Cavs, BUT NOT FOR LOVE - for a an also-signed-and-traded Tristan Thompson. Thompson's not looking so great in these finals just because he can't score. But there's this. And he is an ELITE defender and rebounder. (Plus I wouldn't mind watching LA help thwart the Warriors in next year's finals.) Then we sign BOBAN MARJANOVIC!
Just to reiterate: I really hope and expect that LA will stay. BUT, if we were forced to do a S&T it would presumably be to a team that LA wants to go to but which doesn't have the cap space to sign him outright (because otherwise there's no monetary advantage to him - you can't give him the same contract as he would get if he stayed in a S&T) and the Cavs make sense as that. So if we did get Thompson, he has proved that he can even cover guards if need be, which could help us with our perimeter defensive weaknesses. And he does well all the things that Meyers doesn't.
I don't think you read that LA was open to a sign and trade because I don't think he or his agent has ever said anything one way or another. Everything that has been written has been speculation by the media. I know we discussed this topic earlier in another thread and it comes down to having the cap space vs getting some young talent in return. Cap space might be the most likely as I doubt there is a Wiggins deal available.
Presumably you're talking about Julius Randle, Jordan Crawford and whomever they take at #2. I really don't like either of the first two, and as free agency is well after the draft, we would just have to hope they take somebody we like at #2. Odds on it would be Okafor (don't like) or Russell (like a lot, but would he work with Lillard? AND CJ?) And I don't actually think LA would like LA, ironically.
The introvert as one of the biggest sport stars in LA? That sounds like a recipe for disaster. He might like living their now, but he will hate it when he is the player that was supposed to bring them championships and isnt.. LaMarcus for Kawhi would be interesting if it were possible. Spurs get one last go around with Duncan, Pop, Parker, Alridge, maybe 2 more. Have Parker and Aldridge when Duncan and Pop go. We could move Batum elsewhere (Monroe?) or keep him and move him to the 2. I think LMA stays though.
This is spot on, LA and his Agent have said nothing and its all speculation thats media driven at this point. Media wants stories that get clicks and biggest FA interested in X team is going to get a ton of clicks especially from that teams fanbase. As for an S&T, we dont' get to pick where to send LMA in that regard, its whatever team he wants to go to then we would work out a deal like that for said team but I can't see a team doing that if they can just sign him outright.
I would do that in a heartbeat. Kawhi is on my top 5 players for the future. And he's not exactly bad in the present either
OMG when will this nightmare end? Seriously, when can we make an offer to LaMarcus and stop the insanity?
Just playing along with this, but if the Lakers would draft Russell and trade him to the Blazers, I don't see why how he meshed with CJ would have any bearing on things. If LA leaves, this team is in reboot mode, and you get the best players you can. I like CJ, but he's not what Russell projects to be. Russell might be a better player than Lillard. If he somehow overlaps with McCollom, you trade McCollom for assets, you don't scuttle a trade for a potential superstar-level talent.
LA, Kaman, and Nic to the Bulls for Gasol and Butler Gasol and Meyers would be a great inside outside duo. Resign Wes to form a mean defensive duo
Mavs trade Tyson Chandler, Davin Harris, Charlie Villanueva and the 21st pick to Portland for Aldridge.
Short of getting the kind of deal the TWolves got for Love, I would be tempted to just take the cap space. A $.50 on the dollar trade leaves us in limbo - neither rebuilding nor competing.
Just like it over till the fat lady sings, LA is not going away. Lets see the official news conference with him saying that.
I guess defense is to be found neither inside nor outside, because that's what would be conspicuously missing.
Wow - that's thinking outside the box - trading players to other players. It's never been tried before!
